NOTES Cool Messi Women’s World Cup Commercial.  Great to see Pulisic off to AC Milan – a Champions League team that finished 4th last year in Italy and the Champions League.  Great story on how he will fit in at AC with new teammates Giruoud and Reece James and maybe Musah?  The US Ladies have arrived in New Zealand – looking for their 3rd straight World Cup trophy – their feed is worth the follow. USA Beats Canada 3-2 to Advance to Wed night Semi finals vs Panama 7 pm on FS1 Wow what a game Sunday night.  A bunch of newbies were on hand Sunday night as we had 6 first timers – earn their first caps as fans at a US National Team Game to see the exciting US 3-2 win over Canada in Cincy.  First let me say Canada gave us all we could handle and more – I really thought we would cruise thru this one – and while we definitely outshot and outpossessed the team up north – they had every chance to knock us off their B team vs our C+ team. (Highlights) This start of a rivarly between the US and Canada is getting more intense check out this post game melle.  Matt Turner was of course the hero as he saved 2 and only gave up 1 in the shootout.  I thought the US played horrific in the 1st half but came alive in the 2nd when BJ finally added Brandon Vasquez at the #9 – he scored 8 minutes later.  The handball call in the 90th minute to gift Canada their goal seemed questionable at best. In ET Matt Miazga showed why he has slipped to 5th now in the pecking order of US Centerbacks as he was schooled on this goal.  (Right back Reynolds was just as much to blame as his give-away and refusal to run back didn’t help.  Yedlin should absolutely replace him vs Panama.  He was subpar at best.  I thought super sub Cade Cowell showed why he should be starting at right wing over Zendajas who simply isn’t ready to contribute at this level yet. Overall it’s a win – we outshot (21-5), & out possessed (67%-33%) this Canadian squad but we still could have lost this game.  Now on to Panama on Wed night – we have a lot of work to do to get to the finals vs the Mexico/Jamaica winner (Shane’s upset special is Jamaica over Mexico 2-1). I like the US tonight 2-1. Shane’s Starters Tonight Cowell/Vazquez/Ferriera Milalovic, Sands/Busio Jones/Neal/Robinson/Yedlin Turner   Anyone up for Gathering to Watch Wed night’s game somewhere?     US Ladies Beat Wales 2-0 Sun –  As they arrive in New Zealand It was the Trinity Rodman show on Sunday afternoon as the US Ladies finished off Wales 2-0 in their send off game in California before leaving for the World Cup in New Zealand which starts in just 10 days.  Trinity came on in the 2nd half after a rather pedestrian start for the 2-time defending World Cup Champs.  (Highlights) The insertion of Rodman at left wing however picked up the tempo and the US carried on to victory.  Injured stars Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz, Rose Lavelle did not see any action and will have to wait until game 1 vs Vietnam to test things out. I thought the pairing of Girma and Cook on the backline looked fine with Crystal Dunn on one side and Emily Fox on the other.  The US Ladies have arrived in New Zealand – looking for their 3rd straight World Cup trophy – their feed is worth the follow. Indy 11 Women Advance to W League Semi-Final at home Fri 7 pm at Grand Park A 57th-minute goal from Sam Dewey proved to be the match winner as Indy Eleven defeated Minnesota Aurora FC 1-0 in the USL W League Central Conference Final on Saturday afternoon. Dewey’s team-leading ninth goal of 2023 came off an assist from a Grace Bahr set piece, giving her a second assist this season. In goal, Nona Reason earned her seventh clean sheet of the season and her second in 2023 playoff action. The Girls in Blue are the first team to advance to the USL W League Semifinal and have earned the right to host on San Francisco Glens Friday, July 14 at 7 p.m. ET. Tix avail via indyeleven.com/tickets.  Indy 11 will host Playoff Semi-Final at Grand Park Fri Night Indy 11 Women Crowned USL Central Conference Champs

USMNT analysis

Analysis: USMNT battle past Canada in a shootout. Who impressed? Who didn’t? Player ratings

The United States is through to the semifinals of the 2023 Gold Cup after an ugly but hard-fought battle in a shootout win over Canada. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta offers up his thoughts and player ratings of the game. 

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED JULY 10, 2023 8:45 AM

THE UNITED STATES national team is into the semifinals of the 2023 Gold Cup thanks to shootout win over Canada following a 2-2 draw. Both teams had chances to win, the U.S. at the end of regulation and Canada at the end of extra time, but both surrendered late equalizers to force the game to a shootout. It was there where Matt Turner’s saves on the first two Canadian opportunities was the difference.The game was often disjointed and sloppy while being intense at the same time. It wasn’t until substitute Brandon Vazquez headed home a wonderful ball from DeJuan Jones in the 88^th minute when a scoreless draw was broken.The lead would only last a few minutes into stoppage time when Canada equalized following a clumsy Miles Robinson handball. Steven Vitoria then stepped up on the ensuing penalty and fired a shot past Matt Turner to send the game into extra time.

Canada’s momentum continue into extra time and Nashville SC’s Jacob Shaffelburg put the Canadians up 2-1 when he got past Bryan Reynolds and hit a terrific shot past Turner. Shaffelburg is a native of Canada but has spent most of his key developmental years in the United States, attending high school in Massachusetts and then with Manhattan SC.

But the U.S. continued to press and got the equalizer after a hard shot by Gianluca Busio forced a save from Dayne St. Clair. But St. Clair’s save bounced outward and hit Canadian defender Scott Kennedy in the back. The ball then went backwards into the net for an own goal.

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A hard shot from @gbusio13 bounces off the Canadian defender into the net!!!

???? » @FOXSoccerpic.twitter.com/0reSOcoNfp— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) July 10, 2023

In the shootout, Turner again came up big. He saved Vitoria and Liam Fraser’s attempts in the first two rounds. For the U.S., Vazquez missed his attempt but then Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio, and Jesus Ferreira all converted. In Canada fifth attempt, Chardles Brym’s hit the cross bar and bounced out to give the U.S. team the win.

The U.S. team will now head to San Diego for a semifinal matchup with Panama, who easily defeated Qatar 4-0.

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This magic moment ???? pic.twitter.com/wxtHkkJQpI— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) July 10, 2023

Here are some thoughts on the game.

COMMENDABLE USMNT EFFORT

The performance was overall sloppy. There were too many turnovers, and the U.S. team should have created more chances. But the effort level was overall impressive.

Canada brought a lot of intensity to this game, and it was obvious Canada sees the USMNT as an important measuring stick. It is like how the U.S. team viewed Mexico for most of the 90’s and the first part of the 00 decade.

But the U.S. team was able to match the intensity of the game from its end. The game got chippy, but the players had each other’s backs. When Canada had the momentum, the U.S. team did not crumble or let Canada run away with the game. The U.S. allowed two very tough goals, but found a way to rally.

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Power move. ???? pic.twitter.com/kdmbMDstqP— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) July 10, 2023

For head coach B.J. Callaghan, he played the game well. Subbing Vazquezand Matt Miazga into the game in the 73^rd minute was a big move. It gave the U.S. team upgrades in central defense and in the attack. Then it also added the emotional edge with the crowd as both players are beloved by FC Cincinnati.

Finally, with the U.S. now only having two days of rest before the semifinal, they’re both among the fresher options for that game while also being among the team’s better players.

A LOT OF STRUGGLES

The game was overall tough, and some players had performances that they won’t particularly want to remember.

In central defense, neither of the starters finished the game. Jalen Neal had a rough first half and had to be replaced in the 73^rd minute by Miazga. Miles Robinson made two big errors. He was lucky to not have been called for a penalty in the first half after a handball. He was only bailed out when VAR showed that Busio was fouled just before the penalty. But then in stoppage time, Robinson had an unnecessary handball that was eventually called to award big penalty for Canada. If that didn’t happen, the U.S. wins this game before extra time.

Both the maligned Aaron Long and Miazga were upgrades.

Fullback play was also inconsistent. Bryan Reynolds had an off game. He was beaten by Shaffelburg, including on the goal and his attacks were unproductive – ending with turnovers or bad crosses. DeJuan Jones was better defensively, but until his terrific assist to Vazquez, the final ball was lacking.

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What a moment and what a way to score your first international goal ????????@NashvilleSC‘s Jacob Shaffelburg reclaims the lead for Canada! pic.twitter.com/DuQWc0GZAg— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2023

Alejandro Zendejas is also another player who continues not to take advantage of his opportunity at the Gold Cup. He is frustrated and forcing plays. It is simply not coming together for him with the national team.

Julian Gressell can deliver from set pieces or only from the run of play if he has a lot of time and space. But thus far, hasn’t produced from the run of play. Jesus Ferreira drifted back into the midfield too often (as he typically does) and took himself out of the attack too often. Once Vazquez came into the game, the chances started to come with more regularity.

WHO IMPRESSED?

• Brandon Vazquez isn’t starting at the Gold Cup, but his stock is increasing and you can see why Borussia Monchengladbach wants him. As soon as he entered, the chances started coming and he put the U.S. team up with his third attempt.
• James Sands isn’t a player who is an eye-opener. He is the type of player you sometimes don’t even notice. But upon reflection after the games, you typically realize he played well. In this game and at this tournament, he won his duels, shielded the backline, didn’t turn the ball over much, and helped in possession. With central defense struggling in this game, Sands became more important and he did well.
• Gianluca Busio had an uneven game. He missed multiple very good chances to score. But eventually, he fought through it and forced an own goal equalizer and then took a wonderful penalty in the shootout. He was getting into good positions and was dangerous often. It could have been better, but the positives outweighed the negatives.

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CAN: ???
USA: ??? pic.twitter.com/K39rDqCrWX— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2023

• DeJuan Jones: he used his athleticism well defensively while also being aggressive getting forward. It took him a lot of attempts to finally hit a dangerous ball, but his 88^th minute assist was a thing of beauty. He has moved ahead of John Tolkin in the eyes of Callaghan and this performance will keep him in the XI.
• Matt Miazga: It’s not easy for a central defender to sub into a game and have to help fix a backline that was wobbly. But Miazga was the upgrade the U.S. team needed. Perhaps he could have done better on the Shaffelburg goal, but he was put into a tough decision after Reynolds was beaten.
• Cade Cowell: often inconsistent, but his speed and power was tough for Canada to handle and he was an upgrade from Zendejas.
• Matt Turner: He didn’t have to make a save in the 120 minutes but he once again tipped the balance of the game when everything was on the line in the shootout.

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CAN: ? ?
USA: ? pic.twitter.com/MEtJHJUpaw— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2023

PANAMA LOOKAHEAD

Panama is going to be a tough game for the U.S. team. Panama has an extra day rest and wasn’t tested much by Qatar.

Callaghan will have to face a lot of questions throughout the XI. Jalen Neal is now injured and we don’t yet know if Aidan Morris will be back.

Jones, Sands, Busio, and Ferreira are the four field players who went 120 minutes. Reynolds went 113 minutes.

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ONTO THE NEXT.

The #USMNT picks up its first penalty kick win since 2005 to advance to the semis in San Diego!! pic.twitter.com/tWLYJV7G3Y— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) July 10, 2023

Callaghan will probably have to turn to DeAndre Yedlin at right back while potentially looking at John Tolkin at left back. Matt Miazga will almost certainly start in central defense. But questions must be asked about Robinson’s performance and Long’s fitness/form.

Similarly, Sands and Busio in the midfield will be an issue of recovery. Particularly, with Busio, he hasn’t played much in 2023 and starting again 72 hours after a 120 minutes minute outing is tough. Jackson Yueill might be pressed into service or Cristian Roldan might get a rare starting nod.

PLAYER RATINGS

 Matt Turner: no saves over 120 minutes but then he made the difference in the shootout. Rating: 7.0

DeJuan Jones: Solid defensively. Distribution could have been better until his wonderful assist in the 88^th minute. Rating: 6.5

Jalen Neal: Looked nervous and lost on a few occasions before being subbed out with an injury in the 73rd.  Rating: 4.0

Miles Robinson: Had a tough assignment to partner with the young Neal. He conceded one penalty with a careless handball and was bailed out of second handball penalty violation. Rating: 4.5

Bryan Reynolds: Defensively he struggled with wingers and was beaten by Shaffelburg on the goal. But he also made a good play to bail out Neal’s first half slip. Offensively, it didn’t click for him in the final third. Rating: 5.0

James Sands: He did well as the glue of the midfield and was solid defensively in front of the defense. Rating: 7.0

Djordje Mihailovic: He was effective in the first half with his passing but a little quiet to start the second half. Rating: 6.0

Gianluca Busio: A little uneven because he needed a lot of chances before finally breaking through to force the 115^th minute own goal. But he was dangerous, applied pressure, and was still going strong at 120 minutes. Nice conversion in the shootout too. Rating: 7.0

Alejandro Zendejas: It’s been a tough tournament for the Club America attacker and again he didn’t create much against Canada. But he made a few important defensive players that helped. Rating: 5.0

Julian Gressel: His setpieces were useful and he hit a few dangerous crosses but other than that, didn’t impact the game. Rating: 5.0

Jesus Ferreira: Managed just two shots over 120 minutes. He had a better impact when he moved to midfield when Vazquez came on in the 73^rd. He helped keep up the pressure throughout but ran of gas – but he converted his shootout attempt. Rating: 5.5

SUBSTITUTES

Cade Cowell: Helped stretch the field and use space better than Zendejas. His final ball needs to lead to more chances, but he helped the U.S. team. Rating: 5.5

Brandon Vazquez: He started getting chances right away and he made Canada pay with what should have been the game-winner. But he was a handful. On the flip side, he failed to convert his penalty. Rating: 7.0

Matt Miazga: He was a nice upgrade in central defense after the starters were struggling. He could have done better on the Shaffelburg goal but he was put into a bad position. Overall, he was a big help to settle down the back. He helped in the build-up to the 115^th minute own goal equalizer Rating: 6.5

Aaron Long: He was forced into the game for extra time. He completed 18/19 passes, including 3/3 long balls. Rating: 5.0

Jordan Morris: Played extra time but only had 8 touches in 30 minutes. He didn’t impact the game was clearly rusty from an injury layoff. Rating: 4.5

Cristian Roldan: Played the final 7 minutes and was on the field for the equalizer. Rating: NR

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USMNT’s Gold Cup win vs. Canada was a thriller and a lesson

• Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterJul 9, 2023, 11:35 PM ET

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The United States men’s national team avoided an early Concacaf Gold Cup exit with a penalty shootout win against Canada to advance to the tournament’s semifinal.

After playing to a 2-2 draw through 120 minutes — including a pair of goals in extra time — Jesus Ferreira‘s penalty to put the U.S. up 3-2 proved to be the winner after Canada’s fifth kicker, Charles-Andreas Brym, hit to crossbar to end the game.

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It was the United States’ second competitive victory against Canada this summer, coming on the heels of its 2-0 win in the Nations League final last month. The Americans will play Panama, which beat Qatar 4-0 on Saturday, in the semifinal Wednesday in San Diego.

The U.S. went up 1-0 in the 88th minute on a goal from FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez before a Steven Vitoria penalty for Canada in stoppage time evened the game. Canada looked like it had the game won, too, when Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg scored in the 109th minute, but a Scott Kennedy own goal gifted the U.S. new life.

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Rapid reaction

1. USMNT shows a winning mentality in relentless fight

The U.S. was the better team and the deserved victor. But after falling behind in the 109th minute of extra time, it appeared it would fall short of the Gold Cup semifinal for the first time in over two decades.

The fluky own goal that tied it up isn’t exactly a model response, but what the U.S. showed was resilience to keep going.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)
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It kept the pressure up, and something good happened. As much as the team’s improved talent has made a difference in the past few years, it has often found a way to find magic late in these Concacaf competitions.

It speaks to the team culture and desire. Those things are hard to measure but when you see it, you can appreciate it — and that was the case Sunday night.

2. Tougher test from Canada reveals USMNT attacking woes

As well as the U.S. played in its past two group games of the Gold Cup, any analysis needs to be prefaced by the gulf in talent between the Americans and their opponents. Against Canada, however, that wasn’t the case.

While neither side in Sunday’s quarterfinal fielded anything close to what resembles a first-choice team, the quality on both sides was similar. And with that being the case, that explosive attack the U.S. showed in St. Louis and Charlotte vanished.

Why? It started on the wings. As has been the case throughout the whole tournament, the wingers were rarely threatening and after scoring back-to-back hat tricks, striker Jesus Ferreira was mostly muted, registering just one shot on goal.

The player who did help his cause with the national team is Brandon Vazquez. After coming on for an 88th-minute equalizer in the first group stage game against a strong Jamaica team, he repeated the feat with another 88th-minute goal to put the U.S. up 1-0. Considering the circumstances of those two goals — who they were against, when they came — it’s reasonable to value them more than what Ferreira accomplished.

3. Concacaf Gold Cup a step backward for Canada

After reaching the World Cup and the Nations League final, almost everything (on the field) has been encouraging about Canada over the past two years or so.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Rodman’s brace gives USWNT a new look in attack ahead of World Cup13hJeff Carlisle
• Taxi cabs and the ‘real’ birth of U.S.-Mexico rivalry, the first Gold Cup in 1991 had it all3dCesar Hernandez
• U.S.’s Ream isn’t ready to retire. He wants 2026 World Cup6dTom Hamilton

The Gold Cup, however, was a step in the wrong direction. After drawing with lowly Guadeloupe and Guatemala in the group stage, Canada’s lone tournament win came against Cuba, the No. 166th-ranked team in the world.

This poor competition doesn’t really mean much looking forward considering the roster that coach John Herdman named, but it is a reminder that the team’s depth is not among its strengths — at least when measuring it against the better teams in the region. While that’s the overall takeaway, it’s worth pointing out that the Canadians were this close from a win here, which would have overshadowed what has gone wrong.

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Best and worst performers

Best: Brandon Vazquez, United States

For the second time in this tournament, Vazquez came off the bench and delivered a meaningful 88th-minute goal.

Best: Steven Vitoria, Canada

Vitoria was solid defensively as Canada limited the U.S. attack and scored the tying goal to send the game to penalties.

Best: DeJuan Jones, United States

The left-back had a strong performance both defending and getting forward.

Worst: Lucas Cavallini, Canada

In the first half, Cavallini had a game-low 12 touches, completed just three passes and received a yellow card that would have kept him out of the semifinal should Canada have advanced.

Worst: Julian Gressel, United States

After playing a team-low 43 minutes in the group stage, Gressel started on the right wing, pushing Alex Zendejas to the opposite flank. The change didn’t pay off, and Gressel’s noted crossing didn’t add anything for the U.S.

Worst: Alejandro Zendejas, United States

One of the few holdovers from the Nations League roster, Zendejas was given every opportunity to make a strong impression in the red, white and blue. He did not. After going scoreless in three group stage starts, he again made very little impact against Canada (1 shot, 0.04 xG).

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Highlights and notable moments

In an unusual moment, one of the four officials was injured during the match after taking a ball to the face and had to abandon his duties as a linesman.

We just hope he’s okay. pic.twitter.com/D2b0iIUeWQ— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2023

Highlights in the first half were limited from there as neither side had a truly good scoring chance.

The USMNT kept pushing, however, and the match got a bit chippy, punctuating the first half whistle with a shoving match.

We’re letting the boys play today 😤 pic.twitter.com/xgdN8hCeVW— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2023

The second half was relatively devoid of highlights as well — at least up until 88th minute.

Brandon Vazquez got on the end of a dime ball whipped in by DeJuan Jones, putting the Americans ahead.

BRANDON VAZQUEZZZZZZZ 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/a1u2P77XVw— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2023

Canada soon equalized with a penalty kick in stoppage after a handling violation in the box from Miles Robinson. It was at about this point that this match, which had been a slog for almost 90 minutes, really came alive.

Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg scored a splendid individual goal in the 109th minute.

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What a moment and what a way to score your first international goal 🇨🇦@NashvilleSC‘s Jacob Shaffelburg reclaims the lead for Canada! pic.twitter.com/DuQWc0GZAg— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2023

But the U.S. equalized through a Gianluca Busio shot that bounced off Canada’s Scott Kennedy for an own goal.The late goal forced the match to penalty kicks.

CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT WE’RE SEEING!? pic.twitter.com/psc5OELkcF— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2023

After Canada missed three of its shootout attempts, the Americans went through.

On the whole, the match was pretty Concacaf-y.

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Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information research)

• The United States has tied Panama (four) for most wins on penalty kicks in Gold Cup history. The three other wins came in the 1991 final, 2002 semis and 2005 final.
• The U.S. hasn’t failed to make the Gold Cup semifinals since 2000, when it fell in the quarterfinals.
• Vázquez’s past three goals for the U.S. have come in the 88th, 90th and 85th minutes of a game — all as a substitute.
• Jones’ assist to Vázquez traveled more than 37 yards.

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Up next

United States: The USMNT advances to the semifinals of the Gold Cup, where it will play Panama on Wednesday.

Canada: With its loss Sunday, Canada has been eliminated from the Gold Cup.

Megan Rapinoe announces retirement from soccer

Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSFOne of the most decorated American soccer stars is hanging it up.Ahead of the USWNT’s sendoff game, 38-year-old Megan Rapinoe announced that this would be her last World Cup and last season of professional soccer.In her own words: “It’s with a really deep sense of peace and gratitude and excitement that I want to share with you guys that it’s gonna be my last season,” Rapinoe said Saturday.“It is incredibly rare for athletes of any stature to be able to go out on their own, in their own way, on their own terms.“I’m really lucky to be in this position that I get to have agency over the end of this really beautiful part of my life.”A singular legacy: Rapinoe has won two World Cups in 2015 and 2019, and has a chance to add a third with the USWNT in Australia and New Zealand.She’s also won three NWSL Shield titles with OL Reign, an Olympic gold medal and the 2019 Ballon d’Or Feminin.Off the field, Rapinoe has been an activist for LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice initiatives and many other cause. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.

Trinity Rodman sends USWNT off in style

Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSFTrinity Rodman became the youngest USWNT player to score a brace, as she led her team to a 2-0 victory in their send-off game against Wales.The U.S. was held scoreless for 75 minutes before Rodman subbed in during the second half and scored twice in 11 minutes.Fellow World Cup debutante Sophia Smith assisted on the first goal, and Rodman scored the second on her own, a banger from outside the box.Coach Vlatko Andonovski on Rodman: “She was one of the players that went in but had a task to raise the pace and raise the tempo a little bit, and we saw that changed dramatically.”Rodman is one of 14 players on the USWNT’s 23-player roster who will be making their first World Cup appearances this summer.Veterans Julie Ertz, Rose Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe did not appear in the game.Andonovski said afterward that Ertz didn’t play as a precaution, while Lavelle and Rapinoe are in the “build-up stage” from injuries.Next up: USWNT’s World Cup group-stage opener vs. Vietnam, July 21 at 9 pm ET

Rodman shines as USWNT beat Wales in World Cup send-off

• Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent Jul 9, 2023, 06:39 PM ET

• SAN JOSE, California — The U.S. women’s national team concluded its Women’s World Cup preparations with a 2-0 victory against Wales.

The U.S. dominated the proceedings in terms of possession but struggled to break down a stubborn Wales defense. It was left to second-half substitute Trinity Rodman to make the difference, scoring a pair of goals off the bench. The first came in the 76th when she delivered a first-time finish following excellent link play from Lynn Williams and Sophia Smith. She doubled her tally, as well as the U.S. lead, 11 minutes later with a powerful finish.The Americans will open the World Cup on July 21 against Vietnam.

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Rapid reaction

1. Rodman gives the U.S. a different look up top

Rodman’s role on this U.S. team was thought to be primarily on the wing, but with no dedicated backup to presumed starter Alex Morgan, the Washington Spirit forward stated her case for more playing time. After entering the match at halftime for Morgan, Rodman provided more of a physical presence up top with her slashing runs and ability to body up the Welsh defenders. Her ability to interchange at times with Smith also caused problems. And she proved to be in the right place at the right time to latch on to Smith’s centering feed before she showed off her fierce shot for the second goal.It was a performance that will provide confidence for Rodman, and some comfort for head coach Vlatko Andonovski. The U.S. manager still has some questions to answer about his midfield (more on that later) and a lack of depth at center back. But now at least he’ll have a bit more confidence about his options up top.

2. Depth pays off against Wales’ stout defense

Send-off games often need to be accompanied by a heavy dose of perspective. Health is of utmost importance, and this match witnessed Andonovski managing minutes for the likes of Julie Ertz and Rose Lavelle. There’s also a desire not to give too much away in terms of tactics, saving such wrinkles for the games that matter. That might explain why send-off games in the past have been a bit underwhelming, with the 1-0 win over Mexico in 2011 and the 0-0 tie with South Korea coming to mind. The U.S. reached the final in 2011 and won it all in 2015.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• As Megan Rapinoe plans to retire, USWNT teammates lament losing ‘heart of the team’2dJeff Carlisle
• USWNT hopes diverse squad will inspire underrepresented girls3dCesar Hernandez
• The USWNT one-cap club: Stories of those who got just one shot with the national team7dJon Arnold

For those reasons, combined with the absence of Wales and OL Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock, it was a complete surprise to see the Americans struggle in the attacking third. The U.S. were utterly dominant on the ball, holding a whopping 75-25 edge in possession in the first half, and allowing Wales just 32 touches in the attacking half during that same period. But with Wales content to drop deep, rarely did the home side’s dominance translate into clear goal-scoring opportunities. Both Alyssa Thompson and Smith were able to get isolated at times, but the end product in terms of delivery and shots on goal was lacking. Crystal Dunn got to the end line with regularity as well, but she couldn’t deliver the pass to unlock the Wales defense. Set pieces proved to be more somewhat more fruitful, but headers from Andi Sullivan and Ashley Sanchez missed the target. A driven ball from open play found Lindsey Horan in the box in the 11th minute, but her header was saved by Welsh keeper Olivia Clark. The second half saw more of the same even as the U.S. cranked up the pressure. An Alana Cook header from a corner in the 68th minute was cleared off the line by Wales forward Kayleigh Green. But one advantage that the U.S. has is its incomparable depth, and that proved to be the difference on the game winner in the 76th minute. Williams found Smith in space — one of the few times all day that the U.S. got behind the Wales defense — and her pass allowed Rodman to finish into an open net. Rodman netted again with three minutes of normal time remaining to put the game away.

3. Are the absences of Ertz and Lavelle a concern?

All week, there have been assurances from the U.S. camp that the health status of Ertz was nothing to worry about, even as she was held out of Friday’s practice. On Sunday she didn’t see the field at all. On this day it didn’t really matter. With the U.S. owning the ball, Sullivan operated as a single pivot, allowing Horan to push forward into the attack. But there is a sense that when the World Cup begins, the U.S. midfield will face sterner tests. There’s also the fact that Ertz is among those expected to provide some depth in the center of defense. If she’s not able to go, then that leaves the U.S. even thinner in the back. There are also worries about the U.S.’s ability to break down a low block. Granted, it’s something that teams round the world struggle to combat, and it’s worth noting that the winning goal came on a rare transition opportunity. Against an organized Wales defense, the U.S. struggled, with Sanchez in particular not having much of an impact. The U.S. can expect to see more of the same in the tournament opener against Vietnam. All of this highlights the need of Lavelle to get healthy, at least in time for the later stages of the tournament. Andonovski said afterwards that had this been a World Cup game, Ertz would have played, and that she’s ahead of Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe, who are in the “buildup phase.” But until they actually take the field, questions will remain about the players’ status.

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Best and worst performers

BEST

Trinity Rodman (U.S.): Excelling in the forward position is about taking advantage of opportunities, and Rodman did just that with two goals.

Rhiannon Roberts (Wales): On a day in which the right side of the Wales defense was tested constantly, Roberts held up well, delivering 21 defensive interventions.

Andi Sullivan (U.S.): Sullivan did her job in locking down the midfield, and her deliveries into the box were the catalyst for some U.S. chances in the first half.

WORST

Ashley Sanchez (U.S.): She was barely heard from, except when she headed Sullivan’s free kick off target in the first half. Needs to provide a more dynamic presence if she’s to fill in for Lavelle.

Alyssa Thompson (U.S.): Thompson remains a dynamic presence on the flank but didn’t make the most of her opportunities, especially in terms of her delivery from the flank.

Alex Morgan (U.S.): Morgan is another U.S. attacker who was far too quiet, and she was duly substituted at halftime.

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Highlights and notable moments

25-year-old Savannah DeMelo made her U.S. senior team debut.

Rodman broke the deadlock between the two sides after linking up with Smith.

Rodman was on the scoresheet again after a brilliant strike!

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After the match: What the players/managers said

USWNT defender Crystal Dunn: “Today was another stepping stone for us. Obviously wasn’t our tidiest game but I think this is a great moment for us to build on what we’re working on right now.”

USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski: “We’re very confident about where we at right now. We can see how the product is going to look and when that happens it’s going to look good.”

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Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information)

• This is the first time the USWNT failed to score in the first half of a match (all comps) since the opening game of 2023 against New Zealand (won 4-0).
• Rodman scored her first goal for the USWNT in over a year (July 7, 2022) and her third overall. It was also her first multigoal performance for the USWNT.
• Rodman is the youngest (21-050) USWNT player with a multigoal game since Mallory Swanson scored twice against Australia at 20 years, 340 days on April 4, 2019.

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Up next

USWNT: The U.S. women kick off their 2023 World Cup campaign against Vietnam at 9 p.m. ET on July 21.

Wales: Their next match is in the UEFA Women’s Nations League against Iceland on Sept. 22.

Former USWNT Shannon Boxx on World Cup: ‘Center back pairing is going to be very important’

By Meg Linehan Jul 6, 20210

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Former U.S. women’s national team midfielder Shannon Boxx is flying to New Zealand for the World Cup later this month, but first, she has a slightly shorter trip down the West Coast to San Jose for the USWNT’s send-off match against Wales on Sunday as part of the TNT’s broadcast crew. Boxx has been a thoughtful, welcome addition to the desk for USWNT matches as part of U.S. Soccer’s new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, and has also provided game analysis during SheBelieves Cup.

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Boxx has been heavily referenced since the release of the final 23-player USWNT roster for the World Cup thanks to Savannah DeMelo’s inclusion. DeMelo, a midfielder for Racing Louisville FC, made the roster without a previous appearance for the senior national team. Boxx was the most recent player to earn that same honor.

The National Soccer Hall of Famer jumped on a call with The Athletic (on her birthday!) to catch up on all things USWNT, from what to expect in the final stateside match against Wales to her own memories of making the 2003 World Cup roster. This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

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Happy birthday!

Oh, thank you! It’s a really exciting day to do lots of calls.

Let’s start with the send-off game. How much do you factor this game into what’s happening at the first group stage match of the World Cup?

I think it’s going to be half and half. I would always assume that, at least from my own experience of going through it, you want that starting group to work together again — but you might not know what that is exactly yet. They still have so much time once they get to New Zealand. It feels like (you have so much time) when you’re there. For me, (the send-off game) is a great opportunity for (USWNT coach) Vlatko (Andonovski) to get the players together. They haven’t played together in a while, so you’re going to want to get that going again right away.

I can see him really putting out that starting group, and then getting a couple of other players’ minutes. With Becky (Sauerbrunn) going down, there’s always that fear (of a player injury) now, right? The last game. We’ve had that — it happened to Abby Wambach. But again, I would think that he’s going to want to come out with what he believes is going to be that starting lineup.

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How do you balance hiding your hand with getting players minutes together, especially, to your point, the center back pairing?

The center back pairing is going to be very important. I talked to Becky last night actually, and I just said, ‘Vlatko thought ahead.’ Unfortunately, he has to think that way, and he definitely made sure — and that was a lot of his comments throughout the time we’ve been playing these friendlies leading up to the World Cup — these two (Naomi Girma and Alana Cook) can lead. We need someone to lead the backline if Becky’s not in the mix, or if she’s not on the field. So I think he’s done a great job. Those two are ready, and he was definitely a planner and he’s definitely going to be doing that next weekend during the game.

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But I agree with you, they’re going to hide things. They’re not going to let everything out in a game against Wales. They’re going to have set pieces they’re not ready to throw out and let people see it. That’s always the fun part. It’s a little bit of a chess match when you get to the World Cup and you’re like, ‘Hm, what might they throw out?”

What do you think of Naomi Girma? Back in April, Megan Rapinoe absolutely raved about her. It feels tough to try and not put pressure on her, but I feel like she became far more important to this team.

She did. But honestly, she plays like she’s been on the team forever. She has leadership ability. The part that she will continually gain now is that leadership skill because she’s always had it. I think she just felt like she was a newer person, so she didn’t want to use her voice as much. But now it’s going to be important for her to do it, and she has the ability to do that wholeheartedly. Talent-wise, she’s amazing on the field. She’s always in the right position. She’s not afraid of tackling. She’s not afraid of getting down and dirty. She’s just really shined in the last couple of years and it’s been great.

Elsewhere, your name has come up a lot in connection with Savannah DeMelo.

All my friends were texting me the first day! I was like, ‘Why is everybody texting me?’ and they all said, ‘You’re back in the news!’

You were the most recent player to be named to a World Cup roster without a USWNT appearance, back in 2003. Can we just flashback to that moment when you’re getting the call? What does that feel like?

It’s ecstatic. I was not expecting it. That was my first initial reaction, and because I wasn’t thinking I was going to make the roster, that’s the best I was playing. So for me emotionally, it was like, ‘OK, they obviously saw something in me when I was playing my best. And when I play my best, it’s when I’m not thinking about it or fearing anything.’ I thought I didn’t have a chance. I was free; I played that way.

So for me emotionally, going into the World Cup, I felt I needed to do the same thing that I had been doing. I was 26. I was old enough to recognize that it was a great opportunity, and I felt like I had experience. The league had prepared me. That’s the first thing I thought about. The league is doing what it’s supposed to do. WUSA was there for me, and any time I ever talk about making it as an uncapped player — it wasn’t like I hadn’t been playing anywhere, right? The (NWSL) has prepared (DeMelo) for this moment. That’s really important because we are constantly talking about why we need to have a league here in the U.S., and this is just another really good example of why we need one here.

GO DEEPER

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Seeing the NWSL and where it is right now, to your point, it helped DeMelo and Alyssa Thompson. Does it matter more this time around than we’ve ever seen it?

Because of the way the national team hasn’t played together in two months, it really did make a difference. If you made the team or not, I truly believe that so many players stepped up knowing that it mattered. The last two months, games have been amazing. Obviously, I’m watching more of the players that have the potential to make the World Cup team, but they were crushing it because, in the end, they knew it was going to be important. Whereas I felt like in the past, you’re right, it wasn’t as important but we also had games all the way up to the send-off game, and that made a difference too. You’re like, ‘OK, well, I can show you here.’ I might have taken it easier in the league, where it wasn’t the case this year.

I think one other player that has benefitted from NWSL play is Lynn Williams.

Yeah, I agree.

Do you have her as a starter?

Not right now. We have so many hammers up top (laughs). I’m so excited for this World Cup! We have a lot of hammers, and you can imagine Lynn Williams coming in off the bench in the 60th minute. Every other team like, ‘Oh no.’ We have so many talented players up there. Vlatko is going to have to see who works the best together because it’s not just about individual talent. It will be how you work with the other players up top, how you work with the midfielders. It could change game to game, but right now, I think I see Lynn coming in off the bench at this point.

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Who do you have up there with Sophia Smith and Alex Morgan?

Sophia on the left, Alex, and Trinity (Rodman).

There’s not really a wrong answer, there are so many options.

Yeah, and that’s good! You can rest some players at times, and they do different things. One thing Trinity has improved and has said this is a focus for her is not checking out. It’s making sure she’s focused on the game on both sides of the ball, and that’s where I think the league has been great for her to work on that. We lose the ball, she’s getting back on defense. Lynn has that ability already. She’s a fighter and has that personality and mentality when she’s out there.

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I’ve been impressed with Trinity; she’s worked on those things and she’s hot right now. So is Lynn, so you can’t really go wrong. And then you look at Alyssa Thompson. I know as a defensive player, I would struggle with all this speed against me.

What’s your biggest question mark about the USWNT right now?

It’s hard to win three in a row. No matter what we say, right? It is. It’s really, really hard to do. Do I believe they can do it? 100%. You say it’s hard to do two (in a row) and then they did two, and then you’re like, can they do three? Yes, but I think losing Becky is a big thing. I mean that on the field, off the field. It was a big loss, right before, but the back line will do well. I’m a big fan of Emily Fox. I think she’s amazing. You have Crystal Dunn back there, she can lead. And you have Girma and Cook, who have been playing together. That’s the part I would just say needs to be buckled up because it’s changed. It’s just for those players in that backline to really step up. Maybe it’s not one person, maybe it’s the collective really taking charge of leadership and keeping it tight. That would be the biggest part for me.

Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach celebrate after a goal. (Photo by Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

To your earlier point about Abby Wambach’s injury in 2008, that changed the approach to the tournament, but that was when Angela Hucles stepped up. A real strength of this team has always been the depth and mentality. Is that enough to win the third in a row?

I definitely think so. The U.S. mentality is unlike any other team. As you said, Angela stepped up, (Lindsey Tarpley) stepped up. The whole team had to adapt. We lost our scrimmage game and then we lost our first game, and we were like, ‘We don’t know how to do this without Abby.’ But I don’t think this team feels that way. Missing the leadership of Becky, that’s hard. But I felt like we only scored with Abby. They’ve defended as a group this whole time, and there have been times Becky hasn’t been in the game and they’ve already had to figure it out. So my thing is, if they can do it as a collective, it’s going to be no problem because their mentality is going to be so strong.

What’s one thing people should watch for in this send-off game that might settle their nerves?

Wow, that’s an interesting question. They’ve gone through media day. The hype, the excitement, all this stuff is swirling around them. For me, it’s what happens between the lines, what happens in the locker room. Making sure that they’re focused on each other and winning and what they need to do — and having fun. When they’re connected, no one can beat them.

There’s going to be a lot of outside stuff happening. The veterans really need to take the younger players, the first-time players, under their wings to be like, ‘All this stuff has been great but remember why we are here.’

It’s focusing on each other and focusing on the process. What it’s going to take in the journey. One thing for me, I always wanted to get to the end so I would know what happened. If you forget we do this because we love it, and should be enjoying the whole journey, the whole process of it. So for me, it’s this game. Wales is a good side, but it’s not really about them, it’s about what’s happening there, in that moment.

Lionel Messi joining MLS: What to know about his contract, number, tickets and more

By The Athletic Soccer staff Jul 11, 2023 29

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Lionel Messi will soon sign for Inter Miami FC of MLS, with an official announcement expected later this week. The Argentine World Cup-winner’s arrival will be heralded as a potentially transformational move for Major League Soccer, and as such it comes with plenty of questions.

Here are some of the big ones, answered in as much detail as we know right now:

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How long has he signed for?

Messi’s contract is for two and a half seasons with an option to extend for a further year. So, he’s under contract through 2025 with the option to stay through the 2026 season.

When will he first play?

The Athletic first reported weeks ago that Inter Miami was targeting its first game in the Leagues Cup (a new competition involving every team in MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX), against Cruz Azul on July 21, to be Messi’s debut. That still figures to be the case.

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Elsewhere on The Athletic…

• How David Beckham’s groundbreaking deal opened the door for Messi
• How MLS referees will officiate Messi: Navigating the idea of protecting superstars
• Messi unveiling to occur at Gold Cup final halftime

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Is he playing in the MLS All-Star Game?

No. The MLS All-Star team that will face Arsenal in that game has already been selected, and after all, Messi’s debut is slated to be just two days after that matchup. It was always unlikely he’d travel to D.C. for that.

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What number will he wear?

Messi’s No. 10 shirts for Barcelona and Argentina remain iconic in the history of soccer, so much so that it was downright strange to see him wear the No. 30 in his two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain (even though he had worn that number previously as a youngster with Barça). Now, Messi is going back to a classic: he’ll almost certainly wear the No. 10 for Miami, which the club has purposely kept unfilled all season in hope/anticipation of his arrival.

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The Inter Miami No. 10 was previously worn by fellow Argentine Gonzalo Higuain in 2022, and Mexican Rodolfo Pizarro in 2021 and 2020.

Where is he now?

Messi landed at Fort Lauderdale Airport on Tuesday. Before that, he was in the Bahamas. After finishing his season with Paris Saint-Germain and playing a handful of friendlies and testimonials with the Argentina national team, Messi and his family have spent recent weeks on vacation in the Caribbean.https://www.instagram.com/p/CuhJqSCu3Lw/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com&rp=%2F4680806%2F2023%2F07%2F11%2Fmessi-inter-miami-mls-faq%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2885.6999999955297%2C%22ls%22%3A639.5999999940395%2C%22le%22%3A834.5999999940395%7D

How much is he earning and who is paying it?

Unlike normal MLS contracts, it’s not a simple matter. For a legendary player and a potentially league-altering signing, MLS and Inter Miami got creative with compensation to ensure he wasn’t lured to Saudi Arabia.

Messi’s deal is worth around $50-60 million annually, though that includes the value of his equity in Inter Miami, which will activate after his time with the club. Additionally, Messi will receive additional income through MLS partners. He’ll get some portion of new MLS Season Pass subscriptions on Apple TV, as well as agreements for compensation from Adidas (who is his long-time sponsor and kit manufacturers for MLS and all 29 clubs) and Fanatics.

The Adidas and Apple portions of the deal are functionally separate from the base salary that he’ll make just as a player in MLS. The MLS Players’ Association will release salary details for all players later this year, as it did a few months ago. Messi’s number will be eagerly anticipated.

What’s the designated player rule?

To help facilitate the transformative signing of David Beckham to the LA Galaxy in 2007, MLS introduced a new rule atop their salary cap structure: Each team could pay one player, the designated player (DP), however much they wanted.

In today’s MLS, with Beckham a co-owner of Messi’s Miami, that rule has expanded to allow MLS clubs three DP slots. No matter what each DP is paid contractually, their salary counts against the budget at the senior maximum charge (this changes a bit every year, but in 2023 it’s $651,520).

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For instance, MLS’s highest-paid player is Chicago Fire’s Xherdan Shaqiri. He makes $8,153,000 (per MLS Players Association), but hits Chicago’s salary cap at $651,520.

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Does Messi speak English?

If he does, he’s never done so in any kind of extensive way publicly. He did tell the BBC before an interview in 2021 that he had been learning English for a year and a half, but that while he understands the language, he does not speak it.

Is Messi the captain?

That hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s worth noting that Inter Miami’s designated captain at the start of the season, Gregore, is sidelined for at least a couple more months after suffering a foot injury in Miami’s second game. Striker Leonardo Campana wore the armband in Miami’s previous game against the Columbus Crew. Given Messi’s stature and the lack of a permanent captain, it seems likely that the armband will go to him.

Who will be coaching him?

That would be Gerardo “Tata” Martino, whom you might also recognize as Messi’s coach at Barcelona in the 2013-2014 season, and with Argentina from 2014-2016. Martino will also be familiar to North American soccer fans as the coach of Atlanta United (with which he won MLS Cup in 2018) and the Mexico national team from 2019-2022. Martino and Messi, both Argentinians, have a long history, which you can read about in-depth here.

Can I buy tickets easily?

It depends on what amount of money you consider to be “easy.” A ticket for Messi’s supposed debut, on July 21 against Cruz Azul, is going for a minimum of $350 at time of writing. That price point – around $300 or so – is true of most of Messi’s games with Miami for the remainder of the season, home and away.

Is he still good?

He is not just good, he’s arguably still the world’s best player.

Messi recorded 16 goals and 16 assists across 32 league appearances for his previous club, Paris Saint-Germain, helping the star-studded side to the Ligue 1 title last season. When on song, the connection between Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar was unstoppable for opposition defenses, with Messi and Neymar operating in deeper areas and feeding passes into space for Mbappe, PSG’s main source of goals.

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Mbappe and Messi have met at the World Cup on two occasions, with Mbappe’s France beating Argentina on their way to glory in 2018 and Argentina winning a penalty shootout in the final in 2022. During that more recent tournament, Messi reminded doubters he is still among the top players in world football despite his age, scoring seven goals, including two in the final and the crucial first against Mexico in the group stage following the opening game defeat to Saudi Arabia. For his performances across the tournament, Messi won his second Golden Ball, the trophy awarded to the best individual player at a World Cup, after collecting his first in 2014.

While Inter Miami has struggled this season, Messi is expected to raise their ceiling considerably.

What if people pay big money to see him and he doesn’t play?

Then history will be repeating itself. David Beckham’s arrival at the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 is probably the closest analog to Messi’s move, with the notable difference being that Beckham arrived carrying an ankle injury that limited his minutes throughout his first half-season in the U.S. Ticket prices around the league shot up, but those buyers ended up being pretty unlikely to see Beckham at all, let alone see him play significant minutes: he only made five appearances (two starts) in the Galaxy’s 18 remaining league games. The prices were what they were.

On the plus side, Messi appears to be in good health as he begins his Miami adventure, so it seems from the outset that it will be much more likely that ticket-holders will actually see him play.

GO DEEPER

Waiting for Messi: The scene in D.C. as fans and Miami execs anticipate his arrival

Is there an Apple documentary of him too?

In June, Apple announced a four-part documentary chronicling Messi’s World Cup career, including exclusive access and interviews from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The title and release date of the series has not yet been revealed.

Is Messi the greatest of all time?

There is still some degree of debate about this, though less than there was before he won his World Cup in 2022 with Argentina. Over a 19-year career at the top of the European and international game, Messi has scored over 800 goals, won countless major trophies, and collected a record seven Ballon d’Or awards, football’s most prestigious individual prize.

But it’s his remarkable creative ability that sets him apart from many of the all-time greats in many people’s eyes, including his most notable contemporary rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. At the top of his game, Messi contributes in all phases of the attacking play through his elite passing and dribbling. His ability to create opportunities from nowhere is comparable to Argentine icon Diego Maradona, Messi’s compatriot and another with a strong claim to the ‘greatest of all time’ tag.

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Alongside Messi and Maradona, Pele is the third name most commonly mentioned in this discussion. During an 18-year career with Brazilian club Santos, Pele scored 569 goals in 583 recorded league games, but it was his performances for Brazil that elevated him as the first football star to transcend the sport globally. During his international career, he won three World Cups, the only player ever to do so, winning his first at 17. After four previous attempts, Messi finally won the biggest prize in world football last year at 35.

(Photo: Fred Lee/Getty Images)

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Notes

Great to see US players Christian Pulisic sign with AC Milan today, along with Jedi Robinson re-sign with Fulham for 5 more years. Combine this with Pepi finalized in Holland, Brendan Aaronson to German Champions League team Union Berlin and of course Tim Weah going to my Juventus and things for our US stars are going pretty well. Still waiting on Mckinney, Adams and Musah news to finalize things.  It was 4 years ago today that the US Ladies won their 4^th World Cup –  4 stars – Andres Cantor joined NBC morning news today to discuss our chances this year!  22 Years ago yesterday Gigi Buffon started his 2 decade dominance in goal for Juventus – my favorite GK and why I a Juve fan to this day.  Love this story on Pep – Pep Guardiola gets Fired as Youth Ref in NYC.   Speaking of great Coachess – Ancelotti still has game – with moves like this he will fit right in if he leaves Real Madrid after next season to go to Brazil’s national team coach.  Cade Cowell’s First goal for the USMNT was a beauty. England’s U21’s have made the European Cup Finals and will face Spain on Saturday at 12 noon on CBS Sports Network and Paramount. 

US Men vs Canada Sun 7:30 pm Fox – Gold Cup in Cincy

Excited to be headed to Cincy on Sunday afternoon for the Gold Cup Quarterfinal Double header of Jamaica vs Guatemala at 5 pm on FSI, then our US B team vs Canada’s B team after.  Again I love this for the US – we have had MLS guys step up and fight to claim the right to be considered on our A team.  One such player has been Jalen Neal the 19 year old LA Centerback who has been our best defender along with Reggie Cannon on the right in this tourney so far.  Of course Jesus Ferreira with  back to back Hat tricks (first time ever for the US) has been impressive.  Listen I don’t care who we are playing a hat trick is a hat trick – we don’t have anyone else scoring more than 1 a game – give Jesus – who is only 22 – his due.  I also like Milhailovic in the 10 spot – for the US – showing he can fill that Reyna role so far albeit against Concacaf competition.  Lets see how we handle knock out play.  The way we are playing a 4-0 result vs Canada would not be surprising here. 

US Ladies Kick Off Game Sun 3 pm on TNT

As the ladies ready for the World Cup in just under 2 weeks – they will play a tune-up game Sunday on TNT at 3 pm vs Wales.  It will be interesting to see how starts in this warm-up before traveling down under for the US ladies as they look to become the first 3 time (back to back to back) winner in Men’s or Women’s World Cup history.  Tons of coverage below along with snipets of the ladies on the trip.  I am thrilled with this team – honestly this is the most racially diverse roster the US Ladies have ever sent to a World Cup and a good mix of youth along with wiley 3 – time WC Veterans Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Kelly O’Hara.  The biggest loss may well be veteran and long time captain Becky Sauerbrunn.  Who will fill her shoes in both leadership (Horan or Morgan?) and in defense Girma, Cook or perhaps even Julie Ertz sliding back from the 6 with Sullivan claiming that spot?  How many games will Rose Lavelle and perhaps Rapinoe miss with lingering injuries?  Can Smith take over where the injured Mallory Swanson took off and be the wing scorer we need?  I don’t know – but man I can’t wait !! Jealous my daughter Courtney is headed down for the Sweet 16-Final 4 (I am pretty sure I can fit in the suitcase girly).   Crystal Dunn talking  Right back with Roger. 

Indy 11 Women Advance to W League Central Conference Final Sat

Indy Eleven handed Flint City AFC its first loss of the 2023 season to advance to the USL W League Central Conference Final. The 3-0 win sets Indy up with a Conference Championship match-up against Minnesota Aurora FC Saturday.The Girls in Blue will face Minnesota Aurora FC in the Central Conference Final Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at Atwood Stadium in Flint, Michigan. Minnesota Aurora defeated Chicago City SC, 1-0. Recap

Indy 11 Men home Sat Night 7 pm vs FC Tulsa – Pride Night

Join Indiana’s Team for our 10th annual “Pride Night” and help celebrate Indy’s LGBTQIA+ community. Indy Eleven will unveil a special Pride-themed jersey at the match, with proceeds from their sales going to benefit a local non-profit organization that champions Indiana’s LGBTQIA+ citizens and allies. Purchase a discounted $7 ticket for the Indy Eleven match on July 8th vs FC Tulsa and add on an Indy Eleven Pride t-shirt for $22. Tix avail via indyeleven.com/tickets. 

Coach Shane Best “aka the Ole Ballcoach” is Training GKs Wed/Thur nights

Wed 7/12, 7/19 & Thur 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27 U10-U13  6-7:15 pm U14-U16  7:15 – 8:30 pm shanebestsoccer@gmail.com or text 317-748-7174 for more info.

Carmel High School Boys Summer Schedule

Carmel High School Girls Summer Schedule

July 17-20: Carmel High School Middle School Soccer Camp for rising 5^th through 8th grade girls, Murray Stadium 2-4:30 pm  Cost $90  Register   T-shirt  Included – work out with the current Varsity Girls team and coaches.  GKs you should be going – especially 7^th and 8^th graders to be. 

Butler GK Camp – July 10-14  cost $295

Boys & Girls Ages 8-16  Butler Varsity Grass Fields Complex  Strikers/Mid/Def & GKs

GAMES ON TV

Sat, July 8

12 pm CBS SN, Para+      England U21 vs Spain U21 Euro Finals

7 pm FS1                            Panama vs Qatar Quarters Gold Cup      

7 pm WRTV 7 ABC            Indy 11 Men vs FC Tulsa               

9:30 pm FS1                        Mexico vs Costa Rica QF Gold Cup                            

10 pm Para+                       San Diego Wave(Korniach) vs Washington(Hatch) 

Sun, July 9

4 pm TNT, Telemundo        USWNT vs Wales  Send-off

5 pm FS 1                             Jamaica vs Guatamala -Gold Cup QF

7 pm Fox                     USA vs Canada

5:30 pm Para+                   NY Gothem(Mewis) vs Portland Thorns

8 pm Para+                         Angel City FC vs NC Courage

Final NWSL Games till after World Cup

Wed, July 12

7:30 pm FS1                        Semi- Finals Gold Cup 

7 pm TV 23 ESPN+            Indy 11 vs Charleston Battery

Sun, July 16

7:30 pm FS1                        Finals Gold Cup 

Thur, July 20               Women’s World Cup Starts

3 am Fox                              New Zealand vs Norway

6 am Fox                              Australia vs Ireland

10:30 pm Fox                     Nigeria vs Canada

Fri, July 21                          

1 am FS1                              Phillipines vs Switzerland

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Costa Rica

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Vietnam

Sat, July 22

3 am FS1                              Zambia vs Japan

5:30 am Fox                        England vs Haiti

8 am Fox                              Denmark vs China

7 pm WRTV, ESPN+         Indy 11 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sun July 23

1 am FS1                              Sweden vs South Africa

3:30 am FS1                        Netherlands vs Portugal

6 am Fox                              France vs Jamaica

Mon July 24

2 am FS1                              Italy vs Argentina 

4:30 am FS1                        Germany vs Morroco 

7 am FS1                              Brazil vs Panama

10 pm FS1                            Colombia vs Korea

Wed, July 26

1 am FS1                              Japan vs Costa Rica

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Zambia

8 am FS1                              Canada vs Ireland

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Netherlands

Tues, Aug 1

3 am Fox                     United States Women vs Portugal

3 am FS1                              Vietnam vs Netherlands

7 am Fox                              England vs China

7 am FS1                              Haiti vs Denmark

Sat, Aug 5

7 pm TV 23                          Indy 11 vs Memphis- Star Wars Night

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Schedule

 World Cup Schedule

Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw

US Men & Gold Cup

 Yueill replaces injured Sonora on USMNT Gold Cup roster

Ferreira’s red-hot form offers another solution in USMNT’s striker search Kyle Bonagura
USMNT’s Jesús Ferreira scores historic 2nd straight hat trick in 6-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago to clinch Gold Cup group
Who is Jesús Ferreira, the USMNT player jokingly nicknamed ‘The Pirate of the Caribbean’?

Ferreira, Gray, Hagen lead Gold Cup Group Stage Best XI  July 4, 2023

Guatemala players praise “extra boost” from fans in Gold Cup July 5, 2023

2023 Gold Cup Referee Appointments Matches 34

Source: USMNT’s McKennie in Dortmund talks  Constantin Eckner

Formula for success? Inside Wiegman’s plans for England at the Women’s World Cup  3hTom Hamilton

Sources: Milan make new €20m+ bid for Pulisic  ESPN

U.S.’s Ream isn’t ready to retire. He wants 2026 World Cup  om Hamilton

MLS

LA Galaxy-LAFC match at Rose Bowl sets MLS attendance record

La Galaxy’s Puig Terrofizes LAFC in Front of Record Breaking Crowd at Rose Bowl

Riqui Puig shows MVP potential in El Tráfico: “I felt like a little kid”

LAFC not Happy to lose again

Miami hires Messi’s old boss, Martino

It’s not just the Reds who are hot in Cincy

Indy 11

 Indy Ladies advance to Central Conference Final

Indy 11 Games to be Broadcast on WTRV ABC

Recap – IND 2:2 SD

Quinn Named to USL Championship Team of the Week

Indy Eleven to Serve as Presenting Sponsor of the Mayor Hogsett Indy International Soccer Cup

Lindley Named to USL Championship Team of the Week

USL Rankings Week 17 – Indy 11 15^th

Goalkeeping

 Matt Turner Save vs Jamaica

Gigi Buffon started his 2 decade dominance in goal for Juventus

Former CFC GK Coach and Indy 11 GK now SA GK Jordan Farr in the Saves of the Week Lineup Last week

Indy 11 GK Oetti in the Tops for Week 16
Brighton sign Dutch goalkeeper Verbruggen from Anderlecht

Lioness GK Training

Amazing PK Saves Ladies

Reffing

Ref Announcements for the Gold Cup Quarters No US refs on the field –gotta love CONCACAF  

Become a Licensed High School Ref

Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13

Pep Guardiola gets Fired as Youth Ref in NYC

Man it will sicken me if they change these rules on the GK – perhaps if the PK taker misses he automatically gets a redo for being a pathetic forward?

======================RackZ BAR BQ ====Save 20% ====================== 

Heading over to the Badger Field for Training?  Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ

Save 20% on your order 

(mention the ole ballcoach) 

Check out the BarBQ Ribs, pulled Pork and Chicken, Brisket and more.  Sweet, Tangy or Spicy sauce. Mention you heard about it from the Ole Ballcoach — and Ryan will give you 20% off your next meal. https://www.rackzbbqindy.com/ Call ahead at 317-688-7290  M-Th 11-8 pm, 11-9 Fri/Sat, 12-8 pm on Sunday.  Pick some up after practice – Its good eatin! You won’t be disappointed and tell ’em the Ole Ballcoach Sent You!  

Gold Cup schedule, TV listings, odds, picks: Mexico favored ahead of Americans entering quarterfinals this weekend

By Dan Santaromita 4h ago Atheltic

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Fresh off winning a trophy in the CONCACAF Nations League, the U.S. men’s national team is three wins away from another one this summer. The CONCACAF Gold Cup has reached the knockout phase, but the Americans are not the favorites to win.Mexico has that claim on BetMGM, with +110 odds despite losing to Qatar in its final group match. The Mexicans had already clinched first place in Group B before that loss, but that will not settle an El Tri fanbase that is already uneasy, to say the least.

The U.S. is next in the odds at +275. Then it’s wide open, with the rest of the quarterfinalists viewed as longshots.

CONCACAF Gold Cup odds

TEAM	ODDS
Mexico	+110
USA	+275
Canada	+800
Panama	+1200
Jamaica	+1200
Costa Rica	+1600
Qatar	+2000
Guatemala	+2500

The U.S. had convincing victories against Mexico and Canada in the Nations League less than a month ago, but the team is almost completely different. Four players from the Nations League roster are also on the Gold Cup squad (Matt Turner, Sean Johnson, Alejandro Zendejas and Alan Soñora). Of those four, only Turner, the starting goalkeeper, played in either Nations League match.It was apparent how different this American team is in an 1-1 draw against Jamaica that opened the Gold Cup. Jamaica led for most of the match and Turner had to save a penalty kick in the first half to prevent the Caribbean nation from going up two goals. Brandon Vázquez eventually tied the match with a goal in the 88th minute.Canada has 14 players from its Nations League team on the Gold Cup roster, but is missing most of its big name players. Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Stephen Eustáquio are among the standouts Canada does not have in the Gold Cup. The Canadians struggled in the group phase with draws against Guadeloupe (in Toronto) and Guatemala before beating Cuba on Tuesday to advance.With the U.S. and Canada playing without their top players, it’s easy to see why Mexico is the favorite. El Tri has nearly the entire squad back from the Nations League, although that team got embarrassed in a 3-0 loss to the Americans.

Gold Cup quarterfinals

Panama vs. Qatar

Kickoff: Saturday, July 8, 7 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, Univision

Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Odds to advance: Panama -275, Qatar +175

Panama has been one of the bigger surprises of the tournament by winning Group C comfortably. Bizarrely, Panama allowed a goal in stoppage time in all three group matches. The first two came with Panama up 2-0 and the last one cost Los Canaleros a win against El Salvador, but that was after Panama had locked up first place in the group.Panama has made two Gold Cup finals (2005, 2013), but hasn’t made it past the quarterfinals since 2015. Panama is heavily favored to end that drought.Qatar made the semifinals of the Gold Cup in 2021 and is back in the knockout stage this year. It took a shocking 1-0 win against Mexico to advance after the Qataris got one point from their first two matches.

TEAM	PICK TO ADVANCE
Jeff Rueter	Qatar
Dan Santaromita	Panama
Andrew DeWitt	Panama

Mexico vs. Costa Rica

Kickoff: Saturday, July 8, 9:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, Univision

Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Odds to advance: Mexico -650, Costa Rica +375

Mexico dominated Honduras and was mostly in control against Haiti, but the loss to Qatar resurfaced questions about this team. Still, Mexico is the biggest favorite of the quarterfinals.

Costa Rica had a slow start to the Gold Cup with a loss to Panama and a goalless draw against El Salvador, but put advanced with a wild 6-4 win against a Martinique team that started the day in second place in the group. The Ticos last beat Mexico in 2013. Mexico has seven wins and three draws against Costa Rica since.

TEAM	PICK TO ADVANCE
Jeff Rueter	Mexico
Dan Santaromita	Mexico
Andrew DeWitt	Mexico

Guatemala vs. Jamaica

Kickoff: Sunday, July 9, 5 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, Univision

Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

Odds to advance: Jamaica -300, Guatemala +200

Jamaica hasn’t been a power in the region but has one of the most talented teams in this tournament. The English Premier League trio of Leon Bailey, Michail Antonio and Demarai Gray give the Reggae Boyz three of the best players in the Gold Cup. After drawing the U.S. in Chicago and blowing away Trinidad and Tobago and then Saint Kitts and Nevis in the group stage, the results have gone along with the talent so far.

Jamaica is the only Caribbean nation left in the field and the only group runner-up to be favored in a quarterfinal. The Reggae Boyz have recently succeeded in the Gold Cup, making the final in 2015 and 2017 and the semifinals in 2019.

ADVERTISEMENT

Guatemala hasn’t made it to the quarterfinals since 2011.

TEAM	PICK TO ADVANCE
Jeff Rueter	Jamaica
Dan Santaromita	Jamaica
Andrew DeWitt	Jamaica

USA vs. Canada

Kickoff: Sunday, July 9, 7:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, Univision

Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

Odds to advance: USA -250, Canada +175

These two nations played for a trophy less than three weeks ago, but most players who took part will not be in Cincinnati. Canada has five starters from the match; the Americans have one. The U.S. hasn’t been tested since struggling in an opening draw against Jamaica. The Americans picked up a pair of 6-0 wins since. Jesús Ferreira scored a hat trick by the 50th minute against Saint Kitts and Nevis and then pulled off the feat by halftime against Trinidad and Tobago. Canada should represent a tougher test, though.This is viewed as the most competitive quarterfinal based on the odds. There’s also a decent chance of a high-scoring match with over 2.5 goals having -110 odds.

Canada last beat the Americans on U.S. soil in 1957.

TEAM	PICK TO ADVANCE
Jeff Rueter	USA
Dan Santaromita	USA
Andrew DeWitt	USA

(Photo of Djordje Mihailovic: Bill Barrett/USSF / Getty Images)

AC Milan sign Christian Pulisic from Chelsea

By James HorncastleJul 7 2023

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AC Milan have made a second bid for Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic in a package worth up to €22million (£18.9m).Milan made an opening €14m offer for the UMSNT captain at the weekend with Chelsea valuing him higher than that.Lyon also made a €25m bid for Pulisic earlier this week, which is more in line with the figure Chelsea are hoping to receive.Pulisic, who has only a year left on his contract at Chelsea, already has an agreement in place with Milan.Chelsea and Milan have forged a good relationship in the past few years, with Olivier Giroud, Fikayo Tomori, Tiemoue Bakayoko and, most recently, Ruben Loftus-Cheek all joining the Italian club.Loftus-Cheek’s arrival means Milan have filled one of their two non-EU registration slots for the upcoming season. Pulisic would not count towards the second as he holds a Croatian passport.Milan, though, remain very keen on Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze and are in contact with the Spanish club as Stefano Pioli’s side look to bolster their front line.Pulisic played just 813 minutes in all competitions for Chelsea in 2022-23 with only nine of his 25 appearances from the start.He joined from Borussia Dortmund in a £58m deal in January 2019 before remaining on loan in Germany for the remainder of the season.Pulisic was part of the Champions League-winning squad in 2020-21, scoring in the first leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid.Despite his struggles at domestic level, Pulisic remains a key player for the United States, for whom he has 60 international caps and 25 goals.

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‘He has never recaptured that early form’

Analysis by Liam Twomey and Paul Tenorio

Pulisic ranked 20th in the squad for minutes played across all competitions in 2022-23 and Chelsea have given off plenty of signals in the first year of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership that they are moving on from the American, not least spending in excess of £100million ($124.1m) combined on Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk.The source of the antipathy towards Pulisic from some in the Chelsea fanbase is hard to pinpoint. His perceived criticism of hugely popular former head coach Thomas Tuchel in his 2022 book went down badly with many.Some of it may also be a reaction to the hype that continues to surround him across the Atlantic as the face of American soccer — hype that he largely justified with a series of impressive displays at the World Cup in Qatar.Perhaps it is simply born of frustration that, after a blistering end to the COVID-19-affected 2019-20 season, Pulisic has never come particularly close to recapturing such form.https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/14032574/embed?auto=1

(Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

USMNT international Antonee Robinson close to signing new Fulham contract

By Daniel Taylor and Peter Rutzler 6m ago

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Antonee Robinson is close to signing a new contract with Fulham.The USMNT international’s deal with Fulham expires in 2024 but he is poised to commit his long-term future to the west-London club.Robinson, 25, joined Fulham from Wigan Athletic in August 2020, after seeing off competition for Sheffield United for his signature. Both clubs triggered his £1.9million ($2.4m) release clause but Robinson opted for Fulham.Since then, Robinson has made more 100 appearances for the club, including 35 in the Premier League last season as Marco Silva’s side achieved a 10th-place finish.
For the USMNT, Robinson has made 36 appearances and become his country’s first-choice left-back. He started every match of USMNT’s World Cup campaign, next to club team-mate Tim Ream in defence.

Robinson is one of several players in the final year of their contracts at Fulham. Kenny Tete, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Tosin Adarabioyo will see their present deals expire in 2024, with the latter set to leave this summer after contract negotiations broke down. Harrison Reed and Marek Rodak are also in the final year of their contracts, but they have one-year options for extension. Fulham face a busy summer as they prepare for their second successive season in the top flight. They have had several departures, including loanees Cedric Soares, Layvin Kurzawa and Daniel James, as well as Shane Duffy (free to Norwich) and Manor Solomon (set to join Tottenham). The club have also yet to agree new deals for Neeskens Kebano or Willian, while there has been uncertainty about the long-term future of coach Marco Silva too. Fulham are in the market for two central defenders, a left back, right back, a wide player and a forward, with more positions also possible.

Messi mailbag: Answering your questions on MLS salary cap, media access and the Florida heat

By Paul Tenorio Jun 23, 2023

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The June 7 announcement from Lionel Messi that he was going to continue his career in Miami caught most people by surprise. The weeks since have been a scramble to finish his contract and prepare for his arrival. Every expectation is that Messi will debut on July 21 against Cruz Azul in the newly-created Leagues Cup, but as rumors swirl while we wait for the official announcement and hard confirmation of when we will first see Messi in the black and pink of Inter Miami, we wanted to answer some questions from Twitter about his impending arrival. These questions cover everything from the MLS collective bargaining agreement to ticket prices, Miami roster decisions and MLS media rules. 

Is there any real path for MLS to change the cap/player acquisition model on the fly post-Messi or does it have to wait for the next CBA? —@BanjoLegs

There is definitely a path to do it, I just don’t think it will happen that quickly. The CBA litigates some of the major aspects of player contracts and rights — things like free agency, limits on terms of deals, salary minimums, etc. But the agreement also leaves ample room for MLS to change rules as they see fit in the “management rights” clause. In that clause, the MLSPA waives its right to bargain all roster and budget guidelines, including the establishment and termination of different player classifications, roster size, roster composition, number of players within any classification, calendar dates and team salary budgets, among many other things. The MLSPA would be informed of any changes in advance, but the league is able to change those types of rules without being blocked, provided they haven’t specifically been bargained within the CBA. So MLS could create a fourth DP spot or increase the salary budget substantially and drop down to one DP spot without having to bargain those changes. That said, it’s unlikely we see substantial changes in the middle of a season. 

Will the emphasis on bringing Messi’s friends with him lead to discussions amongst owners for a shift towards less restrictive roster rules? —@williamhagens

I think it most certainly has to start conversations — or push conversations forward. The idea that MLS can stand pat and not change one thing about how they operate and how they think about building the best on-field product would be disastrous. Messi brings so many different kinds of opportunities to grow, from the audience he can pull in, to the types of players who will be watching what his experiences look like in MLS. Anyone who has not read the late Grant Wahl’s The Beckham Experiment would be well-served in doing so. The parallels between that version of MLS needing Beckham to push it forward and this version of MLS waiting for Messi’s arrival to help instruct change are striking. MLS has to be innovative, it has to think about growing and changing, and Messi provides the impetus to do just that. I’ve spoken to some sources around the league who are familiar with the workings of the MLS Board of Governors who believe it absolutely will do just that.

Does Messi’s contract contain a dual termination clause? In Argentina it was reported Messi retains the right to cut the agreement early if need be. —@KelvinLoyola

I haven’t heard anything about this on the MLS end, but the details of the deal have been tough to come by, as the league and the parties involved try to quiet down chatter until everything is signed and sealed. I do believe there is an option for the 2026 season, but I would imagine that’s a mutual option. MLS typically does not allow player-held options, but this is not a typical deal.

What is the expected response of teams/league when he doesn’t play in an away match that has exorbitant ticket prices? Any stipulations on requirements to play barring injury? —@daleh1809

Again, I’d say go back to The Beckham Experiment for your answers on this. Beckham didn’t play in many games that first season. He arrived in MLS with an ankle injury and then there were times where he had to be rested, especially as he tried to stay in the England team and was flying back and forth to split club and international duties.The stories that were written around those games will be written again: families who traveled to see Messi and didn’t get the chance, inflated ticket prices that under-delivered on the promise of seeing Messi, teams that upped ticket prices around a visiting player only for that player not to show up. It’s an inevitability. You can go down the Miami schedule and point to games right now that seem like real question marks for whether Messi goes or doesn’t. I think it would be incredibly difficult to insert any sort of clause that requires a player to play, though I imagine there are heavy incentives tied to appearances, goals, etc., as there are for players up and down the roster.

1. Will Inter Miami Keep (Leonardo) Campana and Josef (Martinez)? 2. Will Inter Miami manage to add another impact player via TAM/GAM (as opposed to DP)? —@estebanjq3

I think Miami would prefer to keep both, yes. And they don’t have to move either one, necessarily. Campana can be bought down with allocation money and Martinez’s contract runs out at the end of the season, so I’m not sure what a trade market would look like for him, or if he’d make a move easy, especially because his deal includes a no-trade clause. Campana is the interesting one, if only because he would surely bring in a massive haul of allocation money should Miami need the cash to buy down more players. But considering its recent trades and sales, Miami is sitting on a hefty amount of allocation and has the flexibility to add DPs. And it would make sense that they just buy out Rodolfo Pizarro and add players rather than move too many big names out. They likely have some cap space to add a few other non-DP players, but that will require some movement out, as well. Remember, if you’re buying down Campana and Gregore, you now have two huge salaries you have to account for with allocation money, plus you have the two new DPs whose numbers you’d also like to buy down, if possible. This is the juggling act of MLS salary caps and GAM. 

I am wondering how you consider the mediatic impact Messi will have on the league. Sure, he is a famous character but he isn’t the media beast that Ibra or Beckham could be back in their days. Are we really gonna see him on every talk show in the U.S.? —@CultureSoccer

Yes, I think this is where there will be a distinct difference between Beckham/Zlatan and Messi. Beckham felt an obligation to be the face of the league. His expansion clause also incentivized him to build up the league. Ibrahimovic enjoyed doing the bigger media opportunities. He’s a star who embraces being a star. Messi’s personality is far different. He doesn’t love doing media, so it’ll be a bit of a question mark how much he actually gets out there to do interviews. Surely there will be a few one-on-ones along the way, but I think the expectations for availability should be relatively low. And no, I don’t anticipate seeing Messi on the late-night talk shows, at least not as regularly as Ibrahimovic, though after watching the entertaining videos from Sergio Aguero during the World Cup, maybe they should make that a show.

Will (Messi) be able to make all MLS clubs put in grass pitches? —@TheOrangeGoats

My colleagues and I made some calls about this after hearing some rumors that teams with turf fields were considering laying temporary grass down on top of their turf. We were told there is absolutely nothing to it. It remains to be seen whether Messi will play on turf. He’ll be tested in his first season; Miami has away games in Atlanta and Charlotte this season. A midweek game in Chicago during the NFL season is another “playing surface” question for Messi’s first season. Do they put him on a plane for a midweek game in Chicago considering the history with that field? 

Literally I have been sitting here with a calculator and such like a nerd — how might the typical humidity and heat (85-90 degrees F) of Miami in July change his performance, if at all? For instance on long distance runs it adds a couple min per mile to your time. —@ariellec

No doubt the heat will be different for Messi. But the good news is that he just doesn’t run very much anymore. The Athletic had a whole story about how much he was walking at the World Cup in Qatar! At the World Cup, Argentine players averaged 10.5 kilometers per game. Messi averaged 8.8, less than some of Argentina’s center backs. His teammates averaged 47.9 sprints per game. Messi averaged 35.5. Based on how he’s evolved as a player, I don’t think it will change his game.

Will Messi’s arrival spur you to starting up a new podcast? I miss Allocation Disorder! —@DanielLisi1

To be determined.

Any immediate changes to logistics with security and media protocols? Will Messi have reporters putting cameras & mics in his face in the locker room after he puts on his underwear? —@ThatCodyTho

I’ll never forget being in the locker room after Andrea Pirlo’s first game for NYCFC and seeing the shock on his face when he emerged from the showers and saw the gaggle of press waiting. At least they had us behind a rope. I can’t imagine it will be the same for Miami. A number of MLS teams have found ways to modify, work around or straight up ignore the league rules about open locker room access. Some teams say you can request any player you want and they bring them out. Some teams bring players out for press conferences and leave that as the access. Some teams put up screens that prevent you from working the locker room itself and pull players to the other side of that screen and say, ‘Well, technically you’re in the locker room so this is not violating MLS rules.’ 

From an American beat-writing perspective, none of those things is the same as an open locker room. Reporters surround LeBron James after every game. You can get a crack at any top MLB player in the clubhouse. Same with the NFL. But, realistically, soccer is a different beast, and MLS is trying to cope with bringing players into a new culture. In many countries, the locker room is sacrosanct. Sometimes you win out and players learn to deal with it. I was able to approach Kaká in visiting locker rooms for basically his entire first season in MLS (when I covered Orlando City full-time). With other players, the access has been more limited. I would assume Messi will be much, much more difficult to get to, and that when we see him speak to media, it will be in a press conference setting.One of the more interesting angles to this is how away teams will prepare to deal with Messi when he’s in town, and even this media angle is an interesting one. Do they limit press passes? Every reporter here has a story about witnessing a person wearing a press pass asking for a photo with a star player during the American tours from prominent teams or at all-star games. It’s against MLS rules and it’s written on the back of the press pass that your credential will be revoked, but you have to imagine there will be some people who shoot their shot with a little less concern about losing media access.

How does MLS handle closing the door on other marquee players wanting similar treatment to come to the league? —@BlueCityRadio

They say something along the lines of: “You’re not Messi.” Not sure how many players out there could argue that. There will be a time when another player like this comes along, but it’s been 16 years since David Beckham arrived and who knows how long it will be until someone like Kylian Mbappe requires hoops like this. Really, if you’re the most optimistic of MLS supporters, you dream of a time when this kind of “marquee” treatment isn’t necessary because MLS grows into a big enough league to not require it. I’m not sure how close that is to reality, however.

How badly does it hurt MLS if Messi struggles to adapt to some of the more unusual and challenging aspects of the league? Travel, turf fields, bad refs, press in the locker room, and especially the wild disparity in player quality across an MLS roster all seem like things he could throw shade on, to the great detriment of the league’s generally improving reputation.  —Mike in Arlington, VA (@MostlyOverThere)

MLS survived Zlatan Ibrahimovic calling it out for multiple issues. It survived David Beckham lamenting the turf fields. It survived Gareth Bale talking about it being okay with losing and Wayne Rooney criticizing the referees. MLS knows what it is. It’s comfortable with what it is. And globally, the perception gap of where MLS actually is and where people think it operates is bad enough that I’m not sure there’s enough of a downside in any sort of public critiques from big players. The generally-improving reputation of MLS, in my opinion, is felt more strongly in actual soccer circles — the players, coaches, sporting directors, agents and executives who work in the game — than with the public. We’re at a point now where it’s going to take something more drastic to start influencing public opinion of MLS, both positively and negatively. Comments from Messi won’t move the needle. Finding ways to surround Messi with better teammates and competition? Well, maybe that could provide a boost. But even that’s not guaranteed. (Photo: Fred Lee/Getty Images)

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This USWNT World Cup roster is the most racially diverse in the team’s history for a big tournament

If you don’t think that matters, you probably aren’t a person of color or a member of the LGBTQ community.OPINION

Four years ago, watching Megan Rapinoe’s World Cup victory speech made me think of two young girls. One was myself, a soccer fanatic who thought the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) was absolutely everything. The other was a young fan I encountered while working a game in 2013. In her speech that day, Rapinoe remarked, “Yes, we play sports. Yes, we play soccer. Yes, we’re female athletes, but we are so much more than that. You are so much more than that.”Now, as we are on the cusp of another World Cup, I am thinking of all the kids — and adults, too — who may see themselves on this particular version of the USWNT roster.A roster that is the most racially diverse in the team’s history for a major tournament.Seven Black players (18-year-old phenom Alyssa Thompson is also Filipino and Peruvian) and two Mexican Americans made the squad headed to Australia and New Zealand this summer. This is an increase from the 2019 World Cup roster, which featured five Black players, and the 2020 Olympic team, which had six. Additionally, Sofia Huerta and Ashley Sanchez are just the second and third Mexican Americans to ever appear on a roster for either major tournament, joining Stephanie Cox, who first did so in 2008.There are also three LGBTQ members competing for Team USA.

This iteration of the national team is young (14 individuals are playing in their first World Cup), Black, and queer — a significant fact for a team that has only had nine out LGBTQ players and 19 players of color appear on a roster for a World Cup or Olympics in its 30-year history.Once the team hits the field in July, 24 players of color will have suited up for Team USA in these high-profile tournaments — 26 if you include Huerta and Sanchez.If you don’t think that matters, you probably aren’t a person of color or a member of the LGBTQ community.And it matters especially now, as this roster and this team are existing in the same space where systematically marginalized and underrepresented groups are under attack all across this nation.In 2023, there have been more anti-LGBTQ bills enacted than any other year on record, and a recent report found that American adult support of same-sex relationships has dropped. Antisemitism is on the rise, with neo-Nazis convening all over the country, including at the entrance to Disney World. There are also movements to erase Black history and books from the classroom, as well as an overarching feeling in some spheres that diversity, equity, and inclusion are dirty words.

These conversations haven’t escaped sports, with racism and homophobia still ever present in soccer, both domestically and globally.While the visibility of these Black and queer players on the field for Team USA may not do much to tangibly impact either of these conversations, it will undoubtedly help others see themselves — to see potential and possibility — on the game’s brightest stage.That potential and possibility will be present every time Lynn Williams, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman carve through defenders or put one in the back of the net. It will also be there as Crystal Dunn dominates at left back, even though she’s playing out of position, or in the new center back pairing of Alana Cook and Naomi Girma.And it will be present in Kristie Mewis making her first World Cup roster at the age of 32 for a tournament hosted by the home nation of her girlfriend, Australian superstar Sam Kerr, as well as in Kelley O’Hara playing in her fourth World Cup, and her first since coming out by kissing her then-girlfriend, now fiancée, after winning the whole thing last time around. Yes, Williams, Smith, Rodman, Dunn, Mewis, and O’Hara are all soccer players. But they are also, to borrow a phrase from Rapinoe, “so much more than that.” I fell in love with the game of soccer before I fell in love with the USWNT, falling for both for a multitude of reasons. One such reason was that the women on the team looked like and reminded me of me, my friends, my family, and my teammates. Seeing them celebrated in 1999 changed my life. The 2023 version of the squad has the potential — the possibility — to do the exact same thing for a whole new group of people.

Kate Harman is a member of the communication studies department at Rowan University, where she helped develop the sports communication and media program.

Published July 5, 2023

How the USWNT’s millennial, Gen Z stars find common ground

• Cesar Hernandez
• Jul 6, 2023, 09:05 AM ET

Even within a globally recognized U.S. women’s national team roster that is filled with celebrity superstars and World Cup winners, older co-workers can sometimes seem a bit odd to their younger colleagues.”Some of the songs they play, [what] they’re all listening to, I have no idea what they are. They sound like … what my parents listen to,” said 22-year-old Sophia Smith, who was once given a hard time by more senior players for not recognizing a song from ’90s rapper Tupac. “Or they’ll talk about the technology they had, like the CD.”

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Smith, a forward for the NWSL‘s Portland Thorns, has never used a CD player. She’s never gone to a World Cup, either.

The same could be said (at least regarding the international tournament) for the San Diego Wave‘s 23-year-old Naomi Girma. In preparation for her first-ever World Cup, the up-and-coming center-back found it amusing that veteran Alex Morgan utilized Mapquest, a website that was popular for printable driving directions in the early-2000s, in her younger days for travel.”We were joking about MapQuest … she would pull out the actual map to get to games,” Girma said with a laugh.At times perplexed by those older than them — Smith admitted that she “won’t watch any movie that’s ‘grainy,'” seemingly referencing a time before high-definition broadcasting — both Smith and Girma represent a broader youth movement for the USWNT.Of the 23 players who will be heading to the World Cup that begins on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, a noteworthy total of 14 will take part in the tournament for the first time. Of those 14, half are 25 or younger, which means that the back-to-back winners will rely on the exuberance of youth rather than the wisdom of experience.In the 2019 competition, the USWNT had 11 debutants, and in 2015, there were only eight. Both teams also had fewer players who were 25 or younger.Aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title and fifth overall, manager Vlatko Andonovski and his players met with media in Carson, Calif., earlier this month to discuss the presence of youthful talents within their roster, the key veterans who will be guiding them along the way, and most importantly, about building and maintaining an intergenerational link.

Finding common ground, on the field

Eighteen-year-old Angel City FC winger Alyssa Thompson, the youngest name on the USWNT roster, finds it surreal that she gets to be teammates with her heroes.”I can’t believe I’m playing with players that I’ve looked up to my whole life,” said the teenager, who was selected first overall in the NWSL draft just months earlier — the first No. 1 pick ever to be selected out of high school.Set to be one of the possible breakout stars of the World Cup, Thompson was just 17 when she made her USWNT debut last October in a 2-1 friendly loss to England. In her first camp with the national team, Thompson remembers being in awe of the soccer celebrities around her.”When I came in, every single player I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s her in real life,'” she said of her thoughts about training with the best in the country. “Literally every single player, I was like, ‘Whoa, I can’t believe I’m here.'”Although Thompson also admitted to finding it a little strange that some of her teammates grew up without cell phones, she didn’t seem to notice much of a difference between everyone once a ball was in play.”You can’t really tell on the field.”Smith agreed, noting that creating trust happens naturally.”You come into this environment and it’s so intense and it’s so hard. I think you have no choice but to kind of lean on your teammates and rely on them,” said the Thorns star about building connections, regardless of age. “Also, we spend so much time together in these camps. It’s every day. So you just get to know each other. I think we all have a common goal and that unites us and brings us together.”

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Much of that unity is thanks to the openness and support of their veteran teammates.For Trinity Rodman, a 21-year-old forward for the Washington Spirit, a high-profile figure like 37-year-old Megan Rapinoe has been a meaningful source for pre-World Cup advice.”I’ve been talking to Pinoe a lot and she’s just very open to being realistic and not sugarcoating anything with me,” Rodman said. “She says it’s a test, and the biggest thing that she kind of told me is you’re here for a reason, do you, and if you stray away from that, you’re not going to perform the way you want to.”Morgan, a three-time participant in the World Cup along with Rapinoe and Kelley O’Hara, has also been a vital mentor for the younger group of players.”Every day in camp, Alex is always kind of taking me under her wing, helping me, explaining things to me,” Smith said. “She’s someone that I’ve looked up to my whole life, so playing with her now, it’s the best thing ever and I can just watch how she goes through life and learn from it just day in and day out at practice.”

The kids are more than all right: ‘They’re really freaking good’

There’s an important but very, very obvious caveat about many of the unseasoned USWNT names: they’re incredible soccer players.

“I’m not worried about the inexperience,” said Andonovski. “In fact, I’m excited about the energy and the enthusiasm that the young players bring, the intensity and the drive as well. … I think that that will be one of our advantages.”

Lawson: Rapinoe inclusion vital for younger USWNT players

Sebi Salazar and Sophie Lawson discuss the inclusion of Megan Rapinoe ahead of what will be her fourth World Cup for the USWNT.Girma, who is expected to be one of the two starting central defenders for the USWNT, clinched the NWSL’s Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year awards in 2022. Smith, a likely name in Andonovski’s XI on one of the wings, helped lead Portland to an NWSL championship last season, while also earning the league’s MVP award. Rodman, a strong option for minutes on the USWNT’s right wing, was the 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year. Thompson, at just 18, is already securing accolades after recently being named the NWSL’s March/April Rookie of the Month.”We do have a lot of people that are experiencing their first World Cup, but they’re really freaking good,” 28-year-old midfielder Rose Lavelle said. “So I have all the confidence in the world that they’re going to rise to the occasion.”Players in their mid-20s waiting to make their World Cup debuts, such as full-back Emily Fox, defender Alana Cook and midfielders Savannah DeMelo and Ashley Sanchez, are also part of a wider generational change. For Cook, the OL Reign defender doesn’t believe that there will be any issues regarding the transition for the national team, thanks to those above them who have steered them in the right direction.”This team has always gone through cycles and changes, and I think the incredible legacy of our older players is that they’ve made sure that everyone’s ready after them and around them. I think it’s always a next-woman-up system when it’s your turn, you have to be ready,” Cook said. “Younger players coming in isn’t a bad thing. I think it’s just a testament to how hard the veterans have worked to make sure that the things that we have, the culture, the work ethic, the tactics are ingrained in all of us.”

Maintaining a legacy

When looking at the veterans, there’s a sense of sustaining and advancing the national team leadership from those before them. O’Hara, getting ready for her fourth World Cup, remembers the impact that former USWNT players had in the early days of her international career.”I feel like I had really great teammates around me that were veterans when I came onto this team, Abby Wambach, Heather Mitts, even Lauren Cheney [Holiday], she’s only a year older than me, but she had been on the team for a while,” O’Hara said. “I’ve always tried to [help] any newcomer to make them feel welcome, to make them feel comfortable because you got to be able to feel that way to be your best self.”Midfielder Lindsey Horan, one of the leaders for the USWNT, has taken inspiration from Becky Sauerbrunn, the longtime captain who was ruled out of this summer’s tournament last month because of a foot injury she suffered in April.”She’s my first call or my first text, and what she does on the field and what she did for me in Portland, it’s just like, I’m going to follow her lead and I want to be that type of role model for the young ones coming up and the new players here,” Horan said. “Trying to be the best role model and a voice for these young players coming in, anytime they need advice or questions.”That imprint left goes far beyond the confines of the field as well.For years, USWNT players clashed with U.S. Soccer as they sought equal pay and better working conditions. After filing a gender discrimination lawsuit in 2019, the case was settled in February 2022, providing a lump-sum payment to the players for $22 million. Months later, they then agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement, which included an equal split of World Cup bonuses between the USWNT and the U.S. men’s national team.”We actually just got our first settlement check [from U.S. Soccer] in the mail a week ago,” Morgan said last week. “Naomi was joking that she didn’t get one and I was like, be grateful you just get equal.”Older co-workers can be a bit odd in the eyes of their younger cohorts, but there’s no denying that they know a little more about the job. And don’t make the mistake of assuming that some of the USWNT veterans are out-of-touch retirees. “Goodness gracious. Don’t age me,” Crystal Dunn said when asked how she can connect with someone as young as Thompson. “I’m still cool and hip, I try to tell all my teammates that. … I have a kid and all of a sudden people are like, ‘Oh, did you hear about TikTok, Crystal?'”

Former USWNT Shannon Boxx on World Cup: ‘Center back pairing is going to be very important’

By Meg LinehanJul 6, 2023

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Former U.S. women’s national team midfielder Shannon Boxx is flying to New Zealand for the World Cup later this month, but first, she has a slightly shorter trip down the West Coast to San Jose for the USWNT’s send-off match against Wales on Sunday as part of the TNT’s broadcast crew. Boxx has been a thoughtful, welcome addition to the desk for USWNT matches as part of U.S. Soccer’s new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, and has also provided game analysis during SheBelieves Cup.Boxx has been heavily referenced since the release of the final 23-player USWNT roster for the World Cup thanks to Savannah DeMelo’s inclusion. DeMelo, a midfielder for Racing Louisville FC, made the roster without a previous appearance for the senior national team. Boxx was the most recent player to earn that same honor.The National Soccer Hall of Famer jumped on a call with The Athletic (on her birthday!) to catch up on all things USWNT, from what to expect in the final stateside match against Wales to her own memories of making the 2003 World Cup roster. This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

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Happy birthday!

Oh, thank you! It’s a really exciting day to do lots of calls.

Let’s start with the send-off game. How much do you factor this game into what’s happening at the first group stage match of the World Cup?

I think it’s going to be half and half. I would always assume that, at least from my own experience of going through it, you want that starting group to work together again — but you might not know what that is exactly yet. They still have so much time once they get to New Zealand. It feels like (you have so much time) when you’re there. For me, (the send-off game) is a great opportunity for (USWNT coach) Vlatko (Andonovski) to get the players together. They haven’t played together in a while, so you’re going to want to get that going again right away.

I can see him really putting out that starting group, and then getting a couple of other players’ minutes. With Becky (Sauerbrunn) going down, there’s always that fear (of a player injury) now, right? The last game. We’ve had that — it happened to Abby Wambach. But again, I would think that he’s going to want to come out with what he believes is going to be that starting lineup.

How do you balance hiding your hand with getting players minutes together, especially, to your point, the center back pairing?

The center back pairing is going to be very important. I talked to Becky last night actually, and I just said, ‘Vlatko thought ahead.’ Unfortunately, he has to think that way, and he definitely made sure — and that was a lot of his comments throughout the time we’ve been playing these friendlies leading up to the World Cup — these two (Naomi Girma and Alana Cook) can lead. We need someone to lead the backline if Becky’s not in the mix, or if she’s not on the field. So I think he’s done a great job. Those two are ready, and he was definitely a planner and he’s definitely going to be doing that next weekend during the game.But I agree with you, they’re going to hide things. They’re not going to let everything out in a game against Wales. They’re going to have set pieces they’re not ready to throw out and let people see it. That’s always the fun part. It’s a little bit of a chess match when you get to the World Cup and you’re like, ‘Hm, what might they throw out?”

What do you think of Naomi Girma? Back in April, Megan Rapinoe absolutely raved about her. It feels tough to try and not put pressure on her, but I feel like she became far more important to this team.

She did. But honestly, she plays like she’s been on the team forever. She has leadership ability. The part that she will continually gain now is that leadership skill because she’s always had it. I think she just felt like she was a newer person, so she didn’t want to use her voice as much. But now it’s going to be important for her to do it, and she has the ability to do that wholeheartedly. Talent-wise, she’s amazing on the field. She’s always in the right position. She’s not afraid of tackling. She’s not afraid of getting down and dirty. She’s just really shined in the last couple of years and it’s been great.

Elsewhere, your name has come up a lot in connection with Savannah DeMelo.

All my friends were texting me the first day! I was like, ‘Why is everybody texting me?’ and they all said, ‘You’re back in the news!’

You were the most recent player to be named to a World Cup roster without a USWNT appearance, back in 2003. Can we just flashback to that moment when you’re getting the call? What does that feel like?

It’s ecstatic. I was not expecting it. That was my first initial reaction, and because I wasn’t thinking I was going to make the roster, that’s the best I was playing. So for me emotionally, it was like, ‘OK, they obviously saw something in me when I was playing my best. And when I play my best, it’s when I’m not thinking about it or fearing anything.’ I thought I didn’t have a chance. I was free; I played that way.

So for me emotionally, going into the World Cup, I felt I needed to do the same thing that I had been doing. I was 26. I was old enough to recognize that it was a great opportunity, and I felt like I had experience. The league had prepared me. That’s the first thing I thought about. The league is doing what it’s supposed to do. WUSA was there for me, and any time I ever talk about making it as an uncapped player — it wasn’t like I hadn’t been playing anywhere, right? The (NWSL) has prepared (DeMelo) for this moment. That’s really important because we are constantly talking about why we need to have a league here in the U.S., and this is just another really good example of why we need one here.

Seeing the NWSL and where it is right now, to your point, it helped DeMelo and Alyssa Thompson. Does it matter more this time around than we’ve ever seen it?

Because of the way the national team hasn’t played together in two months, it really did make a difference. If you made the team or not, I truly believe that so many players stepped up knowing that it mattered. The last two months, games have been amazing. Obviously, I’m watching more of the players that have the potential to make the World Cup team, but they were crushing it because, in the end, they knew it was going to be important. Whereas I felt like in the past, you’re right, it wasn’t as important but we also had games all the way up to the send-off game, and that made a difference too. You’re like, ‘OK, well, I can show you here.’ I might have taken it easier in the league, where it wasn’t the case this year.

I think one other player that has benefitted from NWSL play is Lynn Williams.

Yeah, I agree.

Do you have her as a starter?

Not right now. We have so many hammers up top (laughs). I’m so excited for this World Cup! We have a lot of hammers, and you can imagine Lynn Williams coming in off the bench in the 60th minute. Every other team like, ‘Oh no.’ We have so many talented players up there. Vlatko is going to have to see who works the best together because it’s not just about individual talent. It will be how you work with the other players up top, how you work with the midfielders. It could change game to game, but right now, I think I see Lynn coming in off the bench at this point.

Who do you have up there with Sophia Smith and Alex Morgan?

Sophia on the left, Alex, and Trinity (Rodman).

There’s not really a wrong answer, there are so many options.

Yeah, and that’s good! You can rest some players at times, and they do different things. One thing Trinity has improved and has said this is a focus for her is not checking out. It’s making sure she’s focused on the game on both sides of the ball, and that’s where I think the league has been great for her to work on that. We lose the ball, she’s getting back on defense. Lynn has that ability already. She’s a fighter and has that personality and mentality when she’s out there.I’ve been impressed with Trinity; she’s worked on those things and she’s hot right now. So is Lynn, so you can’t really go wrong. And then you look at Alyssa Thompson. I know as a defensive player, I would struggle with all this speed against me.

What’s your biggest question mark about the USWNT right now?

It’s hard to win three in a row. No matter what we say, right? It is. It’s really, really hard to do. Do I believe they can do it? 100%. You say it’s hard to do two (in a row) and then they did two, and then you’re like, can they do three? Yes, but I think losing Becky is a big thing. I mean that on the field, off the field. It was a big loss, right before, but the back line will do well. I’m a big fan of Emily Fox. I think she’s amazing. You have Crystal Dunn back there, she can lead. And you have Girma and Cook, who have been playing together. That’s the part I would just say needs to be buckled up because it’s changed. It’s just for those players in that backline to really step up. Maybe it’s not one person, maybe it’s the collective really taking charge of leadership and keeping it tight. That would be the biggest part for me.

Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach celebrate after a goal. (Photo by Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

To your earlier point about Abby Wambach’s injury in 2008, that changed the approach to the tournament, but that was when Angela Hucles stepped up. A real strength of this team has always been the depth and mentality. Is that enough to win the third in a row?

I definitely think so. The U.S. mentality is unlike any other team. As you said, Angela stepped up, (Lindsey Tarpley) stepped up. The whole team had to adapt. We lost our scrimmage game and then we lost our first game, and we were like, ‘We don’t know how to do this without Abby.’ But I don’t think this team feels that way. Missing the leadership of Becky, that’s hard. But I felt like we only scored with Abby. They’ve defended as a group this whole time, and there have been times Becky hasn’t been in the game and they’ve already had to figure it out. So my thing is, if they can do it as a collective, it’s going to be no problem because their mentality is going to be so strong.

What’s one thing people should watch for in this send-off game that might settle their nerves?

Wow, that’s an interesting question. They’ve gone through media day. The hype, the excitement, all this stuff is swirling around them. For me, it’s what happens between the lines, what happens in the locker room. Making sure that they’re focused on each other and winning and what they need to do — and having fun. When they’re connected, no one can beat them. There’s going to be a lot of outside stuff happening. The veterans really need to take the younger players, the first-time players, under their wings to be like, ‘All this stuff has been great but remember why we are here.’ It’s focusing on each other and focusing on the process. What it’s going to take in the journey. One thing for me, I always wanted to get to the end so I would know what happened. If you forget we do this because we love it, and should be enjoying the whole journey, the whole process of it. So for me, it’s this game. Wales is a good side, but it’s not really about them, it’s about what’s happening there, in that moment.

Journey to the Cup: Sam Mewis on Player Power and the 2023 World Cup

By The Athletic Staff Jun 30, 2023

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In The Journey to the Cup, The Athletic tells the stories of players and teams as they work towards a place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Follow along as we track their progress as they prepare both mentally and physically for a chance to shine on the game’s biggest stage.This is a special “Journey to the Cup” episode brought to you by Google Chrome.Sam Mewis joins Full Time to discuss her recent trip to Amsterdam for a conference with global player union FIFPro, how the USWNT players association tries to share their expertise, and wins in increased prize money for players at the 2023 World Cup. Plus, thoughts on the USWNT roster and her players to watch this summer. Journey to the Cup Visit: https://youtu.be/Io89abCAiWM

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journey-to-the-cup-sam-mewis-on-player-power-and/id1518818543?i=1000618716472&itsct=podcast_box_player&itscg=30200&ls=1&theme=auto

Mewis on the United States’ roster:

“I think it’s an awesome balance of experience and new, young, exciting players. I think that blend is going to be super important. Like, you’re going to have experience on the field, but you’re also going to have to have some of these young and new players step up and make a huge impact. But they totally can. I mean, I think about – Lynn (Williams) is in such good form, Sophia Smith is in such good form. I’m so excited to see them and see them have that expectation on their shoulders. Like, if they can perform, which I know that they can at this level, the US is going to do great. They have Alex (Morgan) up there, they have (Megan Rapinoe), they have Kelley (O’Hara), they have Julie (Ertz), Crystal (Dunn), Lindsey (Horan) – players who have been through this before, and also players who are super hungry to prove that they’re going to want to be here again. So I think it’s great. I think it’s just going to be, again, that balance of experience and then hunger to prove yourself, so I’m thrilled and really excited to see them play.”

Mewis gives her players to watch in the World Cup:

“Well, I would definitely say Sam Kerr because I love her and she’s obviously so good. … Keira Walsh for England is literally my favorite player ever. I got to play with her at Man City and I’ve been raving about her to anybody who will listen ever since. She just won Champions League with Barcelona and she’s just like the smartest, most technical player, and I think she’s gonna have like an incredible tournament, so I’m really excited to watch her. And Lauren Hemp from England, too – just watch out.”

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over, or input into, the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo by Brad Smith / ISI)

Journey to the Cup: Can the USWNT three-peat?

By The Athletic Staff Jun 30, 2023 The Athletic

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In The Journey to the Cup, The Athletic tells the stories of players and teams as they work towards a place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Follow along as we track their progress as they prepare both mentally and physically for a chance to shine on the game’s biggest stage.

This is a special “Journey to the Cup” episode brought to you by Google Chrome. Meg is joined by Steph Yang and Jeff Rueter to discuss the final USWNT roster for the 2023 World Cup, player by player and position by position. From the team’s depth to major injuries and absences, to the players who also had legit shouts at making the 23 — it’s a comprehensive look at the team that’s going to be aiming for a U.S. three-peat in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journey-to-the-cup-can-the-uswnt-three-peat/id1518818543?i=1000618540638&itsct=podcast_box_player&itscg=30200&ls=1&theme=auto

Rueter on the competition heading into this World Cup:

“There isn’t that same sort of ‘US vs. The World’ feel this year that there was four years ago … I don’t think that there’s that same – there’s not that same everyone’s looking up at the United States at this point. That’s not true in this tournament. … I think it would be very disrespectful to a lot of other national teams to not say that there’s level-footing for three, four, five (teams), US among them.”

Yang on a perceived gap between the USWNT and other teams:

“So the one question that keeps getting asked (of me) is, ‘What’s the gap between the US and the rest of the world?’ And I’m like, ‘I think that question’s been over for several years now. There’s no more gap.’”

Linehan on the expectation for the USWNT to three-peat:

“There is no universe in which that is a productive way of thinking anymore for the US Women’s National Team, and the fact that we have not gotten past that so far – like, maybe this is the tournament where that dies. … I really think that for the US Women’s National team it would be extremely, extremely productive if we could get past the ‘anything that is not winning is terrible, the world is ending’ – it’s 2023, we can move past it.”

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over, or input into, the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

USWNT’s Rose Lavelle: My Game in My Words

Tom Bogert Jun 20, 2023

In this My Game In My Words series, The Athletic builds towards the Women’s World Cup by talking to leading players around the world to find out how they think about football, why they play the way they do and to reflect — through looking back at their key career moments — on their achievements so far. 

It’s a pleasant, mid-May morning in a trendy Seattle neighborhood, on the kind of block with ample walkways, several stylish coffee shops and a pilates studio. Inside the pilates studio awaits U.S. national team star Rose Lavelle, plus a team of sponsors, her agents and, of course for this type of day, a photographer.Lavelle is a star with the USWNT but, at the center of it all, she doesn’t seem to gravitate towards the spotlight. Her down-to-earth demeanor and humor help alleviate the awkwardness of an overly choreographed day— Go here, stand there, pose for this picture, okay now say a few words, pose again, tilt your shoulders please, okay great one more, alright now let’s get to the next location.

Rehab and recovery for Lavelle is currently at the top of mind. She last featured in a game in the beginning of April and is yet to return to the pitch.At the time of the interview, Lavelle was thought to be nearing a return to the field after what was initially described in April by national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski as a “knock” six weeks prior. Less than a week after the interview, OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey said Lavelle suffered a setback in her recovery.The World Cup begins in a month. Fans are worrying that Lavelle’s spot at the tournament is in jeopardy, four years after Lavelle went from rising talent to a bonafide star and fan favorite, scoring in a World Cup final en route to the USWNT adding a fourth gold star above their crest.The Athletic asked Lavelle to break down a sample of moments from her career, big and small.

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Goal, 2019 World Cup final

Though backheel assists (more on that below) and dribbling montages capture the essence of Lavelle’s profile best, her goal against the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final is her biggest moment.Does she ever get tired of answering the same questions about the same goal?“I mean…” Lavelle says as she trails off with laughter. “It’s funny. It’s obviously a big goal, but like, it’s one goal.”Let’s roll the tape. 

Up 1-0 in that World Cup final, Lavelle picks up the ball in space in a rare moment of attacking transition. The Netherlands did a great job of limiting her space, Lavelle says. Driving towards the backline with Alex Morgan ahead to Lavelle’s left, the Dutch center backs keep retreating and focused on cutting off passing lanes. Lavelle keeps taking space until she gets towards the 18-yard box and decides to take the opportunity on herself and shoot.

“Alex pulls in that defender so they don’t step to me.” Lavelle said. “When I was dribbling, I was waiting for the center back to step to me so I could slip it to Alex. Obviously Alex Morgan in that spot on her left foot is so dangerous, they were concerned about defending that. Then I thought ‘oh, she’s not stepping. I guess I’m going to shoot?’ I was waiting for one of them to step.”Lavelle buried her shot into the bottom corner as she fell over. She jumped to celebrate with Morgan and Rapinoe, then ran to the sidelines so the entire squad could be part of the celebrations.The midfielder broke into the national team in 2017 but announced herself at the World Cup two years later. She started six games at the tournament and won the Bronze Ball, given to the third-best player at the World Cup.“That World Cup, my whole thought was that I don’t want to f— this up for the team,” Lavelle said. “I was so nervous, I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to do my job, not overcomplicate things, stick to what I need to do. Honestly, I was just more relieved that we got a second goal.”

Backheel assists vs. New Zealand, Costa Rica

Perhaps the most succinct encapsulation of Lavelle’s on-field talents is that when you search for a backheel assist, there are several options. The first of those options on display is against New Zealand in January of this year.

In the clip, Lavelle receives a progressive pass with her back to goal. A defender is pressuring her from her left on her first touch, a second defender steps up from the backline to try and win the ball as well. That creates space in behind. Between her first and second touches, Lavelle glances in that direction to process the information unfolding around her.

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She doesn’t even hint in that direction again. A second later, after a backwards touch to further draw the defenders away from the space in behind, Lavelle snakes a no-look, backheel through ball to Alex Morgan who buries the chance.

“You know what’s funny? That play right there, I got from Pinoe (Megan Rapinoe),” Lavelle said. “I remember watching her in high school and she did that, I thought ‘that was kind of cool.’ I remember going to a high school practice after that and trying it, it worked out. Like, oh, that’s so sick. Pinoe doesn’t even know she taught me that.”

The second backheel assist — against Costa Rica in July 2022 — is a bit simpler, if only because Lavelle makes it look simple. The USWNT win the ball back in the final third and the duel rolls to Lavelle at the top of the 18 with her back to goal. Again, she saw the run of Mallory Swanson a touch before she makes the pass, adding another layer of deception.It looks simple because, like dribbling, shooting and fitness, it’s a practiced skill.“Growing up, I always loved the creative side of the game,” Lavelle said. “Being able to practice moves and stuff like that – always going on YouTube to look up ‘cool soccer moves’ – I thought that was so fun. Then I’d go to my backyard and pretend to do it. I don’t know, that’s part of the game I’ve always found really fun.”Playing with this kind of creative freedom is earned.“I have the freedom to do it, but I will say, when I don’t connect it, I feel really stupid,” Lavelle said. “I know there’s people thinking ‘come on, play simple.’ But the moments it does come off? It’s really effective.”

Dribble, through ball vs. Spain

In this play, the USWNT picks up a throw in just ahead of midfield on the right touchline, and about eight seconds later, have the ball in a prime crossing position on the left channel of the 18-yard box.

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Lavelle flicks a pass on her first touch, already moving to find new space. 

She gets the ball back with three Spain defenders closing in and slaloms her way to safety.

“Honestly, it’s just a feeling, not a thought,” Lavelle says when asked how she found her way out of that situation. “I’m not thinking in that moment. When I’m playing my best, I’m free flowing. I’m just doing what I feel is on, finding the space naturally.”A subtle part of the play is the timing of the through pass. Lavelle holds just a beat long enough for the opposing fullback to drop in to protect central space. That allows the pass to hit the runner in stride, who can play a first-time cross with space.“I don’t really have a great explanation for that,” she says of the timing with a laugh. “It’s feeling the game, not thinking it.”

Dribble against Russia

Lavelle doesn’t get fouled nearly as much as one may expect for a player with her dribbling ability. It’s something she’s recognizing as her career progresses.

Back in 2017 in a friendly against Russia, Lavelle dusts a defender near the corner flag and takes on another in the 18-yard box. A quick nutmeg brings her closer to goal, where a third defender stumbles with a clumsy challenge. Lavelle stays on her feet, but loses total control. A fourth defender finally pokes the ball away.

“Ugh, I should have fell there,” Lavelle said. “I should have taken the foul.”

“I just am never thinking ‘how can I draw the foul?’ I need to,” Lavelle added. “Pinoe will yell at me, like, they’re fouling you! Go down! But I’m always thinking if I can get to the ball I’m trying to stay up, but I need to be better. If I get clipped in the heels and it’s going to make me fall down, it’s okay to fall down!”

This game came just a month after Lavelle made her USWNT debut. It was clear she had something different to offer to the group, this clip a microcosm of it with tantalizing dribbling and technical ability. 

Lavelle has since accrued 88 national team caps and hopes to add more next month. 

The My Game In My Words series is part of a partnership with Google Pixel. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

(Photo: Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images)

FIFA referees to announce VAR decisions over loud speaker at Women’s World Cup

By Meg Linehan and The Athletic Staff Jul 5, 2023

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FIFA referees will announce VAR, video assistant referee, decisions over the loud speaker during games at the Women’s World Cup this summer, FIFA said in a news conference Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:

• This was previously done at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco and the U-20 World Cup in Argentina but this is the first time it is being used at a senior World Cup tournament for men or women.
• FIFA said this ruling is part of making decisions more transparent.
• In January, football’s lawmakers agreed to trial broadcasting explanations of VAR decisions to the crowd and television at FIFA tournaments over the next 12 months.
• FIFA has no plans to extend the information given live surrounding the decision-making process itself — only the decision itself will be broadcast.
• FIFA not considering referees being available after the game to explain their decisions to press

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

How has VAR changed?

VAR was introduced at the Women’s World Cup in 2019, but memories of the execution were not overwhelmingly fond. Reviews were lengthy and goalkeepers were learning in real time how to approach penalty kicks lest they be penalized. To be fair, FIFA adjusted mid-tournament, and the process did get better by the time the knock-out stages hit, but it was not a clean first look at VAR at the Women’s World Cup. Most of what we’ll see four years later will already be familiar, like lengthy stoppage time similar to what we saw in Qatar that allows for substitutions, celebrations and time wasting. But this is the first time we’ll get live, in-game announcements of VAR decisions like we see in the NFL. FIFA has already tested it in the Club World Cup in Morocco and the U-20 World Cup in Argentina, but this is its biggest rollout yet. Hearing right from the match official in the moment will be a massive step up from a few words flashed on the screen, and while it might not stop displeased fans from making their opinions known, it should be a key step forward in transparency. — Lineham

LAFC “pissed off” as slump continues with El Tráfico defeat

Dylan Butler Wednesday, Jul 5, 2023, 02:25 AM

LAFC have gone from a team on the brink of being arguably the greatest in Major League Soccer history to one in a serious slump.Just a month ago, LAFC were in the Concacaf Champions League final, 180 minutes away from a first-of-its-kind Supporters’ Shield-MLS Cup-CCL treble over the span of eight months.But they lost to Liga MX’s Club León and have now dropped eight of their last 11 games in all competitions. A 2-1 defeat Tuesday night to the LA Galaxy in front of an MLS record crowd of more than 82,000 at the Rose Bowl marked LAFC’s third consecutive league defeat.“We’re still not firing at full strength. It will come, but I don’t think that’s exclusive to LAFC,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said after the El Tráfico setback.“That’s a lot of clubs right now who are missing players. It’s a tough stretch for us, a lot of games, but we’ll get through it. I think if we continue to work on our effectiveness in our own end, not giving up soft goals and making sure that the chances we do get are finished with goals, we’ll see happier times here at LAFC.”LAFC were without defenders Aaron Long (Gold Cup), Sergi Palencia (injury), Jesus Murillo (injury) and Diego Palacios (suspension) for their derby clash and there’s “expectable and logical fatigue,” according to Cherundolo from their deep run in the CCL.

Still, he said, LAFC didn’t play a complete 90 minutes against the Galaxy in Matchday 23.

“I didn’t like the defensive performance in the first half. In the second half, I was very pleased with the performance with and without the ball and in transition, we created a lot of moments for us. Didn’t quite execute perfectly in those moments, but we were very close. Set pieces were better in the second half,” Cherundolo said.“A much-improved performance in the second half. But at this level, you need to play 90 minutes that way in order to come away with a victory.”The rivalry defeat was LAFC’s ninth in 20 all-time El Tráfico matches. While Cherundolo bristled when told the Galaxy have gotten the upper hand in the rivalry, he also acknowledged how much the defeat stings.”These games mean a lot and I’m pissed off, but that’s okay that it hurts and we’re upset,” he said. “It should motivate us moving forward and it will.”Still, despite their current poor run of form, LAFC are in third place in the Western Conference table, three points behind leaders St. Louis CITY SC.While rest would be nice, Cherundolo said there’s just one thing that can cure LAFC’s woes. Their next opportunity to accomplish that comes Saturday evening when welcoming the San Jose Earthquakes (10:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass)“I think we need points. Wins is the only thing that can correct your course and to gain confidence,” he said. “That’s the best medicine there is. We’ll work over the next couple of days to field a team to do that. So I think that’s our main focus right now is San Jose Saturday. Nothing else matters.

“… We need to get through this next game with three points. That’s very important for us.”

https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.579.0_en.html#goog_230396238Play Video

WATCH: LA Galaxy win El Tráfico before 82k+ at the Rose Bowl 

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Rent this Beautiful 4 BR Beach house at Myrtle Beach for as low at $250 a night.

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Happy July 4^th Soccer Style

Gold Cup Action leads the July 4^th soccer schedule tonight at the the US will find out who they are playing in the Quarterfinals as Group D has 3^rd place Canada trying to score enough goals vs Cuba at 6:30 pm on FS1 to qualify for the next round.  On FS2 surprise team Guadelope (who sits top of their group) will face Guatemala. Any of these 3 teams could advance and will make up the 2 of the teams to face either the USA at 7 pm or Jamaica at 5 pm in Cincinnati this Sunday on Fox and FS1.

MLS – El Traffico from the Rose Bowl tonight on Apple TV 10:30 pm

El Traffico  – MLS’s top rivalry kicks off at 10:30 pm tonight as the Galaxy will look to right their horrific season with an upset of defending MLS Champs LAFC in the Rose Bowl with over 70K fans expected and a national TV audience on Apple TV.  LA Galaxy fan story last game hilights. (Read all about it below)

The MLS All-Star Game Roster has been announced they will face Arsenal and American GK Matt Turner in DC on Wednesday night, July 19^th.   Apple has a special on 50% savings to watch the MLS All-Star game as well as the Full MLS Season pass –which shows all the games – including those that Lionel Messi will play in for Inter Miami when he starts sometime in mid July.   Big game Sunday as Atlanta United host Philly 4 pm on Fox, then July 4^th 10:30 pm El Traffico returns on Apple TV.  Tix for Cincy vs Miami THE DEBUT of MESSI in Cincy  in Aug went on sale and sold out in 1 hr – got my tickets baby!

Indy 11 Ladies headed to playoffs

The Girls in Blue won the USL W League’s Valley Division and are headed to the playoffs In Flint Michigan vs Flint July 6^th at 7 pm.

MLS

Rose Bowl is poised to host a record-setting El Tráfico showdown with extra boom

Messi to Miami talks took three years – owner
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami contract worth between $50 to $60 million per year, according to club’s part-owner

Miami hires Messi’s old boss, Martino

It’s not just the Reds who are hot in Cincy

 US Men & Gold Cup

 Ferreira’s red-hot form offers another solution in USMNT’s striker search Kyle Bonagura
USMNT’s Jesús Ferreira scores historic 2nd straight hat trick in 6-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago to clinch Gold Cup group
Ferreira 1st American with back-to-back international hat tricks as US advances in Gold Cup
Who is Jesús Ferreira, the USMNT player jokingly nicknamed ‘The Pirate of the Caribbean’?

U.S.’s Ream isn’t ready to retire. He wants 2026 World Cup  om Hamilton

Sources: Pulisic to reject Lyon, wants Milan move

Source: USMNT’s Aaronson off to Berlin on loan Kyle Bonagura
CONCACAF Gold Cup: USMNT, Jamaica headed for TQL Stadium this week
Qatar upset Mexico to reach Gold Cup quarters, Ferreira hits another hat-trick
Canada’s injured Borjan to miss remainder of Gold Cup
Mexico’s alternate players fail to impress vs. Qatar in Gold Cup Cesar Hernandez 

US Women & Womens World Cup

USWNT 2023 World Cup preview: Everything to know about the 3-peat bid
Women’s World Cup 2023: When does it start? What time are games? And will the USWNT win again?
How USWNT’s winning culture passes to next generation for 2023 World Cup
USWNT 2023 World Cup preview: Everything to know about the 3-peat bid
From Alex Morgan to Ada Hegerberg these are the stars to watch at the Women’s World Cup
USWNT’s Ashley Sanchez and Sofia Huerta on their dual identities as Mexican Americans

Women’s World Cup scouting report: England
England’s squad for the 2023 Women’s Football World Cup
Women’s World Cup scouting report: Germany

GAMES ON TV

Tues, July 4

6:30  pm FS1                       Canada vs Cuba Gold Cup

6:30 pm FS2                        Guadeloupe vs Guatemala Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS1                        Costa Rica vs  MArtinque Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS2                        Panama vs El Salvador Gold Cup

10:30 pm Apple                LA Galaxy vs LAFC  El Traffico

Sat, July 8

5/7 pm FS1                          Quarters Gold Cup                         

10 pm Para+                       San Diego Wave vs Washington

Sun, July 9

4 pm Fox                              USWNT vs Wales  Send-off

5/7 pm FS1 & 2                  Gold Cup Quarter Finals – Cincy

5 pm Jamaica vs ?

7 pm                            USA vs Canada or Guatemala?

5:30 pm Para+                   NY Gothem vs Portland Thorns

8 pm Para+               Angel City FC vs NC Courage

Final NWSL Games till after World Cup

Wed, July 12

TBD FS1                                Semi- Finals Gold Cup 

7 pm TV 8 ESPN+            Indy 11 vs Charleston Battery

Sun, July 16

7:30 pm FS1                        Finals Gold Cup 

Thur, July 20               Women’s World Cup Starts

3 am Fox                              New Zealand vs Norway

6 am Fox                              Australia vs Ireland

10:30 pm Fox                     Nigeria vs Canada

Fri, July 21                          

1 am FS1                              Phillipines vs Switzerland

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Costa Rica

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Vietnam

Sat, July 22

3 am FS1                              Zambia vs Japan

5:30 am Fox                        England vs Haiti

8 am Fox                              Denmark vs China

7 pm WRTV, ESPN+         Indy 11 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sun July 23

1 am FS1                              Sweden vs South Africa

3:30 am FS1                        Netherlands vs Portugal

6 am Fox                              France vs Jamaica

Mon July 24

2 am FS1                              Italy vs Argentina 

4:30 am FS1                        Germany vs Morocco 

7 am FS1                              Brazil vs Panama

10 pm FS1                            Colombia vs Korea

Wed, July 26

1 am FS1                              Japan vs Costa Rica

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Zambia

8 am FS1                              Canada vs Ireland

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Netherlands

Tues, Aug 1

3 am Fox                     United States Women vs Portugal

3 am FS1                              Vietnam vs Netherlands

7 am Fox                              England vs China

7 am FS1                              Haiti vs Denmark

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Schedule

 World Cup Schedule

Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw

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MLS attendance record expected for El Tráfico at Rose Bowl

MLSsoccer staff Tuesday, Jul 4, 2023, 09:25 AM

A sell-out and record-breaking crowd is expected for Tuesday’s El Tráfico between the LA Galaxy and LAFC at the Rose Bowl (10:30 pm ET | Apple TV – Free). The Galaxy have announced that over 80,000 fans are expected to be in attendance for the Matchday 23 showdown, which was originally scheduled for MLS is Back opening weekend. Due to inclement weather, the game was shifted to July 4th.

That projected crowd would establish a new all-time MLS attendance record, surpassing the record Charlotte FC broke last year. The current mark sits at 74,479 fans, set in March 2022 when the then-expansion club hosted the Galaxy for their inaugural match at Bank of America Stadium.Tuesday’s battle for Los Angeles, the 20th El Tráfico in rivalry history, is bound to be a spectacle.Largest standalone match attendances in MLS history

Attendance	Date	Competition
72,243	Atlanta vs. Seattle – July 15, 2018	Regular season
72,035	Atlanta vs. D.C. – March 11, 2018	Regular season

“It’s going to be a spectacle”: LA Galaxy, LAFC await record-setting MLS crowd

Jonathan SigalTuesday, Jul 4, 2023, 09:26 AM

Sixteen months ago, LA Galaxy defender Raheem Edwards was on the field as the MLS single-game attendance record was set. Behind Efraín Álvarez’s thunderbolt strike from nearly 40 yards out, LA spoiled then-expansion side Charlotte FC’s first-ever home game and silenced most of the 74,479 fans in attendance at Bank of America Stadium.Now, with July 4th here, Edwards and the Galaxy are set to play before a new record-setting crowd for the 20th edition of their El Tráfico rivalry with LAFC – this time at the Rose Bowl. A sell-out and record-breaking crowd of more than 80,000 fans are expected Tuesday evening at the historic venue in Pasadena, California (10:30 pm ET | Apple TV – Free).“It’s going to be a spectacle,” Edwards said at training earlier this week.That much is true, with fans encouraged to arrive two hours early to ensure they don’t miss kickoff. The Galaxy’s longstanding July 4th firework display will follow the final whistle, only adding to a matchup where LA lead an all-time series (8W-6L-5D) that averages 4.32 goals scored per game.With that backdrop, LAFC midfielder Kellyn Acosta said the excitement is palpable.“It’s a huge game,” said the US international. “Personally I’ve never been to the Rose Bowl, so I’m just excited to be around it and take it all in. It’s huge, it’s making history. To be a part of that is going to be super cool.”LAFC, who won a 3-2 thriller at LA’s Dignity Health Sports Park earlier this year, are trying to ignite their season. The Black & Gold, reigning MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield champions, have lost seven of their last 10 matches across all competitions since dropping the Concacaf Champions League final in early June – all as injuries, a jam-packed schedule and travel have taken their toll.The silver lining for LAFC is they’re still second in the Western Conference table, only behind expansion side St. Louis CITY SC. Aside from the expected record-setting crowd, head coach Steve Cherunodolo said that offers plenty of motivation.“It’s our job to blend all that out, to be honest with you,” Cherundolo said. “We are focused on what goes on on the field. If it ends up being an MLS attendance record, wonderful, that means we’re moving in the right direction. It’s great. Hopefully we can focus on our jobs to make sure the quality of the game is at a level that this game deserves. We’re focused on that.”The Galaxy similarly could benefit from a big result, sitting second-from-bottom (13th place) in the Western Conference standings and nine points adrift of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pace. They enter five games unbeaten (1W-0L-4D stretch), and head coach Greg Vanney is seeing incremental progress while dealing with long-term injuries to two veterans in striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and defender Martín Cáceres.“We probably feel like we should have picked up a few more points – four of those were on the road, one at home,” said Vanney. “It’s not been the easiest stretch, just in terms of challenges to build momentum, but the guys have certainly shown resilience, we’ve shown some good moments of football inside of that. From that perspective, we found a solid foundation and now it’s doing the little things inside of the game to win the game.”As the tactical and in-game battles unfold, players return to eagerness surrounding a match that originally was scheduled for MLS is Back weekend in late February before inclement weather forced a postponement.“It’s a game that we’ve been waiting to play,” said LA midfielder Riqui Puig. “We’re looking forward to that. I think it’s going to be great. My family is here and it’s an important game for the Galaxy.”“It will be a beautiful evening,” said LAFC defender Giorgio Chiellini.Jonathan Sigal – @JonathanSigal

LA Galaxy vs. LAFC: Community & heritage define both sides of El Trafico fandom

Jon ArnoldMonday, Jul 3, 2023, 03:12 PM

Fans will arrive at the lush Rose Bowl grounds Tuesday evening ready for a Fourth of July rivalry match (10:30 pm ET | Apple TV – Free) between Los Angeles’ two MLS teams:

• LA Galaxy, the original SoCal team who’ve racked up 12 major trophies since joining the league as a charter club in 1996 (but who have struggled as of late).
• LAFC, the precocious upstart who’ve already won an MLS Cup and two Supporters’ Shields since joining the league in 2018.

Many of those fans will fire up the grill for the carne asada, dress their beers with a michelada mix or sip palomas, the cocktail made with grapefruit soda and tequila (or mezcal).There will be tailgating, a few live bands and a boisterous atmosphere before they file into the stadium and become part of the expected largest-ever crowd to attend a standalone MLS match.Angelenos, neighbors, united in most things and fiercely divided by one: Which team they support. Because fans in LA, including the 3.64 million people who are Mexican or Mexican-American according to 2021 Census estimates, have a choice to make.It’s from within those supporters’ communities that one of North America’s richest and most exciting soccer cities has sprung to life. But that doesn’t mean fandom for the beautiful game in LA is any less divided than it is for the city’s other multi-franchise sports: basketball and football.So what is it about each club that draws their supporters in?

Superstar connection

Javier Servin grew up in LA watching soccer with his dad, who supported Liga MX’s Cruz Azul. After the 1994 World Cup, Servin was thrilled to see the colorful-kit-wearing Mexico goalkeeper, Jorge Campos, sign on with the Galaxy. He followed the Galaxy from their inaugural season in 1996, listening to radio broadcasts, watching on TV and reading reports in the LA Times or La Opinión.

It wasn’t until decades later he’d actually be able to attend a match in person, an experience that pushed him into the supporters’ group culture.“I’m a big history nerd. They are one of the original teams in MLS, that helped get the league going,” said Servin, who hosts a California history web series under the moniker Foo Howser, a play on legendary LA public broadcasting host Huell Howser.That historical connection is key for many Galaxy fans, and the club has tried to emphasize its history with its “Since ’96” merch line launch in 2021.There also is a long line of star names who have played with the Galaxy. Even before David Beckham arrived, fans showed up to cheer Jorge Campos, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Luis “El Matador” Hernandez, Cobi Jones and other international standouts. Since Beckham, LA brought in Mexico national team legends Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, the Dos Santos brothers and international superstar, Zlatan Ibrahimović.After missing the period from 1996-2002 when the Galaxy played at the Rose Bowl and were led by players like Hernandez and Cienfuegos, Servin is thrilled to head to the stadium this week with his wife and brother for a throwback experience against a cross-town rival.“I think the rivalry is great for the game. It’s great for the league. At the end of the day, we’re all Angelenos, we all live and work with each other,” Servin said.Aside from simply a spirit of civility, Servin says he gives credit to LAFC for pushing the soccer scene forward but that he’s never wavered in his support for the team.“A line in the sand was drawn with a lot of people. Obviously, they were very successful in marketing and pulling in new fans, even people that were Galaxy fans switched over, but to me, it was always staying loyal to your first love,” he said. “The Galaxy was that first love for me.”

The pulse of the city

While the Galaxy like to mention the five MLS Cups in their trophy case, more than any other team in the league, LAFC fans can boast of modern success.Despite the club’s young age, or maybe because of it, the Black & Gold can also boast about their cultural relevance in the city’s core. With its stadium located downtown, LAFC have drawn a new crowd, converting fans of other sports into soccer fans and capturing fans looking for the international experience of hopping on public transit and taking the train to and from the game.LAFC also have played up their connection to the glamor of the city, putting a spotlight before each match on the celebrities in attendance and working to create cross-cultural moments like when breakout corrido singer Peso Pluma met Dr. Dre before the Concacaf Champions League final.

Community-first, on both sides

Jose Yepez knew a new team was on the rise when he felt drawn to the Galaxy. He knew he had just missed the Beckham years. Yet, he felt the draw to become a Galaxy season-ticket holder and didn’t fight the urge.“I decided I’m just going to jump the gun, get my tickets and enjoy the team because I love the connection they have with the city. I started going to all the games, then started going to some away games,” Yepez said.He was able to celebrate an MLS Cup run in 2014 but, since then, has only seen bitter rivals LAFC lift silverware. Yepez said the supporters’ togetherness, even as on-field results have fallen short of expectations, has been part of the reason he still looks forward to Galaxy matches – and is enjoying the team’s recent five-match undefeated run all the more.“It’s really the community and the friends you make, right?” Yepez said. “I got to know a lot of folks through the club and even through social media. We all banded together. For me, it’s just a community of healing. We’re all suffering together through the thick and thin. That’s what made me continue to be connected to the team, is we all share that nice bond together.“It’s kind of an extension of your family in that sense. We all care deeply about the team.”Maybe it won’t feel like it Tuesday night, or maybe it will, but fans of LA’s neighbor MLS clubs have more in common than it may appear: A love of the game, of good food and good times with friends, and a feeling of family, of acceptance and of bonding over a shared love of the Galaxy or LAFC.

Ferreira offers another solution in USMNT’s striker search

• Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterJul 3, 2023, 12:26 AM ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Let the real tournament begin.As much as the United States men’s national team might not have wanted to disrespect their Gold Cup Group A partners, there was never any real concern from the team it would fail to advance to the knockout round. Sunday’s thoroughly dominant 6-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago showed why.For the U.S., the group stage was all about integrating players, building rapport and setting the team up to win its fourth-straight Concacaf trophy.”I think right from the beginning the message is sure that we give as many players opportunities to experience this group stage,” interim coach B.J. Callaghan said on Saturday. “We know with that experience it’ll only pay dividends in the short term, but also when we get to the long term.”

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Jesus Ferreira is the best example of that. In the short term, the striker’s back-to-back hat tricks in the last two games were what allowed the U.S. to win the goal differential tiebreaker with Jamaica to top Group A. Those performances are a positive sign for the USMNT’s improving long-term depth at the position.During the last World Cup cycle, striker was a glaring problem for the U.S. No one grasped the starting role during qualifying, and it was the team’s most obvious weakness at the tournament in Qatar.Ferreira, of course, was part of that equation. It’s not that he played his way onto the 26-man World Cup roster as much as other options played their way off. Even so, his inclusion was subject to great debate, and when he finally saw the field — as a starter in the Round of 16 against the Netherlands — the stage proved too big.Given the circumstances, his performance wasn’t surprising. Calling on a 21-year-old MLS striker to make his World Cup debut against one of the most talented back-lines at the tournament inadvertently set him up for failure. And with that came a lasting impression that can only come from the sport’s biggest stage.Since then, Ferreira has responded about as well as possible. He scored against Mexico in an April friendly to keep the team’s now six-game unbeaten streak in the rivalry alive. He’s third in MLS with 10 goals in 18 games. His six goals in three Gold Cup matches ties the record for the most goals by a player in the tournament by a player 23-or-younger (with possibly three matches still to play).

EDITOR’S PICKS

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“I think all forwards are going to be judged by the goals that they score first and foremost,” Callaghan said. “And when I see his movement and his confidence in the penalty box, you can tell that the game has slowed down for him and he’s just placing balls into the back of that and that’s a positive sign. It lets us all know that he’s focused and committed to being a goal scorer for us.”There are the obvious caveats about levels of competition. His three career USMNT hat tricks, which ties Landon Donovan for the most in team history, have all come against overmatched Caribbean competition. That reality is important context, but it also doesn’t mean scoring six goals in an 88-minute stretch isn’t worth celebrating.USMNT players in the past also had opportunities to score against the lightweights of Concacaf and few took those chances as well as Ferriera. He’s the first to ever record back-to-back hat tricks. In 21 career games, he’s scored 14 goals. He’s also shown to be a selfless player. That trait was a large factor in why coach Gregg Berhalter brought him to Qatar. After his first-half hat trick put the game out of reach and it was clear the U.S. would hold on to the goal differential tiebreaker against Jamaica, Ferreira might have been the team’s most active player trying to win possession back.”I think it helps the team. It shows that we’re still in it and it kind of gets everyone going again,” Ferreira said of his defensive effort. “I know people are tired. I’m used to playing in the heat, so I have maybe a little bit more energy than the rest.”I always want to be the guy that can bring energy to the team and can spread that energy. We always say that someone can be contagious with their energy and so for me it’s always being that person that can get everyone going.”It didn’t go unnoticed by Callaghan.”All of the work that he’s doing leading our line defensively, dropping down, helping build up play,” Callaghan said. “For me, he’s having a really complete tournament so far and we’re going to continue to get him better.”

It also doesn’t mean he’s going to unseat Folarin Balogun as the presumed starter with USA’s full team any time soon. It doesn’t mean he’s a better option than Ricardo Pepi, his former FC Dallas teammate, as a pure striker. It is, however, encouraging for the continued improvement of the depth at the position.

There were memorable performances from other attacking players, too. Cade Cowell and Gianluca Busio scored their first senior national team goals as the U.S. kept the pressure on until the final minute. Cowell’s goal, especially, showcased what he can do, using his speed to get free on goal before he navigated past the goalkeeper and lone defender in the box.”He was running at defenders relentlessly,” Callaghan said of Cowell. “He was able to go inside, he was able to go outside. He was able to create combination play and then he gets rewarded with the goal.”As the winner of Group A, the U.S. will play the runner-up from Group D in Cincinnati on July 9. That opponent will be determined on Tuesday, when Guadeloupe (four points) plays Guatemala (four points) and Canada plays (two points) and Cuba (zero points). Of those, only Cuba has been eliminated.Alan Sonora, who strained his hamstring against St. Kitts and Nevis, will not continue with the team in the knockout stage, Callaghan said, but his roster replacement has not been determined. Jordan Morris was available off the bench on Sunday and will remain with the team, along with Miles Robinson who started and played the first half. Midfielder Aidan Morris left the team for personal reasons, the team announced on Sunday, and it is unclear if he will return during the tournament.

Ferreira flashes prolific credentials

The USMNT’s Jesus Ferreira has rocketed to the top of the Gold Cup scoring charts after his second consecutive hat trick in a 6-0 win over Trindad and Tobago followed the first against St. Kitts and Nevis. The 22-year-old is now the first U.S. player in history to net two straight trebles and the FC Dallas man is emerging as a credible No. 2 striker behind newly acquired Folarin Balogun. Ferreira’s international strike rate is currently higher than one every two games and almost twice as good as his club pace which is close to one goal every three games. Admittedly, the USMNT are strong favorites in the majority of their Gold Cup fixtures, but these are still impressive numbers being put up by the Colombia-born hotshot. Here’s Chuck Booth breaking down Ferreira’s performance Sunday night.

Booth:  “DeJuan Jones at left back was excellent assisting Ferreira and creating another goal in the match but the midfield shined creating chances and maintaining possession with ease. With his hat trick, Ferreira has now scored 12 goals for the national team in only 21 matches played. While 10 of those goals have come against Caribbean nations, Ferreira can only play the teams in front of him and shooting with confidence is something that he needs to do more of. We know what Ferreira can do as a creator, but during this tournament, if he can continue to take his attacking chances well, it will go a long way to making sure that the USMNT can win a second consecutive Gold Cup title.”

Booth raises an interesting point in that Ferreira’s previous statistics, notably with Dallas, has shown greater balance in terms of distributing goals and assists. Before this current Major League Soccer season, he had notched 34 goals but also provided 19 assists across his three most prolific campaigns. This term, however, Ferreira’s numbers are purer in terms of goals scored at the expense of teeing up other teammates with 16 goals from 21 outings across all competitions. Should he help the UMSNT to what could be their eighth Gold Cup title, his newfound clinical edge could make him a strong contender to be Gregg Berhalter’s second striker behind Balogun and a key part of the FIFA 2026 World Cup cycle.

USWNT media day: Naming new captain, Megan Rapinoe injury update and investing in women

By Elias Burke Jun 27, 2023

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On Tuesday, the United States women’s national team held its pre-World Cup media day at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The usual home of MLS side LA Galaxy was adorned with red, white and blue for the occasion — which later included the unveiling of a 20-foot statue of Alex Morgan in the likeness of the Statue of Liberty. At the event, head coach Vlatko Andonovski and all 23 players selected to represent the four-time World Cup winners in Australia and New Zealand spoke to members of the media. Here are some of the key takeaways from the day.

Who will be the next USWNT captain?

The answer isn’t available just yet — not officially. Andonovski was expected to announce the USWNT captain for the 2023 World Cup on Tuesday.“The decision has been made, and we were going to talk to the team last night, but not everybody was able to make it in on time because we had players coming from the East Coast who got here late,” said Andonovski. “I would want to talk to the players first before announcing publicly. Sorry.”It was clear that forwards Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and midfielder Lindsey Horan will be Andonovski’s senior lieutenants in the locker room. The three players were rolled out in press conference format before other teammates joined in a roundtable layout.Morgan is familiar with the role of captain, given her experience and stature on the team. The 33-year-old has 206 caps for the national team since making her debut against Mexico in 2010, scoring 121 goals – fifth in the nation’s all-time rankings. She is a two-time World Cup winner, an Olympic gold medalist, and the captain of the San Diego Wave, where she won the NWSL Golden Boot last season. Rapinoe’s winning experience makes her a valuable member of the squad, but she is currently nursing an injury and, at 37 years old, may not play as prominent a role as she did in 2019.Defender Becky Sauerbrunn, who normally holds the title, is unavailable for selection and will not be on the team for the tournament after reaggravating a foot injury in June with her club the Portland Thorns.ADVERTISEMENT

“Take a moment wearing that armband and leading the team out there,” Sauerbrunn said in a video clip of her podcast with the Men in Blazers. “Everything has to bounce your way throughout your career to make it to a World Cup. Then to also be the captain and to lead that squad out there, it’s such an honor but also such a responsibility.”Horan, headed to her second World Cup, spoke about Sauerbrunn’s influence as a teammate on the Thorns and the national team in molding her as a leader.“I’m so, so sad for Becky. She was a huge role model for me and someone that took me under her wing and helped me with the leadership role,” said Horan. “My leadership role has changed a huge amount on the field, and I’ve worked more and more off the field. Going into a major tournament like this, it’s about doing my thing: who I am as a leader.“Not changing any bit because we, unfortunately, lost Becky. I’ll be the same Lindsey that I’ve always been, but do whatever I possibly can to help the team lift the trophy at the end of the day.”

Megan Rapinoe expects to be fit for start of World Cup

Rapinoe, who is sitting on 199 caps for the national team, expects to be fit to start the World Cup.She limped off the field in early June for OL Reign inside seven minutes against the Kansas City Current, grabbing her lower leg. She had suffered injury issues earlier in 2023 and sat out the USWNT’s January training camp.“The injury is going really well. It was quite minor. It was not amazing timing, but such is the life of an athlete,” Rapinoe said. “It’s nothing that I’m worried about for the start of the tournament. It feels like we’re here right now because we’re coming into camp, but we have a little bit of time and we’ll have time down in New Zealand before we get going. I’m feeling good, and training is going well, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”The 2019 Ballon d’Or winner enters her fourth World Cup with her eyes set on a third title. While her role may be more rotational than she played in 2019, where she won the Golden Ball, she has had an excellent start to 2023 on the field, suggesting she still has a lot to give as one of women’s football’s most recognizable players.“First and foremost, when Pinoe is on the field, she’s a great player,” Andonovski said. “That’s the first reason why she’s on this team. Unfortunately, she got injured in the last game but the game before that she showed what she can bring to this team. She’s one of the most creative players I’ve ever seen and a true winner. She’s certainly a great player and that’s why we want her on the team. But also her experience and leadership is what she needs as well. She will have a role as a player, a leader and leading the leaders as well.”

The focus is on Vietnam

The USWNT kicks off its World Cup campaign against Vietnam on July 21 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. And, judging by the comments of Andonovski and the players, their focus lies squarely on their opening match — one they do not anticipate to be comparable to the 13-0 result against Thailand in 2019.

“Looking at this tournament and games we’re going to be playing, you can’t compare our match against Thailand to any upcoming games,” said Morgan. “That tournament we started off with a bang.“We’re hopeful and optimistic that in this tournament we will be able to be successful. That’s what we’ve worked so hard towards these last four years. We have incredible respect for Vietnam.”Vietnam is going into its first World Cup among the best sides in Asia, sitting fifth in FIFA’s continental rankings. In 2022, they reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup, losing 3-1 to eventual winners China. Currently, all but one of their players play their club football in Vietnam, but their 2-1 friendly defeat to Germany on Saturday highlights their potential to be a stubborn opponent for the USWNT.“They’re an incredibly organized team, and we can’t overlook the first match of the tournament,” Morgan said.Andonovski’s side will round out the group stage against the Netherlands in Wellington, New Zealand, before returning to Auckland to face Portugal.“It’s one of the hardest groups, if not the hardest group in the World Cup,” Andonovski said. “We have three teams that are very good. They’re all different types of teams with, in some ways, different philosophies and different styles of play which made it a little bit harder for us in the preparation for the group play because we had to dissect three different styles and approaches. We think that we have enough time to prepare for them separately. The goal is to win the group before we move to the ultimate goal.”

And, if it was not clear. The ultimate goal is to add a fifth star to the national team’s crest.“Would I be happy with anything short of a third straight win? No,” Andonovski said, with a chuckle. “Absolutely not. There’s only one thing in mind going to this tournament – our goal is to win the World Cup.”

Investing in women

The USWNT has historically coupled its success on the field with the ability to affect change off it.

“Having charter flights, having the best hotels, having all the recovery resources, having the money to provide that for players gives us the best opportunity to perform at our best and keep up with the level on the field that increases year over year,” said Rapinoe. “We’re fortunate to have that and we fought a lot for that over the years. To have an environment that allows for every team in the tournament to reach their full potential, that’s what it’s all about.”FIFA’s decision in 2022 to provide “the same conditions” and services for all female players and staff as their male counterparts was in part due to the USWNT efforts.While the new $110 million pot is just 25% of the $440 million paid out to the 32 national federations that participated at the Qatar World Cup, it is far beyond the $60 million pot that FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously promised in 2019.The USWNT’s 2019 World Cup success was won with the backdrop of an equal pay lawsuit, accusing the United States Soccer Federation of “institutionalized gender discrimination” toward the team. While players from the USWNT settled their class action lawsuit for a total of $24 million in February of 2022, the senior leaders on the team say there is still a long way to go for equality.

USWNT’s Crystal Dunn signs a collective bargaining agreement signifying equal pay between the U.S. men’s and women’s teams. Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images.

“The vibe is still the same, the vibe has been the same since 100 years ago. Just wanting to constantly strive for whatever the next thing is,” said Rapinoe. “This is not a team that does any sort of resting on its laurels, it’s always about the next game, the next area of progress, the next thing we can fight for using our platform and continuing on the field to be the best team that we possibly can. Being one of the best teams in the world, you’re always on that razor’s edge. The on-field is the most important thing and that’s been the fuel for the team always: striving to win every single game whether in practice or on the field.“Some of the players on the team now are never going to experience inequalities as a professional athlete under U.S. soccer,” Morgan added. “We actually just got our first settlement check in the mail a week ago. (Center back) Naomi (Girma) was joking that she didn’t get one and I was like, ‘Be grateful you don’t, you just get equal!’”The upcoming World Cup will be the first Morgan will play as a mother, after giving birth to her daughter Charlie in 2020. Four years later, she became the highest-scoring mother in USWNT history, passing Joy Fawcett with the opener in a 2-1 win over Brazil in February. Fawcett, a member of the 1999 World Cup-winning team, held the previous record with 13 goals.“I’m really grateful for the women before me that fought for mom athletes. Joy Fawcett was the OG in that, and she had way less resources and support and was able to somehow become world champion and do many great things to create the legacy she has today,” said Morgan. “I have fought hard for female athletes to get the support and resources needed to continue to stay at the top of our game after having children.”

After injury, USWNT Lynn Williams is back in form, if not better, ahead of the World Cup

Courtney StithJul 1,

In The Journey to the Cup, The Athletic tells the stories of players and teams as they work towards a place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Follow along as we track their progress as they prepare both mentally and physically for a chance to shine on the game’s biggest stage.

Lynn Williams is headed to her first World Cup with the U.S. women’s national team — and for good reason. Since returning from injury on January 17, she’s been in red-hot form, and USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski noticed. In his press conference following the World Cup roster announcement, Andonovski credited Williams’ NWSL play as a major factor in her making the final 23-player roster.“[Her] performance in the NWSL was a little bit more important than maybe another group of players,” Andonovski told reporters.The NJ/NY Gotham FC forward is tied for third in the NWSL Golden Boot race with Washington Spirit’s Ashley Hatch. But her goal scoring isn’t anything new. With seven goals this season, Williams surpassed Sam Kerr’s 102 goal contributions to take the all-time league crown in the category. She is also the only player in league history to surpass combined goal contributions of 60 career goals (63) and 25 career assists (26). She is only four tallies short of becoming the NWSL’s all-time leader in goals scored.

And she scores at the right time. Since joining Gotham, Williams has become the league’s all-time career leader in game-winning goals (19).When we look at the attacking stats for Williams, she’s on par with many of the forwards in the USWNT pool. She’s three goals behind Sophia Smith’s league-leading 10 and is second in the league in shots (40) and shots on target (30). According to data from Opta Analyst, Williams has 25 chance-creating carries (the sum of her carries ending in a shot plus her carries ending in a key pass), and 23 of those ended in a shot. Only Smith creates more shots from progressive carries with 43.At some point in the tournament, the USWNT will face a low block, and having a player like Williams (and Smith and Trinity Rodman, to be fair), who can pick up the ball from the midfield and run at a defense to create chances, is important.At the start of the season, coming back from a hamstring injury and surgery which kept her out for nearly a year, Williams went on a goal-scoring tear. She scored five goals in her first seven regular-season appearances and seven in nine across all competitions. Williams partially credited her success to playing with joy on the field after being out of the game. She says the system Gotham plays helped her grow and should make her transition to the national team easier.“With Gotham right now, it’s a similar system to the national team,” Williams told The Athletic. ”With the national team, because every single team that you go up against are good too, you’re not going to have a million chances to finish. So in Gotham, in the system right now, I feel like I’m not really having a million chances either.”And Williams doesn’t exactly throw away her shot. Her 0.69 post-shot expected goals per 90 (which looks at shots on target to quantify a likelihood of scoring depending on a shot’s placement) rank third in the league behind Smith (0.89) and Hatch (0.78), further showcasing her expertise when placing her shot on frame.

Williams also credits the Gotham system with her higher goal tally and more efficient finishing this year. Data from Opta Analyst shows that Williams is scoring a goal about once every 10 shots.

“That’s been the difference in my growth this year (compared) to years in the past I would say,” she explained. “I feel like with the less amount of chances I’m getting, I’m converting. So to be able to prepare and visualize in that way and also being able to play in the same system has definitely — I’m hoping, obviously (it) hasn’t happened yet — but I’m hoping it will be an easier transition from one to the next.”

A part of her transition to the national team might involve moving to center forward instead of her usual position on the right. When asked who would back up Alex Morgan, Andonovski told reporters the coaching staff is comfortable with the abilities of all the forwards, mentioning Williams, Smith and Rodman all playing the position for their NWSL clubs.

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“I think that when you get to the world stage and you have a set roster, the ability to be flexible is hugely important,” Williams said. “So I’m really excited for that challenge. I’m excited that I have had some experience (playing the nine) here at Gotham but I’ve also had experience with the nine on different teams as well.”

When opposition teams study the USWNT forwards, they will inevitably prepare for Williams’ quality and workrate going forward. They might not be prepared for Lynn Williams’ defense — it’s where she shines statistically compared to other forwards in the NWSL.Presenting Lynn Williams the defensive forward:

Amongst forwards in the league, Williams has the most interceptions with 14. No other forward has more than 10. She is in the top 10 of the league with 23 tackles, averaging 1.7 tackles a match when the average forward notches 0.56. When it comes to aerials, according to FBRef, Williams leads the league with 60 aerials won. She’s in the 99th percentile for tackles, interceptions, blocks, clearances and aerials won per 90.

“One of the things that Lynn is very special at is she’s probably one of the best defenders from the attacking players,” Andonovski said after a SheBelieves Cup game in February. “There is no hesitation when she goes into press, (she) drives the press, drives the intensity of the team, sets up a good rhythm.”Andonovski will be counting on her work on and off the ball, especially when there are lingering fitness issues within the squad. Williams is often the key to Andonovski’s system. Just look at the quarterfinal game during the 2020 Olympics versus the Netherlands. Several of the USWNT’s best chances came through Williams either through pressing to force a turnover, crossing the ball in from wide or winning an aerial duel in the box that led to the U.S.’s go-ahead goal.Though it is impossible to know what will happen when the World Cup kicks off, finally making it on the plane has been an “incredible” experience for Williams. There were moments of doubt during her hamstring injury recovery if she would be able to be the same player she was before.“Everybody sees all the glory and all the fun stuff, but it was a lot of hard work. Obviously, the injury I had wasn’t small and as you get older, you don’t necessarily recover as fast. So yeah, to be able to look back and know that it’s paid off and I am here (is special),” she said. “Also before that, being cut from teams and not making it, it’s been a pretty incredible journey and experience. It’s really hard to put into words actually how awesome it has been. It’s been a pretty cool year, I would say and so I’m hoping that the good times keep rolling.”

“TheJourney to the Cup” series is part of a partnership with Google Chrome. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

(Photo: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports; Design: Sam Richardson)

Should Arsenal integrate Folarin Balogun into their first team?

By Jordan Campbell and Liam Tharme Jun 26, 2023

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The anticipation to sense defence switching to attack in an instant, the timing of the run in behind, the use of his body to hold off the defender and, finally, the early finish with zero back-lift to beat the goalkeeper.If you had been paying attention to Folarin Balogun’s time in France last season you would be excused for thinking you’d seen him scoring this goal before for Reims. In fact, this was his first international goal for the USMNT — and a crucial one, too, as it helped see off Canada to retain the the CONCACAF Nations League Crown. Balogun has proven he can score regularly for a middling Ligue 1 side. Now he is off the mark at international level, having chosen the country of his birth over England, where he has spent the vast majority of his life.That decision was logical given the pack of strikers Gareth Southgate has at his disposal, and the comparative lack of firepower in the USMNT squad ahead of a home World Cup in three years’ time.The striker turns 22 next week and is approaching another pivotal crossroads this summer — this time at club level. But, when it comes to doubts over his true potential, he has been here before.He joined Arsenal in 2012 as a 12-year-old and, come scholarship decision time, Balogun 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 scoring 21 goals in 37 games in his loan spell in France last season — a previous temporary stint at Middlesbrough had been far less productive — the question of whether he can do it at the sharp end of the Premier League, or even be allowed the chance to demonstrate his quality, remains up in the air.

Gabriel Jesus is first choice at the Emirates Stadium, while fellow Hale End 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 Mikel Arteta desires.Leandro Trossard performed a false-nine role at times and the imminent arrival of Kai Havertz from Chelsea will add even more competition in that area.

Arsenal’s downfall in the run-in last season was primarily the erosion of their defensive solidity, which collapsed after an injury to William Saliba, rather than a lack of attacking options, but there is still a feeling that the squad lacks a genuine No 9 to bury a crucial chance. Perhaps Gabriel Martinelli will naturally evolve into that central player given his rapid development and assuredness in front of goal. But, for now, he is primarily a left winger.So do Arsenal need a 30-goal pure No 9 in their ranks? Is Balogun that man? And even if he is, does that necessarily mean he has a future at the Emirates?Balogun does not yet know the answer to those questions, but he knows he is coveted and has already made clear he has no interest in another loan next term. Or, indeed, reverting to life as a squad player. That leaves only two options: playing at Arsenal, or leaving permanently.So what would Arsenal, or a potential suitor, be getting with Balogun?

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Balogun enjoyed an exceptional breakout season last time round in Ligue 1, but that is no guarantee that form and goals will automatically transfer over to a better league and a different team.Reims are not Arsenal. They like to counter and hit opponents by attacking straight through the middle, from which many of Balogun’s most impressive goals stemmed.They averaged just 48.7 per cent of possession — only the ninth highest in the league — and made the joint-fourth fewest passes/sequences. Indeed, Will Still’s side played with the fourth-highest direct speed.“I saw that there were a lot of quick transitions so, as a striker, I have to be particularly careful with my movements,” Balogun told the Ligue 1 website. “In the Premier League too, there is a lot of transition, a lot of speed in the game, but here (in France) the transitions are maybe even faster. A lot of teams are able to wait in a block and then go forward in two seconds to bang a goal in.”Arteta is trying to cultivate his Arsenal into a team who view the act of not having the football as a crime against humanity.Reliable goalscorers are at a premium in football, though, and it would be naive to turn your nose up to a player who has just scored 21 goals playing in a very new environment. Balogun initially set himself a target of 10 goals and ended up surpassing it by more than double. If that was the test, he passed with flying colours.There are no concerns about Balogun’s presence in the penalty area, as 19 per cent of his open-play touches occurred in the box and he managed to fire off 3.42 shots a game. Shot volume is important but a bigger indicator of future success is the location and quality of chances a striker is forging. Again, Balogun shows up well in that regard with an average value of 0.18xG (expected goals) per shot dispatched from an average distance of a little over 15 yards out.That is the profile of chance that should lead to respectable numbers but, while he was able to convert some simple chances by finding space through his movement and reading of the game, he is not yet at the conversion rate of an elite striker.He scored 15 non-penalty goals but he underperformed his overall xG by six and recorded a big-chance conversion rate of 39.5 per cent — considerably below some of Ligue 1’s other leading scorers such as Jonathan David and Alexandre Lacazette, who were both around one in two.There is variety to his finishing repertoire as there was a 68-46-13 split of shots with his right foot, left foot and head, and a split of 8-5-2 in non-penalty goals. All six of his penalties were converted right-footed.He is, however, fond of shooting from the left channel in a similar fashion to Thierry Henry’s trademark curled finish.The way he worked space on the edge of the Auxerre penalty box…

…and opened up his body …

…before passing it into the far corner spoke of a striker who is composed even with time to overthink.

He is able to shift the ball and whip it in the same way, too, even if it is not entirely out of his feet and he is facing away from goal.

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That is one of Nketiah’s weaknesses and it led to several big chances being missed, despite his all-round game clearly having matured. Jesus is not a striker who is likely to score over 20 goals every season, either.In contrast, Balogun has shown signs that he is a man for the big occasion with five match-winning goals and another 10 to open the scoring. These are goals when the match is in the balance and the game is tight. Much is made of the quality gap between Ligue 1 and the Premier League, but the fact he scored against so many teams is also a fairly good indicator that he can adapt his game against different types of defences. He scored against the champions Paris Saint-Germain, registered home and away against second-placed Lens and third-placed Marseille, and also registered a brace against fourth-placed Rennes and a goal against sixth-placed Monaco. He was not just filling his boots against the relegated teams.The thing that allows him to get into scoring positions so often is his movement. It is his biggest strength and it is promising that, at a young age, he understands his abilities so well.“I know I’m fast and I’m able to hold off defenders so the most important thing for me is really the timing,” said Balogun. “If you start at the right time, nobody can stop you.”Reims learned to look for Balogun within seconds of winning the ball back as they knew he could hurt teams on the break. He possesses extremely intelligent movement and against Brest he was able to draw the defender in…

…before spinning …

… and running in behind.

His goal against Troyes in February showcased those perceptive skills again, but it also demonstrated what a powerful runner he is.

He was able to get a run on the defender and barge him out of the way…

… before slotting home with his weaker foot.

He has mastered the art of the out-to-in run, ghosting in from the left channel to get on the end of through balls. It led to several big chances last season.

This one was against Lens…

And this one against Lille…

… to show how effective those darts have been.

The doubts over his suitability for Arsenal mainly stem from the fact that he would not enjoy as much space with teams increasingly dropping deep against Arteta’s men.

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He will have to operate in tighter areas where space is harder to come by, but his movement to get on the end of crosses is good and his combination play can be neat with his ability to lay-off and spin particularly effective.

There are times when his passing and hold-up can look a little clunky.

In his defence, he was often dealing with long balls played up to him with a defender tight to his back as Reims tried to use him to get up the pitch. When he has his back to goal and is under tight pressure, he could do with securing the ball more often.

With two years left on his deal, Arsenal would command a healthy fee for Balogun on the back of an impressive season, but they need to be sure that sanctioning his sale would not turn out to be a costly error. Should he stay or should he go?There are compelling reasons to believe the youngster boasts a profile of forward Arsenal do not currently possess if he could be persuaded to stay and work his way into the team. Convincing a player who was prolific as a regular in Ligue 1 last season to bide his time, though, may be tricky.

Rent this Beautiful 4 BR Beach house at Myrtle Beach for as low at $250 a night.

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

Earn Your College Degree at ½ the Cost and Time of Traditional Schools  www.achievetestprep.com/shane

Notes

  Vote for the Best Soccer Player – at least some should vote for Sophia Smith.

US Men play Trinidad & Tobago 7 pm on Fox

The US will look to take first in the group as they face T&T on Fox Sunday at 7 pm.  The US needs to outscore Jamaica who is playing St. Kitts & Nevins at the same time on FS2.  Jesus Ferreira netted a hat trick and paired that with Mihailovic who had a goal and 3 assist in the 6-0 win over St Kitts.   USA vs St. Kitts Highlights.  Overall I thought Centerback Jalen Neal was fantastic again – of course Brian Reynolds absolutely dominated once he scored on his birthday and makes his inclusion once we get to the knock-out rounds more likely.  Mila was dominant in the 10 position and of course Ferreira blew up like he does when we play lousy teams. I look for the US to win at least 5 or 6 to zero depending on what they need to finish first in the group     Matt Turner Save vs Jamaica

Shane’s Starters

Vasquez

 Cade Cowell/Mihailovic/Zendejas

Busio/Sands

Jones/Miles Robinson//Jalen Neal//De Andre Yedlin

Gaga Slovenka

MLS

The MLS All-Star Game Roster has been announced they will face Arsenal and American GK Matt Turner in DC on Wednesday night, July 19^th.   Apple has a special on 50% savings to watch the MLS All-Star game as well as the Full MLS Season pass –which shows all the games – including those that Lionel Messi will play in for Inter Miami when he starts sometime in mid July.   Big game Sunday as Atlanta United host Philly 4 pm on Fox, then July 4^th 10:30 pm El Traffico returns on Apple TV. 

Indy 11 Ladies Play last home Game this Friday, Boys Fire Works Sat 7:30 pm @ the Mike

The Girls in Blue are back in action this Friday, June 30 for the final regular season match of 2023 when they host St. Charles FC @ Grand Park in Westfield for the third time this season. The teams have split the season series so far, with each team winning on the road. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will stream on Eleven Sports.  The Indy 11 W are 7-1-1 atop the USL W League’s Valley Division. Tix for this final game are just $8 or call 317-685-1100.  The Boys won last week 2-1 including this fantastic strike from Carmel’s own Cam Lindley who was on ESPN’s top plays of the day for this screamer. They will host their Firework’s Celebration after this Sat’s game on July 1^st  at 7:30 pm @ the Mike vs the San Diego Loyal.  Tix avail via indyeleven.com/tickets. 

Carmel High School Girls Summer Schedule

Carmel High School Boys Summer Schedule

GAMES ON TV

Fri, June 30

7:45 pm FS1                        Martinique vs Panama Gold Cup

10 pm FS1                            El Salvador s Costa Rica Gold Cup

Sat, July 1

3:30 pm Para+                   OL Reign(Lavelle, Huerta, Cook) vs Racing Louisville(Demelo) NWSL

7 pm Para+                         Washington Spirit(Rodman, Sanchez, Hatch, Sullivan) vs Orlando(Marta) NWSL

7:30 pm                                MLS games

7:45 pm FS1                        Cuba vs  Guadeloupe    Gold Cup

8 pm Para+                         Chicago(Naeher) vs San Diego Wave(Morgan, Korniach, Girma) NWSL

10 pm FS1                            Guatemala vs Canada

10 pm CBSSN                     Portland Thorns (Smith) vs KC Current

Sun, July 2

4 pm Fox                              Atlanta United vs Philly Union MLS

5:30 pm Para+                   NY Gothem(Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Angel City FC(Thompson, Ertz)

7  pm FS1                             Jamaica vs Guatamala     Gold Cup

7 pm Fox                     USMNT vs T&T    Gold Cup

9 pm      FS1                         Mexico vs Qatar

9 pm FS2                              Honduras vs Haiti

Tues, July 4

6:30  pm FS1                       Canada vs Cuba Gold Cup

6:30 pm FS2                        Guadeloupe vs Guatemala Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS1                        Costa Rica vs  Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS2                        Panama vs El Salvador Gold Cup

10:30 pm Apple                LA Galaxy vs LAFC  El Traffico

Sat, July 8

5/7 pm FS1                          Quarters Gold Cup                         

5/7 pm Fox                         USMNT vs Canada Gold Cup Quarters  in Cincy

10 pm Para+                       San Diego Wave(Korniach) vs Washington(Rodman, Sanchez, Sullivan) 

Sun, July 9

4 pm Fox                              USWNT vs Wales  Send-off

5/7 pm FS1 & 2                 Gold Cup Quarter Finals

7 pm                            USA vs Canada or Guatemala?

5:30 pm Para+                   NY Gothem(Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Portland Thorns (Smith)

8 pm Para+                         Angel City FC(Thompson, Ertz) vs NC Courage(Murphy, Fox)

Final NWSL Games till after World Cup

Wed, July 12

TBD FS1                                Semi- Finals Gold Cup 

7 pm TV 23 ESPN+            Indy 11 vs Charleston Battery

Sun, July 16

7:30 pm FS1                        Finals Gold Cup 

Thur, July 20               Women’s World Cup Starts

3 am Fox                              New Zealand vs Norway

6 am Fox                              Australia vs Ireland

10:30 pm Fox                     Nigeria vs Canada

Fri, July 21                          

1 am FS1                              Phillipines vs Switzerland

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Costa Rica

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Vietnam

Sat, July 22

3 am FS1                              Zambia vs Japan

5:30 am Fox                        England vs Haiti

8 am Fox                              Denmark vs China

7 pm WRTV, ESPN+         Indy 11 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sun July 23

1 am FS1                              Sweden vs South Africa

3:30 am FS1                        Netherlands vs Portugal

6 am Fox                              France vs Jamaica

Mon July 24

2 am FS1                              Italy vs Argentina  

4:30 am FS1                        Germany vs Morroco  

7 am FS1                              Brazil vs Panama

10 pm FS1                            Colombia vs Korea

Wed, July 26

1 am FS1                              Japan vs Costa Rica

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Zambia

8 am FS1                              Canada vs Ireland

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Netherlands

Tues, Aug 1

3 am Fox                     United States Women vs Portugal

3 am FS1                              Vietnam vs Netherlands

7 am Fox                              England vs China

7 am FS1                              Haiti vs Denmark

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Schedule

 World Cup Schedule

Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw

Tonight’s Know Before You Go:
Who – Indy Eleven vs St. Charles WOMEN
Where – Grand Park Event Center Field 2
When – 7:00pm
Tailgate – officially no tailgate. UJ Westfield is only 5ish minutes away and folks are encouraged to pre-game & post-game there
Alright, now for the real need to know stuff. Indy still sits atop the division table with 22 points and tied with Racing Louisville. St. Charles sits the complete opposite with 5 points. The plan is simple, WIN TODAY AND LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE! What that means is that with yesterday’s postponement of the Racing v Kings Hammer match, it is uncertain if the match will be rescheduled at this time. Air quality (I know we all are tired of hearing about it,) is a lot better today than it was yesterday down in Cincinnati. Word may break shortly after posting this that the match will be played today. Who knows. Regardless of what happens with that match, our match tonight is simple. Again, WIN AND IN!
How do we help the girls in blue get to Flint, Michigan? Simple, PACK THE PARK! St. Charles came into the park and shut it down last time. It sucked. Silence sucks. So, PACK THE PARK! And let’s send these ladies into the playoffs the right way! Thanks – John Rice BB

USA Men Gold Cup

Analysis: USMNT pounds St. Kitts 6-0, but not much is learned

Jesus Ferreira’s hat trick powers USMNT to 6-0 win at Gold Cup

Ferreira and Mihailovic are grasping their USMNT opportunity
Ferreira hat-trick as USA hit six, Jamaica crush Trinidad

Sources: U.S. goalkeeper Steffen can leave City  Rob Dawson
USMNT to face Asian duo for Berhalter return hAssociated Press
U.S. wins as Ferreira joins elite list with hat trick Kyle Bonagura  

Concacaf Gold Cup: Schedule, results, bracket 

2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Scouting Trinidad and Tobago  Brendan Joseph

Jesus Ferreira’s Hat Trick leads USMNT to 6-0 victory over St. Kitts and Nevis
Concacaf Gold Cup from Glendale: Mexico streaks past Haiti at State Farm Stadium

 MLS

From Beckham to Messi: How much has MLS grown in a decade?  4mNoah Davis
Inter Miami says terms have been agreed with Lionel Messi
Messi and Busquets not moving to Miami for a holiday says Martino
Inter Miami hires Lionel Messi’s former Barcelona and Argentina manager Gerardo Martino
Inter Miami hire Tata Martino as coach, confirming reunion with Lionel Messi
MLS Commissioner Don Garber talks about bringing All-Star Game to Columbus

 

US Women World Cup

The Women’s World Cup official song is here, courtesy of BENEE and Mallrat
Fifa bans One Love armband from Women’s World Cup . . . then issues its own
U.S. women’s national soccer team gathers for first time ahead of 2023 World Cup

UWSNT’s Kristie Mewis on the prevalence of ACL injuries
USWNT’s Julie Ertz reflects on lessons she’s learned
Lindsey Horan on how USWNT is preparing for World Cup without several star players
Haiti’s soccer team hopes to keep inspiring fans in its historic debut at the Women’s World Cup
Armbands that highlight ‘a range of social causes’ permitted at this year’s Women’s World Cup

Goalkeeping

Matt Turner Save vs Jamaica

Kepa on GK https://twitter.com/chelseafc/status/1674765807228780544?s=46 

Save by US Goalkeeper Campbell

Reffing

Become a Licensed High School Ref

Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13

Red card?

3 Cards at once

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Heading over to the Badger Field for Training?  Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ

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Ferreira notches hat trick as USMNT routs Saint Kitts and Nevis at Gold Cup: What stood out?

By Paul Tenorio and The Athletic Staff jun 29, 2023

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The United States men’s national team defeated Saint Kitts and Nevis 6-0 on Wednesday in the group stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, matching the Americans’ biggest Gold Cup win ever. Here’s what you need to know:

• The USMNT scored its first three goals in a three-minute, 50-second stretch that began as Djordje Mihailovic buried a shot into the top corner in the 12th minute — his first of two goals on the evening.
• Bryan Reynolds followed with his first-ever goal for the U.S., then Jesús Ferreira made it 3-0 in the 16th minute. Ferreira scored again nine minutes later, and then made it a hat trick in the 50th minute.
• The U.S., which drew Jamaica last weekend, closes group play against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. Saint Kitts and Nevis plays Jamaica on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

Highlight of the game

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

What does this win mean?

The U.S. came into this game needing a lot of goals, and that’s exactly what they got against Saint Kitts and Nevis. Ferreira’s hat trick spurred a six-goal win that gave the U.S. a three-goal cushion over Jamaica in the Gold Cup standings going into its group finale on July 2 against Trinidad and Tobago.A win would mean Jamaica needs to beat Saint Kitts by at least five goals in order to pass the Americans in the standings, and the U.S. will go into that T&T game expecting another multigoal win. A first-place finish in the group should help the U.S. avoid a tougher knockout stage matchup, though it’s noteworthy that Canada just got one point in its group opener against Guadeloupe, which could change the picture. — Tenorio

Who stood out in the win?

Ferreira’s performance helps him hold on to the starting spot as the No. 9 on this team, ahead of Brandon Vazquez. Ferreira’s movement and pressing — and yes, finishing — was very good against a poor Saint Kitts and Nevis team, and it keeps him in the mix in the larger USMNT pool.Mihailovic also had a very strong performance, and the AZ Alkmaar midfielder has made an argument not just to be the starter for the rest of this Gold Cup, but also a shot to fight for a spot in the team that won the Nations League.It’s tough to take too much out of a game like this where the U.S. was so thoroughly better than the opponent, but the U.S. will hope it was at least a confidence-building result. — Tenorio

Key stat

Ferreira became the fastest player in USMNT history to reach double-digit goals (he scored his ninth, 10th and 11th Wednesday), doing so in 20 caps, the federation said.

Backstory

Vazquez scored the lone goal for the Americans against Jamaica in the 88th minute. The U.S. men outshot Jamaica 13-6 while winning the possession battle. USMNT had 68 percent possession while Jamaica’s was 32 percent.Jamaica also got a win Wednesday, beating Trinidad and Tobago 4-1, meaning goal differential will likely factor into the final group standings.The U.S. entered the CONCACAF Gold Cup on a high after winning the CONCACAF Nations League on June 18. USMNT defeated Canada 2-0 with Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun scoring the goals. It was USMNT’s second Nations League title in program history.

Ferreira and Mihailovic are grasping their USMNT opportunity

• Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterJun 29, 2023, 02:45 AM ET

ST. LOUIS — In international soccer lingo, Wednesday night’s Gold Cup match between the United States and St. Kitts and Nevis was, technically, a competitive one. Anyone who watched the Americans’ 6-0 win can appreciate the irony of that designation.Not that anything that transpired was surprising. Ever since the teams were drawn together two months ago, the game never had serious potential to deliver something more than a glorified exhibition. Even with the United States’ first-choice players vacationing all over the world, it wasn’t realistic to allow for the possibility that St. Kitts and Nevis — a Caribbean nation of roughly 50,000 people — would serve as much of a hurdle.For the Sugar Boyz, No. 139 in the FIFA World Rankings, it was a significant accomplishment just to qualify for the tournament’s group stage. They reached the qualification phase through their performance in the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League C — made up of the 13 lowest-ranked teams in the confederation — and beat both Curacao and French Guiana on penalties early this month to advance. And while they’ve made great strides in recent years, including a respectable showing in 2022 World Cup qualification when they won their first-round group, both sides understood the reality of the gulf in talent.Under different circumstances, the United States might have been content to secure the three points and shut it down, but after drawing with Jamaica on Saturday there was a goal differential incentive in play. That factor combined with a U.S. roster made up of less established players looking to improve their standing with the national team made for an even longer night for St. Kitts and Nevis.The winner of Group A will play the second-place finisher from Group D — Canada, Cuba, Guatemala, Guadeloupe — in Cincinnati on July 9, while the second-place finisher will take on Group D’s winner. Perhaps more importantly, the second-place finisher will likely end up on the same side of the bracket with Mexico in the knockout rounds.”We knew from the results against Jamaica we need to pick up some goals because it’s an important tiebreaker if we get the job done in the next match,” midfielder Djordje Mihailovic said. “But that’s something that we spoke about before, when one comes to try to keep going as much as we can.”

EDITOR’S PICKS

• U.S. wins as Ferreira joins elite list with hat trick1dKyle Bonagura
• Concacaf Gold Cup: Schedule, results, bracket1dESPN

Prior to the United States’ game, Jamaica scored three first-half goals against Trinidad and Tobago before it settled for a 4-1 win, which leaves the U.S. ahead by three on goal differential heading into the final match of group play against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday in Charlotte. The Americans have outscored T&T 13-0 in the last two meetings since their infamous 2-1 loss in 2017 to be eliminated from World Cup qualifying.

Using Wednesday’s performance as a possible indicator of what’s to come for this U.S. team doesn’t make much sense. However, there were several promising performances to build upon with Mihailovic’s perhaps the most meaningful. After scoring in his debut in 2019 — which doubled as coach Gregg Berhalter’s first game as head coach — and featuring five times that year, Mihailovic had just one cap (El Salvador in December 2020) in the years since leading up to this tournament. Against St. Kitts and Nevis, he was the United States’ most influential player, scoring twice and assisting twice in a strong 90-minute performance.”I thought he showed his quality,” interim U.S. coach B.J. Callaghan said. “He’s a player that is really comfortable in between the lines and as he gets closer to the penalty box, he becomes a real threat, whether it’s from running behind the line, arriving in the penalty box. So, I thought the performance we saw from Djordje was the performances that we expect from him.”Both of his assists set up Jesus Ferreira, whose hat trick put him in historic USMNT company. Following his four-goal game against Grenada last year in the Nations League, Ferreira is just the team’s fifth-ever player with multiple career hat tricks, joining Landon Donovan (3), Jozy Altidore (2), Peter Millar (2) and Clint Dempsey (2). He also became the fastest to ever reach double-digit goals (20 games).”It means a lot,” Ferreira said. “Obviously, growing up you always want to join the big names and want to join the exclusive lists and join those lists that barely any people touch. And for me to do it here in the U.S. shirt scoring goals, it means a lot.”This is a national team that gave me the opportunity to represent a country on the biggest stage and a country that gave me that joy of playing at the highest level possible. So, I’m just excited and happy that I can give that back to the fans and excited for what’s to come.”As dominant as the scoreline suggests the victory was, there was an acknowledgement afterward from Callaghan and multiple players that it could have easily — and perhaps should have been — even more lopsided.”I think it was important that we got a goal early and a lot of goals early, but with our quality, I think we could have scored 10 goals,” said right-back Bryan Reynolds, whose first goal for the U.S., a rocket from outside the box, made it 2-0. “It’s good that we won, but we always want to see things that we can improve on.”One obvious area for improvement is on the wings. Both Cade Cowell and Alex Zendejas were able to get into some dangerous areas, but their play in the final third — finishing, passing, touch — was mostly subpar. Again, there is very little to learn long term, but having a poor performance in this type of game might be more instructive than playing well.”With Alex, I was just super proud of how hard he worked for over 90 minutes and, yeah, of course he’s going to be frustrated that he wasn’t able to finish his chances,” Callaghan said. “But again, we continue to pound this message of we’re just going to try to get better each and every time. So that’s an aspect that we’ll work with Alex and look to get better, but he put in a great performance defensively with all of the pressing and some of the little passing combinations you saw in the middle of field.”So, he still made an impact on our team, even though he’s probably disappointed.”

USMNT analysis

Analysis: USMNT pounds St. Kitts 6-0, but not much is learned

The USMNT did what was expected, but will it be enough to help them win the group? ASN’s Brian Sciaretta looks at the game and offers up a few thoughts on the standings, who played well, and who didn’t. 

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED JUNE 29, 2023 8:00 AM

THE UNITED STATES men’s national team defeated St. Kitts & Nevis 6-0 for the team’s first win at the 2023 Gold Cup. The win was expected against a semiprofessional level opponent, but the real story is the race against Jamaica for a superior goal differential, which will likely determine the Group A winner. The six-goal margin helps, but will it be enough? That remains to be seen. The United States and Jamaica are the two heavily favored teams in Group A and Jamaica is significantly improved after the recruitment of several high-profile dual nationals. The result is that their front four attackers are all Premier League starters, and the rest of the team is strong as well. Without Mexico, Canada, and the United States in World Cup qualifying, Jamaica is favored to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.Entering this game, the United States knew that Jamaica posted a 4-1 win on Trinidad & Tobago to move to +3. The USMNT posted a 6-0 to move to +6 on the goal differential. Jamaica is likely going to dominate St. Kitts & Nevis as well. As a result, the +3 edge the USMNT has right now isn’t that great. It’s likely going to take a combination of the USMNT finding a way to get a three or possibly four-goal win over Trinidad & Tobago while Jamaica doesn’t far surpass the scoring edge the U.S. team had against St. Kitts & Nevis.

It’s going to be very close and there is a chance that the U.S. team will look back on the win over St. Kitts & Nevis wishing it did more.Why does this all matter?While Mexico’s national team is in a tough place following the World Cup and the Nations League, it’s still a strong contender at this Gold Cup. With Mexico’s 4-0 romp over Honduras in its opener, it is likely to win Group B. If the U.S. wins Group A, it cannot face Mexico until the final. If it finishes second, the path gets very difficult. It would have to face the winner of Group D in the quarters. Then likely Mexico in the semifinals.The U.S. team definitely wants to win Group A and Wednesday night’s win might have hurt their chances.

THOUGHTS ON THE GAME

Playing an opponent that is barely professional is tricky. In this game, the U.S. team is expected to win and dominate. The problem is that players can only ever stand out if they don’t do well. If they do well, that doesn’t tell us anything beyond what was expected. For that matter, player ratings are not really fair.The U.S. team opened the game strong and never played down to its opponent. B.J. Callaghan’s team was always in control and once they settled in, they took St. Kitts & Nevis out.The best run of the game for the U.S. team was between the 12-25^th minutes when the U.S. team scored four times. Djordje Mihailovic opened the scoring in the 12^th minute on a nice sequence of passing that started with Reynolds playing a terrific pass to Gianluca Busio down the right side. Busio sent a low ball into the middle of the box, Jesus Ferreira took a touch and Mihailovic slammed it home. Two minutes later, a wild Alejandro Zendejas corner floated beyond everyone but found Reynolds outside of the box. The right back sent a driving shot from distance past St. Kitts & Nevis keeper Julani Archibald for probably the nicest goal of the night. Ferreira then struck in the 16^th and 25^th minutes when he was played beyond the defense for a close shot.But the United States team would only score two more goals from the 25^th minute through the end of the game, and that is what might cost the team. Ferreira completed his hat trick in the 50^th minute and Mihailovic capped a nice night in the 79^th minute with his second goal.The U.S. team had their chances to score three or four more goals, but were hurt by poor finishing and also a great outing from Archibald who made several nice saves over the entire 90 minutes.

WHO PLAYED WELL/WHO DIDN’T?

Ferreira, Mihailovic, & Reynolds: These games are never going to help a player too much, but without doubt Jesus Ferreira, Djordje Mihailovic, and Bryan Reynolds did what was expected of them. These players were asked to lead the way in a dominant win, and they did. Ferreira made nice runs and that is what put him in good positions throughout the game. Mihailovic was aggressive and put St. Kitts & Nevis defenders on their heels. Reynolds made good, inch-perfect passes throughout his 76 minutes. His goal was struck very nicely.

Sonora, Zendejas, & Cowell: Three U.S. players unfortunately did not have the performance they wanted and were responsible for the team not scoring enough. Alex Zendejas was clearly frustrated and tried to force the issue too many times. He missed the target on four great chances. Alan Sonora played the second half and was a downgrade from Busio, both in his shooting and in his creation of chances. U.S. U-20 winger Cade Cowell played 68 minutes and was too often a dead-end in U.S. attacking possessions. He is still struggling for his consistency. For these three, it sets up a need for them to make the most of future opportunities at the Gold Cup or else call-ups could be harder to come by. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

The United States will now head to Charlotte to face Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday at 7pm EST. Trinidad & Tobago is also at a low point and should not even really be at this Gold Cup. They only made it after Nicaragua was suspended a week before the tournament due to the use of an ineligible player.But the U.S. team is going to have to attack again and push for a lopsided, multigoal win. Jesus Ferreira has started each of the first two games, that might suggest that Brandon Vazquez is due for a starter (Vazquez missed two good chances off the bench against St. Kitts). We don’t yet know the status of Jordan Morris who suffered an injury to his knee against Jamaica and was listed day to day (but was held out of practice in the two days between games as well as the St. Kits game).

The U.S. team hasn’t been getting enough from the wings and that begs the question whether a 4-4-2 formation would be better with this group. The team has two forwards in Brandon Vazquez and Jesus Ferreira who would be better suited together. The wings have been absent but a four-man midfield with James Sands, Aidan Morris, Gianluca Busio, and Djordje Mihailovic would also play to the team’s strengths.It remains to be seen how Callaghan will play but the team will need to try to be on the front foot on Sunday while keeping an eye on how Jamaica is performing against this St. Kitts & Nevis team.

AC Milan in talks to sign USMNT’s Yunus Musah; Serie A club retain Christian Pulisic interest

By James Horncastle 3h ago

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AC Milan are in talks to sign USMNT midfielder Yunus Musah from Valencia.Musah holds an Italian passport so crucially would not take up another non-EU registration slot in Milan’s transfers for this season.The 20-year-old has been a regular at Valencia for the last three years after joining from Arsenal in 2019.Following a year in the B team, Musah has made 108 appearances for Valencia’s first team over the last three seasons, scoring five goals.Despite Valencia’s struggles in La Liga, Musah impressed and continued to be regularly selected in the US team. He started every game at the 2022 World Cup, as the US lost to the Netherlands at the round-of-16 stage.Milan also retain an interest in Musah’s USMNT team-mate Christian Pulisic.The Italian club have finalised a deal for Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with the England international set to be one of their two permitted non-EU signings.Milan have already completed the signing of veteran goalkeeper Marco Sportiello.Brahim Diaz, meanwhile, has returned to Real Madrid after spending the past three seasons on loan at Milan.Stefano Pioli’s side will play in the Champions League again next season following their fourth-placed Serie A finish in 2022-23

Jesús Ferreira asserts USMNT case with Gold Cup “complete performance”

Charles Boehm MLS.com Thursday, Jun 29, 2023, 09:37 AM

It is one of Concacaf’s enduring, and endearing, quirks that Davids and Goliaths face off fairly often here. And the asymmetry of Wednesday night’s matchup between the United States, the region’s current frontrunners, and little St. Kitts and Nevis was driven home by the words of the islanders’ head coach Austin Huggins after the USMNT’s 6-0 rout of his side in Gold Cup Group A action.

“21,216,” said Huggins, reeling off the official attendance of the match at CITYPARK in St. Louis during his postgame press conference. “I remember the count well. It was the most people we ever played – well, me, I think most of the guys, ever played [in front of]. That was almost the whole of St. Kitts and Nevis in the stadium, or maybe one of those islands in the stadium.”

This is the first-ever Gold Cup experience for the Sugar Boyz, who sit 136th in the most recent FIFA World Rankings. Such a vast disparity between the two teams inevitably limits the depth of analysis when it comes to the Yanks’ performance.

Yet the clean, clinical composure of Jesús Ferreira’s man-of-the-match outing – the FC Dallas star bagged a hat trick in just 56 minutes on the pitch – ensured that he will remain part of the USMNT’s suddenly crowded outlook at the striker position after another well-rounded display as the tip of the spear.

“Jesús leads our line defensively. He knows exactly how we want to press and so I thought that helped him, in my opinion, get into the game offensively,” said interim head coach B.J. Callaghan. “And then you can see the quality that he can come down and link-up play. And then obviously he’s able to score three goals tonight. So a complete performance, in my mind, for Jesús.”With a first-half brace, Jesús Ferreira now has 10 goals for the 🇺🇸.Ferreira is the fastest #USMNT player to reach double-digit goals, doing so in 20 caps. The previous best was Clint Mathis, who hit 10 in 23 caps.Ferreira is the 29th USMNT player to reach 10 goals.— Jeff Crandall (@jefecrandall) June 29, 2023

While it must be noted that many of his goals were scored against Caribbean minnows, the record book shows Ferreira on an unprecedented scoring trajectory for the national team, fueled by a variety of intelligent movement that creates chances for himself and others. His understanding with Djordje Mihailovic, the provider on two of his goals, was notable, and the former Chicago Fire FC and CF Montréal playmaker also bagged two fine finishes in his own right.“Djordje, I thought he showed his quality,” said Callaghan. “He’s a player that is really comfortable in between the lines. As he gets closer to the penalty box he becomes a real threat, whether it’s from running behind the back line, arriving in the penalty box.”Ferreira’s defensive commitment, too, has been exemplary and Callaghan suggested he’s rising to the challenge posed by the arrival of Folarin Balogun, the continued rise of FC Cincinnati‘s Brandon Vazquez and other contenders for USMNT minutes up top.“Jesús, it starts with his ability to lead our line against the ball, right? Even in the beginning, you saw him almost steal the ball in the first 30 seconds of the game. So he’s a relentless player,” said the coach, who’s running the program for this tournament as his former colleague Gregg Berhalter prepares to resume his post later this year.“He’s got a great feel for the game, can come down and link up, makes these little darting runs in behind the back line. And for me, you see this now this desire from him that he understands that as a No. 9 you have the pressure to score goals, and that’s a pressure that he’s leaning into. He wants it, he’s driven by it. And then the completeness of his game is that you see that high level of selflessness from him, and that’s what makes him a great teammate and somebody that we’re all supporting.”With the USMNT having somewhat fortuitously tied Jamaica 1-1 in their opening match, the widespread expectation is that those two Group A favorites would win out in their other matches vs. St. Kitts and Trinidad and Tobago, whom the Yanks will meet at Charlotte FC’s Bank of America Stadium on Sunday (7 pm ET | FOX, Univision).

2 – Jesús Ferreira is the second player in @USMNT history to score multiple hat-tricks in competitive matches, joining Clint Dempsey. Natural. pic.twitter.com/wa4OZGA5g9— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) June 29, 2023

That raises the importance of goal differential in deciding who will finish tops in the group and thus avoid dropping into the side of the knockout round bracket projected to include Mexico and Canada.

“We knew that we had to come out here and gain points, gain goals,” Ferreira, a 2023 MLS All-Star, said in a fieldside Concacaf postgame interview. “And I think the team went out there and took care of business.”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=a4osWtj4MD8%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Charles Boehm – @cboehm

USMNT get Gold Cup breathing room by dominating St. Kitts and Nevis

Jonathan Sigal

Thursday, Jun 29, 2023, 12:12 AM

The US men’s national team rolled to a 6-0 win over Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday evening at St. Louis CITY SC’s CITYPARK, moving atop Group A through two matchdays in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.

FC Dallas forward Jesús Ferreira contributed massively to improving the USMNT’s goal differential after last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Jamaica, tallying his second career international hat trick. The homegrown standout scored in the 14th, 16th and 50th minutes to get the best of goalkeeper Julani Archibald.

Former CF Montréal and Chicago Fire FC midfielder Djordje Mihailovic was another difference-maker for the USMNT, tallying in the 12th and 79th minutes to start the scoring and end it. Mihailovic, now playing for Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar, also contributed two assists.

The highlight undoubtedly was Bryan Reynolds’ golazo in the 14th minute, a smoothly-struck volley off Alex Zendejas’ corner kick as the FC Dallas academy products linked up for a potential goal of the tournament contender. Gianluca Busio, a Sporting Kansas City homegrown product who’s now playing in Italy for Venezia, chipped in two assists as well.

Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson didn’t have to make any saves for the Yanks, reflecting the gap in quality between a USMNT side that reached the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup and a Saint Kitts and Nevis side ranked 139th in the world by FIFA.

Goals

• 12′ – USA – Djordje Mihailovic | WATCH
• 14′ – USA – Bryan Reynolds | WATCH
• 16′ – USA – Jesús Ferreira | WATCH
• 25′ – USA – Jesús Ferreira | WATCH
• 50′ – USA – Jesús Ferreira | WATCH
• 79′ – USA – Djordje Mihailovic | WATCH

USMNT Player Ratings: Ferreira, Mihailovic & Reynolds dominate in Gold Cup win

Ben Wright Thursday, Jun 29, 2023, 12:32 AM It was a dominant showing from the US men’s national team on Wednesday night in St. Louis, cruising to a 6-0 win over Saint Kitts and Nevis.

While the 139th side in FIFA’s World Rankings certainly isn’t the most daunting opponent the Yanks will face in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, it was a competent and business-like performance, tying their best-ever Gold Cup win and giving them a solid lead atop of Group A.

Tied on points with Jamaica, they lead the group with a +6 goal difference heading into their final group match against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday night (7 pm ET).

6.0

Sean Johnson

Goalkeeper · USA

The Toronto FC goalkeeper gets an average grade through no fault of his own. Johnson didn’t face a shot on goal, and hardly ever had to deal with the ball in threatening areas. He did wear the captain’s armband for the first time at the international level, though, a nice touch for a player who has been a reliable presence with the team for many years.

8.0

Bryan Reynolds

Defender · USA

Reynolds scored his first international goal in style, rocketing a volley in at the near post from range. His delivery improved as the night went on and nearly scored a second on a close-range volley, capping off his 22nd birthday with an impressive performance.

Bryan Reynolds is the first player with a #USMNT goal on his birthday since Earnie Stewart vs Honduras in 2001. 🎂🇺🇸— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) June 29, 2023

6.5

Matt Miazga

Defender · USA

Like Johnson, Miazga was hardly troubled. He was calm in possession, but had essentially no defensive work to do.

6.5

Jalen Neal

Defender · USA

The 19-year-old LA Galaxy defender was rarely, if ever, troubled defensively. Neal did show maturity on the ball and an impressive passing range, making a strong case for more playing time going forward.

7.0

DeJuan Jones

Defender · USA

Jones wasn’t quite as involved as his counterpart on the right flank, but he was a consistent outlet in possession and picked out some enticing passes into the final third.

7.0

James Sands

Midfielder · USA

The 22-year-old NYCFC stalwart set the tempo in midfield, without needing to do any real defensive work. A routine outing.

7.5

Gianluca Busio

Midfielder · USA

The former Sporting KC homegrown was clean on the ball all night, completing a cool 91% of his passes, albeit against very little resistance. He was taken off at the half, but not before picking up two assists.

9.0

Djordje Mihailovic

Midfielder · USA

Two goals, two assists. A classy performance for the AZ Alkmaar playmaker, who ran the show for the Yanks. Sure, it wasn’t against a top opponent, but Mihailovic continues to put in performances that warrant a place with the first-choice team.

4 – Djordje Mihailovic (2 goals, 2 assists) is the seventh @USMNT player since 1995 to contribute to at least four goals in a single match. Everywhere. pic.twitter.com/i3nFcL4QY8— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) June 29, 2023

6.5

Alex Zendejas

Forward · USA

The Club América attacker set up Bryan Reynolds’ goal from a corner kick. Zendejas got in excellent positions all night, but was wasteful, taking too many touches and predictably cutting onto his favored left foot. Not a poor showing, but he certainly could have taken more from the game.

6.5

Cade Cowell

Forward · USA

Cowell got into some good spots and was a threat on the dribble, but couldn’t find the finishing touch. He took five shots on the night, but the San Jose winger never really troubled the goal.

9.0

Jesús Ferreira

Forward · USA

Ferreira finished smartly to stun The Sugar Boyz, capping off a four-minute rampage in which the US scored three times. Oh, yeah, and he also scored again. And again. He should’ve also had an assist, but a poor touch from Alan Soñora wasted a perfect ball from Ferreira. In all, not a bad night for the fastest player to reach 10 goals in program history.

8.0

B.J. Callaghan

Head coach

The US were always monumental favorites against a nation with a population of just under 48,000. The 6-0 win was in no way unexpected, but they took care of business professionally. That hasn’t always been the case with this team, and Callaghan has put his players in positions to succeed and let them take care of the rest. They’ll go into their final group game with plenty of momentum and favorable odds to top Group A.

Substitutes

6.0

Alan Soñora

Midfielder · USA

On at halftime, the Juárez midfielder got on the ball consistently but struggled to make an impact on a night when other attackers feasted.

6.0

Brandon Vazquez

Forward · USA

After his heroics against Jamaica on Saturday, the FC Cincinnati striker was surprisingly quiet, touching the ball just six times in his 34-minute shift, failing to put either shot on target.

7.0

Aidan Morris

Midfielder · USA

Morris brought a spark off the bench. The Columbus Crew homegrown demanded the ball and was efficient when he had it, completing 38 passes in 34 minutes and playing a big role in Mihailovic’s second goal.

6.5

Cristian Roldán

Midfielder · USA

The Seattle Sounders midfielder made an instant impact, unselfishly laying the ball off to set up Mihailovic’s second goal and generally causing problems for the Saint Kitts and Nevis defense.

N/A

Julian Gressel

Defender · USA

Fresh off the birth of his second daughter, Gressel was lively in a 15-minute substitute appearance, getting high up the pitch and finding the ball in and around the box, and whipping in several enticing crosses.

Ben Wright –

@benwright

USWNT World Cup depth chart: Starters, backups, and emergency options in Australia/New Zealand

By Jeff Rueter Jun 28, 2023

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Last week, Vlatko Andonovski announced the 23 players he would be relying on in the United States’ quest to win a third consecutive Women’s World Cup. There were surprise omissions, long-expected injury absences and the odd shock inclusion. Barring an injury in the run-up — players can be replaced on the roster under such conditions until 24 hours before a team’s group stage opener — we know who will be involved this summer.One trait which Andonovski has long valued in his selections has been positional versatility. As a result, very few places among the 11 starters are set in stone, especially when sorting out who would be called upon from the bench or in place of an injured or suspended first-choice player.With an eye on how each player has been deployed for their clubs and the United States alike since the start of 2022, here’s my best guess at what Andonovski’s depth chart (not my own!) may look like heading into his team’s title defense.

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Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy, Aubrey Kingsbury

This hierarchy appears to be settled heading into the send-off match. Naeher, the program’s No. 1 since the end of the 2016 Olympics, has been tested often as she backstops a poor Chicago Red Stars side. Despite this, she’s kept a clean sheet in 8 of her 12 most recent international caps. Murphy figures to be the primary challenger for starts, boasting a similar prowess at shot-stopping and claiming crosses in the box. The main stylistic trade-off would be in their distribution; Naeher is more accurate with her long passing and sends a greater share of her passes into the opposing half than Murphy. Kingsbury had a poor game this weekend against the Portland Thorns, allowing four goals with a -1.87 goals prevented rate which makes for the fourth-worst game any NWSL goalkeeper has had this season. (The unlucky winner of that competition: Naeher, with a -2.49 display in an April loss at OL Reign.)

Right back: Emily Fox, Sofia Huerta, Crystal Dunn, Kelley O’Hara

This is as good a time as any to repeat myself: This isn’t about what I, or my colleagues Meg Linehan and Steph Yang, would do if we were picking the lineup. This is an estimation based on Andonovski’s lineups over the 18 months of matches leading up to the World Cup, with some modifications made due to a player’s club utilization.All of this is to say that the United States will likely play with two inverted full-backs. Fox, a left back for North Carolina Courage, has regularly started on the right when Andonovski picks the lineup. Rather than prioritizing a player with an eye for the cross, he’s instead looking for his wide defenders to play progressive through balls to a winger who’s also more prone to cutting inside than hugging the touchline. Exceptions may need to be made depending on who starts in the final third, but for now, it appears likely that Fox will be deployed on the starboard side.If a more traditional, strong-footed option was prioritized, it would likely be Huerta. The OL Reign defender is among the league’s very best crossers and could be a vital escape valve if the U.S. has struggled to score against an opponent playing in a low block. Crystal Dunn could bring a bit of both to the role with her all-around brilliance and reading of space as a midfielder for Portland, but she will likely be playing elsewhere. O’Hara provides a strong shut-down option who can match up with wingers on the air and keep strong positioning late in games. However, she hasn’t displayed the same attacking threat since recovering from her recent hip injury.

Center backs: Naomi Girma, Alana Cook, Emily Sonnett, Julie Ertz, Kelley O’Hara

While the first-choice partnership picks itself, few position groups carry more questions among other options. Girma, the reigning NWSL rookie of the year, plays to Cook’s left, but is strong enough with her right foot to switch sides depending on her partner. Cook has been the more consistent progressive passer in the team’s international matches this year, completing 82% of those attempts for the U.S. this year compared to Girma’s 57% rate. Sonnett will be looked at in numerous roles, but may be asked to return to the defensive role which she patrolled during the Washington Spirit’s run to the 2021 NWSL title. Without captain Becky Sauerbrunn or uninjured alternatives including Tierna Davidson and Casey Krueger, it’s hard to confidently pick the other second-string center back. It’s possible that Ertz will be asked to resume her role from the 2015 World Cup title run at the heart of the defense, although that would seriously hamstring the midfield. O’Hara has made one appearance as a center back since the start of 2022 but could have some upside in the role given her recent form. No position appears more thin on paper and in practice than center back. If a player in another, deeper position is forced out of the roster due to a pre-tournament injury (a grim scenario, indeed), this would seem to be the spot in greatest need of additional reinforcement.

Left back: Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Emily Sonnett, Kelley O’Hara

It’s a visual which is as hilarious as it is informative.

Crystal Dunn is almost certain to start on the left for a second consecutive World Cup. This, despite playing as far from the position’s home as possible for the Portland Thorns. This isn’t just a case of a club coach radically disagreeing with an international peer, mind you: Dunn views herself as a top midfielder who has “to be world-class in a position that I don’t think is my best position.” And yet, for all the reasons which Andonovski prefers to play Fox invertedly on the right, the same has kept Dunn anchored to the left.Fox is the second-choice option on the left and regularly starts in the role for North Carolina. Sonnett has lined up at left back eight times since the start of 2022, the third-most appearances she’s logged at any position behind center back and (mild spoiler alert) defensive midfielder. O’Hara has played invertedly at the role six times since returning from her hip injury.

Defensive midfielder: Julie Ertz, Andi Sullivan, Emily Sonnett, Lindsey Horan, Savannah DeMelo

At last, a position group with three clear, experienced options. Ertz sent shockwaves through the program when she made her return with the United States in March before even signing with a club. Since then, she’s started regularly for Angel City; although there’s undeniable rust left to shake, the two-time World Cup winner has looked the part. This depth chart assumes all players to be at 100% fitness (otherwise, what’s the point?); if Ertz continues to round back into her best form before the end of the group stage, she’ll be difficult to drop in the knockout rounds.Not that Sullivan couldn’t do the job, mind you. The Washington Spirit midfielder has won 52% of her duels for the United States this year and provides a stabilizing influence as the pivot. There are a couple of areas of concern that have helped leave the door open for Ertz’s return. The first is in long distribution: Sullivan averages less than two long passes per 90 minutes for the U.S. this year (Ertz, for comparison’s sake, comes closer to trying eight) and completes them at a poor 25% clip. She also turns the ball over in the United States’ defensive half more often than any other midfielder who has logged minutes this year (42.9% of her 28 losses). Sonnett primarily starts for OL Reign as a defensive midfielder and could seamlessly integrate into the role if needed — although a thin center back corps may limit her freedom to do so. Horan could drop deeper in a pinch, while DeMelo’s do-everything mentality and ability in progressive passing could help her plug this spot as an emergency option.

Central midfielder (box-to-box): Lindsey Horan, Kristie Mewis, Savannah DeMelo, Crystal Dunn

She may not have the on-ball flair of Rose Lavelle and Catarina Macario or the more clarified role of Ertz, but Horan may be the most important player to the United States’ midfield success. With Lyon, she has alternated between serving as the midfield’s base and being a more progressive option. In both spots, she has been among the world’s best at winning aerial duels, carrying the ball, making progressive passes, and sending passes into the final third. After being rotational in 2019, this tournament may finally see Horan get her star turn.Mewis can do a bit of everything in midfield, providing a vital alternative to Horan given the gauntlet of the World Cup format. She’s as capable of connecting passes into the final third, and isn’t shy about taking a shot if the opportunity allows. DeMelo is similarly multifaceted with the added bonus of her expert ability taking opponents on with the ball at her feet. Few players on the roster can match that one-on-one trick, which could make her an underrated threat from midfield. 

While U.S. fans have long clamored for Dunn to get a look as an attacking midfielder, it’s far more likely that she’d slot in here if she is to play as a midfielder at any point — and even then, it would take a few other seismic absences and rotations to get there.

Central midfielder (progressive): Rose Lavelle, Ashley Sanchez, Kristie Mewis, Savannah DeMelo

No member of the roster enters with more injury concern than Lavelle, who has logged just 179 minutes this NWSL season and last played on April 2. She may need to be eased back into the fold throughout the group stage, but with Macario and Mallory Swanson out, her trickiness on the ball and expert chance creation are sorely needed. It’s a fairly open competition for minutes behind her, but this is the spot that is the clear best fit for Sanchez. She’s at the heart of everything the Spirit do going forward, as capable of taking her own shot from deep as she is dishing to teammates. Her presence may require Horan to play a bit more withdrawn for coverage’s sake, but a World Cup spotlight could bring the best out of such a confident player. Mewis and DeMelo’s versatility is again at the heart of their presence here, with Mewis getting the edge due to past presence under Andonovski and a slightly more attacking role with her club.

Left winger: Sophia Smith, Megan Rapinoe, Lynn Williams, Alyssa Thompson, Ashley Sanchez

Until April, this may have been the only position whose depth chart would have been two names deep. Swanson was in blistering form and certain to start, while Rapinoe’s involvement was seldom in question as she wound the clock back for OL Reign. Swanson, unfortunately, will miss out with a torn patellar tendon injury suffered against the Republic of Ireland, necessitating some changes to the hierarchy.Swanson’s absence may actually increase Sophia Smith’s chances of winning the golden boot — and not just due to an increased responsibility to score. The Portland Thorns star plays as a striker for her club, and hasn’t always carried her MVP-caliber form into the national team when playing out right. On the left, she’ll be able to get on the ball and cut toward goal onto her right foot. It’s a trick that has done wonders for Swanson and is far closer to how Smith likes to set herself up for scoring success, as she touches the ball slightly more often on the left than the right. 

Rapinoe offers something completely different: a left-footed crossing ace who can also lurk at the far post when the ball progresses up the right. Williams and Thompson would bring dynamism to the flank, while Sanchez’s creativity could still shine from a wide position further up the field.

Right winger: Lynn Williams, Trinity Rodman, Alyssa Thompson, Sophia Smith

Smith’s anticipated move from the right to the left creates something of a rarity: competition for a starting spot along the United States’ long-hallowed forward line. A versatile collection of attackers creates many permutations for Andonovski, but the young NWSL season has seemingly reminded him of a once-favored answer: let Lynn Williams loose.

After missing the 2022 season with a leg injury, Williams has made the most of her move to Gotham FC. While playing every minute of her 13 starts (a rarity for attackers these days), Williams has reminded everyone that she can still rack up goals while causing fits for opposing defenders if the ball is turned over. She’s among the world’s best at getting involved defensively in all areas, and creates a shot directly from an opponent’s turnover every 257 minutes.  Given Rodman’s pressing prowess, it’s Williams’ better finishing chops that will likely give her the edge to start — although Rodman’s creation and progressive playing style will make her a nightmare for opponents whether she starts or serves as a super-sub in the second half of games. Again, Thompson’s unpredictability on the ball and knock for breaking down a low defensive block make her an asset wherever she lines up. 

Striker: Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith, Lynn Williams

At first glance, it’s a bit unnerving to see a team’s starting striker backed up by the likely starters on either side of her. It’s one reason why Ashley Hatch’s omission from the roster raised eyebrows, as the Washington Spirit striker worked into the pool as Morgan’s de facto backup on the depth chart. More than any player on this roster, Morgan is locked in as a starter at a very specific spot. Whether Williams or Smith are needed to log minutes up top will do more to inform decisions on the wing than Morgan’s own status. After playing all but 6 minutes during the United States’ four knockout matches in 2019, she may be asked to carry a similar load this summer. If she needs to miss a group stage game for load management or is otherwise unable to be selected, it could give Smith a chance to begin her claim as the next great American striker a bit sooner than anticipated. Williams’ profile of shooting and pressing fits as well here as it does at right wing.

At Women’s World Cup, USWNT’s Emily Fox can solve problems in attack and defense

By Steph Yang Jun 21, 2023

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Emily Fox knew she was going to the World Cup. But on a call with The Athletic, during the strange period between being notified that she had made the U.S. women’s national team roster and the public announcement, she had to play it cool. “It’s been good,” the North Carolina Courage defender said when asked how she was feeling about waiting for that roster to drop. “I think being in-season and having to play so many games is actually really good because I’ve been having a lot of my focus on that and on my team and playing well and doing what we can to win in the NWSL.”

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“And then,” she added, smiling, “yeah, waiting.”

At that point it was a done deal, but waiting for a future that wasn’t guaranteed certainly came with its own host of stresses and anxieties. Fox said that she started working with a sports psychologist last year to help her stay more present and not spiral out over trying to control things she couldn’t. 

“At the end of the day, I can’t control who, when, where, why, with the World Cup and the roster,” she said. 

Fox has routines she uses to stay centered, whether she’s traveling or at home. Nothing too wild: going for a walk, grabbing a coffee (iced latte with oat milk) and taking a 20-minute power nap. On game days, she writes down three things that she wants to execute. 

“(It’s) something that I can go to that’s consistent. That’s helped me a lot,” she said.

Another part of her balance is the fact that she has training every day and club games to win with North Carolina. The Courage is third in the standings with 20 points, behind only Portland Thorns (22) and Washington Spirit (23). Fox also has sponsor obligations in case she’s not busy enough. As an Under Armour athlete, she’s been doing media rounds to talk about some of the products they’ve designed specifically for female soccer players.

Fox said that there wasn’t a specific discussion between her, Vlatko Andonvski, and Courage head coach Sean Nahas about any goals she wanted to set this year at the Courage. She pointed out that, with the end of national team allocation, U.S. Soccer is more hands-off now in terms of the national team-club relationships. But she knows that Andonovski has been evaluating hers and everyone else’s club play. 

“I think at the end of the day, especially you look where I’m playing, I’m on the left side and I’m playing kind of inverted. So really, I think with the club, coaches are probably thinking what can I do to help my team,” she said.

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Fox’s heat map this season with the Courage (below) shows that she tends to come inside in the attacking half.

“I think it’s been really fun for me to play a new role (with my club), in terms of I’m normally more tucked in,” she said. “I’m not wide as much and so I think that gives me more touches on the ball and more ability to playmake, so that’s really fun. And then I think with the Courage and how we play, I’ve been learning a lot from (Denise O’Sullivan).”

Fox took a little time to gush about O’Sullivan, calling her a great leader and captain. 

“I think she really understands the game well. It takes a lot of pieces for it to work in terms of me coming in, when I’m rotating,” Fox said. “I think we’re in a good group, good chemistry. I think our team is on a really good page and understands each other and so we’re allowed to have a lot of fluidity in our movements.”

North Carolina’s fluidity has allowed Fox to add to her toolbox, from her higher and wider role on the national team, to coming inside more for the Courage. 

“I do think being so close to the line (for the WNT), a lot of times that invites pressure and that’s why I have to break it and then with the dribbling inside, I think that just opens up a lot of pockets,” she said. “The way that we’re playing with the Courage and me being inside it’s actually less dribbling and I have to think quicker.”

Andonovski said of Fox before the USWNT played Japan in February, “Emily has an ability to solve problems under pressure very, very well, and I would say in a world-class manner. It’s almost a point where pressure doesn’t faze her at all.”

Fox’s positioning and ability to work with the midfield allows other USWNT players to be more aggressive in the attack, and nicely complements Crystal Dunn on the other side of the field when they’re playing together — the Fox-Dunn combo in starting lineups is something Andonovski has complimented for their ability to give him problem-solving on both sides of the field. Looking at Fox’s passing accuracy based on where she’s distributing the ball, she’s good support for midfield players and wingers on her side, allowing the team to play the ball in the final third.

Andonovski also likes that Fox has played this fullback role on both sides of the field, both for club and in college for the University of North Carolina. She’s able to transition fairly well between sides and positional flexibility is something of particular value to Andonovski, as well as generally adding bench depth. And in a tournament setting, where smart rotation can make or break a game, having a younger player able to make that switch could be key. 

Dribbling will always be something she has in her pocket in order to break pressure and win her 1-v-1s, but she’s been trying to grow in other areas too, like her final ball. It helps that Fox already has good relationships with the USWNT midfielders and forwards, allowing them to move well off of each other. Below is Fox’s chance creation for the Courage this season, where we can see her work to feed in from wide areas as well as to combine with other players in the halfspace and more centrally. 

“I would definitely say I think me and Lindsey (Horan) have a really good relationship. I was playing on the left a lot with her. I feel like I really understand what she wants from me in either the quick touch or combination play,” Fox said. “And then same with Alex (Morgan) in terms of the pocket and from the No. 9. And then with Trin (Rodman) too, it’s been really fun playing her on the right side, either combining or letting her do the thing and 1-v-1.”

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In a press conference during CONCACAF qualifying last year, Anodnovski said frankly that Fox was part of a group of young players like Sophia Smith and Mal Swanson who are “going to be here for at least three, maybe four World Cups.” He added: “So get used to them.”

Fox’s eyes widened when informed of Anodnovksi’s very public vote of confidence in her. 

“That’s the first time I’m hearing it,” she said. “That’s awesome that Vlatko has said that but even with this World Cup, the time that we’ve had with our teams, I feel like so much can happen and I know that. So I try not to take anything for granted…. Yes, that’s my goal, be here as long as I can, but I know it’s obviously way easier said than done. And I gotta prove myself now.”

USWNT media day: Naming new captain, Megan Rapinoe injury update and investing in women

By Elias Burke Jun 27, 2023

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On Tuesday, the United States women’s national team held its pre-World Cup media day at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The usual home of MLS side LA Galaxy was adorned with red, white and blue for the occasion — which later included the unveiling of a 20-foot statue of Alex Morgan in the likeness of the Statue of Liberty.At the event, head coach Vlatko Andonovski and all 23 players selected to represent the four-time World Cup winners in Australia and New Zealand spoke to members of the media. Here are some of the key takeaways from the day.

Who will be the next USWNT captain?

The answer isn’t available just yet — not officially. Andonovski was expected to announce the USWNT captain for the 2023 World Cup on Tuesday.“The decision has been made, and we were going to talk to the team last night, but not everybody was able to make it in on time because we had players coming from the East Coast who got here late,” said Andonovski. “I would want to talk to the players first before announcing publicly. Sorry.”It was clear that forwards Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and midfielder Lindsey Horan will be Andonovski’s senior lieutenants in the locker room. The three players were rolled out in press conference format before other teammates joined in a roundtable Morgan is familiar with the role of captain, given her experience and stature on the team. The 33-year-old has 206 caps for the national team since making her debut against Mexico in 2010, scoring 121 goals – fifth in the nation’s all-time rankings. She is a two-time World Cup winner, an Olympic gold medalist, and the captain of the San Diego Wave, where she won the NWSL Golden Boot last season. Rapinoe’s winning experience makes her a valuable member of the squad, but she is currently nursing an injury and, at 37 years old, may not play as prominent a role as she did in 2019.Defender Becky Sauerbrunn, who normally holds the title, is unavailable for selection and will not be on the team for the tournament after reaggravating a foot injury in June with her club the Portland Thorns.“Take a moment wearing that armband and leading the team out there,” Sauerbrunn said in a video clip of her podcast with the Men in Blazers. “Everything has to bounce your way throughout your career to make it to a World Cup. Then to also be the captain and to lead that squad out there, it’s such an honor but also such a responsibility.”Horan, headed to her second World Cup, spoke about Sauerbrunn’s influence as a teammate on the Thorns and the national team in molding her as a leader.“I’m so, so sad for Becky. She was a huge role model for me and someone that took me under her wing and helped me with the leadership role,” said Horan. “My leadership role has changed a huge amount on the field, and I’ve worked more and more off the field. Going into a major tournament like this, it’s about doing my thing: who I am as a leader.“Not changing any bit because we, unfortunately, lost Becky. I’ll be the same Lindsey that I’ve always been, but do whatever I possibly can to help the team lift the trophy at the end of the day.”

Megan Rapinoe expects to be fit for start of World Cup

Rapinoe, who is sitting on 199 caps for the national team, expects to be fit to start the World Cup.She limped off the field in early June for OL Reign inside seven minutes against the Kansas City Current, grabbing her lower leg. She had suffered injury issues earlier in 2023 and sat out the USWNT’s January training camp.“The injury is going really well. It was quite minor. It was not amazing timing, but such is the life of an athlete,” Rapinoe said. “It’s nothing that I’m worried about for the start of the tournament. It feels like we’re here right now because we’re coming into camp, but we have a little bit of time and we’ll have time down in New Zealand before we get going. I’m feeling good, and training is going well, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”The 2019 Ballon d’Or winner enters her fourth World Cup with her eyes set on a third title. While her role may be more rotational than she played in 2019, where she won the Golden Ball, she has had an excellent start to 2023 on the field, suggesting she still has a lot to give as one of women’s football’s most recognizable players.“First and foremost, when Pinoe is on the field, she’s a great player,” Andonovski said. “That’s the first reason why she’s on this team. Unfortunately, she got injured in the last game but the game before that she showed what she can bring to this team. She’s one of the most creative players I’ve ever seen and a true winner. She’s certainly a great player and that’s why we want her on the team. But also her experience and leadership is what she needs as well. She will have a role as a player, a leader and leading the leaders as well.”

The focus is on Vietnam

The USWNT kicks off its World Cup campaign against Vietnam on July 21 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. And, judging by the comments of Andonovski and the players, their focus lies squarely on their opening match — one they do not anticipate to be comparable to the 13-0 result against Thailand in 2019.“Looking at this tournament and games we’re going to be playing, you can’t compare our match against Thailand to any upcoming games,” said Morgan. “That tournament we started off with a bang.“We’re hopeful and optimistic that in this tournament we will be able to be successful. That’s what we’ve worked so hard towards these last four years. We have incredible respect for Vietnam.”Vietnam is going into its first World Cup among the best sides in Asia, sitting fifth in FIFA’s continental rankings. In 2022, they reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup, losing 3-1 to eventual winners China. Currently, all but one of their players play their club football in Vietnam, but their 2-1 friendly defeat to Germany on Saturday highlights their potential to be a stubborn opponent for the USWNT.“They’re an incredibly organized team, and we can’t overlook the first match of the tournament,” Morgan said.Andonovski’s side will round out the group stage against the Netherlands in Wellington, New Zealand, before returning to Auckland to face Portugal.“It’s one of the hardest groups, if not the hardest group in the World Cup,” Andonovski said. “We have three teams that are very good. They’re all different types of teams with, in some ways, different philosophies and different styles of play which made it a little bit harder for us in the preparation for the group play because we had to dissect three different styles and approaches. We think that we have enough time to prepare for them separately. The goal is to win the group before we move to the ultimate goal.”

And, if it was not clear. The ultimate goal is to add a fifth star to the national team’s crest.“Would I be happy with anything short of a third straight win? No,” Andonovski said, with a chuckle. “Absolutely not. There’s only one thing in mind going to this tournament – our goal is to win the World Cup.”

Investing in women

The USWNT has historically coupled its success on the field with the ability to affect change off it.“Having charter flights, having the best hotels, having all the recovery resources, having the money to provide that for players gives us the best opportunity to perform at our best and keep up with the level on the field that increases year over year,” said Rapinoe. “We’re fortunate to have that and we fought a lot for that over the years. To have an environment that allows for every team in the tournament to reach their full potential, that’s what it’s all about.”FIFA’s decision in 2022 to provide “the same conditions” and services for all female players and staff as their male counterparts was in part due to the USWNT efforts.While the new $110 million pot is just 25% of the $440 million paid out to the 32 national federations that participated at the Qatar World Cup, it is far beyond the $60 million pot that FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously promised in 2019.The USWNT’s 2019 World Cup success was won with the backdrop of an equal pay lawsuit, accusing the United States Soccer Federation of “institutionalized gender discrimination” toward the team. While players from the USWNT settled their class action lawsuit for a total of $24 million in February of 2022, the senior leaders on the team say there is still a long way to go for equality.

USWNT’s Crystal Dunn signs a collective bargaining agreement signifying equal pay between the U.S. men’s and women’s teams. Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images.

“The vibe is still the same, the vibe has been the same since 100 years ago. Just wanting to constantly strive for whatever the next thing is,” said Rapinoe. “This is not a team that does any sort of resting on its laurels, it’s always about the next game, the next area of progress, the next thing we can fight for using our platform and continuing on the field to be the best team that we possibly can. Being one of the best teams in the world, you’re always on that razor’s edge. The on-field is the most important thing and that’s been the fuel for the team always: striving to win every single game whether in practice or on the field.

“Some of the players on the team now are never going to experience inequalities as a professional athlete under U.S. soccer,” Morgan added. “We actually just got our first settlement check in the mail a week ago. (Center back) Naomi (Girma) was joking that she didn’t get one and I was like, ‘Be grateful you don’t, you just get equal!’”The upcoming World Cup will be the first Morgan will play as a mother, after giving birth to her daughter Charlie in 2020. Four years later, she became the highest-scoring mother in USWNT history, passing Joy Fawcett with the opener in a 2-1 win over Brazil in February. Fawcett, a member of the 1999 World Cup-winning team, held the previous record with 13 goals.“I’m really grateful for the women before me that fought for mom athletes. Joy Fawcett was the OG in that, and she had way less resources and support and was able to somehow become world champion and do many great things to create the legacy she has today,” said Morgan. “I have fought hard for female athletes to get the support and resources needed to continue to stay at the top of our game after having children.”

Preview W League #INDvSTC

elevencomms

June 28, 2023 11:38 am

#INDvSTC
St. Charles FC at Indy Eleven
Friday, June 30, 2023 – 7:00 PM
Grand Park Sports Complex – Westfield, Ind.

Follow Live
Live Stream
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Live stats: #INDvSTC MatchCenter at USLWLeague.com

2023 USL W League Records
Indy Eleven: 7W-1L-1D (+21GD), 22pts
St. Charles FC: 1W-6L-2D (-23GD), 5pts

Setting the Scene
The Girls in Blue are back at home for the last game of the regular season following a 3-0 win at Lexington SC. Indy hosts St. Charles FC, who sits at the fifth spot in the USL W League’s Valley division with five points, while Indy still holds the division’s top spot with 22 points.

Series vs. Saint Charles FC
Friday’s match marks the third meeting between Indy and Saint Charles with both teams splitting the series with a win apiece. Saint Charles defeated Indy 2-0 the last time the two met, while The Girls in Blue came out on top 8-0 the first match of the 2023 regular season.

Recent Meetings
June 24, 2023 | L, 2-0

May 10, 2023 | W, 8-0

Last Time Out
Three different players scored as Indy Eleven defeated Lexington SC, 3-0, Thursday night on the road. With the win, Indy improves to 7-1-1 to stay atop the USL W League’s Valley Division, while Lexington falls to 2-6-1. The Eleven also earned the season series over LEX 3-0, with wins at Lexington on May 21 (3-0) and at home June 9 (2-0).

Sam Dewey got the scoring started, just as she did in the last match-up in Lexington, with her fourth goal of the season as a Hal Hershfelt cross found Dewey alone on the back post for an easy tally in the 29th-minute. The assist was the first for Hershfelt in 2023.

The Eleven tacked on a pair of back-to-back unassisted goals to close the first half with Katie Soderstrom (43’) first taking it herself into the 18-yard box and playing a ball back across the goal line and into the back of the net for her fourth of the season. Maddy Williams (45+1’) then took advantage of a Lexington giveaway in the back to score her third of the season and in consecutive matches.

The result was decided in the first half as neither team found the back of the net in the second frame. The teams were deadlocked with nine shots apiece in the match, with Indy holding the 4-2 advantage in shots on target. Nona Reason earned her fourth clean sheet of the season making three saves.

Kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. ET

#INDvSD Preview  
Indy Eleven vs San Diego Loyal SC
Saturday, July 1, 2023 – 7:30 p.m. ET 
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.

Follow Live
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe) 
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #INDvSD MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com

2023 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 5W-6L-4D (0), 19 pts; 7th in Eastern Conference
San Diego Loyal SC: 6W-5L-5D (+2), 23 pts; 6th in Western Conference

Community Health Network Sports Medicine Indy Eleven Injury Report
OUT: DF B. Rebellon (L adductor), MF J. Blake (Lower back)
QUESTIONABLE: MF S. Velasquez (L adductor)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MnMj2jkFwWI%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26fs%3D1%26hl%3Den-US%26autohide%3D2%26wmode%3Dtransparent

SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to action Saturday when they host San Diego Loyal SC for the first and only time this season. San Diego leads the all-time series 1-0-0.

The Eleven are coming off a 2-0 win at Hartford Athletic and are 2-2-1 in their last five games. With a 5-6-4 record, Indy is seventh in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference.

San Diego is winless in its last five matches going 0-3-2 and is coming off a 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh. SD sits sixth in the Western Conference at 6-5-5.

SERIES VS. SAN DIEGO LOYAL
Saturday marks the second meeting between the two teams, with San Diego holding the 1-0-0 all-time advantage in USL Championship action. The is the first meeting of the 2023 season.

SD leads: 1-0-0
GF 0, GA 5

Recent Meetings
6.25.22 at SD L, 5-0

Last Match
2022 USL Championship Regular Season – Matchday 16
San Diego Loyal SC 5:0 Indy Eleven
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Torero Stadium– San Diego, Calif.

Scoring Summary:
SD – Thomas Amang (unassisted) 29′
SD – Kyle Vassell (unassisted) 42′
SD – Kyle Vassell (Alejandro Guido) 52′
SD – Mechack Jerome (own goal) 60′
SD – Robinson Moshobane (unassisted) 85′

LINDLEY NAMED TO USLC TEAM OF THE WEEK
A SportCenter Top-10 worthy goal earned Cam Lindley USL Championship Team of the Week honors. Additionally, Yannik Oettl earned a bench spot after helping the Eleven to a 2-0 win over Hartford Athletic.

Lindley scored the match winner in the 73rd minute off an assist from Younes Boudadi. His first goal of the 2023 season made an impression, coming in at No. 10 on SportsCenter’s Top 10. Lindley completed 52 of 57 passes in the game and won two of two tackles and five of eight duels. He currently ranks third in the USLC in passes (1,003).

In goal, Oettl earned his fifth clean sheet of the season for the Boys in Blue, registering three saves. Oettl ranks eight in the league with 41 saves and is tied for fifth with five clean sheets.

LAST TIME OUT
JUNE 24, 2023
HFD 0:2 IND
Indy Eleven won, 2-0, at Hartford Athletic as Cam Lindley’s and Douglas Martinez’s goals helped Indy earn three points on road.
Indy scored the game winning goal in the 73rd minute when Lindley took a pass from Boudadi and delivered a shot from well outside the box into the top left corner of the net giving Indy a 1-0 lead on his first goal of the season.
Douglas Martinez would add on to Indy’s lead in the fifth minute of stoppage time, when he took a pass from Roberto Molina and sent a shot that bounced off the goaltender’s gloves and into the back of net for his first goal of the season,extending Indy’s lead to 2-0.

Scoring Summary
IND – Cam Lindley (Younes Boudadi) 73’
IND – Douglas Martinez (Roberto Molina) 90 + 5’

Discipline Summary
IND – Younes Boudadi (caution) 4’
IND – Macaulay King (caution) 49’
IND – Harrison Robledo (caution) 65’
HFD – Prince Saydee (caution) 70’
IND – Cam Lindley (caution) 74’
HFD – Edgardo Rito (caution) 87’
IND – Gustavo Rissi (caution) 87’
HFD – Elvis Amoh (caution 90 + 5

INDY ELEVEN ANNOUNCES RETURN OF STEFANO PINHO
Indy Eleven announced the acquisition of forward Stefano Pinho for a second stint with the Boys in Blue. Pinho will be available for Indy pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Pinho appeared in 32 USL Championship matches in 2022 for the Eleven, making 22 starts and logging over 2,000 minutes of action. He registered a team-leading 13 goals, including four match winners, and three assists, while tallying 52 shots, including 21 on target. He returns to the Circle City after appearing in five matches for Brazilian club Paysandu SC (Campeonato Brasileiro Serie C) scoring one goal.

The 32-year-old opened his career in South America playing for youth club Fluminese FC and began his professional career on loan with Brazilian sides Guaratingueta (2012) and Madureira (2013) and Finnish club Mypa (2014).

Pinho burst onto the American soccer scene after finishing as the top scorer at the 2013 MLS Combine. In 2015, he opened his NASL career with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and went on to play for Minnesota United (2016) and The Miami FC (2017). He twice earned the league’s Golden Boot (leading scorer) and Golden Ball (MVP) awards, once with Fort Lauderdale and once with Miami FC. Pinho scored 16 USLC goals and had nine assists with Fort Lauderdale and added 17 goals and three assists with Miami FC.

In 2018, Pinho played 26 matches for MLS club Orlando City FC across MLS and U.S. Open Cup competition and scored three goals. The 2019 season saw him play for Xianjang Tianshan Leopard (2019) in China and he spent 2020-21 with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Washm. He returned to the States in 2021 to play for Austin Bold FC, where he registered a goal and an assist in 25 matches.

Rent this Beautiful 4 BR Beach house at Myrtle Beach for as low at $250 a night.

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

Earn Your College Degree at ½ the Cost and Time of Traditional Schools  www.achievetestprep.com/shane

Notes

A bunch of folks got in on the Roster Reveal for the US Women’s World Cup team.  The Prez, Taylor Swift, Shaq, Tina Fey, Blake Lively, theestallion, Mia Hamm, and so many more helped in the reveal.   ESPN Vote for the Best Soccer Player – at least some should vote for Sophia Smith.

US Men play St Kitts & Nevis Tonight at 10 pm on FS 1

So the US got an important tie down the stretch vs a very good Jamaica team – setting up tonights game two of the Gold Cup opening round vs St. Kitts & Nevis tonight at 10 pm on FS1.  Cincy forward Brandon Vasquez scored the game tying goal in the 88^th minute after GK Matt Turner saved the day with a PK save in the first half.  Moving ahead – game two tonight is a game where the US needs to put up some goals like 6, 7 or 8 to nothing.  I look for a complete change in starters tonight as the US will probably look to rest some starters.  I see a 6-0 win for us tonight with Vasquez putting up 2 or 3 goals and Zendejas as least 1 if not 2.  That will set up a chance to outscore Jamaica as we look to win the group on Sunday on Fox 7 pm vs T&T. 

Shane’s Starters

Vasquez

 Cade Cowell/Mihailovic/Zendejas

Busio/Sands

Jones/Miles Robinson//Jalen Neal//De Andre Yedlin

Gaga Slovenka

MLS

The MLS All-Star Game Roster has been announced they will face Arsenal and American GK Matt Turner in DC on Wednesday night, July 19^th.   Apple has a special on 50% savings to watch the MLS All-Star game as well as the Full MLS Season pass –which shows all the games – including those that Lionel Messi will play in for Inter Miami when he starts sometime in mid July.   

Indy 11 Ladies Play last home Game this Friday, Boys Fire Works Sat 7:30 pm @ the Mike

The Girls in Blue are back in action this Friday, June 30 for the final regular season match of 2023 when they host St. Charles FC @ Grand Park in Westfield for the third time this season. The teams have split the season series so far, with each team winning on the road. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will stream on Eleven Sports.  The Indy 11 W are 7-1-1 atop the USL W League’s Valley Division. Tix for this final game are just $8 or call 317-685-1100.  The Boys won last week 2-1 including this fantastic strike from Carmel’s own Cam Lindley who was on ESPN’s top plays of the day for this screamer. They will host their Firework’s Celebration after this Sat’s game on July 1^st  at 7:30 pm @ the Mike vs the San Diego Loyal.  Tix avail via indyeleven.com/tickets. 

Carmel High School Girls Summer Schedule

Carmel High School Boys Summer Schedule

GAMES ON TV

Tues, June 27

7 pm FS1                              Canada vs Gaudeloupe  Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS1                        Guatamala vs Cuba Gold Cup

Wed, June 28

7:30 pm FS1                        Jamaica vs T&T

9:30 pm FS1                        USMNT vs St Kitts   Gold Cup

Thur, June 29

7:45 pm FS1                        Qatar vs Honduras Gold Cup

10 pm FS1                            Haiti vs Mexico Gold Cup

Fri, June 30

7:45 pm FS1                        Martinique vs Panama Gold Cup

10 pm FS1                            El Salvador s Costa Rica Gold Cup

Sat, July 1

3:30 pm Para+                   OL Reign(Lavelle, Huerta, Cook) vs Racing Louisville(Demelo) NWSL

7 pm Para+                         Washington Spirit(Rodman, Sanchez, Hatch, Sullivan) vs Orlando(Marta) NWSL

7:30 pm                                MLS games

7:45 pm FS1                        Cuba vs  Guadeloupe   Gold Cup

8 pm Para+                         Chicago(Naeher) vs San Diego Wave(Morgan, Korniach, Girma) NWSL

10 pm FS1                            Guatemala vs Canada

10 pm CBSSN                     Portland Thorns (Smith) vs KC Current

Sun, July 2

4 pm Fox                              Atlanta United vs Philly Union MLS

5:30 pm Para+                   NY Gothem(Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Angel City FC(Thompson, Ertz)

7  pm FS1                             Jamaica vs TBD      Gold Cup

7 pm Fox                     USMNT vs T&T    Gold Cup

9 pm      FS1                         Mexico vs Qatar

9 pm FS2                              Honduras vs Haiti

Tues, July 4

6:30  pm FS1                       Canada vs Cuba Gold Cup

6:30 pm FS2                        Guadeloupe vs Guatemala Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS1                        Costa Rica vs Martinique Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS2                        Panama vs El Salvador Gold Cup

10:30 pm Apple                LA Galaxy vs LAFC  El Traffico

Sat, July 8

5/7 pm FS1                          Quarters Gold Cup                         

10 pm Para+                       San Diego Wave(Korniach) vs Washington(Hatch, Sullivan) 

Sun, July 9

4 pm Fox                              USWNT vs Wales  Send-off

5/7 pm FS1 & 2                 Gold Cup Quarter Finals

5/7 pm Fox                       USMNT vs Canada? Gold Cup Quarters  in Cincy

5:30 pm Para+                   NY Gothem(Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Portland Thorns (Smith)

8 pm Para+                         Angel City FC(Thompson, Ertz) vs NC Courage(Murphy, Fox)

Final NWSL Games till after World Cup

Wed, July 12

TBD FS1                                Semi- Finals Gold Cup 

7 pm TV 23 ESPN+            Indy 11 vs Charleston Battery

Sun, July 16

7:30 pm FS1                        Finals Gold Cup 

Thur, July 20               Wonen’s World Cup Starts

3 am Fox                              New Zealand vs Norway

6 am Fox                              Australia vs Ireland

10:30 pm Fox                     Nigeria vs Canada

Fri, July 21                          

1 am FS1                              Phillipines vs Switzerland

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Costa Rica

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Vietnam

Sat, July 22

3 am FS1                              Zambia vs Japan

5:30 am Fox                        England vs Haiti

8 am Fox                              Denmark vs China

7 pm WRTV, ESPN+         Indy 11 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sun July 23

1 am FS1                              Sweden vs South Africa

3:30 am FS1                        Netherlands vs Portugal

6 am Fox                              France vs Jamaica

Mon July 24

2 am FS1                              Italy vs Argentina  

4:30 am FS1                        Germany vs Morroco  

7 am FS1                              Brazil vs Panama

10 pm FS1                            Colombia vs Korea

Wed, July 26

1 am FS1                              Japan vs Costa Rica

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Zambia

8 am FS1                              Canada vs Ireland

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Netherlands

Tues, Aug 1

3 am Fox                     United States Women vs Portugal

3 am FS1                              Vietnam vs Netherlands

7 am Fox                              England vs China

7 am FS1                              Haiti vs Denmark

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Schedule

 World Cup Schedule Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw

 

USMNT squeaks by

It wasn’t pretty, but the U.S. men’s national team eked out a draw against Jamaica to open the CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage. Brandon Vazquez scored an 88th-minute equalizer to avoid what would what have been just the second time ever that the U.S. lost in the Gold Cup group stage.

The squad should be in fine shape to advance, as its next two matches are against Saint Kitts and Nevis (Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET) and Trinidad and Tobago (next Sunday, 7 p.m. ET).

Context: This wasn’t the star-heavy team that took home the Nations League trophy a week ago, however — goalkeeper Matt Turner, who saved a penalty to keep the game within one goal, was the only holdover in the starting lineup. (And somewhat oddly, red-carded Weston McKennie and Sergiño Dest began their suspensions last night despite not even being on the roster.)

Also of note in American soccer news this weekend: FIFA announced that the U.S. will host the newly expanded 2025 Club World Cup. The governing body said the decision would provide “synergy” and help grow the game in North America ahead of the 2026 men’s World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

USMNT draws Jamaica in first CONCACAF Gold Cup match: What this means for the U.S.

By Paul Tenorio and The Athletic StaffJun 25, 2023

The U.S. men’s national team completed a 1-1 draw against Jamaica in the first group-stage match at the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Damion Lowe scored the lone goal for Jamaica in the 13th minute.
• Brandon Vazquez scored the equalizer in the 88th minute. It was his second career goal for the U.S.
• The U.S. men outshot Jamaica 13-6 while winning the possession battle. USMNT had 68 percent possession while Jamaica’s was 32 percent.
• The USMNT’s next match is against Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

What this means for the U.S.

Vazquez’s goal salvaged a 1-1 draw and what would have been just the second time ever that the U.S. lost in the Gold Cup group stage. (The first and only time was in 2011 to Panama.) The draw leaves the U.S. in a fine position to advance out of the group stage, as the top two teams from each group advance to the knockouts, and the U.S. will be favored in their next two games against Saint Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.fter Saturday’s draw, goal differential will likely factor into seeding, so the U.S. will need to bag as many goals as possible on Wednesday night against a Saint Kitts and Nevis team against whom they are heavy favorites. — Tenorio

What is the takeaway from this draw?

It wasn’t pretty, but it’d be tough to argue that Vazquez’s goal wasn’t a justified equalizer for the USMNT. The U.S. was playing a decidedly different squad from the team that won the Nations League trophy just last week in Las Vegas. Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who saved a penalty to keep the game within one goal, was the only holdover in the starting lineup, and the lack of firepower in the attacking end was evident, as was a massive difference in how the U.S. was able to push the game through its midfield. While Jamaica had multiple Premier League players in its lineup, the U.S. featured a squad made up of North American domestic players based in either MLS or Liga MX.

The U.S. had a couple of dangerous moments, but never really looked fluid or dangerous as they did with their best players on the field against Mexico and Canada in Las Vegas. Players like Aidan Morris and Alan Soñora struggled, the U.S. gave up a goal on a defensive set piece and Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake made several important saves to stymie the Americans. It looked like Jamaica was going to pick up the win, but the U.S. controlled so much of the ball and had Jamaica on the back foot for much of the second half. Eventually, Vazquez found the goal when Jamaica failed to clear Jesús Ferreira’s cross and salvaged the result.

There aren’t going to be a ton of positives to pull out of this one. The U.S. should be more decisive in games like this, even with the clear talent in the Jamaica lineup, and it will need to play better to advance in the knockout stages. — Tenorio

Backstory

The U.S. entered the CONCACAF Gold Cup on a high after winning the CONCACAF Nations League on June 18. USMNT defeated Canada 2-0 with Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun scoring the goals. It was USMNT’s second Nations League title in program history.USMNT is defending champion of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In 2021, the squad defeated Mexico 1-0 in the final, capturing the country’s seventh Gold Cup title.

United States 2023 Women’s World Cup squad: Every player on the roster analyzed

Jeff Rueter

Jun 21, 2023

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U.S. women’s national team coach Vlatko Andonovski announced his 23-player roster for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Undoubtedly, he wouldn’t have minded if FIFA had upped the squad size to 26 players, as they did for the 2022 men’s World Cup.

With a deep and talented pool to select from, the usual strain of selection was made more difficult by injuries to crucial players. Midfield magician Catarina Macario couldn’t come back from last summer’s ACL tear, while in-form forward Mallory Swanson suffered a torn patellar tendon in an April tune-up friendly against Ireland.

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But no omission will be felt more off the field than that of Becky Sauerbrunn. Last week, The Athletic broke the news that the captain will miss this tournament due to a foot injury suffered in an April NWSL match. While the absences of Macario and Swanson were anticipated for months due to the severity of their injuries, there was hope that Sauerbrunn could anchor the defense once more. Instead, the door is opened for a pair of young center backs to begin carving their own legacies out from behind their legendary leader’s shadow.

There will be bona fide stars watching the World Cup from home like most of us. But make no mistake, this is still a deep and talented roster. The question now is how will it come together, largely on the fly.

Here are the 23 players included, and what they offer, as the United States aims to win a third consecutive Women’s World Cup and a record-extending fifth since the current tournament’s inception in 1991.

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Goalkeepers

Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) — 35 years old, 90 caps

Naeher has been the program’s trusted woman in goal since the aftermath of the 2016 Olympics, which saw the U.S. fall to Sweden in the quarterfinals in what was Hope Solo’s last national team game. Naeher has remained consistent for the United States, keeping clean sheets in 8 of her 12 starts since January 2022. Only once has she allowed more than one goal among those dozen matches, the 2-1 defeat at Wembley against England.

It’s fortunate for Naeher’s sake that she’s firmly entrenched with the team because Andonovski reinforced in April that the roster’s hardest calls would be informed by players’ form at their clubs.

“If they are goalkeepers, don’t get scored on; if they are forwards, score goals. Obviously, (have) good performances,” the USWNT coach said. “There’s a group of players that we feel very comfortable with and we’ve communicated with them that all we’re going to need from them is to just maintain an OK form, a decent form.”

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The Chicago Red Stars have been the NWSL’s worst defensive team, allowing 31 goals across 12 games; no other club has allowed more than 23. Naeher has picked each one out from the back of the net, roughly 2.6 times per game. That’s nearly identical to the post-shot expected goals she’s faced (2.5 per game), suggesting she isn’t performing any better than one would expect from a first-division goalkeeper.

Andonovski will expect her consistent form when donning the national team’s crest, as she’s shown before time and again.

Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit) — 31 years old, 1 cap

On the opposite end of the “recent form versus earned reputation” spectrum, we find Washington Spirit leader Aubrey Kingsbury. Throughout most of the World Cup qualification cycle, Naeher and Casey Murphy were joined in their reflex drills by A.D. Franch. However, a sharp dip in Franch’s form ( she’s the only goalkeeper who’s allowed more goals per 90 than Naeher, with 2.8) left the door open for Kingsbury to earn a place on the roster.

Kingsbury’s goals prevented rate of 21.6% ranks third among domestic NWSL goalkeepers, while she also matches Naeher’s long distribution accuracy. Her sole international cap to date came in the 9-0 friendly win over Uzbekistan in April 2022, leaving her with little experience at this level. Still, it’s a deserved honor for an oft-overlooked veteran in form.

Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage) — 27 years old, 14 caps

Even with Kingsbury starting 2023 off strong, it’s likely that Murphy is the de facto second option in goal. Murphy currently leads the NWSL with six clean sheets for the Courage, keeping her from jeopardizing a roster spot. The bygone cycle allowed her to cement her place as Naeher’s understudy, thanks in large part to expert shot-stopping which was on display in a SheBelieves Cup clash with Japan.

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She played 90 competitive minutes in that match against Japan with World Cup center back pairing Alana Cook and Naomi Girma. At minimum, it’s likely she’ll inherit the No. 1 shirt from Naeher whenever she hangs up her gloves. Until then, however, she appears tested and ready to step into this tournament if needed.

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Center backs

Alana Cook (OL Reign) — 26 years old, 24 caps

Admittedly, the drafting of this piece began with Sauerbrunn’s name atop the section. Now without its longtime anchor, the USWNT backline will look and play differently than it has in World Cups past — likely with Cook at the heart of it all. Recruited for England during Phil Neville’s tenure, the former PSG defender committed to the United States in October 2019 before leaving France for the NWSL in 2021.

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Gone are the days when simply tallying tackles, interceptions, clearances and the like adequately size up a defender. Instead, we used true tackles (a player’s tackles attempted plus fouls and challenges lost) and true interceptions (their interceptions plus blocked passes) to better get a sense of how Cook has grasped a starting role for Andonovski.

While her tackling may not stand out from the pack, her ability in the air as well as her interception acumen make her a difficult defender to work around for opponents. Cook seems likely to be the U.S.’s top center back throughout the tournament…

Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave) — 23 years old, 15 caps

…depending on who you ask. If Cook has made herself the central defender of the present, then Girma is the one of the future — and also the present, if we’re being honest. Girma became the first player in NWSL history to win defender of the year and rookie of the year in her debut 2022 campaign. She did so with a very well-rounded game, able to time a tackle expertly while also bringing a calm presence when the ball was at her feet.

GO DEEPER

What makes Naomi Girma one of the best young defenders in the world

In San Diego, she’s had a chance to provide leadership beyond her years to a defensive unit. While this will be her first World Cup, she’s been able to test herself against a world-class regional rival (Bunny Shaw of Jamaica) and did well to contain the Manchester City striker during the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship. If all goes to plan, she’s destined to be one of the faces of the program for years to come.

Emily Sonnett (OL Reign) — 29 years old, 74 caps

Sonnett’s spot on the roster was likely secure regardless of Sauerbrunn’s status. As a versatile player who can help at right back, defensive midfield, or central defense, however, it’s likely that her utilization this summer will look very different than it may have otherwise. Versatility has long been a trait that Andonovski values and few have it quite to the same extent as the Marietta, Georgia native.

After spending most of the 2023 season as OL Reign’s starting defensive midfielder, Sonnett earned her first regular-season start in central defense. Understandably, her role was still a bit nomadic given her skillset. However, it could have been a “cram for the exam” performance for what could be a more regular assignment at the World Cup.

Without Sauerbrunn, Tierna Davison and Casey Krueger, this is a very thin group. Other “break glass in case of emergency” options include veteran full back Kelley O’Hara or returning Julie Ertz to her 2015 World Cup position.

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Full backs

Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage) — 24 years old, 28 caps

For the first time since Meghan Klingenberg exited the player pool in 2017, the United States finally has a player who is a dedicated left back for their club. Over the past five-plus years, both Andonovski and predecessor Jill Ellis opted to shift right-footed midfielder Crystal Dunn to the defense’s port side. Fox’s emergence has given a left-footed alternative who’s more than capable of excelling at this level — though Andonovski has often deployed Dunn on the left and Fox on the right.

GO DEEPER

At Women’s World Cup, USWNT’s Emily Fox can solve problems in attack and defense

Fox has averaged 2.2 shot-creating actions (passes, fouls, or take-ons that set up a shot) per game in her first year with the Courage, adjusting seamlessly after a winter move away from Racing Louisville. While that’s good news if she works overlap with Sophia Smith, her unique deployment this season should also keep her from being redundant in the final third when Megan Rapinoe sees the pitch. The reigning World Cup golden ball winger is a more traditional winger than Smith’s inverted approach, and Fox has shown to be quite capable of tucking toward the central third when moving forward. That unique versatility should make her a key player in this tournament — and, given her age, for many years to come.

Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns) — 30 years old, 131 caps

In the years between Klingenberg and Fox, USWNT fans have been left to ask: “What if our best midfielders played out of position?” Dunn made headlines this winter when she told GQ that she “loses a part of herself” by abandoning her strong-footed instincts to patrol the left flank for her country. Now with a legitimate left back option in the fold, we may finally get to see a slightly less selfless deployment of 2021 CONCACAF Player of the Year.

With Portland, Dunn plays on the right side of a 4-3-3 midfield as their left back role is, perhaps ironically, filled by Klingenberg. There, she isn’t shy to cover plenty of ground and put her dominant foot to good use. She’s one of seven NWSL players to average at least two shots and two chances created per 90 minutes among qualifiers, and could better tap into that all-around threat on the right. Firmly in her prime and back to her best after missing much of 2022 due to pregnancy and postpartum recovery, Dunn is still among the most important players on this or any team in the field.

Kelley O’Hara (Gotham FC) — 34 years old, 157 caps

A starter for the team in 2019, O’Hara may be equipped to fill the “steady veteran leader” role which her predecessor Ali Krieger occupied four years ago. After missing much of 2022 with a hip injury, the Fayetteville, Georgia native has returned to her dependable self in her first season with Gotham, albeit with a more defensive approach to the position than she displayed before her injury setback.

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After averaging 2.99 true tackles per 1,000 opposing touches in 2021, that rate has spiked to 5.79 this season. Her vertical doesn’t seem hampered a bit, upping her rate of aerial duels won from 60% to 72.7% after her recovery. Her presence may serve as a necessary counter-balance for the more attacking tendencies of Dunn and Fox. In Sauerbrunn’s absence, her role as a World Cup-winning veteran may be especially vital to the team’s budding defensive unit.

Sofia Huerta (OL Reign) — 30 years old, 29 caps

Playing against OL Reign this season requires an opponent to keep their head on a swivel. Let the ball progress up the left and it’ll inevitably be squared back by Megan Rapinoe. Catch your breath as it trickles to the right, and it’s likely Sofia Huerta who will do the same — with even more accuracy, finding her target at an impressive 39.6% clip, the second-best rate among any NWSL player averaging at least 1.5 crosses per game (trailing roster snub Sam Coffey).

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That synergy working the opposite flank from Rapinoe could be an invaluable escape valve if an opponent is able to contain the United States into the second half. With her club teammate likely to be rotated as Sophia Smith starts on the left, the duo could potentially enter in tandem and stretch a narrow opposing defense to create pockets of space. Not that she couldn’t handle starting responsibilities, mind you: she’s played all but two minutes to date this season in the NWSL.

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Midfielders

Lindsey Horan (Lyon) — 29 years old, 128 caps

While the cast around her has rotated a lot over the past four years, Horan has been a constant in Andonovski’s side. She’s the only member of this roster who isn’t playing in NWSL, having decided to stay with Lyon after spending the past season on loan. There, the Golden, Colorado native played 750 minutes in a Champions League campaign, scoring twice and adding as many assists while starting alongside Dutch duo Damaris Egurrola and Daniëlle van de Donk.

Simply, Horan can bring a bit of everything to the team in possession as well as going forward. In 2019, she started four of the U.S.’s 7 matches, ranking 11th among field players with 358 minutes.

Rose Lavelle (OL Reign) — 28 years old, 88 caps

The breakout player from four years ago, Rose Lavelle won the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third-best player. At this point, opponents will know exactly what to expect from her. She’s a technical player on the ball, able to deliver a ball through two or three defensive lines with precision. Further up, she can dish sublime backheeled assists or take her own shot with equal effectiveness. When she’s on the ball, it’s best to just let Rose cook.

GO DEEPER

Rose Lavelle breaks down her most famous goal, dribble, and some back-heel assists

Unfortunately for her and this team alike, the injury bug has done what so few defenders can. Lavelle has played just 178 minutes for her club this season as she works to recover from a knee injury which she suffered in the same April friendlies against Ireland. If Lavelle is hampered into the knockout rounds, it could radically change the way Andonovski sets his side up.

Julie Ertz (Angel City FC) — 31 years old, 118 caps

Julie Ertz worked hard to overcome a sprained right MCL (suffered in May 2021) before further extending her leave after giving birth to her first child. She was a surprise inclusion in the April friendlies after nearly two years away from the national team. She’s logged 484 minutes for her California club since April, popping up in plays all over the pitch.

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Despite her lengthy absence from the national team, it’s hard to forget how vital she was to the team’s success in France. Her absence was felt over the nearly two years following that Olympic heartbreak, despite tidy play from Andi Sullivan in the 6. However, nobody in the pool can quite match her bite in midfield.

Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit) — 27 years old, 44 caps

Sullivan had a tough assignment stepping in for Ertz but capably held her own to keep the team’s shape. She’s shown the requisite selflessness to keep the ball moving ahead of her, doing the hard work to chase down opponents and slow their momentum on the break. Her 4.36 true interceptions per 1,000 opposing touches rank favorably to Ertz’s clip (4.58), while her 9.28 ball recoveries per 90 minutes are sixth among qualified NWSL midfielders.

It isn’t all about the defensive side of the game, though. No NWSL midfielder with at least 500 minutes sends more of their passes at least 35 yards deep, making up 16.5% of all of her distribution. Hers may be a thankless role, but it’s been a vital one whenever she’s called into action.

Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit) — 24 years old, 24 caps

A breakout turn in the Spirit’s run to the 2021 championship kicked off what’s been a steady role for Ashely Sanchez in Andonovski’s plans. She’s logged 24 caps in a year-and-a-half to wedge her way into the picture. She led Washington in assists, shots and shots on goal in 2022 — the latter two being particularly impressive as she lined up in midfield.

She’s far from picky with her shot selection, letting fly with a low 0.08 xG/shot rate. However, that confidence will come in handy as opponents look to congest the defensive area to neutralize the USWNT’s scoring threats, particularly Alex Morgan and Sophia Smith. Simultaneously, her willingness to set teammates up could help mitigate for Swanson and Macario’s absences while giving Lavelle more time to get back to her best.

Kristie Mewis (Gotham FC) — 32 years old, 51 caps

If anyone came out of 2020 in a better way than they’d entered it, it was Kristie Mewis. At that stage, it had been six years since her last involvement with the national team — the same year which saw her younger sister, Sam, debut. The next four years were nomadic. She switched leagues and clubs on an annual basis before settling in with the Houston Dash in 2017. Fast forward three years and one ACL injury recovery, and it was the elder Mewis who broke out in the NWSL Challenge Cup, sealing her long-awaited return to the national team with a goal nine minutes into her pseudo-second debut.

She stayed among the player pool thanks to her versatility. She’s able to play box-to-box or more creatively, with a balanced split of her attacking-half passes across the left, central and right thirds. No NWSL central or defensive midfielder sends more passes into the attacking third per 90 minutes than her rate of 8.45, while her 2.14 non-PK shots per 90 rank fourth among her positional peers. It may have come later than expected, but there’s no doubt that she’ll relish in her World Cup debut.

Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville) — 25 years old, 0 caps

Of all the members of this roster, perhaps none are more of a surprise than DeMelo. The do-everything midfielder has become the second uncapped player to be named to a U.S. Women’s World Cup squad, joining Shannon Boxx (2003). It isn’t a case of Andonovski drawing on the element of surprise, however. DeMelo is a tireless box-to-box midfielder who can expertly read space.

GO DEEPER

What Savannah DeMelo brings to the USWNT’s World Cup squad

While she’s untested in senior international competition, she has fared well for Louisville in NWSL action. She’s second among non-attacking midfielders in shots per 90 (2.81), fourth in chances created (1.78) and sends 30.5% of all of her completed passes at least 10 yards closer to the opponent’s goal (trailing only Ertz). Her lack of experience may drop her down the pecking order, but if and when she gets minutes, it’s likely that she won’t leave the broadcast camera’s range of vision at any point.

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Forwards

Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign) — 37 years old, 199 caps

C’mon. It’s Megan Rapinoe. You know, the reigning Golden Ball winner? One of the few players whose star shines brighter than her performance on the pitch? For all of her growing list of off-field pursuits, the roster’s oldest member has shown that she can still ball with the best of them this NWSL season.

Rapinoe’s big-game mettle is second to none. She may play a more rotational role than she had four years ago, but as her all-around great form in the 2023 season has shown, she isn’t just on the roster to be an on-field coach. In time, we’ll learn if there’s a sequel to The Pose.

Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave) — 33 years old, 206 caps

C’mon. It’s Alex Morgan. The joint top scorer at the last Women’s World Cup? The four-time CONCACAF Player of the Year, five-time FIFPRO Women’s World XI honoree who has twice been a member of the Time 100 Most Influential People list? While her international scoring rate has slowed since 2020 (0.4 goals per cap, down from 0.63 through 2019), her golden boot-winning display in the 2022 NWSL season reminded everyone she’s still got it.

This season, she’s played more selflessly. She often collects the ball in the wide left channel, leading to a 2.48 non-PK shots per 90 clip which ranks third on her own team. However, she’s atop the Wave’s assist charts despite missing two games, suggesting she may be ready to share the burden of goalscoring with…

Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns) — 22 years old, 29 caps

Just as Morgan once deputized Abby Wambach before taking over starting striker responsibilities, Smith is in pole position to continue the litany. She is absolutely dynamic on the ball, leading the NWSL in post-shot expected goals (8.26, showing expert placement on frame), shots on goal per 90 (3.15) and touches in the box (10.86 per 90) while ranking third in assists per 90 and fourth in progressive carries.

U.S. Soccer’s 2022 female player of the year, Smith is both the present and future of the attack. If Morgan’s recent scoring rate sustains into the tournament, it’ll almost certainly be Smith who makes up for that dip.

Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC) — 18 years old, 3 caps

A breakout star of the NWSL season, Thompson is the first teenager to represent the United States on a Women’s World Cup squad since 1995 (Tiffany Roberts and Holly Manthei). She’s versatile and fearless. She can play on either wing and is nimble when working through more veteran opposing defenses.

“She is an exciting player,” Andonovski said in April. “I almost want to say, sometimes for an 18-year-old, it’s borderline arrogant when she goes at you.”

Thompson’s youthful verve could make her a breakout star this summer, too.

Lynn Williams (Gotham FC) — 30 years old, 52 caps

The forward section skews heavily toward goalscoring and chance creation. That’s natural — only real sickos prefer watching a front-line press than someone looking to light up the scoreboard. But it’s that unsung part of the role which Williams excels at and one which this U.S. side will benefit from greatly. Only three NWSL attackers average more true tackles per 1,000 opposing touches (6.92), while her 66% true tackle win rate is third league-wide.

That isn’t to say that Williams can’t contribute to the attack, of course. Quite the opposite: her 0.61 post-shot expected goals per 90 rank third in the league behind Smith and Ashley Hatch. Entering the season, Williams told The Athletic that her aim was to be “the best Lynn Williams I can possibly be … (which) will hopefully get me on the team.” With an MVP-caliber performance in the first portion of the season, she has done exactly that.

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Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) — 21 years old, 17 caps

The way in which Rodman plays the game is a delight to watch — unless your team is facing her. There’s an absolute urgency to her game, a willingness to make runs behind the back line to open the game in attacking phases, and a seemingly magnetic pull toward the ball when defending. She made herself impossible to drop even before Swanson’s injury. Since landing on the NWSL Best XI as a rookie in 2021, she’s kept herself in the conversation for the national team.

She’s picked her target better over time, improving her post-shot expected goals rate from 0.35 in 2021 to 0.46 in 2023 (an 11% increased likelihood of scoring when her attempt goes on frame). Her 6.96 take-ons per 90 are third-best this season among forwards, while 29.1% of her attacking carries advance at least five meters toward the goal. Both her style of play and her off-field persona have her poised to reach superstar status in the coming years — although, a regular role in the U.S. attack this tournament could accelerate that timeline.

(Photo: Joe Puetz/Getty Images, John Todd/USSF/Getty Images; Design: Eamonn Dalton)

Why uncapped Savannah DeMelo made the USWNT World Cup roster

• Joseph Lowery ESPNFC Jun 22, 2023, 12:20 PM ET

As U.S. women’s national team fans scan through the team’s recently released roster for the Women’s World Cup this summer, they’ll see a number of familiar names.

Alex Morgan? Check.

Megan Rapinoe? Check.

Crystal Dunn? Check.

Trinity Rodman? Check.

Savannah DeMelo? Che– wait a second. Who?

DeMelo, who plays as an attacking midfielder for Racing Louisville in the National Women’s Soccer League, is the only player on the World Cup roster for the U.S. women’s national team who has yet to make her senior international debut.

She isn’t totally new to the USWNT picture: DeMelo was called into USWNT camps twice last fall, once in September as a replacement for Trinity Rodman and once in October. But neither of those call-ups resulted in any actual minutes. She hadn’t been called to any USWNT camps this year, either — until now, that is, when she was named on Wednesday to the USWNT’s World Cup team.So why did a player with no appearances for the USWNT earn a coveted roster spot? Here’s what the 25-year-old brings on the field, and why she forced coach Vlatko Andonovski to pick her.

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Let’s start here: Racing Louisville’s most recent win against the Kansas City Current. It’s the 64th minute and Louisville leads 2-0 thanks to Savannah DeMelo, who scored the game’s opener by blocking Current goalkeeper Cassie Miller‘s attempted clearance and assisted the second goal. Racing Louisville are pushing for a third goal when DeMelo gets on the ball at the edge of Kansas City’s box. Almost immediately, an attack springs to life.DeMelo sees forward Uchenna Kanu making a run behind the opposing back line. Even with her back to both the goal and her teammate, DeMelo spots Kanu’s run.

Most players in DeMelo’s situation would take an extra touch to turn, face forward and settle themselves before feeding the runner. Not DeMelo.She doesn’t waste any time, opting for a backheel pass into Kanu’s path to avoid letting the defense back into the play.

Kanu can’t quite control DeMelo’s pass and the sequence ultimately fizzles. Still, the whole play helps illustrate the key components of DeMelo’s game: She’s creative and quick — both in physical speed and her ability to read what’s happening on the field — and she changes games in a way that few others can.

Playing her second professional season after being selected fourth overall in the 2022 college draft out of USC, DeMelo has developed into a full-fledged star in the NWSL, which is the league where almost all of the USWNT talent pool plays club soccer. In explaining his decision to select her, Andonovski put it plainly: “Her performance in the league was one of the biggest reasons why she’s on the team. And based on the needs that we have in terms of the opponents and different situations that we may face, we see Sav being very important to us going forward.”Often playing as a No. 10 playmaking midfielder behind a striker in Racing Louisville’s 4-2-3-1 shape, DeMelo is at her best when she can impact the game in central areas.Despite occupying an attacking midfield role, DeMelo doesn’t always get to enjoy the freedom and high touch count that typically come with the No. 10 position. Racing Louisville tend to play against the ball and are averaging just 47.0% possession this year, which means she doesn’t touch the ball as much as some of her positional counterparts. According to FBref, DeMelo is in just the 40th percentile among NWSL midfielders in touches per 90 minutes this year with 48.2.

Why Savannah DeMelo has a case for midseason NWSL MVP

Jeff Kassouf talks about Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo’s impact and why she has a case for midseason NWSL MVP.

Still, DeMelo doesn’t need a ton of the ball to make her mark. She has five goals and a pair of assists so far in 2023 and according to American Soccer Analysis, she’s seventh among all regular NWSL starters in expected goals (xG) plus expected assists (xA) per 96 minutes (the equivalent of a game plus stoppage time). Expected goals and assists measure the likelihood that a shot or an assist leading to a shot will result in a goal. Her numbers mean DeMelo is one of the absolute best in the league at both finding quality shots for herself and setting up her teammates for good shots in the attack.The only players above her in that xG+xA ranking? USWNT star Sophia Smith and two of Smith’s teammates with the stacked Portland Thorns, along with Washington Spirit striker Ashley Hatch, who just missed out on the USWNT’s World Cup squad, legendary attacking midfielder Debinha, who will likely be Brazil‘s star at the World Cup, and Kansas City winger Cece Kizer.That, folks, is what we call good company.DeMelo has great vision and pairs smart decision-making with quality execution in every phase of the game. In possession, she pulls out creative through-balls and flicks like the one already discussed against Kansas City. On counterattacks, she acts almost as a point guard for Louisville, drawing in opposing defenders before finding the perfect pass …

She also adds great service and scoring threat on set pieces, an area of the game where the USWNT tends to build an advantage. This right-footed strike from last year against the Orlando Pride, for example, was hit beautifully. The goalkeeper never had a chance.

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Still, it’s not just DeMelo’s on-ball threat that makes her such a valuable player. What she does away from the ball is equally impressive.

With savvy off-ball runs and a clear understanding of how to find and exploit space, DeMelo is a constant thorn in the side of defenders all over the NWSL. She frequently pushes forward to add another number inside the 18-yard box.

This sequence from a recent Racing Louisville game against the North Carolina Courage illustrates her smart movement. As defender Julia Lester drives down the right wing, DeMelo is part of a band of three runners near the top of the box. While Lester makes her move on the right, DeMelo takes care to read the movement of her two teammates inside the box. One starts to break hard toward goal, while the other starts curving a run toward the front corner of the six-yard box.

With her teammates pushing back the Courage’s defense, DeMelo realizes that she doesn’t have to sprint toward the end line to find a pocket of space.

All she has to do is be patient, hold her run, and she can let the play come to her.

And so it does. The ball falls to DeMelo, who had found the pocket of space she needed, and while she can’t direct the bouncing ball on frame, she helps turn a possession into a high-quality chance — that’s exactly what the world’s best players do.DeMelo knows when to hold her runs and she knows when to run right at opponents. She has seemingly boundless energy, which makes her a major defensive asset for Louisville. You can see some of that energy on this play against Kansas City where DeMelo makes a hard, winding run out of midfield to press three Current players and push the ball into the back of the net.Between her efficiency, creativity and hard running, DeMelo is a true game-changer in the NWSL. She could be one for the USWNT, too. Her vision, speed of play and set-piece threat can help the Americans break down some of the compact blocks they’ll face this summer. Her movement and decision-making in transition can add even more heat to the team’s already scorching counterattacks. And her defensive effort and quickness can take Andonovski’s press to the next level.

It won’t be easy for her to earn minutes for the USWNT at the World Cup in a position filled with other capable and more established players. Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Ashley Sanchez and Kristie Mewis, who are all in the squad, have each had bright moments for both club and country in a similar attacking midfield role.

But if given the chance this summer, DeMelo has the skills to become one of the USWNT’s mainstays — and even a household name.

Can Jimmy ‘El Actor’ Lozano lead Mexico to Gold Cup glory?

• ESPNFC

It’s fitting that Mexican soccer’s latest telenovela-like drama is supposed to be resolved by a coach who’s sometimes referred to as “El Actor.”Born to entertainer parents (hence his nickname), Jaime Lozano didn’t seek the same limelight his mother and father occupied. Instead, soccer came calling through a career as a player and manager, but after a recent crisis arose in the distance from Mexico‘s men’s national team, the coach who often goes simply by “Jimmy” now finds himself as an unexpected leading man.His new marquee role: Reviving the national team as interim manager in the Concacaf Gold Cup.Following a frustrating third-place finish in the Concacaf Nations League last week, which included a bleak 3-0 loss to their United States rivals in the semifinal, Mexico dropped Diego Cocca as coach on Monday after just a few months in charge. Scrambling to find a solution before the start of the Gold Cup this weekend, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) appointed Lozano as interim for the tournament.Desperate for success after a discouraging 2022 World Cup and just one title in all competitions since 2016, Mexico will now place all of their hopes on the shoulders of their 44-year-old hiring. Will the script work for El Tri, or will it prove to be another major box office flop?

How Mexico got here

Before we discuss Lozano and the Gold Cup, let’s first assess the prequel.In the past few years, progress for Mexican soccer has stalled on multiple levels. The senior men’s team, who stumbled out of the group stage of Qatar 2022, have failed to clinch a title in the past two editions of the Nations League and the previous edition of the Gold Cup. Looking at the men’s youth side, the U20 squad failed to qualify for the 2023 U20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. As for the women’s senior national team, they fell short in qualifying for the upcoming Women’s World Cup and next year’s Olympics.A long list of staffing changes at the FMF followed since last summer and by February, Cocca was selected as the new coach for the men’s senior team. Characterized by his cautious style of play that prioritized results by any means, there were immediate doubts about the Argentine manager, who didn’t use the most attractive methods of playing soccer.Unconvincing performances and narrow results emerged, as did new bosses for Cocca with more FMF staffing changes this spring, leading to scrutiny of his 2W-3D-0L record ahead of this month’s Nations League knockout round. Although his team defeated Panama 1-0 in last Sunday’s third-place match, the miserable 3-0 loss to the U.S. in the preceding semifinal was enough to solidify his fate. By Monday, new FMF commissioner Juan Carlos Rodriguez made it official.”This phase has been flawed by the disorder in decision-making, by the lack of processes, rigor and transparency in appointments, and by a perfect storm in the bad habits that we’ve been dragging for so many years,” Rodriguez said.”The natural thing to do would be to wait for the end of the Gold Cup, but today we don’t have time to waste. So I inform you that I’ve made the decision to terminate the contract of Diego Martin Cocca and the members of his coaching staff.”Cocca, flanked by media after his flight back to Mexico City, seemed perplexed by the decision.”I did everything I could and they didn’t let me continue,” the coach said as he walked through the airport.

Who is Lozano and what can we expect from him

With Cocca out of the picture, is Lozano now the mild-mannered but youthful hero that El Tri need? A former left-back who has represented the Mexican national team and a handful of Liga MX clubs, Lozano quickly developed from an academy coach and assistant into eventually the coach of Queretaro by 2017.

A chance with Mexico’s youth national team then arrived in 2018, which is when his star would truly rise. Lozano and El Tri‘s youth teams would go on to finish third in the 2019 Pan American Games, as winners of the 2020 Concacaf men’s Olympic qualifying title, and later as bronze medalists at Tokyo 2020. Despite a mixed bag of results at the club level with Queretaro and later with Necaxa in 2022, the up-and-coming coach is widely seen as one of the more promising managers in Mexican soccer.That, coupled with his experience with many of the former youth national team players who are now senior players, is what led to his appointment.”I thank you for agreeing to lead the team from now to the end of this [Gold Cup] tournament, the players know you and love you well, Jaime,” Rodriguez said on Monday. “Thank you, Jimmy, to you and your staff, for coming to support Mexico in the midst of this crisis.”From the 23 players included in the Gold Cup roster, which dropped Alexis Vega due to injury and replaced him with Roberto Alvarado on Tuesday, Lozano thrived in the 2020 Olympics with a strong core of 10 current call-ups: Guillermo Ochoa, Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Luis Romo, Carlos Rodriguez, Sebastian Cordova, Henry Martin, Uriel Antuna and Alvarado. In fact, that number would be at 11 if not for Vega’s injury.

Assuming he’ll go with the game plan seen in Tokyo 2020, we’ll see a 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 formation that focuses on a counter-pressing style. Instead of winning by any means like Cocca, Lozano will want to be more on the front foot and take charge in the opposition’s end of the pitch. Set pieces will be key, and so will a willingness to let his central midfielders roam from their positions.

In the attack, he tends to give freedom for his wingers to search for and take on 1v1 situations. If there’s too much of a defensive overload, he’ll probably aim to rapidly switch the ball through long passes or his roaming midfielders. Defensively, he’ll likely ask his wingers to help regain possession and sit back when needed. Depending on the opponent, his fullbacks also have a tendency to be more reserved, in order to help compensate for the creativity allowed for the midfielders and wingers.

But that’s all in theory from what he has done in the past at the youth national team level.

On paper, Mexico should be at least more fun to watch than the more conservative setup under Cocca, but whether or not it will work immediately is another conversation.

Can Mexico earn Gold Cup glory?

That is, of course, the big question.

No matter the fact that Lozano has just four days to prepare before Sunday’s group opener against Honduras in Houston, the bare minimum for Mexico will be winning the Gold Cup. While that won’t be easy for an El Tri side that has retreated from its former status as the giant in the region, the national team setup will have no excuses when you consider that fellow title contenders such as Canada and the U.S. are sending MLS-heavy “B” teams to the tournament.

Even though the roster is out of form — and missing some key injured players like Jesus “Tecatito” Corona and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano (no relation) — man for man, Mexico should be the superior team in the Gold Cup.

Should is important to emphasize there. Lozano has the know-how and squad to get the job done, but the obvious factor of limited time to prepare is one that can’t be ignored.

Looking ahead, the group stage should be an interesting gut check to see where exactly the team is at. After playing Honduras this weekend, El Tri will then face Haiti on June 30 before closing out the group stage against tournament invitee Qatar on July 2.

More than likely, Mexico are expected to qualify for the knockout round, where they will have an opportunity to regain respect in the region and a title, but after some of the issues seen in the Nations League, there’s a chance that last week was just the beginning of a very long summer.

Whatever happens, it’ll make for some intriguing fútbol cinema.

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US Beats Canada 2-0 to Win CC Nations Lead Again

The US claimed its 2^nd straight Nations League Trophy after a rather easy 2-0 win over Canada Sunday night in Las Vegas.  After dominating Mexico 3-0 and 75% possession, the US bounced back with a different approach they used their counterattack with Gio Reyna leading the way in the 10 spot – driving us into the attack.  Reyna is the only player on the US Roster who can do this, Reyna was a part of both goals as his excellent corner kicks led to CB Chris Richard’s first US Goal early on.  Later in the half with Musah controlling the Dmid slot Reyna sent Balogun thru for this goal.  Goal again in proper Spanish.  Reyna was seriously the Man of the Match in just 45 minutes of play as he got injured just before the half.  The team did not return to that level of play without him – though we had chances.  Pulisic again had lots of attention and excelled in his role of captain (here raising the trophy).  I thought Joe Scally showed we have a solid backup at right/left back as the Borrusia MGladbach man shut down Bayern’s Alphonso Davies for most of the night.  I thought Aaronson was also a fine sub for Mckennie who was also out on a red card.  Finally Walker Zimmerman teamed will with CB Chris Richards was Miles Robinson was out with a slight knock.  Great job by Asst coach BJ Callaghan who started with a strong attack to put us up 2-0 and then settled in to nice 5 man back in the last 20 minutes just to show his coaching acumen to adjust late-game.  Two clean sheets for Matt Turner who really wasn’t tested in the final yet still won GK of the Tourney, while Pulisic rightfully won the Player of the Tourney. The US definitely celebrated big time – Trophy lift —- full highlights 2-0 over Canada.  Highlights from US 3-0 over Mexico.

US Sends MLS Strong Group to Gold Cup Starting Saturday & Berhalter as Coach

The US will look to a new group of mostly MLS players to try to win their 2^nd straight trophy this summer – like they did in 2021.  The games kickoff on Saturday at 9:30 pm ET on Fox Sports 1 in Chicago (tix still avail) as the US faces Jamaica.  (Full Gold Cup TV Schedule) all of the games will be on Fox, Fox Sports 1 & 2 (thank goodness) mostly each night at 6:30 or 7 pm and 8:30 or 9 pm and of course on weekends. The US will play again Wed, Jun 28^th 9:30 on FS1 and Sunday on Fox 7 pm vs T&T.  Can’t wait to see what combinations BJ puts out there as we look for key backups at a # of positions.  Remember next Summer we will be playing in the Olympics (July 24-Aug 10)& the Copa America (June15-July15 2024) so improving our depth will be a key.  All the reason I don’t understand why Berhalter is not taking over this week.  I am ok with the appointment – who else is out there?  Patrick Viera – the fired, relegated Mgr at Crystal Palace? Henri, the fired Mgr at Montreal & CBS pundit ? Are are joking?  I would have been ok with our current best US Mgr overseas in Jesse Marsch – but I think he really wants to stay at the club level for now.  In the states – LAFC’s Cherundalo someday but he’s not ready – needs to manage in Europe first.  Who else ?  Now Hopefully Berhalter has seen what’s happening and will do less tinkering and more letting the boys play.  But I think its nuts not to credit Berhalter for what this very young team has done this week, the commardaree that the team has, how they have welcomed dual nationals with open arms, how the fight for each other and stick up for one another. This is the Golden Generation – time to at least get to the finals of the Gold Cup, to the Finals or Final 4 of Copa America at home next summer and hopefully bring home a medal from the Olympics. 

USMNT GOLD CUP DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS):

GOALKEEPERS (3): Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 12/0), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; 1/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 26/0)

DEFENDERS (8): DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 2/0), Aaron Long (LAFC; 32/3), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; 23/1), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; 2/0), Bryan Reynolds (Roma/ITA; 3/0), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 78/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 9/0), Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar/NED; 6/1), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 32/3), James Sands (New York City FC; 8/0), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0)

FORWARDS (6): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 3/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 18/8), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 2/0), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 52/11), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; 3/1), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 3/1)

Women’s World Cup Roster is Announced

Coach A has announced his 23 person roster and it’s a good mix of returnees and new exciting young players to try to give the US a record 3^rd straight World Cup Victory.  Rapinoe leads the way at 37 year’s old – with Alex Morgan expected to have a huge leadership role as well.  Interesting to see who can take over for captain Becky Saubraum who at 37 will miss the World Cup with injury.  (lots of stories below) and more to come next week.   Roster

U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; CAPS/GOALS) – 2023 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury* (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy* (North Carolina Courage; 14), Alyssa Naeher*** (Chicago Red Stars; 90)

DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook* (OL Reign; 24/1), Crystal Dunn** (Portland Thorns FC; 131/24), Emily Fox* (North Carolina Courage; 28/1), Naomi Girma* (San Diego Wave FC; 15/0), Sofia Huerta* (OL Reign; 29/0), Kelley O’Hara**** (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 157/3), Emily Sonnett** (OL Reign; 74/1)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Savannah DeMelo* (Racing Louisville FC; 0/0), Julie Ertz*** (Angel City FC; 118/20), Lindsey Horan** (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 128/27), Rose Lavelle** (OL Reign; 88/24), Kristie Mewis* (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 51/7), Ashley Sanchez* (Washington Spirit; 24/3), Andi Sullivan* (Washington Spirit; 44/3)

FORWARDS (6): Alex Morgan**** (San Diego Wave FC; 206/121), Megan Rapinoe**** (OL Reign; 199/63), Trinity Rodman* (Washington Spirit; 17/2), Sophia Smith* (Portland Thorns FC; 29/12), Alyssa Thompson* (Angel City FC; 3/0), Lynn Williams* (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 52/15)

*         First Women’s World Cup       **       Second Women’s World Cup ***      Third Women’s World Cup ****     Fourth Women’s World Cup

Nations League & Euro Qualifying

Some great games in Europe for the Nations League Finals and Euro Qualifying.  Still some games on Tuesday afternoon 2:45 pm.  The Spain vs Croatia game was awesome for a 0-0 game after 120 minutes – tons of shots and some really good saves by both GKs  (full highlights)– (see GK saves below) here’s the shootout final.  

MLS

Reports out of Miami that Messi at 60 million per season will be making much more than any football/basketball/Baseball players in the US – hey he’s been the best player in the World for a decade now and still has game  – I can’t wait to see him play somehow.  Hopefully they can figure out how to get his  Barcelona buddies Sergio Busquets and perhaps Jordi Alba and even Luis Suarez or Angel Di Maria as well.  Wow that would be worth a drive to Chicago/Columbus/Cincy or Nashville to see. 

GAMES WORTH DRIVING TO

Speaking of Drive – Gold Cup Opportunities abound to see the US Men in person with the US game vs Jamaica this Sat in Chicago 9:30 pm ET (tix avail as low as $35 each), Wed – June 28 in St Louis @ 6:30 pm (tix as low as $60), Sun- July 9 Quarterfinals in Cincinatti @ 5&7 pm (tix as low as $75).  I might even have 2 sitting with me available for Cincy as I plan to go.  You can’t complain about US fans not showing up in Las Vegas if we aren’t willing to drive a few hours to support our US teams.

Indy 11 Ladies Play last home Game next Friday

The Boys in Blue return to action Saturday when they travel to Hartford Athletic at 7 pm on ESPN+. (Preview)  In the first meeting on June 10, the teams played to a 1-1 draw at Carroll Stadium. The Girls in Blue are back in action next Friday, June 30 for the final regular season match of 2023 when they host St. Charles FC @ Grand Park in Westfield for the third time this season. The teams have split the season series so far, with each team winning on the road. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will stream on Eleven Sports.  The Indy 11 W are 7-1-1 atop the USL W League’s Valley Division. Tix for this final game are just $8 or call 317-685-1100.   

What to Watch

The Gold Cup leads the games to watch this weekend – as the US men will play an extremely fired-up Jamaica team that has brought in a # of European stalwarts to face what will be a B team for the US at 9 pm Saturday on Fox Sports 1.  Just before at 7:30 pm MLS leading Cincinnati travels to Wayne Rooney’s DC United on free Apple TV for a key match-up in the East.  Sat has a 2 of the top 5 teams in NWSL facing off at San Diego @ 10 pm on Paramount plus with US World Cup players Alex Morgan & Naomi Girma facing OL Regin with Lavelle, Huerta and Alana Cook.  Sunday has Mexico facing Honduras at 8 pm on FS1 – we’ll see if Mexico’s new coach can right the ship as Mexico brings their A team.  Wednesday the US plays @ 9 pm on FS from St. Louis vs  St Kitts & Nevis.

Goalkeeping Coach Shane will start low cost GK training for those interested next week and thru the summer – U12 groups of no more than 8, Older aged groups of no more than 6. EMail: shanebestsoccer@gmail.com if interested.

Congrats to Carmel FC 2010 Gold player Ben Griffith representing Indiana’s 2010 ODP team in St. Louis last weekend. Carmel FC Jersey Reveal for 23/24 season   If interested in supplemental tryouts email info@carmelFC.com. https://www.facebook.com/carmelfchq      https://twitter.com/CarmelFCHQ

GAMES ON TV

Wed, June 21

7:30 pm Apple                   Atlanta vs NYCFC  

7:30 pm Apple                   NY vs Charlotte

8:30 pm Apple                   Houston vs San Jose   

10:30 pm Apple                 Portland vs Chicago

10:30 pm Apple pay  LAFC vs Seattle Sounders  

Fri, June 23

10:30 pm Para+               Portland Thorns (Smith)vs Washington (Rodman, Sanchez, Hatch, Sullivan) NWSL   

Sat, June 24

7 pm ESPN+                        Indy 11 @ Hartford

7:30 pm Apple                   Columbus vs Nashville

7:30 pm Apple                   DC United vs Cincy

7:30 pm Apple                   NE vs Toronto

8:30 pm Apple                   KC vs Chicago

9:30 pm FS1                        USMNT vs Jamaica (Soldier Field) Gold Cup

10 pm Para+                  San Diego Wave (Morgan, Korniach, Girma) vs OL Reign (Lavelle, Huerta, Cook)

10:30 pm Apple                Seattle Sounders vs Orlando

11 pm ESPN+                     Sacramento vs San Antonio (Farr)

Sun, June 25

3:30 pm FS1                        T&T vs St Kitts   Gold Cup

5:30 pm Para+                   NY Gothem (Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Chicago (Naeher) NWSL

6 pm FS1                              Haiti vs Qatar Gold Cup

8 pm FS1                              Mexico vs Honduras Gold Cup

8 pm Para+                         Angel City FC (Thompson, Ertz) vs Houston Dash (Campbell) NWSL   

Mon, June 26

6:30 pm FS1                        El Salvador vs Martinique Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS1                        Costa Rica vs Panama Gold Cup

Tues, June 27

7 pm FS1                              Canada vs Guadlope  Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS1                        Guatamala vs Cuba Gold Cup

Wed, June 28

7:30 pm FS1                        Jamaica vs T&T

9:30 pm FS1                        USMNT vs St Kitts   St Louis Gold Cup

Thur, June 29

7:45 pm FS1                        Qatar vs Honduras Gold Cup

10 pm FS1                            Haiti vs Mexico Gold Cup

Fri, June 30

7:45 pm FS1                        ? vs Panama Gold Cup

10 pm FS1                            El Salvador s Costa Rica Gold Cup

Sat, July 1

3:30 pm Para+                   OL Reign(Lavelle, Huerta, Cook) vs Racing Louisville(Demelo) NWSL

7 pm Para+                         Washington Spirit(Rodman, Sanchez, Hatch, Sullivan) vs Orlando(Marta) NWSL

7:30 pm TV 23, ESPN+ Indy 11 vs San Diego Loyal

7:30 pm                                MLS games

7:45 pm FS1                        Cuba vs  ?    Gold Cup

8 pm Para+                         Chicago(Naeher) vs San Diego Wave(Morgan, Korniach, Girma) NWSL

10 pm FS1                            Guatemala vs Canada

10 pm CBSSN                     Portland Thorns (Smith) vs KC Current

Sun, July 2

4 pm Fox                              Atlanta United vs Philly Union MLS

5:30 pm Para+                   NY Gothem(Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Angel City FC(Thompson, Ertz) NWSL

7  pm FS1                             Jamaica vs TBD      Gold Cup

7 pm Fox                     USMNT vs T&T    Gold Cup

9 pm      FS1                         Mexico vs Qatar

9 pm FS2                              Honduras vs Haiti

Tues, July 4

6:30  pm FS1                       Canada vs Cuba Gold Cup

6:30 pm FS2                        TBD vs Guatemala Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS1                        Costa Rica vs TBD Gold Cup

8:30 pm FS2                        Panama vs El Salvador Gold Cup

10:30 pm Apple                LA Galaxy vs LAFC  El Traffico

Sat, July 8

5/7 pm FS1                          Quarters Gold Cup                         

5/7 pm Fox                         USMNT vs Mexico? Gold Cup Quarters  in Cincy

7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs FC Tulsa

10 pm Para+                       San Diego Wave(Morgan, Korniach, Girma) vs Washington(Rodman, Sanchez, Hatch, Sullivan) 

Sun, July 9

4 pm Fox                     US Women vs Wales  Send-off

5/7 pm FS1 & 2                 Gold Cup Quarter Finals

5:30 pm Para+                   NY Gothem(Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Portland Thorns (Smith)

8 pm Para+                         Angel City FC(Thompson, Ertz) vs NC Courage(Murphy, Fox)

Final NWSL Games till after World Cup

Wed, July 12

TBD FS1                                Semi- Finals Gold Cup  

7 pm TV 23 ESPN+ Indy 11 vs Charleston Battery

Sun, July 16

7:30 pm FS1                        Finals Gold Cup  

Thur, July 20      Women’s World Cup Starts

3 am Fox                              New Zealand vs Norway

6 am Fox                              Australia vs Ireland

10:30 pm Fox                     Nigeria vs Canada

Fri, July 21                          

1 am FS1                              Phillipines vs Switzerland

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Costa Rica

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Vietnam

Sat, July 22

3 am FS1                              Zambia vs Japan

5:30 am Fox                        England vs Haiti

8 am Fox                              Denmark vs China

7 pm WRTV, ESPN+         Indy 11 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sun July 23

1 am FS1                              Sweden vs South Africa

3:30 am FS1                        Netherlands vs Portugal

6 am Fox                              France vs Jamaica

Mon July 24

2 am FS1                              Italy vs Argentina  

4:30 am FS1                        Germany vs Morroco  

7 am FS1                              Brazil vs Panama

10 pm FS1                            Colombia vs Korea

Wed, July 26

1 am FS1                              Japan vs Costa Rica

3:30 am FS1                        Spain vs Zambia

8 am FS1                              Canada vs Ireland

9 pm Fox                     USWNT vs Netherlands

Tues, Aug 1

3 am Fox                     United States Women vs Portugal

3 am FS1                              Vietnam vs Netherlands

7 am Fox                              England vs China

7 am FS1                              Haiti vs Denmark

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Schedule

 World Cup Schedule Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw

US Men Win Title  

You can finally, safely, believe the USMNT hype
‘Sky’s the limit’: A youthful USMNT enters its most exciting era ever with lofty ambitions
U.S. surges past a rising Canada squad to capture another Nations League crown
CONCACAF Nations League finals: USMNT blanks Canada 2-0 for another trophy

Reyna, USMNT win Nations League title USMNT soaks up CONCACAF Nations League win
With Gio Reyna pulling strings, USMNT bests Canada for CONCACAF Nations League title
U.S. Soccer Seizes Limelight With Cheer and Loathing in Las Vegas

10 ‘grueling’ hours sealed U.S. Soccer’s pick
FIFA needs to step up, take real action against Mexico fans for homophobic slur

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US Women

Bidens, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion and more unveil USWNT World Cup roster
FIFA 23 Women’s World Cup player ratings: How many USWNT stars make top 100?Chris Wright

Why losing captain Becky Sauerbrunn is a big blow for the USWNT’s World Cup  Kassouf

USWNT’s 2023 World Cup roster reaction: Pressure on Morgan, who replaces Sauerbrunn, more
The World Cup begins in a month. Here’s everything you need to know.

WORLD

Mexican national team fires manager Diego Cocca after seven matches
Mexico fires men’s national soccer team coach Diego Cocca after Nations League loss to USA
‘Panenka’ penalty secures Spain its first international trophy for 11 years
Spain’s Nations League triumph calms fears around De la Fuente project
Spain snatch Nations League glory on penalties against Croatia
Italy seal Nations League bronze against hosts Netherlands
Why England will head into 2024 with their sense of optimism restored
England rampant in Euro 2024 qualifying as Mbappe lifts France
Bukayo Saka cements his place as England’s next leading man with first career hat-trick
‘Insulted’ Courtois refuses to play Belgium qualifier after captaincy snub
Mbappe penalty gives France Euro qualifying win over Greece
Kylian Mbappé scores French record 54th goal of the season in France’s victory over Greece
Wales’ Euro 2024 hopes in jeopardy after Turkey defeat
Ronaldo will ‘never give up’ playing for Portugal
‘We need him’ – Croatia coach asks Modric to postpone retirement
Brazil wears all-black kit for the first time in its history as part of team’s anti-racism campaign

MLS

‘Enough is enough.’ Too much soccer aggravating MLS players and coaches
Lionel Messi reportedly will make more per year from Miami’s MLS team than any NFL player
Messi’s Miami Contract: $50M-$60M a Year Before Adidas, Apple Money

Arsenal-MLS: 10 connections to know before the 2023 MLS All-Star Game

MatchDay Previews

Indy 11

W League Recap IND 4:0 KHR

Recap – BHM 2:1 IND

Indy Eleven Announces Transfer of Juan Tejada to Colorado Springs

Blake Earns Bench Spot on USLC Team of the Week

Goalkeeping

Matthew Turner, Best Goalkeeper Award – YouTube

May’s Goalkeeper Gems: Best MLS Saves

Croatia vs. Spain INTENSE Penalty Shootout in the 2023 …

great saves from the Champion League final

Gigi Button Great Saves This year at Parma

Great saves of the season – UEFA Europa League

Oh No GK Moment

Reffing

Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13

Become a Licensed High School Ref

What U.S. soccer can take from Nations League to Gold Cup

• Jon Arnold ESPN FC Jun 23, 2023, 09:09 AM ET

There was Christian Pulisic enjoying a champagne shower. Folarin Balogun running in behind a Canada center-back to finish off a pristine pass from Gio Reyna. Weston McKennie channeling a Renaissance painting when kissing the badge of his ripped shirt.United States men’s national team fans enjoyed plenty of sights during the Concacaf Nations League final four, seeing the Stars and Stripes thump rival Mexico 3-0 in the semifinals and roll past Canada 2-0 in the final. The Gold Cup will look different.For one, it’s a much longer tournament. The USMNT kicks things off Saturday against Jamaica, before playing two more group matches against Caribbean teams. Provided it advances, it would need to win three more matches to lift its eighth Gold Cup and tie Mexico as the most successful team in the continental championship.While those visions of the team’s top players celebrating a trophy may be enough to tide U.S. supporters over until the 2024 Nations League final four or next summer’s Copa América played on home soil, the U.S. program still would love to defend its Gold Cup title and continue to leave no doubt as to which program currently sits atop Concacaf. In order to do so, the U.S. will have to answer a number of questions on its road to the final in Inglewood, California

What role will the Nations League holdovers play?

Five players who enjoyed the Nations League celebrations will shake off any lingering buzz and be part of the Americans’ Gold Cup campaign. Two of them are goalkeepers, with Matt Turner and Sean Johnson both on the squad. Center-back Miles Robinson is back after missing Sunday’s final vs. Canada with a hamstring issue.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Berhalter’s back: How U.S. Soccer’s strange coaching search played out2dKyle Bonagura
• The U.S. has brought back Gregg Berhalter. Now what?3dRyan O’Hanlon
• Debate settled: Reyna, Balogun ensure USMNT is king of Concacaf4dJeff Carlisle

That trio is well known to U.S. fans though the question is whether Turner, wearing the No. 1 shirt on the roster announced this week, will keep backstopping the U.S. for the whole tournament or will step aside to allow Johnson — or U.S. U20 goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina — opportunities, especially in the group stage.

More intriguing are the two Liga MX-based players who were in the Nations League squad but didn’t see minutes. Club América winger Alejandro Zendejas and FC Juarez midfielder Alan Soñora both could play important roles for the U.S. during the Gold Cup.

Zendejas in particular feels like a player who will be asked to shoulder a heavy load. In the midst of a strong season with América, the Mexican American winger committed his future to the U.S. program, but played a supporting role as Pulisic and Tim Weah slashed through their rivals in the Nations League. The 25-year-old should get a chance not only to see minutes but to take a leadership role on a young team, showing fans why the U.S. staff was so excited to secure his commitment.

Is Callaghan really that dude?

The memes about B.J. Callaghan, the interim to the interim manager, are funny. But there’s truth behind the image macros.Callaghan was, and maybe still is, a relative unknown appointed after previous interim manager Anthony Hudson left for a job in the Qatar Stars League. An assistant on former and future U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter’s staff, he had little head-coaching experience entering into the Nations League. Yet he had the U.S. unified, understanding the game plan and executing it in two of the best games the team has played since doing the Nations League/Gold Cup double in 2021.A longer tournament will mean more decisions for Callaghan to make, both when it comes to keeping the group happy and fresh off the field, while also working out the best tactics for opponents that differ in their styles and approaches. Saturday’s opener against a Jamaica team led by Icelandic manager Heimir Hallgrímsson will be a tough tactical battle to win early in the tournament. While the Reggae Boyz enter the Gold Cup in poor form, winless in 10 including official matches and friendlies, the roster for this tournament includes stars who rarely have been together on the field.The impending return of Berhalter casts a (slim, sneaker-wearing) shadow over the tournament. We know Berhalter will be back, and while Callaghan is deploying many of the same concepts Berhalter put on the field, he’s not the long-term boss.Could Callaghan raise his profile further and leverage another successful tournament into another head-coaching chance? Does he even want to? We’ll know midway through July.

Who’s going to score the goals?

Balogun and Ricardo Pepi each getting on the scoresheet during the Nations League, plus Pulisic finding his scoring form, helped answer what has been one of the biggest questions for the U.S. since its failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. With none of those players on this roster, the job will fall to a new crop of forwards.Jordan Morris and Jesus Ferreira are among the most experienced players on the roster, and they’ll will push for starts on the wing and at center-forward respectively. Each comes into the summer in great form, with Ferreira scoring 10 goals and adding two assists this season for FC Dallas while Morris has nine goals for the Seattle Sounders.They’re joined on the roster by FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez, who scored 19 goals for FC Cincinnati last season and has four goals and a pair of assists for the Lions this year. Vazquez brings a different profile than Ferreira, and scored against Serbia in a January friendly.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)

In any tournament as long as the Gold Cup, the U.S. will need multiple players to find the back of the net if they are to lift the trophy. This team has talented individual attackers, but they can’t afford to revert to bad habits seen often in the Berhalter era: keeping the ball, but being too cautious entering the final third or the penalty area.

Will the Gold Cup be someone’s breakout tournament?

A dozen players on the United States’ 23-man roster have six caps or fewer, so there are going to be players asked to step up wearing the national team shirt who have never done so before — or have had chances on a much smaller stage, such as this winter’s friendly match against Serbia. Nine players on the roster are yet to appear in an official match for the U.S.Among those are San Jose Earthquakes attacker Cade Cowell, one of the standouts of the United States’ run to the quarterfinals of the U20 World Cup in Argentina earlier this month. Cowell and goalkeeper Slonina are the only two players on that team to be named so quickly to the senior roster, and Cowell’s attacking instincts may make him a nice addition for Callaghan, whether from the start or as a second-half-change option.While there is experience at most positions — including right-back, where DeAndre Yedlin arrives with 78 caps — someone has to play on the other side if the U.S. sticks with a back four. DeJuan Jones, Jalen Neal and John Tolkin are MLS-based outside-backs who will look to pin down a place in this tournament’s standard starting XI, and FC Dallas product Bryan Reynolds also will look to earn minutes after a season with Belgium’s Westerlo on loan from Roma.And, still just 24, Djordje Mihailovic could provide the U.S. a dynamic option in midfield, having spent the past six months in the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar.

Every national team manager wants to see depth in the player pool, and opting for a totally different squad from one tournament to the next tests that depth. Yet, it could result in U.S. players rising to the occasion, and giving Berhalter more options for the games he’ll oversee in the fall and on the road to the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

Analyzing the USWNT’s World Cup roster: Surprises, snubs, more

• Caitlin Murray, ESPNJun 21, 2023, 11:57 AM ET

The roster that will lead the U.S. women’s national team through the Women’s World Cup this July has been decided, and it certainly is not without gambles and surprises.

– Ertz, Morgan, Rapinoe lead 2023 World Cup roster
– All 2023 Women’s World Cup rosters

In announcing his World Cup roster on Wednesday, coach Vlatko Andonovski balanced conservative, expected picks — Alex Morgan as striker and Lindsey Horan in the midfield were obvious — with riskier choices, including a slew of young players making their first World Cup squad. When Andonovski had the choice of sticking with players he was very familiar with or rolling the dice on someone new, he wasn’t afraid to take a chance.

Now Andonovski has ended up with a roster that has the usual mix of veteran experience and young talent but leans more on younger or untested players than the previous two World Cups, which the USWNT won.

Three players — Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Kelley O’Hara — have made their fourth World Cup team, and 14 players will be competing in their first World Cup, compared with 11 debutants in 2019 and eight in 2015. And unlike those previous two tournaments, most of the debutants are expected to be the USWNT’s starters, with the likes of Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman or Lynn Williams figuring to lead the USWNT’s attack with Morgan up top, and the core of the USWNT’s defense being two new center-backs, Naomi Girma and Alana Cook.So, with all of that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the big surprises of the roster, and the conundrums that Andonovski’s squad selection leaves behind to be answered only in the USWNT’s tournament opener on July 21.

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Pressure’s on Alex Morgan without a backup striker

In the simplest terms, Morgan’s role for the USWNT is part goal-scorer and part distraction.With Morgan as the target striker up top, the USWNT is often trying to feed her the ball so she can score, something she has been doing a lot lately for her club, the San Diego Wave. She has five goals in her past 10 club games this season, after a league-leading 16 goals in 19 games last year.But Morgan is also a magnet for defenders, and she’s sometimes relegated to the unglamorous role of pulling apart defenses off the ball so her teammates can score. On the ball, Morgan’s holdup play and her ability to provide service to the wingers around her is an underrated part of her game that she has developed over years as the USWNT’s lone center-forward in its current system.

– Bidens, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion reveal USWNT roster

And on this roster, the USWNT is really going to be counting on Morgan to be both the goal-scorer and the non-goal-scorer up top because there is no direct replacement. The only other dedicated striker who has had significant minutes for the USWNT up top over the past couple of years is Ashley Hatch, and she didn’t make the cut.Hatch came off the bench for Morgan or started in 15 of the USWNT’s past 25 games, including five of the USWNT’s seven games in 2023. Ultimately though, as good as Hatch has been in NWSL, her contributions for the USWNT were far less compelling.So who is Morgan’s backup? Who is going to come on for her late in games when the USWNT needs to push for a goal with fresh legs? Players such as Lynn Williams and Sophia Smith can play as center-forwards, and they have experience playing up top for their clubs. But they’ve primarily played on the wing for the USWNT, meaning Andonovski is going with a lesser-tested option than if he had simply brought Hatch.

Another wrinkle is that Smith is probably going to be a starter throughout the tournament, and Williams has a strong case as well. If those two aren’t Morgan’s backups, then Andonovski is looking at a player who really is — for club and country — primarily a winger or a midfielder. Could Andonovski be considering midfielder Ashley Sanchez or winger Trinity Rodman as backups for Morgan? We’ll see.Perhaps Andonovski looked at what former coach Jill Ellis did in her 2019 World Cup-winning run and decided he could make better use of the extra roster spot Ellis used on a backup for Morgan. In 2019, Morgan’s backup was Jessica McDonald, a striker who played only 45 minutes the entire tournament. Carli Lloyd, a midfielder, started playing as a free-roaming, withdrawn striker instead, negating the need for another dedicated striker.But in a scenario where Morgan gets injured, this decision could have major implications for how the USWNT plays.

The least surprising ‘surprise’ inclusions: Julie Ertz, 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson

If you’ve tended to follow the USWNT only in actual competitions — like, say, last year’s double-qualifiers for the World Cup and Olympics, or the recent SheBelieves Cup invitational — you might’ve assumed Ertz was still out of the national team picture — having stopped playing soccer after the 2021 Olympics — and you might not even be familiar with Thompson.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Why losing captain Becky Sauerbrunn is a big blow for the USWNT’s World Cup3dJeff Kassouf
• The top 10 most memorable moments in Women’s World Cup history23dCaitlin Murray
• Your guide to every NWSL team’s tactical style (in 100 words or less)11dJoseph Lowery

But the USWNT’s last two friendlies before Andonovski picked his roster — a pair of relatively comfortable wins over Ireland — changed what the USWNT squad looked like. First, after a 610-day absence from soccer, Ertz made a surprise return and picked up where she had left off, running pocket to pocket in the midfield and flying into tackles. Then, Thompson got her first start (third cap overall) and, despite being just 18 years old, she looked as if she belonged at the senior USWNT level.

For Ertz to make this roster, Andonovski had to change his standards and go against his word: he had insisted repeatedly that players would earn call-ups based on their club form, but Ertz had been without a club since late 2021 when Andonovski called her into the USWNT’s final camp before selecting his World Cup roster. The mere fact she was called in at all felt like an admission that Andonovski needed her too much to stick to his word. It felt like, by calling her in at all, he planned to select her for his World Cup team.

In truth, the USWNT had missed Ertz ever since she stepped away from the game — her marauding, bruising brand of midfield enforcement was not something any other player possessed. Andonovski has tried shoehorning other midfielders there, such as Lindsey Horan, but it limited what made them great. He tried a double pivot, essentially asking two players to do the work Ertz used to do alone, but it left the USWNT unbalanced going forward.

Andonovski seemed to settle on Andi Sullivan, but her deep-lying, distributing style as a defensive midfielder lacked the bite the USWNT sorely missed. With Ertz’s return, Andonovski got his solution, and she could be a starter in New Zealand for the USWNT’s opening game.

For Thompson, a starting role seems less likely, but her form in the NWSL right now is indisputable. She’s been scoring audacious goals, which only punctuate her pacey explosiveness and her ability to weave her way through defenders with the ball stuck to her foot.At 18, Thompson is the youngest player on the roster and the second-youngest in USWNT World Cup history, and she plays with a fearlessness that is hard to beat. That is probably also what makes her so compelling for Andonovski: with her talent, she should be part of the USWNT for years, and allowing her to experience her first World Cup is an investment in her development.If Ertz’s lack of club form forced Andonovski to go against his word when he selected her, Thompson’s selection allows Andonovski to proclaim he did what he promised: Thompson’s club form demanded a World Cup spot.

The real surprise inclusions

World Cup rosters tend to lend themselves to surprises. With everything on the line, high stakes and each roster spot undergoing the utmost scrutiny, coaches tend to go with their guts.Ellis, who won back-to-back World Cups during her tenure, revealed some big surprises in 2019, bringing in defender Ali Krieger and midfielder Morgan Brian (now Gautrat) despite neither having been involved in the USWNT leading up to the tournament. In Krieger’s case, she didn’t even get a camp invite for two years until Ellis abruptly brought her in for the final camp before the World Cup.Yet Ellis was going back to players she knew well, veteran players she had seen play in World Cups. In the end, she didn’t trust the new players she had brought in and wanted to stick with what she knew. As she put it during her roster announcement in 2019: “Some of the players you don’t ever know until that moment that they’re in the pressure-cooker of a World Cup quarterfinal or semifinal.”That’s what makes Andonovski’s roster surprises so different and perhaps riskier. He called up Savannah DeMelo, a player with zero appearances on the international level, and Aubrey Kingsbury, who earned one cap in 2019.DeMelo, a midfielder, was first called into a camp in September 2022 as a replacement player when Rodman got injured for two games against Nigeria. She was then called into camp in October 2022 for games against England and Spain. But she didn’t get a single minute across any of those matches.

Kingsbury, a goalkeeper, was called up several times through 2022, but she never played a minute and hasn’t had a call-up in 2023. Her inclusion means that Adrianna Franch, the backup goalkeeper Andonovski called in for every USWNT camp this year and was far more familiar with, stays home.

Andonovski is making these two decisions, it seems, based on their play in the NWSL, which is the league where almost all of the USWNT’s roster competes. DeMelo and Kingsbury have been sensational in their respective positions for their clubs in 2023. DeMelo was named NWSL Player of the Month for May, about the time Andonovski was surely narrowing down his roster.

Jill Ellis compares current USWNT to her World Cup winners

President of San Diego Wave FC Jill Ellis talks about the differences between the current USWNT team and her teams in the past.It’s also worth noting that calling in an uncapped player isn’t without precedent. Defensive midfielder and U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Shannon Boxx made the 2003 World Cup team based on club play. Debbie Keller made the 1995 World Cup squad too, but, well, things were different in 1995 — there were no clubs, so it had to be based on college play, and her college coach at UNC was also the outgoing USWNT coach.

Let’s be clear: Andonovski is rolling the dice here. It’s unlikely Kingsbury, presumably the third goalkeeper behind starter Alyssa Naeher and backup Casey Murphy, would ever get on the field. But DeMelo is taking a roster spot that could’ve gone to a midfielder such as Taylor Kornieck, someone who played in 10 of the USWNT’s past 17 games. Or that spot could’ve gone to a backup for Morgan, or another defender…

A defense lacking veteran experience without Becky Sauerbrunn … and Tierna Davidson

Center-back and USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn was on the USWNT roster until sometime last week, when Andonovski accepted that she would not be able to recover from a lingering injury in time. Losing her so close to the start of the tournament is a serious blow to the USWNT.On and off the field, Sauerbrunn is a leader and role model. At 38, she would’ve been the oldest player on the USWNT roster, offering an experienced, calming presence, having been through three previous World Cups. She’s also been a confidant of Andonovski, who has openly talked about seeking her advice.With 216 appearances, she would’ve been the most capped player on the roster and anchored the back line. But now, a relatively young duo — Naomi Girma (15 caps) and Alana Cook (24 caps), each of them competing in her first major tournament — will probably be the starting center-back pairing.Despite the lack of World Cup experience without Sauerbrunn, Andonovski has opted not to bring in Tierna Davidson, the most experienced natural replacement he had available. With 48 caps, including the 2019 World Cup and the 2021 Olympics, under her belt, Davidson would’ve been arguably the most like-for-like swap for Sauerbrunn.Instead, it appears the lone backup for Girma and Cook will be Emily Sonnett. She certainly has experience — with 74 caps, including the 2019 World Cup and the 2021 Olympics — but much of it has been at fullback, given her role as a utility defender. Of 630 possible game minutes in 2023 for the USWNT, just 45 of them came at center-back for Sonnett. Her club, OL Reign, has even tried her out at defensive midfielder this season.Sonnett’s “jack of all trades, master of none” profile along the back line could be concerning. Her ceiling as center-back isn’t as high as Davidson’s is at her best. And if Sonnett doesn’t work out or injuries happen, Andonovski might need to ask Ertz to reprise her former role from the 2015 World Cup or ask a fullback to step into the central defense.There are probably two reasons Andonovski went with Sonnett over Davidson. The first is that Davidson hasn’t been playing that well in the NWSL. Part of it is just that her team, the Chicago Red Stars, has been struggling, but her individual performances haven’t been her best.The second reason is that Sonnett’s versatility gives Andonovski more options. World Cups aren’t always about the best 11 players but rather the best 20, and having players who allow for extra contingency plans can make all the difference. Andonovski needs to squeeze as much depth as possible out of 23 roster spots (with three required to be goalkeepers), and having a player like Sonnett, who can play anywhere along the back line in a pinch, might have made it hard for him to discount her as a call-up.

Injuries and roster absences change the USWNT’s World Cup — and the team’s chances

You might notice that a lot of the talking points from this roster involve contingency plans and worries about lack of backups. That’s partly because a World Cup requires such an examination, but it’s also a testament to how the USWNT has been devastated by injuries.

In addition to Sauerbrunn’s late exit, consider the injuries to Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario. The two of them were without a doubt the USWNT’s best attacking players over the past couple of years, and you can’t easily replace the two best players on a roster.

Macario was so good that Andonovski was building the team around her, even pushing Morgan out for a while. Swanson was so good that she accounted for 20% of the USWNT’s goals over the past two years — she entered the game in which she suffered her World Cup-disqualifying injury on a six-game scoring streak.

Then consider that Samantha Mewis, the USWNT’s key midfield linchpin at the 2019 World Cup, has also been out with an injury. On top of that, look at Rose Lavelle, who did make this roster but hasn’t played since an injury with the USWNT in April. Only then does it become clear why we are talking so much about contingencies and surprise inclusions.

The Americans are far from the only team slammed by injuries — England and France are two favorites that especially look hampered — but it’s hard to look at this roster and not wonder: Are the players who aren’t there going to decide the USWNT’s chances?

Debate settled: Reyna, Balogun ensure United States is kings of Concacaf

• Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJun 18, 2023, 11:48 PM ET

LAS VEGAS — The United States retained its Concacaf Nations League crown Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Canada thanks to first-half goals from Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun.

Richards put the USMNT on top in the 12th minute, heading home Giovanni Reyna‘s corner. Balogun then doubled the advantage in the 34th minute with a deft finish from Reyna’s through ball that got past Milan Borjan in the Canada goal.anada did what it could to get back in the game, and enjoyed a hefty 62-38 edge in possession. But despite finding star attacker Alphonso Davies in some good positions, the visitorswere unable to make a dent in the U.S. lead. U.S. interim manager B.J. Callaghan went to a five-man back line late on and, despite some tense moments, the hosts were able to see out the match and hoist the Nations League trophy once again.Honor is due to Callaghan as well. He came into a difficult situation — being the interim to the interim — and was spot-on with his decisions. Keeping him on the staff would have to be a priority for Gregg Berhalter when he takes over for good.

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Rapid reaction

1. U.S. reaffirms king of Concacaf mantle

There had been plenty of chatter prior to Sunday’s match as to who exactly should be declared king of Concacaf. Canada certainly had an argument to make in its favor. Not only did the Reds take four points off the U.S. during World Cup qualifying, but they finished top of the Concacaf standings. The U.S. could point to the fact that it is the reigning Gold Cup and Nations League champion, and went deeper in the World Cup.It’s a debate that will no doubt continue to rage, but on the basis of this match, the U.S. looked a cut (or two) above when the game was in doubt. Every time the U.S. went forward in transition in the first half it looked dangerous, especially when Reyna was on the ball. The movement up top continually befuddled Canada’s back line, as witnessed by Balogun’s clever run and finish off Reyna’s inch-perfect through ball.Set pieces, long a staple of the U.S. attack, were an area where it had a significant advantage as well, with Richards’ manhandling of Canada counterpart Alistair Johnston allowing him to nod home Reyna’s corner in the 12th minute to put the U.S. ahead.The U.S. was left to soak up plenty of pressure in the second half, especially with Reyna forced off at halftime because of injury. Canada was also intent on pushing forward given the first-half deficit but couldn’t get the goal that would have added some tension to the game’s final moments.Instead, Canada was left to endure taunts of “Stick to hockey!” as the game wound down.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• USMNT rehires Berhalter: The logic (or folly) in his return, relationship with Reyna and next steps3dESPN

2. Reyna and Balogun: The start of something special?

By his own admission, Balogun didn’t have his best game in Thursday’s 3-0 demolition of Mexico. But part of this was down to where and how he was getting the ball. Too often he was fed with his back to goal instead of being given the ball in the channels with room to run. That made him easier to defend, even as he put in a shift, and led to a somewhat ineffective performance.That was a lesson taken to heart by not only Balogun, but Reyna as well. The U.S. found its new forward with room to run more often, and he was much more dangerous, with the goal the prime example.Alas, Reyna’s performance was cut short by a calf injury and he was replaced in the second half by Luca de la Torre. Reyna could have been cleaner on the ball as well, but his moments of magic far outweighed his missteps and, based on these two games, he looks to have found a home in the center of midfield. Oh, and please let Reyna take set pieces from now on. The quality in his delivery amounted to a huge upgrade in this department. And best of all, it looks like some chemistry with Balogun is well on its way to being established.This leads to an intriguing question, however. If Tyler Adams, Reyna, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah are all healthy, which one sits? At this stage, McKennie would seem to be the odd man out, but that is by no means a slam dunk. In the future it will likely come down to health and form, but Reyna seems a lock.

3. Canada with some questions to ponder

This was supposed to be Canada’s coming out party, a time to end its title drought by winning a trophy for the first time since the 2000 Gold Cup. Instead that wait will have to continue, though the start of the Gold Cup later this month will give the Reds another opportunity.In the meantime, there are some problems in need of solving. Canada’s back line looked absolutely flummoxed by the movement in the U.S. attack. At one point in the 41st minute, Scott Kennedy engaged in what could only be described as a rugby tackle on Balogun that went unpunished only because Reyna was running with the ball at his feet. Kamal Miller didn’t fare much better.Manager John Herdman will also need to find a way to get Davies more help. Joe Scally, Brenden Aaronson and Timothy Weah all ran with the ball at the Bayern Munich star, and when Davies had possession, the U.S. threw two and sometimes three defenders him, basically daring someone else in the Canada lineup to beat them. Usually, the dual threat of forwards Cyle Larin and Jonathan David is enough. But this time, it didn’t happen.Davies did shake loose a few times, including one first-half shot that was well saved by U.S. keeper Matt Turner, but there was almost always a second defender to halt his progress, and he was lacking in end product when he did deliver the ball into the box. It’s an issue that the U.S. has faced with Christian Pulisic in the past, and Canada will need to come up with a solution of its own. Tajon Buchanan was thought to be a player who could provide some balance, but he was limited to 30 minutes as a substitute.

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Best and worst performers

BEST

Giovanni Reyna, U.S.: Sure, he played only 45 minutes, but he made his time on the field count with two sublime assists.

Folarin Balogun, U.S.: Even beyond his goal, Balogun was a constant threat all night, and the understanding between him and his teammates is only going to get better.

Chris Richards, U.S.: In addition to his goal, he marshaled a U.S. back line that bent but didn’t break. Also helped keep Larin and David mostly in check.

WORST

Scott Kennedy, Canada: Simply had no answer for the movement and mobility of the U.S. attack, and Balogun in particular.

Alistair Johnston, Canada: Was badly outmuscled on the U.S. opener. He simply needs to be stronger in that situation. He struggled on the ball as well.

Jonathan David, Canada: On a day when Canada needed a big performance, he had one first-half shot that missed and another one late that was wide of the target. The latter miss summed up a frustrating night.

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Highlights and notable moments

Richards opened the scoring Sunday from a classic USMNT set piece.

Not to be outdone, Balogun also bagged himself his first senior international goal.

Once ahead, the USMNT rarely looked troubled and held on to lift the Nations League trophy.

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Key stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information)

– The United States secured its ninth major trophy Sunday (7 Gold Cups, 2 Concacaf Nations Leagues).

– Richards’ goal in the 12th minute is the quickest in any game of his career. It’s his first time scoring in the first 30 minutes of a game.- Richards’ goal was the third-fastest by a USMNT player in a final in the past 35 years. Only Clint Dempsey (10th minute in 2009 Confederations Cup) and Michael Bradley (8th minute in 2011 Gold Cup) have a faster one in that span.- Balogun (21) is the second-youngest player to score for the USMNT in a final over the past 35 years, after 18-year old Giovanni Reyna in the 2021 Concacaf Nations League.

U.S. beats Canada to win Nations League as Balogun opens account

• ESPN
• Jun 18, 2023, 11:02 PM ET

Folarin Balogun scored his first goal for the United States in its 2-0 win over Canada on Sunday in the Concacaf Nations League final at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.First-half goals from Chris Richards and Balogun put the U.S. on its way to a team record third-consecutive title in Concacaf competitions following wins in the 2021 Nations League and Gold Cup.

– Carlisle: Reyna, Balogun ensure U.S. kings of Concacaf
– What Gregg Berhalter’s return means for the USMNT

“I’ve only here a short amount of time, but already I feel a part of it and I feel a part of something bigger,” Balogun said after the match.The U.S. was without Sergino Dest and Weston McKennie, both of whom were out for the match after picking up red cards in a fiery semifinal win over Mexico on Thursday. Interim coach B.J. Callaghan, still overseeing the team after Gregg Berhalter was rehired Friday, started Joe Scally and Brenden Aaronson in place of his two suspended players.”We’re looking beyond to the 2026 World Cup, and we need to perform in high-intensity knockout games,” Callaghan said. “That’s something that we learned from the World Cup.”Richards kept the momentum from Thursday going for the U.S. with an early goal, powering a header from Giovanni Reyna‘s corner kick past Milan Borjan in the Canada goal in the 12th minute.The U.S. doubled its lead later in the first half with a classy finish from Balogun, who picked up a through ball from Reyna after a giveaway from Canada and fired past Borjan from a tight angle to notch his first goal for the Americans since committing his international future to the team.

The Brooklyn-born Balogun, 21, scored 22 goals in 39 games in all competitions for French League 1 club Reims last season, the most ever for an American in a top-five European league.Reyna, who was stellar for Callaghan in the first half, came off at the break after being on the receiving end of a hard foul from Canada’s Richie Laryea and was replaced by Luca de la Torre.

Canada looked dangerous at times in the second half, but a resolute U.S. defense and more solid play in goal from Matt Turner, who had four saves, kept John Herdman’s team off the scoresheet as the U.S. was able to win the trophy for the second time.”It’s another step in the right direction,” said U.S. captain Christian Pulisic, who scored twice in the semifinal win over Mexico. “It’s just going to be about these knockout games. Come those big tournaments, Copa America, World Cup, it’s time to get tough.”We got to step up and score the goals when it counts and keep them out of our goal.”The result means the U.S. extended its home unbeaten streak against Canada to 22 games dating back to 1957, while Canada remained without a title since the 2000 Gold Cup.”We’re just not in that killer area of the pitch,” Canada coach Herdman said. “We’ve talked about this post-World Cup. It’s in the boxes where Canada’s suffering. You don’t get time to work with the players. There’s no time. But we need this September window.”We need the resources where we can actually put a camp together, where I can work for six days on the things that make the biggest difference moving forward.”In the consolation match earlier Sunday, Mexico held on to beat Panama 1-0 to take third place in the four-team final.

Reyna stars in new attacking role as USMNT beat Canada

• Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJun 19, 2023, 03:10 AM ET

LAS VEGAS — Gio Reyna may have only played 45 minutes in the United States‘ 2-0 win over Canada in the final of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) on Sunday, but it was long enough to have made a huge impact.Reyna assisted both USMNT goals — a corner that was headed home by Chris Richards and a deft through ball that Folarin Balogun drilled past Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan — and even though Reyna hobbled off at half-time with a calf injury, he put in a fine display in the center of the U.S. midfield.”Gio’s performance tonight is a performance that you expect. It shows his quality on the field, his ball security, his ability to take on two, three players and connect passes,” U.S. interim manager B.J. Callaghan said.”What I’m really proud of him is we’ve challenged Gio to do more work off the ball on the defensive side, and he’s absolutely risen to the occasion.”During the previous international window, Reyna had been deployed mostly out on the wing, but of late he has moved into a more central role, adding dynamism to the U.S. attack.”When [Reyna is] inside there, I like that position a lot for him,” said U.S. captain Christian Pulisic, who won the CNL Best Player Award. “I think he’s dangerous. He causes a lot of problems and you could see that today.”The U.S. entered the tournament enduring some chaos, as Callaghan was named interim manager late last month after the previous interim manager, Anthony Hudson, left to take a managerial post with Qatari side Al-Markhiya. Despite the CNL marked the first time Callaghan had taken on a manger’s role in the professional ranks, he led two superb U.S. performance against Mexico and Canada paid off.He will get a chance to further hone his managerial skills in the Concacaf Gold Cup, which starts on June 24.”I’m just super proud of the group,” Callaghan said. “We’ve been faced with adversity. We’ve been faced with obstacles and challenges and it’s only brought us all together. So my personal feelings, I’m absolutely elated for all of the guys, all of the staff, everyone that just continues to put so much into this.”To have those two performances is just a way for us to show the country and the world how committed and collected we are. There’s something special happening with this team.”Canada manager John Herdman said he felt preparation was the difference between the two teams on this occasion, especially on set pieces, where the U.S. was a threat all evening. That led to a complaint about a lack of resources, in this case the limited number of training days he had with his team. He even called out the Canada Soccer Association for not doing more to help his side.”We’ve got to figure this out financially,” Herdman said. “We’ve got to get serious about winning a World Cup. When you’re playing at home, you get a chance to win it. You get a chance to get a quarterfinal, semifinal and then get on that road to win it. We’re not serious.”We brought a World Cup to our country and we’re not serious about winning it. You see how close our team is tonight. Tactically, we were there. Chances, shots, we were there. The margins were so tight tonight, so tight. We’ve got to get real. We’ve got to get real and quick.”

Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun and the next step for the USMNT: Nations League takeaways

By Paul Tenorio 7h ago 33 THe Athletic

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Two years ago, the U.S. men’s national team entered the CONCACAF Nations League final in desperate need of some validation.They were without a marquee win in a tournament final. There was a belief internally that the potential of the group was real and the team was ready for big moments, but they needed the proof. An emotional, extra-time win over Mexico provided just that sort of confirmation.The whole of the last cycle was about those types of moments. The U.S. was fielding one of the youngest teams in the world. Each game provided something new on which that core would be tested. The ups and downs of CONCACAF qualifying showed that, as did the World Cup.The U.S. had some good moments in Qatar, most notably a strong outing in a draw with England and a win they had to gut out in an especially intense group finale against Iran. But after a loss to the Netherlands at the start of the knockout stage, the team felt, as current interim manager B.J. Callaghan said, “a little bit unsatisfied.” He echoed something Gregg Berhalter said Friday in the press conference announcing his return to the team: it was about finding a way to perform in those big knockout games.

“We don’t look at (the Netherlands loss) as a setback, we look at it as an opportunity to grow,” Callaghan said. “And now for us, we came in here motivated as an entire group that we want to get better. We want to get more battle tested. We want to be more experienced in knockout, high-intensity games. … And that’s the message, is to continue to battle test this group, so that when we get to 2026, the players can perform at the highest level, with the highest level of confidence that they can accomplish it.”If the last cycle was about growth and gaining experience, this cycle is about meeting expectations. This team is no longer defined by its youth. There is a belief they are entering their prime. This week served as the first opportunity to prove they were the favorites in the region and to meet the pressure that comes with that position.The maturation of the team felt evident against Canada, even in the performances of some of the youngest players on the field. Gio Reyna, the 20-year-old whose role was limited by injury for much of the last cycle, tuReyna had a goal and assist in the 2021 final, but his play from the middle of the field against Canada showed that he can provide the U.S. with a different dimension in the attack — if he can stay healthy. Reyna politely declined to speak with reporters after the game on Sunday, per a team spokesman, but Pulisic talked about how Reyna influenced another final with a top performance.“When he’s inside, I like that position a lot for him,” Pulisic said. “I think he’s dangerous, he causes a lot of problems. And you could see that today.”Pulisic was asked if he has seen any growth from Reyna, especially after the drama both in Qatar and after it. There will be plenty of attention around the midfielder in upcoming windows after the U.S. opted to bring Berhalter back as head coach.“For me, there’s no issue with Gio at all,” Pulisic said. “I mean, what happened, happened. For me, I have a great relationship with Gio and I enjoy playing alongside him. He’s a great player, and he’s gonna help us moving forward, no matter who the coach is. That’s clear. So he’s done a great job coming in and we’re gonna continue to build off that.”Another young player who alters the way this U.S. team looks is Folarin Balogun, 21, who scored his first goal for the U.S. since committing to the program in May.Balogun looked comfortable in his first two games and provided a real threat up top. Reyna fed him with a pretty pass inside the box in the 34th minute, and Balogun turned and powered a shot past Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan. If there is one improvement from the last cycle that will come simply from personnel, it’s the No. 9 spot. Balogun is a potential game-changer, and he said he feels there is much more to come simply by gaining experience with this group.“When you’re new to something, it really doesn’t come overnight,” Balogun said. “I’m still not at my peak. I’m still learning a lot. For sure tonight was difficult, I’m not going to underplay it.”There were other signs of the advancement the U.S. is hoping to make. The back line benefitted from the play of center back Chris Richards, who featured in five World Cup qualifiers but missed the tournament due to injury. Richards was arguably one of the U.S.’s best players across both Nations League games. The U.S. was also more dangerous on attacking set pieces, with Richards getting his first goal off of a Reyna corner kick and the U.S. creating problems all game long.Attacking set pieces was an area where the U.S. felt they weren’t good enough over the previous cycle. Berhalter mentioned it during his press conference on Friday. But they were consistently dangerous against Canada, and Reyna’s service certainly helped in that area. Pulisic said the team didn’t do anything “incredibly different,” but worked on the area with some new staff members, and Callaghan said it was a phase of game they had identified to improve and thus work on in camp.“The U.S. were unbelievable on set pieces,” Canada coach John Herdman said. “Every set piece we were there by fingernails. The organization, the timing, the variety was so difficult to deal with.”Most notably, perhaps, was how pragmatic and comfortable the U.S. looked in their approach. Players and Callaghan said afterward that Canada caused real problems and forced the U.S. to push themselves to keep the lead, with sliding clearances and blocked shots, but the U.S.’s willingness to sit back, absorb pressure at times and adjust their game came off as much about savvy as anything else. The U.S. had just 279 passes to Canada’s 513, but managed to have 112 touches in the final third to Canada’s 187, outshot Canada 7-4, and ultimately finished with higher xG, 1.66 to 0.63, per ESPN.“They never played out (of the back) once, which is odd for the U.S., but they’re managing the game,” said Herdman, perhaps slightly overplaying how much the U.S. had looked direct. “This is a team that has won multiple tournaments now, multiple trophies and they recognized they weren’t getting style points, they were getting a trophy. And at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”It’s a lesson the U.S. learned in the last cycle, but one they know they need to hammer home over the next three years. Regional dominance is now a must, but it will not be the only gauge. They will be expected to win these games and these finals, and the 2024 Copa America will be a massive test against better opposition. The reality is that the U.S. won’t have many opportunities to prove themselves in those big knockout games, but this week provided at least some confirmation that the momentum many around the program felt upon leaving Qatar was real. (Photo: John Todd/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USMNT wins second straight CONCACAF Nations League title as Balogun scores first U.S. goal

By Paul Tenorio and Joshua Kloke Jun 18, 2023

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Folarin Balogun scored his first goal in a United States uniform and Gio Reyna had two assists as the U.S. defended its CONCACAF Nations League title with a 2-0 win over Canada on Sunday.

Canada found a bit more of the game early in the second half, but the U.S. was again creating opportunities. A three-minute sequence from the 54th minute through the 56th saw a Balogun shot blocked out for a corner, a Richards header pushed off the crossbar and a Balogun shot from close-range get cleared off the goal line. Cyle Larin put a shot over the crossbar in the 67th minute that could have cut the score in half. Jonathan David also had a look in the 94th minute, but Canada couldn’t convert.With the win, the U.S. has now won trophies in its last three CONCACAF tournaments. The U.S. beat Mexico in the 2021 Nations League final and also won the 2021 Gold Cup, defeating El Tri in that final, as well.

What does this win mean for the U.S.?

It was a busy week in Las Vegas. First, a hugely eventful and intense 3-0 win over rival Mexico in the semifinal Thursday night that continued a six-game unbeaten streak against their bitter rivals. Then, Gregg Berhalter returning as men’s national team coach, which was announced Friday. Finally, a decisive win over a Canada team that finished atop CONCACAF’s World Cup qualifying table last spring.The victory essentially says that, for now, the U.S. is the top team in the region — though it’ll have to defend that moniker again in the Gold Cup, albeit with a team that will be missing all of its biggest names. For this U.S. team, the 2021 Nations League win was a validating moment that the team was headed in the right direction.These games have been all about carrying momentum forward from Qatar, and capturing another Nations League trophy certainly did that. — Tenorio

What went wrong for Canada?

Canada looked woefully unprepared for the athleticism and attacking talent the Americans presented. Canada’s center backs in particular had little answer for the United States, especially on set pieces, which should call into question John Herdman’s choice to start Scott Kennedy over Steven Vitoria.Their problems weren’t limited to defending, however: When the likes of Alphonso Davies did manage to find space in behind the United States’ defenders, there was a complete lack of creativity and synergy with the final pass. What’s most concerning if you’re Canada is that the team’s play in both boxes was identified as a major area of concern coming out of the World Cup.

And these same concerns re-emerged in their first final in 23 years. — Kloke

What happens now for Canada and the United States?

Both the U.S. and Canada will now pivot to the Gold Cup. The U.S. start camp this week in Chicago and host Jamaica in the opener on June 24. Canada opens its tournament on June 27.The U.S. will play with a very different roster in that tournament. Just five players from this Nations League team will play a part in the Gold Cup: Sean Johnson, Matt Turner, Miles Robinson, Alan Soñora and Alex Zendejas.Like the United States, Canada likely will not bring a full-strength squad to the Gold Cup with Davies’ camp already stating he won’t play in the upcoming tournament. That takes some of the shine off the tournament and it means Herdman won’t have another chance to make proper tactical adjustments to his team when it matters.Ahead of the 2024 Copa America, presuming Canada qualifies, continued improvements need to be made from the coaching staff to prove they can get the best out their most talented group of men’s national team players ever. — Kloke

USMNT analysis American Soccer Now –

Analysis: USMNT dominates Canada in 2-0 win for Nations League triumph

The USMNT has won the 2023 CONCACAF Nations Leauge with wins over Canada and Mexico. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks it all down with his thoughts and analysis

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED JUNE 19, 2023 10:30 AM

• THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL TEAM has won the CONCACAF Nations League for the second straight cycle following a comprehensive 3-0 rout of Mexico in the semifinal followed by a comfortable 2-0 win over Canada in Sunday’s final. Over both legs, so convincing were the performances that there was no weak link in the starting lineup for either game.

Entering into Sunday’s final, there were some questions about the team’s approach given the suspensions to Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest. But interim manager B.J. Callaghan opted to keep it simple. He replaced Dest with Joe Scally in a 1v1 swap. With McKennie out, Callaghan had a choice. He could have gone with Luca de la Torre who is a possession-based midfielder and many figured would get the start. Instead, he opted for Brenden Aaronson to once again prioritize pressing and quick transition into offense.

In central defense, Callahan made one chance from the Mexico win in that he opted to start Walker Zimmerman over Miles Robinson as Robinson is still not regularly starting games in quick succession as he gradually works his way back from his Achilles injury.

Right off the bat, it was a different approach for the U.S. team than the win over Mexico. Most notably, the U.S. team was willing to concede possession and instead hit quickly in transition or on set pieces to make the most of limited time on the ball.

That strategy worked out perfectly. Canada had the ball for the most part, but all the best chances came to the U.S. team.

The U.S team struck first in the 12^th minute on a rare set piece delivery from Gio Reyna. The Dortmund playmaker’s ball into the box found Chris Richards who headed it down past Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan for a 1-0 lead.

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Then in the 34^th minute, the U.S. team forced a turnover and hit Canada in a lightening quick transition. Reyna collected the ball, moved towards the box to create a passing lane for Balogun. His pass sent Balogun in alone on Borjan and the newly committed American hit a powerful ball into the back of the net.

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The #USMNT is doing just want a favored team should do. Take the opponent out early, crush hope. Balogun scores is first for the #USMNT. Canada completely flustered. 2-0 pic.twitter.com/TTdwKiC1Bs— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 19, 2023

The United States had a 2-0 lead at the half and the numbers told the story. Canada had most of the ball but offered very little. The United States played with far more of a purpose when it had the ball and the game felt over.

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2-0 #USMNT over Canada
– US content to concede possession and just be lethal with the ball
– US had just 43% possession & completed 103 passes. Canada competed 169
– Weah, Balogun, & Pulisic have completed just 14 passes combined
– but shots & chances all heavily favor the US— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 19, 2023

The only blemish for the U.S. team in the opening half was Reyna taking a tough tackle from Alistair Johnston. Reyna was forced out of the game to start the second half and was seen gingerly walking on the sidelines and on the field after the game.

On the field, the second half was largely uneventful and the U.S. team had no problems seeing the game out. Richards nearly scored a second when he hit a header off the crossbar. The U.S. team continued to have the better of chances but were unable to find a third.

But the game finished like it started. Canda with impressive possession stats but the U.S. perfect in creating lethal opportunities.

• Possession: Canada 64%, USA 36%
• Completed passes: Canada 417, USA 178
• Total Shots: Canada 12, USA 15
• Duels won: Canada 52, USA 56

The U.S. team walked away with Nations League title in pedestrian fashion. Two multigoal wins, two clean sheets – both against opponents who qualified for the 2022 World Cup.

Here are some thoughts on the game

MUSAH’S DEFENSE

One of the big takeaways from the win over Canada as well as the semifinal win over Mexico was the play of Yunus Musah, who was asked to help fill in for Tyler Adams. At the club level, both players are very different. Musah is a smooth ball-carrying midfielder looking to dribble into attacking positions. Adams is a more of a straight defensive midfielder looking to win balls while being relatively simple in possession.

But Musah was effective in these games doing many of the things Adams does. Musah was just 16/32 passing against Canada but he won 3/4 of his tackles, had 10 ball recoveries, he won 8/9 of his ground duels and was 2/2 in aerials. He committed no fouls but was fouled four times. Against Mexico, Musah won 7/10 of his duels, committed two fouls and drew three fouls. He was also 37/42 in his passing.

It was an open question heading into these games as to how the U.S. team would fill in without Adams. Many figured McKennie or Johnny Cardoso. Few expected Musah but he showed a surprising ability to defend well and win possession deeper in central midfield. Some teams crumble when they miss a player or two. Good teams find ways to move forward without missing key pieces.

The USMNT won a final against a World Cup team without McKennie or Adams in the midfield. That is something that few expected just a few years ago.

BALOGUN: EARLY RETURNS POSITIVE

The early returns for Folarin Balogun with the U.S. national team are positive. His 34^th minute goal was so quick, so well executed, and so well read that it offers a glimpse of a new attack that the U.S. team now has. He also forced a goal line clearance and a big save from Borjan.

Balojun is still very new to the U.S. team – and it shows. He’s understandably not completely in-synch with his new teammates. Against Mexico he only had 17 touches over 75 minutes and completed eight passes. Against Canada he had 26 touches over 76 minutes (completing just five passes).

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“I’m just delighted that it helped us win this game today.”

Folarin Balogun caught up with @jennyachiu after scoring his first @USMNT goal in his second appearance. pic.twitter.com/HllczbbJts— CBS Sports Golazo ?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 19, 2023

But when he was with the ball, his impressive instincts took over. In the fall, the U.S. team will have a series of friendlies and it will be important for the U.S. to build up chemistry with Balogun to get him the ball more in dangerous positions. The more he gets on the same page, the more lethal the attack. The Nations League was just the first few steps, and they were impressive steps.

REYNA IMPRESSES/HURT?

Gio Reyna had a great first half against Canada. He assisted off a corner kick and then assisted to Balogun on a lethal transition. He was making something dangerous happen every time he had the ball.

The good news is that early indications are the calf injury which forced him out of the game will not likely affect him being ready for the start of preseason. The question for Reyna is improving his defense and staying healthy. The first is likely. The second, we will have to see. Recurring injuries have been a massive problem for Reyna.

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We scored two goals tonight… this guy assisted on both.

GIO REYNA IS YOUR MAN OF THE MATCH ???????????? pic.twitter.com/eYv4ZEdGVG— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) June 19, 2023

With Gregg Berhalter returning, there is so much speculation over how the two will coexist moving forward. Berhalter admitted there is work to do and that he plans to meet with Reyna before September. But given that Berhalter had so much backing from a majority of the team, it could have been problematic for Reyna in the locker room if his parents were the reason Berhalter did not return.

As I’ve said before, Berhalter’s return will force Reyna to have to mature in order to resolve a relationship. It’s possible. The good news is that both Berhalter and Reyna have all the motivation in the world for it to work out. Both would look bad if they couldn’t patch it up.

BACKLINE STOOD OUT

The backline was tremendous in both games and the team should feel comfortable moving forward. For one, Chris Richards was able to play for the national team and he had two of his best performances yet for the USMNT. The question for him is to 1) stay healthy (this has been tough for him and 2) find a way to play regularly. He might get a shot this summer to earn a starting place at Crystal Palace due to potential player movement. If that happens, he needs to take advantage to further his career.

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We’re all Joe Scally.

Joe Scally is all of us. pic.twitter.com/EYoDO23aTF— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) June 19, 2023

Walker Zimmerman had a fine game for the U.S. team and he filled in perfectly for Robinson. He helped with key clearances and defensive plays. The combination of Richards and Zimmerman worked well. Zimmerman is an intriguing option to be an Olympic team overage selection as the team will need 7-8 central defenders between the Copa America and the Olympics.

Joe Scally had a very difficult assignment being matched against Alphonso Davies on the opposite side but he handled it much better than expected. Antonee Robinson, meanwhile, is so steady at left back and he routinely delivers quality outings.

Overall, these were just a great two games for the backline. Everyone performed well.

MOVING FORWARD

The U.S team impressed in these games in large part because so many players were able to detach themselves from a tough European season and then move into a USMNT environment and play well. The culture and camaraderie is strong in this group – and that has probably played a huge role in why Berhalter is coming back. B.J. Callaghan is filling in very nicely, but he is also a reflection on Berhalter.

These two wins were a nice launchpad for the new cycle. The talent is there. The team unity is there.

Next summer will be two huge opportunities in the Copa America and the Olympics. The depth of the player pool will be seriously tested. As well as the U.S. team played in these games, there are still big questions over depth. Key backup positions are not claimed. Many players are in tough positions with their clubs and are one bad decision from suffering another lost season. New players will continue to emerge and compete against established players. Some of the new players will win out. Then, of course, there will be injuries.

The future is impossible to predict and there will be surprises. But for all the talk about the program “losing time,” these wins show that the team really isn’t in a bad place at all.

RATINGS

THE STARTING LINEUP

Matt Turner: The New Jersey goalkeeper made four saves, two were tricky, but none were very difficult. He didn’t make any mistakes. Rating: 6.5

Antonee Robinson: A steady outing with a few important defensive moments – a big blocked shot and a big clearance in the second half. Canada offered nothing down his side of the field. Rating: 6.5

Chris Richards: Combined very well with Zimmerman for a good centerback. Terrific header on his goal and he nearly scored another when he smashed a header off the crossbar. Rating: 8.0

Walker Zimmerman: A very good outing from the veteran. He was instrumental snuffing out danger whenever Canada pressed. He nearly had an assist on a nice header to Balogun into the box in the first half. He also came close to a goal with an early volley that he just missed inside the right post. Rating: 7.0

Joe Scally: The Monchengladbach defender helped eliminate Canada’s best player, and one of the best left-sided players in the world in Alphonso Davies. Rating: 7.0

Yunus Musah: His passing wasn’t great, but his duel winning and defense up the spine helped the U.S. team effectively deal with the loss of Adams. Rating: 7.0

Brenden Aaronson: The Leeds United attacking mid worked hard to press and win balls. He threw Canada off their game a bit in the midfield. Rating: 6.5

Gio Reyna: He played just a half, but he made the big plays. The U.S. team has been week for a long time with set piece delivery, but Reyna fixed that in his first assist. His second was just a dagger through Canada’s backline. Rating: 8.0

Tim Weah: Weah was routinely dangerous. He forced a big save from distance early in the game. His crossing was a little off but he was handful for Canada’s backline. Rating: 6.5

Christian Pulisic: The Chelsea winger wasn’t as lethal as he was against Mexico, but he still drew a lot of attention from Canada’s defense to make their lives difficult. Rating: 6.5

Folarin Balogun: His one goal was extremely impressive and he came close to scoring two other times. IT will be something to watch when he is completely in-synch with his teammates. Rating: 8.5

SUBSTITUTES

Luca de la Torre: The Celta Vigo midfielder played the second half but wasn’t terribly involved, 0 shots and seven completed passes. Rating: 5.5

Johnny Cardoso: He wasn’t flashy, but Cardoso played solid defense in the midfield during his 22 minutes. Rating: 6.0

Ricardo Pepi: The forward came into the game in the 76^th minutes and was asked to play a lot of defense further up the field in starting the press. He accomplished his goal. Rating: 6.0

Auston Trusty: The defender played the final 11 minutes and had just two touches in helping to see out the win. Rating: NR

Autopilot? USMNT jet past Canada to win Nations League on cruise control

Charles Boehm Monday, Jun 19, 2023, 02:02 AM MLS.com

Usually, it’s not a compliment when a player or team is described as being ‘on autopilot.’ The term connotes coasting, complacency, lack of awareness or hunger.So perhaps we need a new word for what the US men’s national team are doing right now. Because the nation that just won a second straight Concacaf Nations League did so under the leadership of their second interim head coach of the year, with two influential starters sidelined by suspensions. And they did it by soundly defeating a Canada side that more or less ate their lunch during 2022 World Cup qualifying.“I would say the last two games embody what we’re trying to challenge our players with as we continue to evolve this team,” interim boss B.J. Callaghan told reporters after the Yanks’ assured 2-0 win over Les Rouges at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. “And we’re looking even bigger. We’re looking beyond, to the 2026 World Cup.”Canada, too, are hosting that tournament in three years’ time, and are dreaming big about the possibilities it offers. John Herdman’s squad entered Sunday’s match with experience, motivation, a clear identity and principles, and real hopes of finally underlining their arrival in the Concacaf elite with a first trophy in more than two decades.

Checking all the boxes

And yet, at times, this win felt less like a cup final than a programmatic checklist for the USMNT.Get a first goal and a complete striker’s performance from new recruit Folarin Balogun? Check. The Arsenal man’s movement and finishing were sublime on the US’ second strike of the night.Keep Gio Reyna in the fold and coax out his best levels of form and fitness in the wake of the scandal that erupted at the World Cup? Check, albeit with a first-half calf injury. Liberated by the No. 10 role at the epicenter of a 4-2-3-1 formation, the New York City FC academy product’s vision and technique were the difference in this one, as he logged assists on both goals.“It shows his quality that’s on the field, his ball security, his ability to take on two, three players and connect passes,” said Callaghan of Reyna. “Also what I’m really proud of him is, we’ve challenged Gio to do more work off the ball on the defensive side, and he’s absolutely risen to the occasion. When we speak about going forward, he’s a committed player to this team, just like all of the other guys on this team, as you can see their commitment to each other and to the identity of the team and the way that we play.”Reassert the consistent menace the USMNT once posed on free kicks and restarts but let slip of late? Check. Chris Richards opened the scoring on the night with a thumping header, and even Herdman praised the variety and danger of the Yanks’ set pieces.“They had a lot of variation, that’s what I noticed tonight,” said Herdman. “The height differential is really evolving now for the US. I mean, that was – every player was outmatched, actually. And that was one of the challenges going into this match. And you see they’ve just got better variety now and there’s high quality, so someone’s put attention into that. That was tough tonight.”

Noted Callaghan: “Obviously, there’s the preparation and trying to find areas of weakness maybe in the opponent that you can exploit. There’s a lot of time spent with the players on the field, doing deliveries and creating the timing, and all of that. And so I think, for us tonight, it sort of all came together. And it is an area that we are focused; like you you mentioned.

Mitigate the danger posed by CanMNT superstars Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David? Check, via committed defending and a cat-and-mouse tactical game with Herdman & Co. that marked a pragmatic evolution from once and future coach Gregg Berhalter’s proactive dogma.“They’re really well coached. They’re really well organized,” said Callaghan of Canada. “They’re another team that’s adaptable, moving in and out of multiple shapes and positions, and switching guys all over the field. So I would say it was quite a chess match tonight.“We thought if we were able to reduce enough space behind the back line and try to keep them all in front of us, we’d have a chance. If they were able to get behind us, we knew that it could be problems, and I thought our guys executed the game plan as well as they could. And I understand that we suffered for long stretches of the time, but that’s how finals work.”

Big game experience

Berhalter, restored to his previous position by the head-turning decision made and announced by U.S. Soccer in real time as this CNL finals weekend was unfolding, won’t take up his daily duties around the national team until after the Gold Cup. That aspect of his rehiring was a bit puzzling.But if this young, supremely talented and increasingly confident squad can sweep aside their closest regional competitors this comfortably under temporary leadership, perhaps Berhalter can afford to ease his way back in after all. With Concacaf trophy hauls becoming a regular habit again, the USMNT may well be able to raise their eyes to the horizon a bit and dream bigger.“We need to perform in high-intensity, knockout games, and that’s something that we learned from a World Cup [in Qatar last fall],” said Callaghan, whose side dispatched Mexico 3-0 in Thursday’s semifinal. “Maybe we left there a little bit unsatisfied, from the World Cup, because of the knockout game [a 3-1 Round-of-16 loss to the Netherlands] and the performance.“But we don’t look at it as a setback, we look at it as an opportunity to grow. And now for us, we came in here motivated as an entire group that we want to get better. We want to get more battle-tested, we want to be more experienced in knockout, high-intensity games. And this just gives us, again, the confidence, two good moments to do it, and we can look forward to the Gold Cup.”

USMNT Player Ratings: Gio Reyna dismantles Canada in Nations League final

Casey Dunau Monday, Jun 19, 2023, 12:04 AM MLS.com

Canada came out with a bold game plan in the 2023 Concacaf Nations League final, one that showed the burgeoning regional power’s confidence against the US men’s national team: Mark the midfield tight, dominate possession and dare the Yanks to take advantage of the space in behind.It didn’t work. The US scored twice in the first half and mostly cruised from there to earn the 2-0 win and their second-straight Nations League trophy on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.Gio Reyna’s quality led the way with two assists, while Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun each scored once to make the US the unquestioned top dogs in Concacaf.

7.0

Matt Turner

Goalkeeper · USA

It wasn’t the busiest night for the Arsenal goalkeeper, with Canada only managing four shots on target, yet Turner came up big on two first-half saves when the final result was still anything but secure. It was the type of professional performance you expect from an unquestioned starter.

7.5

Jedi Robinson

Defender · USA

Normally one to fly up and down the flanks, Robinson stayed home for much of the match, and to great effect. He survived the first half admirably when Canada were overloading his side and also came up with huge interventions on the back post whenever the opposite side of the USMNT’s backline broke down.

8.5

Chris Richards

Defender · USA

Richards put in an outstanding shift from wire-to-wire, scoring the match’s opening goal with an impressive header off a corner kick and nearly grabbing a second with another powerful header in the latter 45. He also shut down Canada’s lethal striking duo of Jonathan David and Cyle Larin, often stepping aggressively from the backline to break up the Reds’ build-up play.

7.0

Walker Zimmerman

Defender · USA

Zimmerman proved a steady leader once again on a USMNT backline that featured relatively fresh faces in Richards and Scally. The quickness of Canada’s attackers caught the veteran flat-footed once or twice, but the Nashville SC center back also came up with some big interventions and started much of the team’s buildout from the back.

7.0

Joe Scally

Defender · USA

Scally had a phenomenal first half, shutting down the left side of Canada’s attack and popping up in good places in attack. A second-half switch from the Reds to move Alphonso Davies higher up the field caused the Borussia Mönchengladbach fullback more problems, but all-in-all, he still performed well against a world-class player.

7.0

Yunus Musah

Midfielder · USA

Learning Musah can do the job as a lone defensive midfielder is a massive development for the USMNT, who struggled at the 2022 World Cup for lack of depth at the position. The only thing limiting the Valencia midfielder from a higher rating was Canada’s aggressive pressing, which forced the US to bypass the midfield in buildout play for much of the match.

6.5

Brenden Aaronson

Midfielder · USA

Canada’s tight marking in the midfield didn’t allow Aaronson to find much of the game in attack, but what he lacked going forward he made up for in work rate and grit, tirelessly pressing when out of possession and throwing his body around, often against bigger players, in 50-50 duels.

8.5

Gio Reyna

Midfielder · USA

The only thing holding Reyna back from a higher score was the calf injury that caused him to be pulled at halftime. Other than that, it was pretty much a perfect match from the Borrusia Dortmund playmaker. The quality is always there, and showed through on his two assists, but arguably more inspiring was his defensive buy-in, starting the second goal sequence with a smart defensive header to break up Canada’s build-up play.

6.5

Christian Pulisic

Forward · USA

Fair or not, Pulisic is dominant enough at the international level that his performances will ultimately be judged by end product, where he came up just short on Sunday. Still, his ability to act as an outlet in space was crucial for the team, and his leadership showed through in his tireless effort and willingness to scrap for his teammates.

8.0

Folarin Balogun

Forward · USA

Unlucky not to grab a brace, Balogun showed every bit of the quality USMNT fans have been salivating for since rumors of his switch from England to the USMNT first surfaced. Last year’s fourth-leading scorer in France’s Ligue 1 buried his clearest chance of the night with silky ease, but beyond that, his off-ball movement, quality touch and strength on the ball were a nightmare for Canada’s defense.

7.5

Timothy Weah

Forward · USA

Weah is class personified, and he showed that throughout the match as one of the team’s most productive players in the final third, where his creative movement and combination play caused Canada fits and ultimately played a huge role in the US’ second goal. His defensive effort in the second half to help slow down Davies was also phenomenal.

8.0

B.J. Callaghan

Head coach

It’s a perfect 2W-0L-0D record with a +5 goal differential and a regional trophy for the interim coach – all against the USMNT’s top two regional rivals. Callaghan showed great trust in his team’s fortitude by starting a skillful, attack-minded group against a physical Canada side, and the team rewarded him by showing up for every duel, ultimately allowing their advantage in quality to shine through.

His second-half substitutes, which included moving to a back five to end the match, all played out exactly as hoped.

Substitutes

7.0

Luca de la Torre

Midfielder · USA

De la Torre is growing into exactly the type of player USMNT need him to be – capable of starting, coming off the bench, adding quality going forward and toughness in defending. He regularly transitioned the team from back to front in the second half and nearly created a goal with a smart off-ball run that caught Canada’s defense napping.

6.5

Johnny Cardoso

Midfielder · USA

Another positive development in the USMNT’s defensive midfield department, Cardoso came in and “did a job” in the second half, protecting the US’ backline by any means necessary.

6.0

Ricardo Pepi

Forward · USA

The US were pretty much in “see the game out” mode for the duration of Pepi’s outing, but the young striker selflessly committed to the team effort with tireless backtracking when needed, even if he wasn’t able to replicate a killer goal to see the game off like he did against Mexico.

6.5

Auston Trusty

Defender · USA

Trusty was added as a third center back late in the match, effectively snuffing out any Canada hope of lumping balls into the box for a miracle comeback.

USMNT striker Folarin Balogun rules out loan away from Arsenal next season

By Ali Rampling 3h ago

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Folarin Balogun has ruled out going on loan again next season amid uncertainty around his future.

The Arsenal forward has spent the previous two seasons on loan at Middlesbrough and Reims and enjoyed a particularly successful spell in Ligue 1 last term, finishing the campaign with 22 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions. The Athletic reported in April that Balogun wants to continue operating as a first-choice striker next season. Balogun’s Arsenal deal runs until 2025 but he has featured just twice in the Premier League for the north London club since making his debut in 2020. Arsenal signed forward Gabriel Jesus last summer, and Eddie Nketiah deputised while Jesus was sidelined during the 2022-23 season.“What I can say is that I definitely won’t go on loan again,” Balogun said. “I’m not sure (about) the discussions that are going to take place, I’m not sure what’s going to happen.“But I’m just committed to now, I try to stay present. I obviously want to enjoy the moment with my team and my family.”Balogun was speaking after scoring his first senior international goal for the U.S. in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Canada, a result which saw the U.S. defended their CONCACAF Nations League titleThe 21-year-old committed to representing the U.S. in May, having also been eligible to play for England and Nigeria.Balogun made his senior U.S. debut in Friday’s 3-0 victory over Mexico and got off the mark for his country with a first-half goal against Canada.“It’s amazing. It’s amazing. I mean, it’s a dream scenario for me,” he added. “To be here now, the transition is amazing. I’m just overwhelmed with delight.“I think the thing that surprised me the most was just the actual talent in this group.“I think there are so many players who are going to go on to have top careers, who are all so young, including me.”The U.S. are next in action on June 25 when they face Jamaica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Real Gio Reyna Stood Up

At the perfect time. Starts and Stripes By Rob Usry@RobUsry  Jun 18, 2023, 9:08pm PDT  

Please forgive the Eminem pun.

Giovanni Reyna has been hyped up to the American soccer public since he was 14 years old. I still remember seeing an Adidas commercial way back in 2018 featuring the young talent who hadn’t even signed a professional contract yet and was playing for NYCFC youth teams. The son of a USMNT legend was always going to have those expectations on his shoulders if he sniffed the spotlight. After all the controversy and noise swirling around him over the past year, everything seemed to fall by the wayside during these four days in Vegas. What we witnessed was a kid out on the field doing what he loves to do. No distractions, no hoopla. Just an extremely talented soccer player proving just how good he really is.

His 45-minute performance against Canada in the Nations League final will likely go down as one of the best individual efforts in USMNT history. Before kickoff, fans and pundits alike saw the starting lineup B.J. Callaghan decided on and worried about the lack of a defensive midfield presence. It didn’t take long for Gio to show everyone that you don’t need defensive-minded midfielders if one player can control the midfield by himself:

GIO REYNA STOP IT

(via @CBSSportsGolazo) pic.twitter.com/eHz0J7a06y— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) June 19, 2023

This performance felt like a culmination of years of hype combined with glimpses of brilliance finally colliding to produce something truly special. Reyna has shown signs of being a dominant USMNT performer before but has never consistently put his stamp on a match like he did against Canada. Not only did he control the midfield with his technical excellence, he combined that with the playmaking skills that earned him so much plaudits as a young phenom. His exceptional set-piece delivery helped the U.S. secure an early goal, while his natural skill from the run of play unlocked the Canadian defense a second time. A perfectly-timed and weighted throughball to Folarin Balogun to run onto and finish was stuff dreams are made of:

The first of what I am sure will be many. Flo Balogun goal.
Gio Reyna 2 assists.
Goals coming from everywhere this week for USMNT .pic.twitter.com/vDCpITNIEj— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) June 19, 2023

Reyna’s mix of skill, technique, vision and tenacity is unlike we’ve ever seen within the USMNT player pool. He is the type of player this team has been waiting for. His performances in these two Nations League matches is proof that he must be included in any full-strength lineup put out as long as he can stay fit.

There’s a long and winding road to the 2026 World Cup. If this run of form can be consistently duplicated, there’s no doubt that Gio should be the one driving this team towards that momentous occasion. If everyone watching can see that, there’s no doubt that Gregg Berhalter will to.

USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn to miss World Cup through injury

• ESPN Jun 16, 2023, 05:57 PM ET

United States captain and veteran defender Becky Sauerbrunn will not be included in the squad for the Women’s World Cup because of a foot injury she suffered in April.Sauerbrunn, who won two World Cups with the USWNT, confirmed in a statement she will not recover in time from her injury and will miss the tournament, which kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.”Heartbroken isn’t even the half of it. But that’s sports for you and that’s life,” Sauerbrunn said. “I had hoped and worked and hoped some more to make it back in time to help lead the team at this World Cup, but after lots of discussion, unfortunately, there’s just too much variability in my return to play timeline.

Sources told ESPN that Sauerbrunn suffered a setback of her foot on June 3 when she played for the Portland Thorns FC her first match since the injury.”I’ll be home, working as hard I can to get back on the field as quickly as I can. It’s been an honor to work and play alongside this incredible group of athletes. They have my unwavering support.And, more importantly, they have my unyielding belief,” the 38-year-old defender added.”This program has always been about the collective and I have no doubt that the twenty-three players on the final roster have everything they need-in their feet, their heads and their hearts-to bring our fifth trophy home. To my teammates, I love you.”Sauerbrunn is one of several injured American players to miss the tournament, after attacker Mallory Swanson went down with a knee injury in April.Midfield stalwarts Sam Mewis and Catarina Macario are also sidelined for the title-holders.Sauerbrunn, 38, is one of the team’s longest-standing players with 216 international appearances. She helped the Americans to World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. Her most recent international appearance was a friendly against Ireland in April.Head coach Vlatko Andonovski is set to announce his 23-player squad imminently and reports said he informed players Thursday of whether he planned to include them.

USWNT lineup: Projecting the 2023 World Cup starting XI

Claire Watkins June 19, 2023 Just Women’s Sports

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The USWNT kicks off the group stage of the World Cup against Vietnam on Friday, July 21. (John Todd/USSF/Getty Images).

Players for the U.S. women’s national team will reportedly get the call they’ve been waiting for this week, as head coach Vlatko Andonovski names his roster for the 2023 World Cup. We’ve already discussed who we think might be on the plane to New Zealand, with most of the question marks surrounding players on the fringes of the final 23-person roster.

The team’s preferred starting XI is slightly more certain, though a number of injuries have cast doubt in key areas, most notably on the backline with captain Becky Sauerbrunn confirming her absence due to a foot injury. But if the U.S. had to play the World Cup final tomorrow, here’s how I think the team should line up.

Naomi Girma is a locked-in starter for the USWNT at the World Cup. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

The backline

Alyssa Naeher, GK

Naeher’s save percentage with the Chicago Red Stars this season has given many fans reason for pause, but given the backline she has in front of her, experience should still win the day. Casey Murphy hasn’t been immune to nerves on the international level, with communication sometimes suffering in consequence. Naeher has experience being vocal with her defense, which gives her the edge in a different training environment.

Naomi Girma, CB

Girma has consistently been one of the best American center-backs for club and country since her arrival to professional soccer in 2022. If she can play every game for the USWNT in the World Cup, they would be foolish not to start her.

Alana Cook, CB

Longtime USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn was originally one of my choices to start alongside Girma, as her experience and form still place her in the top tier of the USWNT defender pool. But Sauerbrunn’s absence, announced over the weekend due to injury, tips the scales. While her possible replacements come in with much less international experience, Alana Cook notched the most minutes of any U.S. player in 2022, which should make the transition into a major tournament easier.

Emily Fox, OB

Fox is almost an underrated asset for the U.S. as an outside back. She can comfortably stay on the flank as a wide outlet, she’s a solid 1v1 defender, and she has the ability to cut centrally in possession to give her team a variety of looks in the attack. She also has crucial positional versatility, which will likely land her at right back in order for her to be paired consistently with Crystal Dunn.

Crystal Dunn, OB

Dunn, a natural attacker who plays midfield for the Portland Thorns, shares many of Fox’s attributes while also bringing experience from past international success. Dunn recently completed her first full 90-minute performance for Portland in the NWSL after returning from the birth of her son last fall, and she should be ready to play key minutes for the U.S. at outside back in New Zealand.

Ashley Sanchez seems like the best choice to replace Rose Lavelle as a starter due to injury. (James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

The midfield

Andi Sullivan, DM

Even with the return of Julie Ertz, Andi Sullivan should be the first choice starter for the U.S. in the defensive midfield. Ertz has played limited minutes for Angel City FC thus far, and while her profile as a player hasn’t changed, she’s still not completely up to full speed. Sullivan has been her usual excellent self for the Washington Spirit in 2023 and deserves the full backing of the coaching staff as the USWNT’s first choice.

Lindsey Horan, AM

Horan should be well-rested going into the World Cup, having ended her season with Olympique Lyon in early June. When Horan is at her most mobile, she’s a very effective box-to-box midfielder who can also provide necessary defensive coverage when the team is in defensive transition. International midfield battles tend to be more physical than in club play, and Horan’s experience in a number of roles firmly places her in the starting XI.

Ashley Sanchez, AM

Typically, the role of the veteran playmaker for the USWNT is filled capably by Rose Lavelle, but the 28-year-old hasn’t played a competitive game since picking up an injury in the middle of April. So far, Lavelle’s place on the World Cup roster doesn’t seem in jeopardy, but she might make more sense as a substitute than as a player relied upon for a full 90 minutes at this moment. So enters Ashley Sanchez, who is having a productive season thus far for the Washington Spirit as a creative midfielder.

Lynn Williams could lead a rotating cast at left wing after Mallory Swanson’s injury. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The attack

Lynn Williams, LW

One of the more wide-open competitions for playing time in the U.S. system comes at left winger, with Mallory Swanson’s injury absence making way for a rotating cast at the position. Trinity Rodman is capable of filling the same role, as is Megan Rapinoe, but Williams’ form in the NWSL and her defensive commitment to Andonovski’s shape gives her the edge.

Alex Morgan, CF

Williams, Rodman, Ashley Hatch and Sophia Smith can all shift centrally when called upon, but no one is as capable with their back to goal as Morgan, who has perfected the hold-up center forward role for the U.S.. Morgan’s responsibilities aren’t always just as an out-and-out scorer; she also plays in the trenches, creating space for the wingers to enter. More than that, she is an important leader on a frontline that is relatively inexperienced in major tournaments.

Sophia Smith, RW

Like Girma, Smith is one of the easiest starting decisions for Andonovski to make. She’s built up USWNT experience in the last two years, she’s one of the best American attackers in the NWSL, and she will have a chance to make this World Cup her own in her first major tournament appearance.

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

Savannah DeMelo: Meet the uncapped USWNT star heading to the World Cup

Emma Hruby June 19, 2023 Just Women’s Sports

Savannah DeMelo is crowned by Racing Louisville teammate Ary Borges after scoring a goal against the Washington Spirit in June. (Amber Searls/USA TODAY Sports)

Savannah DeMelo will feature on the U.S. women’s national team roster for the 2023 World Cup, The Athletic reported Friday. Who is the 25-year-old midfielder? And what can USWNT fans expect from the national team newbie? Just Women’s Sports introduces the world to the rising star.

Who does Savannah DeMelo play for?

Racing Louisville selected DeMelo with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. The midfielder is in the midst of her second season with the club.

Has she played for the USWNT before?

DeMelo received call-ups from the national team in September and October of last year. She joined the USWNT ahead of the September friendlies against Nigeria as a replacement for forward Trinity Rodman, who missed the camp due to a family commitment, and then she made the trip to the October friendlies in England and Spain. While she has two training camps under her belt, though, she has yet to feature in a game for the USWNT.

What is DeMelo’s style of play?

DeMelo provides depth at the midfielder position as a player who can work both sides of the ball. In her second professional season, she also has shown her scoring touch. Since the beginning of May, she has been involved in eight goals (6 goals, 2 assists) across all NWSL competitions, which is two better than any other player in the league in that span, per OptaJack.While she started the year outside of the national team pool, she kept herself on USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s radar with a ferocious start to the NWSL season. As Andonovski has stated, NWSL play is a big factor in his roster decisions. And there are few playing better in the league right now than DeMelo.She has scored in three of her last four matches, including in Sunday’s 2-0 win against Gotham FC, and she has eight goals across all competitions this season. She finished the 2022 season with four goals total.On top of her goal-scoring abilities, DeMelo also brings a solid defensive presence. A good shot blocker, she also helps her team to win the ball back, averaging 4.38 interceptions per game in 2022. And as good as DeMelo looked in 2022, she’s even better in 2023, which has earned her a spot on her first World Cup roster.

Three different players score for the Girls in Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Thursday, June 22, 2023) – Three different players scored as Indy Eleven defeated Lexington SC, 3-0, Thursday night on the road. With the win, Indy improves to 7-1-1 to stay atop the USL W League’s Valley Division, while Lexington falls to 2-6-1. The Eleven also earned the season series over LEX 3-0, with wins at Lexington on May 21 (3-0) and at home June 9 (2-0).

Sam Dewey got the scoring started, just as she did in the last match-up in Lexington, with her fourth goal of the season as a Hal Hershfelt cross found Dewey alone on the back post for an easy tally in the 29th-minute. The assist was the first for Hershfelt in 2023.

The Eleven tacked on a pair of back-to-back unassisted goals to close the first half with Katie Soderstrom (43’) first taking it herself into the 18-yard box and playing a ball back across the goal line and into the back of the net for her fourth of the season. Maddy Williams (45+1’) then took advantage of a Lexington giveaway in the back to score her third of the season and in consecutive matches.

The result was decided in the first half as neither team found the back of the net in the second frame. The teams were deadlocked with nine shots apiece in the match, with Indy holding the 4-2 advantage in shots on target. Nona Reason earned her fourth clean sheet of the season making three saves.

The Girls in Blue are back in action next Friday, June 30 for the final regular season match of 2023 when they host St. Charles FC for the third time this season. The teams have split the season series so far, with each team winning on the road. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will stream on Eleven Sports.

USL W League
Lexington SC 0:3 Indy Eleven
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Toyota Stadium | Lexington, Ky.

2023 USL W League Records
Indy Eleven: 7W-1L-1D (+21GD), 22pts
Lexington SC: 2W-6L-1D (-8GD), 7pts

Scoring Summary
IND – Sam Dewey (Hal Hershfelt) 29’
IND – Katie Soderstrom 43’ (also scored opening goal last time at LEX)
IND – Maddy Williams 45+1’

Discipline Summary 
None

Indy Eleven lineup: Nona Reason, Jenna Chatterton, Grace Bahr, Annika Creel (Greta Kraszula 45’), Grace Kugler (Trinity Watson 45’), Sam Dewey (Susie Soderstrom 61’), Hal Hershfelt (Lizzie Sexton 66’), Ella Rogers, Addie Chester, Maddy Williams (Kristina Lynch 61’), Katie Soderstrom (Sam Slimak 76’)

IND substitutes: Emily Edwards

Williams scores twice to help Indy to shutout win

WESTFIELD, Ind. (Sunday, June 18, 2023) – Maddy Williams scored her first two goals of the season to lead Indy Eleven to a 4-0 win over Kings Hammer FC Sunday at the Grand Park Sports Complex.The USL W League Valley Division leader Eleven improve to 6-1-1 on the season, while Kings Hammer falls to 1-5-1. Indy also sweeps the season series, having defeated Kings Hammer, 1-0, on May 24. Williams’ first tally came just nine minutes into the match off a cross from Addie Chester on the left side. Williams caught the keeper moving across the net and connected with a header into the top left corner. She followed it up just 10 minutes later, as she took advantage of the Kings Hammer keeper caught off her line and played a volley in from the top of the 18 courtesy of a Lizzie Sexton assist.Indy outshot Kings Hammer 11-1 in the opening frame, including five shots from Williams.The series of firsts continued for the Eleven in the second half as Sam Slimak and Grace Bahr scored their first goals of the season. Slimak took a one-time touch to the near post off Sexton’s second helper of the game, while Bahr hit a perfectly placed free kick into the upper 90 to extend the lead to 4-0.ndy outshot the visitors 17-1, led by Williams. Chester, Slimak and Sam Dewey each added two shots apiece. Nona Reason wasn’t forced to make a save on the day and earned her third clean sheet of the year.The four goals scored are the most since Indy scored eight in its 2023 season opener. In its two seasons, the Eleven have reached the four-goal threshold three times and scored three-plus goals on 10 occasions. Overall, Indy has outscored its opponents 21-3 this season.The Girls in Blue are back in action Thursday when they travel south to face Lexington FC in their last regular season road match of 2023. Indy is 2-0 this season against Lexington, outscoring them 5-0. Kick is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will stream on Eleven Sports.

USL W League
Indy Eleven 4:0 Kings Hammer FC
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Grand Park Sports Campus | Westfield, Ind.

2023 USL W League Records
Indy Eleven: 6W-1L-1D (+18GD), 19pts
Kings Hammer FC: 1W-5L-1D (-17FD), 4 pts

Scoring Summary
IND – Maddy Williams (Addie Chester) 9’
IND – Maddy Williams (Lizzie Sexton) 19’
IND – Sam Slimak (Lizzie Sexton) 65’
IND – Grace Bahr 74’

Indy Eleven lineup: Nona Reason, Jenna Chatterton (Rafferty Kugler 71’), Grace Bahr, Trinity Watson, Lizzie Sexton, Sam Dewey (Kanna Matsuhisa 46’) (Sam Slimak 57’), Greta Kraszula (Nicole Kevdzija 71’), Ella Rogers, Addie Chester, Maddy Williams (Katie Soderstrom 46’), Maisie Whitsett (Merel Houweling 71’)

Indy 11 Women’s’ Update from BYB

There’s a lot to be updated on the state of the Valley Division. So, buckle in folks.
Our loss to St. Charles only hindered our 3 point lead over Racing Louisville. Our win on Sunday did in fact knock out Kings Hammer. Currently, Lexington (7 points,) St. Charles FC (5 points,) & Kings Hammer FC (4 points) are all eliminated.
Yesterday evening, St. Charles was set to continue their newfound luck as they took on Racing Louisville. After entering a weather delay with a score of 1-2, the match was for all intense and purposes, cancelled and rescheduled. The match will restart from the beginning on Monday, June 26th. This is actually huge as it gives St. Charles a new chance to take down Racing Louisville. However, it won’t be right after their victory over us.
Racing Louisville will host St Charles on the 24th, then travel to St. Charles on the 26th, then back on the road to Kings Hammer on the 29th. A lot of short turn around for Racing that hopefully leads to a fall.
Our ladies in blue will be heading down to Lexington this Thursday to play their final road game. Then our ladies will be back home for the last time during the regular season on the 30th to hopefully get revenge over St. Charles.
Ending the season tied on points with Racing Louisville is a GOOD thing. We own the FIRST tiebreaker. However, we want to knock them out, out right!
We play last, meaning we will know what HAS to be done heading into the final game. Meaning, EVERY VOICE, EVERY DRUM, EVERY HORN MATTERS! Last season we did not get the chance to host our lone playoff game. Most likely, this will be the case again this season. So, if you want to show support in person for these ladies, make plans now to show up on Friday, June 30th at Grand Park.

Guenzatti nets his third goal of the season

FINAL STATS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Saturday, June 17, 2023) — Indy Eleven fell, 2-1, at Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday as the Legion’s Enzo Martinez scored in the 89th minute to earn Birmingham three points. The Boys in Blue generated a number of quality chances early on, with Roberto Molina, Sebastian Guenzatti and Aodhan Quinn registering shots on goal in the first 17 minutes. Birmingham Legion would respond with a few chances of their own, and despite allowing Indy to win possession (59%-41% in the first half), prevented the Eleven from any other opportunities for the remainder of the half.Birmingham struck first in the 55th minute when Diba Nwegbo took a pass from Anderson Asiedu and scored his first professional goal to give Legion FC a 1-0 lead. Indy Eleven would respond right away. Just over a minute later, Eleven captain Guenzatti took a pass from Harrison Robledo and ricocheted a shot off a Birmingham defender into the back of the net to tie it at 1-1, scoring his third goal of the season, which ties for the team lead. Following Guenzatti’s tally, Birmingham Legion took control of the game, outshooting the Eleven 7-2 over the next 27 minutes. In the 89th minute, Martinez took a feed from Neco Brett and beat Yannik Oettl to the far post for his sixth goal this season, giving Birmingham the 2-1 lead.From there, Indy was not able to muster up another shot, and Birmingham went on to earn the win at home. For the game, Indy Eleven was outshot 17-8 but tied Birmingham in shots on goal 4-4. Next up, the Boys in Blue stay on the road and head to Connecticut to play Hartford Athletic with a 7 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday, June 24. The match will stream on ESPN+.

USL Championship Regular Season
Birmingham Legion FC 2:1 Indy Eleven
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Protective Stadium  – Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham Legion FC: 6W-7L-1D, 19 pts
Indy Eleven: 4W-6L-4D, 16 pts

Scoring Summary:
BHM – Diba Nwegbo 55’
IND – Sebastian Guenzatti (Harrison Robledo) 56’
BHM – Enzo Martinez (Neco Brett) 89’ 

Discipline Summary:
IND – Younes Boudadi (caution) 8’
BHM – Gabriel Alves (caution) 21’
IND – Jesus Vazquez (caution) 24’
BHM – Alex Crognale (caution) 62’
BHM – Anderson Asiedu (caution) 64’

Birmingham Legion FC line-up: Matt Van Oekel, Gabriel Alves (Brett 75’), Phanuel Kavita (captain), Alex Crognale, Collin Smith, Anderson Asiedu, Mikey Lopez (Corcoran 31’), Tyler Pasher, Enzo Martinez, Prosper Kasim (Ngwebo 45’), Juan Agudelo (Mensah 91’)

Birmingham Subs: Trevor Spangenberg, Ben Reveno, Jake Rufe

Indy Eleven line-up (3-4-3): Yannik Oettl, Jesus Vazquez, Mechack Jerome, Younes Boudadi (Bryam Rebellon 69’), Roberto Molina (Robby Dambrot 88’), Aodhan Quinn, Jack Blake, Cam Lindley, Harrison Robledo (Douglas Martinez 62’), Sebastian Guenzatti (captain) (Diego Sanchez 88’), Solomon Asante

Rent this Beautiful 4 BR Beach house at Myrtle Beach for as low at $250 a night.

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

Earn Your College Degree at ½ the Cost and Time of Traditional Schools  www.achievetestprep.com/shane

US Men Dominate Mexico 3-0, Pulisic scores Brace

Wow what a game – the US absolutely dominated Mexico as much as I have ever seen.  Seriously we dominated possession and shots and goals.  Pulisic was the BEST player on the field – this first goal a fantastic bit of footwork before his 2^nd goal where he just outhustled the defense (much like the World Cup) and tucked it in again.   Finally Pepi did a great job on this goal – putting El Tri away at tres a cero!!    Sad to see that Mexico took it dirty after falling behind and they just absolutey lost control – McKinney certainly rubbed it in as he drew a Red Card for trying to defend his teammate while his shirt was ripped off of him – creating this iconic moment.  I thought the front line of Balo with Weah on the right and Pulisic on the left was deadly – especially with Gio Reyna unlocking the door at the 10.  McKinney and especially Yanus Musah dominated the midfield – with Musah showing HE is our best D mid behind Adams – heck lets be real – he looked as good as Adam’s has looked in that slot last night.  In the back Chris Richards slid right in and showed his worth with fantastic passes from the back and timely saves. Miles looked a little rusty but showed no reason not to trust him vs Canada. Jedi and especially Dest were outstanding on the edges.  The subs De La Torre especially did a fine job and finally what about that line-up by Interim Mgr – Asst to the Asst BJ __ coached his but off and made the right decisions in the starting line-up, the continuation of the attack and the subs he made when. Full Highlights  

The Mexican soccer program is as low as I can remember in a long time. Seriously until Berhalter and the US beat them in the Nation’s League Final 2 years ago – they had not lost under Tata Martinez in like 10 games – now they were eliminated  in 3 games in the World Cup – and they just got flat Embarrased by a FAR SUPERIOR US Squad.  Folks may question Berhalter – but this change took place under his watch – this domination took place with his players – basically playing his system.  I will have more on Berhalter being named the New/Continuing Coach of the US – but overall I am ok with it.  I honestly don’t know who else is out there who is better right now. 

USA vs Canada Nations League Final 8:30 pm on Univision & Para+. 

This promises to be one heck of a game – Canada has finally turned the corner and is looking to show their dominance in North America after finishing first in World Cup Qualifing.  They have to go thru our Defending Champs however.  Of course the US will have to play without Serginio Dest and Weston McKinney.  It will be interesting to see if they plug in De La Tore in the middle or flip things and get Brendan Aaronson in there. On the right back I assume Joe Scally will get his chance to prove he’s up to facing a world class player in Bayern Munisch’s Alphonso Davies – who scored last night.  I think the rest of the line-up remains unchanged – though I expect to see Pepe come in earlier for Bolagun especially if he doesn’t score. 

Shane’s Starters for Sunday 8:30 pm Para+, Univision

Turner

A Robinson, Chris Richards, M. Robinson, Joe Scally

Musah, De La Tore

Weah   Reyna  Pulisic

Balogun

(Full US Roster)

GOALKEEPERS (4): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 12/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 26/0)

DEFENDERS (7): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 24/2), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 8/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 34/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 4/0), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City/ENG; 1/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 39/3)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 6/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 14/0), Weston McKennie (Leeds United/ENG; 43/11), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 25/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 18/4), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0),

FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 30/7), Folarin Balogun (Stade Reims/FRA; 0/0), Taylor Booth (Utrecht/NED; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen/NED; 14/6), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 58/23), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 29/4), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 3/1)

Notes

The latest FIFA Women’s rankings came out before the World Cup this summer and the US is of course #1 followed by Germany, Sweden and England.   There are some cool commercials starting to hit the airwaves in what promises to be a ratings bonanza this summer – oh and 1 million tickets have already  been sold for the World Cup down-under. .  The US Women’s World Cup roster should drop some time next week as the send off series starts July 9^th but it sad to see Becky Sauerbrunn our Centerback and captain at 38 will miss because of injury. (Lots of stories below).  On the men’s side looking to watch the game Sunday night and don’t have Paramount Plus – Try it Free here.   Love this commercial from Champions League – this is definitely me.  Oh and this one.  Wonder what kind of difference Messi to Miami makes?  Inter Miami is now the 5^th most popular team on Instagram in the US – tickets for games Messi might play in have gone from $30 a ticket to over $450 on average.  I am looking for games in Chicago or Cincy or Nashville if you have any 😊 

Full Weekend of Europa Action

Europa Nations League Finals are this weekend on Sunday on Fox at 3 pm – Spain vs Croatia! 

 Spain strike late against Italy to reach Nations League final
Spain morale is sky high after Italy win: coach

Happy Father’s Day to you Coaches and Refs out there !!

Huge congrats to our Carmel FC Indiana ODP State GoalKeepers in St Louis this weekend for the Midwest Olympic Development Tourney. Olivia Aft 2012 and Emme Bukovac 2010. #carmelfcGKU

Carmel FC Jersey Reveal for 23/24 season  

GAMES ON TV

Sat, June 17

9 am FS1                     Lithuania vs Bulgaria  Euro Quals

12 pm FS1                   Norway vs Scotland Euro Quals

2:45 pm FS 2               Iceland vs Slovakia Euro Quals 

4 pm CBS                    San Diego (Morgan, Girma, Korniack) vs Angel City (Ertz, Thompson)

7 pm Para+                 NC Courage (Fox, Murphy) vs Orlando Pride (Marta) NWSL

7:30 pm ESPN+           Indy 11 @ Birmingham City

8:30 pm Apple             Nashville vs St Louis City

10:30 pm Apple           San Jose vs Portland Timbers

Sun, June 18

9 am FS1                     Netherlands vs Italy Nations League 3^rd place

2:45 pm FOX              Spain vs Croatia Nations League Final  

4 pm CBS                    Racing Louisville vs NY Gothem (Williams, Ohara, Mewis) NWSL

6 pm Para+                 Chicago Red Stars vs Portland Thorns NWSL

6 pm Para+, TUDN      Mexico vs Panama CONCACAF Nations League 3^rd Place

8:30 pm Para+, TUDN     Canada vs USA CONCACAF Nations League Final

Sat, June 24

9:30 pm  Fox                      USMNT vs Jamaica (Soldier Field) Gold Cup

Wed, June 28

9:30 pm FS1                       USMNT vs ??   St Louis Gold Cup

Sun, July 9

4 pm Fox?                         USWNT vs Wales  Send-off

5/7 pm Fox Sports?         USMNT Gold Cup QuarterFinals vs Mexico in Cincy

Fri, July 21                         USWNT vs Vietnam Women’s World Cup

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Schedule

Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw

US Men

Chaos overshadows dominant U.S. win vs. Mexico as Pulisic shines  ESPN FC Jeff Carlisle

Full Highlights  Player Ratings

Dominant 3-0 Win over Mexico – marred by Cowardly Fights and pathetic Mexico Fans

USA vs Mexico: Four red cards, beer thrown and homophobic chanting
Fiery soccer game between US and Mexico ends early amid homophobic chants
‘It was a mess’: Ugly U.S.-Mexico match halted after 4 ejections, brawls and anti-gay chant
Chaotic USMNT-Mexico Concacaf semifinal makes Twitter erupt
U.S. beats Mexico during Nations League semifinal halted early due to homophobic chants
CONCACAF Nations League: USMNT bosses Mexico yet again in fractious game that ends 9 v 9

‘I’m never a part of games like this. And then I come here’

US Soccer plays it safe by reappointing Gregg Berhalter as USMNT coach
Gregg Berhalter rehired as USMNT head coach after months of drama, limbo
Gregg Berhalter is returning as U.S. men’s national team soccer coach
US Soccer brings Gregg Berhalter back as USMNT coach through 2026 World Cup
Like it or not, bringing Gregg Berhalter back makes sense for U.S. men’s soccer team
Folarin Balogun: What to expect from the 21-year-old who outscored Lionel Messi last season ahead of his USMNT debut
Mexico’s rock bottom? It felt like it after big loss to USA  esar Hernandez

USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn will miss World Cup with injury, per report

Sources: U.S. captain Sauerbrunn to miss WWC ESPN

WORLD

Spain strike late against Italy to reach Nations League final
Spain morale is sky high after Italy win: coach
England, France ease to Euro qualifying wins as Wales stunned
Trent Alexander-Arnold has ended the debate – his England future lies in midfield
Germany lose to Poland as pressure mounts on Flick
MATCHDAY: Haaland back for Norway, Ronaldo’s Portugal plays in Euro qualifiers
Lionel Messi scores fastest goal of his career with stunning effort after 79 seconds
Inter Miami-bound Lionel Messi uncorks wicked goal for Argentina

Reffing

Become a Licensed High School Ref

Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13

Red card?

Pen or No Pen?

Goalkeeping

great saves from the Champion League final

Gigi Button Great Saves This year at Parma

CNL Preview: Canada – USA

 David Smith20 hours ago

The United States will be aiming to extend their reign as CONCACAF Nations League champions, when they face fellow finalists Canada in a first-ever title-crowning game between these two North American neighbors.Interim head coch BJ Callaghan will be aiming for an impressive feat of claiming his first trophy after less than three weeks in charge, which would give the coach momentum before he turns his attention towards the Gold Cup beginning several days later.The former assistant’s first game at the helm – Thursday’s commanding 3-0 humiliation of Mexico in the semifinal – was overshadowed by emerging rumors of Gregg Berhalter’s return as permanent head coach, which was finally confirmed the following day.While this does make Callaghan’s short run in the coming weeks seem a bit of a lame duck session with the coach-in-waiting looking on, success in either or both of the hurdles will certainly give a boost to his CV should he have developed a taste for being the man in charge.On the surface, the relative ease of Thursday’s win might give a false air of confidence heading into Sunday’s final against Canada, however the recent trajectory of the opposition combined with several notable disadvantages faced by the USMNT should ensure that there is no clear favorite.

The United States and Canada have never met in the final of any CONCACAF competition prior to Sunday. The Canadians’ two winning campaigns in the Gold Cup and its predecessor the CONCACAF Championship came back in 2000 and 1985, where they respectively defeated Colombia and Honduras in the final game.In recent years, however, they have had the Americans’ number in an increasing number of games in official competitions. They did provide the lone blemish on the team’s record in their run to the inaugural Nations League crown in 2019, with John Herdman leading the team to a 2-0 win over Berhalter’s squad in their first group-stage meeting.This was followed by Canada’s impressive run to end up first-place in CONCACAF World Cup qualification, where Herdman again gave his team the edge with a 1-1 draw and 2-0 home win in their two meetings.While this did not portend any success for the team in their eventual failed, three-loss World Cup campaign, they have picked up right where they left off with a strong showing to reach Sunday’s final.

They defeated Panama in a relatively straightforward 2-0 semifinal, with star attacker Jonathan David being the main catalyst through a goal and assist, and were also able to come through the game completely unscathed in terms of injuries and suspensions.Herdman arguably has superior attacking firepower than the Americans’ last opponent Mexico, led by Lille’s in-demand forward David, who will once again be a major summer target of top European clubs after scoring 24 goals in the recently competed Ligue 1 season.Forward Cyle Larin also had an impressive run with La Liga’s Real Valladolid in his half-season loan, scoring eight and setting up another three in 19 league games, while Brügge’s Tajon Buchanan and FC Bayern wing attacker Alphonso Davies will also wreak havoc on Callaghan’s back line.

Davies is still returning to full health after suffering an injury with Bayern in late-April and only played the last half-hour against Panama. However, he did make the most of his time by scoring the team’s insurance goal, and could be given the nod by Herdman on the left to take advantage of stand-in US right-back Joe Scally.Compared to their significant attacking pedigree, the rest of the likely Canadian starting XI is a step down, although not without some degree of quality. The pair of Portuguese-Canadian players based in the Primeira Liga, defender Steven Vitória and midfielder Stephen Eustáquio were also standout performers on Thursday night, and Herdman has generally set up the team to absorb the pressure of their opponents just long enough to exploit any momentary openings that might appear amidst the frustration.Still, it would be difficult to expect the Canadians to have their way in controlling the flow of the game and having as many opportunities for ruthlessness as they did against Panama on Thursday.Even with both Weston McKennie and Sergiño Dest out of the final due to red card suspensions, Callaghan still has enough quality, in particularly in the back line and main attack, to exploit any talent imbalances on the field.With neither McKennie nor the injured Tyler Adams available to provide a disruptive presence in the midfield, Callaghan will have to rely on either Luca de la Torre or Johnny Cardoso to line up alongside Yunus Musah in the middle.However, once again going with two defensive-minded midfielders for a second straight game, this time out of necessity, Callaghan will be able to field a deadly front four. Placing the trio of Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Tim Weah behind front-man Folarin Balogun worked like magic against Mexico, however Brenden Aaronson, Ricardo Pepi or Alejandro Zendejas could also slot into the formation without too much of a loss in quality.

Dest will most likely be replaced on the right side of the defense by the young Scally, if a direct swap is deemed the best course of action. However, Callaghan could take a cue from Lille head coach Paulo Fonseca and shift Weah into the more wingback role. This would free up another of the front attacking spots for one of the aforementioned options, and would arguably be one of the more aggressive lineups that American fans have seen in several decades.Regardless that side of the defense will surely be a target point for the likes of Davies and David on the Canadian side, all the more so because the rest of the American back line is as rock-solid as they come.Barring any unexpected, and ill-advised twists, Miles Robinson will start in central defense, alongside either Chris Richards, who was adequate versus Mexico, or the more, experienced but less mobile Walker Zimmerman. This leaves Antonee Robinson in his traditional left-back role, and Arsenal understudy Matt Turner in goal.The game will kick off at 5:30pm local west-cost time, 8:30pm eastern US time, at the Allegiant Stadium near Las Vegas.

Pulisic shines, Balogun debuts in chaotic U.S. win vs Mexico

• Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJun 16, 2023, 05:00 AM ET

LAS VEGAS — Thursday’s Concacaf Nations League (CNL) semifinal against Mexico was the U.S. men’s national team’s version of “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” in that there were enough deviations from perceived reality to fill a feature-length movie.

There was the news that emerged just before kickoff that Gregg Berhalter will be making an unexpected return as U.S. manager. This after the U.S. Soccer Federation let his contract expire last December, investigated him for a domestic violence incident that was made public by the family of midfielder Gio Reyna, and then concluded it was satisfied with his explanation and maintained he was still eligible to return. In the meantime, the USSF employed not one but two interim coaches: Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan. It then used a search firm to hire a sporting director, Matt Crocker, who simply led the USSF back to where it was in December — handing Berhalter what is technically his second stint as U.S. manager. The game against Mexico was chaos, and not just because the U.S. prevailed 3-0 instead of its usual 2-0 scoreline. There were two goals from Christian Pulisic, a third from substitute Ricardo Pepi and four red cards — two for each side.The lopsided scoreline brought out the usual anti-gay chant from El Tri fans, and with Step 1 of Concacaf’s anti-discrimination protocol already enacted, referee Iván Barton blew his whistle with only seven of the 12 minutes of second-half stoppage time played. Concacaf insisted that the game was not abandoned and that it was stopped at Barton’s discretion. It later issued a statement that it “strongly condemns the discriminatory chanting” and that “the Confederation is in the process of urgently establishing further details and reports from security and match officials and will make a further statement in short order.”That didn’t change the U.S. team’s thoughts on the crowd’s behavior.”[The chant] goes against everything that we stand for on our side,” said U.S. keeper Matt Turner. “We’ve been very open and vocal about the strength of our team being our diversity, the strength of our nation being its diversity. So to use something so divisive during a spirited game … it has no place in the game.”

Oh, and the U.S. was led on the sideline by Callaghan, who was serving as a head coach for the first time at the professional level. No problem. While Callaghan led his side to its most lopsided scoreline against Mexico in official competition, he will probably be in charge for only one more game: Sunday’s final against Canada. That said, his postmatch comments had him sounding as if he’d been in the role for ages.

“We were confident in the game plan that we were able to put together, and I think the performance from our side speaks for itself,” he said. “We couldn’t be more happy with the performance, but at the same time we also understand that we need to turn the page and already start the recovery and preparation process to play versus Canada.”

Everything that transpired served to overshadow the biggest pregame talking point: the debut of Arsenal forward (and designated savior) Folarin Balogun. The U.S. has been looking for a dependable No. 9 for years, though historically there have been some good ones. Eric Wynalda was at one time the leading U.S. scorer with 34 career goals, and Brian McBride spearheaded the U.S. attack for a considerable period as well. (Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey spent much of their international careers as midfielders.)But recent years have seen the U.S. struggle to get much, if any, production out of the spot. So when Balogun scored 22 times in 39 league and cup appearances on loan at French side Stade de Reims this season, and then declared for the U.S. at the expense of England and Nigeria, U.S. fans began to dream big.Fulfilling such sky-high expectations will have to wait a bit. Balogun had some bright moments, including a layoff to Pulisic that sparked an attack that ended with the U.S. captain shooting over the bar from just 10 yards. But overall he was somewhat subdued. He had the fewest touches of any U.S. starter and rarely threatened in the attacking half. Some of that was down to his lack of familiarity with teammates, who rarely gave Balogun the kind of passes into the channels that allowed him to use his speed.”I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t my best game,” Balogun said. “I think it’s important; at the same time I have to be realistic coming into a new environment with new teammates. And of course I’m playing in a semifinal, so it’s never going to be an easy game of football, but at the end of the day, I’m just happy we got a result.”Yet Balogun still managed to endear himself to teammates and fans when, in the 69th minute, he chased down Mexico defender César Montes, dispossessed him and drew a foul that resulted in a red card to Montes. It also sparked a melee that saw U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie get ejected as well.The chippiness didn’t end there, as U.S. defender Sergiño Dest was sent off after a scrap with Mexico substitute Gerardo Arteaga, leaving both teams to finish the game with nine players each. As much as Callaghan tried to back his men publicly, it did take some luster off the win. McKennie and Dest will be suspended for Sunday’s win, a reality that wasn’t lost on Pulisic.”It’s crazy. All year round, I’m never a part of games like this. And then I come here and it’s like, suddenly, everyone is just … it was a mess,” he said. “But I was disappointed in the end. I really wish some of our guys kept their heads a little bit better. It just turned into something that wasn’t this beautiful game. We did enough to show off on the field with our play that we deserve to be winning that game and a dominant performance, and now that all this, this stuff happened, it just takes away from the way we played.”

Gomez slams ’embarrassing’ anti-gay chants during USMNT vs. Mexico

Herculez Gomez speaks after USMNT vs. Mexico was ended early by the referee due to anti-gay chants.Pulisic was at the heart of that dominant performance, putting the U.S. ahead in the 37th minute by pounding on a Mexico turnover and finishing past Memo Ochoa. Then he doubled the advantage just seconds into the second half by redirecting Tim Weah‘s pinpoint cross after he was played into space by McKennie.It was as complete a team performance as the U.S. has had against Mexico since the turn of the century. The defense was barely noticed, in a good way. The U.S. was superior in its chance creation and its finishing. And Pulisic’s performance drove home an undeniable fact: Balogun might be the shiny new toy, but this is still Pulisic’s team, as evidenced by his goals and leadership.

It’s Berhalter’s team again too. There were several reasons for Berhalter not to return. The domestic violence incident remains tough to get past. So does his handling of Gio Reyna after the World Cup when he all but outed the midfielder for having a bad attitude and nearly sent him home. A second cycle, when messages can get stale, was yet another reason to move on to a different manager.The reasons the USSF’s leadership brought back Berhalter will be revealed in the coming days. But the vast majority of players, at least those who spoke publicly, backed him in recent weeks. Pulisic was among those who gave Berhalter strong support, and he reiterated that after the match.”You can see, today is a testament of the work that [Berhalter] put into this team,” he said. “B.J. picked up right where he left off, and it’s a testament to him, a testament to this team, the way that we just continued and just put on performances like that. So if that’s not enough evidence [to support Berhalter], that’s all right. People are going to hate.” As satisfying as the victory was, the U.S. still has one more game to win to repeat as CNL champion. Canada’s skill and speed on the wings will be tough to get past, especially without McKennie and Dest. But the U.S. is determined to do whatever it takes to prevail, no matter how much chaos it might encounter.

Analysis: Epic Thursday sees the USMNT pound Mexico 3-0 amid news of Berhalter’s return

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta wrote a lot to cover a wild Thursday full of USMNT news. It started with a fantastic performance from the USMNT in a 3-0 win over Mexico that devolved into chaos for the final 20 minutes. Then it ended with the return of Gregg Berhalter – after the Gold Cup. Here are Sciaretta’s thoughts on it all.

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTEDv JUNE 16, 2023 1:00 PM

THURSDAY NIGHT WAS one of the most surreal days for the United States men’s national team because of dramatic series of events that few expected. First, there was the performance of the team, then there was the opponent, and this was wrapped into an ugly but unforgettable final 20 minutes that will be one of the most iconic chapters in a fierce rivalry. Somehow, that was all overshadowed by significant coaching news off the field. All this happened in the span of about three hours.

It’s tough to put into words and you almost don’t know where to start.

Might as well start with the game along with some thoughts on it. The overall performance from the U.S. team was excellent in a 3-0 win.

TRES A CERO

Interim manager B.J. Callaghan opted to go with a very offensive lineup. Without Tyler Adams, Callaghan opted to not even play with a No. 6 defensive midfield and instead attack relentlessly. It worked. The game was not as close as the score indicated.

The United States struck first in the 36^th minute when it was Christian Pulisic pouncing on poor Mexican defending. Jorge Sánchez couldn’t handle a short pass inside his own box from Edson Álvarez and Pulisic was there for a quick finish. This came just minutes after Pulisic missed a golden chance after a dazzling run.

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Then just a minute into the second half, it was the U.S. team again finding plenty of room to attack from out wide. Weston McKennie played Tim Weah up the right side. Weah then slid the ball across the goal to set up a streaking Pulisic for a close finish.

Say it with us…

????? DOS

????? A

????? CERO

???? » @CBSSportsGolazo pic.twitter.com/WIBHMV2ABu— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) June 16, 2023

Then finally in the 78^th minute, substitute Ricardo Pepi struck just three minutes after coming into the game.  Sergino Dest swerved through a dispirited Mexican midfield before playing Pepi in a lone on Guillermo Ochoa. Mexico protested for an offside call, but VAR correctly upheld the goal.
The final 20 minutes of the game, however, will be the defining story of the game. It was ugly and heated. McKennie and Dest were sent off and will miss the final vs. Canada. The game finished 9 vs. 9 and El Salvadorian referee, Ivan Barton, blew the final whistle seven minutes into a scheduled 11 minutes of extra time given the heated nature of the game.The United States will now face Canada in Sunday’s final.

NO RUST

It was fair to wonder about the level of rust and confidence for several players. Matt Turner, Chris Richards and Sergino Dest hadn’t played much for six months. McKennie, Musah, Pulisic, and even Tim Weah had tough seasons.

The players all talked about it being a relief to be with the USMNT on the heels of tough seasons. But could the players stop their club issues from spilling into the U.S. team? The players did that far better than I expected. It was a clean break. There was no sign that Pulisic and Chelsea had a nightmare of a season or that Dest was simply not wanted on loan at AC Milan.

It’s not ideal to have to do this all the time. But it is interesting to see the change in mentality the players can make when quickly changing teams.

Will the team be able to continue this against Canada? You have to like their chances after the Mexico game.

PULISIC IS A GAMER

Pulisic was easily the MOTM. It wasn’t even just the two goals. He was completely throwing Mexico off their game with his dangerous runs. Even when his finishing let him down, Mexico was frustrated trying to stop him – often. It’s very important to note that Pulisic drew four fouls in this game because it was the only chance Mexico had to stop him.

Like Landon Donovan, Pulisic is a different player when he puts on the USMNT jersey. Regardless of what is going on in his club career, he makes things happen and other teams take note.

It’s also effort. Pulisic might have only completed nine passes in this game, but he was 7/7 in his ground duels, and he had five shots. When he has the ball, he knows it is his time. Even after being criticized this season at Chelsea, Pulisic knows that when he has the ball for the USMNT that it is his time to deliver.

ROBINSON VS. MEXICO

 

Miles Robinson had another big game for the U.S. team. To date, most of his biggest tasks have come against Mexico and he has thrived in the rivalry game. Aside from one friendly early in his career, he has played Mexico in four competitive games – each time he has started the game.

In those four competitive games, he has played 380 minutes and Mexico has yet to score. He even scored the winning goal against Mexico in the 2021 Gold Cup final. His athleticism, speed, and physical nature in the box has been an ideal fit.

Performances like this will have him continue to be in the top four central defenders selected for call-ups.

It looks like he will be heading abroad after this season as he will soon be a free agent. He needs to get that decision right and select a team that wants him. If he isn’t a starter, it will set back a lot of the progress he has made.

PEPI STAKES HIS CLAIM

 

The big story in the lead-up to this game was, of course, Folarin Balogun. The Arsenal striker scored 21 goals for Stade de Reims in Ligue 1 and was going to be the national team’s long-awaited answer at forward. He still might be.

But the real story in this game is Pepi’s reaction. The former FC Dallas forward is coming off a strong season in the Eredivisie on loan at Groningen. Despite playing for a poor relegated team, Pepi still scored 12 goals.

Balogun played well enough in his debut. He drew fouls and connected effectively with his teammates during some dangerous moments. But Pepi came into the game with a purpose, almost to emphasize that he is not conceding the starting forward job to Balogun. He had a clear chip on his shoulder and a point to prove to fans, coaches, and his team.

It’s all good. Competition makes everyone better and makes everyone always have to be on top of their game. This includes Balogun. He’s not going to walk into the starting lineup. He is going to have to produce to be there.

This also relates back to last year with Pepi not making the World Cup team. Was he a controversial cut? Sure. But people are trying to compare the Pepi we see right now as the one that got cut. That wasn’t the case. Pepi went 51 weeks without scoring a goal for club or country (October 2021 through October 2022). He especially struggled in the team’s final friendlies before Qatar.

Pepi right now is in a much, much better place. He’s finishing and he’s putting himself in great positions. At Gronginen he never got many opportunities because of the team’s lack of quality, but he still scored regularly. With the USMNT on Thursday, he scored three minutes after coming on in his first chance.

Pepi has responded to a wave of adversity the past year – getting cut from the World Cup team, not producing after he was Augsburg’s most expensive ever signing, getting sent to a terrible Eredivisie team amid fans whose poor behavior suspended play four times, getting “recruited over” at the USMNT with Balogun, etc.

He’s a better player for it all.

MEANINGFUL FINAL 20 MINUTES

 

Breaking down the final 20 minutes of the USMNT – Mexico game is almost worthy of a book. But it had been brewing from early in the game as referee Ivan Barton lost control. He failed to card players early to settle things down.

Then when the U.S. team turned the game into a rout and Mexico couldn’t get anything going, frustration from El Tri took over. Their players baited the U.S. team into physical altercations because the result wasn’t going to change.

Yes, U.S. players lost their cool. The U.S. team should have known better because they were the team with more to lose and a final to play. Mexico could afford to bait and play dirty because their tournament (apologies to the third-place game) was over. The U.S. players – namely McKennie and Dest – needed to understand they had more to lose by getting sent off.

That being said. The ugliness of the final 20 minutes could be enormously beneficial in the long-term even if they hurt the team’s chances in the final. It is these types of games that give meaning to the “brotherhood” concept the team says they have. These types of incidents have a way of galvanizing teams and proving that players have each other’s backs.

As for CONCACAF, it is their own fault that this type of soccer gives a negative reputation to the region. Their lack of a real penalty for Mexican chants is the reason why it still happens.

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César Montes kicks out at Folarin Balogun and gets a red card. Things escalate and Weston McKennie is sent off too. ????

10 vs. 10 for the remainder of the match. pic.twitter.com/zkZe8nKDUe— CBS Sports Golazo ?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 16, 2023

Also, the final 20 minutes were also a cumulation of unpunished Mexican history. How many times can McKennie take hands to the face, neck, or head over the years before he responds? CONCACAF has to protect U.S. players or eventually they are going to protect themselves.

The U.S. players not keeping their cool almost becomes a necessity when players such as these below are completely unpunished (not even yellow cards).  

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Just remember a few years ago.. this wasn’t even a card pic.twitter.com/T34tWJ085p— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 16, 2023

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Also this in the last nations league pic.twitter.com/KhgvIkvJjB— Jordan (@NatFan9) June 16, 2023

The final 20 minutes were the result of CONCACAF simply lacking the will to get control over situations and letting them spill out of control.

USMNT PLAYER RATINGS

STARTERS

Matt Turner: The New Jersey keeper made the saves he had too, which weren’t many. Rating: 6

Antonee Robinson: The Fulham left back was his steady self and defensively shut down his side but wasn’t involved in too many attacks: Rating: 6

Chris Richards: Looked sharp despite limited minutes this season. Mexico struggled to get things by him. Rating: 7

Miles Robinson: His athleticism and physicality helped him dominate the box defensively. The Atlanta United centerback was also effective passing out of the back. Rating: 7

Sergino Dest: The right back has had a tough season, but his dribbling and quality on the ball gave Mexico fits. He assisted on the third goal and was part of the first. But he shouldn’t have lost his cool and been sent off. That puts the U.S. in a bad position for the final. Rating: 6.5

Yunus Musah: The Valencia midfielder’s dribbling in the midfield helped the U.S. team dictate the pace of the game. He made a nice pass in the buildup to the opening goal. Rating: 6.5

Weston McKennie: A red card marred what would have been a nice game. His pass broke open the play for the second goal. Defensively, he was frequently in great positions to help fill the gap left by Tyler Adams’ absence. Rating: 6

Gio Reyna: The Borussia Dortmund midfielder grew in strength as the game progressed. He kept Mexico on their heels and his passing helped keep the pressure on. He nearly assisted on dangerous Pulisic header. Rating: 7

Christian Pulisic: The Chelsea winger was the best player on the field by a large margin – and he could have scored more than his two goals. It wasn’t just his goals, he threw Mexico completely off their game. Rating: 9

Tim Weah: A very solid outing for Weah, who was the U.S. team’s second most dangerous player over the entire game. He assisted on the second goal, was in the buildup to the first goal, and he created gaps of space on the right side of the field. Rating: 8

Folarin Balogun: the anticipated debut of the talented forward was a little muted. Eight completed passes, one shot, and 17 touches over 75 minutes isn’t a sign of heavy involvement. But he had some nice moments of hold-up play and he drew three fouls. Rating: 6

SUBSTITUTES

 

Ricardo Pepi: He came off the bench with a purpose and delivered a big goal. Rating: 7.5

Luca de la Torre: The Celta Vigo midfielder helped the U.S. team with possession as it got ugly. Rating: 6

Walker Zimmerman: The veteran defender brought some maturity to the game once it became a mess. He made some nice defensive players late as Mexico pressed – including three clearances. Rating: 6.5

Brenden Aaronson: Eight touches, 3/3 passing, in nine minutes of work. Rating: NR

LOOKING AHEAD TO CANADA

 

So how does B.J. Callaghan handle Canada on Sunday now without McKennie and Dest? It is going to be tricky because Canada is better than Mexico right now. There should be enormous concern over the U.S. right side because it will have to defend Alphonso Davies, who is one of the best left-sided players in the world.

Callaghan is going to want to keep as much of his core together after a dazzling display against Mexico.  But there are legitimate questions as to how to deal with the absences.

Callaghan can opt to do straight swaps and keep everything the same. The likely means Joe Scally in for Dest and de la Torre in for McKennie. But are these like-for-like swaps enough defensively.

De la Torre, in particular, is a very different player than McKennie. Is Johnny Cardoso a better option?

Then you have Scally and the responsibility of going up against Davies. The problem is that central defense is also going to have to deal with Jonathan David.

Another potential option could be a 3-4-3 with Weah and Robinson has wingbacks, de la Torre and Musah in the middle. Then an attacking trio with Pulsic and Reyna outside with a forward. The three central defenders could then provide cover for the wings. That formation could be best, but only if the U.S. team has been practicing with it.

The loss of McKennie and Dest are certainly complicating how the U.S. team can play for the final.

There is also the question of starting either Pepi or Balogun for the final. It’s hard to argue against Pepi.

Callaghan has tough decisions. It’s not going to be an easy game to manage.

BERHALTER TO RETURN

 

The big news of the day came shortly before kickoff when multiple reports indicated Gregg Berhalter was rehired to manage the USMNT for the 2026 World Cup cycle. This will cumulate with the first World Cup on U.S. soil since 1994.

Opinions on this are wide ranging. On the broadcast of the game, Clint Dempsey acknowledged that Berhalter did a good job but asked why they needed these past six months just to rehire the same coach. Charlie Davies, meanwhile, questioned who was available in the current budget and rules over how much they can pay the men’s coach compared with the women’s coach.

There are fans who don’t like Berhalter. There are fans that do. There are fans who liked Berhalter’s performance but who question the wisdom of giving a second cycle to a manager after it didn’t work with Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, or Jurgen Klinsmann. There are others who say this cycle is different given the youth of the player pool and the need for continuity. There are others that believe the Reyna situation should have disqualified him.

Obviously a lot has changed at U.S. Soccer since Qatar. Earnie Stewart is out as the Sporting Director. Brian McBride is out as the general manager. Will Wilson is out as the CEO. Matt Crocker is in as the Sporting Director. J.T. Batson is in as the CEO. Oguchi Onyewu is in as the VP of Sporting. Sportsology was retained as an outside consulting firm during the process.

An entirely new group was brought into the front office, took their time, and decided to bring back Berhalter.

But cutting through all that, the one constant has been the players. We don’t yet know how much the players were interviewed or considered in this process. But the press release included this paragraph.

“Crocker outlined the ideal competencies for the head coach, which included building lasting relationships with staff and players, [emphasis mine] planning and effectively driving a vision-led identity, pushing innovation and boundaries, and being a decisive decision-maker. Within these categories, he utilized advanced data analytics, sophisticated metrics, and cutting-edge hiring methods to profile and rank each candidate. During the course of several weeks, candidates were evaluated through all of these filters and went through a battery of practical and psychological testing.”

During this camp leading up to the Nations League, the players started speaking up for Berhalter. This includes several of the team’s most important players. Tim Weah said he hopes Berhalter would come back.

“I think [Berhalter] should be considered,’ Pulisic said. ‘I think he did a great job with the team. He brought us a long way. I think a lot of people and a lot of guys in the team especially would agree with that [emphasis mine].”

The last sentence is key. It wasn’t just Pulisic and Weah. Outside of the Reyna debacle at the World Cup, the bond on this team is strong. If Pulisic is saying that a lot of people agree with him that Berhalter did a great job with the team, it’s probably true that many of the team feels the same way.

The feelings among the players shouldn’t dictate the big-picture direction of the program. That is why there is a line between the front office, the coaches, and then the players. But my guess is that it played a big role here. There is not going to be a lot of player turnover this cycle compared with the previous cycle when most of the core was quickly ushered out. There will be new players making their way into the team, but the core is largely known.

On top of that, Crocker said in his U.S. Soccer introduction that when he watched the World Cup, he liked how the team played and he liked the confidence/attitude of the players. It’s not hard to see that as a compliment to Berhalter.

It’s also questionable to state that this team lost a lot of time by not going back to Berhalter immediately. Since the 2022 World Cup, the team has been run by Berhalter’s staff. Things have not been taking a radical departure under Anthony Hudson and Callaghan. Plus, some useful steps were taken. Reyna was brought quickly back into the team so that it wasn’t a lingering issue. Folarin Balogun was also signed into the team to bring a potentially big scoring option.

The money question is whether Berhalter is the right person for the job? We saw reports Patrick Vieira, was a candidate, but we don’t know the complete list of candidates. Berhalter indeed grew and developed as a manager during the last cycle. By the end, he had a strong comradery among the players and they all played hard for him. There are, of course, legitimate questions. Could he have rotated his squad better in the World Cup? Should Pepi have been there despite a tough year?

But what is Berhalter’s ceiling as a coach? If he improved during the last cycle, does that mean he will continue to improve? What are his future visions for the team and how realistic are they?

The good news is that the Copa America next year will be an excellent measuring stick as to how much further along this team is from Qatar. With Berhalter’s rehire and the core now in their prime, the expectations should be that the team will be much better since U.S. Soccer has elected to stay on the same path. But how much further down that path will they be?

Meanwhile, Callaghan will coach the team through the Gold Cup.

“B.J. will continue to lead through the Nations League Final and the Gold Cup tournament this summer while I work collectively with Gregg on some of the big-picture items away from the team,” Crocker said.

National Writer: Charles Boehm MLS.com

A surreal Concacaf night: Berhalter reports shade heated USA-Mexico rivalry

Charles Boehm Friday, Jun 16, 2023, 03:07 AM MLS.com

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, we’re often told.This was most definitely not the case at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday night, as Christian Pulisic donned his hero’s cape once again to lead the US men’s national team to a 3-0 trouncing of their bitter rivals Mexico to book their spot in Sunday’s Concacaf Nations League final – and neither the scoreline nor the dominant performance were the biggest story of the evening.Pulisic, El Tri’s chief tormentor for much of the unbeaten run the Yanks have now extended to six matches, bagged a brace on either side of halftime, this time truly fulfilling the “Captain America” sobriquet by donning the armband vacated by Tyler Adams’ injury absence. Paralyzed by an increasingly toxic relationship with their supporters and the awkward generational transition happening in their player pool, Mexico once again were simply unable to match the pace and intensity of the reigning CNL champs.

“I can speak all day about Christian,” gushed interim coach B.J. Callaghan postgame. “The level of maturity that he has, the leadership that he displays, it’s not always the most vocal, maybe it’s not always the most public, but when you see him step on the field tonight and put in that level of performance, and set the standard for our group, you can only have a ton of respect for him.“It’s why he wore the captain armband tonight, because that’s the type of performance he expects out of itself, and that’s the type of performance that we have come to expect from him.”

Berhalter: Back soon?

But what really won the night was the surreal interweaving of live television, real-time reporting and rancorous on-field antagonism as news broke during the run of play – first from The Athletic and later confirmed by multiple media outlets – that Gregg Berhalter is set to be restored to the USMNT’s head coaching post after more than half a year in limbo, with an official announcement expected on Friday.As fans and pundits absorbed this head-turning development, flooding social media with the full gamut of reactions to a coach who has polarized opinions around the program, the game itself devolved into farce. Mexico’s flaring frustrations led them to foul the US with escalating violence and bile, with large numbers of their fans in the stands regressing to loud renditions of the homophobic chant that has gotten their team in so much trouble with FIFA and Concacaf in recent years.The simmering anger sparked into an outright melee when César Montes petulantly hacked Folarin Balogun to the turf after the USMNT debutant tracked back to dispossess him of the ball.Salvadoran referee Iván Barton red-carded Montes, then brandished the same color to Weston McKennie as Balogun’s new teammates rushed to his defense. Control of the proceedings was long gone, though, and Barton later had to send off Sergiño Dest and Gerardo Arteaga as well. The match finished with nine yellow cards, four ejections and 17 fouls committed on each side, a nasty spiral of misbehavior that will inevitably hurt the United States more, because they’re now without two key starters for Sunday’s final vs. Canada, who dispatched Panama with ease in Thursday’s early game.And yet…“In no way am I embarrassed,” Callaghan declared afterwards.These are rivalry games, these are derby games, things like this happen across the world,” he said. “We have a strong culture in our team and what happens is, it comes from a good place. They care about each other so much in that locker room that they’re standing up for each other. Sometimes does it have an issue where we take a red card? Yeah, but when you know where it comes from, you can accept it. And it’s a learning lesson for us all.”

Performance vs. discourse

Like kittens watching a tennis match, the audience could only snap its collective head back and forth as the discourse processed so much happening at once.U.S. Soccer and new sporting director Matt Crocker evidently spent six-plus months and significant sums of money and effort to interview somewhere around 10 candidates for USMNT head coach, only to decide that the old coach would be the new one again. Even after the soap-opera drama that erupted around Berhalter, Gio Reyna and his parents during and after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.Then word of that decision made its way into the public domain DURING the team’s biggest game of the year to date.“We’re taking away from the performance that these boys had tonight. That we should be what we’re talking about: beating Mexico 3-0,” declared USMNT legend Clint Dempsey, who described himself as “confused” by the federation’s decision on CBS’s postgame show. “It’s great to get the news, but I still feel like it ruined the night in terms of, we’re not talking about the performance of these players. It was a big victory and good to see.”

It surely wasn’t anyone’s ideal way of learning who would steer the program towards the massive opportunity of the 2026 World Cup on home soil. But if the rival that once towered over the North American region can be dispatched this easily with an interim coach at the helm, perhaps the identity of the coach matters less than the superlative young talent of the USMNT’s burgeoning player pool.

Have Mexico really become this much of an afterthought?

“The performance from our side speaks for itself; we couldn’t be more happy with the performance,” said Callaghan. “But at the same time, we also understand that we need to turn the page and already start the recovery and preparation process to play vs. Canada.“We don’t look at ourselves as the kings of Concacaf,” he later added. “We’re constantly trying to improve and grow as a team, to compete against the highest levels of international football. And for us, this is just a continuation of putting good performances together, learning from those performances and continuing to try and grow and grow and grow as we continue now to look towards the 2026 World Cup.”

USMNT Player Ratings: Christian Pulisic powers chaotic Nations League win vs. Mexico

Ari Liljenwall

Friday, Jun 16, 2023, 01:17 AM

The US men’s national team are on the verge of winning a second straight Concacaf Nations League title, earning that opportunity with a 3-0 demolition of arch-rival Mexico on Thursday evening.

But the job’s not completed, and the Yanks must now navigate past a Canadian side that beat Panama, 2-0, earlier Thursday. The bordering nations meet Sunday with silverware on the line (8:30 pm ET | Paramount+, Univision).

As the temperature cools from a match that included four red cards, a Christian Pulisic brace, a Ricardo Pepi goal and plenty of drama, here’s who stood out.

7.0

Matt Turner

Goalkeeper · USA

The Arsenal backstop didn’t have much to do on a night where his defense held El Tri to one shot on goal. But he did make a highlight-reel save on a late opportunity that was ruled offside, showcasing his elite shot-stopping ability.

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6.5

Jedi Robinson

Defender · USA

Jedi was sound in defense along with the rest of the backline, but the nitpick would be he didn’t make as much use of the attacking gifts in this one that make him such a valuable asset.

7.5

Chris Richards

Defender · USA

The former FC Dallas homegrown hardly put a foot wrong, helping marshal a backline that entirely neutralized Mexico’s attack.

7.5

Miles Robinson

Defender · USA

The same could be said for the Atlanta United man, who was also up for the task on the rare occasions Mexico did pose an attacking threat.

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6.5

Sergiño Dest

Defender · USA

The talented right back had a stellar all-around shift, then capped it off with a gorgeous run and assist on Ricardo Pepi’s capping goal. His rating is only knocked because of his late red card, a preventable moment even in the chaotic context of the match.

6.5

Weston McKennie

Midfielder · USA

Another rating that could have been higher if not for an unfortunate red card. McKennie was having a vintage performance before his sending-off followed the first of two wild second-half fracases.

8.0

Yunus Musah

Midfielder · USA

If not for the heroics of Christian Pulisic, Musah had a case of the man of the match, doing all the dirty work in midfield and in ball progression that makes him so valuable to this group.

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7.5

Gio Reyna

Midfielder · USA

Reyna’s raw gifts remain evident every time he’s on the ball, and he was in his groove throughout this contest, also helping spearhead the sequence that led to Pulisic’s first goal.

8.5

Christian Pulisic

Forward · USA

The USMNT captain was electric throughout the match, and was rewarded with a crucial brace that powered this result. When Pulisic is cooking like this, it takes this team’s ceiling to a whole new level.

7.0

Folarin Balogun

Forward · USA

The most-anticipated USMNT debut in recent memory didn’t net Balogun a goal, but it’s probably no coincidence that the three-goal outburst coincided with his arrival to the lineup given the attention he’s bound to draw from opposing defenses.

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8.0

Timothy Weah

Forward · USA

A menace on the right side, Weah was one of the team’s most dangerous players and put the ball on an absolute platter for Pulisic on the USMNT’s second goal for a delightful assist.

7.5

B.J. Callaghan

Head coach

With news dropping from The Athletic right before the match that Gregg Berhalter is set to return to the USMNT sidelines, Callaghan’s first match as interim coach couldn’t have gone much better on the scoreboard, even if the nature of the result was arguably somewhat overshadowed by the chaotic, ejection-riddled second half.

Substitutes

6.5

Luca de la Torre

Midfielder · USA

Brought on with Ricardo Pepi in the immediate aftermath of the first red cards, de la Torre helped see out the wild finish, though the match was all but decided for the duration of his shift.

7.5

Ricardo Pepi

Forward · USA

Pepi couldn’t have had a much more effective substitute appearance, bagging the capping goal right after entering the match that put it out of reach.

6.5

Walker Zimmerman

Defender · USA

Zimmerman’s late cameo can be considered a successful one, as El Tri didn’t come particularly close to generating any late goals that could’ve made it interesting after his entrance.

6.5

Brenden Aaronson

Midfielder · USA

Spelling Tim Weah as a late entrant, the lopsided scoreline didn’t really call for Aaronson’s usual calling cards of lung-busting runs and all-out energy.

N/A

Joe Scally

Defender · USA

Scally didn’t come on until the 89th minute with the match well decided, which didn’t leave him enough time to show much of the type of impact he can make.

Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT return comes with newfound momentum, and a to-do list

Paul TenorioJun 16, 2023

In the tunnel inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, asked about the news that could shape the next three years of their international soccer careers, most U.S. players seemed unsure of how to respond. Yes, Gregg Berhalter, who led the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup before his contract expired amid a complex scandal that garnered worldwide attention, would return as coach of the U.S. men’s national But no official announcement had been made. Important conversations still needed to be had behind the scenes.

“I didn’t hear anything yet,” said winger Tim Weah, who earlier this week publicly voiced support for bringing Berhalter back. “So you guys are ahead of me.”

Star winger Christian Pulisic, however, essentially said he would let what just happened on the field in Las Vegas do the talking: a resounding and occasionally chaotic 3-0 victory over Mexico in an ill-tempered CONCACAF Nations League semifinal in which both teams finished with nine men.

“If you can see, today is a testament of the work that (Berhalter)’s put into this team,” Pulisic said. “And (interim manager B.J. Callaghan) picked up right where he left off, and it’s a testament to him and testament to this team the way that we just continued and put on performances like that. So if that’s not enough evidence, then that’s all right. People are gonna hate no matter what.”

The match featured ample examples of the type of intensity we have come to expect from games between the regional rivals: Weston McKennie’s ripped jersey, tussles breaking out between both teams, four red cards and lovely goals from Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi.

Weston McKennie walks away from a scuffle. (Louis Grasse/Getty Images)

After all that chaos, the message was a clear one from Pulisic, one of the players who had come out in support of Berhalter returning to the national team. After six months of uncertainty and two interim managers, there is momentum to build upon. Players are ready to get the 2026 World Cup cycle started in earnest. The win over Mexico was a good start.

There are plenty of questions now as to how this U.S. team will move forward after Berhalter officially returns to his previous position. There are some obvious issues that must be addressed, namely his relationship with one of this team’s star players, Gio Reyna. The well-documented off-field issues between Berhalter, Reyna and Reyna’s parents, Claudio and Danielle Reyna, led to an investigation into the coach around a 30-year-old incident in which he was found to have kicked his then-girlfriend, now-wife Rosalind Berhalter.

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One of the first things Berhalter will have to do after he is officially re-hired is sit with Gio Reyna, one of the top young talents in the U.S. team, and figure out a way to move forward.

Gio Reyna played centrally against Mexico on Thursday. (Candice Ward/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

On the field, the U.S. will look to improve in some areas, especially on the attacking end. The U.S. showed in Qatar that it was able to get into good spots in the attack, especially through transition play. But the players often weren’t able to convert those movements into goals — or even into scoring opportunities.

Some of those problems could be aided by the arrival of more competition at the No. 9 spot. Folarin Balogun made his debut for the U.S. against Mexico, starting and playing 75 minutes. Pepi, who did not make the World Cup squad, entered the game as a substitute and scored. Consistent production at that position would be a welcome development.

More importantly, the U.S. attack looked fluid. The players looked comfortable together. Berhalter has to find ways to continue to foster that, and Reyna once again will factor in. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder appeared in a central role on Thursday, which he did not do in the last cycle under Berhalter — though it should be noted that injuries severely limited his playing time in the 2022 cycle. It will be interesting to see if Berhalter continues playing Reyna in that position, or returns him to the wing where the vast majority of his U.S. appearances have come.

The chemistry on Thursday night was a sign of the growth that can happen on the attacking end of the field — and is already happening, Weah said.

“I think everyone was pretty sad about losing at the World Cup because it’s one of the biggest stages, if not the biggest stage,” Weah said. “But I feel like we’re also young. It was definitely a learning curve for us. I think we learned from it. And now we’re trying our best to bounce back and refocus. … We just have to continue step by step. We just have to stick together as a family.”

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Weah pointed to the second goal as a sign of that potential.

“We work on a lot of things, but this one was just natural,” he said. “I know once Weston (McKennie) gets the ball, (Dest) gets the ball, I know that I have to make that movement…Everyone’s in tune with the mechanics. So I think it’s super dope that we have that movement. I mean, as you see if Gio (Reyna) goes outside, I come in. If Serge goes in, (I move out). It’s just, it’s beautiful to watch. I think training plays a huge, huge part in what we do.”

Players in this team believe their chemistry, and the culture within the group, are the key to its trajectory. Some of them said that Berhalter was a key part in building it, but all believed that no matter who the coach was, that culture was going to sustain.Now, Berhalter must maintain and grow that culture as he re-enters the picture. He’ll have to do so with the outside noise that has long surrounded his tenure as coach, noise that only amplified around Thursday’s news. Berhalter is a polarizing figure, and the negativity is most visible on social media. Finding ways to win back those fans, or at least to guide the team through that negativity, will be another important task.

In the end, it seems there was a belief that Berhalter would be able to tap into something more with this group than any other candidate considered by new U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker – a list that included Jesse Marsch and Patrick Vieira, according to sources briefed on the search process. He’ll get a big chance to prove his new bosses at his old workplace right — or wrong — next summer in the Copa America.The last World Cup cycle was about helping the U.S. men’s program find its way out of the gut punch of missing the 2018 World Cup, and doing so with a new generation of players that filled the fan base with hope.Now those players will have real expectations on their shoulders, and will be facing their own questions about growth. Several key players have uncertain club futures, from Pulisic to McKennie, Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, Dest, Pepi and Balogun. Their next steps could have major implications for their careers, and for the USMNT’s trajectory by extension.

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https://48e9a91bcf7c52aef382638ef3a54e91.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.htmlFor Berhalter, shepherding the group through that maturation process will be the biggest challenge he has faced on the job. These next few months and years will be about navigating this key period of growth and turning a team from potential and hope into something more.(Top photo: Robin Alam/ISI Photos/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

Gregg Berhalter: ‘Work to do’ in rebuilding relationship with Gio Reyna as coach returns to USMNTBy The Athletic Staff2h ago49

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Gregg Berhalter said there is “work to do” in “trying to rebuild” his relationship with Gio Reyna during his first news conference since the U.S. men’s national team announced the coach’s return to his previous position Friday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Berhalter confirmed he hasn’t met with or spoken to Reyna since the World Cup. He also said he hasn’t spoken with Zack Steffen or Ricardo Pepi, two players who were shocking omissions from the 2022 World Cup roster. 
• Berhalter will not be coaching the CONCACAF Gold Cup in an effort to avoid creating “the environment of Gregg puts his boats straight back on, slides back into the environment and it’s very much business as usual,” U.S. Soccer Federation’s sporting director Matt Crocker said.
• Crocker added that there are “some real big ticket items around some real strategic stuff over the next couple of seasons we need to map out first.”
• U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson confirmed that the board of directors’ vote to bring back Berhalter was not unanimous. There was one individual who “did not vote in the affirmative,” Batson said.

Support from USMNT players

Multiple star players, including Christian Pulisic  and Tim Weah publicly voiced their support for Berhalter in the lead up to his return, and Crocker was asked how much input the athletes had in the search for a coach.

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“I kept them up to speed throughout the process. I was also keen to tap into their skills because I don’t have context. I haven’t been in a camp with them yet. Asking them questions around, ‘What are the key skills that you want in a head coach?’ That enabled me to develop a really comprehensive coaching framework or competency framework, so the players are actually a part of this process al the way though,” Crocker said.

How big was the search? 

Crocker said there were “zero restrictions” on who he spoke to for filling the role, “whether they’re in contract, out contract, what leagues they’ve come from. It’s been a world-wide search, so I made sure from the beginning that I wanted to bring the best candidates to the table.”

What else was said about Reyna?

“Gio is an important player to this team. He’s an extremely talented individual and I have the obligation and the commitment to coach him like I coach every other player. I want to get the best out of him. We want to get the best out of him, and we know that if we can unlock his talents, he’s going to be a game-changer for this program,” Berhalter said.

When asked when he’d speak to Reyna, Berhalter said “the most important thing for (Reyna) right now is to focus on playing in a final and winning a final. I can imagine after that he’d want some vacation, and meeting with me is not the priority. It’s for him to get rest and prepare for the upcoming season. We’ll have time to do that — it is a priority — but we’ll have time to do that before the September window.”

Backstory

As the U.S. coach from 2019-22, Berhalter won the 2021 Nations League and Gold Cup trophies, qualified for the 2022 World Cup with the youngest team in the world and then got out of group play at the World Cup with strong performances against Wales, Iran and England. The Americans’ five points were tied with the 2010 team for most in a group stage by any USMNT at a World Cup.Berhalter, 49, currently has the highest win percentage of any USMNT coach with a 37-11-12 record.

USMNT defender Auston Trusty finding his place after successful loan with Birmingham City

By Elias Burke

Jun 14, 2023

23

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Auston Trusty sits comfortably in a Manhattan Beach hotel lobby, onlooking a cloudy Westdrift golf course where he has spent much of his downtime since arriving at U.S. men’s national team camp. Just in from a training session in preparation for the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal, the former Philadelphia Union homegrown smiles as he recounts his favorite moment from the recent English Championship season — a breakthrough year for him at Birmingham City on loan from Arsenal.

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“There’s been a lot of really cool moments this year, but I think my favorite moment was my first game against Luton (Town). I had no idea what to expect,” he said. “It was my first experience of English football. The fans and the craziness in that unique stadium, it was all super, super cool.”

On the opening day of the 2022-23 season, Trusty lined up at left center back, helping his side keep a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw. During one of Luton’s attacks, Carlton Morris made a diagonal run into the box, crossing into Trusty’s zone. The defender slid in an attempt to stop Morris’ momentum, but the striker cut back, evading Trusty. Despite the slide taking him out of play, he recovered quickly to block Morris’ attempt on target from close range.

“That’s when the first USA chant started,” Trusty described. “I don’t know who started it, but they were right behind me. They started chanting ‘USA, USA.’ Thinking back now, I’m getting chills.”

For Trusty, to be instantly embraced by the Birmingham supporters — having moved to the Championship on loan after completing a transfer from the Colorado Rapids to Arsenal — was a comforting surprise.

“For some reason, I thought I had more to prove being American, and maybe you think other people think the same too,” he said. “I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder. But when I heard them cheer ‘USA’, I was like, ‘Okay, these guys have my back.’”

The 24-year-old has a message for Americans in the sport who may feel inferior among the grandeur of English football: Don’t. Since the 1994 World Cup, which helped spur the creation of Major League Soccer, countless Americans have traveled to Europe and succeeded as players and coaches. After spells in England and Germany, Landon Donovan remains as much a household name across the Atlantic as he does in his home state of California. And Brian McBride, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and Christian Pulisic, among notable others, have proven American internationals have what it takes to carve long careers in the Premier League. While England has a proud heritage, boasting the world’s most popular league and claiming the tag “the home of football”, Trusty did not feel an ounce of prejudice from supporters, teammates or coaches regarding his nationality.

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“The Birmingham supporters latched on me. It helped me tremendously; it really, really did. The British like banter, and it’s a little different than American – it’s kind of more ruthless and brutal, but it’s love,” he said. “When you first see that, you take it personally, but once you get into the atmosphere and learn the culture, you see it’s actually like a show of love.”

Trusty leaving MLS and making an immediate impression in the Championship was, by his own admission, quite an accomplishment. England’s second tier is unlike football he had previously experienced, describing it as, “nothing you can explain unless you actually go through it. It’s no joke. Like 100% a grind every single moment: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.” Four goals and 44 league appearances later, he left as the Birmingham supporters’ player of the season.

Before the World Cup break, Birmingham had started to put together a run of positive results and sat within reach of the play-off places. But, amidst several failed takeover attempts and a fire at their Wast Hills training ground in early March, forcing them to train at a facility outside of the city previously used for rugby, the wheels fell off their season and they were drawn into a relegation fight. Still, Trusty remembers his first campaign in English football with a beaming grin on his face.

“I look back at it smiling; I was just so happy. You go through ups and downs; truly, there were so many ups and downs for the team this year, and we grew closer together. It’s been a really good opportunity for me and the best place to go alone. It was just really beneficial for me,” said Trusty. “The staff, coaches and teammates accepted me right from the bat. I didn’t feel any type of way towards anybody – everyone just wanted to win.”

While at Birmingham, Trusty was asked to play several roles across the backline under head coach John Eustace. Though he sees himself as a center back moving forward, Trusty primarily played as the left central defender in a back three or as a left fullback when Eustace switched from his favored wing-back formation to four in defense. Having grown up as a striker and filled almost every role from back to front, he sees gaining experience across various roles as an attribute that sets him apart.

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“When guys are hurt, and we need people to step up, I’m not gonna say no to my coach. I’m going to go and do the best job I can,” said Trusty. “I thought I did fairly well in the games and stepped up when I could. You just gotta do what’s best for the team. If I can show that I can play left back, that shows my versatility, and it helps grow my game as I can see it differently: how to time tackles, your timing of making runs and getting the whip (on crosses). There are so many aspects to left-back, and then playing LCB is a mixture of both roles.

“Playing in these positions, your touch and the way you receive the ball gets better and also helps you think about how other positions receive the ball. How am I playing the ball to my teammate? What does it look like for him? This picture is so different when playing in different positions. There’s no downside to it. It’s just helping you break through, gain and grow in your mindset and gain further appreciation for your teammates.”

His performances at St. Andrews, Birmingham’s home ground, helped earn him a selection to the USMNT’s camp in March. Though he’d been called up before, with a strong season in England’s second tier under his belt, then-interim head coach Anthony Hudson gave Trusty his first senior cap in a 7-1 win against Grenada in a CONCACAF Nations League qualifier. In his view, that call-up, over three years after his first, was the perfect time to pull on the stars and stripes for the first time at the senior level. Though a goal from Grenada’s Myles Hippolyte took the glean off a convincing team performance where Trusty assisted Weston McKennie’s second goal, the center back showed the promise necessary to remain firmly in the national team’s plans

“It was a huge accomplishment for me and really cool to win in that fashion. It was like it couldn’t have gone better,” he said. “I felt confident, I felt like a leader on the team, I felt like a leader on the field and I felt like I’d been there before. I had opportunities when I was 19 or 20, and I was on the bench, but I think it was the best thing for me because, with more experience, I came onto the field with a different mindset than I would have when I was younger.”

Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, with a combination of athleticism and speed, the left-footed center back is a physically imposing presence. Paired with his technical ability, ranking in the 95th percentile or better in progressive passes (1.16), tackles (2.21) and blocks (1.80) per 90 among center backs across Opta’s “Next Eight” competitions (MLS, Championship, Brazilian Serie A, Dutch Eredivisie, Liga MX, Portuguese Primeira Liga, Copa Libertadores and the UEFA Conference League), Trusty belongs among the USMNT’s young and talented players.

And with B.J. Callaghan, the U.S. national team’s interim head coach, he has plenty of history from his youth football days in Philadelphia.

“B.J.’s a great coach,” said the Media, Pennsylvania native. “I’ve known him since I was probably eight or seven. He has worked his way up from Villanova assistant coach and Union Juniors coach to now the national head coach, which is sick; that’s so cool. I’m just really happy for him. He’s had this opportunity, and I’m happy that I made the camp and can help show the world that he’s a good coach.

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“I have nothing but good things to say about B.J. He’s helped me out so much. He’s spent countless hours with me one-on-one, working on my game. He’s brutally honest, and whether it’s in a good way, he’ll tell you how it is. He’s a good guy to have around this organization, whether as a coach or a head coach.”

But Trusty isn’t resting on a long-term friendship with the coach as a route into the national squad; he’s earned the opportunity through hard work and quality performances. With a place in the final of the Nations League on the line in Thursday’s match against Mexico, the group is motivated to continue on its path towards success, particularly with the prospect of playing in the 2024 Copa América and 2026 World Cup on home soil on the agenda. With just one cap to his name, he is not firmly a member of the core of the squad yet, so through demonstrating his skill in training, making on and off-field relationships with his teammates and staying dedicated and present, his eyes are firmly on becoming an established part of the senior setup.

“My only focus is just to keep proving myself and showing my teammates that I can do the job and be that guy,” he said. “That will also show the coach that I am that guy and can be that solid core that I’ve proven I can be in the past different teams I’ve been on, especially now after playing in the Championship, where (my performances) have to be respected. My only focus is showing my teammates what I can do and being reliable at center back.”

Trusty has stayed out of contact with his agent since the end of the season to focus on the national team and spending quality time with his family — who he has missed greatly since moving to the United Kingdom — despite the prospect of a move this summer. Contracted to Arsenal, who he stayed in regular contact with throughout his period on loan in Birmingham, Rangers are interested in a transfer, though they could face competition for his signature given his age, quality and experience in England’s second tier.

It’s a common theme among the current USMNT call-ups. Like Trusty, the newest U.S. international Folarin Balogun is returning to Arsenal after a stellar season on loan in France’s Ligue 1. Teammates Pulisic, McKennie, Yunus Musah and several others could also be on the move this summer.

“I definitely speak to the other players (about potential moves) because we’ve all been in these environments. The football world is very small, so if you’re in a situation a lot of guys have been in, it’s good to talk to people here because not too many people, at least around me, other than my agent and the team, are going to understand the ins and outs fully,” Trusty said. “We all talk about it all day, all different scenarios and situations, which is good and helps me figure things out. But my mind really is focused on the national team right now. It’s hard for me to focus on (the transfer window) because it’s almost like I’m doing a discredit to the national team because it’s such an honor and privilege to be here.”

Whether it’s by prompting the Birmingham City supporters to chant ‘USA’ after a last-ditch tackle or earning his first cap for the national team in a dominant win, Trusty has a knack for making a lasting first impression.

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The next step is translating that into a consistent spot in the heart of the defense for country and club, wherever that may be.

Why Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi deal isn’t done yet; MLS, Apple pushing for All-Star involvement

By Paul Tenorio, Pablo Maurer, Tom BogertJun 14, 202359

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Lionel Messi’s announcement on Wednesday that he intends to come to Major League Soccer to play for Inter Miami was one of the most important moments in the history of MLS and American soccer.

It was also one for which the league was not prepared.

Multiple league and team sources confirmed that MLS and commissioner Don Garber were not ready for any public announcement about Messi coming to MLS, as first reported by Fox Sports. The league indicated as much in their own public statement, in which they wrote they were “pleased” that Messi had stated his intent to join Inter but, “work remains to finalize a formal agreement.”

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One week later, that final agreement is still a work in progress.

No contract between Messi and MLS has been signed, or even finalized, and the lack of an agreement has had a ripple effect on how the league and Inter Miami promote Messi’s arrival. It has also impacted the timeline of multiple deals being negotiated in tandem with Messi’s contract, from a new coach to the players set to join Messi in the summer transfer window.

GO DEEPER

‘He’s like a god here’: What Lionel Messi will get in Miami

Part of the reason for that is the complicated nature of the deal.

The proposed contract includes the option to purchase an equity stake in Inter Miami, and part of the deal also necessitates discussions with Apple regarding revenue share on new subscriptions for the MLS Season Pass service. A source briefed on the current negotiations said the Apple deal will be based on revenue driven by new international subscribers. There is also the structure of the compensation itself, the tax implications of how the contract is drawn up, as well as things like marketing and image rights. Those negotiations go down to granular levels, like which entities own rights to Messi’s name and the No. 10 for use on different products, for example.

Due to MLS’s single-entity structure, players sign contracts with the league, not individual teams. As such, Garber has been keeping other team owners abreast of the negotiations with Messi.

The summer transfer window opens in MLS on July 5. After that point, Messi (and new signings across the league) can be added to rosters and eligible for selection in official competitions. Messi is currently in China with the Argentina national team, but it has been reported that he is expected to depart before the team goes to Indonesia on June 19th in order to go on vacation. When he joins Inter Miami is very much still a part of negotiations.

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Sources say there are discussions with the league about Messi taking part in the MLS All-Star Game in some way.

The Athletic reported Messi’s potential debut will be on July 21. But sources close to the league and D.C. United, who are hosting the event on July 19 at their home stadium, Audi Field, said the hope is that Messi might play a part in those festivities.

One source close to the league’s broadcast operations at Apple said that the tech giant is understandably keen to get Messi involved in some way. The All-Star Game is part of MLS Season Pass, the league’s streaming service on Apple TV+. Sources elsewhere around the league describe that desire as a “no brainer”.

A source familiar with D.C. United’s All-Star plans say that the club has been told that whether Messi participates in those festivities in any way is largely up to the player himself; the club, that source said, has been told that Messi wants to make a decision on his involvement after taking some time off

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MLS Weekly: Messi is coming, and roster rules need a change

What remains unclear is what exactly Messi’s involvement in the All-Star Game, which would presumably come before he plays a competitive minute for Inter Miami, would entail. One source at D.C. United, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter, said the idea of having Messi take part in the league’s skills competition, typically held the day before the All-Star match itself, has been considered. Another source suggested he might play in the game itself, going on to say that they’d assume Messi would be a coach or commissioner’s pick.

Another option would simply be for Messi to make an appearance at the game or the festivities surrounding it, which feels most likely, should he be involved.

Inter Miami faces its own logistical challenges. Multiple sources familiar with the club’s preparations for Messi say that many facets of the team’s travel — hotels, charter flights and the like — are being reevaluated. MLS teams currently use charter flights to get to away matches but the level of comfort on the airplanes they use isn’t much greater than the public, commercial flights they used before going to an all-charter setup post-COVID-19.

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Everything else is secondary to Messi officially putting pen to paper on a contract. Meetings between Miami and the league are consuming time that could be dispensed towards the coaching search, roster upgrades and more, but none of it matters until this intended deal is signed.

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2023 Alumni Summer Soccer – last chance to Register !

Location: Shelbourne Fields – CCCSC – 3451 W. 126th St., Carmel  (Ages: 18 – 35)  $105  Sign Up

Grab your friends and make your own team or sign up and we’ll place you on a team, you don’t have to live in Carmel. Games will take place on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Dates: June 18, 21, 25, 28 & July 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26 Sign Up

GAMES ON TV

Wed, June 14

12 noon FS1                 Netherlands vs Croatia 

7:30 pm Para+            Washington Spirit vs NC Courage (Fox, Murphy) NWSL

8 pm Para+                 Racing Louisville vs Houston Dash NSWL

8 pm Pata+                  KC Current (Franch) vs Chicago Red Stars NWSL

10:30 pm Apple          LA Galaxy vs Houston

3 am FS2 Replay Netherlands vs Croatia National league Semi

Thurs, June 15

2:30 pm FS1                      Spain vs Italy Nations League Semi

7 pm CBSSN TUDN           Panama vs Canada

7 pm Grand Park Indy 11 Women vs St. Charles

9 pm FS2 Spain vs Italy Replay

10 pm Para+,  TUDN        USMNT vs Mexico  Nations League Semi’s

Fri, June 16

2:45 pm FS1                Malta vs England Euro Quals

2:45 pm FS 2               Poland vs Germany

Sat, June 17

9 am FS1                     Lithuania vs Bulgaria  Euro Quals

12 pm FS1                   Norway vs Scottland Euro Quals

2:45 pm FS 2               Iceland vs Slovakia Euro Quals 

4 pm CBS                    San Diego (Morgan, Girma, Korniack) vs Angel City (Ertz, Thompson)

7 pm Para+                 NC Courage (Fox, Murphy) vs Orlando Pride (Marta) NWSL

7:30 pm ESPN+           Indy 11 @ Birmingham City

8:30 pm Apple             Nashville vs St Louis City

10:30 pm Apple           San Jose vs Portland Timbers

Sun, June 18

9 am FS1                     Nations League 3^rd place

2:45 pm ??                  Nations League Final ? 

4 pm CBS                    Racing Louisville vs NY Gothem (Williams, Ohara, Mewis) NWSL

6 pm Para+                 Chicago Red Stars vs Portland Thorns NWSL

6 pm Para+, TUDN      CONCACAF Nations League 3^rd Place

9 pm Para+, TUDN     CONCACAF Nations League Final ? Canada vs US/Mex

Sat, June 24

9:30 pm                                USMNT vs Jamaica (Soldier Field) Gold Cup

Wed, June 28

9:30 pm                                USMNT vs ??   St Louis Gold Cup

Sun, July 9

4 pm Fox?                           USWNT vs Wales  Send-off

5/7 pm Fox Sports?         USMNT Gold Cup Quarter Finals ?  in Cincy

Fri, July 21                           USWNT vs Vietnam Women’s World Cup

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Schedule

Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw

US Men Nations League Thur 10 pm

Predicted USMNT lineup vs Mexico in Nations League semifinal
Points to prove for all of Nations League final four

Scouting Mexico – Stars & Stripes

CBS Screws US Fans puts USA /Mexico on Streaming only
In Folarin Balogun, U.S. Soccer could have ‘a massive game changer’ for Nations League
‘I need to earn my place’: Flo Balogun, the USMNT’s savior striker, arrives for Mexico showdown
U.S. Gold Cup roster features mix of veterans, tseens and MLS players
Decision made: United States calls Crew’s Aidan Morris for Gold Cup duty
Turner among seven from World Cup on USA Gold Cup squad
AZ’s Mihailovic, Chelsea’s Slonina named to USMNT’s Gold Cup roster
Pulisic, Adams, Dest among USMNT players who need new club this summer Kyle Bonagura

USMNT 22-23 grades: How did American players perform abroad? ESPN

US Ladies / Women’s World Cup 

 USWNT hold top spot in pre-WC FIFA rankings
As USWNT Eyes Three-Peat, Fox Women’s World Cup Ad Sales Soar
Who will make the USWNT roster for the 2023 Women’s World Cup?
How motherhood has shaped USWNT’s Crystal Dunn on and off the soccer field

World – Nations League & Europa Qualifiers

Spain need strikers to step up in Nations League semifinal vs. Italy Graham Hunter

When are the Uefa Nations League finals, who is playing and how to watch?
Euro 2024 qualifiers: When are England’s fixtures and how to watch on TV
Germany celebrate 1000th international match with dramatic Ukraine draw
Late Kimmich penalty salvages Germany draw with Ukraine
One year to Euro 2024: Who is on the plane for England and who has work to do?

WORLD CLUB 

Kylian Mbappe shocks PSG with notice to quit
Kylian Mbappe alerts Premier League clubs with surprise announcement about his future
Commentary: Pep Guardiola should leave Manchester City before sanctions tarnish his legacy
Jack Grealish’s 48-hour bender in pictures: Leather shorts in Ibiza to topless bus party in Manchester
Reports: Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City in 2025
What next for Pep Guardiola? Champions League title leaves him wanting the world, and more
Man City’s Champions League celebrations in pictures: Haaland’s cigar, McDonalds, and beers
Chelsea identify two top targets to strengthen goalkeeper options

MLS

Messi’s Move Puts International Opportunity at Apple’s Feet
Soaring ticket prices and a social media boom: How Lionel Messi has already had an impact on US Soccer

LA Galaxy star Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández out for season due to torn ACL
Sources: Miami makes approach for Barca’s Alba Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

Goalkeeping

Predicted USMNT lineup vs Mexico in Nations League semifinal

Joe Prince-Wright Tue, Jun 13, 2023, 10:38 AM EDT·2 min read

Is Balogun the United States’ missing piece? The USMNT square off against Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal in Las Vegas on Thursday and interim boss BJ Callaghan has some big calls to make.

[ LIVE: CONCACAF Nations League hub ]

We know the likes of Christian Pulisic, Walker Zimmerman, Matt Turner and Weston McKennie are going to start but there are plenty of spots up for grabs as this young USMNT side look to continue to impress whoever is coming in as the new permanent head coach.Below is a look at the predicted USMNT lineup, with some analysis on who should start in a huge game against a new-look El Tri side.

How to watch USMNT vs Mexico, CONCACAF Nations League stream link

Kickoff time: 10pm ET Thursday
Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
TV channels, streaming in English: Paramount Plus
TV channels en Español: Univision

Predicted USMNT lineup vs Mexico (4-2-3-1)

—– Turner —–

— Dest — Zimmerman — M. Robinson — A. Robinson —

—- McKennie —- Musah —-

—- Weah —- Reyna —- Pulisic —-

—– Balogun —–

Analysis on USMNT lineup options

Matt Turner is going to start in goal, while the back four pretty much picks itself with Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson at full back and Walker Zimmerman at center back. Chris Richards could start over Miles Robinson and the battle for the second center back spot will be really intriguing to watch in the coming years.In central midfield, there is no Tyler Adams through injury so Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah will likely fill the two deeper roles. Luca de la Torre could start in this role too but will likely play his part off the bench.There are plenty of options in attack and it is all about getting the balance right. Timothy Weah playing at right wing is a must, while Christian Pulisic on the left is also guaranteed. Gio Reyna starting in the No. 10 role is also expected, as he and Brenden Aaronson do battle for that central creative role.Up top, Folarin Balogun is the man everyone wants to see as the Arsenal youngster will finally make his USMNT debut. Ricardo Pepi was in superb form in the second half of the season in the Dutch top-flight so he could have a big impact off the bench too.

USMNT, Mexico face crucial summer at Nations League, Gold Cup

• Cesar Hernandez ESPNFC Jun 14, 2023, 01:25 PM ET
• This summer is a pivotal one for the men’s national teams of the United States and Mexico. Beginning with their Concacaf Nations League semifinal Thursday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — and an ensuing final or third-place match on Sunday — both teams will then need to quickly switch gears before the start of another competition: the Gold Cup, which begins later this month.For the U.S. men’s national team, as defending champions of both titles, this summer is all about maintaining regional dominance despite going all of 2023 without a permanent coach. If you’re keeping track at home, the USMNT is on its second interim coach, B.J. Callaghan, after Anthony Hudson accepted a club job in Qatar earlier this month. Hudson, who took over after Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired in December, had been expected to lead the USMNT at both these summer competitions.Adding a further wrinkle to the summer schedule is the USMNT’s gameplan to split their their roster into two squads. One filled with European-based stars such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie will make the trip to Las Vegas, while a Major League Soccer-heavy roster will lead the way at the Gold Cup.

As for Mexico, they’ll head into these games feeling arguably more pressure as the former longtime giants of North America. Seeking to wrestle back respect and status in the region, new manager Diego Cocca has selected his best group of players for both the Nations League and Gold Cup. Hired in February, the Argentine has taken small steps forward since the World Cup disappointment with a five-game unbeaten streak. Hoping to make a statement in his first year, Cocca will be judged on whether he can at least claim one piece of silverware back from their U.S. rivals this summer.

It’s safe to say that preparations for the 2026 World Cup have officially started, so here’s where the United States and Mexico stand right now.

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What have both teams been up to since the 2022 World Cup?

After a World Cup round-of-16 exit that neither surpassed nor fell below expectations, the USMNT have since had a rocky behind-the-scenes journey.In early January, U.S. Soccer announced that Hudson would take over as interim after revealing an investigation into a domestic violence incident in 1992 regarding the out-of-contract Berhalter and his wife Rosalind. The incident was disclosed by the mother of USMNT forward Giovanni Reyna after Berhalter’s comments at a leadership conference about an unnamed player, who was later confirmed as Gio.By late January, sporting director Earnie Stewart and general manager Brian McBride left the U.S. Soccer Federation, later leading to the hiring of Matt Crocker as sporting director in April (with an official start date in August). Then, late last month, Hudson stepped away and was replaced by Callaghan — a less than ideal situation as Crocker continues to interview candidates for the permanent coaching spot.It’s worth noting that while the interview process and coaching search is ongoing, Berhalter remains in the running to be rehired after that investigation found he didn’t break any laws or U.S. Soccer policies, and that he and his wife corroborated the events that happened.Results-wise for the USMNT, things have been a bit more calm on the pitch. Despite the staffing changes behind them, the U.S. breezed in their March matches with wins over Grenada (7-1) and El Salvador (1-0), as well as April’s 1-1 draw with Mexico in an oddly timed friendly that stretched their unbeaten streak against El Tri to five games.

Clint Dempsey ‘not happy’ with state of USMNT

Clint Dempsey joins “Futbol Americas” to discuss the state of the U.S. men’s national team ahead of the Nations League and Gold Cup this summer.Mexico have also had plenty of staffing changes. After a dreary early exit in the group stage of the World Cup and the departure of former manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino, Rodrigo Ares de Parga was selected in January as the Mexican Football Federation’s (FMF) new executive director of national teams. Cocca was chosen as men’s national team manager in February and by May, Jaime Ordiales left his role as sporting director for the men’s national teams.Although Cocca has built a good on-the-field foundation with his undefeated streak and a place in the Nations League knockout rounds, that hasn’t eased any worries about narrow results, with El Tri picking up three draws — against the U.S., Jamaica and Cameroon — from his five games in charge.

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Players to watch: USMNT’s Balogun, Mexico’s Gimenez

Lots of eyes and attention this week will be on the expected USMNT debut of Folarin Balogun, 21, the Reims forward who committed to the United States over England last month. On loan from Arsenal, Balogun finished the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season as the joint-fourth top scorer with 21 goals (only behind Kylian Mbappe, Alexandre Lacazette and Jonathan David) and could easily be one of top players of the Nations League knockout round.”It’s a fantastic opportunity, not just for me, but for the team,” Balogun said last week about his likely debut. “Mexico and the U.S. have a big rivalry, so I’m looking forward to it. And, of course, there would be no better way to introduce myself than playing against a big opponent where it matters.”Balogun’s numbers have been impressive this season, as he became the first USMNT player to score at least 20 goals in a season for one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Alongside him, a number of his new USMNT teammates would greatly benefit from a good Nations League run. Players such as captain Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) Weston McKennie (Leeds on loan, from Juventus), Sergiño Dest (AC Milan on loan, from Barcelona) and a handful of other key figures could use a nice change of club scenery that’s propelled by solid summer showings.A strong showing in Las Vegas would especially help Pulisic, who finished with just one goal for Chelsea this season after missing time with a knee injury and amid talks of a potential permanent transfer away from Stamford Bridge.”It’s been a really tough season for me personally and for our team of course at a club level,” Pulisic said last week. “So for me it’s just about coming in here and having a fresh start and being able to be a part of a team that hopefully can come out and win some games.”Better performing players at the club level, like Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg on loan, from Groningen) and Auston Trusty (Birmingham City on loan, from Arsenal), could also gain a leap to a different club through notable Nations League games.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Sources: Berhalter in talks with América, Sparta2hJeff Carlisle
• Pulisic, Adams, Dest among USMNT players who need new club this summer6dKyle Bonagura
• USMNT 22-23 grades: How did American players perform abroad?7dESPN

For the Gold Cup roster, MLS-based players like FC Dallas‘ Jesus Ferreira, San Jose Earthquakes‘ Cade Cowell, FC Cincinnati‘s Brandon Vazquez, Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson, and New York Red Bulls‘ John Tolkin could increase their reported interest from clubs abroad through national team appearances and possible titles.As for Mexico, the big story is a change in the attacking guard that could soon be underway. With injuries to wingers Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and Jesus “Tecatito” Corona, as well as a severe dearth of club minutes for forward Raul Jimenez, all three have been left out of consideration for the Nations League and Gold Cup.

Leading the charge in their place is Santiago Gimenez, who won the Dutch Eredivisie title with Feyenoord. With 17 goals in all competitions since January, the 22-year-old is one of the latest breakout European stars and an enticing transfer option for a bigger club abroad. On the flanks near Gimenez in the Mexico front-line, it’ll be a four-way race between Chivas’ Alexis Vega, Atlas’ Jonathan Ozziel Herrera, AEK Athens’ Orbelin Pineda and Cruz Azul’s Uriel Antuna for starting spots.Elsewhere in the Mexico roster, a handful of players such as Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Luis Chavez (Pachuca), Johan Vasquez (Cremonese on loan, from Genoa) and Cesar Montes (Espanyol) could help give fuel to transfer rumors through impressive performances in upcoming matches.Let’s not forget Barcelona right-back Julian Araujo, either. He made his senior debut with the team during a friendly last week in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe. Boosted by his appearance for the LaLiga giants, the California youngster who once represented the USMNT could quickly turn into a game-changing figure for El Tri.

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The best-case scenarios: Trophies and momentum toward ’26

If the USMNT can retain both the Nations League and Gold Cup titles with two wildly different rosters, it would be a testament to the depth of the player pool and the continued growth of American men’s soccer. Aiming to peak at the 2026 World Cup, more transfers abroad could follow in the near future for the USMNT setup that is gaining more respect in recent years.

Even without a full-time manager in place, it’s worth noting that during a news conference on Tuesday, Aaronson stated that the things have remained the same with someone like Callaghan that has been an assistant for the USMNT for four years.”He knows how we want to play, he knows the players that we have,” Aaronson said. “Not much has changed.”A win or draw against Mexico has often been regarded as a big accomplishment for the USMNT, but a win Thursday would make it six matches without a loss to El Tri — a potentially remarkable stat.For Mexico’s best-case scenario, stealing both titles would highlight that they can once again turn the North American tides in their favor. With Cocca guiding a gradual transition into a younger squad, Mexico could shed its image as an aging and uninspiring roster that is far past its prime.Within an inflated domestic transfer market that often makes it difficult for Liga MX players to move abroad, there’s also a chance that Cocca can provide a platform for more young options in the national setup, thereby making them more visible for potential transfers to European clubs.

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The worst-case scenarios: Coaching chaos, or a Canada takeover?

In a situation where the USMNT fail to hold onto both the Nations League and Gold Cup title, it would be easy to assume that the behind-the-scenes disarray has permeated onto the field. With the interim of the interim taking charge and no full-time manager just yet, it’s not tough to imagine a scenario in which the team’s individual talents won’t be enough to compensate for the lack of a consistent leader on the sideline.

There’s a lot of excitement regarding the potential of the up-and-coming USMNT squad, but problems this summer could also signal the possibility of wasting that talent or not giving the right groundwork for those American players to properly thrive.

If El Tri don’t win either trophy, the main narrative within the Mexican soccer world will be about the continued regression that the sport is taking on the men’s side. No matter the changes of manager or staffing at the FMF, a lack of trophies this season would mean that more serious improvements and changes would need to be made for the team that only has one regional trophy since 2016.

Pulisic: Berhalter should still be considered for USMNT job

Christian Pulisic shows his support to Gregg Berhalter as USMNT prepares their Concacaf Nations League semifinal clash vs. Mexico.

Also there is the question of whether Cocca would be fired if there’s no summer championship. Mexico’s soccer federation (FMF) is notorious for having little patience with their coaches, but Cocca can take solace in knowing that those in charge would give him the benefit of the doubt… for now.

“We’re starting a process,” Ivar Sisniega, executive president at FMF, said Monday about how bad results wouldn’t guarantee a firing for Cocca. “The objective isn’t right now, it’s the 2026 World Cup.”

Of course, there could be a situation in which neither Mexico or the U.S. succeed. Panama and Canada, set to face off in the other Nations League semifinal on June 15, will both be in the running for the title and will also be contenders for the Gold Cup. The Canadians are certainly a team who could make noise as they try to build on their World Cup appearance in Qatar (their first since 1986), and can make the case of having the best player in the region in Alphonso Davies — who plays as a defender for Bayern Munich but as a winger for his national team.

At the Gold Cup, countries like Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras and El Salvador won’t be pushovers. With regional dominance up for grabs, it all kicks off this week.

Analysis: Callaghan names USMNT roster ahead of Nations League semifinal

United States iterim manager B.J. Callaghan named a 24-player USMNT training camp roster ahead of the Nations League semifinal. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks it down and looks at the Gold Cup provisional roster which will be used to field a separate team. 

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED

ONE DAY AFTER being named the interim manager of the United States men’s national team, B.J. Callaghan has named a 24-player roster for at training camp ahead of the final rounds of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League where the U.S. team will meet Mexico in the semifinal on June 15 in Las Vegas.It was difficult for Callaghan to assemble this roster given injuries to key players. U.S. Soccer indicated a number of players who were unavailable due to injury

• Tyler Adams
• Cameron Carter-Vickers
• Daryl Dike
• Ethan Horvath
• Tim Ream
• Josh Sargent
• Zack Steffen
• Malik Tillman

During the media call, Callaghan said that Kellyn Acosta was left off this roster due to “an abundance of caution” in him dealing with an injury that has limited his time at LAFC.With that, here is the roster and some thoughts.

THE ROSTER  

GOALKEEPERS (4): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Josh Cohen (Maccabi Haifa/ISR; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 12/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 26/0)

DEFENDERS (7): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 24/2), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 8/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 34/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 4/0), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City/ENG; 1/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 39/3)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 6/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 14/0), Weston McKennie (Leeds United/ENG; 43/11), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 25/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 18/4), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0),

FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 30/7), Folarin Balogun (Stade Reims/FRA; 0/0), Taylor Booth (Utrecht/NED; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen/NED; 14/6), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 58/23), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 29/4), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 3/1)

MIDFIELD QUESTIONS

 

The biggest question mark for this team is the problems in the midfield with Tyler Adams injured. It has been a long-standing issue on this team as to who plays the No. 6 position when Adams can’t go. Kellyn Acosta had the job for awhile in qualifying, but Acosta has only recently returned from injury with LAFC and he is not on this roster (Callaghan said that Acosta’s absence is due to him “dealing with a little bit of an injury”). Obviously, this is a massive platform for Johnny Cardoso in Brazil, but Cardoso has only had limited minutes with the USMNT and is yet to be a standout performer. He’s a prospect but now it looks like he will have a real opportunity to prove himself as a player who can handle important responsibilities.

But the rest of the midfield has a lot of questions that should be a concern to the team.

• Weston McKennie: tough season with Leeds United, who were relegated.
• Yunus Musah: tough season with Valencia where he is no longer starting and has 0 goals with two assists.
• Gio Reyna: productive season but he only played 612 minutes for Dortmund in 2022/23
• Luca de la Torre: has been part of Celta Vigo’s possible collapse which could end in relegation this weekend. Like Musah, he has 0 goals and two assists on the season.
• Alan Sonora: he only had eight appearances and three starts for a Club Juarez team that was poor in Liga MX.
• Johnny Cardoso: Has played well recently for Internacional in Brazil but has yet to standout for the USMNT.

That is going to be a big area of concern for the team and will the midfield be lacking in confidence ahead of the Mexico game?

PLAYERS COMING OFF TOUGH SEASONS

 It’s not just the midfield either. Another dominant theme of this roster is the significant number of players who are coming into this camp on the heels of difficult seasons. Callaghan will have to hope that players are able to distance themselves from the year that they had.”I look at it as an opportunity for these guys,” Callaghan said. “A lot of them have come through some stressful seasons. What I can tell you, when these guys get together, they really enjoy their time together. So this is almost an opportunity to give them a release, a place where it’s safe for them to be themselves. They can get away from that pressure. They can enjoy themselves. They’re back in the United States enjoying all the things that you know, that they’re used to. And so for me, this is just an opportunity for them to put that aside, really focus on something that they’re really passionate about, which is the men’s national team. Another thing they’re really passion about is competing and winning another trophy.”

Just some of the areas of concern: Sergino Dest has been out of AC Milan’s plans since January and hasn’t even been making the bench. Chris Richards had just 442 minutes with Crystal Palace this past season and hasn’t played regularly since 2021. Matt Turner didn’t play a minute in the Premier League in 2022/23. Joe Scally has lost his starting spot at Monchengladbach in recent weeks. Walker Zimmerman has been dealing with injuries the past six weeks and Miles Robinson has shown progress in his return from an Achilles injury but is still not quite there.

In forward, Christian Pulisic and Chelsea had a well-documented tumultuous season. Tim Weah has played mostly fullback for Lille because it was his best way to even play. Alex Zendejas has dealt with injuries at Club America. Brenden Aaronson was also part of the Leeds team that was relegated.

In terms of players arriving in very good form, the list is short. Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson, Taylor Booth, and Ricardo Pepi have done well. A few have been mixed. But Calllaghan will now have to deal with a team where most of the players have had a rough time.  

BALOGUN MAKING HIS DEBUT

 As expected, Folarin Balogun will be making his debut for the U.S. team after scoring 20 goals for Stade de Reims in Ligue 1 and filing for his change of association from England.”In terms of Flo,” Callaghan said of Balogun. “He was one of the guys, one of the first guys I called when I got the news. We had a great conversation. I can tell you that his commitment to the U.S. is unwavering. He’s excited to come in with the group. He’s someone that I spoke to about embracing the brotherhood that we have. It’s a welcoming environment The guys are going to welcome and they’re all excited and he’s excited. But at the same time, I challenged him and I said, listen, you have to put yourself out there and you have to integrate with the group.”

All eyes will be on him, but Callaghan is taking two forwards with Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, who is also coming off a nice season in the Eredivisie with a bad Groningen team. If Balogun can boost the team’s offense, it could be a spark of energy that helps boost many of the players who arrive not playing well.

“Ricardo Pepi is a guy who’s coming off of a great season, scored big goals for us already,” Callaghan added of the competition between Balogun and Pepi at striker. “And it’s going to be fun to watch these guys compete – as professional athletes and guys that want to make an impression on the U.S. men’s national team. That’s what you want. You want competition. I expect this to be a great camp for both of them.”

USA vs. Mexico, 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals: Scouting Mexico

The USMNT is looking to retain the title. By Brendan Joseph  Jun 13, 2023, 7:00am PDT  

The United States Men’s National Team opens a busy summer with the first of two tournaments, starting the busy slate in the semifinal round of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. The program is looking to defend the inaugural title, although the approach is being made from a far different position than the previous edition, currently under an interim manager. For the second time this year, the opponent is Mexico, adding another chapter to the rivalry lore. The match is set for Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, a 61,000-seat venue that opened in July of 2020.This is the 76^th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the visitors holding a 36-22-17 advantage and the recent Allstate Continental Clásico ending in a 1-1 draw. Ranked 15^th internationally by FIFA, Mexico qualified for the Nations League Finals by finishing atop League A Group A in unconvincing fashion with a 2-0-2 record. El Tri tied Jamaica twice (1-1 and 2-2) and racked up two wins against Suriname (3-0 and 2-0). Recent friendly results include a 2-0 victory over Guatemala and a 2-2 draw with Cameroon.Mexico is led by Diego Cocca, who was appointed to the manager role last February, his first job at the international level. The 51-year-old retired defender has extensive experience leading Godoy Cruz, Santos Laguna, Tijuana, Atlas, and Tigres UANL, among other club oufits. He has won three league titles and is known for his pragmatic “defense-first” style. Cocca named a 23-player roster for the Nations League Finals featuring some but not all of the program’s big names. The domestic Liga MX is home to 14 of the call-ups, with the usual representation from Santos Laguna, América, Monterrey, Cruz Azul, UANL, Pachuca, and Atlas. Centre-back Néstor Araujo and Wolverhampton striker Raúl Jiménez are in camp but were left out of the final group.

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GOALKEEPERS (3): Carlos Acevedo (Laguna), Luis Malagón (América), Guillermo Ochoa (Salernitana)

DEFENDERS (8): Julián Araujo (Barcelona B), César Montes (Espanyol), Johan Vásquez (Cremonese), Gerardo Arteaga (Genk), Israel Reyes (América), Jorge Sánchez (Ajax), Víctor Guzmán (Monterrey), Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Edson Álvarez (Ajax), Luis Romo (Monterrey), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Sebastián Córdova (UANL), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens), Luis Chávez (Pachuca)

FORWARDS (6): Ozziel Herrera (Atlas), Alexis Vega (Guadalajara), Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord), Érick Sánchez (Pachuca), Henry Martín (América), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul)

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Cocca has a preference for formations with a three-player back line, the deployment of which would require a holistic shift from Mexico’s traditional 4-3-3 set-up. He inculcates an orderly, defense-first style with “a highly-coordinated midfield core and pacey wing-backs” that look to harry the opposition and push into an aggressive attack. “Pragmatic” is the operative word, the understated limitation of opportunities and maintaining a solid structure that can lead to great success at the international level.

Almost two decades since his senior debut, Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa continues to backstop for El Tri and recently spent half of a season helping Salernitana avoid relegation from Serie A. The 37-year-old maintains the necessary athleticism to pull off the acrobatic wonder-saves that can tilt the balance of matches. He has displayed renewed vigor as a shot-stopper with complete controls the goalmouth, rendering most long-range opportunities moot.Johan Vásquez thrives when shutting down dribblers on the outside, launching himself into tackles and scything away the ball. The 24-year-old can be a danger on set pieces and leaps above the crowd to win headers. In the central role is César Montes, who recently made the jump to Europe and joined Espanyol in the winter, making 18 total appearances in the second half of the season. He is a tough, technical presence and can be an occasional scoring option. The trio should be completed by Israel Reyes of América, a versatile dramatist who makes himself a focal point of the action. His combination of hard-nosed defending and productive forays into the attack designate him as one of the more intriguing all-around talents on the field.At left wingback is Jesús Gallardo, the modern option looking to push into the final third and overlap with the winger. He attempts to beat opponents off the dribble and will also occupy an advanced position up the field if the manager is attempting to press. On the other side of the formation is Jorge Sánchez of Ajax, a more defensive option with well-timed tackles, interceptions, and blocks. The 25-year-old is a fairly-accurate passer and can launch incisive crosses when match proceedings slow to a more adagio tempo.As expected, Mexico has seemingly endless options in the engine room. One of the best talents in the region, Edson Álvarez serves a key role, dropping deep to serve as an additional centre-back. The soon-to-be-former Ajax midfielder is impressive in the build-up phase, provides defensive cover, and wins an almost-impossible number of headers per 90 minutes. With a 3-4-3 formation, the choice could be made to deploy another protective player, which calls for Luis Romo of Monterrey. The 28-year-old is similarly strong in the air and looks to make late runs to the top of the opponent’s box, setting up for a long-distance shot.Having made his senior international debut this year, Atlas’ Ozziel Herrera is quickly emerging as a favorite of the new manager with three caps. The 22-year-old drives the ball into the final third with his loping stride and is always looking to put the ball on frame. On the other side of the formation is fleet-of-foot Uriel Antuna, currently on the books at Cruz Azul. He ended the Liga MX Clausura on a roll with three goals in as many fixtures, using his intelligent movement and exploitative nature to get behind opposing back lines.

Leading the formation is Henry Martín, who recently wrapped the best season of his career with 27 goals and 11 assists in 42 matches for Club América, doing his best work on frenetic counter-attacks. Whether the 30-year-old can finally convert his scoring touch to the international stage remains the eternal question that has beguiled El Tri. Standing at 5’10”, he is something of a dying breed as a fox-in-the-box striker, reliant on intuitive movement and an incomprehensible attraction to the ball that could be less charitably described as “luck.” His long-distance shooting is also accurate enough to prevent defenders from backing off and stacking the area.

This is the second match between the rivals in the past three months, which could be complemented by a third at the Gold Cup. While the USMNT appears to be on the upswing with a talented young core, Mexico always manages to show up in these fixtures and provide a challenge. Relying on some of the program’s remaining veterans, Cocca could put together a safe gameplan that is able to disrupt the match flow and turn proceedings into a cagey counter-attacking affair.

The match is scheduled for Thursday, June 15^th at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include Paramount+, TUDN USA, Univision, and FUBO TV (free trial).

USMNT announces 23-man roster for 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup- GK Matt Turner leads returnees

By The Athletic Staff 48m ago

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The U.S. men’s national team revealed its 23-man roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Sixteen of the 23 players are based in Major League Soccer. FC Cincinnati and Seattle Sounders lead the list of 12 MLS teams represented on the roster with two selections each.
• Five players are also part of the USA’s CONCACAF Nations League Finals squad announced earlier this month: goalkeepers Sean Johnson and Matt Turner, defender Miles Robinson, midfielder Alan Soñora and forward Alex Zendejas.
• The roster features seven players from the 2022 FIFA World Cup team: Jesús Ferreira, Aaron Long, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, DeAndre Yedlin, Johnson and Turner.
• The USMNT opens group play against Jamaica on June 24 in Chicago.

What they’re saying

“This is a group that we have a lot of confidence in as we look to win another Gold Cup trophy,” USMNT interim manager B.J. Callaghan said in a release. “It’s a roster that has a good mix of veteran players that have World Cup experience and younger players have earned an opportunity to come into camp and represent the United States in the Gold Cup.“Many of these players have performed well at their clubs as well as the previous opportunities that they have had in the national team environment. We’re trying to expose as many players as possible to tournament competition. Some have a lot of experiences that we continue to build on, while others are just starting out. In all cases it will be valuable for the group moving forward.”

Backstory

The USMNT will be in search of a second straight and record-tying eighth confederation championship this summer. Turner and Robinson earned Best XI honors during the team’s 2021 title campaign and are two of six returnees from that championship squad. The 28-year-old Turner also won the Golden Glove as best goalkeeper at the 2021 Gold Cup, recording five clean sheets and allowing just one goal in six matches.The U.S. is part of Group A this year along with Jamaica, Nicaragua and a team that will be determined through the 2023 Gold Cup Prelims. Either Curaçao, French Guiana, Sint Maarten or Saint Kitts and Nevis will be the fourth team based on the Prelims draw. USMNT stars like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and newly-committed Folarin Balogun are part of this year’s Nations League Finals roster. Team USA faces rival Mexico in that tournament’s semifinals on June 15 in Las Vegas.

Complete 2023 USMNT Gold Cup roster (club/country; caps/goals)

Goalkeepers (3): Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 12/0), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; 1/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 26/0)

Defenders (8): DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 2/0), Aaron Long (LAFC; 32/3), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; 23/1), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; 2/0), Bryan Reynolds (Roma/ITA; 3/0), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 78/0)

Midfielders (6): Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 9/0), Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar/NED; 6/1), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 32/3), James Sands (New York City FC; 8/0), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0)

Forwards (6): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 3/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 18/8), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 2/0), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 52/11), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; 3/1), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 3/1)

Folarin Balogun breaks down ‘long process’ to commit to USMNT: ‘I just went with my heart’

By Paul Tenorio Jun 9, 2023

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Folarin Balogun made his first public comments to reporters since filing a one-time switch to represent the U.S. men’s national team on the international level, saying Thursday the move wasn’t based on any external “noise” and he just “went with (his) heart.”The 21-year-old Balogun, who was eligible to represent England and Nigeria as well, committed to the U.S. in May.

“It was a long process, to be honest,” said Balogun, who scored 21 goals this season on loan at Reims in France’s Ligue 1. “I was out in Orlando just doing some training and then the (U.S.) squad was also in Orlando as well at camp, and the manager reached out to me, he said that it’d be good for me to come in and have some food and sit down and talk with him. I was with my agent as well, so the timing was good. We spoke about a lot of things and he just explained the vision for U.S. Soccer. In the end, we had a discussion, I went back home, I still had some time to obviously think and take in what he was saying and then I came to my conclusion.”The wait around Balogun’s decision included plenty of off-field recruitment. U.S. fans certainly caught the attention of Balogun and his agent when the fans deduced via Instagram that he was in Orlando at the same time as the U.S. team, and they inundated his social media with U.S. flag emojis. England manager Gareth Southgate, meanwhile, answered questions about why Balogun had not been called up to the senior team. Southgate said the Three Lions would not give players opportunities just because they could play for other countries and said that if Balogun continued to produce at the professional level he would get a chance with England.Balogun, however, said none of it factored into his decision.“In terms of my decision to come here, it was just really, it was an internal decision between myself, my family and my agent,” Balogun said. “It wasn’t anything to do with the comments of Gareth Southgate or anything to do with noise that I heard from outside. It was something I wanted to do, something my family supported and at the end of the day, I just went with my heart and went with what I thought was best.”

Balogun is expected to make his U.S. debut next Thursday in a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against rival Mexico. He joined the team for his first camp a few days ago in Los Angeles, where preparations for the semifinal were underway. The U.S. won the inaugural Nations League in 2021.Balogun said he doesn’t feel much pressure to live up to the hype in his first games.“The impression of the group has been really, really good,” Balogun said. “I came in a bit late because my season finished a bit later, but as soon as I got here, I said ‘hi’ to the boys, they were really friendly, made me feel welcome. I’ve been out for dinner with a few of them. I’m just settling in, getting to know everyone. There’s been a lot of noise surrounding me coming but I feel like this is just the nature of the sport. I’m obviously used to competing and I’m used to the pressure of playing at Arsenal and having that expectation of yourself. The pressure I have for myself is internal, so what I hear on the outside is never going to be more than what I expect for myself.”Balogun said watching the U.S. at the World Cup he saw “a young, hungry team — a team with a lot of ambition,” and that while it didn’t make an impact on his decision, “I really, really believe in the way U.S. Soccer is heading.”“They are now a side, from watching them at the World Cup, that want to compete,” he said. “They feel like they should be winning these (big) games and I saw that. And now being in camp and seeing the tactics the way that I’m seeing and the way (interim manager B.J. Callaghan) is talking to us, he’s definitely encouraging us to be a dominant team and to go out there and win games.”The U.S. will be led this summer by Callaghan, an assistant under former coach Gregg Berhalter who stepped into the top role less than two weeks ago. Callaghan replaced another former Berhalter assistant, Anthony Hudson, who had held the interim job since the start of the year. Hudson left U.S. Soccer to take a job managing Qatari club Al-Markhiya SC.

With Callaghan in charge, it’s not certain yet whether Balogun will step directly into the starting lineup in his first games with the U.S., or whether he’ll come off the bench. U.S. forward Ricardo Pepi is also in camp and is coming off of a season in which he scored 12 goals on loan with Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie. Pepi has been linked with a move to top Dutch side PSV in recent days.Balogun said he will be ready no matter the role.“It’s still very early, I’m still getting to know my teammates on the pitch and off the pitch,” Balogun said. “And of course, this is not something that will come overnight. So there’s an element of patience that we all need to have in order to get the right relationships, but we’re definitely working towards that. … I’m coming in with a mindset that I need to earn my place. I’m not assuming I’m going to come in and start. That’s not really the mentality I have in life.“So I’m looking to just impress the manager and if he feels that it’s right for me to play, then that’s great. And if not, if he wants me to come on and try to make an impact, then that’s what I’ll do.”(Photo: John Dorton / USSF / Getty Images for USSF)

USWNT remain top of FIFA rankings before Women’s World Cup

By Ben BurrowsJun 9, 2023

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The United States will head into the Women’s World Cup as the top-ranked team in FIFA’s rankings.The latest rankings from the world governing body sees the USWNT – the defending world champions – maintain the top spot they have held since June 2017.European champions England are fourth with Germany and Sweden above them. France round out an unchanged top five.Spain are up to sixth while Brazil are now eighth, both jumping one spot ahead of Canada and the Netherlands respectively.Australia, who will host the tournament alongside New Zealand, complete the top 10.This summer’s tournament kicks off on July 20 and will run to August 20.Tournament debutants Zambia will be the lowest-ranked team represented, coming in at 77th in the world.

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Which teams will be playing at the World Cup?

The nations in the top 10 of FIFA’s women’s world rankings will all be playing in the World Cup, as well as 22 others.

Four of those teams head into the tournament outside the top 50, with 77th-placed Zambia the lowest-ranked nation competing.

Panama (52), Haiti (53), South Africa (54) and Morocco (73) are the other teams facing a tough task to get out of their groups.

Here is how the groups were drawn:

• Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
• Group B: Australia, Canada, Nigeria, Republic of Ireland
• Group C: Costa Rica, Japan, Spain, Zambia
• Group D: China, Denmark, England, Haiti
• Group E: Netherlands, Portugal, United States, Vietnam
• Group F: Brazil, France, Jamaica, Panama
• Group G: Argentina, Italy, South Africa, Sweden
• Group H: Colombia, Germany, Morocco, South Korea

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When are the games taking place?

The two opening games — New Zealand vs Norway and Australia vs Republic of Ireland – kick the tournament off on July 20. The following fortnight will decide the group stage, with each day across the two weeks involving either two, three or four games. That varies depending on where you are watching the games from. Once the group stage has concluded on August 3, there will be one day without any games before the knockout stage begins with the last-16 ties. Two will be played on each day between August 5 and 8. Then, there are two more rest days before the four quarter-finals.

They will follow a similar pattern with a pair on each day on August 11 and 12.

The two semi-finals will be played on August 15 and 16.

The third place play-off is on August 19, with the final a day later on August 20.

• Group stage: July 20 – August 3
• Last 16: August 5 – August 8
• Quarter-final: August 11 & August 12
• Semi-final: August 15 & 16
• Third-place play-off: Saturday, August 19
• Final: Sunday, August 20

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How can I watch it?

Good question. Currently, there are no broadcasters in the UK, France, Germany, Italy or Spain allowed to broadcast the Women’s World Cup due to disputes with FIFA regarding the cost of the rights.

The Women’s World Cup will be broadcast in the US in the same format as the men’s tournament at the end of last year.Back in 2015, FOX and Telemundo signed a deal with FIFA to show all of the men’s and women’s World Cup matches between 2018 and 2026. This will be the fourth World Cup they have shown in that time — men’s in 2018 and 2022, women’s in 2019 and 2023 — with the last World Cup of their broadcast cycle being the marquee tournament: the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Who will make the USWNT roster for the 2023 Women’s World Cup?

Nicholas Mendola Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 3:09 PM EDT·3 min read

The United States women’s national team can make it an unprecedented three Women’s World Cups on the spin, giving it more consecutive titles than any other nation’s claimed cumulatively since the tournament began in 1991.That would be some honor for a hallowed program that went 16 years between titles before winning in 2015 and 2019.The quest to play in the Sydney-based final is coming up fast. Who will be the players selected by Vlatko Andonovski in a bid to make it a “three-peat” this summer?

That could change over the next few weeks due to possible injuries, as Catarina Macario’s ruled herself out, Megan Rapinoe went off injured for OL Reign this weekend, and Mallory Swanson’s already been ruled out following an April patella tendon tear. All three would’ve been considered locks for most of the cycle.Only 35 players have been called into USWNT camp over the last 12 months, and that includes Rapinoe and Swanson.

Of that remaining 33 only 11 were on the squad that won the 2019 World Cup: Alex Morgan, Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Julie Ertz, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Adrianna Franch, and Alyssa Naeher.

Sauerbrunn, O’Hara, Morgan, Rapinoe, and Naeher are the only five holdovers left from 2015.

So who’s going to Australia and New Zealand this summer? Here’s who’s in the pool, hoping to get the call from Andonovski.

World Cup news

USWNT release 2023 World Cup jerseys 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup schedule – Groups, calendar, dates, times,… When is the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup taking place? When are the…

USWNT 2023 World Cup roster projection – NBC

(Projections in italics)

Goalkeepers

Alyssa Naeher
Adrianna Franch
Casey Murphy
Audrey Kingsbury

Analysis: Kingsbury’s the long shot here as the only one of the bunch with under 10 caps (and she has one).

Defenders

Sofia Huerta
Becky Sauerbrunn
Kelley O’Hara
Tierna Davidson
Emily Sonnett
Alana Cook
Crystal Dunn
Casey Krueger
Emily Fox
Naomi Girma
Hallie Mace
Carson Pickett

Analysis: Fox, Krueger, or Davidson could be the odd person out here, and some have suggested that O’Hara’s place isn’t solid either due to injury. We’ll say she gets the nod in a bid to be a part of all three rosters. That’s often how this has worked in recent years, even if it wasn’t under Andonovski’s rule.

Midfielders

Lindsey Horan
Julie Ertz
Rose Lavelle
Andi Sullivan
Kristie Mewis
Ashley Sanchez
Taylor Kornieck
Sam Coffey
Jaelin Howell
Savannah DeMelo

Analysis: This one feels about as straightforward as it gets, but feel free to comment if you don’t agree with that.

Forwards

Alex Morgan
Lynn Williams
Sophia Smith
Trinity Rodman
Alyssa Thompson
Ashley Hatch
Megan Rapinoe
Midge Purce
Jaedyn Shaw

Analysis: This can change if Rapinoe is out but there are no indications yet that the 37-year-old’s World Cup is in real jeopardy.

Rapinoe leaves OL Reign game injured as USWNT World Cup roster announcement looms

Jason Anderson followJune 11, 2023 9:33 am ET

With just over a week until its World Cup roster is revealed, the U.S. women’s national team has a new injury worry.Veteran winger Megan Rapinoe had to depart OL Reign’s 2-1 win over the Kansas City Current on Saturday with an apparent calf issue.Rapinoe was in the starting 11 for the Reign, but within the first 45 seconds she could be seen touching her lower leg and trying to loosen up an issue that she suffered off the ball.After a chat with the training staff and an attempt to jog it off as play continued, the Reign opted to make a change, with Veronica Latsko entering the game in the seventh minute.“She’s OK, I think. I truly don’t know the severity of it,” OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey told the media after the game. “I’m glad she could get out quickly and not have to push through it.”

USWNT roster reveal looms

With just over a month until the World Cup kicks off, even a fairly short-term issue at this point could keep a player from being fully fit for the tournament.The Washington Post has reported that USWNT players will be informed if they’ve made the roster in less than a week, with an official announcement to follow shortly after.

Rapinoe battled an injury earlier in 2023, missing the USWNT’s January camp. While it is possible that she simply experienced some calf tightness, a full-on strain would make it very difficult for the star of the 2019 World Cup to be available for this summer’s edition.

Losing out on Rapinoe would add to a long list of USWNT attackers who are on course to miss the tournament. Catarina Macario has ruled herself out after a torn ACL suffered in May 2022, while Christen Press — while not giving up on her chances of being available for selection — has not yet returned to play after a similar injury. Starting left forward Mallory Swanson suffered a torn patellar tendon in a USWNT friendly earlier this year, and in all likelihood is months away from taking the field again.

Rapinoe’s teammate for club and country, Rose Lavelle, has not played since April due to a knee injury, though she appears close to a return.

Related

Angel City boss Coombe insists Ertz will be fit for USWNT World Cup roster

USWNT forward Macario will miss World Cup with knee injury

‘Fun grandma’ Rapinoe embracing new USWNT role

Follow all of Pro Soccer Wire’s NWSL coverage right here.

USWNT midfielder Julie Ertz’s goal is ‘be fast but don’t hurry’ a comeback ahead of World Cup

By Steph YangJun 7, 2023 12

In The Journey to the Cup, The Athletic tells the stories of players and teams as they work towards a place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Follow along as we track their progress as they prepare both mentally and physically for a chance to shine on the game’s biggest stage.

Julie Ertz is not jinxing anything.

In a call with The Athletic to promote her partnership with Abbott addressing child malnutrition, she didn’t even say the words “World Cup.” Instead, as she discussed how NWSL games can run quite long now due to VAR decisions, she said that playing the extra time is “definitely good practice for players getting ready for big tournaments.”Yes, unnamed players getting ready for random big tournaments. Could be anyone, really.Ertz isn’t oblivious, of course. She knows and we know and she knows that we know that she’s angling for a Women’s World Cup roster spot this summer.“It would be a joy to be on that roster,” she said.But the timeline for Ertz to get her legs back under her is short even for an experienced U.S. women’s national team player who knows exactly what to do and what will be expected of her — all while she continues to take on projects dear to her like feeding children and her 9-month-old son starting walking. There are fewer than 50 days to go until the World Cup kicks off, and even less time until USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski names his roster in mid-to-late June.

“Fifty days is a short amount of time when you wait for four years. It’s also a lot of time for a lot: to be focused, to be the most prepared, to try and peak at the most perfect time,” Ertz said. “I think my whole process, especially coming back from pregnancy, is (to) be fast but don’t hurry.”

As a veteran player, the two-time World Cup winner knows better than most that she’ll have to fight for a spot on a roster that had been somewhat ticking along without her for nearly two years before she got a run out in the team’s April friendlies against the Republic of Ireland. That’s not to say they didn’t miss her. At times, the United States midfield has needed some bite of the particular kind that Ertz is so good at providing. And she hasn’t looked completely out of step since then, gradually getting more minutes with Angel City, where she signed a one-year contract in April.As with many players returning, Ertz said that while her fitness and technical touches are coming along, the final elements to click into place will be speed of play and decision making. It helps that she has her return games out of the way for both club and country.“The first (game is) always the hardest,” she said. “You always have so much emotion, excitement, all this anticipation, noise, all that.”Club performance, in particular, is key. In a March media call, Andonovski said, “She needed to join a professional team to get consistent games to give us a chance to furthermore evaluate her before the World Cup.” With only a few months back in NWSL, Ertz said she felt the jump in play from her Angel City debut against the San Diego Wave to her performance against Portland Thorns, and she felt a jump again from Portland to her next game against the Washington Spirit.An early sign of Ertz’s comeback was a classic near-post header against the Thorns, a well-timed run on a free kick to dink in the ball in the 79th minute in a move familiar to longtime fans. Another sign is that when Ertz is available she has played solid minutes, going from 72 minutes against the Wave in late April to 100 minutes against the Spirit in May.So far, Ertz has been a net positive on the field for Angel City. When she’s clicking, she can add to the team’s press. She was able to jump right in for her first ACFC game against San Diego in April and helped maintain pressure in the Wave’s half with four recoveries high up the field that ended the San Diego’s possession and started Angel City on the ball again, although they ultimately lost 2-0.As Ertz noted, there was marked improvement against Portland, a game that definitely showed that her positioning is still there. According to Wyscout, she had 14 recoveries, 10 of them in Portland’s half, and frequently won the first ball off of Portland’s goal kicks, which contributed to her 10 interceptions. She had 10 interceptions against the Spirit as well. But Ertz’s most recent game against the Chicago Red Stars saw a dip, with only two interceptions in the 58 minutes she played.

Julie Ertz 2023 output for Angel City FC

OPPONENT	MINUTES	GOALS	SHOTS
vs. San Diego	72	0	0
vs. Portland	84	1	1
vs. Washington	90	0	0
vs. Chicago	58	0	3

*not including stoppage time

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It’s a small sample size to draw from, but from the way Andonovski has spoken about Ertz, there’s a sense that he prefers to look at her best performances rather than her worst and bet accordingly.

“We know the quality of the player that (Ertz is) and that if she comes anywhere near her best that she will certainly help us win a World Cup,” Andonovski said in March.

Later, responding to a question about choosing between healthy players who have been available for selection for the last year and a half versus someone coming back from injury or prolonged absence, Andonovski said, “Everything will be taken into consideration. What is someone’s best, and what is someone’s 80% or 90%? If somebody’s 80 or 90% is still better than somebody else’s best, then too bad…. We are very well aware that we’re not going to be able to take players that are not able to play 90-minute games, or we’re not going to be able to do that with multiple players. We may take an exception or a player that we know that in the first couple of weeks of the World Cup, we’ll be able to get them to 90 minutes.”

Right now, Ertz is focused on where she is, establishing relationships with the players around her, specifically her fellow midfielders Dani Weatherholt and Savannah McCaskill, and center backs Paige Nielsen and Sarah Gorden. Gordon, in particular, is a familiar comfort for Ertz, who spent years with her at the Chicago Red Stars and said her work rate this season has been “phenomenal.”

“I think (Gordon and Nielsen) bring confidence to the team which brings confidence to the next line,” Ertz said. “I can think of a lot of breakaways that they’ve had great footwork and been able to break up a lot of really good play collectively.”

On the other side of the equation, Ertz’s work at holding mid allows Angel City to push McCaskill higher, where she’s much more useful in tugging strings for players like Claire Emslie, Alyssa Thompson and Jun Endo, as opposed to having to dig the ball out of the midfield herself. You can see this in Angel City’s distribution out of the back where Ertz is often a target for goalkeeper DiDi Haračić to set up the rest of the team’s push, with Ertz receiving in the central area and looking upfield to play into space.

Ertz is aware that the team (currently in 11th place) is not quite delivering on what is, on paper, an ability to punch quite hard at opposing team goals, and she thinks everyone can tighten up play across the board, herself included.

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“If you’re getting scored on it means you’ve got to score more,” she said, matter-of-factly. “You see some good builds at times, you see some great set pieces as well. So I think it’s really just putting a full — I feel like it’s never just 90 (minutes), it’s 98 minutes, whatever — you gotta put a full-on 100 minutes into games.”Ertz can do the 100-minute games now, although it might take some more time to build her fitness into doing that for three or four games in a row. But it looks like the building blocks are there. “You want to continuously grow and peak at the right time,” she said.The implication of peaking at the right time is that there’s a “big tournament” that could use her at her peak. But again, Ertz didn’t speak in any absolutes and said peaking during the World Cup window was crucial for Angel City, too.“You got to get points, especially at this next third (of the season),” she said. “Points are really important for us and our team knows that.”Ertz seems well grounded in her day-to-day. Case in point, she had an excused absence from Angel City in May to open up her House of Hope children’s community center in Philadelphia, and she’s doing media to promote her partnership with healthcare company Abbott and the Real Madrid Foundation to talk about global child malnutrition.Ertz said she and her husband Zach talked about the projects and felt moved to help children in need well before they had their own child, Madden, in August 2022.“We’ve been able to travel the world and live in different states and really learn about what’s truly going on, and sometimes you’re so focused on one thing — especially in our sport — that it’s important to look at the bigger picture,” she said. “People need people at the end of the day, and I think sometimes (we) forget what is going on in the world and how to help.”There’s been no effort to push Madden towards soccer or football, Ertz said. With two championship-winning athlete parents, what she really wants is to support whatever he loves to do, even at nine months old.“(He’s) trying to walk so I’m trying to support him in good body mechanics,” Ertz said with a smile. “He’s definitely a determined, independent little guy.”If having to keep one eye on a very mobile baby at all times isn’t enough grounding, Ertz also said she has her religious faith. With the laugh of someone extremely busy — media tour, baby on the verge of walking, game day to prep for, national team roster imminent — Ertz said her approach to asking for support from her faith is adaptable.“You never want to get too ahead of yourself. But you also don’t want to hold yourself back,” she said. “So I think it’s also important to dream and have a goal. But you don’t ever want to expect anything and think you just get something.”

“TheJourney to the Cup” series is part of a partnership with Google Chrome. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

(Photo: John Todd/USSF/Getty Images)

Steph Yang is a staff writer for The Athletic covering women’s soccer in the United States. Before joining The Athletic, she was a managing editor at All for XI and Stars & Stripes FC and a staff writer for The Bent Musket, as well as doing freelance work for other soccer sites. She has covered women’s soccer for over seven years and is based out of Boston, Mass.

Your explainer on every NWSL team’s tactical identity and style (in 100 words or less)

• Joseph Lowery
• Jun 12, 2023, 10:42 AM ET

We all know the teams. We all know the stars, too. But how well do we know what actually happens on the field in the National Women’s Soccer League? How do each of the 12 teams in the league play? And how do teams try to get the best out of their star players?

We’re here to answer those questions by looking at each NWSL team’s on-field strategy and tactical identity. There’s a catch, though: we’re analyzing each team in rapid-fire fashion using 100 words or less. Let’s get to the analysis.

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Angel City FC

Coached by Freya Coombe, Angel City prefer a back four and use a 4-4-2 in defense and either a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 in possession.

Coombe encourages her team to control the ball: they’re third in the NWSL in possession (53%). Angel City like to spread the field and build from the back, using defender Sarah Gorden‘s technique and speed at right center-back to help them break forward.

Angel City can string together some lovely possession sequences, but they lack precision in the final third to turn that possession into chances. That’s the next step for this team.

Chicago Red Stars

Once Mallory Swanson went down with an injury, Chicago’s biggest asset — a vertical, hard-running, flexible forward — disappeared. Since her injury, the Red Stars have been searching for the right combination of players and tactics to give them an edge. They’ve used back threes and back fours and tried players like Yūki Nagasato all over the field.

None of their tactical choices will compensate for losing Swanson, but using Nagasato as an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 with right-back Casey Krueger providing service has promise. Still, it’s difficult to imagine Chicago climbing far up the table.

NJ/NY Gotham FC

If you want energy — and lots of it — Gotham have you covered.They love to press, usually out of a 4-3-3 shape, and are the most active defensive team in the NWSL. Gotham record a defensive action outside of their defensive third after every 9.3 passes from their opponents, which is the league’s top mark, per Opta.Lots of their pressure comes as counter-pressure after they lose possession. Gotham are fourth in the NWSL in possession (52.5%) and spread the field to isolate their forwards against opposing full-backs. When they successfully create those one-v-ones, good things happen.

Houston Dash

Playing out of a 4-3-3 in recent weeks, Houston have a clear midfield structure with a No. 6 defensive midfielder playing behind two box-to-box No. 8s, and wide players that rotate between different vertical channels. They also have a quality striker in Diana Ordoñez and wide attackers with varied profiles. Players know where to position themselves, especially in deeper spells of possession.

And yet, the Dash have the fewest touches in the final third in the NWSL per 90 minutes, per FBref. The ball must move faster in both possession and transition to turn Houston’s ideas into consistent results.

Kansas City Current

After a coaching change earlier this year and brutal injury luck, the Current are trying to find their identity. They’ve tried several different shapes and personnel groupings, using offseason signing and playmaker Debinha centrally and in the half-spaces.

All of the pieces haven’t clicked yet, but Kansas City have the potential to be a solid defensive team and an effective attacking one.

They’ve opted for a compact defensive block for large stretches of the year that limits their opponents’ space. In attack, Debinha’s string-pulling should maximize her teammates’ smart movement. We’ll see if the talent and the structure come together.

North Carolina Courage

You don’t often see full-backs dictate attacks, but that’s what U.S. national team defender Emily Fox does for NC.

Fox defends as a full-back in a 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 shape, but pushes into midfield in possession. Her movement shifts North Carolina’s attacking structure into a 3-2-5, where the back three allows Fox and midfielder Denise O’Sullivan to run the middle.

No team in the NWSL keeps more possession than the Courage (58.5%) and they’ve clearly spent time on their attacking setup. They don’t create much — 10th in the NWSL in expected goals or xG — but there’s thought behind their play.

OL Reign

Few teams in the NWSL adapt to their opponents better than OL Reign.Laura Harvey’s team doesn’t need to dominate possession every game. Instead, they play in a fairly pragmatic 4-2-3-1 shape, using a mixture of high pressing and savvy mid-block defending to frustrate opponents.When they have the ball, most of their attacks flow through Megan Rapinoe on the wing. Per FBref, Rapinoe hits the second-most crosses per 90 (10.5) than any regular NWSL starter. The Reign probably rely too much on crosses, but there’s no denying that Rapinoe’s quality in the final third is an asset.

Orlando Pride

Using either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, Orlando prefer to play against the ball: they’re eighth in average possession (48.3%) and fifth in direct attacking speed in the NWSL, per Opta.While they’re not always blindingly quick building through midfield — and Marta, who plays as either a No. 10 or as a narrow right winger, appears to have lost a step — rookie striker Messiah Bright and Brazilian winger Adriana both love to run behind the opposing backline.Adriana, in particular, has been valuable in transition with her dribbling for the Pride in her first NWSL season.

Portland Thorns

If there’s one NWSL team that can rely on talent to brute force wins, it’s the Thorns.

Portland have a default structure: they attack and defend out of a 4-3-3 shape, using a single pivot (defensive midfielder Sam Coffey) to set the tempo in possession. But it’s the Thorns’ top-end talent and depth that makes them stand out.

With Crystal Dunn and either Christine Sinclair or Olivia Moultrie finding pockets of space as the No. 8s ahead of Coffey, and forward Sophia Smith punishing opposing defenses with her speed and control in tight spaces, Portland are incredibly difficult to stop.

Racing Louisville FC

Louisville’s tactical approach isn’t flashy: they use a 4-2-3-1 in possession and defend in a 4-4-2 shape. But their system does a good job of playing to the strengths of their strongest individual players.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Predicting the USWNT’s roster for the 2023 Women’s World Cup7dCaitlin Murray
• Teens are suddenly big NWSL stars: How a lawsuit and on-field dazzle changed everything7dOm Arvind
• Why Rodman is the best USWNT replacement for Swanson at the World Cup21dJoseph Lowery

They average the second-least possession (47.5%) and have the fastest attacks in the NWSL, per Opta, which gives midfielder Savannah DeMelo plenty of chances to lead counterattacks. DeMelo often acts as a point guard, making quick ball progression decisions while Jaelin Howell breaks up plays as a No. 6.

Louisville’s recipe isn’t one for mind-blowing attacking play, but they certainly don’t let opponents relax.

San Diego Wave FC

Manager Casey Stoney has a vision. That’s clear when you watch the Wave play.

With their biggest advantage coming through their spine, Stoney’s team doesn’t dominate games in wide areas or high press regularly. Instead, San Diego use compact defending, vertical passes to the 6-foot-1 Taylor Kornieck at the tip of midfield, and runs behind opposing defenders from striker Alex Morgan & Co. to create problems.

Because the Wave are built around their spine, losing Kornieck like they did for a stretch this season can derail them. However, Jaedyn Shaw‘s emergence as a flexible, clever attacker gives Stoney another tool.

Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit might just have the most distinctive tactical approach in the NWSL. Under Mark Parsons, the Spirit are hyper-focused on playing quickly and directly out of a 4-4-2 diamond shape.

So far this year, they have fewer sequences of 10 passes or more than any team in the league. With Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman up top, Washington have a traditional No. 9 (Hatch) and a forward who can stretch the field and drift into the wide areas on the counterattack (Rodman).

A two-forward front with four midfielders stacked underneath helps Washington zig when others zag.

#INDvSTC

St. Charles FC at Indy Eleven

Thursday, June 15, 2023 – 7:00 PM

Grand Park Sports Complex – Westfield, Ind.

Follow Live
Live Stream
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Live stats: #INDvSTC MatchCenter at USLWLeague.com

2023 USL W League Records

Indy Eleven: 5W-0L-1D (+16GD) 16pts; 1st in Valley Division

St. Charles FC: 0W-4L-2D (-18 GD) 2pts; 5th in Valley Division

Setting the Scene
Indy Eleven is back for its second home match in a row when it hosts St. Charles FC. Indy still holds the top spot in the USL W League Valley Division with 16 points while St. Charles sits fifth in the division with two points.

Series vs. St. Charles FC
Thursday marks the second meeting between the two teams with the Girls in Blue walking away from St. Charles with an 8-0 win in the first match of the 2023 season.

Recent Meetings:
May 10, 2023 | Away | W 8-0

Last Time Out
WESTFIELD, Ind. (Friday, June 9, 2023) – A pair of second half goals lifted Indy Eleven over Lexington SC, 2-0, on Friday night at the Grand Park Sports Campus. With the victory, Indy improves to 5-0-1 atop the USL W League’s Valley Division, while Lexington SC falls to 2-3-1. Second half sub Katie Soderstrom broke the scoreless tie with her third goal of the season to put the Eleven ahead in the 60th minute. Soderstrom had a pair of chances just three minutes earlier that were denied by the Lexington keeper but connected on a through ball from Addie Chester into the lower right side of the net.Indy’s leading scorer Maisie Whitsett did what she does best and doubled the Eleven’s lead with an 81st-minute header off a Soderstrom cross. It was Whitsett’s sixth goal of the season to give the Girls in Blue a 2-0 lead.Indy also dominated the first half of play, led by Kanna Matsuhisa who had three of the Eleven’s four shots in the frame. The Girls in Blue had the upper hand for the final 10 minutes of the half as well, as Lexington’s Kelsey Kiesling was ejected in the 35th minute, and the visiting team was forced to finish the match a player down.

The Eleven outshot Lexington 19-4 in the match, including 15 in the second half, led by Soderstrom’s six. Emily Edwards earned her third shutout of the season in goal, making three saves.

Scoring Summary
IND – Katie Soderstrom (Chester) 60’
IND – Maisie Whitsett (Soderstrom) 81’

Discipline Summary 
LEX – Lesley Kiesling (Ejection) 35’

Blake’s late equalizer earns Indy a draw at home

View INDvHFD Stats on USLChampionship.com Match Center

INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, June 10, 2023) – A late equalizer from Jack Blake salvaged a tie for Indy Eleven in a 1-1 match with Hartford Athletic Saturday night at Carroll Stadium. Indy moves to 4-5-4 on the season, while Hartford sits at 2-7-4.An early scuffle in the sixth minute off an Indy corner led to a caution for Hartford’s Antoine Hoppenot and a red card for Adrian Diz Pe to put the Eleven down a man for the remainder of the match. The Hartford goal came not long after in the 11th minute when Kyle Edwards took advantage of a giveaway on Indy’s back line to set himself up one-on-one with Yannik Oettl to slot it in the lower left corner of the net.Hartford outshot Indy 5-3 in the first frame, with three on target to the Eleven’s zero, but Indy held the narrow 51%-49% advantage in possession.The playing field was leveled in the 49th minute when Hartford’s Triston Hodge was shown his second yellow of the match and ejected.
Indy found the equalizer in the 85th minute off a long throw into the box from Douglas Martinez that found Sebastian Guenzatti waiting just outside the center of the six-yard box. Guenzatti collected the cross and laid it off to Blake for his second tally of the season. It was also the second assist for Guenzatti of 2023.Indy held the 56%-44% edge in possession for the match and outshot Hartford 15-14. Martinez and Rissi led the Eleven with three shots apiece and Oettl registered three saves. The Eleven played the final minutes of the match with nine men after Gustavo Rissi was shown a red card in stoppage time.
Next up, the Boys in Blue hit the road to take on Birmingham Legion FC for the first of two straight road matches. Kick is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday. Indy returns home Saturday, July 1 against San Diego Loyal SC. Single-game tickets for all home games at IUPUI Carroll Stadium and specially-priced group tickets and an increased portfolio of hospitality options are available for purchase now via indyeleven.com/tickets or by calling 317-685-1100 during regular business hours (Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.). 

USL Championship Regular Season
Indy Eleven 1:1 Hartford Athletic
Saturday, June 10, 2023
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, Ind.

Indy Eleven: 4W-5L-4D, 16 pts
Hartford Athletic: 2W-7L-4D, 10 pts

Scoring Summary
HFD – Kyle Edwards 11’
IND – Jack Blake (Sebastian Guenzatti) 85’

Discipline Summary
IND – Adrian Diz Pe (ejection) 6’
HFD – Antoine Hoppenot (caution) 6’
HFD – Triston Hodge (caution) 45+1’
HFD – Triston Hodge (caution-ejection) 49’
IND – Cam Lindley (caution) 50’
HFD – Luke Merrill (caution) 58’
IND – Douglas Martinez (caution) 64’
HFD – Danny Barrera (caution) 77’
IND – Gustavo Rissi (ejection) 90+3’

Indy Eleven line-up (3-5-2): Yannik Oettl, Jesus Vazquez, Mechack Jerome, Adrian Diz Pe, Jack Blake, Roberto Molina (Solomon Asante 68’), Cam Lindley (Sebastian Velasquez 68’), Aodhan Quinn, Harrison Robledo (Gustavo Rissi 18’), Douglas Martinez, Sebastian Guenzatti (Captain) (Juan Tejada 89’)

Indy Subs: Tim Trilk, Diego Sanchez, Benji Chavarria

Hartford Athletic line-up (3-5-2): Joe Rice, Niall Logue (Edgardo Rito 40’), Conor McGlynn, Kaveh Rad, Matt Sheldon, Luke Merrill, Triston Hodge, Juan Pablo Torres, Antoine Hoppenot, Kyle Edwards (Robin Lapert 79’), Prince Saydee (Danny Barrera 63’)

Hartford Subs: Richard Sanchez, Ashkanov Apollon, Andre Lewis, Beverly Makangila

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Rent this Beautiful 4 BR Beach house at Myrtle Beach for as low at $250 a night.

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

Earn Your College Degree at ½ the Cost and Time of Traditional Schools  www.achievetestprep.com/shane

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Heading over to the Badger Field for Training?  Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ

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(mention the ole ballcoach) 

Check out the BarBQ Ribs, pulled Pork and Chicken, Brisket and more.  Sweet, Tangy or Spicy sauce. Mention you heard about it from the Ole Ballcoach — and Ryan will give you 20% off your next meal. https://www.rackzbbqindy.com/ Call ahead at 317-688-7290  M-Th 11-8 pm, 11-9 Fri/Sat, 12-8 pm on Sunday.  Pick some up after practice – Its good eatin! You won’t be disappointed and tell ’em the Ole Ballcoach Sent You!  

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MESSI SIGNS WITH MIAMI?

OMG – so much news so little time. So word is Lionel Messi is signing with MLS’ Inter-Miami set to join David Beckham’s team sometime this summer. What will this do for MLS? Lets just say I am scrambling to get tix now! The Best player in the World over the past decade – fresh of a World Cup win for Argentina – this raises MLS both in the US and around the World. Wow ! Wow ! Wow !

Champions League Final Sat 3 pm on CBS – Man City vs Inter Milan

CARMEL FC COACHES AND FRIENDS – Anyone want to gather to watch?  2:45 pm Game starts at 3 pm.

CBS is going all out with wall to wall coverage live from Instanbal, Turkey– The pregame starts at 1:30 pm with the best in the business Kate Abdo on site on the field with Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry, and Micah Richards, Peter Schmeichel, Jenny Chui.  Burna and Anitta will headline the pregame concert and my favorite Anthem in all of sports We Are the Champions will get things started at about 2:45 pm.  Over 400 million (4 times the Superbowl) will be watching Worldwide – a # only matched by the World Cup and the Olympics.  So tune in and enjoy!!  Here’s the outtro from last season’s Final-the most watched European game to be seen in the US ever. Of course Man City will be the big favorite and is looking to become just the 2^nd English team ever to Win the Treble – The League, the FA Cup (3-1 over Man United) and the European Title.  Man United last did in back in the 1990s with David Beckham. I was fortunate to attend my first ever Champions League match this year when I traveled to England Carmel FC – and I saw Man City and Erland Haaland pound Bayern Munich at the Ettihad 3-0.  It was an amazing atmosphere and the City Stadium I will admit was magnificent.  Man City is looking to win their first ever Champions League trophy – and I think they will bring it home over Inter 2-1 in a hard fought match over Inter Milan.  Its still must watch TV on Saturday – plan to tune in!  (Tons of Stories Below)

Notes

Huge news that Zlatan is retiring after his injury plagued season.  As obnoxious as he was – he was always one of my favorites – his interviews especially in the US were hilarious and he always backed up his claims with some outrageous goals some of his great quotes.  Congrats to England’s West Ham United who won the Europa Conference league 2-1 over Fiorentina on Wednesday  Link – Bittersweet for West Ham as star midfielder Declan Rice is probably headed to Arsenal next year.   The US Boys U20 were dumped from the U20 World Cup 2-0 to Uraguay joining Brazil, Argentina and Japan as surprise losers.  Italy faces Korea Thurs eve at 5 pm on FS2 before the Finals on Sat at 5 pm again on Fox Sports 2.  LAFC failed in their attempt to become the 2^nd straight MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League Sun night as they lost to Leon 1-0 falling 3-1 on aggregate.  My Seattle Sounders are still the only MLS team to win the competition over Mexico’s Liga MX.  Inter Milan’s Romeo Lukaku with a cool interview talking about his rise to Champions League star.

ALEX MORGAN PLAYS @ LOUISVILLE – Fri 8 pm

Louisville will Host Alex Morgan of the NWSL’s #2 Ranked San Diego Wave at home at Linder Stadium this Friday night at 8 pm and tickets are still available less that $12 each.  Wave players joining Alex from the US Women’s National Team are midfielder Taylor Kornieck and defenders Naomi Girma, and Abby Dahlkemper.  The game will also be on Paramount + and Sirius FM at 8 pm Friday.    

MESSI to MLS – Inter Miami

Sources: Inter Miami favourites to land Messi
Lionel Messi to choose Inter Miami in stunning MLS move for soccer superstar, reports say
Lionel Messi rejects Barcelona return and Saudi offer to join Inter Miami
Reports: Lionel Messi chooses Inter Miami over Saudi Arabia mega-offer
Lionel Messi spurns Barcelona and Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami in MLS
Lionel Messi will reportedly sign with Inter Miami, turning down a $1 billion-plus offer from Al-Hilal in the process

Reports: Lionel Messi chooses Inter Miami, MLS over Barca and Saudi Arabia
If Lionel Messi joins MLS, ‘Circle it on the calendar,’ Crew’s Sean Zawadzki says
Could Lionel Messi become the latest world soccer star to play in Jacksonville? Here’s how

Champions League Final Saturday 3 pm on CBS

UEFA Champions League Final: Key battles for Inter Milan vs Manchester City
Pep Guardiola: I got the game plan wrong in the 2021 final
Guardiola warns Man City against Champions League final arrogance
Football’s future? Man City eye first Champions League win for state-backed club
Inter bidding for Champions League glory but off-field problems persist

Man City takes FA Cup, a win from rare treble
How many times has a team won the treble? Man City goes for history

Man City takes FA Cup, a win from rare treble

Erling Haaland’s Man City goals and the records broken

Want to Tryout for Carmel FC?  Click here for info   https://www.facebook.com/carmelfchq      https://twitter.com/CarmelFCHQ

2023 Alumni Summer Soccer

Location: Shelbourne Fields – CCCSC – 3451 W. 126th St., Carmel  (Ages: 18 – 35)  $105  Sign Up

Grab your friends and make your own team or sign up and we’ll place you on a team, you don’t have to live in Carmel. Games will take place on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Dates: June 18, 21, 25, 28 & July 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26 Sign Up

GAMES ON TV

Wed, June 7                      

3 pm Para+                 West Ham vs Fiorentina  Europa Conf Final

8 pm Gozalo Para+          Birmingham Legion vs Inter Miami US Open Cup

9:30 pm Para+                   Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy US Open Cup

10:30 pm Apple                 LAFC vs Atlanta Unted

Wed, June 8

1:30 pm FS2                        Uraguay vs Isreal U20WC

5 pm pm FS2                      Italy vs Korea    

Fri, June 9

7 pm Grand park Indy 11 Women vs Lex

Sat, June 10                       

3 pm CBS                    Champions League Final Man City vs Inter Milan

5 pm FS2                     U20 WC Finals

7 pm TV8                    Indy 11 vs Hartford

Mon, June 12

12 noon FS2               Germany vs Ukraine

Wed, June 14

12 noon FS1                 Netherlands vs Croatia  

7:30 pm Para+            Washington Spirit vs NC Courage (Fox, Murphy) NWSL

8 pm Para+                 Racing Louisville vs Houston Dash NSWL

8 pm Pata+                  KC Current (Franch) vs Chicago Red Stars NWSL

10:30 pm Apple          LA Galaxy vs Houston

Thurs, June 15

2:30 pm FS1                        Spain vs Italy Nations League

7 pm CBSSN TUDN           Panama vs Canada

10 pm Para+,                      USMNT vs Mexico  Nations League Semi’s

Fri, June 16

2:45 pm FS1                Malta vs England Euro Quals

2:45 pm FS 2               Poland vs Germany

Sat, June 17

9 am FS1                     Lithuania vs Bulgaria  Euro Quals

12 pm FS1                   Norway vs Scottland Euro Quals

2:45 pm FS 2               Iceland vs Slovakia Euro Quals  

4 pm CBS                    San Diego (Morgan, Girma, Korniack) vs Angel City (Ertz, Thompson)

7 pm Para+                 NC Courage (Fox, Murphy) vs Orlando Pride (Marta) NWSL

7:30 pm ESPN+           Indy 11 @ Birmingham City

8:30 pm Apple             Nashville vs St Louis City

10:30 pm Apple           San Jose vs Portland Timbers

Sun, June 18

9 am FS1                     Nations League 3^rd place

2:45 pm ??                  Nations League Final ? 

4 pm CBS                    Racing Louisville vs NY Gothem (Williams, Ohara, Mewis) NWSL

6 pm Para+                 Chicago Red Stars vs Portland Thorns NWSL

6 pm Para+, TUDN      CONCACAF Nations League 3^rd Place

9 pm Para+, TUDN     CONCACAF Nations League Final ? Canada vs US/Mex

Sat, June 24

9:30 pm                                USMNT vs Jamaica (Soldier Field) Gold Cup

Wed, June 28

9:30 pm                                USMNT vs ??   St Louis Gold Cup

Sun, July 9

4 pm Fox?                           USWNT vs Wales  Send-off

5/7 pm Fox Sports?         USMNT Gold Cup Quarter Finals ?  in Cincy (tix avail)

Fri, July 21                           USWNT vs Vietnam Women’s World Cup

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Schedule

Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw

             

 

US Men

MLS 

A look at Zlatan Ibrahimović’s MLS career, pop culture influence as legend retires

LAFC’s Champions League final letdown leads to excuses and proof of Liga MX’s CONCACAF supremacy León vexes LAFC and takes CONCACAF Champions League title to Mexico
León beat LAFC to continue Mexican dominance of Concacaf Champions League

LAFC loses to León in CCL final
Late Lucho Acosta goal gives FC Cincinnati its 12th win | Replay

FA CUP

FA Cup final defeat clouds Manchester United’s season
Man Utd ‘broken’ after FA Cup final defeat, says Ten Hag
Ilkay Gundogan is Manchester City’s Zinedine Zidane — the ultimate big-game player
FA Cup final player ratings: John Stones dishes up masterclass as Jadon Sancho goes missing
Pep Guardiola after FA Cup win: Man City ‘can now talk about the treble
David De Gea has cost Man Utd and the club must move on
Manchester City beat Man United in FA Cup, one win from treble
Jadon Sancho shows why he is on borrowed time at Manchester United
English football rolled the dice one last time but could not stop Man City
Man City’s Gundogan scores fastest-ever FA Cup final goal
Man City’s Gundogan scores inside 13 seconds for quickest goal in an FA Cup final

WORLD 

Europe’s top soccer leagues: What was decided this weekend? Dale Johnson
Messi’s final game for PSG ends in defeat
‘Time to say goodbye’: Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic announces retirement from soccer at 41

‘I’ll see you around if you are lucky’
Ageing hero Ibrahimovic to leave Milan at season’s end
Nkunku helps Leipzig defend German Cup title
Julian Nagelsmann wants Thierry Henry to join him at PSG

Title changes hands 3 times in 5 minutes: You won’t find a wilder end to a season than in Belgium  Chris Wright

English teenager Jude Bellingham to join Real Madrid from Dortmund

US Ladies/World Cup/NWSL

Motherhood has given Julie Ertz a new appreciation for soccer and her career
The Teen Invasion of Women’s Pro Soccer Is Under Way
Boise native Sofia Huerta is on the World Cup roster bubble. She’s used to being there
Ali Riley Excited to Captain New Zealand at World Cup
Q&A: How Ashley Hatch prioritizes faith while chasing World Cup dreams
Racing Louisville FC, led by former NC Courage stars, pushing for first NWSL playoff berth
There could soon be a second pro women’s soccer league. Could that hurt the NWSL?

Barca win Champions League with stunning Wolfsburg comeback 3-2
Barcelona banishes past disappointments with dramatic Women’s Champions League victory
Barcelona wins Women’s Champions League with stunning comeback
My suffering worth it for Champions League win: Barca’s Putellas
With storming Champions League final comeback, Barcelona women cement themselves as the queens of soccer

Goalkeeping

Legendary Spanish Ref Retires

US GK Casey Murphy Great Save in NWSL

Former Indy 11 GK Jordan Farr of San Antonio Great Save

Reffing

Man it was a beautiful night of reffing at Trinity Park last Sat night under the lights with the Moon in the background with Justin B and Carl B from Fishers.

Carmel Dad’s Indy 11 Soccer Camp 6/12-6/15 Registration

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Heading over to the Badger Field for Training?  Try out the Best BarBQ in Town right across the street (131st) from Northview Church on the corner of Hazelldell & 131st. RackZ BBQ

Save 20% on your order 

(mention the ole ballcoach) 

Check out the BarBQ Ribs, pulled Pork and Chicken, Brisket and more.  Sweet, Tangy or Spicy sauce. Mention you heard about it from the Ole Ballcoach — and Ryan will give you 20% off your next meal. https://www.rackzbbqindy.com/ Call ahead at 317-688-7290  M-Th 11-8 pm, 11-9 Fri/Sat, 12-8 pm on Sunday.  Pick some up after practice – Its good eatin! You won’t be disappointed and tell ’em the Ole Ballcoach Sent You!  

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Lionel Messi to join MLS side Inter Miami after PSG exit despite Barcelona, Saudi Arabia interest

By The Athletic Staff 42m ago 31

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Lionel Messi has confirmed he is joining MLS side Inter Miami.

Messi revealed news of his move to the United States in an interview with Barcelona-based publications Mundo Deportivo and Sport.

He said: “I’ve made the decision that I’m going to Miami. It’s still not a done deal 100 per cent. I’m missing a few things but we’ve decided to keep going down the path.

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“If the Barcelona thing didn’t work out, I wanted to leave Europe, leave the spotlight and focus more on my family.

“I had a lot of hope that I’d be able to come back (to Barcelona), but after living what I lived through and the exit that I had (from Barcelona), I didn’t want to come back to be in the same situation: to wait and see what was going to happen or leave my future in the hands of another person.”

The Athletic reported on Tuesday that MLS and Inter Miami were solidifying details around the potential signing of the 35-year-old.

Messi left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season after his two-year contract with the Ligue 1 side expired. The World Cup winner, as reported earlier this week, had wanted his future to be resolved in the coming days.

Barcelona, whom Messi left to join PSG in the summer of 2021, had repeatedly expressed interest in re-signing the Argentina star.

The Catalan club also received approval from La Liga for their financial viability plan on Tuesday, allowing them to register new contracts and sign players, but significant financial hurdles remained at the Camp Nou as far as a Messi return was concerned.

Lionel Messi won the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar. Photo: Getty Images

Messi had also received a proposal from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, which had been on the table for several months and could have seen the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner command around €400 million a year.

The Gulf state announced huge reforms to its domestic league on Monday, prompting a fresh drive to lure high-profile names. Cristiano Ronaldo, once Messi’s great rival at Real Madrid, joined Al Nassr in January and Karim Benzema has just signed for Al Ittihad.

But The Athletic reported back in October that Inter Miami were increasingly confident in a pursuit that has spanned several years.

Messi would arguably be the most high-profile acquisition in the history of MLS and represent a huge coup as the United States gears up to jointly host the 2026 World Cup.

When will Messi move to Miami?

Analysis by Paul Tenorio, Felipe Cardenas and Pablo Maurer

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The question of when Messi makes his debut remains very much up in the air. The secondary transfer window for MLS opens up on July 5, which means that is the first day Messi would be available.

Miami has away games on July 8 and July 15 before playing at home on July 21 and July 25 in the Leagues Cup, MLS’s new venture with Liga MX.

Should Miami advance out of that group stage, they would have more Leagues Cup games. Their next MLS home game is not until August 20, at home against Charlotte FC.

They then play on the road at New York Red Bulls before welcoming Nashville SC to Ft. Lauderdale on August 30.

One source briefed on league discussions floated that the Leagues Cup game against Cruz Azul on July 21 could see Messi make his debut. Tickets for that game have since sold out.

Other sources have suggested Messi would wait to debut in regular-season MLS play, which would keep him off the field until late August.

The decision undoubtedly will have a huge impact on fans who already started snatching up tickets for the games beginning with that July 8 road match in D.C.

How are MLS and Inter Miami enticing Messi?

MLS’s offer to Messi involves contributions from the league’s two biggest commercial partners.

Multiple sources involved in or briefed on the high-level league discussions said earlier this week that MLS and Apple have discussed offering Messi a share of the revenue generated by new subscribers to MLS Season Pass, the league’s streaming package on Apple TV+. Both sides view Messi’s potential involvement in Major League Soccer as a boon; Apple and MLS signed a 10-year, $2.5billion agreement this spring. On Tuesday, Apple revealed that a four-part docuseries chronicling Messi’s five World Cup appearances would stream on Apple TV+.

AppleTV’s verified Twitter account tweeted the word ‘Miami’ on Wednesday, before the tweet was deleted.

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Adidas, which is among MLS’ largest corporate sponsors, has prepared its own potential arrangement to entice Messi to the United States, multiple sources briefed on those plans told The Athletic on Tuesday. Messi is being offered a profit-sharing agreement with the sportswear giant, those sources said, which would involve the player receiving a cut of any increase in Adidas’ profits resulting from his involvement in MLS.

Adidas has partnered with MLS since the league’s inception in 1996. The two sides renewed their partnership earlier this year, signing a six-year, $830million extension that runs through 2030. The German manufacturer supplies kits to all 29 MLS teams and also designs the league’s official match ball and is the league’s official footwear sponsor.

Messi himself has a long-standing relationship with Adidas, which started in 2006. In 2017, he signed a lifetime footwear sponsorship deal with the company.

Inter Miami — the lowdown

Inter Miami were established in 2018 and have been contesting MLS matches since 2020.

They are owned by brothers Jorge and Jose Mas alongside former England captain David Beckham, who played MLS football with LA Galaxy between 2007 and 2012 after more than a decade at Manchester United and four years at Real Madrid.

Inter Miami currently play at the 18,000-seater DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, but permission has been granted for construction to begin on Miami Freedom Park, a $1billion (£860m) stadium complex that will give Inter Miami a spectacular home.

The club endured a tumultuous period post-launch as they entered MLS during the COVID-19 pandemic and were later punished for breaking budget rules.

Their challenging spell has continued this term, with the franchise bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and currently seeking a new manager after sacking Phil Neville.

Messi to Inter Miami hot takes: What move to MLS means for the player, Barcelona and fans

• ESPN Jun 7, 2023, 02:43 PM ET

Lionel Messi, possibly the greatest soccer player of all time, is taking his talents to South Beach. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar announced on Wednesday that he is heading to MLS with Inter Miami CF as a free agent this summer.

The prospect of a player who led Argentina to the World Cup less than six months ago playing his club football in the United States has sent shock waves through the sport.

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What led Messi, the seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, to make the move stateside? What impact does such a stellar signing have on MLS and soccer in the U.S.? How does the disappointment of Messi not returning to Barcelona affect the club for whom he won 35 major trophies and whom he left as their record goal scorer? And will the forward’s fans, who regard him as the GOAT, follow him on his new journey?

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The big picture: Messi opts to conquer new ground than revisit his past

And so, he has decided. Major League Soccer has won the Lionel Messi Final Four bracket, defeating Saudi competition in the final after both advanced past romantic long shots: the financially hamstrung Barcelona, where he spent 21 years, and Newell’s Old Boys, the hometown team he supported as a boy.Messi’s contract with PSG expires at the end of this month, but really, more than a free agent signing, this move is more like a corporate joint venture between Inter Miami, MLS, the league’s broadcast rights holders (Apple), Adidas and the Lionel Andres Messi Corporation. We’ve been here before in 2007, when David Beckham — who, as if to prove the circularity of human existence, is a part-owner of Inter Miami) joined the LA Galaxy. And frankly, it would have been pretty much the same thing if he had opted for the Saudi Pro League, except there it would mostly be one source footing the bill: the country’s sovereign wealth fund.

(Indeed, in what to some may appear as a classic cart-before-the-horse move, Messi signed a reported $400 million contract with the Saudi tourism board … assuming he guaranteed them exclusivity, don’t expect him to be shilling for the delights of South Beach any time soon.)

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Messi milestone tracker: 800 goals, 300 assists (and counting), plus ALL his records23mChris Wright
• Ranking every team to win the treble: Are Barca, Bayern or Man United No. 1?6hChris Wright
• MLS Power Rankings: LAFC and FC Cincinnati lead the way, Miami stuck at rock bottom2dRyan Rosenblatt

Commercially, Messi will bring eyeballs to U.S. domestic soccer like nobody before him. More than Beckham, more than Zlatan Ibrahimovic — and for old-timers, more than Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer and Pele, if only because we live in a far more connected world today. Messi is not a natural pitchman, lacking both Ibrahimovic’s quotability and Beckham’s charisma, but hey: he’s Messi. He delivered the World Cup for Argentina less than six months ago, he has seven Ballons d’Or at home (winning the last of those 18 months ago) and he has scored more than 800 goals for club and country in his career.

He’s not the first legit GOAT candidate to play in North America because Pele was there in the 1970s, but the key difference is that half a century later, Messi will land in a very different country — one that is more diverse and more soccer-savvy, and one where he’s seen as a legitimate athlete, not a guy who plays the sport because he’s too uncoordinated to play baseball, too small to play basketball and too weak to play football.You also suspect that Messi can deliver on the pitch. His two years at PSG ended in acrimony, with Messi booed by his own fans and most seeing his stint as a gigantic waste of money. He turns 36 in a couple of weeks and has neither the stamina, nor acceleration, he once had. In fact, he spends much of the game literally at walking pace: he doesn’t press at all and the team has to be built around him. Yet he still delivered a league-leading 14 assists while scoring 16 goals, none of them from the penalty spot, for PSG. That’s because, interspersed with his placid strolls around the pitch, are sudden bursts of genius and acceleration that still befuddle most opponents, the sort of thing you can keep doing even into your late 30s. (Well, if you’re Messi anyway.)

Maybe it was inevitable that, having finally conquered the World Cup, he would opt to conquer a new world rather than revisit his past, ultimately plumping for North America over the Gulf. Fans in North America should count themselves lucky. Because if you attend the right MLS game, you may be able to one day tell your grandkids that you saw Messi in the flesh. Just like your dad tells you he saw Michael Jordan, your grandfather tells you he saw Muhammad Ali and your great-grandfather tells you he saw Babe Ruth.That’s the category of superstar in which Messi exists. — Marcotti

Messi can take MLS to the moon — and beyond

Securing one of the biggest prizes in world soccer in Messi provides a surge of rocket fuel to an organization that is in desperate need of a lift.

Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas has been angling to acquire Messi practically from the moment he and co-owners Beckham and Jose Mas were awarded the team in 2018. Now he has his man.

There will be inevitable comparisons to when MLS convinced Beckham to join the Galaxy in 2007, and there are similarities in that there are financial incentives beyond salary that helped cinch the deal.

In Beckham’s case it was a discounted price on an MLS expansion team, which in a bit of serendipity became Inter Miami. Sources confirmed a report from The Athletic that Messi has an option to acquire an ownership stake in Inter Miami, although a source with knowledge of the situation said it will not come at a discount like Beckham’s deal did.service is being offered to Messi. Any agreement involving Adidas would strictly be between the player and the company, and it wouldn’t directly involve MLS, despite the German company outfitting the league’s clubs exclusively since 2006.

All of that said, the times — and needs — of MLS are different. When Beckham signed on in 2007, MLS was still trying to get off the launch pad with just 13 teams. His arrival not only set the stage for other stars such as Thierry Henry and Kaka to come over, but also helped accelerate an expansion boom that by next season will have reached 30 teams.

Messi’s arrival is poised to take MLS to the moon, or even beyond. He is arguably the greatest player who ever lived, something Beckham never was.

The league has been laying the foundation for this move for years, with the increased continental footprint combining well with the global reach of its recent broadcast rights deal with Apple TV. With the 2026 World Cup set to take place in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, the potential is there to greatly increase revenues for all parties involved in the deal.

As for Inter Miami, Messi is a massive antidote for a last-place team who have struggled to generate quality chances, with their expected goal (xG) mark of 0.82 per 90 minutes the worst in the league. If former teammate Sergio Busquets also arrives, so much the better, although there will need to be some adapting to a league that is several notches below what they are accustomed to, not to mention the weather and travel demands. The sight of Messi playing in an 18,000-seat stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will take some getting used to.

Why Lionel Messi heading to MLS would make sense

Rodri Faez explains why Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami in MLS would make more sense than a move to Saudi Pro League.

Yet there is certainly an “others will follow” type of vibe to Messi’s arrival. If that’s the case, money should follow as well. — Carlisle

Messi couldn’t wait for Barcelona again

Barcelona supporters and even some of the club’s hierarchy were split when the possibility of Messi returning surfaced. There were those who thought, after blooding a new generation of youngsters and winning a first LaLiga title since 2019, it was time to turn the page as Messi approaches the end of his career.

There were others, though, who were caught up in the romance of a homecoming for the club’s greatest ever player. Forced to leave in 2021 because Barca could not afford to register the contract they had offered him, this was a chance for Messi to say goodbye properly to fans who have chanted his name in the 10th minute of every home game at Spotify Camp Nou since March. Besides, there is an overwhelming argument to be made that he remains among the best players in the world. Six months ago he led Argentina to the World Cup, while he registered 21 goals and 20 assists across all competitions for PSG this season.

What at first seemed a pipe dream slowly began to feel like a reality. Even some supporters who had been happy to pass on Messi got on board with the idea that, as the club’s vice president Rafa Yuste said at any opportunity, love stories should have beautiful endings.

At the centre of the charm offensive was Barca coach Xavi Hernandez. Throughout the past two weeks, he has made it clear across several interviews that he wanted Messi back, that the forward would provide the missing creativity in the final third and that, with Xavi’s help, Messi would get his fairy-tale ending at the club.

With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps it was a last throw of the dice from Xavi, aware that the chances of bringing him back were slipping away. They slipped away because, like in 2021, Barca could offer no guarantees they would be able to register his contract.

Regardless of what Messi actually earned, LaLiga would have factored his salary in at around €25 million, based on his previous contracts. Barca, who can only spend 40% of what they save or earn because of financial restrictions imposed by the league for exceeding their spending cap, would need to raise more than €60m to inscribe Messi. It could have been possible by August, maybe even July, but certainly not now.

fter waiting in 2021, Messi could not face such uncertainty again. In the immediate aftermath of the news, his move to Miami feels almost like a second Barca exit given all the hope that had been generated in recent weeks. — Marsden

The fan’s perspective: Messi’s arrival a catalyst for growing fan base

Aside from the business standpoint, it’s important to see the significance of Messi’s move to Inter Miami and MLS as a rocket-ship-sized needle-mover for the league and the overall U.S. fan base. The stars are aligning in so many ways that it’s creating a proverbial constellation. Miami, the Latin American capital of the world, will welcome Messi; his wife, Antonella; and their children like adopted royalty, and his presence alone will be another factor — perhaps the biggest — in driving the soccer market in America, where the sport is already rivaling the top three most popular in the nation.

There are millions of children in the U.S. who wear “Messi” shirts as opposed to Patrick Mahomes or Steph Curry. It’s not coincidental. Soccer in America is a growing mountain, and Messi is arriving in a league with developing markets, a massive distributor in Apple, a competitive nature and a city where he doesn’t even need to learn English, one that celebrates the flavor of Latin American and immigrant culture. Oh, and a country that’s hosting the World Cup in 2026.

That’s why this is a major move for the U.S.-based soccer fan. There is already a growing community of fans, especially young ones, whose idol has been Messi. Now, they can see him live across the country. The same goes with the impact of those who want to play the sport and see Messi as a promoter of the beautiful game. Not forgetting that this does wonders for up-and-comers such as his Argentina teammate and Atlanta United midfielder Thiago Almada, and how we might see even more talented players from all over the world — specifically South America — arrive to the league. Argentina’s federation also plans to build a brand-new training facility in Miami, making it the nation’s hub in the U.S.

MLS is the most diverse sports league in North America. With Messi, the impact will be that much bigger. In 2007, Beckham aggressively moved and affected the trajectory of MLS with his arrival to the Galaxy. Now, as Inter Miami owner, he is once again responsible for pushing it to even higher altitudes with the arrival of his friend, Messi. — EchegarayHow signing Lionel Messi will impact Inter Miami, MLS and American soccer

The Athletic Soccer staffJun 7, 2023

A previous version of this piece was published in November 2022. We have updated it here in light of Lionel Messi’s announcement that he will sign for Inter Miami of MLS.

By Pablo Maurer, Jeff Rueter and Felipe Cárdenas

After David Beckham and his Inter Miami partners were awarded MLS’s 25th franchise in late January 2018, the man who revolutionized the league as a player for LA Galaxy shared a video message from Lionel Messi on his Instagram account.“Who knows, maybe in a few years you will give me a call,” Messi concluded after congratulating Beckham on the new project.Six years later, Messi’s video message has come to fruition, as he announced that he will sign for Inter Miami despite offers from Saudi Arabia and Barcelona.It took a lot more than a friendly invitation to get the Argentine superstar stateside, though. Miami and MLS have laid out a king’s ransom for the recent World Cup champion, who many peg as the greatest player in the history of the game. Messi will reportedly get a piece of MLS and Apple’s broadcast partnership, and Adidas, among the league’s oldest sponsors, is also said to be chipping in to bring the Argentine to Miami. Undoubtedly, he will be the highest-paid player in the history of MLS.

No player transaction in MLS history has ever been rife with as much drama and uncertainty as Messi’s move to Miami. Over the past six years, Miami’s ownership has never shied away from their interest. In 2021, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas told The Athletic, “David and I are working very hard at making something like that happen, which I think is not only transformational for Miami, but I think for the league.”Across MLS, others mirrored his sentiment. The league’s commissioner, Don Garber, said in March that the league was prepared to get creative to lure Messi, a once-in-a-lifetime talent.Miami, of course, were not the only ones interested. Paris St-Germain made their own attempts to keep Messi, and Barcelona made a play as well. Maybe the biggest threat to any MLS deal came from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, who offered a reported $400 million per year for Messi’s services.

In the end, Messi chose MLS.

Pele acknowledges the crowd in Giants Stadium (Photo: George Tiedemann /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Messi’s arrival in the U.S. will be the latest in what has been a trend of transformational footballers advancing American soccer with their presence, starting with Pele in the 1970s and continuing with Beckham in the 2000s.No single player in the history of American men’s soccer has had as seismic an effect on the trajectory of the game in this country as Pele. The Brazilian legend famously joined the New York Cosmos of the nascent North American Soccer League in 1975. The Cosmos, backed by the corporate might of media empire Warner Communications, were seeking to do what no other soccer club in American history has ever done: make soccer truly, deeply relevant in this country. For a brief time, it appeared as though they might succeed.Pele’s mere presence with the Cosmos certainly had some short-term benefits: the club’s average home attendance increased from around 3,500 fans in 1975 to around 45,000 by the time of his departure after the 1977 season. Three times, the Cosmos drew over 70,000 fans to watch Pele at Giants Stadium, an unheard of feat in that era. Think about it this way: after his departure, there were some teams in the league whose attendance for an entire season was lower than what the Cosmos drew for a single game during Pele’s tenure.

Away matches featuring the Cosmos became featured attractions; his presence attracted other giants of the game to the NASL — George Best, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and more. What Pele could not do, however, was save the NASL. His outsized impact on the Cosmos inspired an upward trend in spending that would eventually contribute to the demise of the league in 1984.

Pele’s impact, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was generational. In the 1970s, when Cosmos president Clive Toye approached the Brazilian in an attempt to lure him to the States, he made a fairly simple pitch — you’ve won many games and many trophies. In the United States, you have a chance to win an entire country over and be a soccer missionary.

In a way, it worked. Though the NASL collapsed, the kids who watched Pele during his three-year stay in the United States became the U.S.’s first great generation of soccer players, the pioneers who qualified for the 1990 World Cup and featured four years later in the 1994 edition of the tournament on home soil. From the wreckage of the NASL, the founders of Major League Soccer — some of whom had also owned NASL clubs — learned their own lessons. They chose a more reasonable path of financial prudence, one that helped keep the league alive for nearly twice as long as the NASL ever existed.

Beckham waves to fans after playing his last game for LA Galaxy (Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

All of this meant that when Beckham arrived in MLS in 2007, the league was better equipped to make the most of their new global superstar than the NASL ever was. That season, the league had 13 teams, just three more than its inaugural season in 1996 — including newcomers Toronto FC, who paid a $10 million (£8.7m) expansion fee to join MLS — and an average league-wide attendance of 16,770 (over three million in total).In 2023, MLS has 29 teams — including newcomers St Louis City SC – with a 30th on the way in San Diego.That supercharged growth is largely thanks to Beckham.“Without doubt, MLS has more global awareness than at any other time in our history and has more legitimacy in the United States because of David,” MLS commissioner Don Garber told the New York Times in November 2007. “Every measure of our business has grown because of him. We have sold more than 300,000 Beckham Los Angeles Galaxy jerseys, which was 700 times the number of Galaxy jerseys sold in 2006. Merchandise sales overall have gone up two or three times. International TV sales have gone up from next to nothing to distribution in 100 countries, with live games in Asia and Mexico.”Messi’s presence in MLS could potentially have a similar effect on league-wide attendance, international exposure, merchandise sales and in attracting other talented players as Pele and Beckham before him, even though he is joining a league that’s in a stronger position than either of his predecessors. It is difficult to imagine that any MLS stadium would not be full to watch a man that many peg as the greatest player in the history of the game. If anything, MLS’ soccer-specific stadiums, many of which hold 18,000 to 30,000 people, might not be big enough to maximize gate revenue when Messi comes to town, given that crowds of 60,000 to 80,000 turned out to see Messi on a Barcelona pre-season tour in 2017.It feels possible that some MLS clubs would consider hosting Inter Miami matches in larger venues – local NFL or college stadiums – though that remains to be seen. It’s also a tricky calculus. Do those teams surrender a potential home field advantage in exchange for a cash windfall? Prices on the secondary market for Miami matches across MLS have already begun to rise.MLS clubs could also simply raise the prices of the seats in their undersized stadiums to match demand, something that feels entirely possible.The economic impact Messi would have on Inter Miami alone is its own story.

If the numbers PSG reported during Messi’s stay in Paris were any indication, Inter Miami will become among the most popular brands in American sports. According to a report from Marca, PSG generated €700million in revenue over the course of one year after his arrival.

The report cites an investigation by Argentine outlet El Economista, which reported that since Messi joined the club, PSG had added 10 new sponsorship deals ranging from €3m to €8m each. Image rights and match day sales also skyrocketed, as did demand for Messi’s No. 30 PSG shirt. In July 2021, Diario Ole in Argentina revealed that only Real Madrid had sold more shirts than PSG since Messi’s arrival in France, with 60 percent of PSG shirts sold being Messi’s.

On social media, PSG saw its following increase astronomically. PSG gained 5.6 million followers the week after announcing Messi’s signing and have since added 15 million new followers across its social media platforms. PSG also became the most followed French company on Instagram. Messi’s personal Instagram following of 468 million dwarfs LeBron James’ 154 million and Tom Brady’s 14 million.

Messi’s departure had it’s own effect on the brand: PSG lost 2 million followers on Instagram in the weeks after it became clear he wouldn’t return.

“He is the most impactful player on the planet. Moving to any MLS club would fundamentally change the fabric of the league,” AJ Swoboda, managing director for the Americas at sports consultancy Twenty First Group, told The Athletic’s Matt Slater in 2021.

Messi is a marketer’s dream. Not only could he significantly alter the brand equity of both Inter Miami and MLS, but he seems likely to boost his personal interests, as well. Particularly as North America prepares to host the 2026 World Cup and more money than ever before is poured into the game by businesses operating in the U.S. The group that put together North America’s 2026 hosting bid projects the newly expanded, 48-team event will make $14 billion in revenue for FIFA — a massive increase on the $235 million in rebuke generated by the last World Cup hosted in the US in 1994.

By establishing a substantial presence in the U.S., Messi seems set to become an even greater focus for sponsorship dollars. He could even follow in Beckham’s footsteps further by owning an MLS club himself one day — perhaps one in Las Vegas. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that MLS and Inter Miami’s offer to Messi included the option to purchase part of an MLS team after leaving the league or retiring as a player.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=nYLYSjhH7Ow%3Ffeature%3Doembed

The timing of his arrival feels perfect for MLS.2023 marked the beginning of what the league is billing as a groundbreaking 10-year broadcast agreement with Apple. Every one of the league’s matches is broadcast on MLS Season Pass, the a streaming service contained within Apple TV+.The foundation of MLS’s $2.5 billion agreement with Apple rests on subscription sales, a portion of which could go to Messi as part of his deal according to The Athletic’s recent reporting. Apple has made slightly more than 40 percent of its MLS inventory available for free to anyone with an internet connection this year, but the remaining nearly 60 percent of MLS games are only available to Season Pass subscribers.MLS long had poor viewership for its nationally broadcast matches under previous media rights deals with traditional cable and over-the-air networks. According to Sports Business Journal, average MLS regular season viewership fell six percent on the Fox family of networks to 198,000 per game last year. Spanish-language telecasts on the Univision networks dipped 14 percent to 244,0000 from 2021. Average viewership for MLS matches on ESPN’s English-language networks grew by 12 percent, but that figure was driven by a doubling of the number of matches shown on the ABC broadcast network. The average viewership for matches on ABC actually went down by seven percent to 469,000 this season, while average viewership on ESPN fell two percent to 252,000 in 2022.

What was once a small domestic market feels much larger with the presence of Messi. What’s more, the league and Apple have both touted the availability of Season Pass abroad, another potential revenue stream for Apple. Messi alone will no doubt get a decent amount of new subscribers through the door.

Inter Miami play at the temporary DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

And then there are on-field matters. To put it lightly, Inter Miami won’t have the supporting cast that Messi enjoys with his national team or PSG, or anything like the assembly line of quality young players he elevated at Barcelona. In fact, following the imposed sanctions for breaking the league’s budget rules and assessments that Inter Miami “launched a brand, not a team,” Miami has plummeted to the bottom of the league. Phil Neville, the club’s most recent manager, was sacked last week. Inter, who are led by interim head coach Javi Morales, are currently in discussions with former Atlanta United head coach Tata Martino for a permanent job. It feels like a very Messi-oriented hire.

Current Paraguay national team coach and former Galaxy boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto, a Messi family friend and an MLS legend as a player, set a unique set of parameters that an MLS side would have to meet in order to lure the Argentine to the league.

“(In MLS) I’d expect him to play for one of the teams in Los Angeles, Miami or on a team with an Argentine influence — someone who can work closely with him, whether that’s a coach or an executive,” Barros Schelotto told The Athletic before Messi signed with PSG.

So does Messi make Miami instant MLS Cup favorites? Vegas will likely say so, but the realistic answer is no.

Those sanctions against Inter Miami extend through the end of this year, leaving the club hamstrung to retool the squad in certain ways. That, more than anything else, will likely keep them from being MLS Cup favorites until 2024 at the soonest. This year appears to be a wash, though in MLS, where nine teams make the postseason in each conference, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that Inter could turn things around.“But it’s Messi!” some will say. However, history has shown that one individual alone can’t conquer MLS like an NBA superstar might.Take Beckham as an example. He joined LA Galaxy at a time when an MLS team’s best path to contention was to build through the American college soccer system. He had a worthy attacking ace in Landon Donovan at the height of his powers — and he still didn’t win the MLS Cup until his fifth season with the team. Thierry Henry joined a perennial contender in the New York Red Bulls and didn’t even make it to the MLS Cup final. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was irresistibly prolific in front of goal during his two seasons with the Galaxy, but MLS remains the only league in which he’s played without winning a major trophy.The best comparison to Messi joining Miami in the summer window would be one from recent memory. Toronto FC made Lorenzo Insigne the highest-paid player in league history when he left Napoli to collect $14 million per season last year. The Euro 2020-winning winger was joined by Italy team-mate Federico Bernardeschi and former international left-back Domenico Criscito, but after starting the season so poorly before the Italian cavalry arrived, Bob Bradley’s side finished as the league’s second-worst in 2022.This year, things have gone from bad to worse. Bernadeschi and Insigne’s relationship with each other – and with the club as a whole – has soured. Toronto, which has the highest payroll in MLS, are arguably the league’s worst team.Simply having the best player in the league isn’t a guarantee of success on the pitch. In fact, only two of the last 14 MVP winners played for the eventual MLS Cup winner (Robbie Keane of LA Galaxy in 2014, Josef Martinez of Atlanta United in 2018).Messi will instantly make Miami appointment viewing, fill the club and league’s coffers and influence a new generation of American fans and players, but don’t think his presence alone will automatically turn Miami into an MLS Cup winner.(Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images; Design: Sam Richardson)

Why Lionel Messi didn’t return to Barcelona – despite both wanting a deal

By Pol Ballús

Jun 7, 2023

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Barcelona was Lionel Messi’s preferred option from all the offers he had on the table and Barcelona senior sources were desperate to get him back. But like every team that wanted to sign Messi — and any transfer Barcelona have wanted to do over the past two summers — it was not that simple.

He has now moved to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami instead.

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“I had offers from another European team, but I didn’t even consider it because my idea in Europe was only to return to Barcelona,” Messi said in an interview with Sport and Mundo Deportivo. “After winning the World Cup and not being able to join Barcelona, it was time to go to MLS and live football from another perspective, enjoying more my daily life. Obviously, I’ll have the same responsibility on my job and desire to win everything and doing things right. But being more calm.”

Last week, Barcelona sources, who were granted anonymity as they did not have permission to discuss this transfer, indicated it would be very difficult to complete a deal for Messi. Barcelona could not, as it stood, offer Messi guarantees that he would be registered with the club.

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What awaits Lionel Messi in MLS with Inter Miami?

This has been an ongoing issue for Barcelona. La Liga has rules around salary caps. If a team goes over their allotted amount — which is based on financial performance in recent seasons — they are unable to register a player and therefore unable to use them in the league. It does not matter if they are able to pay them or not.

This was the issue when Messi left Barcelona in 2021. He had agreed a new contract but because of the salary cap rule they were unable to register him — and therefore he had to leave. He ended up joining Paris Saint-Germain.

It did not end with Messi’s exit. Last summer, Barcelona signed Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde. Lewandowski, Kessie, Christensen and Raphinha were only registered in the days before the season began after Barcelona activated a series of ‘economic levers’. Kounde was registered just before the window closed.

La Liga has recently approved Barcelona’s viability plan for next season but with some conditions. They are still above their salary limit. In order to keep reducing the limit, La Liga will only allow Barcelona to spend 40 per cent of any money they raise through sales and loans on new signings. For example, if they sell a player who reduces their salary bill by €100million, they would be able to register a player with a €40m salary.

(Photo: Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The viability plan being approved means they can now register new contracts for Gavi, Ronald Araujo, Sergi Roberto and Marcos Alonso. It also means they can confirm the arrival of defender Inigo Martinez from Athletic Bilbao.

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Barcelona, therefore, had to find further capacity to sign Messi. And they had very little time to do so.

Messi had already verbally agreed with the club that he would have a salary of approximately €25m (£21m) a year. This means they would have needed to free up around £70m in salaries to register him.

That’s a lot for Barcelona to do at speed and Messi clearly wanted to make a swift decision about his future. Barcelona would have struggled to close big sales like that in the near future, as head coach Xavi has not even spoken to the players he’d like to leave. Ferran Torres, Franck Kessie and Ansu Fati could be among those players.

After returning from their friendly in Japan, Xavi essentially told the players he would see them on July 10 when pre-season begins. While conversations are still expected to happen sooner rather than later, they were not soon enough to influence Messi’s decision.

The only way Barcelona would have been able to complete a deal for Messi is if he had decided to wait for them. This would have given them the time to sell the players they need to. Xavi essentially said this in recent interviews when he pointed out that Messi had “99 per cent of the power”. This did not impress people close to Messi, who thought it added pressure to a situation the player was growing tired over.

There was serious risk involved in waiting for Messi. His last experience of dealing with Barcelona served as a severe warning and reduced his trust levels with the club. The trauma from that would leave him with little confidence they would be able to do that.

Just two years ago, Barcelona only told him at the last minute he would have to leave as they could not register him. In a mirror-image of those events, a crucial meeting between Laporta and Jorge Messi took place just before Barcelona landed in Japan for Tuesday’s friendly against Vissel Kobe.

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A source close to Messi, who has been kept anonymous as they did not have permission to speak about this decision, said: “If in 2021 the relationship (between Barcelona and) La Liga looked more or less fine and, eventually, they kicked us out; what can we expect now when their relationships are going through, reportedly, a rough patch?”

Messi said last night: “I wanted to come back, but at the same time with the way I left the club, I did not want to find myself in the same situation, which was waiting for whatever can happen and leave my future to someone else’s hands.”

There was also another concern for Messi. Barcelona are already executing cost-cutting actions within the club in order to fight against their financial problems. Regular employees from several departments at Barcelona were concerned about their job security, while the club have also planned a 15 per cent cut across the other sports they play — which include basketball, handball, hockey and futsal.

Messi’s camp highlighted over the past few weeks how unpleasant it would be to have his name tied to this. He has a special relationship with Barca TV, the club’s in-house network which is going to shut down in the summer. Barca TV recorded his first clips playing for Barcelona as a youngster and his first interviews. He has had good relationships with Barca TV employees over the years.

“I heard Barcelona had to sell players or make pay cuts and the truth is I didn’t wanna go through that or feel responsible about something like this,” he said in confirming his move to Miami.

Due to all of his concerns, Messi’s camp has now moved quickly to sort out his future with guarantees, less than a week after his exit from Paris Saint-Germain was first made clear.

This might seem odd, given president Joan Laporta and Messi’s father, Jorge, met on Monday. It now looks as though it was partly a desperate attempt for a last-minute solution but also a matter of optics. It’s a good look for Barcelona if they make it seem like they put in every effort to make a deal happen, even if it was impossible. It also makes it clear to the world — at least on the surface — that the Messi family love Barcelona and how keen the player was to return to his footballing ‘home’.

Instead, he will now move to Inter Miami and play in MLS, following in the footsteps of other greats like Pele and David Beckham in moving to the United States.

While Messi will not make an emotional return to Barcelona this summer, it is clearly not for a lack of desire or trying on either part. His future has ultimately come down to Barcelona’s finances and La Liga rules — much like his exit in 2021.

Inter Miami pushing to land Lionel Messi over Barcelona, per sources

By The Athletic Staff

Jun 6, 2023

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By Paul Tenorio, Felipe Cardenas and Pablo Maurer

Major League Soccer and Inter Miami are solidifying details around the potential signing of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

Multiple sources briefed on the negotiations said there is growing hope that Inter Miami could close a deal to bring the World Cup winner to MLS as soon as this summer. Those sources also warned that confidence in a deal with Messi has fluctuated week to week and even day to day. All sources in this story were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss ongoing negotiations.

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One source briefed on the high-level league discussions said MLS executives were told Messi’s decision is down to Inter Miami or Barcelona and that joining a club from Saudi Arabia is “not under consideration.” That same source mentioned a potential date for Messi’s MLS debut, should he sign: Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Mexican side Cruz Azul on July 21, currently set to be held at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium.

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Summer transfer window on The Athletic…

• Follow live updates on Lionel Messi’s next move
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Reports about Messi’s imminent decision have emerged from Europe, South America and Asia, and have run the gamut this week, but momentum seems to have shifted toward Inter Miami in recent days.

“The league has gotten very creative with all of this,” one MLS stakeholder said of a potential deal to bring Messi to MLS on Tuesday morning. “Everything is on the table.”

MLS’s offer to Messi involves contributions from the league’s two biggest commercial partners.

Multiple sources involved in or briefed on the high-level league discussions said earlier this week that MLS and Apple have discussed offering Messi a share of the revenue generated by new subscribers to MLS Season Pass, the league’s streaming package on Apple TV+. Both sides view Messi’s potential involvement in Major League Soccer as a boon; Apple and MLS signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion agreement this spring. On Tuesday, Apple revealed that a four-part docuseries chronicling Messi’s five World Cup appearances would stream on Apple TV+.

Adidas, which is among MLS’ largest corporate sponsors, has prepared its own potential arrangement to entice Messi to the United States, multiple sources briefed on those plans told The Athletic on Tuesday. Messi is being offered a profit-sharing agreement with the sportswear giant, those sources said, which would involve the player receiving a cut of any increase in Adidas’ profits resulting from his involvement in MLS.

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Adidas has partnered with MLS since the league’s inception in 1996. The two sides renewed their partnership earlier this year, signing a six-year, $830 million extension that runs through 2030. The German manufacturer supplies kits to all 29 MLS teams and also designs the league’s official match ball and is the league’s official footwear sponsor.

Messi himself has a long-standing relationship with Adidas, which started in 2006. In 2017, he signed a lifetime footwear sponsorship deal with the company.

Sources across the league who have been briefed on talks varied in their confidence level of whether Inter Miami and MLS would be able to win the race to sign Messi. One source classified it as 50-50. Another said even Inter Miami team executives are split on whether they think it will happen. The negotiations are being led by Inter Miami owners Jorge and Jose Mas, those sources said.

Messages left for Inter Miami spokespeople and Jorge and Jose Mas were not returned as of publication.

Messi’s deal likely would include the option to purchase a percentage of an MLS team upon the end of his time as a player in MLS, multiple sources briefed on the discussions said. That would at least resemble David Beckham’s contract with the LA Galaxy, which gave him the option to purchase an MLS expansion team for $25 million. That option eventually became Inter Miami.

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‘We launched a brand, not a team’: Inside Inter Miami’s disastrous start in MLS

Miami has been hoping to sign Messi almost since its inception. When the expansion team was officially announced in 2018, Messi posted a video on social media congratulating Beckham and saying, “Who knows, maybe in a few years you can give me a ring.” The club has worked to build up connections to Messi and even has links to his longtime club, Barcelona. Miami’s chief business officer is Xavier Asensi, the former Barcelona chief commercial officer and member of the Spanish club’s executive board. In April, Beckham, who finished his playing career with Paris Saint-Germain, visited the club’s training facility and was photographed with Messi, which fueled rumors about the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s potential arrival to MLS.

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Should Messi come to Miami, he could be greeted by a familiar face. Multiple sources involved in or briefed on Miami’s coaching search confirmed to The Athletic that preliminary talks have taken place between Inter Miami and Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who is currently without a job after leaving his post with the Mexico national team in December.

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Miami is currently led by interim head coach Javier Morales. The club’s previous coach, Phil Neville, was fired last week.

GO DEEPER

What went wrong for Phil Neville at Inter Miami, by the numbers

Martino, 60, coached Messi and Argentina to consecutive Copa América final appearances, including the 2016 edition that was held in the U.S. Martino also managed Messi at Barcelona from 2013-2014.

Martino won an MLS Cup as manager of Atlanta United in 2018. Despite disagreements with Atlanta’s sporting department regarding player signings, Martino led the two-year-old club to a league title in 2018, his second and final season in MLS. His influence on player recruitment was paramount to Atlanta United’s immediate success.

A source close to Martino, who requested anonymity due to the nature of their relationship, told The Athletic that Messi and Martino got along fine when they worked together. They weren’t close and they weren’t distant either, the source said. Seven years later, both player and manager have matured in different ways. Messi, once considered a failure with his national team, is now a World Cup champion. Martino is coming off a tumultuous four-year campaign with Mexico with a keen interest in returning to MLS. Inter Miami declined to comment on potential coaching candidates.

“MLS is my weakness,” Martino told The Athletic in April. “I was part of an extraordinary project with Atlanta United that had a clear direction, a lot of communication and similar objectives that were established very quickly and executed. After coaching in MLS, I became attracted to it. I like the league. The possibility of returning to MLS is always there.”

MLS commissioner Don Garber told The Athletic in March it would likely take a creative deal — like the one Beckham had when he joined the LA Galaxy in 2007 — for the league to land Messi.

“You’re dealing with perhaps the most special player in the history of the game,” Garber said of Messi. “So when there are rumors of him connected to Miami, that’s great. And if it could happen, it would be terrific for MLS, it would be terrific for Messi and his family, and like everything with us, we try to run every opportunity down. I can’t give any more details than that because we don’t have them.”

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Messi signed a two-year deal with PSG last season after spending the previous 17 years with Barcelona. The French side won its 11th Ligue 1 title this season, with Messi netting 16 goals with 16 assists in 32 league games. He added four goals over seven games in Champions League play. PSG reached the Round of 16 in Champions League in 2022-23 before falling to Bayern Munich.

Last month, he was suspended for two weeks by PSG for taking an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia. Saudi club Al-Hilal is also in the running for Messi’s signature, having offered a deal reportedly worth over $400 million per year.

Inter Miami, founded in 2018, is co-owned by Beckham. It went 14-6-14 last season, finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference, and is 5-0-11 this year. Even before they kicked a ball, Inter Miami was expected to eventually field a team of stars, an MLS version of Galácticos. This was due mostly to comments that Mas has made publicly.

“David and I have been working really hard, we have aspirations of bringing the best players here and Leo Messi is a generational player, arguably the best player of all time,” Mas told the Miami Herald in 2021. “I am optimistic Messi will play in an Inter Miami shirt because I think it will complete the legacy of the greatest player in our generation and will meet with the ambitions of the owners of Inter Miami to build a world class team.”

The reality has been much different. Yes, Miami has fielded World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi and former Argentina and Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuaín. But players like Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodríguez, Radamel Falcao, Antoine Griezmann, Marco Verratti, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and others have amounted to rumors or deals that fell well short of reality. Inter Miami needs a big star or the fans in South Florida won’t show up on match day.

GO DEEPER

Will Lionel Messi come to MLS? In Miami, everyone has something to say

“This town wants to be turned on, you know what I mean?” Neville said in February. “I think this club is far from working-class. It’s got to have a little bit of glitz and glamor. It’s gotta aim for the moon rather than the stars. That comes with the location that we’re in. The people of Miami want to be turned on. They want South Beach.”

Neville didn’t last to see whether Messi will in fact come to MLS. He did, however, have an opinion on the impact his signing would have on the league.

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“I think it goes bigger than Inter Miami,” said Neville. “It’s big for the MLS. I think this would be probably the biggest signing, ever. I think if we have the opportunity to sign Messi and if he does come to this football club — and I don’t think we can hide away from the fact that we are probably in the ballpark, probably in the hunt, is that we have to be prepared for that.”

Christian Pulisic and Chelsea have run their course – so where next for the USMNT star?

Liam Twomey and Paul Tenorio Jun 7, 2023

With 88 minutes on the clock against Newcastle on the Premier League’s final day, the fourth official held up his No 10 and Christian Pulisic ran onto the Stamford Bridge pitch, likely for the last time as a Chelsea player.His arrival was greeted with lukewarm cheers and an audible smattering of boos.ADVERTISEMENT

During his short time in that match, the American forward touched the ball just three times but still found himself in a position to score a late winner, played in by Raheem Sterling’s pass. His low shot was saved by Martin Dubravka and, at the next break in play, he cupped his hands behind his head with a grimace, before sinking to his knees and staring at the turf.

It would have been only Pulisic’s second league goal of what has been comfortably his most frustrating and least productive season at Chelsea. He ranked 20th in the squad for minutes played across all competitions in 2022-23, putting him behind January loan signing Joao Felix, January departure Jorginho and Edouard Mendy, who lost the No 1 goalkeeper spot to Kepa Arrizabalaga in September.

There have been other signs beyond the numbers in recent months that suggest this particular relationship has run its course.

Warming up on the Molineux touchline as he readied himself to come on in Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers in April, Pulisic was abused by some in the away section. A similar scene played out as outgoing caretaker manager Frank Lampard led his players on a muted lap of appreciation around Stamford Bridge after the Newcastle draw.

(Photo: Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

“It’s been an interesting journey at the club level for me,” Pulisic said while on USMNT duty this week. “I had what I thought was a great couple of years and the last couple of years just haven’t gone at all how I planned them to be.”

The source of the antipathy towards Pulisic from some in the Chelsea fanbase is hard to pinpoint. His perceived criticism of hugely popular former head coach Thomas Tuchel in his 2022 book went down badly with many. Some of it may also be a reaction to the hype that continues to surround him across the Atlantic as the face of American soccer — hype that he largely justified with a series of impressive displays at the World Cup in Qatar.

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Perhaps it is simply born of frustration that, after a blistering end to the COVID-19-affected 2019-20 season that appeared to herald the emergence of a new Chelsea talisman, Pulisic has never come particularly close to recapturing such form. His direct goal contributions (goals and assists) per 90 minutes in the Premier League recovered a little in 2021-22 before sinking to new depths last season.

It must be noted, however, that virtually all of the other attackers at Stamford Bridge have also been on downward trajectories by the same metric over the same period…

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Ever since Tuchel’s appointment in January 2021, Pulisic has had to manage a sense of grievance at not being given the same level of opportunities as many of his attacking team-mates. But that is in the past.

Chelsea have given off plenty of signals in the first year of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership that they are moving on from the American, not least spending in excess of £100million ($124.1m) combined on Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk.

Last summer, Chelsea’s ownership also offered Pulisic as part of financial packages designed to tempt AC Milan into talks regarding Rafael Leao. Though movements in the market are now being led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, the club continue to regard including the 24-year-old in larger deal structures for transfer targets as a potentially good way to realise value for a player who has been slow to command viable interest in the market.

(Photo: Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

Pulisic’s status as one of the higher earners at Stamford Bridge has frequently been cited as a significant reason for that but, at this stage, he is very willing to take a pay cut in order to facilitate a change of scene and a chance to kick-start his career. Chelsea are also very much incentivised to find a new home for a player entering the final year of the contract he signed as a £58million arrival from Borussia Dortmund in January 2019.

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The bigger issue might be Chelsea’s valuation.

While there is a belief within the market that £20million would be a reasonable price for Pulisic, the club are wary of setting any kind of precedent for compromising on transfer fees for players in the final year of their deals — particularly while talks with Manchester United over Mason Mount and Manchester City over Mateo Kovacic are ongoing.

Remaining in the Premier League holds a lot of appeal, but Pulisic’s market in England will only realistically come from clubs outside the traditional ‘big six’. Newcastle are expected to be aggressive recruiters after qualifying for the Champions League for the first time under PIF’s ownership and did enquire about taking the American on loan last summer, but they have already informed Chelsea that they are not interested in signing him in this window.

(Photo: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

The crushing financial superiority of England’s top flight necessarily limits the interest from continental Europe.

Germany is not viewed as a potential destination, with Pulisic having already played for Dortmund and Tuchel now in charge at Bayern Munich. In Spain, Real Madrid have loftier targets and Barcelona huge financial challenges just to register free-agent signings. There is no indication that French champions Paris Saint-Germain are interested and, in any case, the fallout from the Manuel Ugarte transfer saga has exacerbated tensions with Chelsea.

That leaves Italy.

Milan are possible suitors despite tying Leao down to a long-term extension. Napoli could be in the market for a winger if Hirving Lozano leaves, while Juventus are attractive even without being able to offer Champions League football. Serie A as a league is keen to grow its American audience; what better way to do that than to provide the stage for USMNT’s best player to revive his club career?

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It would be a surprise if Pulisic’s future is resolved quickly, given all the moving parts at play.

But it would be a much bigger surprise to see him in a Chelsea shirt again.

(Photos in top image: James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images; Visionhaus / Getty Images. Designed by Eamonn Dalton)

Champions League final, Manchester City vs. Inter: Three keys to victory for each side in Istanbul on Saturday

From Erling Haaland to Romelu Lukaku, here’s what each side needs to do to come out ahead on Saturday

By Chuck BoothJun 5, 2023 at 2:50 pm ET•5 min read

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The Champions League final is around the corner as Manchester City and Inter will meet in Istanbul for the greatest prize in European sports. City has never won the Champions League while Inter last hoisted the prestigious trophy in 2010 defeating Bayern Munich. Inter has been one of the hottest teams in soccer as of late but stopping Manchester City on their quest to win a treble will be quite a tall task. 

Looking at the tactical questions ahead for Pep Guardiola and Simone Inzaghi shows just how interesting of a chess match this will be with Inter’s defense trying to matchup with a City attack that is among the best to grace the game of soccer. But looking ahead, what does each team need to do to ensure victory?

How to watch and odds

Date: Saturday, June 10 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Where: Atatürk Olympic Stadium — Istanbul, Turkey
TV: CBS | Live Stream: Paramount+

Inter can win if they…

1. Control the midfield

City are a team that can stop you no matter what you try to do, so the best way to slow them down is by matching up in midfield. Inter are a team that can do that due to their balanced midfield and organized defense. Being able to slot in Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, and Hakan Calhanoglu, Inzaghi has quite a crew of midfielders, and it’s one that will only get deeper if Henrikh Mkhitaryan is available for the match. 

Each midfielder brings different skills to the table but they’re also not afraid to play defense and sacrifice attacking numbers for the sake of the team. Things like this are critical to slow down City’s attack as Guardiola has a midfielder for every situation and there’s no way to truly stop them all. If a team is focusing on Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan is here to score a brace and Rodri can hit rockets from outside the box if he’s forgotten about and that’s why awareness is key. Being smart with possession and also pressing when needed, is where the game will be won or lost.

2. Andre Onana stands tall

Since no team can truly stop City, what will be important for Inter is what they do when City is able to break down their defense. That’s where Onana shines under pressure for this team. Onana has eight clean sheets in Champions League play so far over 1080 minutes behind 44 saves. Conceding less than a goal per game, 25 of those saves have come from shots taken inside the box which is the second-highest number behind only Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid. These saves in the box show that when teams do slip in behind Inter, Onana has their back allowing the defense to be more aggressive because they have faith in their keeper keeping things in order.

These are reasons why Onana took over for long-standing keeper Samir Handanovic during the season despite the latter being the club captain. Onana will need to be on his game and then some against Manchester City but based on how the season has gone, that’s expected.

3. Get Romelu Lukaku involved

The biggest decision for Inzaghi is who starts at striker out of Romelu Lukaku and Edin Dzeko. While both can link up well with Lautaro Martinez, they bring different things to the match. Dzeko’s power and ability on corner kicks can be useful in matches but City doesn’t allow the ball in the air much where Inter can utilize him to his full abilities. Lukaku, while he had a slow start to his Inter return, has been integral to the club as of late scoring and assisting key goals for the team. 

With his confidence and all-around game right now, Lukaku forces City to step up and defend Inter differently which creates space for Martinez to work into. With the strength of the midfielders, if there’s space to exploit, attackers will be found and Lukaku helps that happen. After Onana, he’s one of the biggest x-factors in this game.

Manchester City can win if they…

1. Keep things simple

Generally, the only team that can beat Manchester City is themselves which is why Guardiaola’s lineup decisions are always under a microscope. City has the best collection of talent in the world but if they’re put in unfamiliar spots in a game of this magnitude, there’s always a chance that the team can overthink things and make a critical mistake. If Nathan Ake is healthy, Guardiola’s lineup can be written in Sharpie as: Ederson, Ake, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Rodri, Gundogan, de Bruyne, Grealish, Silva, Haaland.

That’s the lineup that got the team here and it’s the same one that can also get them over the line for the Champions League trophy. There are so many options of ways that City can set up to defeat a team when they come out like this and despite Inter being soundly setup, they’d get pulled apart if City are at their best.

2. Haaland runs the show

Goalscoring is great but Haaland’s presence is even better. His runs open space for the rest of the team and he’s not a selfish striker at all. From heading the ball over defenders, curling devastating shots into the box, and laying off for his teammates, he has it all. Haaland has scored 52 goals and assisted nine more in all competitions and the scary thing is that he could’ve scored more goals if he wanted to.

Haaland is dangerman in this game and Inter has to devote quite a large portion of the team defense to stopping him. If they don’t, Haaland will go and score a hat trick which is why there’s truly no way to defend City. Stop the midfield and you still have to make sure that the Norwegian doesn’t get.

3. Ederson doesn’t hurt himself

Back to City being the only team that can beat City is that Ederson is the only person who can beat Ederson. A keeper who can make flawless passes out of the back and big time saves when needed, Ederson can sometimes get caught out trying to do too much. From holding the ball and doing a flashy move instead of just clearing things or just falling asleep while City are in possession of the ball and missing the one save that he’s asked to make per game.

During the Champions League final, Ederson has to be locked in for all 90 mintues which should seem like a simple thing but something that hasn’t happened at times this season. Bring the best to Istanbul and it’s hard to see a situation where Manchester City doesn’t leave with a victory.

Champions League final: Why underdogs Inter stand a chance against mighty Manchester City

Simone Inzaghi’s Nerazzurri are all that stands between Pep Guardiola and the UCL, but Inter are a cup team that cannot be overlooked

By Jonathan Johnson May 17, 2023 at 7:05 pm ET•3 min read CBS.com

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Manchester City delivered a frighteningly complete performance on Wednesday to see off Real Madrid 4-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate. Pep Guardiola’s side were hugely superior in the first half and would have been out of sight had Thibaut Courtois not been in exceptional form between the sticks for the Spanish giants. City were the better side over the two legs despite Real enjoying a dominant spell in the first and the Premier League titleholders look primed to snag their first Champions League crown.

Standing in their way are Inter who edged Milan 1-0 on Tuesday to complete a 3-0 aggregate success to book a first UCL final since their 2010 success under Jose Mourinho. The Nerazzurri have impressed in their ability to dump out the likes of Porto, Benfica and now their bitter Rossoneri rivals, but they have not come up against any side quite like this City. So, do Inter stand any chance at all in Istanbul come June 10? We look at reasons for Inter fans to believe that it can happen:

Inter are a true cup team

One thing abundantly clear from this run to the final is that this Inter team are made for cup competitions. They seem to thrive in this sort of environment and have managed to notch a Coppa Italia final in addition to this and are back in Serie A’s top four too. Inzaghi might not be able to get the best out of his squad across all competitions for a full season, but there is no doubt that their strengths lie away from the Italian league scene right now. Atalanta and Juventus have fallen to Inter as they seek to defend their Coppa title and those successes should be factored into the build-up, especially as Juve were seen off over two legs. Inter hitting their stride at just the right time could make them a dangerous wildcard for City to have fallen upon.

City might have peaked

Something else possibly counting in Inter’s favor is how difficult it will be for City to replicate the perfection of their second-leg mastery against Real when they only have one game to do it this time around. In 90 minutes, anything can happen, as we saw in City’s final appearance against Chelsea just two years ago. Guardiola’s first leg setup was not perfect although it did produce the desired outcome of not losing in Madrid but the Spaniard cannot afford to leave anything to chance if he wants to add his third Champions League title and first outside of Barcelona. City seem primed for success in what could be a historic end to the season for them, but they do not have the luxury of 180 minutes here having drawn 1-1 in each of the three knockout rounds — albeit with big winning margins at Etihad Stadium which itself accounts for some of it.

Inter’s defense-led revival

The Italians might not boast star names like David Alaba, Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger, but Inter’s combination of Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni is undeniably strong. With Andre Onana backing them up between the sticks and Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco up and down either side, nobody finds it easy against them. Most impressively, Milan Skriniar has barely been missed at all since his back injury which required surgery and there is no guarantee that he will be back in time for this one either. A closer look at the numbers and Inter have kept five clean sheets from a possible six en route to the final which is impressive by any standards with nine goals scored in those six games to underline that they are no slouches in front of goal either.

City are huge favorites

Perhaps most crucial of all will be the fact that City are well and truly the favorites coming into this one which was not as clear up against Bayern Munich and certainly not against Real. Inter are unfancied ahead of this final and people are already writing them off — hence this article — but as we have already discussed, there is already enough evidence that the job is not done for City. Casting our minds back to UEFA Euro 2020 should serve as a cautionary tale too when Italy upset England against the odds at Wembley to end up as champions. Another Anglo-Italian battle for European supremacy could not end up similarly, could it?

Champions League final preview: Man City vs Inter – where to watch, kick-off time, possible line-ups, form guide

Thursday, June 8, 2023

When is it? How can you watch it? What are the possible line-ups? All you need to know about the UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter.

Manchester City meet Inter in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday 10 June.

Champions League final at a glance

When: Saturday 10 June (21:00 CET kick-off, 22:00 local time)
Where: Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul
What: 68th European Cup final
Who: 2021 runners-up City vs three-time winners Inter
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage can be found here

Where to watch the Champions League final on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

The teams are meeting for the first time, the biggest club prize in world football is once again up for grabs, City are in sight of a treble and the venue is the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, stage for arguably the most memorable final of them all.

City have been banging on the door for some time now, but this is just their second final and they are yet to break their duck. Coach Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, is looking to join the elite group of three-time winners, having previously lifted the trophy in 2009 and 2011, and also become only the sixth man to win it with two clubs. Sandwiched between those two Barcelona triumphs was the most recent of Inter’s three wins – then it was José Mourinho; is now the turn of Simone Inzaghi?

Possible starting line-ups

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Rúben Dias, Aké; Stones, Rodri; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Gündoğan, Grealish; Haaland

Inter: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro Martínez, Džeko

Form guide

Man City
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WLDWWW
Where they finished: Premier League champions, FA Cup winners

Inter
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WWWLWW
Where they finished: 3rd in Serie A, Coppa Italia winners

Expert predictions

Matthew Howarth, Man City reporter
Given the manner in which Guardiola’s team dispatched Bayern and holders Real Madrid, it is no surprise they are regarded by many as favourites. There is something mesmerising about watching City overwhelm even the strongest of opponents with a potent combination of pinpoint passing accuracy, ferocious pressing and electric pace. Games of this magnitude are often settled by fine margins, but City have the bit between their teeth and if they play as well as they have been, a maiden Champions League title could well be theirs.

Vieri Capretta, Inter reporter
Back in the final after 13 years, but in a very different position – it feels like Inter have little to lose against this City side. Tactically, the Nerazzurri are solid at the back and fluid going forward, moving well as a team, with a physically demanding style of play that requires everyone to be at the top of their game. Inter defend as a block and attack as a unit. Inzaghi’s side have shown themselves to be adept at adapting to their opponent, so we can expect them defend low and play on the break. Will it be enough?

European Cup final pedigree

Man City
European Cup final record: P1 W0 L1 F0 A1
Most recent appearance: 2021, Chelsea 1-0 Man City

Inter
European Cup final record: P5 W3 L2 F7 A5
Most recent appearance: 2010, Inter 2-0 Bayern

What the coaches say

Josep Guardiola, Man City coach: “When you reach the final of the Champions League, you have to celebrate. A final against an Italian team is not always the best gift, honestly. Inter are competitive. After this [semi-final] victory there will be a lot of compliments, but we have time to prepare mentally.”

Simone Inzaghi, Inter coach: “For us it was a dream but we have always believed in it. I’m proud to be here. Nobody has given us anything, we deserve everything that we have achieved. And now the dream to play the final has come true. It has been an extraordinary path and winning a derby in the semi-final brought particular satisfaction.”

Where is the Champions League final?

Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium will host the final on Saturday 10 June 2023. Man City are the designated home team following a draw made for administrative purposes.

The winners gain a place in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition.

© 1998-2023 UEFA. All rights reserved.Last updated: Thursday, June 8, 2023

Clint Dempsey on USMNT coach search: ‘I don’t think it’s good to go interim to interim’

By Pablo Maurer and Felipe CardenaJun 2, 2023

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Former U.S. men’s national team star Clint Dempsey has offered his take on the ongoing search for the team’s next permanent head coach, telling The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer and Felipe Cárdenas that he believes the protracted search is not good for the team.

The USMNT is currently in a state of flux, with no permanent head coach in place since Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired in the new year while he was wrapped up in a complicated controversy involving the Reyna family. Anthony Hudson, a former assistant under Berhalter, coached the team on an interim basis until this week, when he left U.S. Soccer. The Athletic reported that Hudson left for a club job in the Middle East. Another former assistant with the team, B.J. Callaghan, will take charge of the team for the Nations League and Gold Cup tournaments this summer.

GO DEEPER

Clint Dempsey talks USMNT coaching, TST 7v7, Toronto FC situation and more

“I don’t think it’s good to go interim to interim, in my opinion,” Dempsey said. “I think it’s unfortunate the situation that happened with (former USMNT head coach Gregg) Berhalter. I think he’s still in line for the job and I think he did a great job at the World Cup…Jesse Marsch, obviously he’s done well in Europe. If you look at the teams at the World Cup that did well and got to the knockout rounds, I think it was 15 of the 16 teams were domestic coaches. So maybe it makes sense to have a domestic coach that understands what players are dealing with.”

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Dempsey, the USMNT’s joint-all-time leading goalscorer, was speaking at The Soccer Tournament, a 7-v-7 competition where he is coaching Team Dempsey. Asked for his thoughts on how the U.S. can build on its World Cup performance, Dempsey singled out new dual-national recruit Folarin Balogun.

“I think we were looking for that No. 9 (at the World Cup), I think maybe we got that now in Folarin Balogun,” Dempsey said. “We were one of the top teams in terms of the crosses that we got — maybe he’d have been the guy that got on the end of those. We’ll see what happens there.”

Indy looking for back-to-back wins Saturday Night

#INDvHFD Preview  
Indy Eleven vs Hartford Athletic
Saturday, June 10, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. ET 
Carroll Stadium – Indianapois, Ind.

Follow Live:
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe) 
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #INDvHFD MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com

2023 USL Championship Records:
Indy Eleven: 4W-5L-3D (-1 GD), 15 pts; 7th in Eastern Conference
Hartford Atheltic: 2W-7L-3D (-9), 9 pts; 12th in Eastern Conference

Community Health Network Sports Medicine Indy Eleven Injury Report:
OUT: DF R. Dambrot (L knee), MF B. Rebellon (L hamstring), R. King (R quad), Y. Boudadi (L shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE: None

Discipline Report:
IND: none
HFD: none

SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to The Mike on Saturday to host eastern division foe Hartford Athletic at 7 p.m. Indy is coming off a 4-0 win over division leader Charleston and sits seventh in the eastern division at 4-5-3. The four goals against Charleston tie for the most in a USL Championship match for the club, having registered four on six occasions. Indy is looking for its first set of back-to-back wins this season.

Hartford is last in the division at 2-7-3 following a 0-0 draw vs. Louisville City.

SERIES VS. HARTFORD ATHLETIC
Friday marks the sixth meeting between the two sides with Indy holding the 3-2 all-time advantage. Saturday will be the first of two meetings between the two sides in 2023, with the second meeting taking place June 24 at Hartford.

Indy leads: 3-2
GF 8, GA 5

Recent Meetings
8.13.22 at HFD L, 2-1
4.30.22 Home W, 1-0
7.29.20 Home W, 4-1

Last Match
2022 USL Championship – Matchday 23
Hartford Athletic 2 : 1 Indy Eleven
Saturday, August 13, 2022
Trinity Health Stadium – Hartford, Conn.

Scoring Summary:
HFD – Danny Barrera (unassisted) 19’
HFD – Ariel Martinez (Prince Saydee) 26’
IND – Ayoze (penalty kick) 47+’

https://youtube.com/watch?v=YDIKeS-dR9A%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26fs%3D1%26hl%3Den-US%26autohide%3D2%26wmode%3Dtransparent

QUINN NAMED TO USL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF THE WEEK
JUNE 6, 2023
A pair of goals off penalty kicks in Friday’s 4-0 win over division-leading Charleston earned Aodhan Quinn USL Championship Team of the Week honors.

Just 19 seconds into the match, Sebastian Guenzatti earned the Eleven a chance from the spot setting up Quinn for his second penalty of the season. Quinn converted just 1:28 into the match, giving him the USL Championship’s fastest goal of the 2023 season and his second tally of the year. His team-leading third goal of the season came in the same fashion, this time thanks to a Charleston foul of Harrison Robledo. Quinn also converted on 74 of 81 passes and recorded two chances created.

This is the first honor of 2023 for Quinn, giving the Eleven its fifth player to earn a spot on the USL Team of the Week along with a pair of bench appearances.

LAST TIME OUT
JUNE 2, 2023
CHS 0:4 IND
Indy Eleven defeated USL Championship Eastern Conference leader Charleston on the road Friday night, 4-0.

Scoring Summary:
IND – Aodhan Quinn (pk) 2’
IND – Aodhan Quinn (pk) 72’
IND – Roberto Molina (Douglas Martinez) 75’
IND – Own Goal 80’

Discipline Summary:
CHS – Leland Archer (ejection) 1’
IND – Jesus Vazquez (caution) 8’
CHS – Deklan Wynne (caution) 29’
IND – Douglas Martinez (caution) 59’
IND – Gustavo Rissi (caution) 61’
CHS – Trey Muse (caution) 71’
CHS – Arthur Paterson (caution) 88’

INDY ACQUIRES MIDFIELDER SEBASTIAN VELASQUEZ
JUNE 8, 2023
Indy Eleven it has acquired midfielder Sebastian Velasquez via transfer from USL Championship side Memphis 901 FC. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Velasquez will be available for Indy’s match against Hartford Athletic Saturday.

Velasquez signed with Memphis on February 24, 2023 after three seasons (2019, 2021-22) in El Paso where he made 42 appearances for the Locomotive scoring a pair of goals and notching an assist. He spent the 2020 season with Miami FC. Velasquez is the second player to reunite with Indy Eleven Head Coach Mark Lowry this season, joining Macauley King who also played under him at El Paso for two seasons.

Since joining the USLC with Real Monarchs SLC in 2017, Velasquez has made 112 appearances with 28 goals and 18 assists.

The Colombian was signed by Real Salt Lake in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft and played three seasons with the club before joining New York City FC for the 2015 campaign. He has 55 MLS caps, two goals and two assists.

NWSL teams boast record crowds

DENNY MEDLEY/USA TODAY SPORTS NWSL game days are becoming a hot summer ticket. Gotham FC had a club-record 15,058 in attendance on Sunday evening.OL Reign took part in a doubleheader with the Seattle Sounders that drew over 42,000 fans.The KC Current fanbase is holding strong, with over 10,000 fans taking in the team’s second regular season win.

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