So if you missed the US 1-0 vs Slovenia – don’t waste your time.  Not much happened – how did we lose? It was our C team – mostly U23s playing – a bunch of guys up front that even I don’t know.  Honestly this we was partly an interview to play in the Olympics with Miles Robinson and Shaq more as the only older players on the roster.  The goal was a bad giveaway at midfield by our 8 that broke past and beat Columbus keeper Schulte.  The US basically dominated the rest of the game with 70-30 possession and like 20 shots to 3 – 10 of them in the last 30 minutes when somehow we managed to miss wide open goals over and over again.  Up front Diego Luna was a beast on the right wing and was definitely the engine most of the game – kid has got game and should be on the Olympic team.  The most exciting guy was the 18 year old Esmir Bajraktarevic who came on in the 61^st minute and was the most exciting player on the field immediately.  Time to lock him up and add him to the Olympic U23 team right now!!  Stories Below.

Huge news that Klopp is stepping down from Liverpool at the end of the season. He has his team in first place however -and they are still alive in Champions League and the FA cup – so perhaps he can grab another trophy on the way out. More on this next week. 

It was great to have former Carmel Dads Club and Carmel High/Butler Goalkeeper Eric Dick out at our Carmel FC GK practice last week at Atletto Field House. He helped in training and spoke to the kids about what it takes to make it to the next level. After playing at KC & Minn United along with Columbus in MLS – Dick is headed to Pittsburgh to join the Riverhounds in USL this season. CFC GK is 5-6:30 on Thurs at Atletto Fieldhouse @ Badger.

GAMES ON TV

Sat, Jan 27

7:30 am ESPN+           Ipwich Town vs Maidstone United FA Cup

10 am ESPN+               Sheffield United vs Brighton FA Cup  

12 noon Para+, Galazo Juventus (Mckinney) vs Empoli

2 pm ESPN_                Fulham (Robiinson) vs New Castle  

12:30 pm ESPN+          Bayer Leverkusen s MGladbach (Scally)

2:45 pm Para+            AC Milan (Pulisic) vs Bologna

Sun, Jan  

9;30 am ESPN+           Liverpool vs Norwich (Stewart) FA Cup     

11:30 am ESPN+          Watford vs Southampton       

12 noon  CBSSN           Lazio vs Napoli  

3 pm ESPN+                 Atletico Madrid vs Valencia  

Mon, Jan  29

2:30 pm ESPN+           Blackburn vs Wrexham vs FA Cup  

Tues, Jan  30

2:30 pm Peacock         Nottingham Forest (Turner) vs Arsenal  

2:30 pm Peacock         Fulham (Jedi) vs Everton

3 pm Peaocok             Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Sheffield United (Trusty)

WEds, Jan  31

2:30 pm Peacock         Tottenham vs Brentford

3:15 pm Peacock        Liverpool vs Chelsea

2024 W Gold Cup, Feb. 20 – March 10

Concacaf Nations League Finals, March 21 – 24

2024 Copa America, June 20 – July 10

2024 Summer Olympics – Men & Women, July 24 – August 10

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USMNT weekend viewing guide: A Plus weekend

FA Cup and Serie A action make this an excellent weekend to make use of the Plus networks

By jcksnftsn  Jan 26, 2024, 10:53am PST  

FA Cup action joins the ESPN+ parade this weekend that normally features Bundesliga and Eredivisie action. In addition, the USMNT quartet making their way in Serie A will feature on Paramount+ this weekend. If you’re without either streaming platform, it will be a rough weekend, though in the guide you’ll see that there are a couple of La Liga matches being simulcast on ESPN Deportes as well. Here’s where you can catch those matches as well as the rest of this weekend’s slate:

Saturday

Hoffenheim v Heidenheim – 9:30a on ESPN+

John Brooks was on the bench for a second straight week as Hoffenheim fell 3-2 at the hands of Freiburg last weekend. Meanwhile, Lennard Maloney has started every match this season for Heidenheim and is coming off a 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg. The club remains in ninth place in the league.

Wolfsburg v Koln – 9:30a on ESPN+

Kevin Paredes played 30 minutes for Wolfsburg last weekend in the team’s 1-1 draw with Heidenheim. It was the seventh straight match for Wolfsburg in which they have scored one or fewer goals this season. They remain in 11th place and will need to figure out how to score more consistently if they are to move into the top 10.

Sheffield United v Brighton & Hove Albion – 10a on ESPN+

Auston Trusty has been starting Premier League matches for Sheffield United since late September, but was not included in the squad for their last FA Cup match, a 4-0 drubbing of League Two side Gillingham FC. Things will be considerably tougher for the team this weekend as they take on Brighton, who are seventh in the Premier League standings.

Juventus v Empoli – Noon on Paramount+

Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Juventus continue to keep pace with Inter Milan near the top of the Serie A table, currently leading by one point but with Inter having a game in hand advantage. Juventus take on relegation-threatened Empoli this weekend and will have to avoid looking past them to next weekend’s top of the table clash with Inter.

Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Mönchengladbach – 12:30p on ESPN+

Jordan Pefok scored in his second straight match since returning from injury, but Borussia Mönchengladbach’s fell last weekend 2-1 to Augsburg. Joe Scally also started and played 90’ as ‘Gladbach stayed on 20 points in 12th place on the season. They face league-leading Bayer Leverkusen this weekend, who are leading the league by four points and have yet to suffer their first loss of the season.

PSV v Almere City – 12:45p on ESPN+

PSV were eliminated from the KNVB Cup on Wednesday as they suffered just their second loss across all competitions this season, falling to Feyenoord 1-0. It was the second time in a week that PSV dropped points as they also drew with Utrecht last weekend. They will look to bounce back immediately and keep their undefeated Eredivisie season rolling as they face Almere City on Saturday afternoon.

Fulham v Newcastle United – 2p on ESPN+

Antonee Robinson continues to start but Tim Ream has yet to regain his role after coming back from injury as the club heads into an FA Cup match against Newcastle United. Newcastle are having a disappointing follow up season to their fourth place finish last year and currently sit in 10th place in the EPL, three spots ahead of Fulham.

AC Milan v Bologna – 2:45p on ESPN+

Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan have won four straight matches and currently sit seven points back of league-leading Juventus. They face a Bologna side this weekend who currently sit in seventh place but trail Milan by 13 points, as there is a sharp drop from Milan in third to a cluster of teams separated by just three points in positions 4-9.

Olympique Marseille v Monaco – 3p on beIN Sports

Folarin Balogun is still looking to break his scoreless streak as fourth place Monaco take on seventh place Marseille on Saturday afternoon. It’s been over two months since Balogun last scored for his club, and he has just four goals in twenty matches this season.

Mallorca v Real Betis – 3p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Johnny Cardoso stepped right into the starting lineup and didn’t look out of place in his 73 minutes against Barcelona. Real Betis were tied 2-2 when Johnny left the match, but ended up falling 2-4. Betis remain just inside the top ten of La Liga and within four points of sixth place Real Sociedad and qualification for European competitions next season.

Sunday

Celta Vigo v Girona – 8a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Luca de la Torre was back in the starting lineup for Celta Vigo last weekend, but the team fell 1-0 to Real Sociedad to remain just two points out of the relegation positions in La Liga. They face a shocking Girona side this weekend who currently have a one point lead for the league title, though they also have played one additional match compared to the other top four teams.

Liverpool v Norwich City – 9:30a on ESPN+

Josh Sargent will get a chance to play against top flight competition as Norwich City take on Liverpool and their outgoing coach Jurgen Klopp in FA Cup action on Sunday morning.

Union Berlin v Darmstadt – 9:30a on ESPN+

Brenden Aaronson and Union Berlin continue to scuffle dangerously close to the relegation zone, falling again last weekend 1-0 to Bayern Munich. Berlin are just three points ahead of a cluster of teams that are tied for last place in the league, a group which includes their opponent this weekend.

Borussia Dortmund v Bochum – 11:30a on ESPN+

Rumors continue to swirl that Gio Reyna will be headed to England or France this transfer window. However, as of the writing of this article, he remains with Dortmund and continues to come off the bench, most recently in their 4-0 win over Köln last weekend. Dortmund currently sit in fifth place, just out of Champions League qualification, though tied on 33 points with RB Leipzig.

Jurgen Klopp to leave Liverpool at end of season

By James Pearce Jan 26, 2024 THe Athletic

Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.Klopp, 56, made his announcement in a video on Liverpool’s social media channels on Friday morning. In an interview with club media, he says he told the club of his decision in November.“I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that’s not possible, I cannot do that and I don’t want to,” Klopp added.The German head coach joined Liverpool in 2015 and has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup with the Merseyside club. He last signed a contract extension at Liverpool in 2022, a deal that was due to run until June 2026.

“I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it,” Klopp said.

“I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.“After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth – and that is the truth.”

• Klopp turned doubters into believers – but now the day Liverpool dreaded has come
• Understanding Klopp – it’s never about him
• How Klopp won Liverpool their first Premier League title
• Ranking all 43 of Klopp’s Liverpool signings

‘Huge boots to fill’

Liverpool fans knew this day would come eventually, but not now, not like this.

Klopp announcing he will step down at the end of the season is an absolute bombshell, especially in the context of the club being such a resurgent force – top of the Premier League, in the Carabao Cup final, the last 16 of the Europa League and still in the FA Cup.Klopp’s contract runs until 2026 and the belief was that he would walk away after his current deal expired. Instead, two years earlier than planned, he’s decided he no longer has the energy to keep going beyond May.It will be the end of an era as Liverpool wave goodbye to one of the most inspirational figures in the club’s history. Klopp has vowed to take a year off to recharge and he has promised he will never manage another English club.The search for a successor starts now. There are some huge boots to fill.

Liverpool announced later on Friday that sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will leave at the end of the January transfer window. Meanwhile, Klopp’s assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, as well as development coach Vitor Matos, will also depart at the end of the season. Liverpool said in a statement that Lijnders is “keen to pursue his own career in management”.“I told the club already in November,” Klopp said. “I have to explain a little bit that maybe the job I do people see from the outside, I’m on the touchline and in training sessions and stuff like this, but the majority of all the things happen around these kind of things. That means a season starts and you plan pretty much the next season already.“When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp and can we go wherever the thought came up, ‘I am not sure I am here then anymore’ and I was surprised myself by that.“I am OK. I am healthy, as much as you can (be) at my age. Little bits and bobs, stuff like that, but nothing anybody has to be concerned about, so that’s absolutely fine.”

GO DEEPER Liverpool next manager contenders: Xabi Alonso, Roberto De Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann in frame

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders will also leave the club at the end of the season (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Klopp plans to continue on the sideline, whether that be domestically or at international level, but says he will not do so in England.“If you ask me, ‘Will you ever work as a manager again?’ I would say now no,” he said. “But I don’t know obviously how that will feel because I never had the situation. What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That’s not possible.“My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big. I couldn’t. I couldn’t for a second think about it. There’s no chance. This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel home here.“There’s no chance to do that. But all the rest, will I ever work again? Of course, I know myself, I cannot just sit around. I will find something else maybe to do. But I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that’s not possible, I cannot do that and I don’t want to.”

Jurgen Klopp – Liverpool’s managerial genius who turned dreams into reality

‘It probably inspires players to give him a great send-off’

Analysis from Premier League legend and The Athletic columnist Alan Shearer

It is very surprising, absolutely. No one was expecting it. It’s done in the right and professional way. Liverpool fans and their football club deserve that, without it getting out.t probably inspires the players to give him a great send-off between now and the end of the season. They’re still in all of their competitions — they could give him a great send-off.ig news and a big, big surprise.

Klopp was appointed to replace Brendan Rodgers in October 2015. Liverpool finished eighth in the 2015-16 Premier League season, losing 3-1 to Sevilla in the Europa League final.

Klopp then guided Liverpool to back-to-back fourth-placed finishes, reaching the Champions League final in 2017-18 only to be defeated by Real Madrid. The following campaign saw Liverpool finish second in the Premier League and go one better in the Champions League, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0.Liverpool then won their first-ever Premier League title in the 2019-20 season — their first league win since the 1989-90 First Division.Klopp coached Borussia Dortmund from 2008-2015, where he won consecutive Bundesliga titles in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. His Dortmund side also reached the Champions League final the following year, where they lost to rivals Bayern Munich.Liverpool’s first game following Klopp’s announcement comes at Anfield in an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Norwich City on Sunday. Their final game of the Premier League season — potentially Klopp’s last game as Liverpool manager if they do not reach the FA Cup or Europa League finals — is also at home, against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

James Pearce joins the Athletic after 14 years working for the Liverpool Echo. The dad-of-two has spent the past decade covering the fortunes of Liverpool FC across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Follow James on Twitter @JamesPearceLFC

USMNT loses to Slovenia: Takeaways from the first friendly of 2024

By Tom BogertJan 20, 2024

The U.S. men’s national team endured a disappointing start to 2024, with a 1-0 loss to Slovenia in San Antonio, Texas.

Slovenia’s Nejc Gradišar scored the lone goal, with the U.S. shutout despite holding 69% possession and outshooting Slovenia 15-9.

What did we learn?

Well, with a roster filled with players who have minimal realistic chance of becoming regulars in the first-choice pool facing a similarly watered down Slovenian side on a less-than-ideal pitch in January, how much could we really learn?

Structurally, the U.S. played as Berhalter has prefered during his reign as head coach (for better and worse). 

The U.S. controlled play but didn’t create a ton through plodding possession ,and conceded a goal in transition. One interesting note is that they didn’t play with a more defined No. 10, as the first team has in recent times with Gio Reyna in the role, instead opting for three traditional central midfielders in a 4-3-3. Diego Luna played as an inverted left winger with license to drift inside to create, but wasn’t an out-and-out No. 10.

Another disappointment is the starting XI wasn’t as heavy with Olympic-eligible players as it could have been. Five starters (Patrick Schulte, Diego Luna, Josh Atencio, Bernard Kamungo and Aidan Morris) were age-eligible, while the likes of Duncan McGuire, John Tolkin, Jack McGlynn and more were left on the bench to start. All in all, 11 players made their senior USMNT debut on Saturday. The performance was disappointing, but there was minimal overlap with the first (and even second) group for the USMNT here. 

Which players helped their case for future tournaments

DeJuan Jones started the game at left back, constantly getting forward to overlap Luna, and finished it at right back — getting forward to overlap Esmir Bajraktarevic. He was steady and consistent, with the work rate, stamina and athleticism necessary to fill the endline-to-endline duties asked of a fullback in Berhalter’s system. Being able to play both right and left back is very useful to building a tournament roster. 

Unfortunately for him, the Olympic squad seems set at fullback with Tolkin and Wiley on the left then potentially Bryan Reynolds and Joe Scally on the right. It wouldn’t make a ton of sense to use one of the three overage exceptions on another fullback.

Esmir Bajraktarevic provided an immediate spark after entering the match in the second half. His first involvement of his senior national team debut was nutmegging a Slovenia defender. He was one of the few attackers for Berhalter’s side who was unafraid to take chances and take players on. Bajraktarevic boosted his chances to make the Olympic squad.

Bernard Kamungo was a positive influence for the USMNT before he was replaced by Bajraktarevic. He was lively, dynamic and made an impact, though it didn’t result in creating a goal and made one fatal mistake that sparked the counterattack for Slovenia’s goal. Still, he could be a valuable addition to the Olympic squad even if he doesn’t win a starting spot, because those qualities lend well to an impact substitute. 

Which players may have hurt their case for future tournaments

Shaq Moore hasn’t been in his best form since joining Nashville SC and didn’t do himself any favors in limited minutes at the World Cup. He didn’t impress again on Saturday. With so many options at right back — Sergiño Dest, Scally, DeAndre Yedlin, Reynolds plus if any players from the current U-20/U-23 cycles reveal themselves — Moore is likely to be on the outside looking in for the near future.

Tim Tillman, making his USMNT debut, did little to warrant another call-up anytime soon. He filed a one-time switch from Germany last year and became eligible for the USMNT, but at 25-years-old, he isn’t age-eligible for the Olympics and doesn’t seem likely to be within the conversation for Copa America.

Brian White is another overage player who always had an uphill battle of becoming a regular, didn’t get much of any service to work with and thus was restricted in the impact he could deliver. (Photo: Omar Vega/Getty Images)

USA vs. Slovenia, 2024 Friendly: Man of the Match

Not a great outing for the team, but one guy’s debut stood out among the rest.

By Donald Wine II@blazindw  Jan 22, 2024, 7:46am PST  

The United States Men’s National Team fell in their January Camp match over the weekend to Slovenia by a 1-0 score. Nejc Gradišar’s goal in the 26th minute proved to be the difference as a very young USMNT squad struggled to put anything together and failed to grab the equalizer.

With so many young players in their first camp, it was the first time for the SSFC community to rate many of these players, and with a listless performance from the team, the ratings were quite low for the most part. However, one player’s debut stood out as a good one. Esmir Bajraktarevic came on as a substitute in the 61st minute and did well in his debut, despite not being able to score. The community gave him an average rating of 7.15, which was enough to give him SSFC Man of the Match. Only Esmir and Diego Luna (6.55) had average ratings over 6 from the match, while 7 players and head coach Gregg Berhalter had an average rating below 5.

Here are the full SSFC ratings:

Esmir Bajraktarevic – 7.15

Diego Luna – 6.55

Jack McGlynn – 5.73

Miles Robinson – 5.54

DeJuan Jones – 5.53

Timmy Tillman – 5.44

Josh Atencio – 5.20

Aidan Morris – 5.14

Duncan McGuire – 5.04

Caleb Wiley – 4.91

Patrick Schulte – 4.81

Brian White – 4.60

Bernard Kamungo – 4.58

John Tolkin – 4.55

Sean Zawadzki – 4.48

Shaq Moore – 4.48

—Gregg Berhalter – 3.90

Referee Pierre Luc Lauziere (CAN) – 5.63

Do January camps still benefit the USMNT?

• Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterJan 20, 2024, 06:50 PM ET

Someday, with the benefit of hindsight, Saturday’s United States men’s national team game against Slovenia could turn out to be the day several mainstays got their first chance.There are enough examples from January camp games the past two decades to allow for as much, and 11 players received their debut in San Antonio — the most in a single game since 1988.If that does end up being the case, though, it will be a major surprise considering the team’s mostly dull performance in a 1-0 loss against a Slovenian side also made up of players predominantly from its domestic league.”It wasn’t always perfect, but the will was there, the desire was there, the competitiveness was there, and we kept going to the last whistle trying to get the equalizer,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said after the match.

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Times have changed for the United States. The path from January camp to the A-squad isn’t the straightforward promotion it has been at times. Now, with the team’s best players in their early-to-mid-20s playing at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, none of the players who featured against Slovenia are being counted on to play any role — let alone a significant one — when Berhalter has his full complement of players to choose from.With so few national team games in any given year, it’s tempting to read into each one, but what took place before 9,191 fans in San Antonio is worth an exception. It’s hard to imagine much that transpired will do anything to inform the future of the program. The entire exercise boiled down to nothing more than a glorified scrimmage, even though it represented a record-tying fourth straight loss against a European opponent.In a roundabout way, that signifies progress.With only months before the U.S. hosts the Copa America, and just over two years before the World Cup comes to North America, it wouldn’t bode well for the team if there were holes that needed to be filled by unproven MLS players. But that’s not the state of the U.S. talent pool.This game was more geared toward prepping the age-eligible players for this summer’s under-23 Olympic tournament.

Who is the USMNT player to watch from the January roster?

Herculez Gomez explains who he is most interested to watch from the USMNT’s January roster.”I think this is a great opportunity to learn and if you think about 11 guys got their debut tonight, five of the guys who started are Olympic-age eligible,” Berhalter said. “So this is going to be a great learning experience for this group, and I’m really happy with the opportunity to do this camp and think we definitely got something out of it looking forward.”Berhalter highlighted the play of New England Revolution midfielder Esmir Bajraktarevic and Real Salt Lake forward Diego Luna, as two who left an impression.”Looking at some individual performances, specifically with the Olympic guys, we knew they were playing senior international, and we wanted to give them that experience and also see how they would do,” Berhalter said. “And I think when you look at guys like Esmir and Diego, they certainly came in and showed that they have a lot of individual ability, but they’re also hardworking.”Berhalter can now shift his attention to March, when the team tries to win the Nations League for the third straight time, before the Copa America.”It’s competition time,” Berhalter said. “We have trophies on the line this summer with [the] Copa America in this spring with [the] Nations League, and we’re looking forward to getting the entire group together and trying to win our third consecutive Nations League and then have a great showing at the Copa America.”So it’s an exciting six months of soccer coming up for the USMNT.”

Nottingham Forest in Gio Reyna loan talks with Borussia Dortmund

By David Ornstein Jan 23, 2024

Nottingham Forest are in talks with Borussia Dortmund to sign USMNT international Gio Reyna on loan until the end of the season, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.Forest are aiming to include a purchase option and are pushing hard to get the deal done. An agreement is not far off but there are still elements that need to be sorted.Reyna’s Dortmund contract expires in June 2025 and the versatile attacker signed with super agent Jorge Mendes in December, shortly before the transfer window opened.

Reyna has started just twice for the German club this season, making 11 further appearances as a substitute.The 21-year-old missed the opening month of the season through injury and has featured just 13 times in all competitions since his return in September.Reyna returned to the USMNT set-up during October’s international break following his run of injuries and falling out with head coach Gregg Berhalter. The U.S. has two major tournaments on the horizon in the next three years, with 2024 Copa America taking place this summer before the U.S. co-hosts the 2026 World Cup.Reyna moved to Dortmund’s academy from New York City in 2019 and broke into the senior side the following year. He was part of the Dortmund side that won the 2020-21 DFB-Pokal.Forest are 16th in the Premier League but earlier this month were referred to an independent commission over a breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR). That is the start of the process to decide what punishment the club will face, which could include a points deduction and/or fines.

Why Reyna needs a move away

Analysis by Paul Tenorio, USMNT correspondent

A move to Forest will be a welcome one for Reyna, who is in desperate need of more playing time. Through much of his young career, injuries have been what has limited Reyna’s time on the field and his impact at Dortmund. He has long been considered a rising star, otherwise.But after fracturing his leg during the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Canada last June and returning to training in late August, Reyna has struggled to carve out much of a role with Dortmund. He has made just 10 appearances this season in the Bundesliga with one start, one appearance in the DFB-Pokal and two in the Champions League. This comes after playing in 22 Bundesliga games last year, with seven goals and two assists.Reyna moved on from his agency, Wasserman, and made it clear he was open to a move away from Dortmund in this window. He hired Mendes as he looked to find more consistent time on the field as he looks to grow in his career — and into a bigger role with the national team.

What can Forest expect from him?

Analysis by Paul Tenorio, USMNT correspondent

Reyna’s role on the field has been changing, at least with the U.S., over the last year.

In the previous World Cup qualifying cycle, Reyna played exclusively as a winger, albeit one who came into the pockets to find the ball and try to create opportunities in and around the box. After the World Cup controversy in 2022 in Qatar, Reyna has found a new role with this U.S. team, playing as a No 10 in more of a 4-2-3-1 formation.Reyna has long said he feels most comfortable in a central role, and from that attacking midfield spot he’s more able to play to his strengths, which is playmaking and making dangerous passes in the final third. He has shown he’s a strong finisher, as well, but often seems as if he prefers to be a facilitator looking to make the final pass.Reyna has been asked to work more defensively, and he’s seemed eager to prove he can do just that when with the U.S. The biggest challenge has been finding consistent playing time, and the hope is that he can shake the injury issues and now find a team where he can feature.

Why are Forest going for Reyna?

Analysis by Paul Taylor, Nottingham Forest correspondent

The signing of Reyna would make perfect sense, as he would strengthen in two areas of the pitch where Forest have been short of options.

Anthony Elanga has made a hugely positive impact since joining from Manchester United and Callum Hudson-Odoi, a summer arrival from Chelsea, has also had plenty of promising moments. But Forest do lack cover for the duo in wide positions.

But, as well as being able to operate as a winger, Reyna can also operate in a central attacking role. Morgan Gibbs-White has established himself as one of Forest’s most influential players in that No 10 role. But the Englishman’s absence has also been keenly felt during times when he has been sidelined with injury.

If a deal can be agreed to make Reyna’s loan move permanent further down the line, at 21 years old  — and armed with a reputation as one of the most promising players to play for the USMNT in some time — he would also fit into Forest’s desire to sign young players who will only improve, with the benefit of game time with them in the Premier League.

The numbers that show Sam Mewis’ sometimes overlooked greatness on the pitch

By Jeff Rueter Jan 20, 2024 The Atheltic 

So often when we think of an era’s greatest players, we’re fixated on the spectacle of their game. Ada Hegerberg’s other-worldly reading of space, Sam Kerr’s unconsciously clinical finishing, Marta’s mazing weaves up the field, Wendie Renard’s unparalleled aerial prowess, Katie McCabe’s tenacity across every blade of grass. The panache with which these artists carry themselves also shapes legacies, from Megan Rapinoe’s transcendent 2019 World Cup to Linda Caicedo’s goal against Germany last summer, which was her statement of arrival on the world’s stage.

As a result, true two-way midfielders don’t always get the plaudits their play deserves. Their position on the field — that is, in the part of the pitch without a goalmouth in proximity — can keep them out of year-end highlight reels, while the thankless tasks they execute to progress the ball in their favor or stifle opponents the other way at times look more procedural than anything else. Compared to goal-obsessed strikers, tireless wingers and wing backs, chance-creating playmakers and towering center backs, the hard yards between the boxes are the moments that viewers feel free to run to their fridge or check their phones before the next “big” happening near goal.

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So while Rapinoe’s clutch penalties, crosses and The Pose helped her win the Golden Ball in 2019 while Lucy Bronze and Rose Lavelle’s work in the final third landed them Silver and Bronze, there’s a very viable case that none were the best player at that World Cup. 

Further afield from the tea-time celebrations was Sam Mewis, a do-everything midfielder who put in a nearly faultless 467 minutes as the United States left France with its fourth Women’s World Cup title. She didn’t make the “Players who Dared to Shine,” FIFA’s needlessly garish term for that event’s 10 best players that took the place of most tournaments’ best XI. That wasn’t for a lack of statline contributions: her two goals were as many as Eugénie Le Sommer, Marta, Sofia Jakobsson or Lieke Martens tallied, for example. 

Nevertheless, anybody who watched the U.S. that summer was inevitably wowed by Mewis’ midfield work. The number of things she did at a world-class level made it impossible for viewers not to notice.

Simply, she was at the heart of nearly every good thing that the U.S. did. Mewis started in five of their seven games, being rotated out for the second group-stage match against Chile and coming off the bench in the semifinal as Jill Ellis opted to start Lindsey Horan (talk about champagne selection issues). 

In that famous (or infamous, depending who you ask) 13-0 drubbing of Thailand in the opener, Mewis had two goals and two assists. She later assisted Horan on the opener in a gut-check group-stage win against Sweden. Then came the final, where a Rapinoe penalty opened the scoring before an incisive run from midfield by Lavelle led to the tournament’s iconic goal that finished off the USWNT’s quest for a repeat.

The highlights seldom show it, but Lavelle’s goal was not unassisted. It started with a pass from Mewis, who collected the ball just inside the U.S.’s attacking half after a tackle by Crystal Dunn.

At this stage, we’re a mere seven minutes removed from Rapinoe’s penalty kick. The Dutch know they need to equalize in a hurry and have committed more players to the attack, leaving Sherida Spitse as the only defensive midfielder while Jackie Groenen took a more advanced role. 

Mewis’ first touch is one to redirect the ball’s lateral progress and redirect its roll in the U.S.’s favor. Lavelle has already noticed the colossal plot of AirFibr hybrid grass made available by the Netherlands’ change in approach and is charging into it. With Spitse’s determined sprint to get the ball, her body position leaves her able to simultaneously close the angle on Mewis while being well-oriented to follow any possible pass and obstruct Lavelle’s run into the final third. 

Mewis needs to ensure this golden opportunity doesn’t escape, so she does something that separates the truly great midfielders from their incredibly talented peers. Rather than reacting to the game she’s playing in, she takes control over it. 

Even with a potentially glorious ball available to her, she eliminates one of the sequence’s final remaining obstacles. It’s a simple touch with the outside of her right boot to kill the ball’s momentum a bit, which accomplishes two things. First, she’s able to better control the weight of a pass into Lavelle’s path. Second, and more critically (since, let’s be honest, Mewis probably would’ve gotten the weight of the pass right on the fly): she’s forced Spitse to stop in her tracks in hopes of winning the ball further up the pitch to spring a Dutch fast break. 

It’s nice to want things, but that won’t jive with Mewis’ plans. Now that Spitse has fully committed to the ball, the time is right to reward Lavelle’s run.

With just two seconds of possession, Mewis is able to take the final defensive midfielder off of Lavelle’s radar. Whether or not Spitse would have been able to leg back and impede Lavelle’s progress isn’t the point — it’s the fact that she no longer could attempt to do so.

You may not have realized it, but you’ve likely had a favorite Sam Mewis highlight for over four years. Here’s the rest of the sequence, since it’s always a delight to take in if you’re a USWNT fan.

“But lo,” I hear some of you thinking as you read this. “Mewis had a great World Cup, but that tournament is notorious for eliciting overreactions to small sample sizes of soccer that’s more emotional than almost any other game. It’s easy for a midfielder to play that well when they’re on an all-time great team at the apex of its authority over the competition. Surely, she’d look more like her peers across a full club season.” 

But lo, I retort while wondering if your internal narrative is always so Shakespearean. After five NWSL seasons in which she won four regular season titles and three NWSL Championships, Mewis moved to Manchester City on August 10, 2020. She spent just one season in the Women’s Super League, as City finished second in the table behind Emma Hayes’ Chelsea. She made 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring 16 goals. Among those strikes were the game-winner in the FA Cup semifinal against Arsenal and in extra-time of their 3-1 triumph over Everton in the final.

It was the one chance to assess Mewis away from her nation’s domestic league — and, on the whole, it reinforced what many stateside had believed: she was one of the best midfielders in the world, if not one of the game’s very best players of any role.

Using the exact same statistics as above, the only that saw any notable regression from her World Cup performance was in terms of clearances, which speaks to the role she played for City as well as her team’s status as a league heavyweight. Still, her ball progression, ability to get on the ball in the mixer and her shooting volume were all at the top of the pops in the FA WSL. A full season of work still proved her to be elite in all the same ways that stood out in the summer of 2019, deservedly earning a place on the league’s team of the year. 

Of course, her time in England was brief. Mewis returned to the North Carolina Courage in May of 2021, making five appearances in the league before joining her national team in the Tokyo Olympics. She never fully recovered from the associated arthroscopic procedure, playing just 90 minutes for the KC Current in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup and 45 minutes in a single international friendly that year. 

Unfortunately, Mewis’ career is now being revisited in light of its abrupt end. However, the years immediately before that knee injury saw her playing at a level that every player in the world envies but few ever achieve. She wasn’t the most famous player on her national team, an understandable plight as part of one of the sport’s greatest juggernauts. 

Nevertheless, for at least two years, Sam Mewis was arguably the best player in the world at any position. Although we’re all left wishing we could have watched her play for longer, her legacy in the game is unquestionable. 

(Photo: VI Images via Getty Images)

Sorry folks having computer issues this week – so abbreviated version of the Ole BallCoach on this cold Friday. Of course the US C team with take the field this Saturday 3 pm on TNT vs Slovenia in a friendly. It will be good to see Miles Robinson on the backline as he looks to make a statement he belongs on the squad this summer for Copa. With Ream having lost his starting gig at Fulham the door is open to join probably Chris Richards or Celtic’s Carter Vickers in the middle but we will see. Sands will probably get the nod at the Dmid 6 slot with Tillman and Morris along side. I would be happy to see Miami’s Callender in between the pipes with Moore and Jones on the outside back slots. No idea who starts up front from this mostly MLS squad. I will be interesting to see if our C team can hang with a European squad at home in San Antonio. (see stories below)

Pulisic ties Donovan with his 4th U.S. male POTY award at just 25 years old. This week Pulisic was given his award as Series A’s player of the month for Dec after he scored six goals and recorded five assists to help AC Milan (13-3-4) to third in the standings. Cool stories below about Pulisic, and American keepers Matt Turner & Zach Steffan below along with the story on USWNT star Sam Mewis retiring from soccer. Also interesting to see Reyna is trying to get out of Dortmund in the Jan window – he needs to get playing time somewhere new. 

USMNT ROSTER for SAT Game 3 pm on TNT
GOALKEEPERS (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew)

DEFENDERS (10): Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Ian Murphy (FC Cincinnati), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), James Sands (New York City FC), Nkosi Tafari (FC Dallas), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Joshua Atencio (Seattle Sounders), Aziel Jackson (St. Louis City), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew), Timmy Tillman (LAFC), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (6): Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Bernard Kamungo (FC Dallas), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN)

I will attempt to add the weekly viewing calendar thru next weekend — sometime tomorrow or Sun. Most of the big games this weekend involve American’s and are below. Also this reminder Carmel FC Goalkeepers we are back to training indoors on Thursdays 5 to 6:30 pm at Atletto Fieldhouse at Badger Field come join Coach Carla Baker and I in some training. 

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USMNT weekend viewing guide: Appreciate the view

Folarin Balogun and Matt Turner lead the way on network television this weekend.

By jcksnftsn  Jan 19, 2024, 10:32am PST  

Unique opportunity sounds like a bad sales pitch or the start to some spam emails, but there really is another rare chance to watch Folarin Balogun in action on network television this weekend. You can also catch Matt Turner over the air, as well as a plethora of the usual streaming options to see some of your favorite USMNT players. Here’s what we are watching this weekend:

Friday

Mainz v Union Berlin – 2:30p on ESPN+

Brenden Aaronson received his first start in over two months last weekend as Union Berlin visited seventh place SC Freiburg and held them to a scoreless draw. The result leaves Union Berlin in fifteenth place heading into this weekends match against sixteenth place Mainz, again on the road. Mainz is just three points behind Berlin so this is a vital six point match in the race to avoid relegation.

Saturday

Arsenal v Crystal Palace – 7:30a on USA Network

Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will have their hands full with Arsenal this weekend. Richards played 90 minutes again last weekend in Palace’s 3-1 win over Brentford to snap an eight match winless streak but midweek the team fell 1-0 to Everton in FA Cup action. They’ll now face an Arsenal side that are in fourth place, just five points back of league leading Liverpool.

Freiburg v Hoffenheim – 9:30a on ESPN+

John Brooks did not appear for Hoffenheim last weekend in the teams 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich. Brooks had started three straight matches for his club heading into the Winter break but was unused in their return. The team is now in eighth place and face a Freiburg side just one points ahead of them in the table.

Koln v Borussia Dortmund – 9:30a on ESPN+

Giovanni Reyna saw just two minutes off the bench last weekend in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-0 win over Darmstadt, though it was enough time to pick up a yellow card. Amidst growing rumors that Reyna will be departing Dortmund, perhaps as soon as this January, it seems like Reyna’s minutes will continue to be limited while he remains with the club.

Heidenheim v Wolfsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+

Lennard Maloney has started every match this season for a Heidenheim side that has ten points from their last four matches and have played themselves into ninth place in the Bundesliga table. Meanwhile, Kevin Paredes is struggling with a thigh injury that kept him out of the squad last weekend for eleventh place Wolfsburg.

Darmstadt v Eintracht Frankfurt – 9:30a on ESPN+

Paxten Aaronson was an unused substitute last weekend and has not appeared in Eintracht Frankfurt’s last four matches. The team currently sits in sixth place heading into their matchup against last place Darmstadt.

Rodez v Monaco – 11:30a on FS2

Folarin Balogun and Monaco will take on second tier Rodez AF on Saturday morning in a rare opportunity for most fans to watch the American forward. The match will be aired on FS2 in America as Balogun looks to break a scoreless drought dating back to late November.

Brentford v Nottingham Forest – 12:30p on NBC

Fans will also have a potential opportunity to watch Matt Turner on broadcast television as Nottingham Forest’s match with Brentford will be aired on NBC. Turner was an unused substitute in Forest’s midweek 3-2 win over Blackpool but he has started his teams last five league matches including two straight wins over Newcastle and Manchester United. The six points have pulled Forest out of the relegation zone and into fifteenth place but a pending Financial Fair Play investigation could see them docked points that will drop them right back into the relegation zone. They face a Brentford side this weekend that currently sit one point behind them in the table.

Udinese v AC Milan – 2:45p on Paramount+

Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan handled AS Roma 3-1 last weekend as Pulisic started the match and went eighty minutes while Musah came on late and helped his side see out the victory. Milan remain in third place, nine points back of league leading Inter Milan, heading into this weekends matchup with 16th place Udinese.

Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad – 3p on ESPN+

Luca de la Torre was a substitute again last weekend as Celta Vigo drew 1-1 with Mallorca but he got the start midweek in Copa del Ray round of sixteen play and picked up an assist and a stunning backheel goal in the clubs 3-1 win over Valencia. It was Luca’s first goal across all competitions this season and his fourth assist. Perhaps the result will get him a boost of confidence or eyed for additional playing time as Celta Vigo look to separate themselves from the relegation pack. Currently the team are just two points out of the relegation zone and they face sixth place Real Sociedad this weekend.

Sunday

Utrecht v PSV – 6:15a on ESPN+

Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi look to continue PSV’s perfect run through the Eredivisie as they visit Utrecht early Sunday. Dest picked up an assist last weekend in the team’s 3-1 win over Excelsior, Tillman also started and played the first 76’, while Pepi came on for the final 14’ in relief of hat-trick scoring Luuk de Jong to help his side see out the win.

Sheffield United v West Ham United – 9a on USA Network

Auston Trusty hast started 13 straight matches for Sheffield United though the team has just eight points over that period and currently sit bottom of the table with nine points total. They face sixth place West Ham this weekend.

Borussia Monchengladbach v Augsburg – 11:30a on ESPN+

Jordan Pefok returned from injury to see 24 minutes off the bench and pick up a goal in Borussia Monchengladbach’s 3-1 win over third place Stuttgart last weekend. Joe Scally started the match for Gladbach and went the full 90 at right back. Gladbach currently sit in tenth place and face an Augsburg side just two points below them in the table.

Real Betis v Barcelona – 12:30p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Johnny Cardoso is apparently dealing with an ankle injury but did make the bench for Real Betis for the first time last weekend in the teams 1-0 win over Granada though he didn’t see the field. Seventh place Betis will now face Barcelona who are currently in fourth place, eight points behind league leading Girona, and seven back of Real Madrid.

Lecce v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+

Weston McKennie missed Juventus’ 3-0 win over Sassuolo on Tuesday as he was serving a yellow card suspension but Timothy Weah came on and played 33 minutes in the second half for the club as they maintained their second place position, two points back of Inter Milan. They will face thirteenth place Lecce this weekend who have just 21 points on the season and though they are currently in thirteenth place they are just four points ahead of Hellas Verona in eighteenth, the final relegation position.

USA vs. Slovenia, 2024 Friendly: What to watch for

We’re back!

By Donald Wine II@blazindw  Jan 19, 2024, 7:00am PST  Stars and Stripes 

The United States Men’s National Team begin their 2024 slate when they take on Slovenia tomorrow afternoon in San Antonio. The USMNT enter this year with the Concacaf Nations League Finals and 2024 Copa América, while the U-23s will compete in the 2024 Olympics. As this January Camp is comprised of several Olympic-eligible players, the theme has been getting them integrated into the national team system while they compete for a chance to be on the squad that heads to Paris.

January Camp also marks the start of a new year, a fresh reboot for the program as they get ready for another busy 12 months. They take on Slovenia, the 54th ranked team in the world that is bringing squad mostly based in their domestic league. However, Slovenia has been a formidable opponent for the USMNT the other times they have played. The USMNT hope to earn a win to set the tone for the year.

Latest Form

USA

L (1-2) – Trinidad & Tobago – Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals

W (3-0) – Trinidad & Tobago – Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals

W (4-0) – Ghana – Friendly

L (1-3) – Germany – Friendly

W (4-0) – Oman – Friendly

Slovenia

W (2-1) – Kazakhstan – Euro 2024 Qualifying

L (1-2) – Denmark – Euro 2024 Qualifying

W (1-0) – Northern Ireland – Euro 2024 Qualifying

W (3-0) – Finland – Euro 2024 Qualifying

W (4-0) – San Marino – Euro 2024 Qualifying

What To Watch For

Set the tone. The team doesn’t need to do everything right, and there will be some nerves. But, they have the task of setting the tone for the year. They should come out with fight and bring the game to Slovenia instead of playing on their heels.

Lead by example. There are some veterans in this camp that have seen action before, like Miles Robinson and Shaq Moore. They both have experience in major tournaments, with Shaq Moore playing in a couple of World Cup matches. They need to lead by example in a match with a group that largely is in their first national team camp.

Don’t try to do too much. For much of this roster, it’s the first chance to leave a lasting impression upon Gregg Berhalter and the rest of the coaching staff. However, while it’s important to stand out, they need to do that while not trying to do too much. They should remember what got them to this point and lean on that training and get into the flow of the match.

Lineup Prediction

The USMNT have a ton of new faces, but we’ll see some familiar ones in the starting XI:

Drake Callender gets the start in goal, while the back line is DeJuan Jones, Miles Robinson, Ian Murphy, and Shaq Moore. James Sands slots in at defensive midfielder, with Aidan Morris and Timmy Tillman in central midfield.

Diego Luna will operate as an attacking midfielder, with Duncan McGuire and Esmir Bajraktarević starting as the forwards.

Prediction

The USMNT get a late goal to win their first match of 2024 by a 1-0 score.

Revs teenager Bajraktarevic pushing for USMNT debut and Olympic spot

Esmir Bajraktarevic is the youngest player in the current USMNT camp and has featured in the first two U-23 camps in the lead up to the Olympics. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta has spoken with the Wisconsin-born teenager about his camp, the New England Revolution changes, and his future goals. 

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED
JANUARY 19, 2024 1:05 PM

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THE USMNT January camp is often a time to give young players an opportunity and for the program to build depth. But 2024 is an Olympic year and getting young players involved becomes especially important. On the current roster, Esmir Bajraktarevic stands out because he is the team’s youngest player who is not only eligible for the Olympics this summer, but he’s also eligible for the U-20 World Cup in 2025, and the U.S. U-23 Olympic team in 2028 as well.

Bajraktarevic, 18, has been rated highly by U.S. youth coaches for several years. While he did not make the U-20 World Cup team last summer, he was involved with the team throughout the cycle while playing up an age group. He would then go on to thrive with the U.S. U-19 team. In October and November, Bajraktarevic was involved with the first two U-23 Olympic camps playing up a cycle. In the U.S. U-23 team’s first friendly, Bajraktarevic scored a wonderful goal in a 2-1 victory over Mexico.

With U.S. U-23 head coach Marko Mitrovic on Gregg Berhalter’s staff for January camp, it wasn’t surprising to see Bajraktarevic get call-up.

“Everybody kind of looks at that – being the youngest guy,” Bajraktarevic told American Soccer Now from January camp. “But talking to Gregg and Marko, they’ve been telling me this – if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. I try not to really think about my age that much. I still have a lot of growing to do, but I think that I can compete no matter what. It doesn’t matter how young I am.”

But just like the U-23 team, Bajraktarevic is making the most of his chances this camp and last weekend he was one of the goal scorers in a 2-2 friendly draw with River Plate. Naturally a left footer, Bajraktarevic has been playing on the right wing where he can effectively cut centrally. In the goal against River Plate, he got behind the backline with a through-ball and beat the keeper with his right foot.

“Obviously, River plate is a very big club,” Bajraktarevic said. “A lot of great players have come from River Plate. So, I think it was good. And they’re obviously a very physical team. The Argentinian league is like that. I think it was a good test for us. I think it was a really good experience.”

Camp will conclude on Saturday with a friendly against Slovenia and Bajraktarevic will hope to earn his first cap in the game. But overall, the experience has been a positive one for Bajraktarevic.

“It’s been going really well so far,” Bajraktarevic said. “The group is really coming together well. The coaching staff have been doing a really good job guiding me and giving me feedback. It’s been good so far. It’s been good playing around players who are at a high level and everything. It’s been making me better. Obviously, we’re all here, they’re all very good players and they’re all really nice guys.”

But Bajraktarevic has also made a positive impression on his USMNT teammates as well.

“This is the first time I got to meet him and play with him,” said veteran USMNT defender Miles Robinson. “He’s a great player, very dynamic. He likes to get forward. He’s also mature and seems wise beyond his years.”

“I’ve really enjoyed seeing Esmir play up close,” added forward Brian White. “His dribbling is actually really fun to watch. I can see he’s got a really bright future. It’s been awesome watching him up close and personal.”

Following this tournament, Bajraktarevic will join the New England Revolution for preseason. Last season was a tumultuous period for the organization which saw the team never regain its footing after parting ways with head coach Bruce Arena. Last season, Bajraktarevic made 13 appearances and five starts for the Revolution with his highlight coming in a goal against Queretaro in the Leagues Cup. He also made nine appearances for the Revolution II in MLS Next Pro and scored eight goals.

Earlier this month, the Revolution announced Caleb Porter as the new head coach and Porter arrives having won MLS Cup with the Portland Timbers and the Columbus Crew. For Bajraktarevic, he knows that much of his future is predicated on him succeeding in New England.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about him,” Bajraktarevic said. “He gave me a call a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to meet him in person yet because obviously I went straight to camp from off season. But I’m really looking forward to getting back to the club and preseason and I’ve heard a lot of good things about him, especially from players that played at the clubs he used to be at. I’m excited for the next season.”

Of course, internationally, the short-term goal for Bajraktarevic is his push to make the Olympic team this summer. Even with him being eligible for the U-20 World Cup and the following Olympics, Bajraktarevic says he is focused on the short term to “avoid being so overwhelmed.” But the 2024 Olympics remain a distinct possibility given his involvement the first two camps and now January camp.

“Obviously the Olympics are a huge thing,” Bajraktarevic said. “So many people watch it. It’s a big platform. I was very I’m very happy to be a part of that group for the last two camps… I think we can go very far. I think we have a really good group. Obviously, the style, as we can see from the games against Mexico and Japan, Iraq and Morocco, I think it was the four friendlies that we had. You can tell that we like to play a very, very attacking style. We like to play forward. Marko encourages, especially players like me, to be creative and to let loose and play our game.”

“Marko’s a great coach. I like the style that he likes to play with. With the U-23s. I, I really enjoy it. Obviously, kind of coming from the same background – he’s Serbian, I’m Bosnian and so I can kind of understand the mindset and everything that he has. I enjoy playing under him a lot. He’s a great coach, great person.”

For Bajraktarevic, another big question for his international future is whether he will represent the United States or Bosnia and he does have options. In addition to playing for the U.S. U-23, U.S. U-20, and even possibly the USMNT this weekend, he is also on the radar for Bosnia’s U-21 team. Bajraktarevic was born in Appleton, Wisconsin and his parents moved there during amid the Bosnian war and the breakup of Yugoslavia. But his and his family’s ties to Bosnia are strong and he is still uncertain where his future will be.

“I haven’t made my final decision yet on who I want to play for,” Bajraktarevic said. “I’m obviously still young. I want to keep my options open. But right now, I’m just focused on this camp and focused on playing with the U.S right now. But no final decision has been made for who I want to play for.”

For now, Bajraktarevic is playing for the United States and his experiences with the USMNT at this camp and the U.S. U-23 team have been positive. Ahead of Saturday’s game against Slovenia, Berhalter acknowledged that Bajraktarevic has had a very good first camp and was not lost in the moment despite being the youngest player in camp.

“In terms of Esmir, the coaching staff has been really impressed with him,” Berhalter said. “We’re impressed with his skillset. He’s 18 years old, but he’s got a strong mentality, very competitive, very aggressive on the ball, willing to do the work defensively, and had just really coped well with the environment. You would think that a young player, 18 years old, comes in shy and is afraid to impose himself on the field. But it is the exact opposite with Esmir. He’s got a great future ahead of him.”

Christian Pulisic interview: ‘I want to show the world what the U.S. can do’

James Horncastle The Athletic

Jan 15, 2024

Christian Pulisic is perched on a bar stool in the old clubhouse overlooking the first-team training pitch at Milanello, AC Milan’s training ground.

He makes a hand gesture, one he didn’t need the past six months living in Italy to learn. Pulisic is talking about himself as one of the “older guys” on the USMNT and, as he does so, he is sure to put air quotes around it.Nearby is a portrait of Milan legend Paolo Maldini lifting a trophy, a player who retired in his forties. Pulisic isn’t that age yet. He turned 25 shortly after joining Milan from Chelsea in August. But as the United States get ready to host the Copa America as a guest competing nation this summer, the first newly-expanded 32-team Club World Cup the following year and then the biggest men’s World Cup finals yet, with 48 countries taking part, in 2026, he is already beginning to think about his legacy.

“I remember watching World Cups as a kid and watching (Clint) Dempsey scoring goals in the World Cup,” he says, “(Landon) Donovan scoring the winning goal (against Algeria in South Africa in 2010). It’s moments like that, that stick in kids’ minds and can really inspire a generation, which is what those moments did for me.”

Pulisic, though, is hoping to provide some of his own.

There’s a monotone zeal when he speaks. For all the curiosity about his hobbies outside of football, notably golf and chess — the board game with which Italy’s top-flight Serie A, a league renowned for its tactics and strategy, often gets compared — his focus on his own game is unflinching; his self-awareness of his influence acute.

“Watching someone that’s from where you’re from and playing at the highest level and showing the world we can compete and be the best; you know, compete with the best,” he explains. “For me, that’s what it’s all about. If I can inspire kids, especially back home in the U.S. but hopefully all over the world. There’s nothing… there’s no greater prize for me.”

Pulisic recognises he has a platform. He is the most expensive American player of all time. He captained his country for the first time at 20 and was the first American to play in the Champions League final. A decade since he moved to Europe, he has only played for big clubs — Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and now Milan. This is what, relatively speaking, makes him a veteran in football terms. Through the experience he has accumulated he hopes to emerge as a leader who is authentic to himself.

Pulisic celebrates winning the Champions League with Chelsea, alongside father Mark and mother Kelley in 2021 (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Publicly, he lacks the loquaciousness and affability of current national-team skipper Tyler Adams — “I’m not the most vocal person,” Pulisic concedes — but there are other ways to affect a group and a country.

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To Pulisic, that means action as much as words and being an example “in just doing what I do every day”. It means “when I’m with the (national) team, when I’m at club level, I’m just continuing to show people, like, ‘OK, he’s pushing the boundaries. He’s performing to a high level.’ Hopefully, I can lead that way as well.”

The player who, in a meme, was framed as the LeBron James of soccer, is quite the introvert. He is the polar opposite, for instance, of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the transcendent Milan icon, who has returned to Milanello very quickly after his retirement as a player to take up a new role created by Milan’s owners RedBird Capital Partners as an operating partner for the group’s media and entertainment portfolio and as a senior adviser to Milan’s ownership and senior management. How then does Pulisic square his self-effacing character with the expectation his profile and ability generates?

“I’ve had my difficulties with it,” he accepts. “It’s not something that affects my day-to-day life. I think I’m quite a simple guy. I’m not out in public all the time, so it doesn’t affect me. I’m in training every day. I come home and I can relax and speak to the people close to me and the people that I love, so it’s not something that bothers me in any way. It’s just some getting used to and I’m really grateful I have the platform to do what I want to do.”

(Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Our interview takes place by the exit of the clubhouse at Milanello, where a member of Milan’s backroom team sits at a desk waiting to catch the players as they leave training to sign jerseys for one of the club’s commercial partners. Pulisic’s shirt instantly became the best seller following his move from Chelsea for €20million (now $21.9m, £17.2m).

There was a 75 per cent increase in the number of Milan jerseys sold compared to a standard equivalent period. In the U.S. the sales uplift was 713 per cent, and Milan shirt sales in the U.S. increased from nine per cent of the total sold to 43 per cent. Personalised Pulisic jerseys represented 45 per cent of all match jerseys sold in his first month with them, according to the club.

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Americans are flocking to San Siro, the iconic stadium Milan share with city rivals Inter, like never before. The number is up 148 per cent on this stage last season.

Pulisic is performing well in Milan (Alessandro Belussi and Pietro Vai)

A commercial phenomenon, Pulisic is helping Milan, and Serie A, build their profiles in North America. The club made sure to sign him in time to participate to make full use of his pull and draw fans to games against Real Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and Juventus at MLS side LA Galaxy’s Dignity Health Sports Park.

“I think that’s just a win-win. That’s an extra thing,” Pulisic says of his impact off the pitch. “That’s not what I focus on. I focus on the sporting aspect, performing and winning games.”

The old clubhouse at Milanello, arguably the most bucolic training facility in European football, was, in harder financial times, rented out as a wedding venue. Pulisic and his new team are still in the honeymoon stage. “I’m enjoying it a lot,” he smiles. “I’ve been given a great opportunity here.” That’s all he was looking for after Chelsea, where he became surplus to requirements: “A fair opportunity.”

Did he feel he was no longer getting one at the London club? “I’m not here to talk about whether it was fair or not back then. I’m just happy to be where I am now, for sure. The first couple of years (at Chelsea) were fantastic,” he reflects. Pulisic was a member of their Champions League-winning squad in May 2021. “The last couple of years… I think a lot of things in the club changed. A lot of people also left this summer, got new opportunities and have done well.”

Some of them are now at Milan, too. Pulisic followed Ruben Loftus-Cheek to San Siro and the pair of them have reconnected with former Chelsea team-mates Fikayo Tomori and Olivier Giroud, who had already made the move. “That made it a lot easier,” Pulisic says.

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His debut goal against Bologna in August, a screamer from outside of the box, came from a neat one-two with striker Giroud. “I know a lot of his tendencies, he knows mine. It’s been great to play off him. Things like that are only going to help with the chemistry within the team and get me accustomed to a new team, a new league.”

The same goes for Yunus Musah, the USMNT midfielder, whom Milan signed from Spain’s Valencia in the same transfer window they acquired Pulisic.

Pulisic and Musah at the 2022 World Cup (Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

Musah was born in New York City but raised in Castelfranco Veneto near Venice and speaks fluent Italian. “He’s an incredible kid,” Pulisic beams. “I love playing with him in the national team. It’s great now to see him day-to-day. If I don’t understand something, he’s there to help me out. He’s teaching me a bit of everything. Mostly the footballing stuff I need to know.”

GO DEEPER

Why Christian Pulisic’s dream move to Chelsea took a turn for the worse

Pulisic’s debut away to Bologna could not have gone better. In addition to scoring himself, he was instrumental to the other goal in a 2-0 Milan win, picking out Tijjani Reijnders at the far post to cut the ball back for a Giroud tap-in. A week later, in his first appearance at San Siro, he scored again. Milan won seven of their first eight games in the league.

Playing in a different position from the one he tends to occupy for the USMNT, Pulisic believes the experience of playing on the right rather than the left has made him a better player.

“I’ve learned a lot, especially playing off the right side. I’ve learned a lot about finding the right times to come inside. I’ve improved with my weaker foot as well and in finding the right solutions, the right times to run in behind, when to show to feet. I’ve really improved tactically about the game in that sense.

“From a defensive point of view as well, I think I’ve improved and I feel good about helping the team defensively whether it’s pressing or covering the right spaces. Some things I’ve definitely seen a change in in coming to Italy.”

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It gives Gregg Berhalter, the USMNT coach and a frequent visitor to Italy this season, a more complete player ahead of the Copa America, where the hosts face group games against Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay.

Pulisic finished 2023 strongly. He is already in double figures for combined goals and assists and is set to have the most prolific campaign of his career.

Before Sunday’s 3-1 home win against Roma, Pulisic was presented with the Serie A Player of the Month award for December. A quiet confidence simmers within.

Celebrating a goal for Milan against Sassuolo last month (Piero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images)

Milan are out of this season’s Champions League, finishing third in their group to drop down into the second-tier Europa League’s straight-knockout phase, and were eliminated from the Coppa Italia by Atalanta last week. They are third in Serie A, nine points behind first-placed rivals Inter who beat them four times in 2023, including in both legs of last season’s Champions League semi-final and, infamously, 5-1 in September in Pulisic’s first Derby della Madonnina in the league. But he does not accept Milan are out of the title race. That’s not in his mentality.

“There’s still half a season to go, so that doesn’t seem fair,” he bites back. “We’re still going to push on and do our best. We still have lots to play for. We’re still in the Europa League (they have a two-leg play-off next month against French club Rennes over a place in that competition’s last 16). There are many games left in the league this season, so we’re not at all discouraged by what’s going on. We’re going to continue to push and win games and hopefully make our fans proud.”

Injury-resistant at a club mired in an injury crisis and consistently decisive on the pitch, he has proved some of the Puli-sceptics wrong and hopes to take his form into the Copa America.

Pulisic was still a teenager when he played in the centenary edition of that tournament eight years ago. The U.S., playing then as they will this year as hosts and invited guests in what is the South American championship, made the semi-finals on that occasion before losing to Argentina. Can they do even better this time?

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“There’s no measure to say exactly, ‘If we get this far, that’s success’,” Pulisic muses. “We’re going in with the mentality (of) taking it game by game and, of course, the goal is to win the tournament — always when you go into a tournament — so that’s how we look at things. We have a good young team and this is a great opportunity for us to play against the world’s best and hopefully show the world what we can do.”

To win it, the USMNT will have to get past reigning World Cup and Copa America champions Argentina and their captain Lionel Messi, whose impact since joining MLS club Inter Miami last summer has been electric.

“I can’t say it’s not expected,” Pulisic says. “He (Messi) is, of course, the best to really ever do it. After having the (2022) World Cup he did and then obviously being back in MLS, it’s been fantastic for the league. The buzz around the league, around Miami whenever they play… it seems like a big televised game. Players like that are going to bring in fans, new fans to watch the league, and for me it’s only a positive thing.”

Would it bring Pulisic back to the U.S. in the future? An old head on a 25-year-old’s body still feels he has much more to give Milan before then.

“Obviously, I’m not an old player,” he says. “I hopefully have some great years in Europe ahead of me. I’m loving my time here, so of course MLS is not in my head at the moment. But, yeah. At the end of my career? Absolutely.

“I will say, it’s come a long, long way from when I first started even… almost, what, 10 years (ago) when I moved to Europe. Where the game has come in the US from then, even MLS to where it is now, I’ve seen a massive change just as far as the support in the US; you know, getting behind the national team and even the clubs now seeing Messi in Miami, things like that.

“There’s just so much buzz around the sport and I think it’s only going to get better in the next few years.”

Analysing the USMNT’s Matt Turner: ‘Useless with his feet’ or unfairly maligned?

By Greg O’Keeffe and Jeff Rueter

Jan 9, 2024

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Matt Turner put his gloved hands on his head, grimaced and, for a moment, stood stock-still as if in a daze.

In the previous six seconds, his underhit pass towards team-mate Danilo had been intercepted by Alejandro Garnacho and then tucked into the corner of the Nottingham Forest net with one swish of Marcus Rashford’s right foot.

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It had not been Turner’s first unconvincing moment when it came to his passing in that game against Manchester United, or the preceding fixtures; something UK broadcaster Sky Sports’ commentary team, the world of social media and perhaps his new head coach noted in different ways.

“Useless with his feet,” was former United and England defender Gary Neville’s brutal assessment on Sky.

Turner, though, is nothing if not resilient. While his error saw United score to make it 1-1 just over a week ago, a subsequent strong save he made was the catalyst for an attack that helped Forest recapture their lead. Like the USMNT international in their goal, Forest did not wilt from there and saw out a 2-1 win in Nuno Espirito Santo’s third game in charge.

It meant they finished a tumultuous 2023 on a high and five points clear of the Premier League’s three relegation places, but the happy ending did not completely dim the noise about Turner’s suitability for a move towards the possession football both his previous and new manager at the club want them to play.

It also ensured the contest between Turner and fellow summer signing Odysseas Vlachodimos to retain Forest’s goalkeeper jersey continues.

Turner and Vlachodimos are competing to be Forest’s first-choice goalkeeper (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

But how do the pair match up when it comes to those key metrics? And how has Turner — who has started 15 of Forest’s Premier League games this season, to five for the Greece international — performed in comparison to the rest of the top flight’s goalkeepers?

The first thing to note is that, despite the attention and strong criticism of his recent errors, Turner is not among the worst Premier League goalkeepers this season when ranked on failed passes in their own half per 90 minutes. Indeed, among the players to have appeared in goal for the 20 top-flight sides so far in 2023-24, he is as close to first place as to last — 12th of 24, with his rate of 1.93 matching the league average.

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His fiercest critics may imagine him among the worst offenders, but the top three on that failed pass metric are Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez, Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley’s James Trafford. Instead, Turner is nestled around many mid-table teams’ distributive goalkeepers. Vlachodimos, albeit based on a much smaller sample size of only five games, fares better in 24th — playing fewer failed passes in his own half than any other top-flight keeper.

On a separate note, Turner has made four mistakes in possession that have led to opposition shots in the next 12 seconds of play, with those attempts worth 0.62 xG — the eighth-highest among Premier League goalkeepers this season.

It has not helped Turner that his errors have happened in quick succession, drawing more attention to the issue.

While that mistake against United did not ultimately prove too costly, three matches earlier, in the home game against Tottenham, he had also been left looking to the heavens with frustration following his own mishap. In what proved the final game before Steve Cooper was sacked and replaced with Nuno, the American cost his side a goal with another rushed, sloppy pass.

First, Neco Williams over-elaborates in possession and, under pressure, passes back to Turner. The goalkeeper’s hurried clearance is a) short and b) straight to Dejan Kulusevski.

The Spurs forward bears down on goal and, to compound his initial mistake, Turner is then beaten at his near post by the resulting shot.

Vlachodimos certainly fares better in any comparison with the ball at his feet.

But it is Turner’s superior shot-stopping that presumably prompted Cooper and Nuno to select him ahead of the Greek in recent weeks despite those passing errors.

Against Bournemouth on December 23, in Nuno’s first game in charge, Forest — having been reduced to 10 men after defender Willy Boly’s first-half red card — suffered a 3-2 home defeat but none of the goals were the result of a glaring howler from Turner. Nuno then stuck with him for the next game against Newcastle United, and was rewarded with an improved performance that saw Turner complete five of seven attempted saves and record an 80 per cent passing completion in Forest’s 3-1 away win.

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As detailed above, his copybook was mixed in the next victory, over Manchester United, but, unless Forest move to sign another goalkeeper in the currently open winter transfer window, they may look to alter the way they build play from the back to limit the requirement for Turner to do something he is not adept at.

Whether he can improve his passing remains to be seen but it is not a new problem, according to The Athletic’s goalkeeping analyst, and former professional keeper, Matt Pyzdrowski.

“I recall wondering if his (Turner’s) issues with distribution with his feet were affecting his chances of overhauling Zack Steffen to become No 1 with the national team,” Pyzdrowski says. “But then, Zach had his own period of low form and Matt got in.

“At Arsenal (Turner’s club last season, before his summer move to Forest), if you look at the games he played, they tended to be when the opponents didn’t press high. Dealing with the ball at his feet when under pressure is definitely an area he can improve. When he has time, he can actually play a nice range of short and long passes.”

Pyzdrowski believes there are various stressors that might be undermining his compatriot’s recent form, stretching back to the summer signing of Vlachodimos for £7.7million ($9.8m) three weeks after Turner had arrived in Nottingham hoping finally to secure regular Premier League football following his season as second-string to Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal.

“With Forest bringing in another goalkeeper who is also seen as a number one, it has added a psychological element to it as well,” Pyzdrowski says. “The team has been up and down, which doesn’t help.

“I think Gary Neville was harsh in commentary (during the United match). Matt is certainly not ‘awful’ with the ball at his feet, but clearly he can be better. One thing that might help is being more proactive and knowing what he is going to do with the ball before he gets it. The longer he gets to work with the new manager, that could improve.

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“It will be interesting to see how both of them (Turner and Vlachodimos) adapt to the demand to pass it more, because it’s probably not a strength for either of them.

“With a new demand like that, you can overthink it and try too much to impress, which can lead to mistakes. As a former keeper, Nuno may have more sympathy to the pressures of being the goalie, but he will be under pressure himself to get results, and that often leads to scrutiny on key positions like goalkeeper.

“I can imagine there are some people at Forest who value Matt, and others who value Vlachodimos.”

On the international front, the 37-cap Turner has more job security than at club level. He has become coach Gregg Berhalter’s obvious No 1, playing in all four games in the World Cup finals just over a year ago, and being selected for all the USMNT’s important fixtures.

“In some of the national team’s fixtures, like the CONCACAF Nations League and World Cup qualifiers, the opposition are probably not going to press them high and aggressively, so he won’t be under as much pressure,” says Pyzdrowski. “It is usually only Mexico or Canada who will challenge them consistently and press.

“Against traditionally better national teams, Berhalter tends to simplify it, and that’s suited Matt. They will adapt and mix it from playing short or long, or just go direct.

“Matt also seems to have more confidence with the USMNT because he is the clear first choice.”

Turner is the established first choice for the USA (Howard Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

The resilience which saw Turner rise from being the third keeper at New England Revolution in MLS to playing for one of the Premier League’s top clubs will stand him in good stead to respond to his latest setbacks.“He has had a lot going on lately,” Pyzdrowski says. “Matt’s been adapting to a new club, living in a new area, and has just become a father. If you’re at a stable club that may be easier, but Forest have sacked the manager who signed him. I understand fans mainly think about results and, after the mistake against United looked like it may cost them, there was a lot of social-media criticism. But he actually responded well, made some strong saves and was confident in the air.

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“One thing you can’t deny is the odds he has overcome to get where he is. He started late in football (at age 14) and has always had people who doubted whether he was good enough to play at the highest level. I had my own concerns. But every time he has had his back against the wall, he has built himself back.”

That may be the 29-year-old New Jersey native’s mindset now, and his New Year social media message suggests Turner is ready for the challenge.https://www.instagram.com/p/C1hMmXqIstI/embed/captioned/?

“Learning so much week in and week out about life on and off the pitch,” he wrote on Instagram. “New city, new team, new member of the family all at once! Looking forward to more memories in 2024, maybe a bit less chaotic eh?”till finding his feet then, in every sense.

Additional reporting: John Muller

(Top photo: Ami Ford/NFFC via Getty Images)

Downingtown’s Zack Steffen opens up about why he returned to MLS

Steffen recently signed to be the starting goalkeeper for the Colorado Rapids.

As he began the fourth year of his second stint in Europe, Zack Steffen decided that he’d had enough of the instability that defined his time abroad.

The goalkeeper from Downingtown still hadn’t made it with Manchester City, the English powerhouse that paid $7 million to buy him from the Columbus Crew in 2019. Though Steffen won two Premier League titles and a League Cup with City, he played just 21 games for the club, mostly in domestic cups. His actual playing time overseas came during loans to the German Bundesliga’s Fortuna Düsseldorf and the English second division’s Middlesbrough.

Steffen dealt with a series of brutal injuries along the way, the latest being a major knee issue that’s had him out of action since May. He also became a father, welcoming a daughter in October.

» READ MORE: Downingtown’s Zack Steffen returns to MLS, joining the Colorado Rapids

So it was time to return, he decided. When the Colorado Rapids offered him a cornerstone place with a team under new management, he said yes.

“Just to be back in the States, closer to family, closer to friends, have them part of my career, just gives me a lot of energy and passion and motivation to come back here,” Steffen said at a news conference Monday.

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“And now I’m 28, getting up there a little bit, so I want some stability. … And to win some games, lift some trophies, and just bring this club to a winning culture, a winning mentality. And I think we can do that.”

Steffen said he liked the Rapids’ sales pitch, especially from goalkeeper coach Chris Sharpe and new manager Chris Armas.

“The situation, the city, the people, the club, the new coaches, and then Chris Sharpe,” Steffen said. The conversations that we’ve had really excited me and gave me motivation, gave me confidence that we’re all on the same page on where we want to go individually and then collectively.”

» READ MORE: Union trade Andrés Perea to NYCFC, ending his short and disappointing tenure in Philly

Familiar faces at work and home

He made it clear that being a new father matters, too, not surprising for a player who has long been close with his family.

“Fatherhood is amazing,” he said. “Wanting to be closer to family and be part of her life as well, and her journey. Yeah, man, fatherhood is the best thing ever.”

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Steffen found some familiar faces when he arrived in Denver, especially veteran Rapids right back Keegan Rosenberry. The Ronks, Pa., native played with Steffen on Union-run youth teams in the club’s early years, before the academy was fully built out.

Rosenberry played his first three years as a pro with the Union. He could have been teammates with Steffen in MLS back then, had the Union signed Steffen to a homegrown player contract while he was at the University of Maryland. But when Germany’s Freiburg offered Steffen his first chance to go to Europe, he took it, with the Union unable to match the money involved. (Whether they tried to has been lost to history.)

Nine years later, they will line up together again.

» READ MORE: Julián Carranza is still a Union player, but might not be for much longer

“We’ve always gotten along really well, kind of stayed in touch through all the moves in our career,” Rosenberry said. “There’s always a little bit more of a close relationship with defenders and goalkeepers, so I’m hoping we can build each other up and help each other succeed.”

Armas might be the happiest of anyone outside the Steffen family. His hiring wasn’t entirely well-received, because previous jobs were underwhelming spells with the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC, and disastrously short times as an assistant at England’s Manchester United and Leeds United. (His bosses there were close friends, Red Bull global veteran Ralf Rangnick in Manchester and American Jesse Marsch in Leeds.)

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Armas has now started his Rapids tenure with the arrivals of Steffen and Djordje Mihailovic, a 25-year-old playmaker who not long ago was a U.S. national team prospect. They reportedly will soon add left back Sam Vines, a former Rapids player who’s been at Belgium’s Royal Antwerp for 2½ years.

That’s a good helping of talent and stability, with Steffen at the root of it all in net.

“He’s been part of major success, big experiences … but most importantly has been part of good, strong cultures, winning cultures,” Armas said. “We expect him to be one of the leaders, one of the driving forces behind our push, and we’re delighted to have Zack.”

» READ MORE: Apple is still keeping secret how many — or few — people watch its MLS telecasts

Sam Mewis, World Cup winner with USWNT and NWSL champion, retires from professional soccer

By Meg Linehan

5h ago

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Former U.S. women’s national team midfielder Sam Mewis — a key fixture on the team that won the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup — is retiring from professional soccer, she announced Friday.

Through her eight years with the USWNT, she earned 83 caps and scored 24 goals. During the 2019 World Cup win, Mewis played in six of the seven matches, starting in five, en route to the U.S.’s fourth victory in the tournament. She scored two goals in the team’s opening win against Thailand, including her debut World Cup goal.“Unfortunately, my knee can no longer tolerate the impact that elite soccer requires,” Mewis, 31, said in a statement. “Though this isn’t what I wanted, this is the only path forward for me.“I want to thank everyone who has been on my team throughout this journey. Soccer has put so many wonderful things in my life, but the most wonderful thing has been the people. To all my family, friends, teammates, and fans, I truly feel that we did this together and I’m extremely grateful.” Twelve of her caps came alongside her sister, Kristie, and they were the first sisters to feature on an Olympic USWNT together. Sam’s USWNT debut in 2014 at the Algarve Cup was alongside Kristie, when they both entered a match against Sweden as substitutes. Before going pro, she helped guide the UCLA Bruins to their first NCAA championship in 2013, and was part of the U-20 youth national team that won gold at the 2012 World Cup as well.

With Mewis’ lengthy battle with injuries keeping her off the field for months before Friday’s retirement announcement, it’s easy to forget how much of a role she played in the team’s success in 2019 — but also how she could dominate the field at her peak. Nicknamed “The Tower of Power” for her height, she was an obvious target for set pieces for club and country, but her skills went far beyond being in the right place at the right time for a goal.

B.J. Snow, formerly the talent identification director of U.S. Soccer, said in 2018 that Sam Mewis had taken a written soccer intelligence test, taken by thousands of pro players, men and women. Of all that had taken it, Mewis placed in the top one percent when she got her results. That IQ showed in craftiness and awareness on the field, both offensively and defensively. In 2019, it was Mewis’ two goals and four assists that helped the USWNT reach the podium; she was second on the team in defensive recoveries too (outside back Crystal Dunn was first, having played 74 more minutes than Mewis in the tournament).

Mewis’ NWSL accomplishments cannot be overlooked either. She won three NWSL championships, first with the Western New York Flash as underdogs in 2016, before the team relocated to North Carolina and the Courage became one of the league’s most dominant teams. The Courage won the NWSL Shield for three straight years in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and added championships in 2018 and 2019. Mewis made the NWSL Best XI in 2017.

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In 2020, she headed to Manchester City — and had a stellar run there too, scoring goals in league play, helping the team win the FA Cup, and netting a Champions League goal as well. Before the start of the pandemic, she had also proved a pivotal factor in CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers, and her performances throughout the year earned her the Player of the Year award for U.S. Soccer.

Mewis featured in the delayed Olympics for the USWNT, playing in all six matches and starting four. She also returned to the Courage in 2021, but the bronze medal match with the U.S. was her final one with the national team — as this is where her ongoing knee and ankle injuries took a much worse turn. Over the past couple of years, Mewis had multiple surgeries and posted clips from her rehab attempts

On Friday, she made her decision to retire public. She also announced her next step: serving as editor-in-chief for a new women’s soccer vertical at Men in Blazers.

“My goal started being: I want to walk my dog and not limp for a while,” she told the Wall Street Journal. “I recognized that I had other things to live for besides being good at soccer.”

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 set for U.S. east coast with Gold Cup on west

By Felipe Cardenas and Dan Sheldon Jan 18, 2024

The expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. will be played primarily on the country’s east coast, multiple sources briefed on the tournament’s planning told The Athletic.

Putting Club World Cup games in the eastern time zone will benefit television audiences in Europe, home to many of the clubs that stand a good chance of winning the trophy.

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Organizers’ reasoning for limiting the tournament’s matches to the east coast was also influenced by the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will take place simultaneously in the U.S. To avoid stadium and logistical issues between the two competitions, sources said that FIFA and CONCACAF have agreed to stage the Gold Cup on the U.S.’s west coast.

The Gold Cup, North America and the Caribbean’s biannual continental competition, will overlap with the Club World Cup from June 14 to July 6, 2025. One source said that CONCACAF and FIFA are collaborating to create “smart schedules” so that fans can easily enjoy both tournaments. The Club World Cup, meanwhile, will begin on June 15, and finish on July 13.

In July, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani told reporters that the two tournaments could overlap, but that Club World Cup and Gold Cup matches would not share kick-off times.

“You might have some overlaps in the group stage,” Montagliani said. “(We have to) make sure our kickoff times are coordinated. If you do it right, it’ll work. It’s up to us and FIFA to make sure it works and our teams work well together and I have no issues. We’re in those discussions already.”

With regard to the Club World Cup, some exceptions could be made. For example, it would make sense for MLS side Seattle Sounders, winners of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2022, to play at least one match at home. Additionally, cities in Texas, which is located in the U.S.’ central time zone, could be named Gold Cup host cities.

As of now, 19 of 32 teams have already qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup, which will feature eight four-team groups. Each club will play each other once and the top two teams will advance to the knockout stages, which will be single-legged. In a December announcement, FIFA stated that the revamped Club World Cup will be held every four years.

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IU advances to Elite 8 at Notre Dame Sat 5 pm BTN  

The Notre Dames men’s soccer team (12-2-5) will host Indiana (15-4-4, 4-2-2 Big Ten) in the Quarterfinal round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship on Sat Dec 2 . Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Alumni Stadium. Unseeded Indiana advanced to the Elite 8 after wins over Lipscomb, and 10^th-seeded Wake Forest and Virginia. Tix are on sale now for just $10.   The winner will advance to Louisville next weekend for the College Cup Final 4 – an event IU has been to a record 22 times. 

Indy 11 Coach Mark Lowry Steps Down  

Indy Eleven announced today that it has parted ways with Head Coach Mark Lowry, who is stepping down after two seasons at the helm of the Boys in Blue. Lowry became the fourth permanent head coach in club history on Nov. 16, 2021, and led Indy Eleven to its best season since 2019 with a 12-17-5 record in 2022. The club returned to the playoffs in 2023 for the first time since the 2019 season, as a sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, after finishing the regular-season campaign with a 13-11-10 record. The Boys in Blue have previously announced the initial nine players from the 2023 squad who will return for the 2024 season, as well as additional roster moves, and will continue to announce updates in the weeks ahead.

US Ladies play China Sat 2:30 pm TNT & Tues 7:30 pm

So a new younger roster has been chosen for these 2 games with China this Sat and Tues on TNT.  New Manager Emma Hayes has been in Florida training with the new group as she looks for players for the Olympics and beyond – notable absences include Alex Morgan, Sauerbram and longtime GK Alysa Neyher as Hayes looks to the youth from around the world and in NWSL to round out this roster.  Will be interesting to see how things look – even though Hayes will only be watching from afar – as she will return to Chelsea to her day job for the weekend.  I will sit back and watch rather than predict a starting line-up for Saturday’s game.  Hopefully we can be a little more attack minded moving forward – we’ll see.  (Ton’s of stories below)

HELL IS REAL – MLS Conference Finals are Saturday on Apple TV Cincy vs Columbus

Not sure how many are watching – I am honestly not watching these all Apple TV playoffs and I am not sure anyone else is either – but this weekend is worth trying to tune in as our 2 closest MLS cities Cincy and Columbus battle it out in Cincy for the Easter Conference Finals Sat at 6 pm on Apple TV. (stories below )

DECEMBER FRIENDLIES VS. CHINA PR

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 7), Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 16)

DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 29/1), Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC; 79/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 50/1), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 37/1), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 24/0), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars; 41/0), M.A. Vignola (Angel City FC; 1/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 0/0), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 5/0), Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC; 6/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 137/30), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 91/24), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 81/2)

FORWARDS (8): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG; 2/1), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 21/5), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 24/4), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 26/6), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 2/1), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 36/14), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 8/0), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 58/17)

Champs League Unkind to American’s Except Pepi who scored It was sad to see Pulisic put in a Man of the Match performance for AC Milan and still have them lose 3-1 to his former club Dortmund basically eliminating AC from moving to the next round.  Pulisic started on the left wing and had multiple services in that simply could not be cashed – he even took a few shots himself to no avail.  American Teammates Yanus Musah sat because of yellow card accumulation and Dortmund’s Reyna never sniffed the field – man he has got to get out of Dortmund and soon.  In other games Celtic and American Carter Vickers is out after losing 2-0.  Only PSV advanced on a spectacular night for American Ricardo Pepi who scored this late winner to advance the Dutch team to the next round.  Midfielder Tilman and defender Dest also started and played all game in the victory. 

One of our top Soccer Pubs around –Union Jacks Pub in Broad Ripple is struggling with all the road closures over the past 2 years – they host the American Outlaws Indy, EPL games on Weekends, Champions League on Weekdays, and of course the EUROS, & World Cups.  If you get a chance to swing by and grab a bite and a pint – rather its on gameday or not – I am a sure that would help. 

GAMES ON TV

Sat, Dec 2

9:30 am ESPN+            Hoffenhiem vs Mgladbach (Scally)

10 am USA                  Arsenal vs Wolverhampton  

12:30 pm NBC             Nottingham Forest vs Everton  

2:30 pm TNT, Max,      USWNT vs China

3 om USA                    NewCastle United vs Man United

5 pm ??                       Indiana U Men vs Notre Dame – Elite 8

6 pm Apple TV           Cincy vs Columbus Crew East Finals

9:30 pm Apple TV      LAFC vs Houston   West Finals

Sun, Dec 3

9 am USA                    Chelsea vs Brighton

9 am Cock                   Liverpool  vs  Fulham (Ream, Robinson)

11:30 am Cock            Man City vs Tottenham

12 noon CBSSN            Roma vs Sassuolo

2:45 pm Para+            Napoli vs Inter Milan

Tues, Dec 5

7:30 pm TNT, Max      USWNT vs China

MLS Conference Finals Sat/Sun

Wilfried Nancy’s lineup choices paying off for Crew, will that continue vs. FC Cincinnati?
FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta celebrates 2023 MLS MVP award in style at local restaurant
MLS, EPL could introduce ‘sin bins’ to punish players, extend VAR involvement
FC Cincinnati’s Matt Miazga suspended 3 games for ‘misconduct’ after allegedly confronting officials in locker room
Cincinnati’s defender Miazga suspended for rest of MLS playoffs

Reigning MLS champs move a step closer to repeat title

MLS Cincy gets thru Philly on questionable VAR Call – what is a handball anyway

Analysis: Behind big games from Crepeau, Chiellini, and Bouanga, LAFC downs Seattle

Houston Beats KC Again

US Ladies play Sat 2:30 pm TNT

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes meets with players for first time

Three bold ideas for the USWNT in their final games of 2023

USWNT’s Trinity Rodman: Emma Hayes has been ‘amazing so far’

SSFC Spotlight: Korbin Albert gets chance at senior international level By Brendan Joseph Stars & Stripes  

USWNT roster: Who is the future at goalkeeper?

USWNT will honor retired defender Ali Krieger at Dec. 5 game

U.S. still in race to host 2027 World Cup after South Africa withdraws

Scouting China – Stars & Stripes                                                                                                 

USWNT player compares World Cup to ‘Hunger Games’ in new Netflix trailer

Trinity Rodman ‘will be watching’ USWNT World Cup docuseries

Sophia Smith, Angel Reese make Forbes’ ‘30 under 30’ list
Racing Louisville FC names Beverly Goebel Yanez, former assistant for club, new head coach
Women’s Nations League: Belgium v Scotland: Scots ‘ready to put things right’, says Howard

US Men

 USMNT to play Slovenia in January Camp friendly By Donald Wine II Stars and Stripes  

Copa América 2024 opener, final venues announced
‘To see that people really hate us just because of the color of our skin’: Why Juventus duo are talking about mental health

Champions League

Champions League grades: Arsenal earn high marks, Celtic woes drag on
Arsenal attack cuts loose against Lens
Jude Bellingham makes Real history with yet another Champions League goal

Garnacho makes epic bicycle kick goal look easy
Arsenal show how the Champions League should be done – Man Utd and Newcastle take note…
Manchester United on the brink of an early Champions League exit after chaotic draw against Galatasaray
Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd are utterly chaotic – they cannot return to top like this
Madrid finish first after entertaining win over Napoli
Copenhagen grab crucial Champions League point after more VAR drama
Bayern Munich 0-0 FC Copenhagen: Visitors grind out draw to keep last-16 hopes alive

 Reffing

Jammy Jean and Jeff Perry and Shane reffing Boys College Showcase games at Grand Park today.

For Christian Pulisic, this hurt. Despite his best efforts, Milan are on the brink

By Greg O’Keeffe The Athletic Nov 29, 20237

At the final whistle, he stood with hands on his hips, head bowed in quiet contemplation.Then, after five seconds, there was a trudge to the centre circle to offer handshakes to the victorious Borussia Dortmund players. For a couple of former colleagues, there was a brief embrace, before an equally slow plod to applaud the AC Milan diehards in the Curva Sud.

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After all that was done, he was the last player to depart the San Siro pitch.Maybe he was walking so slowly because his legs were sapped after 96 hard-running minutes. Perhaps he was carrying a heavier heart than usual too. For Christian Pulisic, this hurt.The 3-1 loss in Tuesday’s Champions League group game against his former club Borussia Dortmund left Pulisic’s side closer to sliding out of the competition.Champions League Group F

Milan’s fate is out of their hands; three points against Newcastle United at St James’ Park in their final Group F match next month would only be enough for a Europa League consolidation prize if Paris Saint-Germain avoid defeat against Dortmund, who are already into the round of 16.On Pulisic’s part, it was not through a lack of trying.He had been one of Milan’s top performers on a night that arrived on the back of worrying league form. They have won just once in their past five Serie A games — last Saturday’s underwhelming victory against Fiorentina — and murmurs about manager Stefano Pioli’s future are growing.Pulisic certainly seemed to carry that load on his shoulders afterwards. He left the stadium grim-faced after declining to stop when asked to discuss the game by journalists.https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6FHLmgsgq93G7CfO2ZMrk3?utm_source=generator

Earlier, he had tried to offer a semi-upbeat assessment to ex-New York Red Bulls and Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch, now a pundit for CBS. “We had some really good moments in the game but even after they went and scored we came back, got one back and were really pushing,” said Pulisic.“We had good momentum at the end of the first half going into the second half. There were a few opportunities at the beginning of that second but just couldn’t take advantage. It wasn’t our day.“It’s disappointing. There are some positives we can take out of it but all we can do is focus on winning the last game.”Pulisic, 25, was involved in most of the upsides for a Milan team that has been depleted by injuries to key men, such as forward Rafael Leao. They were already struggling for numbers in defence, with Simon Kjaer out, and lost centre-back Malick Thiaw to injury in the second half. Thiaw later left the stadium on crutches.Tough times call for cool heads and leadership by example, and the U.S. captain offered both.He was deployed on the left of Milan’s front three but, as the hosts started boldly, Pulisic often drifted inside looking for the ball while left-back Theo Hernandez went outside him and remained high up the field.

Christian Pulisic takes on Marius Wolf, left, and Niclas Fullkrug (Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

In a chaotic opening period, Olivier Giroud’s penalty for Milan was saved by Dortmund ’keeper Gregor Kobel, before Marco Reus converted one for the visitors.Pulisic tried to restore some calm, helping the hosts keep the ball and regain some momentum. He was composed and near-immaculate in possession all night, completing 94 per cent of his passes (more than any other forward player who started the game).Dortmund were keenly aware of the threat he brought. Whenever he stretched his legs, there was a yellow shirt close to him, with Mats Hummels skilfully shutting him out as he tried to lead Milan back into the game as the half wore on.But the men in yellow couldn’t always thwart him. There was a roar of appreciation from the Curva Sud on 42 minutes when Pulisic received the ball on his right foot, feinted to go inside and then chopped it onto his left before darting past a stumbling and wrong-footed Julian Ryerson to whip in a cross.Four minutes later, he should have had the first of two assists his creativity warranted, when a superb teasing cross to the back post was headed wide by Davide Calabria.There might have been a spectacular goal of his own in that phase after the break when Milan still threatened a comeback: a superbly executed scissor-kick was diverted behind for a corner.But for Pulisic, there was often frustration — take the 77th minute, when he deftly played the ball to Calabria in Dortmund’s half and burst forward expecting the return pass but the captain lost possession.By then, Dortmund’s clinical counter-attacking had given Milan a mountain to climb. But while some heads dropped, Pulisic tried to keep making things happen.There was another dangerous right-footed cross with seven minutes of normal time left that led to a Milan corner.Then he almost created a late goal with a cross, from which Luka Jovic hit the post.

Pulisic’s final meaningful contribution was to link smartly with fellow former Chelsea team-mate Ruben Loftus-Cheek in a move that forced a strong save from Kobel.If he cut a forlorn figure at the end, his international team-mates Yunus Musah and Giovanni Reyna were not skipping out of the San Siro either. Musah was suspended and watched from the stands; a presumably even more frustrated Reyna was an unused substitute for Dortmund.Musah will resume his influential role in the team after having to sit this out, but the question marks over what Reyna must do to play remain. It did not help his cause that 34-year-old Reus, who plays in the central attacking midfield role Reyna covets, produced a vintage display.

REUS SCORES FROM THE SPOT! 🟡

A CRAZY start at the San Siro, TWO penalties have been taken, Giroud misses for Milan and Reus scores for Dortmund! 😯🙌 pic.twitter.com/blM00dS9nm

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2023

Pulisic, at least, was in nobody’s shadow. But even in the place where he has revived his career after the stop-start spell in London, nothing is quite straightforward.

His club and international form is peaking, just as Milan’s season falters.

(Top photo: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)

Emma Hayes meets with USWNT players and staff in Florida

By Meg LinehanNov 28, 2023 the Athletic

U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes has made the trip from London to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to meet with players and staff in person for the first time since the formal announcement of her hiring. She will not fully start in her role until the conclusion of her current club Chelsea’s season in May.Interim head coach Twila Kilgore, who will remain on as an assistant coach once Hayes takes over, will lead the USWNT through the last two games of the calendar year and into next spring. The USWNT faces China PR on Dec. 2 in Ft. Lauderdale before finishing the year in Frisco, Texas on Dec. 5.“Everyone is really excited,” defender Naomi Girma said after training on Tuesday. “We feel like we have our direction. We know what we’re building towards now, and it’s all very clear. I think overall we’re just excited to hit the ground running with her.”

USWNT’s camp roster has new names, Dahlkemper return

Captain Lindsey Horan echoed that excitement, though she also noted her support of Kilgore’s guidance at this time. Horan was asked about a column written by Hayes during the World Cup, shortly after the USWNT’s exit during the round of 16. Hayes addressed the structural issues around the team in the article published in The Telegraph — one Horan admitted she had not read — but also that the USWNT suffered from a lack of diversity with most players coming through the NCAA system.

Hayes also called out a lack of creative talent in the U.S. “When you’re playing against more well-organized teams, better-coached teams, you have to break them down, and that breaking teams down is a combination of strategy, tactics, and personnel, and I don’t see that they’ve got the personnel to do that,” she wrote.

Horan said that this is exactly what Hayes was hired to do: a deep dive into what went wrong at the World Cup this summer and what needs fixing in the short and long term.

“There’s so much talent in this team, and I don’t think the world has seen enough of it yet just because we need to go out and show it,” Horan replied. “We need to be able to mesh together and show everything that we have, and what we’re all about, and how we can really collaborate and play together — be more of a team and be a powerhouse again. It’s going to be exciting for us to have her and see what she can do with this team and how she can help us moving forward.”

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Hayes will not stay in the U.S. for either of the two upcoming games against China PR. Last week, Hayes said her “full focus” was on Chelsea.

“No, I’m not watching (the USWNT),” she said. “I’m watching my own team. I’m watching our competition. That’s the work of Twila and the full-time staff that are in place. I don’t start working for U.S. Soccer until May.”

After the conclusion of the international break, Chelsea will head to Emirates Stadium on Dec. 10 to face Arsenal in a matchup of the top two teams in the Women’s Super League.

Required reading

• How the USWNT lured Emma Hayes away from Chelsea: Inside the near $2 million deal
• Three things new USWNT head coach Emma Hayes must address in the next cycle

(Photo: Harriet Lander/Getty Images)

Three bold ideas for the USWNT in their final games of 2023

Claire Watkins November 29, 2023 Just Women’s Sports

Lynn Williams is proving herself as a USWNT mainstay through her club and international play. (Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images)The U.S. women’s national team will play their final matches of the calendar year in the next week, with the opportunity to place a definitive stamp on a tumultuous 2023. The two friendlies against China PR will be the team’s first games after the hiring of Emma Hayes as head coach, but they also serve as an extension of Twila Kilgore’s interim management, which will continue until May 2024.The USWNT’s December roster follows something of a tradition in major tournament years, giving many veterans the international break off to rest and recuperate, while refreshing the larger player pool with non-World Cup players. But the possibility of any major changes in tactical approach seem slim, with Hayes yet to assert her full influence on the team’s style of play.

In lieu of a wholesale change in philosophy, here are three bold(ish) ideas for the U.S. during this international period beyond basic player evaluation.

Shake things up in the attack

While their actual goal-scoring output has improved in the months since the World Cup, it’s difficult to watch the USWNT without feeling like something is broken in the attack. The team went scoreless in two of their four World Cup matches, and they closed out their most recent friendly series having failed to score in three out of four halves.Many of the issues with the USWNT’s once-vaunted attack go beyond any single player, but the young roster in December has a chance to break free of some of the systemic problems plaguing the front line. The games will provide an opportunity to get more tape on center forward Mia Fishel, who should have a fitness advantage over some of her teammates due to her club team, Chelsea, being in-season.

But shaking the USWNT attack out of its slump isn’t just about slotting in new faces at the No. 9 — the way the rest of the team relates to the center forward position also needs a rethink. Over the summer, the option of moving Sophia Smith to a more central position was presented as a zero-sum substitution of Alex Morgan, who started all of the U.S.’s World Cup matches. But with Morgan sitting the December friendlies out, the reason for moving Smith centrally would be less as a like-for-like replacement and more as a way of replacing her on the wings with a traditional winger.Midge Purce and Lynn Williams are coming off of an excellent NWSL Championship performance. Both Gotham FC players ran the wings with confidence, getting the ball to the endline for low crosses and providing help defense when necessary. Purce found teammates for goals twice in that game, looking dangerous both on the ball and in dead-ball situations.

Having wingers who can cut inside to pull the defense out of shape is a great asset, but the U.S. at times has created a very narrow shape due to individual player tendencies. It could be worthwhile to run the old playbook with new talent in game one, but a total rethink in game two could shake the team out of its old patterns.

Rose Lavelle is one of the most experienced players on the USWNT’s December roster. (Robin Alam/USSF/Getty Images)

Share the armband

With a number of key veterans taking this international break off, the U.S. has an opportunity to share some of the burden of leadership in productive ways. Midfielder Lindsey Horan has been an able captain in 2023, but at times it appeared the team was over-relying on her to galvanize the group, while other experienced players didn’t seem empowered to communicate with clear authority.Horan will likely feature heavily in both December matches since she plays her club football on the European schedule and is currently match-fit. But a bolder idea would be to give the 29-year-old a break, if simply to upend patterns in the USWNT midfield. Kilgore would do well to eventually leave her younger players operating without a safety net, whether that means entrusting Jaedyn Shaw with the No. 10 role or pairing Olivia Moultrie with the newly healthy Rose Lavelle.Outside of giving the midfield an overdue refresh, Kilgore also has the opportunity to prioritize leaders who didn’t get a chance to blossom in Andonovski’s final year.Casey Murphy is the most experienced goalkeeper on the roster and will surely be charged with organizing her backline. Lavelle is coming off a blistering performance in the 2023 NWSL Championship game, showcasing her experience as a player. And Lynn Williams will be the most tenured forward of the group. With communication lagging at times in the past year, a clean slate with new voices in the mix will be key for the team’s mentality going into 2024.

Give the Wave duo the keys to the defense

Abby Dahlkemper’s return to the USWNT is exciting for fans for reasons beyond her play on the pitch. Dahlkemper has recovered from a chronic back injury that greatly hampered the center-back in 2022, resulting in surgery. Making her NWSL return in August 2023, she’s looked as steady as ever, providing confidence in possession and showcasing her abilities off the ball to stunt an opponent’s attack.She’s also settled in with current USWNT mainstay Naomi Girma in their club environment at the San Diego Wave, providing the foundation for the team’s run to the NWSL Shield in 2023. Girma was arguably the USWNT’s MVP in 2023. She both served as the wedge between opponents and her own goal and was relied upon heavily to spring possession forward when the U.S.’s midfield had trouble moving the ball.The upcoming games give Dahlkemper and Girma a chance to test out their on-field chemistry at the international level, providing equal levels of experience and complementary skill sets. Dahlkemper used to be known for the same diagonal balls forward that have become Girma’s calling card for the U.S. With the role of Girma’s center-back partner firmly up for grabs after the retirement of Julie Ertz, Dahlkemper has a chance to make a big impression in her return. For a team looking for consistent starters following Andonovski’s frequent experimentation in defense, her comeback might be happening at exactly the right time.Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

UCL talking points: PSG the biggest letdown; best young player

• ESPN
• Nov 30, 2023, 05:00 AM

Matchday five of the 2023-24 Champions League group stage provided goals galore, comebacks and drama all across Europe. Manchester United have left it all to do on the final matchday when they face Bayern Munich. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid clinched their spot in the round of 16, while Group F’s second spot is for the taking among AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United.

We asked our writers Gab Marcotti, Mark Ogden, Sam Marsden and Julien Laurens to answer some of our burning questions.

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1. PSG, Newcastle and Milan have all struggled during the group stage. Who are you most disappointed with and why?

Mark Ogden: This may be stating the obvious, but the answer is PSG every time. A club with ambitions of winning the Champions League, with a coach (Luis Enrique) who has won the competition and arguably the world’s best player (Kylian Mbappé), PSG have been so bad in Group F and they are by no means guaranteed to get the result they need away to Borussia Dortmund on matchday six to qualify for the round of 16. AC Milan over-performed to reach the semifinals last season and Newcastle are a team of rookies playing in the competition for the first time in 20 years, and both still have a chance of reaching the knockout stages. For PSG to be in this position of needing a win in their last game to qualify is a major failure for all concerned at Parc des Princes.

Group F

Julien Laurens: Unfortunately, it’s my beloved PSG. They have made too many mistakes defensively (the most recent from Gianluigi Donnarumma against Newcastle), have missed too many chances offensively (the most recent ones by Bradley Barcola against Newcastle) and have a manager who makes weird choices at times (4-2-4 at St James’ Park, Goncalo Ramos on the bench until the 85th minute on Tuesday.) And despite some positive things at times in the competition, they have been too disappointing because of their lack of efficiency and consistency in a group that is actually not that strong.

Sam Marsden: PSG, by some distance. There was a lot of upheaval at the club over the summer, both on the bench and on the pitch, but they were still favourites to progress from the group, despite its complexities. Thirteen years into the Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) ownership, they don’t look any closer to winning the competition. The only hope they have is that this is a case of taking one step back to take two steps forward, with Lionel Messi and Neymar making way to allow coach Luis Enrique to build a new, younger side, based on the team rather than superstars. And, they still have qualification in their own hands. If they make it through, not many teams will want to face them.

Gab Marcotti: It has to be PSG. Performances were always going to take some time given the summer overhaul and the arrival of Enrique, but you’d at least expect results. And yet they lost to both Newcastle and Milan. Newcastle and Milan have been hit really hard by injuries and, especially in Milan’s case, an inability to turn the many chances created into goals (they should have won their first two games).

Can Jude Bellingham maintain his blistering to start at Real Madrid?

Craig Burley heaps yet more praise on Jude Bellingham after he scored in Real Madrid’s 4-2 win over Napoli in the Champions League.

2. Which young players (21 or younger) have most impressed you this campaign?

Marcotti: It’s Real Madrid‘s Jude Bellingham for me as well. Had he scored zero goals this season, his contribution in midfield would still have been sensational. Instead, he has scored 15 goals in 16 games in all competitions. That’s the kind of scoring rate we’ve seen from guys named Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the past … and Bellingham is a midfielder. RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons is special too and you feel like there is a ton to come from him. I’d throw in FC Salzburg‘s Oscar Gloukh, Manchester City’s Rico Lewis, Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga and PSG’s Warren Zaïre-Emery as youngsters who impressed, maybe not consistently, but enough to want you wanting more. Rasmus Højlund has been up and down, like his team, but you can’t ignore the sheer number of goals he has scored (five in five games.)

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Ancelotti: Bellingham does things Zidane couldn’t16hAlex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez
• Onana’s nightmare has Man United on Champions League brink16hRob Dawson
• Champions League: Who has qualified, what all teams need16hDale Johnson

Ogden: We have to start with Bellingham. It’s amazing to think that he is still only 20, but he has dominated for Carlo Ancelotti’s team this season and scored again against Napoli this week. But he’s the obvious pick. Away from Bellingham, Roony Bardghji sealed a 4-3 win for FC Copenhagen against Manchester United earlier this month with a stunning late goal to justify the hype surrounding the 18-year-old. And Lewis Miley produced an exceptional performance of maturity and quality for Newcastle against Paris Saint-Germain at just 17 years of age. But nobody has come close to the impact that Bellingham has had at Madrid.

Marsden: Bellingham is so far ahead of the field that it is almost unfair to name him alongside the other youngsters in the competition. Looking elsewhere, Real Sociedad winger Ander Barrenetxea is perhaps one of the names you would not have expected to see on this list. He is a constant threat out wide. They’re out, but Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren has also impressed. The deep-lying midfielder will be at a bigger European club soon. Shoutouts too for PSV Eindhoven‘s Johan Bakayoko and some more familiar names: Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Man City’s Lewis.

Laurens: There is only one answer here, and it’s Bellingham. So, to be different, I will say Pablo Barrios, who has done very well in the three games he has played so far for Atletico Madrid in the competition. He gave a great assist off the bench on Tuesday against Feyenoord in his team’s win. and he scored a big goal away at Lazio to get a draw too. At 20, he is so promising in midfield.

Why Man City’s defending is a real concern

Craig Burley is not convinced by Manchester City’s defending after they conceded seven goals in the last three games.

3. Which of the undefeated teams (Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Real Sociedad, Inter, Atletico Madrid) has been most impressive, and why?

Marcotti: Manchester City have looked head and shoulders above the competition for me. They’ve had their low points, struggling in first halves against Red Star Belgrade and RB Leipzig, but they’ve always come back and looked convincing. They just seem effortless right now. Real Madrid also have five wins in five for a reason, but they haven’t come close to hitting the same heights (injuries haven’t helped, of course.) In terms of the football played, big shout-out to Real Sociedad who maybe have played the second-best football of the group stage, after City.

Laurens: Unlike Gab, I don’t think that City have been that impressive in either game against Leipzig, the only opponents of quality they have faced so far. So I will go for Real Sociedad. I never thought they would top their group with a game to go. They have played some really good football and they are a great club with heritage, identity and history. They were unlucky not to beat Inter Milan, last season’s finalists, and the only reason they didn’t beat Salzburg on Wednesday was because of the heavy rotation made by coach Imanol Alguacil.

Marsden: There are different categories here. City are, for me, the most impressive side in the competition, although they haven’t hit top gear yet. They are in a group of their own out in front, followed by a clutch of clubs in which I would include Bayern and Madrid. Atlético and Inter are probably in the next group. Both have done well to remain undefeated, especially as Inter had to come from 3-0 down against Benfica to preserve that streak and are capable of beating most teams in the competition over two legs on their day. However, the most impressive in many ways has been Real Sociedad. They failed to win a game the last time they were in the Champions League in 2013 and were not fancied to get out of their group this year. And yet, with one game to go, Alguacil’s unbeaten side sit top, ahead of Inter, Benfica and Salzburg, and are already assured of a place in the last 16. They are attractive to watch, built on home-grown talent and boast a crop of talented young players, including Barrenetxea, Take Kubo and Martín Zubimendi.

Ogden: Sorry to go against the grain here, but I don’t think any of them have been super impressive to the point of being the outstanding team of the group stage. City, Real and Bayern have all conceded way too many goals, but their attacking strength has got them out of difficult positions. Let’s see if they can do it against really strong opponents in the knockout phase. Considering Real Sociedad aren’t Champions League regulars, their success in being unbeaten at this stage makes them the most impressive, but I’m not impressed to the extent of predicting them to go beyond the round of 16.

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Champions League: Who has qualified, what all teams need

The UEFA Champions League group stage is reaching its conclusion, with only four places in the knockout rounds still up for grabs on Matchday 6.

This is the final season of the multigroup format, before it becomes a 36-team competition with all clubs in one league table.

We take a look at who is through and how can still seal their places.

The top two teams in each group qualify for the round of 16, the third-placed clubs drop into the Europa League knockout playoff round, and those who finish bottom are eliminated.

Qualified for round of 16 (12/16): Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Real Sociedad, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven

Eliminated (10/16): Union Berlin, FC Salzburg, Benfica, Celtic, Antwerp, Young Boys, Red Star Belgrade, Feyenoord, Sevilla, Lens

Tiebreakers:
1) Points
2) Head-to-head points in games involving the tied teams
3) Goal difference in head-to-head matches involving the tied teams
4) Goals scored in head-to-head matches involving the tied teams
— If the above tiebreaker initially involves 3 or 4 teams, it is reapplied to resolve any remaining tiebreaker among fewer clubs
5) Goal difference in all group matches
6) Goals scored in all group matches
7) Away goals scored in all group matches
8) Wins in all group matches
9) Away wins in all group matches
10) Disciplinary points
11) UEFA club coefficient.

This page will be updated throughout the final rounds of the group stage.

Group permutations

Group A

Remaining fixtures
Dec. 12: Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich, FC Copenhagen vs. Galatasaray

Group A

Bayern Munich have qualified as group winners.

FC Copenhagen are guaranteed to qualify in second with a win, or with a draw if Manchester United draw or lose.

Galatasaray have to beat FC Copenhagen, which will secure second place.

Manchester United have to beat Bayern and hope FC Copenhagen vs. Galatasaray is a draw. However, United are guaranteed at least a place in the Europa League if they win.

Group B

Remaining fixtures
Dec. 12: PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal, Lens vs. Sevilla

Group B

Arsenal went through and sealed first place in the group with a 6-0 win at home to Lens.

Arsenal’s victory also ensured PSV Eindhoven advanced, as the Eredivisie side hold the head to head over Lens.

Lens need a win or draw at home to Sevilla to move into the Europa League.

Sevilla must beat Lens to climb up to third and continue in Europe.

Reacting to Arsenal’s ‘demolishing’ 6-0 win vs. Lens

Craig Burley and the rest of the “ESPN FC” crew react to Arsenal’s 6-0 victory over Lens that sent them into the Champions League Round of 16.

Group C

Remaining fixtures
Dec. 12: Union Berlin vs. Real Madrid, Napoli vs. Braga

Group C

Real Madrid have qualified for the round of 16 and have topped the group.

Napoli will be through with a win, draw or one-goal defeat at home to Braga.

Braga must win by 2+ goals away to Napoli to finish in second place.

Union Berlin have been eliminated and must win at home to Real Madrid and hope Braga lose to Napoli to make the Europa League.

Can Jude Bellingham maintain his blistering to start at Real Madrid?

Craig Burley heaps yet more praise on Jude Bellingham after he scored in Real Madrid’s 4-2 win over Napoli in the Champions League.

Group D

Remaining fixtures
Dec. 12: Internazionale vs. Real Sociedad, FC Salzburg vs. Benfica

Group D

Real Sociedad and Inter Milan have both qualified for the round of 16.

Top spot will be decided when the two teams meet in Italy on the final night. Real Sociedad will top the group with a win or draw, Inter require a victory.

FC Salzburg hold the Europa League place, and they will secure it if they win or draw against Benfica, or if they lose by one goal.

Benfica must beat FC Salzburg by 2+ goals to make the Europa League.

Group E

Remaining fixtures
Dec. 13: Atletico Madrid vs. Lazio, Celtic vs. Feyenoord

Group E

Atletico Madrid and Lazio have qualified and face each other in Spain on Matchday 6. Atletico will top the group with a win or draw, while Lazio need a victory.

Feyenoord will drop into the Europa League knockout playoff round

Celtic have been eliminated from Europe.

Group F

Remaining fixtures
Dec. 13: Newcastle United vs. AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Group F

Borussia Dortmund have qualified and will top the group with a win or draw at home to PSG.

Paris Saint-Germain must win in Germany to be sure of going through — which will also see them top the group.

PSG can only go through with a draw if AC Milan win or draw.

PSG can only go through with a loss if Newcastle-AC Milan is a draw.

Why VAR was wrong to award PSG a penalty for handball vs. Newcastle

Dale Johnson reacts after VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski was removed from duty by UEFA for another Champions League game.

Newcastle United must win and hope PSG draw or lose. If the two teams are level, Newcastle will finish second on head to head.

AC Milan must win and hope PSG lose. If the two teams are level, PSG will finish second on head to head.

If Newcastle and Milan draw, Newcastle will drop into the Europa League on goal difference.

How much would Champions League exit hurt Milan?

Nicky Bandini explains how much of a disappointment exiting the Champions League at the group stage would be for AC Milan.

Group G

Remaining fixtures
Dec. 13: RB Leipzig vs. Young Boys, Red Star Belgrade vs. Manchester City

Group G

Manchester City have won the group with a 100% record.

RB Leipzig go through in second place.

Young Boys will drop into the Europa League in the New Year.

Red Star Belgrade are out of Europe.

Why Man City’s defending is a real concern

Craig Burley is not convinced by Manchester City’s defending after they conceded seven goals in the last three games.

Group H

Remaining fixtures
Dec. 13: Antwerp vs. Barcelona, FC Porto vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

Group H

Barcelona sit on top of the group and are through to the round of 16. They will win the group unless they lose in Antwerp, and Shakhtar beat FC Porto while overtaking Barca on goal difference. As Barca hold a goal difference advantage of seven this is unlikely.

FC Porto and Shakhtar meet in Portugal level on points.

FC Porto won the first meeting of the sides so will be through with a win or draw, though they cannot win the group. Shakhtar Donetsk must win to progress.

Antwerp have been eliminated.

Morning update

Pepi’s defining moment could open doors, Miazga suspended, busy Thursday, & more

Ricardo Pepi’s big goal wasn’t just important for PSV, it was what the El Paso native needed to build trust for a bigger role. Meanwhile, Matt Miazga has hurt Cincinnati, and many yanks play on Thursday including George Bello against Liverpool. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks it all down

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED
NOVEMBER 30, 2023
5:30 AM

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ON WEDNESDAY, U.S. national team forward Ricardo Pepi finally had his first defining moment since moving on from FC Dallas in 2022. Elsewhere, Union Berlin are still in search of a win, Matt Miazga has left FC Cincinnati in a bad spot, and now there are interesting proposed referee rules coming.

But let’s start with the good news

PEPI’S BIG MOMENT

It was a wonderful day for PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday and it has been a wonderful start to the season in every regard. In the Eredivisie, they’re at 39 points from 13 games – which is perfect. On Tuesday, they defeated Sevilla in Sevilla 3-2, to sit in second place of Group B of the Champions League by three points (and a nice goal differential too) with just one game remaining. They now look likely to advance to the knockouts.

Perfect league start through 13 and advancing in the Champions League? That’s a home run.

But how PSV won yesterday was for the ages, and Americans were front and center. Trailing 2-0 on the road, PSV was given a lifeline when Sevilla’s Lucas Ocampos was sent of in the 66^th minute. Two minutes later, Saibari pulled one back for PSV on an assist from Sergino Dest.

Then with the score 2-2 in stoppage time, it was Ricardo Pepi who found the winner after he entered the game in the 82^nd minute.

This was arguably the biggest moment of Pepi’s career and it carries a lot of importance. Not only was this huge for PSV and their chances of advancing to the knockouts, but it was important for Pepi to build confidence and it was important for PSV and head coach Peter Bosz to gain trust in Pepi.

For most of this season, Pepi has only been seeing limited minutes behind Luuk de Jong. While he is a top player, de Jong is now 33 years old and he had been playing almost at an unsustainable rate. For Pepi to breakthrough and play more than the 5-15 minutes per game (typically when PSV has a comfortable lead) he needed to prove he could help his overachieving team and that there would not be much of a layoff whenever he was on the field in place of de Jong.

This goal goes a long way towards building that trust to show he is ready to contribute to a Champions League-knockout club.

That was the big story in this game for Americans, but also Sergino Dest played very well again and he is getting everything he wanted out of this season – a chance to reboot, play well, and play in big games. Malik Tillman also came into the game in the 58^th minute and was on the field for the comeback win. His future status at PSV is a little less clear but still being part of a Champions League run and a likely Eredivisie title will boost his resume substantially.

Elsewhere in the Champions League, Brenden Aaronson and Union Berlin continued to have an awful season with a 1-1 away draw with Braga. On paper, it wasn’t so bad. But Union Berlin had a man advantage from the 30^th minute and they even took a lead in the 42^nd minute.

But Union Berlin was outshot 18-6 despite having a man advantage for 2/3 of the game. Aaronson played the last 12 minutes of this. But for Union, it’s just about finding a spark to turn things around. It doesn’t get any easier this weekend with a visit to Bayern Munich, with Union still in the relegation zone.

EUROPEAN PLAY ON THURSDAY

There are a lot of Americans in action on Thursday in the Europa and Conference Leagues.

George Bello will likely get a huge opportunity when LASK visits Liverpool in the Europa League. LASK needs a win to have any hopes of advancing, so it’ll be quite the stage for them at Anfield to go for it.

Djordje Miahailovic should start for AZ due to injury and he could really use a big outing to try to earn regular minutes for AZ. AZ hosts Zrinjski Mostar in the Conference League and AZ needs to win its last two games to have any chance of advancing.

Dante Polvara should start for Aberdeen away at HJK Helsinki in the Conference League. Unfortunately, Aberdeen cannot advance to the knockouts.

Eintracht Frankfurt has already secured a spot in the Conference League knockouts and that might open the door for another start for either Paxten Aaronson and/or Timothy Chandler against PAOK.

Genk desperately needs a win or at least a result to advance to the Conference League knockouts and on Thursday, they have a big chance with a visit to Fiorentina in Tuscany. Mark McKenzie should start. It is games like these which could boost his USMNT stock and put him on the inside of the bubble.

MIAZGA SUSPENDED

Matt Miazga will miss the remainder of the playoffs for Cincinnati after he was suspended by MLS for an incident in the playoffs against the Red Bulls when he reportedly went into the referee’s locker room after the game seeking an explanation for a yellow card.

This is terrible news for Miazga who was recently named the MLS Defender of the Year and will now not be there for his team in their biggest games in club history. Cincinnati will host Columbus in the Eastern Conference Final and Columbus boasts two elite attackers in Diego Rossi and Cucho Hernandez, who is an MLS Best XI.

Miazga has not made a public comment on this suspension, but it puts a dent in his hopes of getting back into the USMNT picture. Will that come in January? That will be a close call.

NEW REFEREE RULE

Speaking of referees, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) is recommending a trial for 10-minute “sin-bins” for cynical fouls and excessive dissent. It will be similar to rules in ruby or even ice hockey where a player must leave for 10 minutes.

The problem is that this introduces even more discretion for referees and many recent attempts to stop out problems in the game have been ineffective and not applied equally. Reviewing diving by video after games and issuing suspensions was supposed to put a dent in diving. It really hasn’t.

Sin-bins would probably be more effective in youth soccer. But for senior soccer, what really needs to be applied is the rule that only captains can approach referees. This would prevent swarming and dissent. If anyone else approaches the referee, he/she is given a yellow and a quick red without promptly leaving the vicinity of the referee.

But it looks like some leagues will be tasked with being trial balloons for the sin-bin rule. We will see if MLS or USL get the nod.  

Morning update: Milan’s bad day, MLS Best XI, Haji scores, Fletcher’s future, and more

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta offers up some morning thoughts to kick off your Wednesday from topics like the Champions League, MLS Best XI, the Championship, and Kristen Fletcher’s future.

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED
NOVEMBER 29, 2023
5:30 AM

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IT’S WEDNESDAY and we’re already in the middle of the week and we’re almost in December. And as always, there is a lot of news both on and off the field to write about.

In case you were wondering, I missed the Americans abroad weekly column this week. It fell victim to the MLS playoff games and the Thanksgiving holiday, to make writing about 5000 words possible. It turned out to be mostly a quiet week anyway, so it worked out. Anyway, we’ll do it next week.

In the meantime, there are other things planned this week. But here is a Wednesday morning update.

MLS BEST XI

MLS released the league’s Best XI for 2023. For the most part, it is hard to argue with any of it. It was refreshing to see three American defenders make the cut. Walker Zimmerman made it for the third year in a row Han Mukhtar made it for the second year.

Some notable cuts were Daniel Gazdag in Philadelphia or Nkosi Tafari with Dallas.

Four teams have two players in Atlanta, Nashville, Cincinnati, and St. Louis.

Forwards: Dénis Bouanga (LAFC), Giorgos Giakoumakis (ATL), Cucho Hernández (CLB)

Midfielders: Luciano Acosta (CIN), Thiago Almada (ATL), Héctor Herrera (HOU), Hany Mukhtar (NSH)

Defenders: Matt Miazga (CIN), Tim Parker (STL), Walker Zimmerman (NSH)

Goalkeeper: Roman Bürki (STL)

TOUGH DAY IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

It wasn’t a great day for the Americans in the Champions League on Tuesday.

First, AC Milan lost at home to Borussia Dortmund 3-1 to essentially ruin their chances of advancing to the knockouts (and possibly out of the Europa too). The game featured just one American player in Christian Pulisic who started and went the full 90. Yunus Musah was suspended and Gio Reyna went as an unused substitute for Dortmund.

Pulisic was okay in this game. He had some sharp passes in the end of the first half and also was dangerous late after Milan was already down two goals. But surely it was disappointing for him to fall to his former team.

Milan will need a win on the final matchday away at Newcastle to have any hope of even playing in the Europa.

As for Dortmund, they look great but Reyna continues to be a non-factor who might occasionally start but is typically a decent option off the bench if needed. We’ll see how long he stays.

Also in Italy, Lazio defeated Celtic 2-0 which meant the Scottish champions will finish in last place in the group with just one point from five games before the group finale. Cameron Carter-Vickers was decent for Celtic in the loss but it was par for the course. Celtic is a team that dominates in the Premiership, gets outclassed in Europe, and faces just a few important games all season (Old Firm, and a few in Europe before they’re eliminated).

At some point, Carter-Vickers might consider a return to England or somewhere where the big games happen frequently.

On Wednesday, the Yank Trio of Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, and Ricardo Pepi at PSV will take on Sevilla in Spain. A win would continue what has been a dream season for PSV. They are perfect in the Eredivisie (39 points form 13 games) and are second in their Champions League group. Now they have a big chance to take a step towards the knockouts.  For Dest, he might be a hot head (as we’ve just seen) but he’s one of the most in-form American players right now.

On the flip side, Brenden Aaronson and Union Berlin head to Braga. It has been a nightmare of a season for Union which are in last of the Champions League group and sit in the Bundesliga relegation zone. In all competitions, they are winless in 15 games. The priority for Union right now is simply to learn to compete again and not be their own worst enemy.

YANKS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

In England’s second tier, it was a busy day for Americans.

The best moment was by Haji Wright who scored the match-winner for Coventry in a 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle. It was the second win in a row for Coventry which moved to 15^th with the win. It was also the fifth goal of the season for Wright. His goals typically haven’t been of impressive quality, but there is a huge skill towards being in the right place at the right time. If anyone could do it, they would.

Wright has fallen out of the USMNT picture and he just needs to keep scoring to get back there. He doesn’t seem like the striker who fits Berhalter’s style, but goals are goals. Wright can force his way back into the squad.

Preston North End dropped a terrible 4-0 decision away to Middlesbrough. Duane Holmes was fortunate to go as an unused substitute for PNE, which fell to seventh.

Queen Park Rangers started to climb towards safety with a 4-2 win over Stoke City thanks to two late goals (89^th and 90+4) to win it. Reggie Cannon came into the game in the 63^rd minute and Charlie Kelman came into the game in the 73^rd as QPR was chasing. Cannon took advantage of a lot of space left by Stoke City who were reduced to 10 men in the 53^rd when the score was 1-1.  QPR is now just three points from clawing out of relegation.

Lynden Gooch went 90 minutes in the Stoke City loss.

Finally, Norwich lost to Watford 3-2 and former USMNT forward David Wagner’s side fell to 13^th in the Championship.

Finally, DC United forward Kristen Fletcher continues to score goals in droves for Swansea City’s U-21 team where he is on loan. He scored another three goals for Swansea City in a 4-0 win over Ipswich Town’s U-21 team. Don’t be surprised if he gets called up to the first team soon.

Charles Bohem reported on this matter for MLS Soccer and DC United right now expects that he’ll be back perhaps to take on a big role with DC United next year (along with the U.S. U-20 team).

“I think it’s fantastic that Kristian is having the success he’s having and the experience he’s having,” D.C. co-chairman and CEO Jason Levien told Boehm on Tuesday. “We want him playing first-team soccer or football to get that experience as well. So right now we expect that he’ll be back with D.C. United.

“We’re going to talk to him and both clubs about that, figure out what’s the best path for his development. But I think with a new coach coming into D.C. and new leadership in soccer operations, I think it’s a great opportunity for Kristian.”Fletcher wants to play in the top leagues in Europe. But what is the best way for him to get there? Through DC United or Swansea. The two clubs have links with common owners, so it should be a decision made by people with the same interest.

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IU advances to Sweet 16 Sun 1 pm BTN  

The Virginia men’s soccer team (11-3-4, 5-2-1 ACC) will host Indiana (14-4-4, 4-2-2 Big Ten) in the third round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship on Sunday (Nov. 26). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium. Unseeded Indiana advanced to the third round after wins over Lipscomb, and 10^th-seeded Wake Forest. Virginia is the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship and advanced to the third round after a 2-1 overtime win over FIU. Indiana (8) and Virginia (7) rank second and third among NCAA Division I programs with the most NCAA titles—only Saint Louis (10) has won more.

US loses to T&T

US loses to Trinidad & Tobago 2-1 again.  The last time the US traveled to Port a Prince their 2 -1 loss cost them a World Cup place – this time the 2-1 merely means the US advances to the Copa America this summer and the Nations League final 4 in March. Amazing that this US simply cannot win under GB on the road in CONCACAF – of course this game loss stands on the shoulders of Serginio Dest who blew a gasket and got red carded off midway thru the first half after being an absolute idiot.  Listen Dest is a good winger and questionable defender at best – this is now the 2^nd game he has lost his mind and been kicked out – which will force him to miss the first game in the Nations League Semis – I for one would simply leave him off the roster until COPA to see if he can straighten his crap out.  No wonder no real club keeps him as Barcelona, AC Milan and others have all cut ties with the Dutch right back. Either way the US advances –but lets be real if they play the way they have played since the World Cup – they won’t win 2 games in the COPA this summer.  

Games to watch  

Saturday gives us a doosie in the EPL at 7:30 am Saturday as Liverpool hosts Man City on Peacock of course. Newcastle will host Chelsea  at 10 am – again on Peacock before MLS playoffs get underway @ 5:30 pm on Apple Orlando City vs Columbus & 8 pm Cincy vs Philly.  Sunday IU plays Virginia at 1 pm on BTN, then Inter Milan travels to face McKinney & Weah for Juvuentus at 2:45 pm on Paramount plus.  Finally the final MLS Semi’s at 7 pm on FS1 Houston vs Sporting KC & Seattle hosting LAFC at 9:30 pm on Apple.  Champions League next week Tues/Wed has PSG hosting New Castle United at 3 pm Tues along with Dortmund traveling to AC Milan and Pulisic & Musah also at 3 pm both on Para+.

One of our top Soccer Pubs around –Union Jacks Pub in Broadripple is struggling with all the road closures over the past 2 years – they host the American Outlaws Indy, EPL games on Weekends, Champions League on Weekdays, and of course the EUROS, & World Cups.  If you get a chance to swing by and grab a bite and a pint – rather its on gameday or not – I am a sure that would help. 

Indiana Referee in need

Our community has been given the heart-breaking news that one of our very own referees, Brian Mitchell, has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Please read the message below and consider donating to the Mitchell family as they will need our help during this very difficult journey. https://www.gofundme.com/f/friendsofbrianmitchell

Catch Champions League Tues/Wed or EPL Sat/Sun at Union Jacks Pub in Broadripple

GAMES ON TV

Sat, Nov 25

7:30 am Peacock        Man City vs Liverpool

9:30 am ESPN+            Dortmund (Reyna) vs Mgladbach (Scally)

10 am Peacock           Newcastle United vs Chelsea

10 am USA                  Nottingham Forest (Turner) vs Brighton

12:30 pm USA             Brentford vs Arsenal

5:30 pm Apple TV       Orlando City vs Columbus Crew

8 pm Apple TV            Cincy vs Philly

Sun, Nov 26

9 am USA                    Tottenham vs Aston Villa

11:30 am USA             Everton vs Man U

12 noon CBSSN            Roma vs Udinese

1 pm big 10?               Indiana U @ Virgina  Sweet 16

2:45 pm Para+            Juventus (Weah, McKinney) vs Inter Milan

7 pm FS1, Apple TV     Houston Dynamo vs Sporting KC 

9:30 pm Apple TV       Seattle Sounders vs LAFC 

Mon, Nov 27

3 pm USA                    Fulham (Ream, Robinson) vs Wolverhampton

Tues, Nov 28 – Champions League

12:45 pm Para+          Lazio vs Celtic

3 pm Para+                 PSG vs New Castle United

3 pm Para+                 AC Milan (Musah, Pulisic) vs Dortmund (Reyna)

3 pm Para+                 Man City vs RB Liepzig

3 pm CBS SN               Feyenoord vs Atletico Madrid

3 pm Para+                 Barca vs Porto

Wed, Nov 29 – Champions League

12:45 pm Para+          Galatasaray vs Man United 

12:45 pm Para+          Sevilla vs PSV (Tillman, Dest)

3 pm Para+                 Real Madrid vs Napoli

3 pm CBS SN               Benifica vs Inter Milan

Sat, Dec 2

2:30 pm TNT, Max      USWNT vs China

Tues, Dec 5

7:30 pm TNT, Max      USWNT vs China

IU Advances to Sweet 16

IU defeats Wake Forest to Advance to Sweet 16

‘I never felt worried tonight’: IU soccer’s resiliency shines as Hoosiers advance to 9th-straight Sweet 16

IU Digs Deep to Down Deacs, Advance to Ninth Straight Sweet 16

IU Wins in OT @ Wake Forest

DiPrimio: Mihalic a Catalyst in IU’s Latest Surge

Highlights  

US Men

Hayes’ appointment shows US Soccer’s ambition. So why keep Gregg Berhalter?

US coach Berhalter slams ‘inexcusable’ Dest after Trinidad defeat

Sergiño Dest’s meltdown gives USMNT night to forget in Trinidad and Tobago ESPN

Player Ratings T&T  ASN  

USA U17s & U23s

USA exits U-17 World Cup after five-goal thriller with …

 US exits U17 World Cup after Round of 16 loss to Germany

U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team Draws Iraq 1-1 in First Match of November International Window

USA U17s & U23s
USA exits U-17 World Cup after five-goal thriller with Germany

US Women

U.S. Soccer embracing Hayes’ ‘bold, brave’ vision ESPN Jeff Carlisle

USWNT roster: NWSL champion Jenna Nighswonger receives first call-up Emma HrubyNov 20, 2023

USWNT schedule: U.S. to host China in December friendlies   JWS StaffNov 20, 2023

USWNT roster: Rose Lavelle returns for first time since World Cup Emma HrubyNov 20, 2023

USWNT players: Megan Rapinoe’s ‘devastating’ ending doesn’t tarnish career

Copa America in US

Mexico saves itself from free fall, and saves CONCACAF, with a stirring Nations League comeback

Canada Soccer crashes out of CONCACAF Nations League after shocking loss to Jamaica

Mexico pulls off stirring Nations League comeback Despite Nations League turnaround, lackluster Mexico must speed up improvements ESPN Cesar Hernandez   GK

MLS

Predictions in Semi-Finals

How to Watch the MLS Semi-Finals

Euro’s

Euro 2024 power rankings: Why England are not No 1… yet
Euro 2024: Erling Haaland, Victor Lindelof, Stefan Savic – which stars will not be at the tournament?
Euro 2024 play-offs: Guide to Wales’ potential semi-final and final opponents
Who has qualified for Euro 2024 – and which nations still could?

World

Brazil vs. Argentina: Historic World Cup qualifier is overshadowed by violence and chaos at the Maracanã stadium
Lionel Messi warns Argentina-Brazil fan trouble ‘could have been a tragedy’
Brazil 0-1 Argentina: Lionel Messi after fans and police clash in stands
CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifying schedule, results, table: Argentina flying, Brazil in a rut

Goalkeeping

Great Saves at Champions League Matchday 3  

UECL Great Saves Matchday 4

Sacramento Republic FC’s Danny Vitiello is the USL …

2023 USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists 🧤

Reffing

‘Why did the VAR keep silent?’ Ukrainian media slams ‘scandalous’ decision in Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy

Great day of Reffing with Ernesto Ruiz at the Girls College Showcase at Grand Parks Sunday (despite his El Tri hat)

With Copa America qualification set, the USMNT must identify players beyond nucleus

By Paul Tenorio Nov 21, 2023 The Athletic

The U.S. men’s national team went into this November window knowing, above all else, it needed to qualify for the Copa America. It would have to do so without key starters Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, both out with muscle injuries, and World Cup captain Tyler Adams, who is out for the long term after a second hamstring surgery. And while injuries to key starters are never a good thing for a team, the silver lining can be the opportunity they bring to learn more about the overall roster. The U.S. did indeed qualify for the Copa America. But nothing else about the window played out as one might hope in order to get a true evaluation of the team’s depth.In the first leg, the U.S. played against a 10-man Trinidad and Tobago team sitting deep inside its own half for most of Thursday night’s 3-0 win. But even that game yielded more opportunity to learn about the pool than Monday night’s away leg in Port of Spain. The U.S. — now also without starting midfielder Weston McKennie, who left camp due to a knee injury — held a 1-0 lead until right back Sergiño Dest melted down on the field in the 39th minute, picking up two yellow cards inside of a minute to leave his teammates a man down for more than 50 minutes in difficult conditions. Playing with 10 men, the U.S. had to try to grind out a result and lost, 2-1 — the same scoreline as the last time they visited Trinidad, the 2017 loss in Couva that knocked them out of the World Cup. It was enough to qualify for the summer Copa with a 4-2 aggregate win over the two-leg series, but any “plans” for the window felt lost.“I think according to our plan, there were going to be a lot of different things happening, right,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said, cracking a rare smile in the postgame press conference. “And the plan gets thrown out the window a little bit when you’re down to 10 men.”The U.S. is clearly trying to evolve the group. After playing out of a base 4-3-3 formation in the last cycle, they’ve utilized more of a 4-2-3-1 this time around, with Gio Reyna a central figure as the No. 10. And as the playing style changes, the pool is constantly being evaluated, too. The nucleus of this U.S. team is not going to change over the course of the 2026 cycle, nor will the starting lineup when and if everyone is available. Pulisic, Weah, Adams, McKennie, Reyna, Yunus Musah, Matt Turner, Antonee Robinson and Dest are basically locks as starters. (Obviously, Dest’s red card may impact his next few windows, but in the long term, it’s tough to argue he isn’t one of the 11 best players for the U.S.) Chris Richards, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi are going to be in every camp and in the mix to start. Luca de la Torre, Joe Scally and Brenden Aaronson are locks on the depth chart. Tim Ream is 36 years old, but as long as he’s performing at a high level with Fulham, he will be in the team. That’s a solid core of 16 players to build the roster around. But the depth — the next 14 men who make up the 30-man preliminary rosters around which teams are built — still needs to be built out.

In the 2022 cycle, Berhalter found players he could trust for key minutes during qualifiers. Kellyn Acosta, Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola played important roles both as starters and off the bench, and others like De la Torre, Jordan Morris, Aaron Long, Reggie Cannon and Josh Sargent were regulars.This time around, there are spots on the depth chart up for grabs. The U.S. is looking for a left back behind Robinson and a No. 6 who can fill the role Acosta did in the last cycle as the backup to Adams. They need wingers on each side of the formation and likely one more central midfield option. The backup goalkeeper job behind Matt Turner remains unsettled. The competition at center back is very real.As part of the turnover in this cycle, Berhalter is clearly giving players opportunities to grab those roles. Call-ups in the last three months have included newcomers like Lennard Maloney, Kristoffer Lund, Kevin Paredes, Drake Callender and Benjamin Cremaschi, as well as players who have fewer than 10 caps like Malik Tillman, DeJuan Jones, Tanner Tessman, Alex Zendejas, Gaga Slonina and Johnny Cardoso. In the first leg, Tillman and Paredes got starts on the wing in place of Pulisic and Weah, but neither overwhelmed with their performances. In the end, it was Pepi off the bench who changed the game, with Robinson and Reyna sealing the outcome.After McKennie departed camp with his knee injury, Monday’s game saw the U.S. try a new formation, one they came up with the day before the game and had not trained at all. Berhalter said the team talked through the formation, but didn’t even walk through it as they were concerned it might be scouted in Trinidad.“In general, for the first 35 minutes, it was working as planned,” Berhalter said. “One (forward) was coming, one was going, nice interactions with the 10s in the pocket, fullbacks getting forward. Our goal was actually (attacking) fullback (matching up) to (opposing) fullback, which we always like, which showed that the guys were getting nice and aggressive. We’d had a number of chances with Brendan Aaronson, with (Balogun), with (Pepi), so overall pleased with it. But, I wish we would have had a bigger body of work to go on because after the red card it was more challenging.”

The plan was to substitute Zendejas for Reyna at halftime, a planned sub after Reyna had gone 90 minutes on Thursday in Austin — his first 90-minute outing for the U.S. since Sept. 2021 and his first for club or country since March 2022. Joe Scally was a planned substitution for Dest. Zendejas never got in the game. When Dest was red-carded, Scally subbed in for Reyna, who was set to come off three minutes later, at halftime. Tillman entered in the 65th minute for Pepi and Maloney entered in extra time to see out the game. There wasn’t much to be learned about any of the subs, or really too much to go off of on the performance or the two-striker formation itself.“Overall (the red card is) a complete lack of respect for the guys that are playing, for the guys that are on the bench,” Ream said. “A lack of respect for the game itself, for the referees. … For me, just a feeling of disrespect to be completely honest with you, and that’s something that he needs to understand. Because it completely changes the game, but then it completely changes any type of potential plan of guys coming in and subs off the bench, throws that completely out of whack. So yeah, just disrespectful overall.”This window felt a bit like a lost opportunity to gather more information, but there will be more chances to evaluate the pool. The U.S. typically has a January camp for MLS-based players. It will be a good chance for players like Jones, John Tolkin, Eryk Williamson, Cade Cowell and others to try to prove themselves. That this is an Olympic cycle, too, means those camps give windows for players like Tanner Tessmann, Jack McGlynn, Booth, Cremaschi and Gianluca Busio, among others.The hope is that some of those players emerge as bigger contributors for the senior team in the coming months. And while the U.S. will hope they can rely on their nucleus in next summer’s Copa America, the process of building out the depth chart will extend out two years beyond that to the ultimate goal: a 2026 World Cup on home soil. (Photo: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USMNT qualify for 2024 Copa America despite Sergiño Dest red card vs. Trinidad

By Paul TenorioNov 20, 2023 THe Athletic

The U.S. qualified for the 2024 Copa America on Monday night despite a 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago.

The Americans held an early one-goal advantage in the first half in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and seemed firmly in control of the game before Sergiño Dest was red-carded inhe 39th minute after picking up two yellow cards inside of a minute in a bizarre sequence.Dest was yellow carded for picking up the ball and drop-kicking it away after the ball was called out of bounds by the linesman. Dest then turned and started talking to the center referee, covering his mouth as he did so and gesturing toward the linesman. Dest seemed to be upset that an earlier foul committed on him was not called.Multiple teammates, including Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah and Tim Ream, tried to pull Dest away, but he continued talking to the referee and eventually blew a kiss. At that point, he was shown a second yellow card, and therefore the red, and was ejected.Both Ream and goalkeeper Matt Turner yelled at Dest as he walked off the field and eventually into the locker room. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter immediately subbed right back Joe Scally into the game for Reyna, but four minutes after Dest was sent off, Trinidad equalized the game on a goal from Reon Moore.

“I want to apologize to my teammates, staff, fans and whole nation for my behavior,” Dest said in an Instagram post after the game. “It was unacceptable, selfish and immature. I let my team down! It’s something I have to learn from and it won’t happen again!”The U.S. held a three-goal lead entering the away leg and after Antonee Robinson’s diving header opened the scoring Monday. They held a four-goal advantage with an away goal, which meant Trinidad and Tobago would need to score five unanswered goals to knock the U.S. out of the Nations League.T&T took the 2-1 lead on Alvin Jones’ knuckling free kick in the 57th minute that somehow found its way through Turner’s hands. It was a familiar scoreline for the U.S. in Trinidad. They lost 2-1 in Couva, Trinidad, in 2017, their last visit to the island nation, in the game that knocked them out of the 2018 World Cup. The U.S. was able to limit the damage at that point, however, and held on to secure their spot in the Copa America.With the win, the U.S. also advances to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals in March. The U.S. won the first two editions of the Nations League and has the opportunity to make it three straight.

What they’re saying

“It’s crazy, it’s unacceptable,” former USMNT star DaMarcus Beasley said on the TNT broadcast at halftime. “This is unacceptable. What he did just now to put his team, put the U.S. team under that kind of pressure going into the second half, going into a real game that matters. And now he misses the semifinal. I would love to know what made him that upset for him to kick a ball out of the stadium and then start yelling at his teammates as you’re going off the field.”Beasley was asked what Dest’s teammates would say to him at halftime.“I’m just going to my O.G.s. If this was Gregg Berhalter when he was a player and he was going to meet Sergiño Dest in the locker room, all hell would break loose,” Beasley said. “Same thing with Clint Dempsey. Same thing with Carlos Bocanegra. The captains of the national team. They are not going to let this slide.”“I understand kicking the ball out of the stadium, you’re upset, but then you keep going and then you keep going, you blow kisses at the referee,” Beasley said. “For what? Because you didn’t get (a foul called on you). That’s baby behavior. I don’t understand that and I’m still upset about that.”After the game, Berhalter spoke about Dest’s red card.“He apologized to the group; he said it’s not going to happen again,” Berhalter said. “As a team, the players, the staff, we need to hold him accountable, because it’s inexcusable, it really is. We were very firm with our words after the game. He put a number of guys in jeopardy, made a number of guys do a lot of extra work in this weather. And it’s inexcusable.”Berhalter faced several questions about Dest before saying he did not want it to be a “witch hunt” and said that the team would work to move forward from Monday’s red card.“Serge has done a great job of maturing and growing over the years that he’s been with the group and, for him, this has to be a learning experience,” Berhalter said. “It will be a learning experience. How we work, we give people second chances, we work with people, we help them overcome instances like this. So, we’ll do the same with Sergiño. He’s a talented player, an important part of our team. And we need to have good conversations with him (and) make sure we get him on the right track.”Ream called Dest’s actions a “complete lack of respect for the guys that are playing, for the guys that are on the bench.”“A lack of respect for the game itself, for the referees,” the veteran back said. “For me, just a feeling of disrespect to be completely honest with you, and that’s something that he needs to understand. Because it completely changes the game, but then it completely changes any type of potential plan of guys coming in and subs off the bench, throws that completely out of whack. So yeah, just disrespectful overall.”

What’s next?

The U.S. ‘A’ team won’t be together again until March, when they meet for the Nations League semifinal on March 21. The teams joining them in those games are yet to be determined.Panama beat Costa Rica later Monday night to advance with a 6-1 aggregate lead. Canada holds a 2-1 lead over Jamaica, and Honduras has a 2-0 advantage over Mexico. Those games are scheduled to be played on Tuesday.The U.S. traditionally holds a January camp for MLS-based players, though that camp has not yet been announced. It could be a prime opportunity, however, to bring in Olympic-eligible players and, as it traditionally does, build out the depth of the pool.

USMNT analysis

Analysis and Player ratings: A Dest meltdown sees the USMNT lose to T&T but still advance

The 2023 year is over for the USMNT and it ends with a disappointing loss to Trinidad & Tobago that saw Sergino Dest meltdown, get sent off, and the U.S. team never recover. The U.S. team still qualified for the Nations League and Copa America, but not in the way it wanted. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks it down

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED NOVEMBER 20, 2023 9:10 AM

THE UNITED STATES national team concluded its 2023 calender year in disappointing fashion with a 2-1 loss to Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain on Monday night. The result was enough for the team to advance 4-2 on aggregate to qualify for both the Nations League semifinal and the 2023 Copa America, but the performance left a lot to be desired – specifically with Sergino Dest who was sent off in the 39th minute.The United States opened the scoring in the 25^th minute off a nice diving header from Antonee Robinson who got on the end of a well-delivered cross from Dest.

But the game became unglued in the 39^th minute when Dest was sent off following an call from the officials and afterward the PSV fullback punted the ball into the crowd and continued to argue. A yellow card was followed by a red card. Dest’s U.S. teammates including Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah were trying to calm Dest down. Captain Tim Ream then proceeded to yell at Dest on the field as he slowly left. Matt Turner was also harsh with Dest.Once Dest left the field, Trinidad & Tobago almost immediately equalized when former Forward Madison fullback Alvin Jones played Reon Moore into the box in transition. Moore was able to beat Cameron Carter-Vickers on speed. Turner lost his footing on Moore’s shot from a tight angle which found the back of the net.Then in the 57^th minute, Jones put T&T in front with a well-struck free kick that was savable but dipped and swerved off the fingertips of Turner for a 2-1 lead.

From there, T&T continued to have the better of chances but the U.S. team was able to  settle down and see out what was a one-goal loss but an overall aggregate win.Some thoughts.

DEST’S MELTDOWN

Sergino Dest’s behavior in the events which saw him sent off was baffling. There is a lot of talk on this team about second chances and maturing. But lost in this red card is the note that it was his second red card for the national team of 2023 after he was sent off late in the team’s 3-0 win over Mexico in the Nation’s League semifinal in June. Dest might be young. But this is a player who has played in Champions League games for Ajax, Barcelona, AC Milan, and now PSV Eindhoven. He’s also played in the World Cup. This was not a “heat of the moment” reaction. He punted the ball away and contnued to argue with the officials despite pleas from his teammates. It’s not a matter of apologizing and moving beyond it. Dest apologized and that’s fine. But there are now “trust issues” with him. Does he run the risk of putting his team in bad situations again? This wasn’t strike one. This was strike two. Afterward, Berhalter admitted it “was a concern” given that this wasn’t a first-time incident for Dest. Berhalter said it was inexcusable but also shot down hints of an extended absence from the team.  After the third question about Dest, Berhalter said he doesn’t want to turn it into a “witch hunt.””Sergino has done a great job of maturing and growing over the years that he’s been with the group,” Berhalter said. “For him, this has to be a learning experience. It will be a learning experience. We give people second chances. We work with people, we help them overcome instances like this. We’ll do the same with Sergino. He’s a talented player, an important part of our team, and we need to have good conversations with him to make sure we get him on the right track.”

Ream chimed in and spoke of the disappointment in Dest but also said he will need to show improvement beyond words.”Words with him would be putting it nicely, to be completely honest with you,” Ream said. “And there were a lot of choice words at halftime.””We are a pretty forgiving group,” Ream added. “We understand that we’re a young group. People can make mistakes and it’s just a big mistake. There’s not really any excuse for it. The only thing I think Sergino can do is hold his hand up, hold himself accountable, and when he is inevitably called upon again to be a part of this group, he has got to show with not just words saying sorry, but show with his actions that we can trust him to be someone we can rely on and off the pitch.”Of course, this is not the first time the U.S. team has had to deal with a lack of maturity and decision-making. There obviously was the Gio Reyna incident at the World Cup and then there was Weston McKennie’s incident in qualifying.

But both of those incidents were off the field. Dest now has two ugly incidents on the field in competitive games.“I want to apologize to my teammates, staff, fans, and whole nation for my behavior,” Dest wrote on Instagram after the game. “It was unacceptable, selfish, and immature. I let my team down! It’s something I have to learn from, and it won’t happen again.”As Ream said, it’s more than words. Dest will eventually be put in a frustrating moment on the field when emotions will be strong. Only by keeping his cool in those situations will this be put behind him.Dest is now suspended for the Champions League semifinal. It remains to be seen if Berhalter will call him up in March or whether the next time we see Dest is in the summer.

THE PERFORMANCE

As for the team’s performance, the team started off well and was dominant for at least the first 30 minutes, and probably until Dest’s red card. The only thing that was missing was finishing. But the chances were there and the U.S. team started off the game well. But the team did not respond well after the red card. The backline became a mess and T&T started to generate real chances quickly.Matt Turner could have prevented both goals, with the second goal having been more savable. In the second half, the U.S. team needed players to step up with big individual efforts since they were down a man. But unfortunately, no one rose to the occasion. It was a tough game for Luca de la Torre and Brenden Aaronson, Yunus Musah, and Malik Tillman who couldn’t feed the attack much in the second half.Even down to 10 players, the U.S. still had a lot of talent on the field but they weren’t able to do much with it.

A NEW FORMATION

One of the more interesting takeaways from this game that is lost in the discussion due to Dest was the return of the 4-4-2 formation. This is a formation that used to be preferred years ago under Bob Bradley and the first Bruce Arena tenure but hasn’t been tried since.There is plenty of reason to think it would be useful in certain situations for the U.S. team when it is short on wingers – like this camp. Balogun and Ricardo Pepi could benefit from being on the field together.

Apparently Berhalter agreed and he was willing to try this formation despite never having practiced with it (something he admitted after the game in the press conference). In reality, it looked more like a 4-2-2-2 with Musah and de la Torre behind Aaronson and ReynaThe U.S. team was very dangerous and was on the front foot the first 30 minutes. The team benefitted from having an extra midfielder and the fullbacks were able carry the attack from the wide positions. It was working well but Dest’s red card really made relearning this formation on the fly an impossibility.It raises the question whether the 4-4-2 is still optimal when Weah and/or Pulisic are healthy. Then the U.S. team would have wingers for a 4-3-3. The answer is probably no. But it’s very good for the U.S. team to be able to have different formations it is comfortable with.

PLAYER RATINGS

Matt Turner: The U.S. goalkeeper could have done better on both goals. Rating: 4.0

Antonee Robinson: scored the only goal and was by far the best U.S. player over both games this camp. Rating: 7.0

Tim Ream: Was exposed for pace a little bit when the game was open in the first half and when T&T had more space in the second half. Still, he wasn’t at fault for either goal. Rating: 5.0

Cameron Carter-Vickers: Was beaten for pace on Moore’s first goal. Rating: 4.5

Sergino Dest: Nice assist but clearly put the U.S. team in a game-changing and bad spot with his tantrum. Rating: 3.0

Yunus Musah: The AC Milan midfielder couldn’t break down T&T’s defense and create much. T&T did a good job containing him. Rating: 5.0

Luca de la Torre: Was slightly more effective than Musah, but not by much in terms of creating dangerous chances – which is what this team needed with two forwards up top. Rating: 5.5

Gio Reyna: He was moving the ball well and was a boost to the attack before being sacrificed for a defender after Dest’s meltdown. Rating: 6.0

Brenden Aaronson: Worked hard, drew four fouls, but was also 0/5 in his tackles – one of which gave T&T the free kick on the winning goal. He had two shots saved and was effective early in creating chances before the team went down a man. Rating: 5.5

Ricardo Pepi: It was a tough game for Pepi, even when the teams were even 11v11. Pepi didn’t have a shot and had just one touch in the T&T box. He had a few nice moments in hold-up play and some good passes, but it wasn’t what he wanted or what the team needed. Rating: 5.0

Folarin Balogun: Forced a big save early in the game and narrowly missed two other times. It was frustrating for him, but at least he was in a dangerous position multiple times. Rating: 5.5

SUBSTITUTES

Joe Scally: Came into the game earlier than expected for Dest and never seemed at ease – caught out of position a few times. Rating: 4.5

Malik Tillman: A few nice moments here and there came up empty. Rating: 5.0

Lennard Maloney: an uneventful outing cap-tied him to the U.S. program. Rating: NR

USMNT advances to Concacaf Nations League Semifinals after battle with Trinidad

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD – The U.S. Men’s National Team lost to Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 in the second leg of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, advancing to the tournament’s semifinals with a 4-2 aggregate win over two legs. It also earned the USMNT a place in next summer’s Copa America, which will be played in the United States.The U.S. now moves on to contest the Semifinal Round of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League on March 21 in Arlington, Texas against one of the following regional rivals: Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica, Canada, Honduras or Mexico.Hosts Trinidad and Tobago – down 3-0 after the USA’s first leg win in Austin, Texas on Nov. 16 – were pinned back in their own defensive third early in the second leg. An early spinning shot from midfielder Brenden Aaronson from close range in just the third minute was followed a minute later by another good effort from forward Folarin Balogun – both of which forced T&T goalkeeper Denzil Smith into awkward saves. Those chances were a hint of things to come as the USMNT took a lead in the 25th minute via the head of defender Antonee Robinson who scored in back-to-back games for the first time in a USA shirt.

With a 4-0 lead on the aggregate, it should have been clear sailing for the U.S., but a self-inflicted wound in the 39th minute complicated matters. Dest, whose pinpoint cross set the table for the opening goal, picked up the ball and punted it away after the referee blew his whistle to call a throw-in for the hosts. That earned the U.S. defender a yellow card. His continued arguments earned him a second yellow, from Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez as the U.S. were reduced to 10 men for the rest of the game. Dest will also be suspended for March’s Nations League Semifinal.

With confidence bolstered by the man advantage, Trinidad & Tobago pulled level just before halftime after a long ball from Alvin Jones ball sent Reon Moore into the right side of the penalty area in the 43rd minute. The Trinidadian striker shrugged off a challenge from center back Cameron Carter-Vickers before hitting the ball past U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner inside the near post for his eighth goal in 25 caps. It was the host side’s first shot on goal.

Tension continued to ramp up for the U.S. after the interval. Jones went from provider to scorer in the 57th minute when his knuckling free kick from 25 yards screamed past the U.S. defensive wall and off Turner’s fingertips before nestling in the back of the net. That put the hosts into the lead 2-1 on the night, but still down 4-2 on the aggregate. It was a lead Trinidad and Tobago held – but could not increase — until the final whistle as the U.S. dropped a result to the Soca Warriors for only the fourth time in history.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

USA – Antonee Robinson (Sergiño Dest), 25th minute: Dest collected the ball on the right side after a sequence of sharp U.S. passes carved open a gap in the hosts’ midfield. Robinson – lurking at the back post – slipped in front of his marker to meet Dest’s accurate cross with a diving header from eight yards out. The Fulham defender drove his shot off the slick surface and inside of Denzil Smith’s near post. TRI 0, USA 1

TRI – Reon Moore (Alvin Jones), 43rd minute: Domestic-based defender Alvin Jones hit a long, searching ball up the right side from deep in the Trinidad & Tobago defensive third. It picked out Rean Moore – an unused sub in the first leg – who muscled the inside track on U.S. center back Cameron Carter-Vickers before hitting his shot from the right side of the penalty area just inside the near post. TRI 1, USA 1

TRI – Alvin Jones, 57th minute: While the direct free kick initially looked to be outside shooting distance, Alvin Jones decided to have a go anyway. His powerful free kick swerved and spun in the heavy Port of Spain air before dipping dramatically and going off the fingertips of a diving Matt Turner and into the U.S. net. TRI 2, USA 1

– U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –

Match: Trinidad and Tobago vs. United States Men’s National Team
Date: November 20, 2023
Competition: 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League – Quarterfinal, Leg Two
Venue: Hasely Crawford Stadium; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Kickoff: 7:07 p.m. ET (8:07 local)
Weather: 82 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F
USA                              1          0          1
TRI                               1          1          2

USA – Antonee Robinson (Sergiño Dest)                  25^th minute
TRI – Reon Moore (Alvin Jones)                                  43
TRI – Alvin Jones                                                            57

Lineups:
USA: 1-Matt Turner; 2-Sergiño Dest (39, Ejected), 3-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.) 5-Antonee Robinson; 7-Gio Reyna (19-Joe Scally, 42), 6-Yunus Musah, 14-Luca de la Torre (22-Lennard Maloney, 91), 11-Brenden Aaronson; 9-Ricardo Pepi (17-Malik Tillman, 65), 20-Folarin Balogun
Substitutes not used: 18-Ethan Horvath, 21-Gaga Slonina, 4-Chris Richards, 10-Alex Zendejas, 12-Miles Robinson, 15-Paxten Aaronson, 16-Kevin Paredes, 23-Kristoffer Lund
Head coach: Gregg Berhalter

TRI: 22-Denzil Smith; 14-Shannon Gomez, 16-Alvin Jones, 2-Aubrey David (Capt.), 17-Justin Garcia, 6-Andre Raymond; 13-Reon Moore (19-Malcolm Shaw, 77), 12-Daniel Phillips (23-Kristian Lee-Him, 77), 18-Andre Rampersad, 10-Real Gill (7-Ryan Telfer, 61); 9-Nathaniel James (8-Duane Muckette, 77)
Substitutes not used: 1-Christopher Biggette, 21-Jabari St. Hillaire, 3-Ross Russell, 4-Jesse Williams, 5-Michel Poon-Angeron, 15-Kevon Goddard, 20-Kaile Auvray
Head coach: Angus Eve

Stats Summary: USA / TRI
Shots: 10 / 10
Shots on Goal: 5 / 5
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 6 / 2
Fouls: 14 / 19
Offside: 1 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Sergiño Dest (Caution)                       39^th minute
USA – Sergiño Dest (Ejection)                      39
USA – Joe Scally (Caution)                            79
TRI – Duane Muckette (Caution)                  80

Officials:
Referee: Walter Gomez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 1: Keytzel Corrales (NCA)
Assistant Referee 2: Raymundo Feliz (DOM)
4th Official: Oliver Vergara (PAN)
VAR: Guillermo Pacheco (MEX)
AVAR: Erick Miranda (MEX)

Man of the Match: Antonee Robinson

USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago, Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals: Staff Man of the Match

While we wait for the community, we give our picks.

By Donald Wine II@blazindw  Nov 22, 2023, 12:30pm PST  

The United States Men’s National Team once again fell to Trinidad & Tobago on the road Monday night, this time a familiar 2-1 loss in the second leg of the Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals. Despite the loss, the USMNT won the aggregate 4-2, advancing to the Concacaf Nations League Finals as well as qualifying for the 2024 Copa América.

Normally, we would have the SSFC community rate each player to see who they thought played the best on the evening and would earn the community’s Man of the Match award. However, due to a mixup, the wrong form was originally placed into the Community Ratings article on Monday night. That form has been corrected, and now you have the chance to vote below.

Meanwhile, the SSFC staff cast their vote for one player that they thought was the Man of the Match for the USMNT. Antonee Robinson, who scored the lone goal for the United States, received 3 votes to win the Staff Man of the Match award. Yunus Musah received 1 vote as well.

The staff votes:

Donald – Antonee Robinson

Rob – Antonee Robinson

Justin – Yunus Musah

Adnan – Antonee Robinson

Now, you’ll have your chance to rate each of the players from Monday’s match, as well as Gregg Berhalter and the referee. We’ll post the results on Friday. In the meantime, hit the comments to discuss the staff votes for Man of the Match.

USMNT’s Weston McKennie says Leeds loan failure spurred him on at Juventus

By The Athletic Staff5m ago

USMNT and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie believes he has emerged stronger from a loan spell at Leeds United during which he felt he “let people down”.McKennie spent the second half of last term in England, but registered just one assist in 19 Premier League appearances in a campaign that ended with Leeds being relegated.The 25-year-old has become increasingly important this season for Juventus under Massimiliano Allegri and thinks the experience meant he returned to Italy with fresh intent to prove himself.

He told Sky in Italy of his time at Leeds: “I didn’t have the best performances. I felt I let certain people down.“But at the end of the day, when I came back, I think it was important for me in general to have an experience like that, to have that happen to me at this moment of my career, because when I came back it felt like I was coming back here for the first time again.“When I first came to Juventus, nobody knew who I was, everybody doubted me, everybody was against me, and I think it was important for me because it put chips back on my shoulder. That’s when I perform best and prove that I can do it and that I belong, so it was nice to come back and have that feeling again.”McKennie — who had to pull out of international duty with what the U.S. said was an “aggravated” knee issue — has made 10 starts in 12 Serie A games so far in 2023-24, and drew praise from Allegri after Juventus maintained the pressure on league leaders Inter Milan with a 2-1 home win over Caligari before the international break.“Wes is having a good season,” Allegri said. “He is maturing.”The top two meet on Sunday, with visiting Inter two points ahead, and McKennie is eyeing an opportunity to put the “Scudetto in our sights”.“It’s too early to say at this point in the season,” he said of the game’s significance, but added: “Juventus is ready for this challenge, to try and win”.

Keyrol Figueroa: The Liverpool and U.S. starlet with the world at his feet

By Andy JonesNov 20, 2023

Keyrol Figueroa only turned 17 at the end of August but he is used to the spotlight.Already in his nascent career, Figueroa has coped with the pressure of being the son of a famous footballing father and uprooting his life in the United States following a move to Liverpool. By contrast, his current mission of helping the U.S. progress in the Under-17 World Cup — which continues with a last-16 game against Germany tomorrow — probably seems simple.Figueroa has always been the subject of scrutiny. In 2017, as part of the FC Dallas under-12 squad, the striker took part in the Prospects Cup in Florida alongside teams such as Real Madrid, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.The tournament was hosted by Univision, a Spanish-speaking media outlet in the U.S. and South America. As the son of former Premier League defender and Honduras international Maynor Figueroa, he got plenty of attention.

“He took it all in his stride. He was getting a lot of interviews, but he was never saying, ‘This is all about me’,” says former FC Dallas under-12s manager John Gall. “He was always talking about his team-mates, his club, the situation that he was in. But he scored some incredible goals in that tournament. He had something a little bit different.”Keyrol Figueroa has made a big impression with the U.S. (Christian Hofer/Getty Images)

Born in Honduras but raised in England — he qualifies to represent those countries as well as the U.S. — Figueroa has no shortage of admirers. One of the more renowned ones is France international and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann, who has offered words of encouragement via WhatsApp messages and Instagram

Before he arrived at Liverpool in 2018, Figueroa was part of the FC Dallas Academy, joining after his father signed for the senior team in January 2016. It was an odd scenario as he was not a player on the FC Dallas academy radar, or someone they had been scouting. His talent, though, was quickly evident.

He began in the shadow squad to develop his game understanding and learn standards and expectations, but he made it impossible for Gall to ignore him.

“It was clear from day one, he was a super competitive kid,” says Gall. “I remember many times when my under-12 team would play friendlies against the team he was on and he was always the kid that you didn’t want to play against. He was always dangerous.

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“He was always trying to push and to be the best that he could be so he was constantly knocking on the door. We moved him up and he blossomed into the group I was working with and it was a pretty quick transition.”

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Nicknamed ‘Young Figgy’, Figueroa was a big personality but Gall insists he was polite, hard-working and humble — albeit ferociously competitive.

“He wanted to be the best player that he could be and he wasn’t afraid to voice opinions,” says Gall. “There were times when we lost games and his shirt was over his head, upset and frustrated. Losing wasn’t in his repertoire.”

There was no ego because his father was in the first team. Maynor was a regular watcher of Keyrol’s training sessions and matches and offered advice to his son on areas to improve such as composure, beating players one-on-one and shot placement.

“Maynor was absolutely fantastic, always supportive,” says Gall. “His dad had an incredible technique for striking the ball — Figgy inherited the same power, same quality. There are not many kids that strike the ball like that.”

Keyrol Figueroa moved to Liverpool in 2018 (Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Blessed with natural speed, Figueroa scored every type of goal, and did so with regularity. He arrived as an individual player, trying to prove he deserved to be there, but learned to be his team’s focal point, holding up the ball, linking play and making good decisions in possession.

He featured in an under-13s tournament at St George’s Park against teams including Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Derby County. He continued to stand out in friendlies against Manchester United and Aston Villa.

“You could tell that was his element, he wanted to be in professional environments,” says Gall. “He didn’t care who he was playing, his mentality was the same.”

Liverpool’s attention was alerted and they moved quickly to bring him to Merseyside as an under-14 player and he excelled. In an interview with Honduran newspaper La Prensa, his mother Sandra Norales said he had scored 90 goals in his first season.

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He earned his first appearance with the under-18s aged just 15, coming off the bench in a 4-0 mini Merseyside derby against Everton in October 2021.

There were three brief appearances during the 2021-22 season before he stepped up to become a more prominent figure in Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s under-18s setup as a first-year scholar last season.

His breakout came not at the academy, but at this February’s CONCACAF Under-17 Championship. Figueroa scored seven goals in seven games as he spearheaded the U.S.’ run to the final, where they lost 3-1 to Mexico.

He returned to Liverpool with confidence high and began to earn himself a place in the starting XI, operating as a striker or right-winger. It was from the latter position where he netted a 13-minute hat-trick for the under-18s against Wolverhampton Wanderers in April.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5lnNogLyvqPJ0gCh0cKGHZ?utm_source=generator

Gall remains in contact with Figueroa and his family, exchanging the occasional text message and has been watching him in the World Cup, where he is Liverpool’s only representative.

“It’s great. You always want to see your former players do well,” says Gall. “We’re just delighted he’s doing well and hopefully it continues and we will be watching in the Premier League one day.”

That may still be a distant dream for Figueroa, but for now, his focus is simply on the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia and tomorrow’s meeting with Germany.

The U.S. progressed comfortably out of their group, winning their opening two games, with Figueroa scoring the first goal in the second game — a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso — but Germany will pose a stronger test

Whenever he arrives back in Merseyside, he’ll be aiming to make himself impossible to ignore again.

(Top photo: Alex Caparros – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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US wins 3-0, plays @ T&T tonight 7 pm on TNT

Not sure what the heck GB was thinking when he opened up in a 4-2-2-2 that had like 5 shots – none on goal in the first 60 minutes of our home battle with T&T. Credit to the T&T goalkeeper – who stood on his head – but it was the 66th minute subs (finally) of Pepi and Aaronson that opened things up. Aaronson shot twice within minutes of coming on the field – while Pepi finally got our first goal in the 82nd minute before Robinson and Reyna scored in the next 10 minutes to all but assure the US should advance to the Quarterfinals of the and more importantly the Copa American next summer in the US after a 3-0 win over T&T Highlights. The US dominated possession but looked as though they had no clue how to open up the T&T defense without Pulisic and Weah. Mark Tillman and Peredes filling in for the US injured paid failed to connect with teammates time and time again and should have been yanked at halftime. The D held steady however against the non-existent attack from T&T. Now on to Port of Prince as the US looks to quiet the demon’s of their lost to knock them out of the 2018 World Cup. The US would have to lay a major egg to blow a 3-0 1st leg lead – (even Berhalter can’t do that). In other Concacaf comp Mexico trails Honduras heading back to Azteca down 0-2 on Tues night while Canada delayed till Sat to beat Jamaica 2-1 heading to Jamaica Tues. Panama pounded Costa Rica 3-0 and will look to wrap things up Monday night at Costa Rica.

Shane’s Starters tonight 7 pm TNT

Turner

Scalley — Carter-Vickers — Ream — A. Robinson

De la Torre — Musah

Zendejas  — Reyna – Aaronson

Balogun or Pepi

 United States Men’s roster (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 9/0), Gaga Slonina (KAS Eupen; 1/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 35/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 14/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 30/2), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 3/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 53/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 14/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 37/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 27/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 7/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 1/0),  Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 19/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 1/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 48/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 31/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 22/6), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 6/0)

FORWARDS (5): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 36/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 6/3), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 20/9), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 7/1).

Final Euro Spots Up for Grabs

Ukraine faces Italy in a winner advances to the Euro’s loser goes home match as Ukraine will host in Germany at 2:45 pm on FS2 Monday.

US Boys (U17 WC) Advance to Next Round Despite getting bombed by France

Got up early to watch the US boys U17s Sat morning –what a mistake.  The US got slammed 3-0 by France despite having 65% possession.  Even worse was 2 of US best players getting tossed out of the next round with 2^nd yellows and a STUPID last defender Challenge by our Captain Centerback.  Funny how watching the US play in World Cups at ALL LEVELS is so disappointing.  THE US CAN’T SCORE.  We simply can’t score.  The stupidity of the players missing the next round just sums up US Soccer.  When we play the World’s Best teams – We ALWAYS LOSE because WE CAN’T SCORE.  The US will get destroyed by Germany in the knockout rounds on Tuesday 4 am on FS1 I’m sure.  Two hours of my life I can’t get back. US Soccer – disappointing at all levels. PS I have enjoyed watching the U17 World Cup overall. 

Indiana Referee in need

Our community has been given the heart-breaking news that one of our very own referees, Brian Mitchell, has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Please read the message below and consider donating to the Mitchell family as they will need our help during this very difficult journey. https://www.gofundme.com/f/friendsofbrianmitchell

Watch the US Games with The American Outlaws –Indy  at Union Jack Pub in Broadripple Tonight 7 pm

GAMES ON TV

Mon, Nov 20  

2:45 pm FS2                Ukraine vs Italy

2:45 pm FS1?                       North Macedonia vs England

7 pm TNT, Para+        US Men vs T&T  (Copa Qualifying)

9 pm Para+                         Panama vs Costa Rica

Tues, Nov 21  

2:45 pm FS2                        Wales vs Turkey (Euro Quals)

7:30 pm Para+                   Canada 2 vs Jamaica 1 (Copa Qualifying)

9:30 pm Para+, TUDN     Mexico 0 vs Honduras 2 (Copa Qualifying)

Sat, Nov 25

7:30 am Peacock        Man City vs Liverpool

9:30 am ESPN+            Dortmund (Reyna) vs Mgladbach (Scally)

10 am Peacock            Newcastle United vs Chelsea

10 am USA                  Nottingham Forest (Turner) vs Brighton

12:30 pm USA             Brentford vs Arsenal

5:30 pm Apple TV       Orlando City vs Columbus Crew

8 pm Apple TV            Cincy vs Philly

Sun, Nov 26

9 am USA                    Tottenham vs Aston Villa

11:30 am USA             Everton vs Man U

12 noon CBSSN            Roma vs Udinese

2:45 pm Para+            Juventus (Weah, McKinney) vs Inter Milan

7 pm FS1, Apple TV     Houston Dynamo vs Sporting KC  

9:30 pm Apple TV       Seattle Sounders vs LAFC  

Mon, Nov 27

3 pm USA                    Fulham (Ream, Robinson) vs Wolverhampton

Tues, Nov 28 – Champions League

12:45 pm Para+          Lazio vs Celtic

3 pm Para+                 PSG vs New Castle United

3 pm Para+                 AC Milan (Musah, Pulisic) vs Dortmund (Reyna)

3 pm Para+                 Man City vs RB Liepzig

3 pm CBS SN               Feyenoord vs Atletico Madrid

3 pm Para+                 Barca vs Porto

Wed, Nov 29 – Champions League

12:45 pm Para+          Galatasaray vs Man United  

12:45 pm Para+          Sevilla vs PSV (Tillman, Dest)

3 pm Para+                 Real Madrid vs Napoli

3 pm CBS SN               Beneifica vs Inter Milan

Sat, Dec 2

2:30 pm TNT, Max      USWNT vs China

Tues, Dec 5

7:30 pm TNT, Max      USWNT vs China

US Men

How will the USMNT line up versus Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain?

‘Determined’ USMNT earn Berhalter plaudits Jeff Carlisle

USMNT player ratings: Robinson, McKennie central to late 3-0 win Cesar Hernandez

Player ratings from USMNT 3-0 T&T

USMNT Player Ratings vs Trinidad & Tobago: Ricardo …

USMNT comes alive late in important 3-0 win over T&T  

Player ratings & analysis: USMNT’s late rally downs T&T 3-0
No experiments says Berhalter as US bid to seal semi berth

From USA’s McGlynn to Argentina’s Soule, the in-form players ready for a national team debut Connelly

US Women

U.S. Soccer puts money where its mouth is with splashy Hayes hire

Hayes secured, but U.S. must play nice with Chelsea

Emma Hayes hired as USWNT head coach

MLS

Predictions in Semi-Finals

How to Watch the MLS Semi-Finals

Reffing

Great day of Reffing with Ernesto Ruiz at the Girls College Showcase at Grand Parks Sunday (despite his El Tri hat)

IU men’s soccer battles back twice, beats No. 10 Wake Forest for spot in NCAA Sweet 16

Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star Sun, Nov 19, 2023, 8:40 PM EST·2 min read

IU men’s soccer advanced to the NCAA round of 16 on Sunday night, thanks to an extra-time victory away to national-seed Wake Forest in a five-goal thriller.Hugo Bacharach’s brace moved the Hoosiers (14-4-4) past Wake Forest in a game that saw Indiana equalize not once but twice, before the second of Bacharach’s goals proved the decider in an eventful second-round NCAA tournament meeting between two of college soccer’s most-successful programs. The hosts, this year’s No. 10 overall seed, took the lead twice Sunday night, first through a deflected Jahlane Forbes goal in the 21^st minute and then through a Vlad Walent 67^th-minute penalty. Each time, Indiana found an answer. The Hoosiers’ first came via Bacharach’s towering header, the midfielder rising to meet a Patrick McDonald corner and redirect it past Wake Forest goalkeeper Trace Alphin. Karsen Henderlong fired home a second equalizer in the 73^rd minute after the Demon Deacons failed to clear a goalmouth scramble. Wake Forest defenders called for offside but Henderlong was well on, his goal prompting extra time.nter Bacharach, a defender-turned-midfielder who does his best work at the other end of the pitch most of the time but has been amongst the goals lately for the Hoosiers. His pair Sunday makes four in six games — the balance of his account this season — the last perhaps the pick of the bunch.94′ | IU won a free kick in Wake Forest’s half, McDonald driving an outswinging ball into the area. It swerved just behind Bacharach who, back to goal, threw a leg at the ball to deflect it goal-ward. Alphin couldn’t move quickly enough to his left, and Bacharach’s brace confirmed a victory and a place in the third round of the tournament for the double Big Ten champions. Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana men’s soccer beats Wake Forest in OT, heads to Sweet 16

USMNT returns to Trinidad and Tobago with Copa America berth in sight

Published Nov. 19, 2023 4:52 p.m. ET

Doug McIntyre SOCCER JOURNALIST

For the only man on the current United States national team roster who was also on the American squad when it last visited Trinidad and Tobago, the painful memories of Oct. 10, 2017 — when the U.S. was stunned by the Soca Warriors and failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup — have long since lost their sting.”I’d say, 2019 Gold Cup,” defender Tim Ream said Sunday when asked when he finally got over a defeat that marked the lowest moment in USMNT history. “We played Trinidad, if I recall correctly. That was kind of the moment for me.”Ream and the U.S. returned to the twin island Caribbean country for the first time Saturday ahead of Monday’s CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal second leg in Port of Spain. And once again, the Americans will have the chance to qualify for a major international tournament, in this case next summer’s Copa América. The circumstances going into this match are far different, though. After eventually finding the net three times in last Thursday’s first leg in Austin, Texas, even a two-goal loss would be enough for the USMNT to advance from the home-and home, aggregate-goals series.

Still, coach Gregg Berhalter and his players aren’t taking any chances. They’re approaching Monday’s match as if it’s a must-win.”Now we have another half of this 180-minute game,” Berhalter said. “We want to see it out the right way.”They also want to improve on Thursday’s performance. Despite having a man advantage for most of the game, the contest was still scoreless in the 80th minute. It won’t get easier for the Americans at Hasely Crawford Stadium. Temperatures will be in the high 80s when the match kicks off at 7 p.m. ET. The field won’t remotely resemble the pristine carpet of grass the teams played on at Q2 Stadium last week in the Texas capital.  And of course, another first half red card for T&T is unlikely. 

The difficult conditions absolutely came into play on that faithful night six years ago. Using the same lineup that routed Panama three days earlier, the Americans looked like they were playing in concrete cleats. The travel is notoriously grueling to get to Port of Spain, which sits farther south than Barranquilla, Colombia.Berhlater will be forced to make at least one change from a lineup that was already missing injured starters Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah; Weston McKennie, another lock, returned to his Italian club Juventus over the weekend to recover from what U.S. Soccer called “aggravated left knee tendinopathy.”Asked if he might rotate his XI to ensure his starters’ legs are fresh, Berhalter suggested he won’t make many other tweaks.”It’s not time to experiment,” he said. “We’re focused on the best possible lineup we can play. It’s not about rotation at this point. It’s about who can fit the roles that we need to win this game.”This game is where all the focus is, not on what happened in 2017. If the Americans are thinking about any of the program’s  previous trips to T&T this camp, it’s one that happened all the way back in 1989. Sunday marked the 34th anniversary of “The shot heard ‘round the world,” — Paul Caligiuri game-winning goal at Hasely Crawford that qualified the U.S. men for the World Cup after a 40-year absence from the global stage. Last week, Berhalter showed the team footage of the famous strike and invited Caligiuri to address the current team.”Being able to connect the past with the present during this camp has been nice,” Ream said.  “It is something that we’ve discussed.”Before heading home from Trinidad, Ream and the rest of the USMNT are looking forward to making more of the sort of history they’ll want to remember.”There’s no point in taking your foot off and saying ‘OK, we’re there.'” Ream added. “As soon as you get complacent, you start to do things that you wouldn’t normally do. So now we’re going to approach this game the same way as if it was 0-0.”Doug McIntyre is a soccer writer for FOX Sports. Before joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a staff writer with ESPN and Yahoo Sports and he has covered United Statesmen’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cups. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.

USMNT rides late flurry to 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in Nations League

By Paul Tenorio Nov 16, 2023 The Athletic

The U.S. men’s national team needed 82 minutes to break through, but once they finally found the back of the net the goals poured out from there as the U.S. secured a crucial 3-0 home win over Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday night in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals.hat it took that long to score a goal was indicative of a frustrating night for the U.S., which struggled to break down Trinidad’s low block despite playing with a man advantage for nearly an hour. Finally, a cross from Antonee Robinson was flicked in at the near post by Ricardo Pepi right on the 82nd minute mark to give the U.S. a one-goal lead.That opened Trinidad up a bit and the U.S. continued to push for more goals. Robinson hit a screamer in the 86th minute to double the advantage, and Reyna added a third on a combination with Balogun in the 89th.The win was especially important not just because it gave the U.S. a three-goal lead going into Monday’s away leg in Port of Spain, Trinidad, but it also put the U.S. a bit closer to qualifying for next summer’s Copa America.

The U.S. dominated possession throughout the game even before the red card as T&T sat deep in its own half and defended out of a low block. Trinidad’s Noah Powder picked up his second yellow card for a reckless tackle from behind on Weston McKennie in the 37th minute, and that only pushed Trinidad into a more defensive posture.Despite the man advantage, the U.S. managed no shots on goal in the first half. The first effort on target didn’t come until the 54th minute — a weak header from Malik Tillman — and while the U.S. put far more pressure on the goal in the second half it looked like Trinidad might pull off a shocking nil-nil draw.Finally, though, Pepi found the back of the net and the U.S. was able to take a deep breath. The two goals that followed also eased the job for the visit to Trinidad on Monday, which will be the first time the U.S. is back in the country where their World Cup dreams ended in 2017.

Main takeaways

The U.S. played too slowly at times against T&T’s low block, recycling the ball around the top of the box looking for the perfect entry into the box and allowing Trinidad to shift and keep good defensive shape too often. When the U.S. started to push faster later in the second half and pepper Trinidad’s goal with shots and headers, it started to feel like a goal was coming.

This U.S. team is going to have to find ways to score without doing so in transition — it’s an issue that has existed going back to the last cycle.

Who stood out?

Playing without stars Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah on the wings, it was an opportunity for players like Kevin Paredes, Malik Tillman and Brenden Aaronson to make an impression. Paredes got his first start with the U.S. and had some good moments in the first half, and Aaronson definitely made an impact when he entered the game in the second half. Tillman left more to be desired, frankly, though he was not alone among the U.S. players who could have been better against Trinidad’s low block.Pepi’s goal was his seventh of 2023 and his fifth off the bench, the most ever by a USMNT player in a calendar year. The 20-year-old continues to impress after the disappointment of missing out on the 2022 World Cup and his goal tonight was a crucial one.

What’s next

The U.S. will play Trinidad and Tobago on Monday in the away leg, and Thursday’s 3-0 win gave them plenty of breathing room to qualify for the Nations League semifinal and the Copa America. A win or draw sees them through, and a goal in Port of Spain would be plenty considering the current three-goal advantage — away goals are a tiebreaker.

USMNT power works after precision fails vs. Trinidad and Tobago

• Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentNov 17, 2023, 05:00 AM ET

AUSTIN, Texas — Eighty-one minutes into Thursday’s Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal first leg against Trinidad and Tobago, the misery index for the United States men’s national team was redlining.The U.S. had been playing with a man advantage for more than 43 minutes, had dominated possession to the tune of 75% and had nothing to show for their efforts on the scoreboard. The attack was basically unwatchable for much of that time. Even VAR seemed to working against the USMNT, denying it what was initially given as a 60th-minute penalty when Weston McKennie was felled in the box by T&T’s Daniel Phillips. The U.S.’s night seemed to be summed up in the 75th minute, when two T&T defenders went down with injuries — essentially giving the home side an 11-on-8 advantage — and they still didn’t come close to creating a chance on goal.So, with nine minutes to play, the U.S. was staring at the real possibility of heading into Monday’s second leg in Port of Spain with the aggregate score 0-0. Given that the Soca Warriors dumped the U.S. out of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup the last time the two teams met up in Trinidad, it was enough to rattle U.S. fans.Fortunately for the U.S., a combination of T&T fatigue and some more brute-force attacking methods allowed the home side to kick into gear. Ricardo Pepi, Antonee Robinson and Giovanni Reyna each scored in a seven-minute span to clinch a 3-0 victory, giving the U.S. some breathing room heading into the second leg. “I felt like we didn’t panic at any point,” Robinson said postmatch. “We just knew that we had to keep going, and I feel like this team’s really good at that.”There’s cause for optimism and concern in that. This match was yet another instance of the U.S. struggling to get past an overmatched opponent that was employing a low defensive block. The USMNT followed a similar script in a September match against Uzbekistan, when a pair of late goals (while a man up) clinched a 3-0 victory. While a penchant for late goals is admirable, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the success against the Soca Warriors was down more to the visitors’ resilience than U.S. brilliance.The home side certainly made life difficult for itself, especially in the first half. Manager Gregg Berhalter chalked it up to a “lack of precision” in the final third. But the U.S. seemed almost too comfortable in possession and was intent on trying to score the perfect goal. “We were just trying to walk the ball across the line, really,” defender Tim Ream said.Reyna seemed determined to take as many touches as possible rather than playing quickly. Malik Tillman was just lackadaisical at times, lulled into a false sense of security by the easy possession the U.S. was maintaining. The PSV Eindhoven man didn’t seem to recognize that this was a match that was going to be more akin to a street fight, and he needed to adapt. He never did.What the U.S. really needed was to mix up the attack more with some muscular methods like additional shots from outside the box. More direct play, in the right moments, could have allowed striker Folarin Balogun to get behind the T&T defense more easily. In the second half, the former approach worked, increasing the pressure on the visitors, and even resulting in a goal courtesy of Robinson’s long-range strike.

EDITOR’S PICKS

It’s an approach that creates some inner conflict for Berhalter. He’s a man who has long preferred a possession game, sometimes to the detriment of the team he was coaching. When the topic of hitting more long-range shots came up, he said: “It’s not something that we love, but I think the opportunity was there and we didn’t often take advantage of that.”It’s certainly not the highest-percentage play that a team can trot out. But the reality is that the U.S. needs both approaches, the leather and the lace. Hitting some longer shots can have the effect of drawing a bunkering team like T&T a little further out of their shell, which has the knock-on effect of creating a bit more space for the intricate patterns that Berhalter loves. Afterward, there was general recognition that the home side was too slow to recognize that this is what the game was demanding.”We have the players to be intricate. We know that. It’s doing the other side,” Ream said. “Can we cause problems by taking shots from outside the box? Surprise; we scored one with ‘Jedi’ [Robinson.] So yeah, it’s something that we need to do more often, not rely on one way or the other.”Of course, it helps that Pepi keeps coming off the bench with his hair on fire. His goal was the seventh he’s scored for the U.S. this calendar year, with five of those as a substitute. No forward worth his salt wants to begin the game on the bench. But right now, Pepi as super-sub isn’t a bad card to play, and the player seems willing to accept that this may be his role going forward, at least for the time being.”I’ve worked really hard for this opportunity and for these moments,” Pepi said. “My mentality is what’s fueled me so far, and I just got to assume my role. If off the bench is my role, then I’m going to assume it.”The U.S. realizes that it is halfway toward its goal of reaching the CNL semifinals. Taking care of business Monday will have the added benefit of clinching qualification for next summer’s Copa America, which remains the best competition the U.S. will take part in ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which it is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico. Still, the experience in 2018 World Cup qualifying leaves an undercurrent of disquiet, even with a three-goal lead.”I wouldn’t say it’s relaxing and cigars are out and we’re through,” Ream said. “We still have to go down there and do a job, and we want to win. I think that’s the ultimate goal is that you win as many games as possible, and so that’s our mindset.”

USMNT labors to 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal opener

Ricardo Pepi, Antonee Robinson, and Gio Reyna scored the Americans’ goals, but none came until the 81st minute. by Jonathan Tannenwald Philly Inquirer https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/usmnt-trinidad-score-concacaf-nations-league-20231116.html

AUSTIN, Texas — By now, many U.S. men’s soccer team fans have learned what many players have long known: games against Concacaf opponents are more often ugly than pretty.So it was again Thursday night in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals, which double as qualifying for next year’s Copa América. An American squad with two big injury absences but still plenty of firepower beat Trinidad & Tobago 3-0 in the first game of the series, but all three goals came in the last 10 minutes.Ricardo Pepi broke through in the 82nd minute, Antonee Robinson delivered the second five minutes later, and Gio Reyna provided polish in the 89th. That gives the U.S. an aggregate-scoring cushion heading down to Trinidad for Monday’s series finale (7 p.m., TNT, Universo, Max, Peacock).

Knowing that the Soca Warriors would bunker defensively, U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter experimented with an attacker-filled 4-2-2-2 formation instead of the usual 4-3-3.

Kevin Paredes, normally a winger or outside back, started in the forward pairing with usual striker Folarin Balogun. Malik Tillman and Gio Reyna lined up behind them in intriguingly free attacking roles, and Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah were the backstops.The defense was more traditional: Antonee Robinson, captain Tim Ream, Cameron-Carter Vickers, and Sergiño Dest from left to right, with Matt Turner in net.

Trinidad’s game strategy was certainly no surprise. As soon as Reyna gave the kickoff pass to Balogun, all 11 Soca Warriors retreated behind the ball in a 5-4-1 setup, and did their best to stay there.In the first half-hour, the U.S. out-passed Trinidad 226-57 and out-shot them 5-0, but none of the shots were on target. Paredes wasn’t really getting through as a forwrd, and Tillman wasn’t doing all that much to break the opposing defense opened.Brenden Aaronson, who watched from the bench, might have brought a different spark to Tillman’s spot on the field. He, brother Paxten, Pepi, and Alejandro Zendejas were the backup attacking options.A potential spark arrived in the 38th when Trinidad midfielder Noah Powder earned his second yellow card of the night. The northern New Jersey-born journeyman of MLS and lower leagues was booked first in the 18th, and while that one was soft, this one wasn’t. So off he went.But the U.S. couldn’t take advantage, as Trinidad backed up further and goalkeeper Denzil Smith made some gritty stops.Tillman finally produced his team’s first shot on target in the 53rd with a header at Smith. Two more followed suddenly, then in the 57th Musah forced Smith into a full-stretch dive with a long-range blast.It looked like the breakthrough would come in the 60th, when Daniel Phillips felled McKennie from behind in the box. Jamaican referee Oshane Nation quickly blew his whistle, but was then summoned to the replay monitor. Phillips got some of the ball with a lot of McKennie. Nation reversed his call, to the annoyance of the 19,850 fans in the stands.

» READ MORE: Emma Hayes’ hiring by the USWNT is official, as is how much she wanted the job

So the U.S. labored on. Berhalter finally made two substitutions in the 66th, sending in Brenden Aaronson and Pepi for Tillman and Paredes. They raised the pace.Still, though, there was no goal. Not even when Smith hesitated near the goal line in the 78th with Pepi and Balogun right in front of him, but recovered to grab a shockingly loose ball. The shots were 17-0 to the U.S. at that point, for the record.Pepi finally delivered by redirecting Robinson’s cross from the left wing. Robinson’s goal was

Ricardo Pepi’s latest goal is a reminder of his talent, and the USMNT’s striker depth

by Jonathan Tannenwald Phily Inquirer https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/ricardo-pepi-usmnt-concacaf-nations-league-trinidad-20231117.html

Published Nov. 17, 2023, 9:02 a.m. ET

A year after narrowly missing out on the World Cup, Pepi has stepped up with five goals in his last seven U.S. games. His latest score sparked Thursday’s 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.

AUSTIN, Texas — For much of this year, the chattering classes around the U.S. men’s soccer team have flocked to Folarin Balogun as the team’s next savior at striker. Understandably so, given his pedigree and potential as an attacking star.But Balogun isn’t the only good striker on the depth chart, and Thursday’s Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal opener against Trinidad and Tobago was a reminder. Ricardo Pepi delivered the breakthrough in the Americans’ 3-0 win, striking in the 82nd minute to end the Soca Warriors’ resistance.It was Pepi’s 10th goal in 21 games for his country, and his seventh of the year — and, notably, his fifth off the bench. The last of those stats set a new U.S. men’s program record for a single calendar year.It also came not long after the one-year anniversary of the most infamous low point of Pepi’s rise to prominence: his omission from last year’s World Cup squad.

“To be honest, I’ve worked really hard for this opportunity and for these moments,” Pepi said. “The mentality is what’s fueled me so far, and I’ve just got to assume my role. And if coming off the bench is my role, then I’m going to assume it.”You can rehash U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter’s choice not to take Pepi to Qatar as much as you want. From here, it’s a waste of time at this point, and not just because it’s in the past. What matters more now is how Pepi has come back from it.The El Paso, Texas, native has worked his tail off to regain playing time under Berhalter while making a new club home at the Netherlands’ PSV Eindhoven. And he’s still just 20 years old.

‘The disappointment is in the past’

“I talked to Gregg before subbing on, and he was just like, ‘Yo, just get in the box; get in good positions to score,’” Pepi said. “And my mentality coming off the bench was being able to help the team and scoring a goal.”There’s no more straightforward mission than that, but there’s also none more difficult.“He’s shown it early and often this year that the disappointment is in the past,” Berhalter said. “All he’s doing is everything he can do. All he does is when he gets the opportunity, he takes advantage of it. … For us, he’s established himself as a guy that’s hard to take out because he keeps performing.”

» READ MORE: Brenden and Paxten Aaronson celebrate being on the USMNT together for the first time

It was notable that Pepi played in a two-striker setup with Balogun, instead of the lone striker role he usually plays. With star wingers Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah injured, and knowing that Trinidad would bunker in defensively, Berhalter deployed a 4-2-2-2 formation instead of his usual 4-3-3, with a lot of firepower in that front six.Balogun and Kevin Paredes were the starting front pair, with Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman in free attacking roles behind them and Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah as backstops.

Did it work? Not really, if we’re honest. At least not for a long while.Even with a man advantage after Trinidad midfielder Noah Powder’s 38th-minute red card, the U.S. squad produced a lot of shots, but none on target until the 53rd minute. Tillman in particular didn’t seem suited for the setup.

Only in the second half did the U.S. really step on the gas pedal harder. More improvement came when Berhalter made his only substitutions of the night, sending in Brenden Aaronson and Pepi for Tillman and Paredes in the 66th minute.

A little heat is a good thing

“There were a few clips at halftime that we saw where we just had no occupation in the penalty box — it was only ‘Balo’ against three guys,” Berhalter said. “There were spaces on the side of their three [midfielders] that we’d be free to cross the ball, but we had a ring of players outside the penalty box and none of them inside.”You don’t have to be a tactics savant to know that’s not how to play winning soccer.That said, credit is due for trying a different tactical setup for once, in a game where the U.S. reasonably felt coming in it could get away with doing so.“I feel like as a team we have a lot of flexibility,” Pepi said. “We have a lot of talent in the group, and I feel like that’s most important — we’re able to adapt to a lot of the situations, and that’s the most important thing.”How much does one goal against a lowly regional opponent matter? In the moment, it mattered quite a bit, since a game the U.S. had no business losing was scoreless. In the longer term, it mattered because the Nations League quarterfinals double as qualifying for next year’s Copa América, which the U.S. is guest-hosting but not getting an automatic berth for.

It would be nice if the U.S. didn’t have to qualify, but there’s a benefit to having to do so. Because the Americans do qualify automatically for the 2026 men’s World Cup they’re co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, there aren’t many games with real stakes until then.Nor are there many chances for high-profile friendlies like last month’s hosting of Germany and Ghana, because the rest of the world has its own business to tend to.On those grounds, a little heat was welcome. So was a sign that for the first time in years, the U.S. program has serious striker depth. Balogun and Pepi are on this squad, Jordan Pefok has found form in Europe again but missed this squad because of injury, and Brandon Vazquez could cross the pond this winter after another strong season with FC Cincinnati — as Union fans know too well.That’s the best kind of problem to have as the Copa América’s big stage draws closer on the horizon.

‘Structured, determined’ USMNT earn Berhalter plaudits

• Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentNov 17, 2023, 02:49 AM ET

AUSTIN, Texas — United States men’s national team manager Gregg Berhalter praised his side for sticking to its task, and delivering a late flurry of goals in a 3-0 win over 10-man Trinidad and Tobago in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League.The U.S. dominated possession, and were given a significant advantage in the 37th minute when T&T defender Noah Powder was ejected for a second yellow card after hauling down U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie.But the Soca Warriors proved difficult to break down, and when a 64th-minute penalty was overturned by VAR, it didn’t seem to be the USMNT’s night. But substitute Ricardo Pepi put the U.S. in front in the 82nd minute, turning home Antonee Robinson‘s centering feed, and that opened the floodgates. Robinson added a second four minutes later when his long-range strike found the net, with the help of a deflection. Gio Reyna rounded out the scoring with a tally in the 89th minute. Now the U.S. will attempt to finish the job in Monday’s second leg in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

“I think that the easy thing to do is credit Trinidad and say how much they fought and how they weren’t giving up, and how compact they were and I told the guys, ‘Listen, they played great. They really did, gave everything, but I think our guys matched that and then even exceeded it,” said Berhalter.

The U.S. manager added that his team. didn’t panic, and persevered in a bid to find a breakthrough.”We didn’t lose structure. We didn’t lose determination to try to get the goals and then when we did, you see we kept going and were able to get three, which puts us in a very good position to advance,” he said. “We know we still have work to do. We know there’s 90 minutes left, we’re not done. But big credit to the guys.”The match will still raise questions about the effectiveness of the U.S. attack, given how long it took to get the first goal of the match, as well as the fact that it had a man advantage for over 53 minutes.”We lacked a little bit of precision and you see there was a lot of moves in the first half that were pretty good moves that just the final pass was missing or the first touch was missing,” he said.Berhalter admitted that his side was “maybe a little bit too intricate, where you could have probably gotten the ball in the box a little bit more” instead of mixing things up and taking more shots from distance.It helped that Pepi continues to deliver in a super-sub role. His goal was his seventh for the U.S. in 2023, and his fifth off the bench, the most ever for a USMNT player in a calendar year.”All he does is when he gets the opportunity, takes advantage of it,” said Berhalter about Pepi. “And he’s in a great spot. If you think about his situation, his [club] team in the league is undefeated, doing well in the Champions League. Compared to last year, his team was relegated.The year before he wasn’t playing at Augsburg. So he’s significantly increased his situation. He’s gotten much better for us. He’s established himself as a guy that’s hard to take out because he keeps performing and I think he’s in a great spot.”

USMNT player ratings: Robinson, McKennie shine in 3-0 win

• Cesar Hernandez

Nov 16, 2023, 11:49 PM ETShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions108

The U.S. men’s national team kicked off their two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series against Trinidad and Tobago with a 3-0 win in Austin, Texas.

Despite having a wealth of possession in their home leg on Thursday, the USMNT at first struggled with breaking down the visitors that fielded a defensive-minded 4-5-1 formation. Even with a one-man advantage after a red card was shown to Trinidad and Tobago’s Noah Powder in the first half, the USMNT didn’t take the lead until substitute Ricardo Pepi found the back of the net in the 82nd minute.

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Reinvigorated by breaking the deadlock, the USMNT then ramped up their pressure in the final stages. After doubling their lead in the 86th minute with a well-placed shot from Antonee Robinson, the U.S. then cemented their 3-0 result after a goal from Gio Reyna in the 89th minute.

Both sides will now meet for the second leg in Trinidad and Tobago on Nov. 20. The winners, determined by aggregate goals and with away-goals as a possible tiebreaker, will qualify for the next round of the Concacaf Nations League and for the 2024 Copa America. The losing quarterfinalists will have another opportunity to qualify for the Copa America through a single-elimination play-in match next March.

Manager rating (scale of 1-10)

Gregg Berhalter, 5 — Was it an experimental 4-2-2-2 formation? More of an unrestrained 4-2-3-1? In either situation, one can’t help but wonder if the USMNT players were asking themselves the same question in what was an unnecessarily complicated strategy to start the game. The USMNT looked far too ponderous and at times narrow in their approach, with no goals to show for the first 81 minutes.

Berhalter eventually got things right in the second half, but the improvements remained far too close to the final whistle.

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USMNT Player ratings (0-10; 10 = best; 5 = average)

GK Matt Turner, 6 — Didn’t need to do much in a game that required no saves.

DF Sergiño Dest, 6 — The PSV Eindhoven right-back provided a handful of decent crosses going forward but also had issues with winning his ground duels. That said, he improved as the game progressed.

DF Cameron Carter-Vickers, 7 — Few complaints about the central defender that worked well with Tim Ream while providing crucial defensive interventions.

DF Tim Ream, 7 — Credit to the captain that was great in the air and confident with his distribution going forward. A reliable presence alongside Carter-Vickers.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• USMNT power works after precision fails vs. Trinidad and Tobago9hJeff Carlisle
• ‘Determined’ USMNT earn Berhalter plaudits11hJeff Carlisle
• Will rebirth of Pulisic, Musah make AC Milan America’s team?11dBruce Schoenfeld

DF Antonee Robinson, 9 — Robinson was a much-needed source of energy going forward, eventually stepping up with a goal and assist in the final minutes. The most proactive player of the evening.

MF Yunus Musah, 6 — An average night for the AC Milan player that dished out a long list of passes, but not much else worth highlighting in the win.

MF Weston McKennie, 8 — Although he suffered a few hits early on in the first half, McKennie was able to maintain his composure through his decisive passes. The midfielder forced the red for Trinidad and Tobago and nearly won a penalty.

MF Malik Tillman, 5 — A lackluster performance from the player who often lost possession and had issues with his decision-making in the final third.

MF Gio Reyna, 8 — Needing time to warm up, Reyna began to pull more strings after Berhalter eventually switched him to a more central role. The goal was the icing on a cake for a much-improved second half.

MF Kevin Paredes, 6 — A quiet first USMNT start for the 20-year-old. He’ll need to have more of an influence in the attack if he wants to earn more places in the XI.

FW Folarin Balogun, 7 — Like others, Balogun didn’t seem to truly wake up until the 45 minutes. The forward did well to link-up with Reyna for his assist late into the game.

Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

FW Ricardo Pepi, 7 — Thanks to his goal, the floodgates were able to open for a USMNT side that weren’t too far from a disappointing draw.

MF Brenden Aaronson, 6 — Aaronson couldn’t seem to capitalize on his chances that immediately emerged for him shortly after subbing on. Despite this, he had brief flashes of impressive play with his dribbling and distribution.

U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM EARNS CRUCIAL 3-0 WIN AGAINST TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IN FIRST LEG OF CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINAL ROUND

GOALS FROM RICARDO PEPI, ANTONEE ROBINSON AND GIO REYNA GIVE TEAM THREE-GOAL ADVANTAGE; THE USA WILL FACE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IN THE QUARTERFINAL SECOND LEG ON NOV. 20 AT 7 P.M. ET WITH A BERTH TO THE 2024 COPA AMERICA ON THE LINE

NOVEMBER 16 2023

AUSTIN, Texas (Nov. 16, 2023) – The U.S. Men’s National Team earned a crucial 3-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago in the first leg of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal Round, which also serves as qualifying for the prestigious 2024 Copa America in the United States. Goals from forward Ricardo Pepi, midfielder Gio Reyna and defender Antonee Robinson, who was involved in all three goals, earned the team an important victory after a resilient performance in front of an electric crowd of almost 20,000 fans.The USMNT will now face Trinidad and Tobago in the away leg of the quarterfinals on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. ET at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The match will be broadcast live on TNT, Universo, MAX and Peacock. Live Spanish-language audio for the match will be available on Fútbol de Primera radio.The USA dominated the match with a whopping 75 percent possession and limited the opponents to a single shot and none on target. The tone for the night was set from the jump as the U.S. was aggressive in the attack while Trinidad and Tobago sat back with 11 players deep in their defensive third and invited the pressure, showing admirable discipline for most of the match to deny a breakthrough goal.

The hurdle for the visitors got taller in the 38^th minute when midfielder Noah Powder, who was already on a yellow card after a reckless tackle in the 18^th minute, brought down midfielder Weston McKennie aggressively from behind, earning his second caution of the night and leaving the Soca Warriors with 10 men going into the break.The U.S. came out determined in the second half, stringing together chance after chance, each time looking more likely to score. The hosts almost earned a penalty kick in the 60^th minute after an apparent foul on McKennie inside the box, but a VAR review overturned the decision.

The Americans found a fresh rhythm after Pepi and forward Brenden Aaronson came off the bench in the 66^th minute, leading to more numbers in the box and more looks on goal. The team finally found its break in the 82^nd minute as Pepi came up with a brilliant flick with the outside of his foot to finish a cross from Robinson from the left side to break the deadlock. The goal was the striker’s seventh of 2023 and fifth off the bench, extending his record of most goals by a USMNT substitute in a calendar year.The floodgates opened from there as Robinson, who assisted the opening goal minutes earlier, came up with a brilliant strike of his own as he pounced on a rebound and buried a shot from 20 yards out. The USA put its final touch on the night in the 89^th minute as Robinson played the ball to Reyna near the top of the box and he combined cleverly with forward Folarin Balogun for a one-two pass that freed Reyna of his mark for a well-placed finish from close range. 

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

USA – Ricardo Pepi (Antonee Robinson), 82^nd minute: Robinson dribbled up the left wing and sent in a cross that was deflected by a defender and landed at the feet of Gio Reyna. The attacker played it back out to the left for Robinson to send a driven cross into the box which Pepi met with a clever flick outside of the foot flick to beat the goalkeeper at the near post. USA 1, TRI 0

USA – Antonee Robinson, 86^th minute: Reyna dribbled into the box on the right side and sent a cross in which was cleared out. Robinson collected the rebound at the top of the box and fired a curling shot from 20 yards toward the left post, earning a favorable deflection off a defender before it tucked into the top corner. USA 2, TRI 0

USA – Gio Reyna (Folarin Balogun) 89^th minute: Robinson played a ball to Reyna near the top of the box and he flicked it to Balogun with clever footwork. Balogun returned the pass on his first touch, leaving Reyna unmarked to finish from the left corner of the six-yard box. USA 3, TRI 0 FINAL.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• With the win, the USA takes a 3-0 lead aggregate goals lead going into the CNL Quarterfinal Second Leg on Monday night at Trinidad at Tobago.
• The USMNT improves to 22-3-4 in 29 previous matches against Trinidad and Tobago, and 11-1-1 all-time in Concacaf Nations League play. The USMNT also moves to 10-2-5 in 2023, marking the 14^th year the team has reached double-digit victories.
• The USMNT now holds a perfect 4-0-0 record at Q2 Stadium in Austin, with all four victories coming by shutout.
• Ricardo Pepi’s 82^nd minute game-winner was his 10th career goal and seventh of 2023. The 20-year-old forward has scored five of his seven goals off the bench this year, the most by a USMNT player in a calendar year.
• Pepi (21 caps; 20 years, 311 days) becomes the second fastest USMNT player to reach double-digit goals both by caps and age. He trails Jesús Ferreira (20 caps) and Christian Pulisic (20 years, 189 days).
• Antonee Robinson provided his sixth career assist on Pepi’s goal before hitting home his third career international goal to make it 2-0 in the 86^th minute.
• Gio Reyna’s 89^th minute goal was the seventh of his international career and marked the second time he has scored in back-to-back international matches, following his brace in last month’s 4-0 win vs. Ghana.
• Starting his seventh consecutive match for the USMNT, Folarin Balogun collected his second career assist on Reyna’s goal. Balogun has three goals and two assists since debuting for the USA in June.
• The Starting XI had an average age of 24 years, 275 days. The lineup also averages 26 caps and 14 in official competition.
• With eight players under the age of 23 appearing for the USA tonight, Gregg Berhalter moved into second all-time among USMNT head coaches in terms of caps awarded to players 23 and younger with 482 in 64 matches. Bora Milutinovic holds the record, with 502 U-23 caps in his 96 matches as USMNT manager. Berhalter also improved to 41-12-12 in 65 matches as head coach.
• Twenty-year-old midfielder Yunus Musah earned his 32^nd cap, tying Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan and Christian Pulisic for the most appearances by a USMNT player before their 21^st birthday. Musah also made his 30^th start, extending his record of starts by a USMNT player before turning 21 – Donovan is second with 27 starts before his 21^st birthday.
• Full back Sergiño Dest joined Musah in making his 30^th start for the USMNT.
• Weston McKennie made his USMNT-leading 12^th Concacaf Nations League appearance. The midfielder has missed only one CNL match since the competition began in 2019, serving a one-game suspension in the 2022-23 CNL Final earlier this year against Canada.
• Forward Kevin Paredes made his first start, earned his first cap in official competition and played his first match against Concacaf opposition tonight against Trinidad and Tobago.
• Veteran defender Tim Ream captained the side one day short of the 13-year anniversary of his first cap, a 1-0 win at South Africa on Nov. 17, 2010. The USMNT is 7-1-1 in the nine matches Ream has served as captain.
• Ream anchored the same backline that worked together in the 1-0 win against IR Iran at last year’s FIFA World Cup. The veteran partnered with Cameron Carter-Vickers in central defense for the second time, while his Fulham teammate Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest were deployed in the full back positions.
• Tonight’s match was also Carter-Vickers’ first start since last year’s win against Iran.
• Matt Turner made his team-leading 12^th appearance of 2023 and moved past Arnie Mausser for sole possession of sixth all-time in caps among USMNT goalkeepers with 36 appearance. Tonight’s match was also Turner’s 17^th cap in 19 USMNT matches during FIFA international windows dating back to last September against Japan.

– U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –

Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Date: November 16, 2023
Competition: 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League – Quarterfinal, Leg One
Venue: Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas
Attendance: 19,850
Kickoff: 9:07 p.m. ET (8:07 local)
Weather: 57 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F         
USA                            0          3          3         
TRI                              0          0          0

USA – Ricardo Pepi (Antonee Robinson)      82^nd minute
USA – Antonee Robinson                                 86
USA – Gio Reyna (Folarin Balogun)                89

Lineups:
USA: 1-Matt Turner; 2-Sergiño Dest, 3-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 5-Antonee Robinson; 8-Weston McKennie, 6-Yunus Musah, 7-Gio Reyna; 17-Malik Tillman (9-Ricardo Pepi, 66) 20-Folarin Balogun, 16-Kevin Paredes (11-Brenden Aaronson, 66)
Substitutes not used: 18-Ethan Horvath, 21-Gaga Slonina, 4-Chris Richards, 10-Alex Zendejas, 12-Miles Robinson, 14-Luca de la Torre, 15-Paxten Aaronson, 19-Joe Scally, 22-Lennard Maloney, 23-Kristoffer Lund
Head coach: Gregg Berhalter

TRI: 22-Denzil Smith; 14-Shannon Gomez, 16-Alvin Jones, 2-Aubrey David (Capt.), 17-Justin Garcia, 6–Andre Raymond; 7-Ryan Telfer (15-Neveal Hackshaw, 46), 12-Daniel Phillips (23-Kristian Lee-Him, 66) 18-Andre Rampersad (4-Jesse Williams, 66) 8-Noah Powder; 19-Malcolm Shaw (11-Levi Garcia, 66)
Substitutes not used: 1-Christopher Biggette, 21-Rushon Sandy, 3-Ross Russell, 5–Michel Poon-Angeron, 9-Nathaniel James, 10-Real Gill, 13-Reon Moore, 20-Kaile Auvray
Head coach: Angus Eve

Stats Summary: USA / TRI
Shots: 26 / 1
Shots on Goal: 8 / 0
Saves: 0 / 5
Corner Kicks: 10 / 0
Fouls: 14 / 9
Offside: 2 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
TRI – Noah Powder (Caution)             18^th minute
TRI – Noah Powder (Caution)             38
TRI – Noah Powder (Ejection)            38
TRI – Neveal Hackshaw (Caution)     90+1

Officials:
Referee: Oshane Nation (JAM)                                                                                           
Assistant Referee 1: Stephanie-Dale Yee Sing (JAM)                                                         
Assistant Referee 2: Ojay Duhaney (JAM)                                                                           
4th Official: Christopher Mason (JAM)                                                                                 
VAR: Drew Fischer (CAN)                                                                                       
AVAR: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)Bud Light Man of the Match:  Antonee Robinson

Euro 2024: How teams can qualify, playoff system, draw seeds

• Dale Johnson, General Editor, ESPN FCNov 19, 2023, 04:36 PM ET
• The last round of qualifiers on the road to Euro 2024 will see the final automatic places secured, while we’ll find out the 12 countries that face playoffs in March to complete the 24-team lineup
• Twenty countries qualify, plus the hosts (Germany). That leaves three up for grabs through those playoffs — with paths created via the final positions of the 2022 UEFA Nations League.And there’s more to play for this week. The pots for the finals draw on Saturday, Dec. 2 are based upon performances in the Euro 2024 qualifying programme, so every win will be crucial.We take a look at what’s at stake in each group, how the playoffs are going to work and what the draw pots may look like.

This page will be updated throughout the final days of qualifying.

Who has qualified for the finals?

Sixteen teams have already secured safe passage to join Germany in the finals.

Qualified automatically: Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, Turkey, Austria, England, Hungary, Slovakia, Albania, Denmark, Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, Serbia

That leaves four automatic places still to be won across the final round.

There are three playoff paths through the UEFA Nations League — A, B and C.

Group A

Group A

Spain secured a place in Pot 1 with victory over Georgia on Sunday.

Scotland couldn’t get the win they needed over Austria to take a place in Pot 2, so they slot into Pot 3.

Playoffs:

Georgia are guaranteed to take part in the UEFA Nations League C playoff path.

Cyprus and Norway have been eliminated.

Group B

Remaining fixtures
Tuesday: Gibraltar vs. Netherlands, Greece vs. France

Group B

France have already won the group with a 100% record and will be in Pot 1 for the finals draw.

Netherlands finished second and they will almost certainly be in Pot 3.

Playoffs:

Greece will be seeded in the UEFA Nations League C playoffs.

Gibraltar and Republic of Ireland have been eliminated.

Group C

Remaining fixtures
Monday: North Macedonia vs. England, Ukraine vs. Italy

Group C

England have qualified as group winners and need a point vs. North Macedonia to be sure of being in Pot 1 — though their superior goal difference really means it’s going to be confirmed.

Italy will qualify with a win or draw against Ukraine (the game is being played in Germany.) So that means Ukraine need to win to qualify automatically.

Playoffs:

If Italy fail to finish in the top two, they are assured of a UEFA Nations League A playoff spot. Ukraine are now certain of a playoff, in UEFA Nations League path A or B.

North Macedonia and Malta have both been eliminated.

Group D

Remaining fixtures
Tuesday: Croatia vs. Armenia, Wales vs. Turkey

Group D

Turkey have qualified, though are not yet assured of first place — they need a win or a draw vs. Wales to secure it. If Turkey lose to Wales and Croatia beat Armenia, it will be Croatia who take top spot on head-to-head record.

With Wales drawing in Armenia on Saturday, Croatia are back in pole position after their win over Latvia. Croatia know they will avoid the playoffs if they beat Armenia.

Wales must beat Turkey and hope Croatia draw or lose. Wales hold the better head-to-head record if they finish level on points with Croatia.

Playoffs:

Croatia and Wales would both be guaranteed a UEFA Nations League A playoff.

Armenia and Latvia have been eliminated.

Group E

Remaining fixtures
Monday: Albania vs. Faroe Islands, Czechia vs. Moldova

Group E

Albania qualified with a draw against Moldova on Friday and will be in Pot 2 if they draw or win vs. Faroe Islands.

The Czechia–Moldova game is a straight battle for qualification. Moldova must win to reach the finals, while Czechia will make it with a draw or a win.

Czechia can still win the group if the beat Moldova and Albania lose to Faroe Islands.

Playoffs:

Poland are guaranteed a playoff in UEFA Nations League A.

Moldova cannot get a playoff path and must qualify automatically.

Faroe Islands have been eliminated.

Group F

Group F

Belgium won the group with their win over Azerbaijan on Sunday, and will be seeded in Pot 1.

Austria finished in second place and take the final place in Pot 2.

Playoffs:

Azerbaijan have a chance of a playoff in UEFA Nations League C.

Estonia, the top-ranked group winners from UEFA Nations League D, will get a place in the UEFA Nations League A path if fewer than four teams from that path require a playoff.

Sweden have been eliminated.

Group G

Group G

Hungary crawled over the line on Thursday with a 97th-minute equaliser giving them a 2-2 draw away to rock-bottom Bulgaria and seal their place at Euro 2024. They will be in Pot 2.

Serbia also qualified with a draw at home to Bulgaria on Sunday. They have finished second and must wait to see if they slot into Pot 3 or Pot 4.

Playoffs:

Bulgaria, Lithuania and Montenegro have been eliminated.

Group H

Remaining fixtures
Monday: Northern Ireland vs. Denmark, San Marino vs. Finland, Slovenia vs. Kazakhstan

Group H

Denmark booked their place with a win over Slovenia on Friday, have won the group and they are almost certain to be in Pot 2 in the finals draw.

Kazakhstan‘s win against San Marino on Friday means they will take automatic qualification down to the final game. Their match is away Slovenia, which is a direct battle for a place in the top two. Kazakhstan must win to qualify automatically, Slovenia will do so with a win or draw.

Playoffs:

Kazakhstan are guaranteed a UEFA Nations League C playoff.

Slovenia do not have a playoff route.

Finland will definitely take part in the playoffs, which may be in UEFA Nations League A or B.

Northern Ireland and San Marino have been eliminated.

Group I

Remaining fixtures
Tuesday: Andorra vs. Israel, Kosovo vs. Belarus, Romania vs. Switzerland

Group I

Romania and Switzerland have both qualified.

Romania need a point at home to Switzerland to secure top spot in the group and a place in Pot 2. Switzerland must win the game to take first place and get Pot 2.

If Romania-Switzerland is a draw, Romania will be in Pot 2 and Switzerland Pot 4.

If Romania win, they will be in Pot 2 and Switzerland Pot 4.

If Switzerland win, they will be in Pot 2 and Romania Pot 3 or 4.

Playoffs:

Israel will be seeded in the UEFA Nations League B playoffs.

Andorra, Belarus and Kosovo have been eliminated.

Group J

Group J

Portugal have qualified and are guaranteed to be in Pot 1 for the finals draw.

Slovakia have confirmed their place finishing second and will be in Pot 3.

Playoffs:

Luxembourg will be in the UEFA Nations League C playoffs.

Iceland have a chance of a place in the UEFA Nations League B playoff path.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will take part in the UEFA Nations League B path.

Liechtenstein have been eliminated.

Playoff system

How does it work?

There are three playoff paths to the finals, based upon the final ranking of the 2022 UEFA Nations League group stage in Leagues A, B and C.

The winners of the groups in UEFA Nations Leagues A, B and C are guaranteed a playoff, should they need it.

If a UEFA Nations League group winner qualifies for Euro 2024 automatically, the next best-ranked country in that UEFA Nations League gets a playoff.

Essentially, the four best-ranked countries in UEFA Nations Leagues A, B and C who do not qualify automatically get a playoff.

What if fewer than four teams need a playoff from one of the paths?

This is only possible for League A. If the path cannot be filled by countries from League A, the best-ranked country from League D, which is Estonia, will join the League A path. It is the only way Estonia can take part in the playoffs.

If the League path A still isn’t full, the next-best ranked team in League B will get a playoff.

Anything else?

There will be a path containing only UEFA Nations League B teams. However, if more five or more teams from League B qualify for a playoff (because of a space in League A) there will be a draw between League B non-group winners to decide which teams stay in that path, and who makes the step up to the League A playoff path.

If Italy and Croatia fail to qualify automatically they will both be in the League A path, which means one of them will miss out on Euro 2024.

Who has qualified for the playoffs?

At present, seven nations are certain to be in the playoffs.

Path A: Poland

Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel

Path A or B: Finland

Path C: Georgia, Greece, Luxembourg

What is the playoff format?

They are one-legged ties, a semifinal and a final, to be played in March 2024.

The two best-ranked teams will be at home in the semifinals, and we know for sure that Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel (B) and Georgia, Greece (C) will have home ties, while Luxembourg (C) will be away. The best-ranked will play the fourth-ranked, and the second against the third.

A draw will take place on Dec. 2 to decide the winners of which semifinal will be at home in the final.

Finals draw pots

The draw for Euro 2024 will take place at 12 pm. ET / 5 p.m. UK on Saturday, Dec. 2.

There will be four pots of six teams.

Germany will be in Pot 1 as hosts, joined by the five group winners with the best record in qualifying

Pot 2 will have the other group winners, plus the runners-up with the best record.

Pots 3 and 4 will be filled with the other group runners up, in order of points.

The three playoff winners will be in Pot 4. As the playoffs are not played until March, they will appear in the draw as Playoff A, Playoff B and Playoff C.

The teams shown below have their pot position confirmed. Other places have yet to be confirmed.

Pot 1: Germany, Portugal, France, Belgium, Spain

Pot 2: Hungary, Austria

Pot 3: Scotland, Slovakia

Pot 4: Playoff A, Playoff B, Playoff C

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

US Men Face Copa America Qualifiers vs T&T on TNT tonight 11/16 9 pm & Monday 9 pm

The US men will go into their Nations League battles tonight w/o Pulisic and Weah as the US team will look to book their place in the Copa America.  Still plenty of firepower for the US as forward Balogun and the Aaronson brothers take centerstage with 2 key wingers missing.  Still T&T is terrible and anything short of a 3-0 and maybe 2-1 result on the road would be disappointing.  Again the US MUST WIN this 2 leg battle to qualify for both the next round of Nations League and the ever important Copa America which the US host’s this summer.   

 United States Men’s roster (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 9/0), Gaga Slonina (KAS Eupen; 1/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 35/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 14/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 30/2), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 3/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 53/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 14/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 37/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 27/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 7/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 1/0),  Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 19/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 1/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 48/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 31/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 22/6), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 6/0)

FORWARDS (5): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 36/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 6/3), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 20/9), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 7/1).

Shane’s Starters tonight

Women’s Soccer is hot!

So the NWSL Final between Seattle OL Reign and NY/NJ Gothem was a fantastic show on CBS Saturday night on Big CBS – the 2-1 game (hi-lites) was a thriller,  Megan Rapinoe’s day unfortunately came to an end just 5 minutes in as she ruptured her Achilles in her last ever game.  The game went on however with the Reign scoring first before Gothem came back with 2 goals before the half.  Gothem held on despite the late game heroics needed when the Gothem GK Mandy Haught was red carded off and midfielder Nealy Martin had to dawn the gloves for the last few minutes. Just over 800K watched on CBS primetime as they battled college football at night – but still had the 2^nd largest audience to watch a NWSL game. NWSL inked a new TV deal with games on ESPN, CBS, Prime, Paramount+ and more and two new expansion teams join next year in San Fran & Utah with 2 more coming after that.

US Boys (U17 WC) Advance to Next Round Despite getting bombed by France

Got up early to watch the US boys U17s Sat morning –what a mistake.  The US got slammed 3-0 by France despite having 65% possession.  Even worse was 2 of US best players getting tossed out of the next round with 2^nd yellows and a STUPID last defender Challenge by our Captain Centerback.  Funny how watching the US play in World Cups at ALL LEVELS is so disappointing.  THE US CAN’T SCORE.  We simply can’t score.  The stupidity of the players missing the next round just sums up US Soccer.  When we play the World’s Best teams – We ALWAYS LOSE because WE CAN’T SCORE.  The US will get destroyed by Germany in the knockout rounds on Wednesday I’m sure.  Two hours of my life I can’t get back. US Soccer – disappointing at all levels. PS I have enjoyed watching the U17 World Cup overall. 

Indiana Referee in need

Our community has been given the heart-breaking news that one of our very own referees, Brian Mitchell, has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Please read the message below and consider donating to the Mitchell family as they will need our help during this very difficult journey. https://www.gofundme.com/f/friendsofbrianmitchell

Watch the US Games with The American Outlaws –Indy  at Union Jack Pub in Broadripple

GAMES ON TV

Thurs, Nov 16

2:45 pm FS1                        Liechenstien vs Portugal (Euro Quals)

7 pm                                      Colombia vs Brazil (Copa Quals)

 7 pm Telemundo         Argentina vs Uruguay (Copa Quals)

8 pm TNT, Para+        US Men vs T&T  (Copa Qualifying)

9 pm Para+                         Costa Rica vs Panama

Fri, Nov 17

1 am FS2                              Euro Qualifiers Matchnight highlights show

4 am FS2                              U17 Boys WC Senegal vs Japan

7 am FS2                              U17 Boys WC England vs Brazil

2:45 pm FS1                        England vs Malta (Euro Quals)

2:45 pm fuboTV                Poland vs Czech Republic

7 pm Para+                         Jamaica vs Canada (Copa Qualifying)

9 ppm Para+, TUDN        Honduras vs Mexico (Copa Qualifying)

Sat, Nov 18  

4 am FS2                              Mexico  vs New Zealand U17 Boys WC

4 am FS2                              Germany vs Venezuela U17 Boys WC

7 am FS1, Tele                   USA Boys vs France (U17 WC)

9 am FS1                              Armenia vs Wales (Euro Quals)

12 noon FS2                        Latvia vs Croatia

2:45 pm FS2                        Netherlands vs Ireland

Sun, Nov 19

8 am FS1                              Euro Qualifiers Matchnight highlights show

9 am FS1                              Hungary vs Montenegro (Euro Quals)

12 noon FS1                        Belgium vs Azerbaijan (Euro Quals)

3 pm FS1                              Scotland vs Norway (Euro Quals)

Mon, Nov 20  

2:45 pm fuboTV                Ukraine vs Italy

2:45 pm ?                             North Macedonia vs England

7 pm TNT, Para+        US Men vs T&T  (Copa Qualifying)

9 pm Para+                         Panama vs Costa Rica

Tues, Nov 21  

2:45 pm FS2                        Wales vs Turkey (Euro Quals)

7:30 pm Para+                   Canada vs Jamaica (Copa Qualifying)

9:30 pm Para+, TUDN     Mexico vs Honduras (Copa Qualifying)

US Men

2023 CONCACAF Nations League Quarterfinal: Scouting Trinidad and Tobago Stars and Stripes By  Brendan Joseph

USMNT Faces T&T looking ahead – Doug McIntyre Fox

Dallas-Fort Worth area to host Concacaf Nations League Finals, Copa América playoff

US Boys  U17 World Cup

Berchimas! Charlotte FC youngster vaults US into U-17 World Cup knockouts 

USYNT analysis: U-23 roster announced, U.S U-17s strong start

U.S. U-17s advance, Berchimas scores again, USMNT prepare for T&T, RBNY & Fire make news

How to Watch the U17 World Cup on Fox

US Team U17

Qualifying Europa & South America

Euro 2024: How teams can qualify, playoff system, draw seeds Dale Johnson ESPN

Brazil’s next generation not expected to fill Neymar’s role
Argentina vs. Uruguay: How much will Lionel Messi play in World Cup qualifying match?

Why Brazil’s Endrick is the ‘special one’
Trent Alexander-Arnold sets sights on Euro 2024 midfield role for England
Gareth Southgate: A lot of players are taking snus – I do not see how it can be good for you
Euro 2024 qualifiers: George Saville will carry hurt of past disappointments as he captains NI
Hungary reach Euro 2024 and starlet Yamal scores again for Spain
Hungary qualifies for Euro 2024 with own-goal in stoppage time in match marred by violence
Georgia 2-2 Scotland: Analysis
Salah scores four, Lesotho shock Nigeria in World Cup qualifying
Stubborn Palestine hold Lebanon at bay in World Cup qualifier

US Women

U.S. Soccer puts money where its mouth is with splashy Hayes hire

Hayes secured, but U.S. must play nice with Chelsea

Emma Hayes hired as USWNT head coach

NWSL expansion teams Bay FC, Utah Royals make first signings

Rapinoes final time on the field a disappointment

MLS

Analysis: Seattle, Houston, and Columbus deserving Game 3 winners

Predictions in Semi-Finals

MLS Cup – Crew ride highs and lows into Conference Semi-Finals

How to Watch the MLS Semi-Finals

Reffing

Become a Licensed High School Ref

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

Arsenal’s Arteta charged by FA over ref rant s
FA to punish clubs over managers attacking referees after Mikel Arteta charged

Goalkeeping

Gothem Goalie Mandy Haught Sent off late in Champ Game

Naeher Broke NSWL Record with this save

Great Women Goalkeepers 2023

Distance on Goal Kicks Training 

PK Tips

USMNT PREPARES FOR TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

The United States will host Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday night in Austin. The game is more than just typical Nations League stuff because it does serve as qualification for the Copa America – which the U.S. team still needs to qualify despite hosting. It’s not a great opportunity to learn about players as Trinidad & Tobago are struggling. Rather, this is just about securing results and then regrouping in March for the Nations League semifinal round which will be held in Dallas. “November turns the page and now it’s about competing,” Gregg Berhalter said. “We want to win the Nations League again, this will set us up to do this. We want to play in the Copa America, this will set us up to do this… It’s easy for us to sit here on this side and say we want to change soccer in America forever, but the real meat of it is that we have to win games like this. We have to position ourselves to win trophies in the Nations League and to compete in the Copa America.”

The big question, of course, will be the wing players given that both Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah are out. Alejando Zendejas, Kevin Paredes, Brenden Aaronson, and his younger brother Paxten Aaronson are the most likely options. There are questions about each of these players. Zendejas hasn’t had a good first ear with the U.S. team but has been playing better for Club America. The elder Aaronson is stuck with a Union Berlin team where no one is playing well. Paxten Aaronson is still young and isn’t playing regularly. Kevin Paredes has only just recently become a starter for Wolfsburg.

“Obviously, I can agree that my Gold Cup wasn’t the best, but you’ve just gotta look at the next opportunity you have,” Zendejas said. “As they say in Mexico, ‘de menos a más’. I’m looking forward to taking advantage of this opportunity. To play with my teammates and let them know what I bring to the table.” The other big question is the fitness level of Gio Reyna and how many minutes he can play. With top wing options out, he could be a useful playmaker. Berhalter said on Wednesday that there was no restriction on minutes for Reyna and there is no preplanned substitution for him. The rest of the team is mostly known. With Tyler Adams out, Yunus Musah could slide deeper into the midfield behind Weston Mckennie and likely either Reyna or Luca de la Torre. Fullbacks Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson should be able to push forward a lot and provide service to the forward, likely Folarin Balogun. If all goes according to plan, it should be an easy day for the centerbacks and Matt Turner in goal. “It was an interesting transition they have had,” Berhalter said of Trinidad & Tobago. “After the Gold Cup, they shed half their roster, basically, and said – ok, we’re starting over. You can see the hunger in this new group.”

“The feelings and connection I have for this team and for this country run deep. I’ve dreamed about coaching the USA for a long time so to get this opportunity is a dream come true. I know there is work to do to achieve our goals of winning consistently at the highest levels. To get there, it will require dedication, devotion and collaboration from the players, staff and everyone at the U.S. Soccer Federation.”

—Newest member of the U.S. Soccer Family, and Englander Abroad, Emma Hayes, on what it means to her to become USWNT head coach. For more on Hayes’ coaching journey and her thoughts on the U.S. program, watch Rog’s interview with her from 2022.

USMNT Gears Up to Face Trinidad AND Tobago:

Another international break upon us. Another chance for our boys to play two teams at once, as we prepare to face Trinidad AND Tobago in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals on Thursday in Austin, Texas (9 p.m. EST, TNT) and on Monday in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (7 p.m. EST, TNT). A chance at a CNL threepeat on the line. And another chance to exorcise the ghosts of non-qualifying demons past.

As for the squad to face T&T, Gregg’s roster for this window is 95.8333% Americans Abroad (Miles Robinson being the only MLS player), which is quite incredible. Consider that the 25-player roster that fell to the Soca Warriors on Oct. 10, 2017 had 17 MLS players on it. Making it just 32% Americans Abroad. An astounding overhaul in the six years since.

While we come into this two-legged quarterfinal on the month-old heels of a 4-0 win over Ghana, we’re going to look a bit different from the side that scored at will against the Black Stars, as three starters from that match — Christian Pulisic (25; Hershey, PA), Tim Weah  (23; Rosedale, NY) and Johnny Cardoso  (22; Denville, NJ) — are all absent from this window. The attacking formation in particular will need an overhaul, as Puli and Weah are generally locked-in starters as our wingers.

So does Gregg stay rigid, and rely on a “system” here? Or does he craft a strategy based on the players he has available? Well …

PROGRAMMING ALERT: Just moments ago, Rog dropped a special Podcast with VAMOS host Herc Gomez previewing this pair of games. LISTEN HERE. The gents talk who will step up in Puli/Timo Weah’s absence and ID the players to watch on this Soca Warriors team. And Rog will Do it Live! after tomorrow night’s game. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch it all live, and have a chance to ask your question on the Podcast.

Sergino’s Attacking Dest-iny?

With Pulisic and Weah out, one wild idea would be to move PSV’s Sergino Dest  (23; Almere, NED) up to an attacking role on Thursday. Normally a right back for the USMNT, he filled in as an attacker on occasion with AC Milan last season, and has been an absolute handful for Dutch defenses this season. Need proof? Watch this mixtape from Sunday’s 4-0 thumping of Zwolle.

Gregg could even consider starting Dest’s club mate Malik Tillman  (21; Nürnberg, GER) in the front four as well. The Bayern loanee has been sweeter than a crate of Stroopwafels this season, with five goals and two assists in all comps for PSV. And playing them together would give the pair a chance to recreate this bit of Absolute Campine Wizard Filth from the weekend. Janet Jackson levels of Nasty. Dag levels of Nasty, even.

(Note: If Ricardo Pepi  gets on the pitch with Dest and Tillman, and the PSV trio combines for a goal, last one to shout “Holland Tunnel!” at the TV has to pound a beer. We don’t make the rules. But we do abide by them.)

USMNT ‘focused’ ahead of Nations League title defense

• Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff Writer Nov 15, 2023, 03:34 PM ET

After two windows of international friendlies, the United States men’s team shifts attention back to competitive matches this week to defend its Concacaf Nations League title and attempt to qualify for next year’s Copa America. “November turns the page and now it’s about competing,” coach Gregg Berhalter said Wednesday. “We want to win the Nations League again. This will set us up to do this. We want to play in the Copa America. This will set us up to do that. So the guys are focused.”

The U.S. hosts Trinidad and Tobago Thursday in Austin, Texas (9 p.m. ET, TNT), before the teams play again Monday in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The winner of the aggregate series qualifies for the 2024 Copa America in the U.S., while the loser will drop down and play a second home-and-away series against another Concacaf team to be determined to qualify for the 16-team tournament.All 10 CONMEBOL teams will participate, with the other six other teams coming from Concacaf. Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Timothy Weah (Juventus) and Tyler Adams (Bournemouth) will all be unavailable due to injury, with Adams the only of those three expected to be out long term. Monday’s return trip to Trinidad and Tobago will be the team’s first visit to the Caribbean nation since losing in 2017 to miss out on the 2018 World Cup. While the team has almost completely turned over since then, Berhalter said the defeat is “always still in our minds.” “Just like we can embrace the good stuff, we also have to embrace the bad stuff and it was a great learning moment for us collectively,” Berhalter said of the 2-1 loss in Couva that saw the Americans fail to make the finals in Russia. “The coaches involved, the players involved and, in my opinion, it’s not about ignoring that, it’s about embracing it and leaning into it.”And we talk about preparation in this camp, some of it stems from lessons learned in that camp as well.”

The U.S. has won all three matches against Trinidad and Tobago since 2017 by a combined score of 19-0, including a 6-0 win this summer in the Gold Cup, as Jesús Ferreira scored a first-half hat trick.Trinidad and Tobago qualified for this quarterfinal round of the Nations League after finishing second in its group behind Panama. The U.S., Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica all bypassed the prior round directly to the quarterfinals.Berhalter also addressed U.S. Soccer’s official announcement that it had hired Emma Hayes as the women’s national team coach, with a reported salary that will make her the highest-paid women’s coach in the world.”Everything you hear about her is how thorough she is, how process-oriented [she is], it’s how bright she is, how she’s so focused on team culture and teamwork,” Berhalter said. “And I think it’s an exciting step for the women’s team, which has already been a groundbreaking team and already been a team that has been — performance on the field, breaking down barriers off the field, you name it, they’ve done it.”

Emma Hayes deserves equal pay with Gregg Berhalter – this is why

By Nancy Froston Nov 15, 2023

If you do not think that Emma Hayes deserves to be paid the same as Gregg Berhalter in their roles as the head coaches of the U.S. women’s and U.S. men’s national teams respectively, then this article probably will not change your mind. In fact, you may as well dive straight into the comments.

Writing this is actually quite tedious because it is, effectively, just stating the blindingly obvious. Hayes deserves to be the highest-paid coach in women’s football because she is one of the best in the business, taking on the biggest job at the most successful national team in the women’s game.

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Hayes was announced as USWNT coach on Tuesday after the news in early November that this would be her final season at Women’s Super League side Chelsea, where she has been manager for 11 years and has won 15 trophies. The line in the club’s statement that the 47-year-old would be leaving “to pursue a new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football” did not need much decoding to work out that she was bound for the U.S.Now official, the intriguing details of her pay — and the fact that it is commensurate with USMNT head coach Berhalter — reveal this to be a landmark moment in the sport.

Hayes and Berhalter are effectively doing the same job and so deserve similar pay, with the added context being the fact that Hayes will manage a far more successful team. She has higher status within the women’s game than Berhalter has within the men’s and, as such, equal pay becomes difficult for even staunch opponents to argue against.

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It is a move that matters in the same way that the men’s and women’s players achieving equal pay to represent their country does — it is symbolic but reflective of one national team being four World Cup wins better than their male counterparts.But do not expect this to mean there will always be equal pay between the two positions. It would be naive to think that the same terms would apply if Berhalter left in a year’s time and the U.S. Soccer Federation, in purely hypothetical terms, managed to hire Pep Guardiola for the USMNT position. In that case, Guardiola’s market value would be such that his salary would, by necessity, be higher than Hayes’.

These are specific and unique circumstances based on the status of Hayes and Berhalter and their two national teams, which is why there has been a salary jump for the USWNT role since Vlatko Andonovski was in post.National team football is not like club football, either, so it would be optimistic to expect to see equal pay between managers or players sweeping through the game from now on. And broadly speaking, that is OK, given the disparity in finances between men’s and women’s football.There is also a recognition that the USWNT remains something of an outlier within the sport.

“The U.S. are in a special situation because the women’s team have been much more successful than the men’s team,” Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norway Football Association, told The Athletic. “They have been more successful commercially, and also filled the stadiums. And so they have to pay their way. The rest of us, like Norway, we haven’t qualified with the men’s team. So we don’t have that money. Very few countries can, in the way the U.S. have done it. It’s very unusual.”Klaveness believes the terms offered to Hayes are “very important and timely”, but is also conscious that some of the repercussions may not be helpful.“The problem for other federations would be the inflation,” she said. “Because what about the assistant coach, for example? It will push some of the rest of us to lift, maybe, to the same or escalate. It has to be some of the big, big flagships doing it, because they have the investments to do it.”In the meantime, what players and managers would most often like when it comes to equality is fair access to resources, facilities and the bonuses or pay they were promised.It is why the Jamaica women’s national team did not report for their Gold Cup qualifiers against Panama and Guatemala last month despite reaching the World Cup round of 16 against the odds after crowdfunding their way to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. They did so because they were waiting for their bonuses from the tournament, as well as clarity about the coaching staff, medical staff and more.

As always in women’s football, the situation is more complex than a simple headline about equal pay would have you believe. No two managers, no two clubs and no two national federations are the same and so, as she has been many times before in her career, Hayes is an outlier.She deserves equal pay, as do women in millions of jobs around the world, but all too often sport has a different standard that requires us to excel just to be considered equal. One day, the gap will close in all roles on the men’s and women’s sides of the game but, for now, Hayes’ appointment is the next baby-step towards that future.Nancy Froston is a n EFL Correspondent for The Athletic who covers the EFL. She previously reported on Sheffield Wednesday for the city’s newspaper, The Star, and is a keen follower of women’s football. Follow Nancy on Twitter @nancyfroston

Brenden and Paxten Aaronson celebrate being on the USMNT together for the first time

The Medford-born brothers and Union alumni have waited a long time to be on the same soccer team. Now, they’re teammates on the United States’ biggest team of all.

AUSTIN, Texas — It’s far enough here from Medford, N.J., where Brenden and Paxten Aaronson grew up; and from Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany, the cities they currently call home.But in the soccer world, you take moments whenever — and wherever — they come. So here they were, a long way from a lot of places but sharing the same table at their first U.S. men’s soccer team camp together.As soccer’s growth in Philadelphia hits even more milestones, put this down as one of them — and know they feel it as much as everyone back home who’s cheered them on.Because both brothers are in Germany now, they see each other often enough instead of only being able to talk via video chat. They got to play against each other for the first time earlier this month when Brenden’s Union Berlin hosted Paxten’s Eintracht Frankfurt, both second-half substitutes in Frankfurt’s 3-0 win.

» READ MORE: Brothers Brenden and Paxten Aaronson called up by USMNT together for first time

They’ve played against each other often, in fact, going back to their childhood clattering around the family home’s basement. But they’ve rarely gotten to play with each other. Though both players grew up in the Union’s ranks and played for the club in MLS, now-23-year-old Brenden moved on to Europe just before 20-year-old Paxten reached the first team.“The first thing that comes to mind is that it’s really cool, it’s amazing — but it’s also sometimes weird really seeing him,” Brenden said, with Paxten across that table and this reporter at the end.“We trained together in Philly,” he continued, “but now it’s the first time, really, that we’ve been training at the national team [level], and that’s the highest thing.”A moment later, Paxten amended the record on the old days: “We trained together for, like, a week.”

Growing into the big time

They’ve so rarely been teammates that Paxten noticed when he and Brenden were on the same side in an intrasquad scrimmage session Tuesday morning.“I played him through three times,” he said. “Like he said, it’s just weird when I am driving at the back line and I see him on the left, trying to slip him through.”

» READ MORE: Brenden Aaronson talks about life at Union Berlin

It’s also worth reflecting on one notable way where their paths differed. When Brenden turned pro with the Union in 2018, he backed out of a college commitment to the University of Indiana to do it. Everyone knew at the time it was the right move, but it still was a choice.By the time Paxten turned pro two summers later, there was no question about college. He went straight up from the Union’s academy, no questions asked.“I think the Union were just ahead of [their] time,” Brenden said. “Now you’re seeing the whole country kind of catching up to the Union and the academy and the way it works. Now you’re seeing so many young players playing in MLS and seeing the thing that I did, that they’re trying to push to go to Europe. And some guys are staying here and making a big name here.”It would be another sight if they share the field during the United States’ Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series against Trinidad and Tobago. It starts Thursday at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium (9 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62, Universo, Max, Peacock), then finishes Monday with the Soca Warriors’ home game (7 p.m., TNT, Universo, Max, Peacock).But this is a business trip, since the series doubles as qualifying for next summer’s big Copa América tournament that the U.S. is guest-hosting. So results come first, then style.

» READ MORE: Brenden Aaronson on playing against Paxten in Germany

Olympics coming, too

Brenden could have a big role in the series since star wingers Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah are out injured. His ability to play on either wing or centrally means he’s a natural pick to fill in for one of the absentees.Paxten’s role might not be big because he’s down the depth chart. His ticket for next summer is likely to be the Olympics with the under-23 squad, a group that could include former Union teammates Jack McGlynn and Nathan Harriel.He admitted he was “a little bit surprised” to be called up to the big squad, but he’s going to try to make the most of it before going back to the under-23s.“Hopefully, I can make the Olympic team at the end of the day,” Paxten said. “I think it’d be really cool to go to the Olympics.”The rest of the U.S. team knows how special this moment is, as the Aaronsons are just the ninth set of brothers to play for the senior U.S. men’s team. Veteran centerback Chris Richards relayed that striker Folarin Balogun didn’t know they were related, which led to a polite roasting.“He just thought they had the same last name,” Richards said. “I was like, ‘Bro, they look exactly the same, sound the same, play the exact same.’”

» READ MORE: Jack McGlynn has hit the heights he and the Union hoped for, and now can rise even higher

To a veteran eye, they don’t look exactly the same anymore. (For one thing, Brenden got a haircut recently.) But Richards, an Alabama native, certainly got the rest right.

Planning a homecoming

The brothers haven’t been back to Medford since last summer, though their wait will end next month when the Bundesliga takes its winter break. They’ve seen their family some along the way, including father Rusty last month when he watched Brenden play for the senior U.S. men vs. Germany in Connecticut, then flew to Arizona watch Paxten play for the under-23s vs. Japan. It’s a family business now, literally and figuratively. Rusty runs soccer facilities in and around Medford, and his youngest child, daughter Jaden, is a junior at Shawnee High who has orally committed to Villanova. Rusty and his wife, Janell, will be in the stands at Thursday’s game, along with Brenden and Paxten’s girlfriends. Jaden, unfortunately, has to miss out for school.

» READ MORE: Brenden Aaronson’s girlfriend, Milana D’Ambra, is Kixx legend Don D’Ambra’s daughter and a former player at Temple

WHAT IS IN THE AARONSON BLOOD??!!

Incredible goal, Jaden!!! https://t.co/chq89EPLS2— X – Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) October 6, 2022

The brothers know they play not just for themselves and their family, but for the city they call theirs — and that has embraced them in turn. They’ll be back home soon enough, and not just to visit the Shore and bang the Union’s pregame drum at Subaru Park. Someday, they’ll get the biggest homecoming of all, a U.S. game at Lincoln Financial Field. “I think it’s really unique, especially when I was back in the summer and I got to go to the Union game, just seeing all the fans embrace [his return] and just seeing how cool it is that they still follow the journey,” Paxten said of his turn on the drum this past June. Brenden’s turn came the June before. (The Union’s record in those games: 2-0.) “I think humbling is the first thing that comes to mind for the both of us,” Paxten added. “Just being two kids that grew up in New Jersey, but had the opportunity to go play for Philadelphia in the academy, and just worked our way up through everything — through Bethlehem Steel [the Union’s former reserve team], through Union II, then through the first team. The club and the city kind of guided us and helped us with everything.”

USMNT Player Tracker: Dest irrepressible, solid Trusty and Reynolds eyes Olympics

By Greg O’KeeffeNov 13, 2023

From the supremely confident revival of Sergino Dest and Weston McKennie’s glowing report card to another unbeaten weekend for Auston Trusty — welcome to this week’s instalment of the USMNT Player Tracker.Each week, we will be bringing you updates on the United States players plying their trade in various leagues around Europe. With the Copa America next year, and a World Cup on home soil on the horizon, we’re keeping tabs on how they perform every weekend.

Issue of the weekend

The maelstrom of rumour that perpetually rages around Barcelona produced a curious one back in August. The Catalan club, so the gossip went, were considering terminating Dest’s contract.The suggestion was that, with their complex financial headache still throbbing, Barcelona felt that removing the full-back’s wages off their books made sense after his failure to impress on loan in AC Milan last term.Taking a step back, that rumour always felt dubious. Would they have entertained bids for him? Probably. But even a dearth of clubs willing to put money on the table for a permanent move was not realistically enough for Barcelona to stomach paying off the final year of his contract while taking a hit on a chunk of the £18million ($22m) they paid to sign him from Ajax in 2020.Even if Xavi just did not spy enough growth in a player who managed 14 appearances in all competitions for the Rossoneri, releasing him from his contract did not make much sense.he solution was to find another loan that could revive the 23-year-old’s fortunes and inflate his value. Fast forward a few months and the plan looks like it is coming together nicely.Also progressing nicely is the renewed belief, form and experience of a player to whom Gregg Berhalter can look as an important mainstay in his young, attacking team.Before getting too carried away, even the player’s biggest supporters can acknowledge that his supercharged loan at PSV Eindhoven comes in a league ranked two places below Italy’s Serie A in UEFA’s rankingsBut there is no denying the quality of his play for a team who have won all 12 of their Eredivisie games this term and sit comfortably top of the table.In their latest victory, the 4-0 win against PEC Zwolle on Sunday, Dest ran riot causing the opposition constant problems with his pace, energy and invention from left-back — he has started there in the league more than his traditional right-back berth.The highlight, especially for a player who idolised Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho as a child, was a deft no-look pass to set up USMNT team-mate Malik Tillman’s goal.His 100 per cent successful dribble rate (three out of three) stood out and defensively, Dest was on point: he won 86 per cent of his ground duels.Manager Peter Bosz was impressed. “He has extraordinary qualities when he has the ball,” he said. “Just look at the no-look assist. He is a versatile player who can occupy both the full-back spots. We help him improve as a defender.”

Dest is thriving on loan at PSV (NESimages/Raymond Smit/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

It might be easier to shine in an all-conquering team than in the pressure of San Siro, but Dest’s consistency and flexibility can only be positives for club(s) and country. To top it all off, PSV’s chances of progressing from the Champions League group stages remain decent.Dest has started each of those European games, including last week’s 1-0 win against Lens, notching more top-level experience along the way and restoring his self-belief after that difficult season on the fringes.

Player of the weekend

Hot on the heels of helping Sheffield United to their first win of the season, Auston Trusty ensured the green shoots of recovery underwent another growth spurt with a commendable point at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.The 25-year-old defender dealt with most of what the hosts’ formidable attack could throw at him and his team-mates in the 1-1 draw.Trusty had to face Barcelona prodigy Ansu Fati, Karou Mitoma and the pace and energy of Joao Pedro, but managed to contain Brighton — in truth, partly down to their own wastefulness and a red card for the hosts’ midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud.

Trusty has played a part in Sheffield United’s mini revival (David Horton – CameraSport via Getty Images)

His defensive stats were solid — he won both of his two tackles, made four ball recoveries and won three of four aerial duels — and on the ball, he linked up smoothly with left wing-back Luke Thomas.

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With fellow strugglers Bournemouth and Burnley next up for Sheffield United, dependable Trusty could help his side move away from the relegation zone if they can maintain their newfound resilience.

Quote of the weekend

“Wes is having a good season,” said Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri after yet another impressive performance from McKennie for the Serie A giants as they maintained the pressure on league leaders Inter Milan with a 2-1 home win over Caligari on Sunday. “He is maturing, too, after the experience on loan (at Leeds).

“He has physical strength that helps cover for a few technical errors, but when running into space, he can be devastating. I told him at the start of the season that this was a very important year for him. He would be a wing-back and so he had to run back and forth. He put himself at our disposal.”

McKennie has learned from a difficult stint at Elland Road (Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)

There is undoubtedly more to McKennie’s tactical remit this term than running back and forth, but the dynamo certainly does a lot of that in his selfless performances.

The manager’s honesty over areas where McKennie can improve technically bodes well, too. After the disappointment of his Premier League spell with Leeds last term, he is learning fast at a high level under an exacting coach.

Graphic of the weekend

On Monday morning, U.S. Soccer announced the roster for its November pre-Olympics training camp. The under-23s squad comprises 20 players, eight of whom are with European clubs. A few of that octet have already appeared for the senior national team, including right-back Bryan Reynolds.

Nearly three years have passed since Reynolds left boyhood club FC Dallas to join Roma. He made just six Serie A appearances for the club, however, and instead spent 18 months loaned out to Belgium, first at Kortrijk and then Westerlo, whom he joined for £3m over the summer.

He was a regular starter as Westerlo finished seventh, their first campaign back in the top flight since 2017, and this year, his form indicates a wide defender who is doing more to progress play down the flank. He notched his second assist of the league campaign last Friday, supplying Westerlo’s first goal in a hard-fought 3-3 draw against Sint-Truiden.

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The uptick in progressive passes and progressive receptions (balls that travel at least 10 yards closer to the opponent’s goal) is indicative of a shift from playing as a full-back to more of a wing-back role, taking greater initiative in build-up play and working to get the ball closer to the goal when dribbling.

He isn’t limited to crossing, either, as he has nearly doubled his box entries with the ball at his feet. With seven senior caps to his name already, he would be among the headliners if he’s part of the final Olympic roster.

The other squad members playing abroad are defenders Jonathan Tomkinson (Bradford City, on loan from Norwich City) and Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Furth); midfielders Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann (both Venezia); and forwards Agustin Anello (Sparta Rotterdam), Taylor Booth (Utrecht) and Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig).

Jeff Rueter

How did other U.S. players get on?

Name: Joe Scally
Club: Borussia Monchengladbach
Position: Centre-back
League appearances: 11
Goals: One

There was an exceptional performance from Scally as his side bagged an emphatic 4-0 win against Wolfsburg on Friday.

He contributed an assist for Alassane Plea to score the hosts’ fourth of the day, made four passes into the final third from defence and put in a near-flawless defensive shift with six ball recoveries and seven successful duels.

Scally competes for possession with Wolfsburg’s Jakub Kaminski (Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Name: Giovanni Reyna
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Midfielder
League appearances: Four

Another week without a start, but there were 30 minutes in the bank for Reyna in Dortmund’s 2-1 defeat away at Stuttgart at the weekend.

It was a difficult afternoon for the visitors, but Reyna did not lack application or spirit with three passes into the final third and three ball recoveries as he tried to make his mark.

Name: Brenden Aaronson
Club: Union Berlin
Position: Midfield
League appearances: Eight

A tough game on the road for Aaronson as Union were beaten comprehensively 4-0 at Bayer Leverkusen.

His side only had 31 per cent possession and it tells in the individual numbers. In his 26 minutes from the bench, the USMNT player managed just 11 touches and six passes (which were, at least, all accurate).

What’s coming up?

Scally and Jordan Pefok are back out for Gladbach on November 25, after the international window, in a big game against Reyna’s Dortmund (9:30am ET, ESPN+).

Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic could return for Milan alongside Yunus Musah as they face Fiorentina on that same Saturday (2:45pm ET, Paramount+).

The following day, McKennie and, if he recovers from a hamstring problem, Timothy Weah will try to help Juventus topple Inter and take top spot in Serie A’s game of the weekend (2:45pm ET, Paramount+). (Top photos: Getty Images)

Emma Hayes’ hiring by the USWNT is official, as is how much she wanted the job

Jonathan Tannenwald

I’m the Inquirer’s soccer reporter, covering the Union, MLS, the NWSL, the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams, and Philadelphia’s place in the world’s game. I also pitch in with coverage of college basketball and the WNBA.

“The feelings and connection I have for this team and for this country run deep,” said the England native who made her coaching name in the United States in the 2000s.

The U.S. women’s soccer team’s hiring of Emma Hayes as its next manager became official on Tuesday, and while not every factor in the move is settled yet, one big one is.For the last few months, there was much behind-the-scenes chatter that Hayes wanted to return to the country where she made her coaching name. Now she has said it aloud and with gusto.“This is a huge honor to be given the opportunity to coach the most incredible team in world football history,” Hayes said in remarks to the U.S. Soccer Federation’s website. “No one ever knows what the right time is in life for anything, but it’s the feeling I have for this team and for a country that I have a great connection with and a history with. I’ve dreamed about doing this job from my days as a coach in my early [20s].”And she added for emphasis: “You can’t turn the U.S. women’s national team down.”Her connection with this country indeed is that deep. Hayes moved from her native England to the United States in 2001 to begin her coaching career with the amateur Long Island Lady Riders from 2001 to 2003. She then took over the Iona College women’s program from 2003 to 2006.After a two-year return to England to serve as an Arsenal assistant, Hayes crossed the pond again to become the manager of the Chicago Red Stars in Women’s Professional Soccer, which preceded the National Women’s Soccer League. In 1½ seasons there, her players included Carli Lloyd, Kate Markgraf, a rookie Megan Rapinoe, Brazil’s Formiga, and Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani.

» READ MORE: Why the USWNT hiring Emma Hayes is good news.

Following her exit in Chicago, Hayes did consulting work for the former Western New York Flash and Washington Freedom, then got the Chelsea job in 2012. She has held it ever since. But she has remained connected to the American scene, regularly visiting these shores for games and the annual United Soccer Coaches convention.“I’ve got so many fond memories of turning up in Long Island with a backpack and a thousand dollars and working for clubs across the whole of Long Island and Westchester and New York City,” Hayes said.Now age 47, Hayes also has brought three marquee American players to Chelsea over the years: Crystal Dunn in 2017 and Mia Fishel and Catarina Macario this year.

» READ MORE: The USWNT’s long era of success is over, but a new one could be on the horizon

An open secret

It’s worth looking back to the moment a few months ago when word started going around that Hayes wanted the job — though not until she’d won the Champions League with Chelsea. The grandest prize in European club soccer is the only major title she hasn’t yet brought to the blue quarter of London.When Vlatko Andonovski departed after the U.S. crashed out of the World Cup in August, Hayes was in Australia as a studio analyst for England’s ITV. A few days before the final, she was a speaker at FIFA’s Women’s Football Convention. After her session, she met with a pack of English and American reporters — and an elephant in the room.“I suspected that question would come up,” Hayes said. “I’m very happy here at Chelsea, I’ve made that clear. I’ve been there for 11 years; it’s my home. I think the U.S. has wonderful players and perhaps the tournament didn’t go the way they wanted, but my focus is on getting home and preparing Chelsea for the start of the season.”It didn’t feel like a flat-out “no” at the time, and it feels like even less of one now.Still, there was genuine belief that she’d stay at Chelsea. So it was surprising when the club announced earlier this month that she’d leave after the season.It took barely an hour to connect the dots.“Her passion for the game, her coaching acumen, her ability to galvanize players and staff, her dedication to continue to evolve as a coach and her qualities as a person are all incredibly impressive,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said Tuesday in a statement. “She has a great appreciation for the legacy of this program and embraces the big challenges ahead.”Hayes praised Crocker in turn for the rigor of his work.“It was an extraordinary interview process that made me really think hard about who I am, what my teams are about, and the importance of the things that really, really matter if you’re going to compete at the highest level,” Hayes said. “Most importantly, it showed how serious the U.S. [is] in getting things right both on and off the pitch so that the team can compete on all fronts for every trophy.”

» READ MORE: The USWNT’s salvation lies in youth development. Will the status quo stop it?

Equal pay with Berhalter could happen

It helped that Crocker had U.S. Soccer’s backing to go to a place it and much of the sport have never gone to before. Hayes “will become the highest-paid women’s soccer coach in the world,” the announcement said, and that could mean pay equity with U.S. men’s manager Gregg Berhalter.A source with knowledge of the matter told The Inquirer earlier this month that plans are in the works to make that happen, though it’s not known exactly what the number will be. And it won’t be known for a while because the salaries are only disclosed retroactively in U.S. Soccer’s annual tax documents. (They become public because U.S. Soccer is a nonprofit entity.)

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It also matters that Hayes isn’t going to take the job full time until May. Current interim manager Twila Kilgore will continue in that role until then, a span that includes a two-game friendly series against China next month, the Concacaf women’s Gold Cup in February and March, and another friendly window in April.Hayes will have four games on the bench before the U.S. heads to Paris for next summer’s Olympics, two games in June and two games in July. The Athletic reported that Hayes will not work with the Americans in the interim national team windows.“This is a unique situation, but the team is in safe hands with Twila,” Crocker said. “Her stewardship will be crucial during this period as we are focused on success at the Olympics. Emma has endorsed Twila, she will be a key part of Emma’s staff when she arrives and moving forward, and we are excited for what’s to come with our USWNT program.”The U.S. women’s team isn’t used to waiting for a manager it wants. Nor is it used to playing second fiddle to anyone, whether another national team or a club.But it believes the wait will be worth it for someone whose coaching resumé is as good as it gets: five English women’s Super League titles, five FA Cups, and reaching the 2021 Champions League final amid three semifinals. Hayes also won FIFA’s best women’s coach of the year award in 2021.Now to see if the personal touch of her past American experience will be the final puzzle piece.“I understand how important this team is to the people and culture of the United States, not just the soccer community,” Hayes said. “I fully understand the place this team has in U.S. society. I’ve lived it.”

Copa America 2024: Everything we (don’t) know

Max Mathews and Ed Mackey Nov 16, 2023

As of Monday, November 20, it will be exactly seven months — 213 days — until the 2024 Copa America.Next summer’s tournament is the latest iteration of the quadrennial competition that usually sees the likes of Brazil and Argentina go head-to-head in South America for a prestigious trophy, while displaying the continent’s richness and depth of talent.This time around, things are slightly different, and the build-up has been marred by so many basic questions remaining unanswered: What stadiums will host matches? How much will tickets cost for fans? And why the delay?The Athletic is on hand to explain what we know and what we don’t ahead of next year.

When will the tournament be?

The only dates to have been announced are those of the first game and the final.The 2024 Copa America kicks off with the opening match on Thursday, June 20 and it concludes 25 days later on Sunday, July 14.Other than that? It’s a mystery for now.

Which country is hosting it?

Perhaps surprisingly, the United States is the host country, despite the tournament typically being made up of South American sides and hosted on the continent.The USMNT, however, are one of six teams from CONCACAF (the governing body for Central American, North American and Caribbean football) who can qualify for the 16-team tournament via the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League. Despite being hosts, they do not qualify automatically, unlike they did at the U.S.-hosted Copa America Centenario — a special edition in 2016 that marked 100 years of the tournament. That was also the first and only previous time a non-South American country hosted the tournament.The other 10 sides will be the 10 represented by CONMEBOL (South American football’s governing body). They are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.*Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are in South America but are affiliated with CONCACAF.

Why is the U.S. hosting a tournament for South American teams?

From 1916 to 1975, the Copa America was known as the Campeonato Sudamericano de Futbol (South American Football Championship) and is a tournament organised by CONMEBOL.Why can North America’s most populous country host and play in that tournament, I hear you ask. And it’s a valid question. The answer is best broken down into a few parts.Despite one of CONMEBOL’s member federations, Argentina, being World Cup holders, off-field governance in South America has caused problems. A myriad of political issues across the continent makes it a challenge to select a suitable host.

South America has the world champions, but competent Copa America hosts are not forthcoming (Photo: ANP via Getty Images)

The Copa America has been rotated across its 10 member federations since 1984 and it was identified that next year’s tournament would be in Ecuador. But, last November, they declined the option.The U.S. and Peru were the two nations to express interest in replacing them and, in January, CONMEBOL announced that the U.S. would host it as part of the freshly signed strategic collaboration between them and CONCACAF.The ability to host a major tournament at short notice and the responsibilities of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico were key considerations. Fortunately, the U.S. is starting from a stronger base than most other countries as they have known for five years that they will be co-hosting the 2026 World Cup and have an array of large-capacity stadiums to choose from.

Has the U.S. competed in the tournament before?

Yes, they have experience of playing in, and hosting, Copa America.They have competed in four editions: 1993, 1995, 2007 and 2016, hosting the latter and finishing fourth.The involvement of guest countries has been a common theme of the last 30 years, with only 10 member nations making up CONMEBOL. Mexico has been invited to participate the most, with 10 Copa America appearances under their belts, then Costa Rica (5), the U.S. (4), Jamaica and Japan (twice each), then Honduras, Haiti, Panama and Qatar (all once each).

In which cities will matches be played?

Who knows? The host cities and venues have not been announced despite the above dates being publicly confirmed more than three months ago. At the time, CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani outlined plans for more information, including host cities, to be announced this fall. Technically, it’s not winter until December 21, but time is ticking.That said, there is likely to be significant crossover with the stadiums being used for the 2026 World Cup.The 11 U.S. venues announced for that are:

• AT&T Stadium (Dallas)
• MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey)
• Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• NRG Stadium (Houston)
• Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area)
• SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles)
• Gillette Stadium (Boston)
• Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
• Lumen Field (Seattle)
• Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)

How will the tournament work?

All we have at the moment are broad brushstrokes rather than specifics. The 16 teams will be split into four groups of four, with one team from each of the four pots in each group.The top two sides in each group will then progress to the knockout stages, starting with the quarter-finals.

When are we going to find out more?

That is the million-dollar question as fans wanting to go to matches and sort their travel arrangements lose patience.The group-stage draw is currently set to happen at the James L. Knight Center in Miami on Thursday, December 7, at 7.30pm ET/4.30pm PT/12.30am GMT in the early hours of Friday morning for those in the UK.Teams will be seeded according to the FIFA rankings as of November/December 2023.

How does qualification work?

The six CONCACAF teams will have to earn their place.The 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League has reached the quarter-final stage with two teams left to be confirmed.Due to their ranking positions, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico and the U.S. were given byes to the last eight where they have been joined by Jamaica, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.The four quarter-final winners will secure qualification to Copa America. The four losing teams will drop into a play-in round which will follow the knockout format. The winners of the two play-off ties will qualify for Copa America.

The quarter-finals are:

• Costa Rica vs Panama (first leg Nov. 16, second leg Nov. 20)
• Jamaica vs Canada (first leg Nov. 17, second leg Nov. 21)
• United States vs Trinidad and Tobago (first leg Nov. 16, second leg Nov. 20)
• Honduras vs Mexico (first leg Nov. 17, second leg Nov. 21)

So why the delay?

It’s a good question without a clear answer. The World Cup may be diverting attention, but that tournament is two and a half years away, so planning is surely not yet in the urgent stages or requiring a huge amount of resources or attention at the moment.The fact the footballing infrastructure is already in place also means it is puzzling why things have taken so long so far.

What about the women’s competition?

There will be a new tournament, called the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, the inaugural 2024 version played from February 20-March 10 next year.12 teams will contest the competition, with eight from CONCACAF and the top four from CONMEBOL invited to join them. Again, the United States will host it. The two CONCACAF teams who will compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (USWNT and Canada or Jamaica) qualify for the W Gold Cup, with the other six CONCACAF teams decided via the 2023 Road to CONCACAF W Gold Cup.And the four guest CONMEBOL teams have already been chosen according to the 2022 Women’s Copa America results: champions Brazil, runner-up Colombia, plus Argentina and Paraguay, who finished third and fourth respectively.

Anything else?

Yes. The winners of the men’s Copa America tournament will face the winners of the 2024 European Championship in the 2025 CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions.Intriguingly, it has also been reported that the two federations are organising a ‘final four’-type tournament with two clubs from each federation, qualifying via existing CONCACAF and CONMEBOL competitions.That could see sides like Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC, Boca Juniors and Palmeiras facing off for the (unofficial) title ‘King of the Americas’.The first such competition could be played in 2024, though probably in the latter stages of the calendar year.

Who are the most recent winners of the Copa America?

Argentina are the reigning Copa America champions – having won the tournament in 2021 before then going on to World Cup glory in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.Led by Lionel Messi, they beat Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final thanks to a brilliant goal from Angel Di Maria, ending their 28-year wait for a major trophy.As a result of winning Copa America, they faced European champions Italy in the 2022 Finalissima at Wembley and won 3-0; Lautaro Martinez, Di Maria and Paulo Dybala were the scorers.

Here are the teams that have won Copa America most:

• Argentina – 15 (1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993, 2021)
• Uruguay – 15 (1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011)
• Brazil – 9 (1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2019)
• Paraguay – 2 (1953, 1979)
• Chile – 2 (2015, 2016)
• Peru – 2 (1939, 1975)
• Bolivia – 1 (1963)
• Colombia – 1 (2001)

(Top photo: Gustavo Ortiz/Jam Media/Getty Images)

Next up: Conference Semifinals in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Round One Best-of-3 series winners have their matchup locked in – Eastern Conference Semifinals are played on Saturday, Nov. 25, while Western Conference Semifinals are played on Sunday, Nov. 26. When matches resume following the FIFA international break, single-elimination returns and there’s extra-time/PKs (if needed). The four winners reach the Conference Finals on Dec. 2-3, building towards MLS Cup presented by Audi on Dec. 9. As always, matches can be viewed via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

• Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs bracket
• Playoffs 101: What should you know?
• MLS Cup 2023 hosting scenarios

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Orlando City SC (2) vs. Columbus Crew (3)

• When: Saturday, Nov. 25 | 5:30 pm ET
• Watch: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass
• Where: Exploria Stadium | Orlando, Florida

Orlando completed a Round One sweep of Nashville SC (No. 7), as goals from Wilder Cartagena and Iván Angulo powered two separate 1-0 victories and goalkeeper Pedro Gallese posted back-to-back shutouts. The Lions also made the Conference Semifinals in 2020, starting their rise under head coach Óscar Pareja.

Columbus outlasted Atlanta in their Round One series, cruising to a 4-2 home victory in Match 3. With Diego Rossi and Cucho Hernández the focal points, the Crew boast a high-flying attack in their first year under head coach Wilfried Nancy. They do have backline vulnerabilities, though.

FC Cincinnati (1) vs. Philadelphia Union (4)

• When: Saturday, Nov. 25 | 8 pm ET
• Watch: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass
• Where: TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio

FC Cincinnati, after sweeping New York Red Bulls (No. 8) in Round One, are three games away from becoming the league’s ninth Supporters’ Shield-MLS Cup double-winning team. Luciano Acosta, the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP frontrunner, has 1g/2a in the postseason, but Cincy will be without center back Matt Miazga due to yellow-card accumulation.

Philadelphia needed only two games to surpass the New England Revolution (No. 5) in Round One, closing out Match 2 on the road despite missing defenders Kai Wagner (suspension) and Jakob Glesnes (injury), as well as striker Julián Carranza (injury). In 2022, the Union won this Conference Semifinal matchup at Subaru Park en route to making the MLS Cup final.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Houston Dynamo FC (4) vs. Sporting Kansas City (8)

• When: Sunday, Nov. 26 | 7 pm ET
• Watch: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass | FS1, FOX Deportes | TSN, RDS
• Where: Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, Texas

Houston, after lifting the US Open Cup in late September, dream of adding a second trophy during head coach Ben Olsen’s first year at the helm. They squeaked past Real Salt Lake (No. 5) in Match 3, turning to fullback Griffin Dorsey and goalkeeper Steve Clark as their PK heroes. Star midfielder Héctor Herrera has 1g/1a in the playoffs.

Sporting KC swept St. Louis CITY SC (No. 1) in Round One, upsetting their Midwest rival and ending a dream expansion season. Peter Vermes’ group, led by striker Alan Pulido, has been the West’s best team since May. But their depth will be tested after left back Logan Ndenbe tore his ACL in Match 2.

Seattle Sounders FC (2) vs. LAFC (3)

• When: Sunday, Nov. 26 | 9:30 pm ET
• Watch: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass
• Where: Lumen Field | Seattle, Washington

Seattle were pushed to Match 3 by FC Dallas (No. 7), yet won their Round One series thanks to Albert Rusnák‘s first-half goal. Veteran goalkeeper Stefan Frei has posted two shutouts this postseason, and the Rave Green’s veteran know-how has shined even as Nicolás Lodeiro and Raúl Ruidíaz shift to super-sub roles.

LAFC swept Vancouver Whitecaps FC (No. 6) in Round One, largely thanks to Dénis Bouanga‘s red-hot form. The Golden Boot presented by Audi winner, who had 20g/7a in the regular season, tallied three times to help the Black & Gold inch closer towards possibly being the first MLS Cup repeat winner since the 2011-12 LA Galaxy.

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NWSL Playoff Finals –  Sat night 8 pm CBS – Rapinoe last game  Seattle OL Reign vs NY Gothem

Retiring legends Megan Rapinoe will face off against Ali Krieger in the finals of the NWSL at Snap Dragon Stadium in San Diego as a national audience watches OL Reign (Seattle) face NY/NJ Gothem.  Both teams were founding members of the NWSL but neither has ever won a title – so one of these teams will bring home their first hardware.  Coverage start at 7 pm with a 8 pm kickoff on CBS. Retiring legends Megan Rapinoe will face off against Ali Krieger in the finals of the NWSL at Snap Dragon Stadium in San Diego as a national audience watches OL Reign (Seattle) face NY/NJ Gothem.  Both teams were founding members of the NWSL but neither has ever won a title – so one of these teams will bring home their first hardware. Also huge news that the NWSL has signed a record breaking deal with CBS/Paramount+, ESPN/ABC & Prime Video & Ion Network giving them oh double the coverage that MLS got.  The important thing here is unlike the MLS which is out of sight and out of mind – (with Messi out of the playoffs) – the NWSL was smart enough to get their games on Network TV and streaming.  Combine that with the huge signing of New US Women’s coach Emma Hayes from Chelsea (the most successful women’s coach in the game) who reportedly will make what Berhalter makes – about $1.5 million a year  – and women’s soccer is really trending in 2023. (lots of stories below)

US Men Face Copa America Qualifiers vs T&T w/o Pulisic & Weah next week

The US men will go into their Nations League battles next Thurs & Sun w/o Pulisic and Weah as the US team was announced today.  Still plenty of firepower for the US as forward Balogun and the Aasronson brothers take centerstage with 2 key wingers missing.  Still T&T is terrible and anyting short of a 3-0 and maybe 2-1 result on the road would be disappointing.  Again the US must win to qualify for both the next round of Nations League and the ever important Copa America which the US host’s this summer.   

 United States Men’s roster (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 9/0), Gaga Slonina (KAS Eupen; 1/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 35/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 14/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 30/2), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 3/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 53/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 14/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 37/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 27/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 7/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 1/0), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 9/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 19/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 1/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 48/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 31/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 22/6), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 6/0)

FORWARDS (5): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 36/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 6/3), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 20/9), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 7/1).

Indiana University hosts Penn State in Big 10 Final Sun 12 noon @ IU

I had the distinct pleasure to join 2 Indiana University soccer legends to the Big 10 Semi-Final Wed night for their thrilling 4-3 win over Michigan.  The atmosphere in Bill Armstrong stadium with an overflowing student section and IU Band was unrivalled at the College Level. IU is the most successful men’s soccer program of all time and it shows with the excitement conveyed in the stadium.  We watched from the Former Players VIP section and the feeling of family and friendship was unbelievable.  Mrs Yegley welcomed 1 and all warmly.  What a special place!  Oh and IU won a hard fought, somewhat disjointed game with interesting reffing decisions but the Hoosiers deserved the win and will now host the #2 seed Penn State at home on Sunday at noon (Big 10 Network) as they make their record 7^th straight Big Ten Final appearance looking for their 34^th conference title.  The Hoosiers (11-4-4, 4-2-2) have won 8 of their last 9 games having beat Penn State earlier in the year.  Its worth the little over an hour drive to enjoy some solid college soccer if you don’t have plans for Sunday.  Tix are just $10, $5 for youth (3-18) and its well worth the visit – oh and the drive is still spectacular with the leaves changing.

GAMES ON TV

Thurs, Nov 9  — Europa League

12:45 pm                              Liverpool vs Maccabi Haifa

12:45 pm Para+                 Ajax  vs Brighton  

3 pm Para+                         West Ham vs Olympiakos

3 pm para+                         Panathinaikos vs Rennes (Balogen)

Fri, Nov 10 –

7 am FS2 Spain vs Canada U17 WC

2:30 pm EPSN+                  B Mgladbach (Scaley) vs Wolfsburg

8 pm Apple TV Miami FC vs NYCFC Messi Celebration Friendly

10 pm Apple TV                Seattle vs Dallas (Playoffs)

 Sat, Nov 11  

7:30am USA                        Wolverhampton vs Tottenham

9 am para+                          Lecce vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)

9:30 am ESPN+                  Bayern Munich vs Heidenheim  

9:30 am ESPN+                  MGladbach (Scally) vs Heidenheim  

10 am Peacock                  Arsenal vs Burnley

10 am USA                          Man United vs Luton Town  

12 pm Para+                       Juventus (McKennie) vs Cagliari

 12:30 pm NBC                   Bournemouth vs New Castle United

3pm ESPN+                         Real Madrid vs Valencia

6 pm  Apple TV                 Houston vs Real Salt Lake

8 pm CBS                    NWSL Champ Game OL Reign (Rapinoe) vs NY Gothem (Mewis, Kreiger)

Sun, Nov 12

7 am FS1                              USA Boys vs Korea (U17 WC)

9 am USA                             West Ham s Nothingham Forest

9 am Peacock                     Aston Villa vs Fulham (Ream, Robinson)

9:30 am ESPN+                  Leverkusen vs Union Berlin

10 am Peacock                  Liverpool vs Brentford

11:30 am USA                    Chelsea vs Man City

1 pm Para+                         Lazio vs Roma

3 pm Apple TV                 Philly Union vs New England  ??

6 pm Apple TV                   Orlando City vs Nashville ?? 

7 pm FS1/Apple TV          Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United  ??

7 pm ESPN2 Charleston vs Phoenix USL Champ Game

Wed, Nov 15

9 am FS1                              USA Boys vs Burkina(U17 WC)

Thurs, Nov 16

8 pm TNT, Para+        US Men vs T&T  (Copa Qualifying)

9 pm Para+                         Costa Rica vs Panama

Fri, Nov 17

2:45 pm FS1                        England vs Malta (Euro Quals)

2:45 pm fuboTV                Poland vs Czech Republic

7 pm Para+                         Jaimaica vs Canada (Copa Qualifying)

9 ppm Para+, TUDN        Honduras vs Mexico (Copa Qualifying)

Sat, Nov 18  

7 am FS1, Tele                   USA Boys vs France (U17 WC)

9 am FS1                              Armenia vs Wales (Euro Quals)

12 noon FS2                        Latvia vs Croatia

2:45 pm FS2                        Netherlands vs Ireland

Mon, Nov 20  

2:45 pm fuboTV                 Ukraine vs Italy

2:45 pm ?                             North Madedonia vs England

7 pm TNT, Para+        US Men vs T&T  (Copa Qualifying)

9 pm Para+                         Panama vs Costa Rica

Tues, Nov 21  

7:30 pm Para+                   Canada vs Jamaica (Copa Qualifying)

9:30 pm Para+, TUDN     Mexico vs Honduras (Copa Qualifying)

NWSL Finals – Sat 8 pm CBS

Megan Rapinoe’s last chapter was destined to be with OL Reign

Ali Krieger’s soccer journey fittingly ends in NWSL Championship
After hitting rock bottom, Gotham FC now 1 win away from NWSL championship trophy

Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe predicted their NWSL Championship clash JWS StaffNov 6, 2023

Rose Lavelle caps ‘frustrating year’ with ‘exceptional’ run for OL Reign
How to watch the 2023 NWSL Championship — Megan Rapinoe’s last game
Naomi Girma wins NWSL Defender of the Year in back-to-back seasons

Juan Carlos Amorós wins NWSL Coach of the Year for Gotham turnaround

Christen Press: NWSL playoff format ‘needs to be changed’

US Men

USMNT squad: Pulisic, Weah out with injuries  Jeff Carlisle

Berhalter names 24 players for November; Weah & Pulisic are out, Aaronson brothers are in ASN
Christian Pulisic once again gets some good injury news

How hard would a Pulisic injury hit the USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago?

Pulisic subbed off after injury in AC Milan win

Will rebirth of Pulisic, Musah make AC Milan America’s team?

USMNT stock watch: Why Pulisic and McKennie are thriving, but Reyna and Turner are stuck ESPN   

Analysis ASN – Where are the young American centerbacks? A look at the ongoing development gap in the back

Champs League, EPL  Wrap up Americans
Gregg Berhalter calls up 24 men for USMNT’s Copa America qualification deciders vs Trinidad and Tobago

US Boys  U17 World Cup

How to Watch the U17 World Cup on Fox

US Team U17

US Women

How will an Emma Hayes-led USWNT play?

From style to tactics, what USWNT can expect from Emma Hayes as manager

 England coach Wiegman: USWNT hiring Hayes ‘good for the women’s game’

Hayes Called out US in World Cup

Euros & Champions/Europa League

Champions League grades: top marks for Shakhtar, United sink to new low
Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool: Lacklustre Reds suffer controversial defeat to Ligue 1 side
Luis Diaz’s father released by kidnappers in Colombia
Beware Erik ten Hag, the last time Manchester United were this bad they were relegated
Man Utd miss yet another crucial turning point and lurch to new crisis levels
Marseille v Lyon: Postponed game rescheduled for 6 December following bus attack
Diego Simeone: Atletico Madrid manager signs new deal until 2027
England vs Malta, Euro 2024 qualifier: When is it and how can I watch it on TV?
England squad announcement LIVE: Gareth Southgate reveals Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka decisions

Reffing

Soccer has refereeing ‘epidemic’ on its hands
Joe Cole splits opinion after VAR denies Liverpool late equaliser: ‘The ref got it right’
Var comes to West Ham’s rescue in victory over Olympiacos
Jurgen Klopp confronts referee after Var ruling on Alexis Mac Allister handball
Premier League players annoyed at ‘constant standing around’ waiting for VAR, says Tim Ream
What is VAR, how does it work and what are the biggest problems?

Goalkeeping

Houston Dash’s Jane Campbell wins NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year

MLS Goalkeeper of the Year

MLS Save of the Year

Racing’s Lund a finalist for NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year

EMMA HAYES – Chelsea Coach – Set to Take the Reigns of the US Women’s National Team

NWSL announces 4-year TV deals with ESPN, CBS, Prime Video: Why it’s a win for the league

By Meg Linehan and The Athletic Staff

The NWSL will reach more viewers in 2024 with its new broadcast deals with ESPN, CBS Sports, Prime Video and Scripps Sports, the league announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:

• The NWSL agreed to four-year deals with each partner, who will show at least 20 games apiece on their platforms next season.
• Fans will be able to stream regular-season matches on Friday nights on Prime Video and watch two prime-time matches on Saturdays on Scripps’ ION network.
• A package of regular-season matches will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+, with CBS Sports showing additional matches.
• ESPN will show matches across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, as well as stream them on ESPN+ in English and Spanish.

More about the deals

• The agreements will double the number of cameras for matches, which will also help with video replay review efforts.
• The remainder of the regular-season schedule will be part of a direct-to-consumer package produced and distributed by the NWSL.
• ION will air the 2024 NWSL Draft in January. A date for the draft has yet to be announced.
• ION will also lead off its Saturday doubleheaders with a studio show at 7 p.m. ET. The games will start at 7:30 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET.

Where can I watch the playoffs?

• Prime Video and CBS will broadcast one quarterfinal each, while ESPN/ABC will air the other two quarterfinals.
• ESPN/ABC and CBS will each have a semifinal game.
• CBS will continue to air the championship game in prime time and make it available to stream on Paramount+. (The league’s three-year media rights deal with CBS wraps up at the end of this year.)

The deals are a win for NWSL

Considering the media rights landscape, $60 million a year combined across all the new partnerships for the four-year deal has to be considered a major win and improvement for the NWSL — while not getting trapped in super long terms (compare it to MLS’s 10-year term with Apple, or U.S. Soccer’s eight-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports).

NWSL Championship tactics: How OL Reign, Gotham can win

• Joseph Lowery

No matter what happens in NWSL final on Saturday, there will be a new NWSL champion.OL Reign, who took down the top-seeded San Diego Wave last weekend, and NJ/NY Gotham FC, who pushed past the Portland Thorns in extra time, will battle for a first NWSL Championship win in club history. Neither team entered the playoffs as favorites, though in the parity-filled NWSL, sometimes there simply aren’t any favorites. Gotham snuck into sixth and final spot in the playoff bracket, while OL Reign finished fourth.

Now all that’s left standing between each of these teams and the trophy is the other.

To help get you ready for Saturday’s matchup, we’re digging into each team’s title hopes and giving you a few things to watch out for during the game. How did they make it this far, and will what worked for them all season be enough to win the NWSL Championship?

How OL Reign reached the final

It’s been a season of consistency for Laura Harvey’s OL Reign squad. They finished eight points off their Shield-winning pace from 2022, but stayed above the playoff line for 21-consecutive weeks after a 1-0 loss to the Washington Spirit to start the year.

Following up their fourth-place finish in the regular season, OL Reign snuck past Angel City by a 1-0 scoreline in the first round of the playoffs. A strong header from winger Veronica Latsko in the 87th minute sealed the game for the Reign, pushing them in a semifinal meeting with the San Diego Wave.

That matchup between the two best NWSL defenses in the regular season — based on expected goals allowed, per Fbref — looked an awful lot like what you’d expect a matchup between the two best NWSL defenses to look like. Neither team gave an inch, with just as many shots coming from outside the box as from inside the box. To break the deadlock and book their spot in the final, OL Reign needed one of, uh… they needed one of whatever this is:

How OL Reign plays

OL Reign — named for their affiliation with Olympique Lyonnais — don’t feel the need to dominate control of the ball. This year, they averaged 48.5% possession, which put them seventh in the 12-team NWSL.

Instead of prioritizing the ball, Harvey prioritizes defensive compactness and quick attacking transitions in her team. The Reign typically play out of a 4-2-3-1 shape, defending in a mid-block to frustrate opposing teams and limit their space in the attacking half. They’re not opposed to pressing high up the field, but it’s not their go-to, either. OL Reign finished 10th in the NWSL in PPDA (passes allowed per defensive action) with 11.5 in the regular season, according to Opta.

In possession, the Reign tend to look for the home run more often than they look for the base hit, to borrow baseball terms. According to FBref, the Reign played more long balls than any team in the league during the regular season (78.4 per 90 minutes) and crossed the ball more than all but two teams (18.7 per 90). In the final third, Megan Rapinoe runs the show out on the left wing, with her 33.2 touches in the attacking third per 90 a full 14 more than the next closest teammate.

How the Reign can win the NWSL Championship

The short answer? By staying the course.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• From ‘mess’ to NWSL Championship contender: how Gotham FC’s nightmare ended7dJeff Kassouf
• Source: USWNT set to appoint Chelsea’s Hayes5dJeff Carlisle
• From style to tactics, what USWNT can expect from Emma Hayes as manager4dSophie Lawson

During their two playoff games so far, the Reign showed they can get results by grinding defensively and producing a moment of magic in the final third. Against a Gotham team that likes to spread the field and use the ball, defensive discipline will be key. If they maintain their shape and Emily Sonnett has a strong performance in her defensive midfield role, it will be a long night for Gotham — just like it was during the playoffs for Angel City and then the San Diego Wave.

After winning the ball inside their own half, there will be opportunities for the Reign to stream forward on the counter. Gotham have defended well this year, but they let their opponents shoot closer to goal (16.4 yards, on average) than every team in the NWSL not named the Chicago Red Stars, who finished last in the league standings.

With Rose Lavelle expected to start as the No. 10 in the central midfield, OL Reign will have a conductor in central areas. She’ll help balance all of the crosses from Rapinoe on the left and Sofia Huerta on the right. With quick, efficient touches from their creators and sharp off-ball movement from their forwards inside the box, the Reign can find one more magical moment to finish off their playoff journey.

How NJ/NY Gotham reach the final

It’s been a wild turnaround for NJ/NY Gotham. After finishing last in the league in 2022, they’re now playing for a trophy in the NWSL Championship this weekend on the back of a sixth-place finish in the regular season. Gotham never came close to repeating their lows from last year, staying above the playoff line for the entire season and even sitting in first for two weeks.

In the first round of the playoffs, Gotham traveled to North Carolina to take on the Courage, winning 2-0 in the process. Juan Carlos Amorós’ Gotham team didn’t have Kerolin to deal with due to an injury, but they still did an admirable job of wrestling control and chances away from the Courage. In the semifinals, NJ/NY Gotham faced a tougher task: beating the Portland Thorns at Providence Park. Amorós’ squad was unfazed, however, and controlled the game in regulation before finding a 107th minute winner.

How Gotham FC play

Gotham — nicknamed the Bats by the team’s players — seem to never run out of energy. They press. Then they press a little bit more. And then, for fun, they press just a little bit more. According to Opta, Gotham pressed more than any team in the NWSL during the regular season.

Gotham allowed just 8.8 passes per defensive action and forced 367 high turnovers — those numbers both led the league. A big chunk of those pressures come right after they lose the ball in the final third. Gotham finished with more possession than every team outside of North Carolina in the regular season, averaging 54.1%.

Under Amorós, Gotham typically play out of a 4-3-3 shape. He wants his team to spread the field in possession to create as many one-v-ones as possible all over the field. With Lynn Williams and Midge Purce lurking in the attack, a lot of those one-v-ones tend to go Gotham’s way.

Williams, in particular, is a major threat in the frontline as a winger or a striker. She finished fifth in the regular season in non-penalty goals (6) and is one of the NWSL’s most versatile attackers. Per FBref, she also finished fifth in non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists (9.4).

How Gotham FC can win the NWSL Championship

Two things will define NJ/NY Gotham’s success on Saturday: what they do with the ball against OL Reign’s compact defense and how they defend right after losing possession. We’ve already covered the Reign’s defensive solidity — Harvey’s team is incredibly difficult to break down — but Gotham, as the much more ball-dominant and expansive team, will have to find a way through.

Gotham have been good, but not great at turning possession into chances this year: They finished fourth in the NWSL in expected goals in the regular season (30.7), per FBref. In the final, if they can stretch OL Reign horizontally with the threat of their wingers, Gotham will create space for midseason striker signing Esther González to exploit. González, who started as a free No. 8 in the semifinals, will crash the box regardless of where she starts in possession.

Keeping the tempo high and switching the ball from side-to-side to force the defense to shift will be non-negotiable for NJ/NY Gotham this weekend. But Gotham have to be purposeful in possession — and they have to be sharp after losing the ball, too. With the Reign ready to attack on the break, Gotham’s counter pressing will be tested. They’ve been sharp in defensive transition this year, allowing fewer progressive passes and recording more tackles in the final third than any team in the league.

If Gotham maintain their usual energy levels and react quickly after the ball turns over, they’ll sniff out most of OL Reign’s attacks before they even start. Then they can clean up the rest with sharp defending in their box on the Reign’s crosses.

Berhalter names 24 players for November; Weah & Pulisic are out, Aaronson brothers are in

Gregg Berhalter’s roster for November has a lot of continuity from October but the big story is that Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic are missing due to injuries. But that will open the door for others to fill the void, including youngsters Paxten Aaronson and Kevin Paredes. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks down the roster with his thoughts.  USMNT analysis BY BRIAN SCIARETTA NOVEMBER 09, 2023 11:30 AM

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ON THURSDAY, United States national team manager Gregg Berhalter announced his 24-player roster for the upcoming Nations League quarterfinal against Trinidad & Tobago which will be played over two legs this window. Should the U.S. team advance, it will play in the tournament’s semifinal and qualify for 2024 Copa America.

Here is the roster along with some thoughts.

ROSTER BY POSITION

(CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 9/0), Gaga Slonina (KAS Eupen; 1/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 35/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 14/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 30/2), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 3/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 53/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 14/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 37/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 27/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 7/0)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 1/0), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 9/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 19/0), Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim/GER; 1/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 48/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 31/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 22/6), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 6/0)

FORWARDS (5): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 36/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 6/3), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 20/9), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 7/1)

WEAH AND PULISIC ARE OUT

Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic are not included in this roster. Tim Weah was subbed out of Juventus’ win over Verona at halftime on October 28 due to hip-flexor issue. It was later announced that the club expected him back towards the end of November.

Pulisic’s recent injuries are not as clear. He left AC Milan’s 2-2 draw with Napoli at halftime due to muscle “fatigue” and then did not suit up over the weekend in a loss to Udinese. Then Tuesday in a Champions League win over PSG, he left the game in second half stoppage time grabbing his hamstring. It was reported on Wednesday that there was no muscle tear, but rather a strain and he would miss the upcoming game this weekend for Milan. Given the ongoing nature of this injury, he was left off U.S. national team roster.

YOUNGER AARONSON ARRIVES

Paxten Aaronson is most likely a U-23 option given that he still does not get regular minutes for Eintracht Frankfurt yet. But his versatility to play on the wing or in the middle opens the door for him at this camp. With Weah and Pulisic out and Reyna likely to have his minutes heavily managed again, there is a huge void to fill in several different positions including both wing positions and in central midfield.

Aaronson will now get the chance to fill those voids. Once these key players return to full fitness, Aaronson could shift back to the U-23 team, but if he does well, perhaps he is here to stay. On another note, this call-up marks the first time both Aaronson brothers have been called up together for a U.S. team. Brenden Aaronson has been a mainstay for years, but now he will join his brother. The two recently played against each other as late substitutes when Eintracht Frankfurt defeated struggling Union Berlin 3-0.

HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR PAREDES

For me, Kevin Paredes is the most important player to watch on the roster for three reasons: 1) he is now playing well and starting for Wolfsburg, 2) he will likely get a big opportunity to fill the void left by Weah and Pulisic because he now has spent time with the team and should know what is asked and 3) he remains one of the more talented young players in the system.



The question is now whether he can contiue his recent surge with the national team.

SLONINA GETS THE NOD

Gaga Slonina also has an opportunity in this camp given that he has had a few good games recently for Eupen. The fact that he is playing is also huge because Matt Turner appears to have lost his starting spot with Nottingham Forest and Ethan Horvath is not even registered to play league games for Forest. Slonina is in a great position simply because he is a young goalkeeper who is playing.

Slonina is also another player who could shift to the Olympics next year but is still on the bubble of the full team now.

ROSTER CONTINUITY INTO 2024

We are starting to see right now that Berhalter is moving forward with rosters that don’t change very much from camp to camp. Of the 24 players on this roster, 20 were on the roster for the October camp. If Weah and Pulisic were healthy, it would have been 22 players. Then whenever Tyler Adams returns, he is likely to be a constant with the group.

It doesn’t mean Berhalter is set on his team. There are still some players who are in vulnerable positions. Lennard Maloney still has much to prove. Alex Zendejas has not made the most of the opportunities yet that have come his way. Ricardo Pepi’s minutes are limited and there could be more competition for him as the season progresses. Tim Ream is playing well but he is also older and at some point Father Time will win the battle. Kristoffer Lund will also face competition from a deeper American left back player pool. But Berhalter also must play the short game too. The Copa America is only seven months away. That is a huge tournament and an important barometer for this team and for Berhalter. After that, there is the Olympics and many of those players will have taken big strides in their game. Some will impress at the Olympics and as Berhalter said, after next summer, he expects the U-23 pool to merge into the full national team pool. Then at that point, it will open the doors for even more competition.

Pulisic, McKennie up; Reyna, Turner down: USMNT stock watch

• Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentNov 1, 2023, 09:29 AM ET

The current European league season is about two months old, depending on the league in question. As such, a fair bit of data is now available in terms of American players performing overseas, Some have established themselves in new clubs. Others have found the going a bit tougher, though the season is long, leaving plenty of time to turn things around. All of them continue to look to use their club form as a spring board for the U.S. men’s national team.

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With that in mind, here is ESPN’s stock watch for those USMNT players abroad. This isn’t an assessment of every American abroad — just those that have caught the eye and have had a noteworthy couple months, for good or for ill.

⇑ Stock up: Christian Pulisic, forward, AC Milan

Christian Pulisic has encountered some tough sledding in the Champions League, but there can be no complaints about his league form for AC Milan. He contributed his second assist of the season over the weekend on Olivier Giroud‘s opener against Napoli as Milan held on for a 2-2 draw. He’s also chipped in with four goals in league play.

The biggest worry for Pulisic right now is that he had to come off at halftime with a tight adductor muscle, but the injury isn’t expected to be serious. So far Pulisic’s summer move to Milan has been a huge positive — he immediately became a starter, and he continues to have the trust of manager Stefano Pioli.

⇑ Stock up: Weston McKennie, midfielder, Juventus

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Explaining Gio Reyna’s potential vs. his lack of USMNT, Dortmund success23dRyan O’Hanlon
• The USMNT’s struggle to play well without Tyler Adams is a problem23dJeff Carlisle
• USWNT’s next generation of stars show the way vs. Colombia10dCesar Hernandez

Weston McKennie has seemingly proved his worth to Juventus manager Max Allegri. It’s helped his case that two Juve midfielders, Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli, have been suspended for allegations of doping and gambling, respectively, but it’s still a positive that McKennie is starting and playing regular minutes.

His versatility in playing as a wing back or as a central midfielder has served him in good stead, too. He played in both roles in Juve’s 1-0 win over Verona over the weekend, creating a team-high three chances, and McKennie looks set to get consistent playing time going forward.

⇑ Stock up: Luca de la Torre, midfielder, Celta Vigo

Luca de la Torre has long had a habit of betting on himself, with positive results. His move back in 2022 to Celta Vigo from Dutch side Heracles Almelo is a case in point. While injuries slowed his progress initially, he’s gradually taken on a bigger role.

This season, De la Torre has been a consistent presence in manager Rafa Benitez’s lineup — even as the team has struggled, De la Torre has not been the one to get the hook. The question now is to what extent can he parlay his club form into more playing time with the USMNT.

⇑ Stock up: Yunus Musah, midfielder, AC Milan

After looking like he would have a hard time cracking Milan’s lineup, Yunus Musah has gradually proved himself to manager Stefan Pioli. It has helped that Musah has been able to play in a variety of midfield roles.He played as a defensive midfielder in the Champions League outing against Borussia Dortmund, but was pushed a bit further forward last weekend against Napoli. He still needs to play a bit quicker when in his own half, but overall he’s made a positive impression with the Rossoneri.How concerning are AC Milan’s UCL struggles for Pulisic and Musah?

Herc Gomez debates whether or not USMNT fans should be worried by Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah’s struggles in the Champions League with AC Milan.

⇑ Stock up: Johnny Cardoso, midfielder, Internacional

Johnny Cardoso has made steady progress since locking down a starting spot in Internacional’s midfield in 2020. This year he helped the club to the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, and he’s gotten steady playing time, playing more than 2,000 minutes so far this season, earning two goals and two assists.

Now he’s poised to take his talents to a bigger stage, reportedly securing a move to LaLiga’s Real Betis. If the reports are true, that would represent an important step up in the 22-year-old’s development.

⇑ Stock up: Sergiño Dest, defender, PSV Eindhoven

Last season’s nightmare — in which Sergiño Dest played just 626 minutes in all competitions while on loan at AC Milan from Barcelona — is now firmly behind him. In its place is a loan move to PSV, and while the level might not be the same as LaLiga or Serie A, at least Dest is back on the field again.

Are there still questions about Dest’s overall defending? Indeed, but at least there is now an opportunity for that aspect of his game to improve and get sharpened. Between the Eredivisie and Champions League, he’s featured in 678 minutes this season, which is already an improvement from last season.

⇑ Stock up: Ricardo Pepi, forward, PSV Eindhoven

Ricardo Pepi is off to a solid start after securing a summer move from Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, having spent the previous campaign on loan with Eredivisie side Groningen after struggling at Augsburg. Pepi has taken on the role of supersub, and scored twice in 151 minutes of play this season.

The challenge for Pepi is to try and displace Luuk de Jong in the starting line-up. It’s no easy task given that de Jong has eight goals and six assists so far, but Pepi has at least put the frustrations of his time at Augsburg in the past.

⇑ Stock up: Malik Tillman, midfielder, PSV Eindhoven

Malik Tillman is another player making his way at a new club and, despite a brief setback, it’s been going well. He was making steady progress with three goals and an assist before sustaining an injury that prevented him from joining up with the USMNT for the October international window. But Tillman is now recovered and has started PSV’s last two league games.

If Tillman continues to get playing time at PSV — and is effective with the time he gets — a bigger role with the USMNT could be there for the taking, especially given Weah’s injury and Brenden Aaronson’s lack of offensive production.

⇔ Stock even: Tim Weah, midfielder, Juventus

Timothy Weah had been making inroads at Juventus as well, often playing in a right wing back role that plays to his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball. But he’s played an entire match just once so far for Juventus, and the sight of him hobbling off with a hip flexor issue last weekend could see him forced to the sidelines, and may cause him to miss the Concacaf Nations League matches in mid-November.

Given that Weah has been one of the most consistent U.S. men’s national team players, Weah’s injury is a potential blow to manager Gregg Berhalter. For Weah, though, it could be a big setback in his trajectory at Juve.

⇔ Stock even: Folarin Balogun, forward, Monaco

Folarin Balogun‘s first season with Monaco following a summer move from Arsenal, has been whiplash-inducing. He missed two penalties in a game against Nice, followed that up with goals in each of his next two matches, only to be subbed at halftime of last week’s 2-0 loss against Lille.

Balogun still figures to continue to get playing time, despite his up-and-down journey so far, but he’ll need to find consistency if he’s to remain in Monaco’s starting line-up as a first-choice player.

⇓ Stock down: Gio Reyna, midfielder, Borussia Dortmund

Giovanni Reyna‘s recovery from a lower leg fracture sustained in the Concacaf Nations League last June has been slow. Yes, he dazzled while on international duty with the U.S., but his time on the field at club level has been limited.Reyna did make his first start of the season for Dortmund last weekend — but was subbed out after 45 quiet minutes, leading him to be rated the second-worst of Dortmund’s players by German outlet Kicker. The good news is that he’s still regaining his fitness, but with rumors of an impending move circulating, time may be running out for Reyna at Dortmund.Herc thinks Gio Reyna is ‘done’ at Dortmund. Herc Gomez thinks it is a case of when, rather than if, Gio Reyna leaves Borussia Dortmund

⇓ Stock down: Tyler Adams, midfield, Bournemouth

This assessment has nothing to do with Tyler Adams‘ play, and everything to do with his lack of fitness.Since Adams sustained a hamstring injury in March of 2022, he has struggled to get back. He signed with AFC Bournemouth in August, reinjured his hamstring again and has seen the field exactly one time this season. He needed surgery again, and now this latest one will have him likely out until February.USMNT fans can only have their fingers crossed that Adams can make it back in time for the Copa America this summer.

⇓ Stock down: Matt Turner, goalkeeper, Nottingham Forest

Matt Turner has been the first-choice goalkeeper for Nottingham Forest so far this season, but the season has been something of a struggle.Out of all Premier League goalkeepers with at least 200 minutes this season, Turner ranks 17th out of 22 in terms of goals prevented with -1.15. (“Goals prevented” is a measure of xG conceded from shots on target minus goals allowed.) The miscommunication with teammate Harry Toffolo that led to Liverpool‘s third goal last weekend wasn’t a good look either.Greek international goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who Forest signed in September for a reported fee of more than €5 million, is waiting in the wings. Can Turner hold him off?

⇓ Stock down: Chris Richards, defender, Crystal Palace

As solid as Chris Richards has been for the USMNT of late, he’s struggled for playing time with Crystal Palace, logging just 109 minutes in league play this season.Given that Richards encountered similar difficulties last season, it may be time for the former Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim defender to look for other options come January. Otherwise, he’ll continue to be on the outside looking in for the USMNT.

⇓ Stock down: Brenden Aaronson, midfielder, Union Berlin

Brenden Aaronson finds himself in a tough spot, playing on loan for a team with the fourth-worst attack in the Bundesliga, with a total xG of 11.5 through nine league games. Union Berlin isn’t a team that likes to have the ball either, with just 43.8% possession on average, and that shows with how little Aaronson has gotten on the ball.Style of play aside, Aaronson has yet to make much of an impact, failing to record any goals or assists. And while he’s started the last two league matches for Union Berlin, he’s been subbed out both times. There’s still time to turn things around, but after last year’s disappointing campaign with Leeds United, his career seems to have stalled.

⇓ Stock down: Ethan Horvath, goalkeeper, Nottingham Forest

Ethan Horvath was left off Forest’s Premier League roster this season, meaning he won’t see the field again until the January transfer window. That is a massive blow considering that Horvath helped Luton Town gain promotion to the Premier League last season while on loan. The situation won’t help Horvath’s international prospects either as he looks firmly outside the preferred pecking order of goalkeepers at the USMNT.

After going from last place to NWSL finalist, Go FC adds key new investor

By Meg Linehan nov 8, 20239

Nothing about Gotham FC’s playoff run has come easily.On October 15, the players and staff of Gotham FC waited for a few agonizing moments to find out if they’d squeak into the playoffs. It was Decision Day, and they had just wrapped up a 2-2 draw with the Kansas City Current — not good enough to control their destiny. As the final whistles blew for North Carolina and Houston, the celebration could finally begin. They started their playoff run as the six-seed against the Courage on the road in the quarterfinals, before making the trip out to the West Coast to square off against the defending champions, Portland Thorns FC. On Sunday night in the pouring rain, Gotham had to wait a little longer for their first shot at a NWSL Championship, needing extra time and a superb goal from substitute Katie Stengel to advance again. “The weather, the elements, it didn’t matter,” owner and club chair Tammy Murphy told The Athletic on Monday. “We were determined, and we played like pros. I could not have been more excited.”For Murphy, who has been a part of Gotham’s ownership from the beginning, when the team was still Sky Blue FC, the semifinal win represented years of work and progress that had been anything but smooth (“turbulence” was Murphy’s word choice). NJ/NY Gotham FC is a team a long way off from the Sky Blue FC of 2018, which made headlines for poor training conditions, including a lack of running water and even actual toilets at the training site.“We’ve just all been working so hard to make sure that we are as excellent on the field as we are off the field, in every space. It’s a work in progress, but we have made incredible strides,” she said.Last season, Gotham finished dead last on the NWSL table, picking up only four wins, a draw, and 17 losses. They were 20 points off the playoff pace; the club finished with a shocking -30 goal differential.“Last year, we were really focused on the soccer side of the organization. Look at where we are now,” Murphy said.

Gotham hired head coach Juan Carlos Amorós on a three-year deal, acquired forward Lynn Williams via trade and signed World Cup winner Esther González, amongst other moves led by general manager Yael Averbuch West. On Tuesday, Amorós was announced as the 2023 NWSL coach of the year.This year, Murphy said, the focus has been on ownership and the business side. “We can go wherever we want to go, and I am super enthusiastic,” she said. “I’m always the one who says, ‘Let’s just put our heads down and get it done.’ That’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re just getting it done. There’s so much opportunity now that we have Carolyn coming in. It’s fantastic.”That Carolyn is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, announced on Wednesday as Gotham FC’s new minority owner and strategic investor, as well as the club’s new alternate governor on the NWSL board. Tisch Blodgett is the founder of Next 3. She oversees the firm’s investments and serves as a strategic advisor for her family’s ownership group of the New York Giants. Tisch Blodgett is leading the investment into Gotham, backed by Laurie, Jon and Steve Tisch. She also has an extensive background in marketing, having led global marketing at Peloton — helping to bring not just money but valuable skills to her new NWSL role.Tisch Blodgett told The Athletic that she and her family had started Next 3 as a sports investment platform to ensure they were at the forefront of the changing nature of sports. When the company started, they went into research and listening mode: “Where do we think sports is? What do we think sports is going to look like in the next 30 years? And sign after sign pointed to women’s soccer, and specifically the NWSL.”

When she started considering potential investments, Gotham wasn’t the only team she was looking into. She kept coming back to the story of her grandfather buying into the NFL, though. Before Preston Robert Tisch became 50% owner of the Giants, he had the opportunity to buy the full shares of other teams. But h was a New Yorker. “We are the third generation now,” Tisch Blodgett said. “We couldn’t write a better script than coming into the New Jersey/New York women’s soccer team.”The Giants connection is certainly one that could help boost the profile of Gotham FC — but it’s really Tisch Blodgett’s experience that Murphy referred to time and time again. To be fair, Gotham had some links to the nearby NFL team before Tisch Blodgett entered into the picture, thanks to both former Giants quarterback Eli Manning and the team’s CBO, Pete Guelli, already present in Gotham’s collection of minority investors.“We aren’t as big as the Giants,” Murphy said. “We don’t have as many people in the marketing, the sales, the ticketing area as they do. But I think just having that somebody who has a little bit more experience than we do, who has been there and done it, this is going to be a home run for us.”AD Tisch Blodgett called the merging of her two worlds of sports investment/operation and her background in marketing in this new role with Gotham her “perfect dream all coming together.” When she considers the opportunity ahead, there are three areas she wants to focus on: turning their players into true stars; the fan experience side — whether that’s in stadium, watching the game at home, or engaging with the team; and building upon the community aspect of women’s soccer.

“There was a watch party (on Sunday) in Jersey City; there were about 200 rabid fans, dressed in all the gear, screaming, cheering,” Tisch Blodgett said. “Our opportunity coming in as owners and operators is really to help tell that story to the rest of New York City, the rest of the tri-state area, and then hopefully globally.”Unlike a deeply entrenched NFL team like the Giants, who have existed since 1925, Gotham’s relatively young history — again, full of its share of “turbulence” — still means the team has plenty of work ahead to grow its profile, particularly in finding greater consistency and growth in attendance and other metrics.According to the latest figures from Sportico, Gotham is currently valued at around $48 million, bringing in a little over $5 million in annual revenue. That’s far off the top of the league, but considering the market, aiming for $10 million doesn’t feel like an impossible task. Gotham will have to wait for generational fandom to truly kick in the way that it has for older men’s sports leagues, but there are many other avenues for growth in the meantime.Building the consistency of their attendance numbers during the regular season has to be at the top of the list for Gotham. They set a new attendance record of 15,058 this summer in a match against the San Diego Wave, but Gotham struggles to keep the lower bowl of Red Bull Arena full week in and week out (the stadium’s total capacity is 25,000).“We grew 42 percent year over year in the season that just ended, but the base is lower. If our average is 6,300 or so, the average in San Diego is about 20,000 and about the same in Los Angeles,” Gotham president Mary Wittenberg told the New York Times last month.They also can’t take their foot off the gas in making improvements on the sporting side, especially now that they’ve reached the Championship. The investments the ownership group made over the past year have proven their worth — and there are plans for more.

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“We are absolutely looking at training facilities,” Murphy said.

Currently, the team trains at a facility owned by the New York Red Bulls and has a temporary solution for their own dedicated spaces for staff to work. The trend in the NWSL, however, is investment into facilities, with teams like the Kansas City Current opening a $19 million training space for the team, and multiple others either actively in the works or looking for land.

“We’re looking at everything, anything. Everything is on the table,” Murphy continued. A Gotham FC training facility has been on the list for a while though. “We’ve scoured the market and I can tell you, we’ve been having weekly meetings about various opportunities and what’s best for us in the here and how, and what’s best for us in the long run. And part of that depends on where the league goes.”

With details of the league’s new media deal expected this week during the NWSL Championship festivities, two more expansion teams coming into the league in Utah and the Bay Area — and a $53 million expansion fee for Bay FC, another waiting on deck in Boston for 2026, the NWSL’s days of worrying about its basic existence feel like an increasingly distant memory. Gone are Gotham’s days of hoping a thousand people would cross through the gates at Yurcak Field out in Piscataway, NJ, too.

“There’s a fan movement happening, there’s the cusp of a new media deal, so there’s about to be a visibility moment. There’s a sponsorship moment, thinking about what Angel City has done in getting multiple millions of dollars in their jersey sponsor,” Tisch Blodgett said. “There’s all these signs pointing that the world is starting to wake up to women’s soccer. And we sat here for a long time, as professional owners, saying, ‘What do we want our role to be? Do we want to be watching from the sidelines or do we want to go help write that story?’”“I always felt that we should be the gold standard. We should be the club in the league that everybody looks to,” Murphy said. There’s history here for Gotham, even if some of it is painful, and the team’s rebranding gave them both a fresh start and a more appealing identity to draw in fans. “We are in the number one market in the world. We have enormous potential.”On Sunday, Gotham FC will have a chance to write another chapter of the team’s story with a shot to win their first NWSL championship and make team captain Ali Krieger’s final game one to remember. But no matter the result, the work for 2024 and beyond continues on.

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