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26 Stories See How our 26 Players Made it to Qatar

How Christian Pulisic became American soccer’s reticent and resilient trailblazer Yahoo – Henry Bushnell

How a controversial youth soccer overhaul put the USMNT on a path toward World Cup contention Yahoo – Henry Bushnell

Ted Lasso wishes USMNT luck at World Cup by writing letters to players … on billboards Adam Snavely

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After squaring off against continental rivals to qualify for a spot at the quadrennial competition, 31 teams join Qatar, our problematic hosts, for the month-long tournament in hopes of being crowned world champs.

During the preliminary, round-robin stage of the World Cup, the 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four (A through H). Each will play three round-robin matches against their group foes.

At the end of the group stage, the top two teams based on points (three points for a win, one for a draw, zilch for a loss) advance to the round of 16. If teams are tied on points, there’s a handy list of tiebreakers that will decide who breaks through.

Each knockout-round match is a winner-take-all affair. The round-of-16 teams will duke it out for a ticket to the quarter-finals before hopefully earning spots in the semis and the December 18th final.

If teams can’t get the job done in 90 minutes, they’ll play a 30-minute extra time period. If they’re still tied? A nailbed-ruining penalty shootout beckons.

The team of Netherlands line up during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 4 match between Netherlands and Belgium at Johan Cruijff ArenAon

SOURCE: DEAN MOUHTAROPOULOS/GETTY IMAGES

The favorite: After failing to qualify for the 2018 edition and making an earlier-than-expected exit from the Euro 2020, a resurgent world No. 8 Netherlands team is eyeing the group’s top spot. Veteran head coach Louis van Gaal came out of retirement for the team’s rebound, but the Dutch will need attackers Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay to stay healthy for a deep run.

Don’t sleep on No. 18 Senegal, though. Momentum is building after the (very fun) team won February’s Africa Cup of Nations; however, their chances at becoming Africa’s first World Cup semifinalist took a hit when star Sadio Mané was ruled out with an injury on Thursday.

The dark horse: No. 44 Ecuador qualified for the World Cup thanks to a squad rejuvenation, arriving in Qatar with one of the youngest rosters in the tourney. And though the team will be without a few key players because of injuries, they still have a group of attackers eager to make this trip a memorable one.

The biggest question mark in Group A? Hosts No. 50 Qatar, which will make their World Cup debut this year. They held a uniquely long training camp but posted inconsistent results in their final pre-tournament friendlies.

The players to watch: Defender Virgil Van Dijk is a beacon of stability for the Netherlands, while attacker Boulaye Dia will be tasked with filling in for Senegal in Mané’s absence. Midfielder Moisés Caicedo will be crucial for Ecuador’s success, while Qatar attacker Akram Afif is peaking at just the right time.

Harry Kane celebrates scoring England's third goal during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 3 match between England and Germany

SOURCE: VISIONHAUS/GETTY IMAGES

The favorite: No. 5 England has spent the last few years making its case as a contender, reaching the 2018 World Cup semis and the 2020 Euro final. Several important players from those teams made the trip to Qatar, but the aim for a young yet experienced English team is to quit being the bridesmaid and to bring the country’s second World Cup title home.

No. 16 U.S. is feeling ambitious, too. The Ted Lasso–backed team returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 with the tourney’s second-youngest squad and talent at each position.

The dark horse: No. 20 Iran enters its third consecutive World Cup as Asia’s highest-ranked team and has a reputation of showing impressive defensive mettle while struggling to score goals. Team Melli is hoping to boost themselvesinto their first-ever knockout berth, despite the risk that Iranian officials will use it to detract attention from the country’s continuing human rights crisis.

No. 19 Wales qualified for its first World Cup since 1958 with a world-renowned talisman — Gareth Bale. The team’s all-time goals leader has built a habit of bale-ing the team out of trouble, while Ben Davies will hold down the fort on defense.

The players to watch: England’s Harry Kane set an English record with 13 international goals in 2021, and fellow forward Phil Foden is in the best form of his career. Christian Pulisic will be key to solving the U.S.’ attacking issues while his teammate, 19-year-old midfielder Yunus Musah, is poised for a breakout tourney.

Like Wales relies on Bale, Iran will count on forward Sardar Azmoun.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the international friendly soccer game between Argentina and Jamaica

SOURCE: RICH GRAESSLE/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES

The favorite: You just don’t bet against Lionel Messi, who’s back at the World Cup with perhaps his best supporting squad yet. The reigning South American champs, No. 3 Argentina, are one of the favorites to win the whole thing, boasting a mix of veterans and younger players hungry to win the country’s third World Cup.

No. 13 Mexico may put up a fight for Group C’s top spot if talented attackers like Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and Alexis Vega are firing on all cylinders. After a lengthy string of poor results, though, expectations aren’t that high.

The dark horse: No. 26 Poland’s hopes of earning its first knockout berth since 1986 rest almost entirely on star striker Robert Lewandowski. He scored nine goals during World Cup qualifying and has solid attacking support from forward Karol Świderski.

Entering the World Cup as the second-lowest-ranked team competing, No. 51 Saudi Arabia’s weak offense will need to step up for them to have a chance.

The players to watch: While Messi dazzles, center back Cristian Romero will lead Argentina’s defensive strategy and spur their offensive approach (as long as he stays fit). Mexico’s longtime goalkeeper, Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, is a must-know, and the same goes for Saudi midfielder Salem al-Dawsari, nicknamed “The Tornado.”

Kylian Mbappe of France during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 1 match between France and Austria at Stade de France

SOURCE: TNANI BADREDDINE/DEFODI IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES

The favorite: Defending champions No. 4 France will aim to sideline internal squabbles so they can lift back-to-back World Cups, boasting a stacked squad. Forward Kylian Mbappé is ready to succeed Messi as soccer’s biggest star, while midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni is an ideal candidate to maintain balance in the absence of injured N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba.

Euro 2020 semifinalists No. 10 Denmark can also do some damage. Gifted midfielder Christian Eriksen is in fine form after successfully recovering from a cardiac arrest during the continental championship last year. Amazing.

The dark horse: No. 30 Tunisia is eyeing its first-ever knockout-stage spot after steadily improving over the last few years thanks to new recruits like midfielder Aïssa Laïdouni. The team is also feeling hype after impressive wins over Japan and Chile in June.

A few short months after the dancing goalkeeper helped No. 38 Australia clinch a spot in Qatar, the Socceroos come to the World Cup without some key players who fell to injury. Midfielder Ajdin Hrustic, though, will be around to wreak havoc.

The players to watch: Denmark can count on Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Thomas Delaney to find balance in midfield. Tunisia’s goalscoring hopes lie with Youssef Msakni, while midfielder Jackson Irvine will provide stability for the Aussies.

Nov 17, 202 Adam Snavel

The biggest sporting event in the world, the FIFA World Cup, is upon us, with play set to kick off in Qatar on Nov. 20 when the host nation faces Ecuador at 11 a.m. ET. And in order to get you ready for the biggest competition in the world, we’ve put together a primer for the fan. From tournament favorites and popular narratives to sleeper picks and some of the more obscure storylines to follow, there’s something here for everyone.

First things first: yes, you are correct if you feel like this is the wrong time of year for a World Cup. The tournament is usually a June-July event, but it’s being hosted by Qatar this year, which has “fry an egg on the road” weather in the summertime. Originally, Qatar’s bid promised that they could completely air-conditioned stadiums and create artificial flying clouds that would shade entire matches. Seriously. The mockups looked like giant anime war aircraft.

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

All of those promises did not come to fruition in a way that would negate an average summer temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and so the World Cup is taking place in November and December. Even then, the stadiums are still going to need air conditioning for temperatures that will likely reach into the 80s. The timing of the tournament also means most major soccer leagues around the world are pausing for a month in the middle of their seasons.

Mark Ogden reports from outside the Lusail Stadium, which will host the World Cup final.

Put your coffee or tea on. During the group stage, which goes from Nov. 20 to Dec. 2, the games are played at 5 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET. USMNT fans, the stars and stripes play all of their group-stage matches at 2 p.m. ET, and with a few exceptions, such as Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia on Nov. 22, most of the 5 a.m. games fail to get the pulse really racing, if you need some extra sleep and want to binge the feisty games later on in the day.

Games in the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals will take place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET, and the final will start at 10 a.m. on Dec. 18.

This World Cup seems like it will finally be the last hurrah for several players who have defined and dominated the game for the past decade and beyond. At the same time, plenty of players are waiting to step into the voids they’ll inevitably leave, and there’s no better place to do that than the World Cup.

The aging stars: The two most obvious players to mention here are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. They’re both at the World Cup, but their chances at hoisting a final trophy don’t seem equal.

While Ronaldo has languished on the bench at Manchester United and Portugal had to sneak into the World Cup through the playoffs, Argentina is coming off of Messi’s first ever major international trophy at last year’s Copa America. Argentina are unbeaten in 35 matches and also have the emotional boost of Messi saying that this is his last World Cup, while Ronaldo … well, it’s Ronaldo. He’s probably got some cyborg strength and conditioning coach, and we wouldn’t bet against seeing him in 2026 when the World Cup comes to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Portugal also have a much tougher group than Argentina, which doesn’t bode well for Ronaldo’s hopes of winning his first World Cup.

Outside of the big two, there are plenty more icons likely taking their final World Cup bows. Luka Modric will undoubtedly feature for Croatia at 37 years old. Brazil is bringing along Dani Alves (39) and Thiago Silva (38). Uruguay will lean into their pair of 35-year-olds in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

Gab & Juls preview Group C at the 2022 World Cup, with Argentina expected to cruise into the knockout rounds.

The young guns: A new generation of talent is ready to make their mark. There’s a cavalcade of young Englishmen who would love to get the country its first World Cup since 1966, such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka. Bellingham will be of most interest, as his exploits for Borussia Dortmund have many Premier League fans putting him on their club’s wishlist for the January transfer window.

Spain also have a pair of young stars in Pedri and Gavi who’ll be making their way from Barcelona to the World Cup. Both teenagers are skilled on the ball, as befits the traditions of their club. If they see the field in Qatar, they’ll undoubtedly produce highlights.

There’s also the interesting case of Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich‘s German winger by way of England. Musiala, born in Germany but raised since age 7 in England, finally decided to represent Germany at the senior level last year, becoming an integral part of manager Hansi Flick’s set-up.

One bummer for this World Cup: the world’s most electric young player, Erling Haaland, won’t be making an appearance after Norway failed to qualify.

A point to prove: This group is interesting because it includes several players at very different stages of their careers. Kylian Mbappe has been the “next big thing” for almost his entire life, and announced himself to the world at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where France won. But he has yet to dominate the game like a Messi or Ronaldo, and some have even questioned his status amongst the world’s best players in light of him staying in France with PSG, where the competition isn’t as strong as it is in LaLiga and the Premier League, for example.

Yes, Mbappe’s clearly good. But he has stayed in a cushy role with PSG, who routinely outshine all domestic competitors. After the Real Madrid transfer debacle and subsequent tendencies to look lackadaisical and dissatisfied in Ligue 1, will Mbappe reestablish himself as the heir apparent to Messi in this World Cup?

Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic is just trying to prove that he deserves more respect than he seems to get at Chelsea. His playing time with his club has been infrequent at best, he has been prone to long cold streaks and he has struggled with injuries ever since he joined the club. Pulisic has questions to answer in this World Cup if the USMNT want to make it out of the group stage.

England manager Gareth Southgate gives his thoughts on Christian Pulisic as a player ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.

Vinicius Junior has proven himself worthy of the £38 million fee Real Madrid spent to bring him several years ago, becoming a staple member of their first team and one of LaLiga’s feared wingers. Now, it’s time for him to leave his stamp for Brazil as well. For the last two World Cups, Brazil have gone as Neymar has gone, and it’s great news for them that he has been in vintage form for PSG lately. The standard quality of the team rarely wavers from year to year, but it’s often been up to Neymar to give Brazil the special sauce they need to get over the hump.

Obviously, that hasn’t been enough to bring the most successful country in history back to World Cup glory (they won their fifth World Cup title in 2002, making the 20-year title drought one of the country’s longest), and it’s time for Brazil to get themselves a new talisman attacker. Enter Vinicius Junior, or Vini for short.

Breakout candidates and comeback stories: Qatar will also be an excellent chance to put faces to names you may have heard but haven’t seen play, and also spot new talent. 23-year-old Rafael Leao is a known quantity to fans of Portugal and Serie A, but the AC Milan man has a tendency to pull off the stupendous that could considerably raise his profile in Qatar.

Even less well-known is Australian wunderkind Garang Kuol, an 18-year-old who has already signed an agreement to join Newcastle in 2023. Kuol is undeniably green, but he’s a dynamic attacker who makes things happen when he gets on the ball.

Then there are players whose mere presence at the World Cup is a distillation of joy and relief. Christian Eriksen will most likely feature for Denmark, a little more than a year after suffering cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. He has since staged a remarkable comeback to become a vital part of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United squad. If he features in the World Cup, it’ll be a welcome sight to fans around the world.

This is the first World Cup in the Middle East, and the first World Cup staged in the winter. But that doesn’t mean coats and scarves.

Temperatures in Qatar are still going to be toasty during the day, which means 2022 will be the first air-conditioned World Cup. Outdoor air conditioning in the desert probably sounds like a monstrous task with massive energy consumption, but Qatar is trying to use the sun to their advantage. These air-conditioned stadiums will run off of solar power. It’s practical, and it’s also part of FIFA’s attempt to make this tournament the greenest World Cup to date. Both FIFA and Qatar have pledged to make this World Cup carbon-neutral. However, carbon analysts and climate advocates have cast doubt on Qatar’s claims and say that major sources of emissions are being ignored in their calculations.

Naturally, with air conditioning and carbon-neutral promises, Qatar 2022 will be the most expensive World Cup ever staged. It’s estimated that Qatar will end up spending well over $200 billion on stadiums, hotels and other vital infrastructure. By comparison, Russia spent about $14 billion to stage the 2018 World Cup.

While so much of the drama of the World Cup happens in the knockout stage, the group stage will have plenty of juicy games that fans and neutrals alike can enjoy.

Qatar vs. Ecuador (Nov. 20): It’s the first match of the tournament, and many people’s first time watching Qatar play. While they’re not expected to go particularly far in this tournament, as the 50th best team in the world according to FIFA’s rankings, their first match against Ecuador (FIFA ranking: 44) will be an excellent barometer to gauge their strengths and weaknesses.

Senegal vs. Netherlands (Nov. 21): Senegal finally broke through on the international stage last year, winning their first Africa Cup of Nations. Now, Aliou Cisse’s men will look to prove they’re one of the best teams in the world against the Netherlands to start their tournament.

Senegal are routinely one of the world’s most entertaining squads to watch, and this match between Group A’s heavyweights looks like it will be a crowd-pleaser, but the Lions of Teranga will also hope against all hopes that their best player, Sadio Mane, will have recovered from injury in time for it. The game also carries the added weight of being the opener for Louis van Gaal’s third and likely final World Cup as manager for the Dutch, especially as he has spent the year battling health issues while guiding the Netherlands to a 15-game unbeaten run.

World Cup 2022 kit ranking: Who has the best jerseys in Qatar?10dAustin Lindberg
World Cup 2022: 32 team-by-team previews for Qatar2dESPN
How soccer changed between World Cups 9dBill Connelly

Brazil vs. Serbia (Nov. 24): Brazil enter the World Cup as favorites to win it all, and they’re bringing nine forwards with them. Nine. It seems to us like they plan on scoring a lot of goals, and they’ll need to given how light they are in defense. They kick off their tournament against Serbia (and their forward tandem of Luka Jovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic).

England vs. United States (Nov. 25): Celebrate Black Friday with some good old fashioned imperialist dread. Group B is a tricky one for everyone involved, with Iran and Wales rounding out the group. And while it won’t be do-or-die for either of these teams as the second match, the U.S. have a winning record against England in FIFA competitions. The Three Lions will look for revenge after finishing second in their group behind the Americans in 2010.

Argentina vs. Mexico (Nov. 26): On one side, Messi is hoping to win his first World Cup. On the other is Mexico, a team that haven’t managed to crack through to the quarterfinal stage since they were the hosts in 1986. Former Argentina manager and current Mexico manager Tata Martino gives this match an interesting wrinkle, too.

Why should I watch if the U.S. go out?

Let us break it to you, friend: the U.S. almost certainly will go out. Only one team of the 32 gets to win, and the U.S. are not considered a favorite. They failed to qualify for 2018 and this squad is high on youthful energy but low on experiences, with almost every player competing in their first World Cup. No worries, however: there’s plenty of tension and drama elsewhere.

Brazil enter the World Cup as betting favorites to win the whole thing, which would be massive for the country. While they are the most decorated country in all of international soccer, it’s been 20 years since their last World Cup triumph. After the infamous loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup and being bested by Belgium in 2018, Brazil are desperate for another triumph.

Defending champions France are also worth watching if for no other reason than you never know what you’re going to get. They’re a strong squad, which could net them consecutive titles. They’d be the first team to win back-to-back men’s World Cups since Brazil in 1962. Then again, France have a habit of imploding when it comes to World Cups (remember the player revolt in South Africa in 2010?). Never far from crisis or glory, France are a must-watch.

And did we mention Messi? Because man, does that guy deserve a break in the international game. Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, but have often faltered at the last possible moments with Messi in the team. After finally winning a Copa America last year, can he end his World Cup career at an all-time high and secure GOAT status over Ronaldo?

Or course, you can always root for some underdogs. Only eight teams have ever won the men’s World Cup to begin with, leaving a decent chance that the tournament might see a first-time winner.

Gab Marcotti says he has no idea what to expect from defending champions France at the 2022 World Cup.

If you’re looking to make the games even more interesting, you can always take a look at some of the most popular betting lines from Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings heading into the tournament. (All odds are from Caesars Sportsbook unless noted otherwise.)

Golden Boot

Harry Kane +800: He may do it just by virtue of England going far in the tournament, but the team has played far too conservatively lately for me to like betting on Kane here.
Kylian Mbappe +900: It’s difficult not to bet on Mbappe, all things considered. If there is one reason that I wouldn’t, however, it’s because I’m betting on his teammate, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner.
Karim Benzema +1100: Benzema scores oodles of goals, and he scores them in the biggest moments. This line is probably our favorite right now.
Neymar +1200: The upside of betting on Neymar for the Golden Boot is that Brazil will likely be one of the highest-scoring teams in the tournament. The downside is that those goals will likely come from many different sources.
Lionel Messi +1200: Messi is a decent shout here, as he’ll likely be in charge of penalties and free kicks for Argentina, but he often turns into a facilitator and orchestrator first for Argentina with the attention that he draws from defenders.
Cristiano Ronaldo +1400: Ronaldo also draws lots of attention from defenders, but there’s the simple fact that he hasn’t really looked like Ronaldo in a very long time.

Alejandro Moreno explains why Brazil are the clear-cut favorites to win the World Cup in Qatar.

Brazil +375: If you’re going to throw your money at a country, this Brazil team are as good as any. And if you want to bet on a “favorite,” this seems like the bet to make.
France +650: France are another favorite, but maybe not enough of a favorite for odds this low on them. Betting on a winner of the World Cup being a crapshoot anyway, you’re probably looking for smaller bets with better odds.
England +1000: England have a great team and nearly won the 2020 Euro, but they’ll likely have to defeat talented squads right out of the group stage if they advance.
Argentina +500: I don’t think Argentina will win the World Cup. But they’ve got Messi. So who’s to say?
Spain +850: This actually feels like a very good line for Spain, who I think should be favored a bit more than their current betting line suggests.
Germany +1000: This line reflects Germany’s current place amongst European squads. They’re good, but they’ve lost their way a bit in the last four years.
Belgium +1600: Tempting, especially given this may well be Belgium’s last hurrah for their golden generation. There are far worse teams you could throw money at here.
Netherlands +1400: It’s the same odds as Belgium, but if things work out close to the way they look like they will on paper, Netherlands will have a much tougher draw to worry about.
Portugal +1400: I know there are Portugal truthers out there, but I think they’re more likely to exit in the group stage than they are to win the World Cup.

Brazil under 9.5 goals +120 (DraftKings): This one goes out to all the haters. Do you think Brazil will crumble and not be nearly as prolific in goals as everyone is making them out to be? +120 on the under for the tournament isn’t bad.
First time winner +175 (DraftKings): Hey, only seven teams playing in this tournament have won the World Cup before. Most of those teams constitute the favorites, sure, but this bet might give you some extra inventive on rooting for the underdog.
A hat trick scored in the final +2500 (DraftKings): We know this looks like a lucky shot, because it is one. But Geoff Hurst did pull this off for England in 1966, so it’s not impossible. And it’s great odds for a fun long shot bet.

Messi looks to overtake Maradona: Diego Maradona holds the record for most individual appearances in World Cup matches at 21. Messi is hot on his tail at 19, and will almost surely overtake him this World Cup.
Five World Cups, Part 1: Four men’s players in history have scored at four different World Cups: Pele, Miroslav Klose, Uwe Seeler and Cristiano Ronaldo. If Ronaldo scores in Qatar, he’ll be the only man ever to score in five.
Five World Cups, Part 2: The record for most World Cups won by a single country is five, which only Brazil has managed to accomplish. On the other hand, Germany could equalize Brazil’s record of five if they win in Qatar.
The Long Shot: The record for most goals in a World Cup was set by France’s Just Fontaine in 1958, recording an incredible 13 goals. The last time any player even got to double digits was Gerd Muller in 1970 with 10. This record doesn’t seem to be in particular danger of falling.

Senegal: We’ve already sung their praises in this guide, but Senegal are a great team that will punish you if you don’t give them the respect they’ve earned. They know their system back-to-front and are led by longtime coach and former player Aliou Cisse.

They just won AFCON, then had to qualify for the World Cup through one of Africa’s most difficult paths to the tournament, drawn in the final round with Mohamed Salah and Egypt. Their only major question mark is Sadio Mane’s health, and whether the Bayern Munich attacker will be able to play in the tournament or not.

Canada: Canada haven’t been to the World Cup since 1986, but they’ve emerged from CONCACAF as the team to beat, with a crop of talent featuring some of the best young players in the world in Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.

Iran: Much attention has been given to the matchups in Group B between England, the United States and Wales. But Iran has a legitimate shot at winning the group. Their friendly results from September indicate they’re certainly up for it, playing Senegal to a 1-1 draw and beating Uruguay 1-0. They’re a tough team to play against at all times, and that’s the type of team that can cause upsets at a World Cup.

Denmark: The Danes are part of the World Cup furniture at this point, but the way they went through the Euros last year was something to behold, even while dealing with the traumatic events surrounding Eriksen. Eriksen is back and leads a solid midfield consisting of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Thomas Delaney. They’re a team that can pour on the attacking verve when they need to, and they have one of the easiest groups in the entire competition. Look out for them in the knockout rounds.

FOX holds the rights to the 2022 World Cup, and matches will be spread across FOX and FS1 for English-language viewers in the United States. Telemundo will carry Spanish-language coverage of games.

Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to bring you the latest highlights and debate the biggest storylines. For those looking to stream games, a wide variety of options will be open to you. You should be able to catch games on Fubo, Peacock TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Vidgo.The World Cup final will take place on December 18th starting at 10 a.m. ET, and will be broadcast on FOX’s main network channel.

During the tournament, you can keep up with all of ESPN FC’s analysis, reaction and news via YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. We’ll also have the Gab & Juls podcast where Gabriele Marcotti and Julien Laurens dive into the latest news and gossip, analyze matches with special guests, and give their unique perspective.

Daniel Taylor, Carl Anka and more ov 18, 2022

Qatar 2022 is the most controversial World Cup ever staged, but it might also be the most unpredictable.

European teams have been crowned champions at every tournament since 2002, with the trophies shared among Italy, Spain, Germany and France, but expectations are swelling in Argentina and Brazil that the time has come again for one of the two South American powerhouses.

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There are plenty more sub-plots to occupy us: can Harry Kane become the first player to win two Golden Boots? Has Denmark replaced Turkey as everyone’s favourite dark horse? And which youngster will make the stage his own?

Our experts offer their verdicts on the big issues that will dominate the football agenda over the next six weeks.

Winner: Listen, before we go any further, can I just point out that when I was asked this question in 2014 I picked Spain — the holders, the winners of Euro 2012, not exactly a terrible team, huh? — to do it. They went out at the group stage and Alastair Campbell, that bastion of football knowledge, wrote a blog on the strength of it to point out how stupid football journalists could be. So I’m tempted to pick Spain again, purely to upset him again. Argentina would be my choice, though, simply as I’m a bit of a football romantic and, oh, I’d love Lionel Messi to do it.

The team who will surprise us… Without wishing to be pedantic, it wouldn’t really be a surprise if I could predict it now. I do have a soft spot for Denmark, though, and they surprised a lot of people at Euro 2020. True story: my first-ever trip to the bookmakers, with nothing better to spend my pocket money on, involved a £1 bet on Denmark at 100-1 to win the 1992 European Championships. Now that was a proper surprise.

The team who will disappoint us… It has already happened. The World Cup feels worse already without Italy. I love the Azzurri, their shirts, their wild-eyed defending, their national anthem, their style. Plus I will always have a soft spot for Roberto Mancini because of his days at Manchester City when he would take out the football writers every Christmas, explain the art of making good gnocchi and then leave his credit card behind the bar. A rule really ought to be passed that Italy get mandatory entry to future World Cups.

Breakthrough young player: Can I say Phil Foden? I mean, everyone who watches the Premier League knows all about him. But his international career hasn’t really ignited yet. Maybe this will be the competition when he plays for England like he does Manchester City.Golden Boot winner: Harry Kane of England, with five goals (three penalties).

Golden Ball winner: Remember when FIFA gave Messi this award in 2014? I do and, let’s be honest, there were a lot more worthy winners. If Argentina get far into the competition, I would expect it will be the same again, though. Messi, on form, could light up this tournament. Though we have said that in a few World Cups.

The game I cannot wait to watch… The final, of course. It’s genuinely an occasion like no other. I can still vividly remember getting the ticket in my hand for the Maracana, 2014, and the Luzhniki, 2018, and just thinking: bloody hell, this is what it’s all about. For Brazil, in particular, I’ve never got to a game earlier, just to take it all in. Yes, I know that’s a bit schmaltzy and this tournament is going to be… well, different in all sorts of ways. But the final is still the biggest occasion in football.

Winner: Three attempts through various ‘World Cup Predictor’ apps/websites saw me come up with a Brazil triumph. I have a working theory that the first two World Cups you remember watching have an effect on which nations you think will be good at World Cups for the rest of your life. I would be pleased if there were both Germany vs Brazil and a Brazil vs France matches in the coming weeks.

The team who will surprise us: Hello! It is me! One of the fools who predicted Turkey to be a dark horse at Euro 2020! I will now tell you that the Netherlands are unbeaten in their 15 games under Louis van Gaal! I will tell you they have a fun squad with multiple centre-back options! I will ignore the amount of space Denzel Dumfries vacates when he runs forward from right wing-back to say they are likely to play Argentina in the quarter-finals! I will also handwave how important a 32-year-old Daley Blind is to their ball progression!

The team who will disappoint us: England cannot disappoint me as I’ve spent the last year mentally preparing myself for Southgate’s sad demise. France cannot disappoint me as implosions are part of their footballing history. Belgium cannot disappoint me as they’ve never had the full-backs to take their ‘golden generation’ to the next level. I think this World Cup will catch Croatia between cycles; too early for the newer generation that will likely peak at Euro 2024. They’ll start brightly, mind you.

Breakthrough young player: I really like Cody Gakpo. The 23-year-old Dutch winger is fast approaching ‘Too Good For The Eredivisie’ status at PSV and bigger clubs around Europe are sniffing. Gakpo will play as the No 10 for the Netherlands in this tournament. If he has a good one, he’ll probably start getting quoted with silly numbers in the transfer market.

Golden Boot winner: The Golden Boot is won by the forward who takes penalties for his country. Nearly all the goals scored by said player will come in the group stages. Memphis Depay! Come on down! (I also predicted this for Euro 2020.)

Golden Ball winner: The last two World Cup Golden Balls have been won by the best player on the losing finalist. I’m predicting Vinicius Junior to buck that trend.

The game I cannot wait to watch: No group-stage game matters more to me than Ghana vs Uruguay. Ghana have scratched and clawed (and maybe even dived to get a penalty) to get to this World Cup and they will go all out in order to get some payback for 2010 here. I really, really, really want to see Argentina vs Netherlands in a quarter-final match, too.

World Cup 2022 team guides: Everything that you need to know

Winner: Brazil. So here’s the thing about predictions. Every World Cup Brazil are a potential winner, yet every World Cup since they last conquered in 2002 thanks to the beautiful, goofy-smile-triangle-haircut tale of redemption tale written by O Fenomeno Ronaldo, they have fallen flat. Three quarter-final exits and a semi-final that felt even worse (1-7). Anyway, with these forwards and more, it’s time to rise again.

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The team who will surprise us: Uruguay. It is a really nasty group, one of those where you can make a case for any team beating any other. But if Uruguay emerge safely, they will have the confidence to go with their quality. In front of an ageing but street-smart defence is the quality of the wondrous Federico Valverde helped by Rodrigo Bentancur, the creativity of Giorgian de Arrascaeta and the presence of Darwin Nunez. A dark horse with bite, if you pardon the expression.

The team who will disappoint us: Oh, France. Merde. What appalling luck to lose so many important players. It has really decimated what would have been the central block of the team at the back and in midfield. The loss of N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba and Presnel Kimpembe is worrisome. The attacking class led by Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema may not be enough to compensate.

Breakthrough young player: Pedri, whose experience at the age of 19 dwarfs that of your average teenager, is ready to ease onto the World Cup stage with aplomb. As an outsider, if Borussia Dortmund’s 17-year-old striker Youssoufa Moukoko gets some minutes for Germany he could cause a stir.

Golden boot winner: Lautaro Martinez. Having backed Brazil, as evidence of the dilemma between the two South American heavyweights, there’s a good case for Argentina to flourish at this World Cup. If so, in-form Martinez has the capacity to plunder goals, and plenty of them.

Golden ball winner: Messi. Oh please. All the hopeless football romantics out there surely want him to win this, his last World Cup (and if he does that, inevitably this individual honour will follow). Having said that, I felt the same about Zinedine Zidane in 2006 and look where that ended up…

The game I cannot wait to watch: Sorry group stage, but coming to terms with the conflicting feelings about this World Cup as a whole will take some getting used to. By the time it gets to the knockouts, I guess it will feel different.

Winner: Form suggests Argentina. They’re on the longest unbeaten run in international football and destroyed Italy in the Finalissima, and it’s Messi’s last World Cup. My only doubt is a 20-year trend in this competition. The World Cup keeps getting passed around Europe. Spain coach Luis Enrique has declared himself the best-ever national team manager. I want to see him prove it, especially now he’s going to brief us regularly on Twitch during the tournament.

The team who will surprise us… I probably need to stop imagining Graham Potter left Brighton to take the Ecuador job rather than the Chelsea one. Why I can’t is the career trajectory: Ostersunds, Swansea, Brighton, Ecuador. It feels so right — so early 20th century. But I digress.

More or less everyone here is going to say Denmark, a team England needed extra time to beat in a European Championship semi-final played at home. So I’m sticking with Ecuador even without Potter. They held Brazil and Argentina to draws in Quito and Guayaquil and though Doha probably isn’t at the same altitude, I don’t care. It’s Moises Caicedo. It’s Pervis Estupinan. They have a guy called Djorkaeff por el amor di dios and for that reason, they get my vote. SOMOS ECUADOR.

The team who will disappoint us… No one has retained the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 and the holders always go out in the group stage so au revoir, Les Bleus. In all seriousness, I suspect France will buck this trend regardless of the absences of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante. They beat Spain in the last Nations League final, for goodness sake, and we all know the Nations League was launched as a predictor of World Cup winners. Inevitably there’ll also come a point in the tournament when we ask ourselves: how can a team with as much talent as Portugal be so…

Breakthrough young player: Benfica’s teenage centre-back Antonio Silva has been outstanding this season and Pepe’s age and recent injury problems give him a chance of playing. But no one talks about defenders. His compatriot Rafael Leao is the reigning Serie A MVP and, on his day, goes past players with the same ease as Kylian Mbappe. It’s between him and Cody Gakpo who is bound to send Premier League Twitter into meltdown with a hat-trick against Qatar.

Golden Boot winner: He can be streaky but Lautaro Martinez goes to Qatar in excellent form. He was Argentina’s top scorer in qualifying and brings the best out of whoever he’s partnered with up front. So it’ll be Lauti or Messi.

Lautaro Martinez will be setting his sights on the Golden Boot (Photo: Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)

Golden Ball winner Providing Argentina don’t go out to Denmark or France in the first knockout stage, it’ll be Messi.

The game I cannot wait to watch… Any game involving Iran’s Mehdi Taremi. He’s got a quality I love in a striker: the ability to wind defenders and commentators up. A dive here, a cheeky penalty there, the controversy often gets in the way of what talented player he is. Taremi scored five goals in the Champions League group stage and I suspect he’s going to upset England or the US.

Other than that, it’s going to be the moment Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi’s World Cup legacies are decided. One has won the Euros. The other has won the Copa America. This is their last World Cup. Messi goes into it with the better shot. If he wins it, it’s another differentiator (as if one were necessary). Messi will then return to PSG and probably take Ronaldo’s record as the all-time top scorer in the Champions League if not this season then next.

Winner: This is a tough split between Brazil and Argentina but I’m going for the latter. They are 35 games unbeaten because of Lionel Scaloni’s tactical flexibility and have quality across the pitch, even without factoring in the sheer brilliance of Lionel Messi. Argentina controlled European champions Italy for 90 minutes in the Finalissima but more importantly, got the better of Brazil in their recent meetings, most notably last summer’s Copa America final.

The team who will surprise us: Serbia! They didn’t qualify for the Euros last year so will naturally be overlooked. But they went unbeaten in qualifying, beating Portugal in Lisbon to secure top spot and then won their Nations League group too. Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic offer different options to break down defences and Filip Kostic provides a crossing threat from the left.

The team who will disappoint us: Belgium. Perhaps this just feels like a repeat of previous tournaments when they had high expectations but it does not feel like the squad has evolved sufficiently and Roberto Martinez is not the most tactically flexible.

Breakthrough young player: Scoping wider than Europe, Lee Kang-in (provided Paulo Bento plays him). Now 21, he shone at the under-20 World Cup in 2019, winning the Golden Ball. He is a diminutive, creative No 10 who could find space in a phone box. Lee brings a goal threat from distance and can split a defence with a through ball, as well as offering a set-piece threat.

Could this be Lee Kang-in’s breakthrough tournament? (Photo: Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Golden Boot winner: Harry Kane. He did it four years ago and is in even better form and shape now. Say what you like about Gareth Southgate’s tactics but they generate crossing and cutback situations for Kane to score one-touch finishes. His 10 major tournament goals are tied with Gary Lineker as England’s best, but score three in Qatar and he becomes England’s all time top scorer across all competitions, usurping Wayne Rooney.

Golden Ball winner: Predicting Argentina to make the final, I would be heavily surprised if Messi does not play a key role in their success. His to lose.

The game I cannot wait to watch: As an England fan, I’m excited about all three group games from a tactical perspective, but narrative-wise Ghana facing Uruguay for the first time since 2010 feels like it has all the ingredients to be an all-timer.

Winner: It is tempting to pinpoint Qatar as this ‘golden generation’ of Belgian players’ last last chance but, instead, I will be delivering the kiss of death to Brazil’s hopes of securing a first World Cup in 20 years. The tournament does not appear to have one outstanding favourite but, rather, plenty of fine contenders. Yet the attacking resources available to Tite do feel exceptional. Whether he can mould them into a coherent unit, and overcome Argentina at some stage en route, remains to be seen, but they can aspire to end two decades of European dominance at this level.

The team who will surprise us… Denmark. That may not constitute much of a surprise given they reached the semi-finals at Euro 2020, but the Danes have only made it into the last eight at the World Cup once, and that was back in 1998. They bullied the French home and away in their Nations League section earlier this year and will be relishing taking on Les Bleus again in their group in Qatar. Their quarter-final opponents (possibly England) should beware.

The team who will disappoint us… France. This is virtually a guarantee Didier Deschamps’ side will now win it, but France’s build-up to the defence of their trophy has hardly been serene. They have been denied their first-choice midfield from 2018 through injury, with fitness issues eating into defensive options, too. Their form in the Nations League was slack, controversy swirls around the FFF, and Deschamps already looks rather tetchy in his media briefings. There is a nagging sense that they arrive primed for a World Cup implosion, rather like in 2002 and 2010 — both tournaments that followed French appearances in the final.

Breakthrough young player: Jamal Musiala. I mean, he already plays for Bayern Munich so his impact should not catch people entirely unawares yet, even if he has to impress initially in cameos to earn his opportunity, Musiala boasts all the talent to impress in Qatar. The teenager could end the tournament as Germany’s young inspiration.

Golden Boot winner: Neymar. The Brazilian has been irrepressible with Paris Saint-Germain of late and arrives at the tournament having scored in four of his last five club appearances. Brazil have so many forward options from which to choose, but they should create plenty of opportunities and Neymar — with 75 goals in 121 caps, the 30-year-old is only two shy of Pele’s Brazilian record — will probably take their penalties and plenty of their free kicks.

Golden Ball winner: Thiago Silva. If Brazil are going to win it, then they must provide their attacking talents with a foundation upon which to perform. Establishing that will fall upon Thiago Silva. The 38-year-old remains a force of nature, and will feel he still has something to prove when it comes to the World Cup. It will be intriguing to see how Tite eases the veteran through the tournament.

The game I cannot wait to watch… A meeting between Brazil and Argentina, potentially in the semi-final, will be mouth-watering. Germany against Spain in the group stage feels like a knockout tie played early. But the third round of games in the section tends to hog the drama, so Ghana against Uruguay — no one mention Luis Suarez — or Tunisia against France might provide some drama.

Winners: Well, football sure won’t be the winner, am I right?! Head says Argentina partly because of their crazy unbeaten record, heart says Brazil because they picked nine attackers. Shame they probably won’t meet in the final. Either way, it would be nice to end the two-decade hegemony of European winners with an overdue South American triumph.

The team who will surprise us… Not sure if you can call World Cup 2018 semi-finalists and Euro 2020 finalists England a surprise package, but everyone apart from Lionel Messi seems to be writing them off and I’m really not sure why. Yes, they have obvious weaknesses, but those weaknesses were there last year when they reached the Euros final and it’s basically the same squad and manager. They know how to progress deep into tournaments — something England haven’t had for a very long time.

There seems to be a general consensus that England are quarter-finalists at best, but if the groups go to plan they’ll play France — whose impending failure to retain their crown is another general consensus — in the quarters. Basically what I’m saying is forget my previous answer: it’s coming home and I’ll see you in Trafalgar Square on December 18 for the coldest party of all time.

The team who will disappoint us… Like you, perhaps, I tend to support the World Cup’s home nation as a second team. I showed love for South Korea with their shrieking, uniformed fans and their brilliant referees in 2002. I shared sorrow with Brazil when they were humiliated in 2014. And in 2006 I cheered on Germ… no that’s just not true.

I’ll be disappointed if Qatar do well as it’ll be painted as justification for taking the best tournament in sport there despite the hundreds of reasons that it’s a very bad idea. I’ll also be disappointed if Qatar, as expected, do very badly and will paint it as further justification for my belief that the best tournament in sport shouldn’t be played there. Qatar will disappoint me.

Breakthrough young player: He’s yet to win a cap for Portugal but given the struggles of his fellow forwards (Joao Felix took 16 games to get off the mark this season, Diogo Jota is injured and Cristiano Ronaldo appears more on TalkTV than the Old Trafford pitch these days) 21-year-old Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos could end up front and centre of Portugal’s attack.

Ramos is a man bang in form — nine goals in 11 league games for Benfica, plus 14 in 18 for Portugal Under-21s in the past couple of years. His movement, finishing and goalscoring instincts are his greatest strengths. As former team-mate Carlos Vinicius said recently: “With him (around) there are no loose balls in the box.”

Goncalo Ramos has the ability to eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo in Qatar (Photo: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Golden Boot winner: The top-scoring player in European football who’s going to Qatar is Robert Lewandowski on 13 goals. I’ll go with the guy tied in second with Kylian Mbappe on 12 goals, the soon-to-be Sir Harry Edward Kane. Having watched a lot of Spurs this season I’m here to tell you that more often than not they’ve been about as creative as an obese sloth on a two-day hangover, yet Kane has still scored a dozen goals. He’s bang in form, he’ll play every minute for England and he takes penalties. Next.

Golden Ball winner: The Golden Ball hasn’t been handed to a World Cup winner since 1994 (Brazil’s Romario). In five of the last six editions, it’s gone to a player from the losing finalists. Ergo, if I’m predicting probably Brazil to win the tournament then the Golden Ball winner comes from their final opponents, who will be… (checks wallchart)… Belgium! In fact maybe they should be my surprise team. No, it’s too late for that now. Anyway, the Golden Ball winner will be ~~Leander Dendoncker~~ Kevin De Bruyne.

The game I cannot wait to watch… This might be ruined by getting used to the probable muted atmospheres and general weirdness of the tournament’s location but it’s the first round of group games for me, especially watching the tournament favourites in action for the first time. It’s that moment the towels come off and everyone has to show what they’ve got, sometimes, understandably given the hideous nature of what’s underneath, with nervous trepidation and sometimes with extreme and fully justified confidence. Let the games begin.

Winner: My predictions for Euro 2020 were dismal, so let that be a warning to you. Apart from comparing Sophie-Ellis Bextor to Denmark (both unfancied, and I fancied them both), I got everything else wrong, starting with saying that France would win it. So apologies in advance to Argentina – I’ve got you down to triumph in Qatar. Right now, Argentina are international football’s ‘invincibles’. On top of that, Lionel Messi holding the World Cup is surely the way that 2022 ends for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The team who will surprise us… Heart not head with this one – I really hope Canada do well. I say ‘heart’ because I’m so taken by John Herdman’s story and the way the Canada coach has transformed the fortunes of the national team. But – and this is a problem – Canada have a really tough group (in with Belgium, Croatia and Morocco). As an aside, Denmark isn’t an acceptable answer – you can only surprise us once.

The team who will disappoint us… What a category – egg-on-your-face territory here. On the face of it – and I don’t mean the egg – there are some strong candidates, with Belgium and France among them. As for England, I already feel like there’s been a lifetime of World Cup disappointment (to varying degrees – Italia 90 was a lot of fun before the penalties). Thankfully the office sweepstake has come to my rescue on this one: I pulled out France.

Breakthrough young player: The days of a relative unknown taking the World Cup by storm are gone. Clubs can’t even be bothered to scout major tournaments (partly because they know they can ring The Athletic hotline and ask Liam Tharme to give them the lowdown on anyone and everyone). Anyway, I’m going for Jude Bellingham. And before you ask, he definitely qualifies – he’s a teenager and he’s played 55 minutes of tournament football for his country. Oh, and I think he’s fantastic. Let him do his thing, Gareth.

Golden boot winner: No disrespect to some of the past winners, but the bar has not been set that high in recent years – six goals in 2018 and 2014 and five in the two World Cups before that. On that basis a hat-trick in the group stage against a weak opponent could go a long way – Harry Kane against Panama in Russia comes to mind. After trawling through the list of No 9s and feeling slightly underwhelmed, I ended up being drawn to Messi… especially if he fills his boots against Saudi Arabia.

Golden ball winner: A part of me is tempted to say Kevin De Bruyne, but that’s more a reflection of what I think of him rather than any faith I have in Belgium going far, if that makes sense. So I’ll go with Messi.

The game I cannot wait to watch… For me, there’s still a fascination about the South American nations. Yes, we watch their players all the time in Europe, but seeing them representing their country is totally different. For that reason, I hope we get the Brazil-Argentina semi-final that’s on the cards. Memories of Diego Maradona wriggling through a posse of Brazil players before releasing Claudio Cannigia in 1990 spring to mind – right foot assist too. As for the group stage, Ghana v Uruguay should be fun. England v Wales will be, too, if either team needs a result to qualify. Let’s not sugarcoat it, the Welsh hate the English – which, talking from personal experience, can be a tricky situation for an Englishman who supports a Welsh club.

Winner: England. There, I’ve said it (unlike anybody else, the cowards). I haven’t said it because I have even the minutest amount of logic to back it up, but I’m also not sure that logic is going to be one of the prevailing themes of this World Cup. Domestically, it’s already shaping up to be a weird season and with no preparation time, no build-up, no warm-up games, no anything at all except peculiarity and heat, why would form or injuries or the manager being too safe or any of that stuff matter very much? And nothing would be weirder than England actually winning something.

The team who will surprise us… If England win it I’d be absolutely astounded!

The team who will disappoint us… England, because of course they’re not going to win it. But — groping blindly for a serious point — I’m convinced this will be a tournament where a few outsiders coalesce, pull off a shock win and get momentum behind them and a few bigger teams absolutely fall flat. It’s just difficult to predict which ones.

Breakthrough young player: I’ve been very tempted to answer “Nick Pope” to all of these question in honour of the bizarre moment from earlier this season when a Burger King Twitter poll was hijacked by Newcastle fans (hello @ToonPolls) and the goalkeeper’s name was trending everywhere. However, let’s go for Garang Kuol. He hasn’t started a professional league game and has only played once for Australia, but he has been scoring goals off the bench for Central Coast Mariners and is quite a talent. He joins Newcastle — and Nick Pope — in January.

Garang Kuol, recently signed for Newcastle, could cause a stir with Australia (Photo: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Golden Boot winner: Harry Kane. And that could actually happen. Nobody has won two before, but he has his eyes on the prize (check out his forthcoming interview with Alan Shearer), and has been in good form for Spurs. If he starts quickly, you could see him going on a run, winning three penalties and building an unassailable lead before the quarter-finals.

Golden Ball winner: Yeah, I know. If I say Messi I’m just copying everybody else and I’m conforming to Argentina being one of the favourites which completely undermines the whole ‘this will be an illogical World Cup’ thesis, but I am an old softie and I do love a nice happy ending. He’s been so good for so long — let him have the stage.

The game I cannot wait to watch: I don’t know yet. Honestly, I don’t feel like we’ve had time to look forward to any of this, to really savour it (or to start filling in my sticker album). It’ll be great when it gets going and I’ll watch everything, but at this point, my head is still full from the last round of Premier League fixtures. I hate feeling like that, but it’s a total nonsense, isn’t it?

Nov 18, 2022

f you want to sound like a smart soccer fan, here’s your word: gegenpressing. If you don’t want to alienate your friends and loved ones, then perhaps peel back the accent and just go with: pressing or even counter-pressing.

Whatever language you land on, the broader concept is the defining feature of the modern version of the world’s most popular sport. For the majority of the sport’s history, the most important player was the No. 10 — the attacking midfielder who would be positioned at the top of the penalty area, between the opposition defensive and midfield lines, and play balls into the penalty area or score the goals himself. These are the geniuses, the artists, the players who’d frequently be referred to in magical terms: Pele, Maradona, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho all wore 10.

Eventually, though, as clubs became modernized, started raking in hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue, and thus grew their coaching and analysis staffs, they got really good at destroying the magic. In response to the dominance of the No.10, coaches simply began to pack extra players into the areas where the attacking midfielders once flourished. The position is now all but extinct.

What followed was a brief period where most of the best teams in the world were reactive and destructive. Jorge Valdano, a teammate of Maradona on the World Cup-winning Argentina side in 1986, famously described a match between English sides Liverpool and Chelsea as such: “Put a s— hanging from a stick in the middle of this passionate, crazy stadium and there are people who will tell you it’s a work of art. It’s not: it’s a s— hanging from a stick”.

Thankfully, that, uh, “era” was quickly overtaken by the “Pressing Era. The best teams now push all their defenders high up the field and try to win the ball back in the attacking third. While there was no space at the top of box for the creative geniuses anymore, these teams created all kinds of new spaces for themselves by swarming their opponents as soon as they lost the ball, winning it back, and attacking the gaps in the now-unsettled defense. “No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good counter-pressing situation,” according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

The major stylistic lever — the pre-planned strategy that most affects what you see in a given game on a given Saturday — is the press: how aggressive both teams are in trying to win the ball back, and how successful they are at doing so.

Got it? OK, now forget it all, because the first step toward understanding what you’re about to see in Qatar is accepting that it’s going to look very different from the soccer you might’ve seen over the past four years.

Although Cristiano Ronaldo recently claimed to have never heard of him, there’s perhaps no single person who’s had more of an impact on the modern game than a tiny, bespectacled German nerd named Ralf Rangnick.

While managing at then-third-division club Hoffenheim back in 2006, Rangnick came across a piece of research that suggested goals are most often scored within eight seconds of winning possession back from your opponent. Eight years prior, while coaching a tiny club called Ulm, Rangnick had appeared on a national talkshow called Das aktuelle Sportstudio. Among other things, he suggested that teams could be more proactive in attempting to win the ball back from their opponents. By saying this on national TV in a massively successful and very traditional soccer-playing nation, Rangnick earned the mocking nickname of “football professor.”

However, there was a virtuous connection between the two ideas. Rangnick became convinced that his teams should pressure the ball high up the field and then attempt low-probability passes quickly toward the opposition goal because if those passes failed, they could just start the cycle up again. “We are prepared to play risky passes, at the danger of them going astray, because that opens up the possibility to attack the second ball,” he’s said.

– World Cup 2022: Schedule, how to watch

Fully committed to these ideas, Hoffenheim quickly were promoted through the lower leagues and up to the Bundesliga, Germany‘s first division.

Swayed by his style, Red Bull — yes, that Red Bull — gave Rangnick the keys to their soccer project, and he helped to define the style for what would become their network of clubs across the globe: lots of energy, forward passing and chasing after loose balls. It’s mostly worked because Red Bull are able to recruit across the world and find players who fit their ideas, and are then trained toward them through their network of teams. The same goes for all of the big clubs across Europe that have adopted their own version of the press: They can sign whoever they want and then coach them up, day after day after day.

Sam Borden joins Futbol Americas to talk the USMNT captaincy situation as well as the latest on injury news.

You know who can’t just sign anyone and who doesn’t get to train every week? National teams. For even the best national teams, the player pool is constantly changing, and the teams only get together a few times per year to train.

When I asked him about the occasional high-profile breakdowns that come from playing an aggressive high-press, current Leeds manager and former Red Bull coach Jesse Marsch said: “Most of those times that it looks bad is a tactical breakdown where the players behind the ball, when we lose a ball, are not in tactically sound positions. Then the game looks more open than it should be. It’s aggressive. There’s no doubt, but it’s also intelligent. The goal is to not be wild; the goal is to still be in control.”

Predicting every game of the 2022 World Cup, from Qatar vs. Ecuador to the final3dRyan O’Hanlon
The death of crossing in the Premier League26dRyan O’Hanlon

To play an aggressive press, the players need to have the physical capacity, and then they need to know how to move in concert with one another. Otherwise, a couple of simple passes and boom: The other team is in on goal. Unfortunately, international sides don’t get to pick who was born where, and they really just don’t have the training time necessary to play in such an aggressive way without constantly getting torn to shreds.

– World Cup rank: The top 50 players in Qatar

France are the defending champs and the current third-favorites to win the whole thing, according to the betting markets. Brazil, meanwhile, are the favorites. According to a collection of projections combined together by Jan Van Haaren, a data scientist for a Champions League club in Belgium, Neymar & Co. have a 20% chance of winning the whole thing, while no one else is above 10%. In all competitive matches played since the beginning of last August, Brazil have allowed their opponents to complete 83% of their passes. Only two teams in the World Cup field were easier to pass against: Costa Rica … and France.

That doesn’t mean everyone is going to abandon the press, though. Since last August, Germany have won possession 7.4 times per game in the final-third — second among all 32 teams, behind just Japan. In addition to those two, a pair of other teams have both held their opponents to a completion percentage of 75% or lower and won at least six possessions per game in the attacking third: Spain and the United States.

In the club game, the full-season success rate of pressing makes it a good risk-reward bet in the long run. But at the World Cup, you play no more than seven games, and the risk of a leaky press is way higher. So, the defining strategic facet of modern soccer I talked about in the intro? It’ll mostly be absent from its most popular modern event.

On soccer’s journey toward analytical enlightenment, the sport has gotten really good at measuring what happens around the goal.

Throughout the World Cup, you’ll no doubt hear “expected goals” mentioned. Abbreviated as xG, it’s just an estimated probability that a given chance will be converted based on a number of historical characteristics. For example, a tap-in on the goal line would be worth something like 0.99 expected goals (99%) because Eric Choupo-Moting exists:https://www.youtube.com/embed/qc1rXDbWQ9s?wmode=transparent

Meanwhile, a shot from 50 yards out would be worth something like 0.01 xG. And then there’s everything in between. Why do we care about this? Well, xG is more predictive of future performance than any other single statistic. In the short term, anyone can turn two or three low-probability shots into goals, but in the long run, the best teams are the ones that create lots of high-quality chances and concede very few of them.

On an individual level, though, the same thinking applies. The best goal-scorers are the ones who get on the end of the largest collection of great chances, not the ones who are most likely to turn a particular shot into a goal. Lionel Messi actually is better than everyone else at converting shots into goals, but per Stats Perform data going back to 2010, he’s scored 533 goals in competitive club games over that stretch from chances worth about 435 expected goals. In other words, more than 80% of his scoring can be predicted from a number of factors recorded before he ever kicks a ball:

From expected goals, you can then take a step to expected goals assisted: Reward the passer with whatever the xG his pass created is. This strips out the quality of the shooter and instead rewards the passer for the quality of his passes, rather than what happened after he passed the ball. Leading all players across Europe’s Big Five leagues in expected goals assisted this season is Messi’s teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil’s Neymar:

From there, you can take another step back and see who’s playing the pass before the pass — or, say, the pass into the penalty area. Messi, who’s fourth in expected goals assisted, leads all players in Europe with 68. Next best is Manchester City and Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, with 50:

Take a step back from there, though, and things start to get really murky.

Luke Borrn, who was the head of analytics at Italian giants Roma before leaving to become the vice president of Strategy and Analytics with the Sacramento Kings, and is now a co-owner (along with Billy Beane) of French club Toulouse and Italian powers AC Milan, described the state of our objective knowledge of what’s valuable on a field as such: “It’s like the equivalent of if we only had data on dunks.”

What happens in the midfield — from a valuation standpoint — mostly remains a mystery. When you look at actions that increase or decrease a team’s likelihood of scoring a goal, everything that happens in the middle of the field pales in comparison to what happens near both goal mouths.

– Ranking every single World Cup: Which one is No.1?

Is this a calculation issue? Or does it require a re-imaging of the hierarchy of what happens on the field? It’s probably a bit of both, but because of the patterns of play we’re likely to see in Qatar, these players are going to have a much bigger influence on proceedings than they do in a given weekend across Europe.

Manchester City and England star Phil Foden takes on ESPN in a special shooting challenge ahead of the World Cup.

At the most recent European championships in the summer of 2021, passes were completed 84% of the time. In the Premier League season that followed, the number dropped down to 81%. On top of that, the ball moved toward the opposition goal at an average speed of 1.27 meters/second at the Euros, then leapt up to 1.39 meters/second in the Premier League. These seem like small differences, but with close to 1,000 passes occurring per game and around 200 total possessions per match, those differences really start to add up. There are fewer turnovers, and the game simply moves to a different rhythm.

With there being less pressure on the ball and with the ball moving upfield at a slower pace, the players in the middle have more time and space to make decisive plays. If you’ve only watched international soccer, you probably think that France’s Paul Pogba is the best soccer player in the world.https://www.youtube.com/embed/iUf9Zt3s8Ic?wmode=transparent

If you’ve only watched club soccer, you probably think that Paul Pogba is one of the most inconsistent and hard-to-fit players in the world. That difference is due, in no small part, to the dysfunction of his former club Manchester United, but it’s also due to the context in which he’s performing. On the international stage, midfielders have more room and more opportunities to influence play near the opposition goal. With Pogba and his midfield partner N’Golo Kante out injured for France, that might spell trouble for what’s been the heart of an uber-talented and successful team.

Germany lost Toni Kroos, one of the great midfielders of the 21st century, to retirement, while Spain opted not to select Thiago, who, when healthy, might just be the best midfielder in the world right now. Of course, a world-class midfielder is born every 15 seconds in Spain, so they’re not wanting for depth. Croatia, meanwhile, made a run to the finals in 2018 behind a world-class midfield, and that group might be equally as good this time around. And if you’re looking for a reason to be bullish about the USMNT, perhaps it’s here: midfield is one of their strengths. With Tyler Adams (a destroyer and ball-winner), Yunus Musah (a vertical ball-carrier), and Weston McKennie (an off-ball runner and goalscorer), the pieces fit really nicely together.

It used to be that coaches bemoaned set-piece practice: corners, free kicks, throw-ins, etc. Some, including Spain’s Luis Enrique, still do.

Paul Power, now the director of Artificial Intelligence with the data company Skill Corner, used to work as a consultant with the Premier League club Everton. At the time, their manager was current Belgium manager, Roberto Martinez.

“There’s this whole perception that scoring from set pieces is almost cheating,” Power said. “You know, like it’s not part of the beautiful game. Roberto Martinez just didn’t practice set pieces. He wanted to know everything about open play: synchronization between players, how to create space through intricate movements. But if you looked at a set piece, there was no interest. This still kind of plagues soccer, from top to bottom.”

Professor of Islamic history Jonathan Brown gives the definitive pronunciation of Qatar with Gio Reyna, Reggie Cannon and Sam Vines.

In addition to the stigma around the set-piece goal — as if it were an unfair or impure way to win games — coaches would claim that any time spent practicing set pieces would take away from practice time elsewhere. In other words, if you started scoring more goals from set plays due to more practice, it would be canceled out by the decline in open-play goals caused by the decline in open-play practice time.

It’s a sound-enough theory; it’s also dead wrong, and proof of its invalidity came in the Danish first division.

FC Midtjylland, the most forward-thinking soccer club on the planet, scored 25 set-piece goals in the 2014-15 season en route to their first-ever first-division title. Eventually everyone else caught on and started to copy the champs. And a funny thing happened: Everyone else started scoring a ton of set piece goals, too, but their open-play goal-scoring remained unchanged. Despite spending more time on set-piece practice, their ability in open-play remained the same.

“It pointed to a huge under-exploited tactical wrinkle in the game that could help teams score enough goals to win a title,” said Ted Knutson, who used to work for Midtjylland and now runs the data company Statsbomb. “And it’s repeatable across the entire sport. That’s a pretty big deal.”

– Is Qatar’s World Cup about “sportswashing” or something more?

Both Knutson and Power estimate that a good set-piece program can add somewhere around 15 goals in a given 38-game season. Why do they work so well? As the previous 2,000 words suggest, a lot of what happens on a soccer field is either random, difficult to quantify, impossible to comprehend, or all of the above. While you can’t really pre-practice any specific open-play patterns, a set piece is the only time in the game the ball stops moving and a team can execute an exact plan: a chosen kicker, a pre-selected ball-flight, and then a collection of routes not unlike an NBA in-bounds play or any given NFL play.

According to research from Power, the average open-play possession leads to a goal 1.1% of the time while the mostly-still-poorly-performed set pieces lead to a goal 1.8% of the time. On corners, out-swingers lead to shots more often than in-swingers (20.9% vs. 18.6%), but in-swingers are more likely to lead to goals: 2.7%, compared to 2.2%. While much of the success comes down to the creativity of the play design, Power also pointed to the effectiveness of a ball flicked-on by a near-post header compared to one that’s simply served into the “meat” of the box. Flick-ons are scored 4.9% of the time, while shots directly from the corner have a 2% success rate.

The ESPN FC crew debate who will have the best World Cup out of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Pedri.

While there hasn’t been a full-scale adoption of those ideas, the landscape is shifting, and quickly. Some groups, including Midtjylland and England manager Gareth Southgate, have even consulted with NBA and NFL teams on how best to create space in these situations. At the 2018 World Cup, there were 70 set-piece goals — 43% of all the goals scored at the tournament. England themselves scored nine, breaking the record set by Portugal in 1966.

In Qatar, don’t expect any drop-off in set-piece scoring. Hell, there might even be an increase. Given the limited training time afforded to national teams and the difficulty creating the kinds of cohesive creative structures that can conquer open-play, set-piece practice is even more time-effective at the international level. In 2018, the average team scored 1.3 goals per game. In a tournament that, at most, features seven total games for a given team, a couple extra set piece goals could be the difference between an early exit and a run all the way to the end.

There’s bound to be plenty of uncertainty over the next month, but I feel pretty confident in making at least one prediction: At least one important game is going to be decided in the moments after the ref blows his whistle, when all that chaotic and dynamic movement briefly comes to a halt.

A look at the players representing the USA at this year’s World Cup.By jcksnftsn Nov 19, 2022, 8:00am PST

United States v Mexico: Championship - CONCACAF Nations League Finals

So you’re relatively new to the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) or even the World Cup? Welcome to the party, whether this is your first time or you’re a regular we’re not doing any gatekeeping around here, the more the merrier. We can’t exactly blame you for showing up late either, the USMNT hasn’t played on the world’s largest stage in over eight years, having missed out on the tournament four years ago in embarrassing fashion. But we aren’t here to dwell on the past either, we’re here to look forward and celebrate the players that are representing the U.S. of A in Qatar in 2022.

The information below probably isn’t going to make you sound any smarter if you’re discussing the team or players with your soccer-head friends but hopefully it will help give you a good introduction to the team – it’s always more fun to feel like you can connect with the players representing your colors. What you’ll see below is that we have an incredibly youthful, but also diverse, melting pot of a team. Players from around the world, whose paths to get to this point have been incredibly varied, some of whom play at historic clubs across the globe, and some who have taken a harder path. Here’s an introduction to who you are cheering for in Qatar.

Ethan Shea Horvath, 27, Luton Town – 27-year-old Ethan Horvath who was born and raised on the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. As a teenager Horvath had interest from European sides but in order to meet visa requirements and sign with Norwegian side Molde his parents were required to move to Norway where they took jobs as janitors for the club. After Norway Horvath spent time in Belgium and most recently in England where he currently starts for Luton Town, a team in the English Championship (one step below the English Premier League). Horvath seems to be the perfect second goalkeeper as he has shown the willingness, as well as the ability to come off the bench mid-match and put in an outstanding performance. The most recent example of this was his substitute appearance against Mexico (our biggest soccer rival) in the National League Final in June of 2021. Horvath, put in an outstanding performance, leading the US to victory, including stopping a game tying penalty.

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Sean Everet Johnson, 33, New York City FC – At 33 years old Sean Johnson is one of the senior most members of this year’s USMNT. Born in Georgia to parents of Jamaican descent, Johnson is one of the many players who is considered a dual national, that is he had opportunities to play for two (or in some cases three) national teams but has chosen to represent the USA. Johnson has played his entire career in MLS, first with the Chicago fire and for the past five years with New York City FC where he led the team to the MLS Cup in 2021.

USA Portraits - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Matt Charles Turner, 28, Arsenal – Growing up soccer was an afterthought to Matt Turner, who picked up the sport to stay in shape for basketball and baseball and had dreams of being a professional pitcher. However, Turner ended up in goal due to an injury to his high school teammate but though didn’t immediately vault him to success either. Tuner was initially a walk on at Fairfield University in Connecticut before going undrafted in the MLS Super Draft and signing a contract with the New England Revolution. It would take Turner two more years to make his MLS debut for the Revolution in 2018. In 2021 he was named the MLS Goalkeeper of the year and in June of this year he moved to English Premier League side Arsenal where he is the backup keeper at one of London’s most historic clubs.

Defenders:

Cameron Carter-Vickers, 24, Celtic – Born in England, playing in Scotland, but eligible to represent the US as he is the son of an American, Cameron Carter-Vickers (CCV) is one of four center backs to make the 2022 World Cup squad. Carter-Vickers father Howard was a professional basketball player who played two years in the NBA before a long career overseas that included meeting CCV’s English mother while playing in Greece. Carter-Vickers grew up primarily with his mother in England with visits to his father, who he remains close with, in Louisiana. CCV grew up playing soccer in the Tottenham Hotspurs academy and went out on a series of loans to clubs in the English Championship before being loaned to Scottish side Celtic who made the loan permanent this summer signing Carter-Vickers to a long term contract.

Sergiño Gianni Dest, 22, AC Milan – The son of a Surinamese-American father and a Dutch mother, Sergiño Dest surprised many when he spurned pursuit from the Dutch national team and committed to representing the USMNT. Dest is the type of modern defender who believes the best defense is a good offense and will unleash some random skill just for the fun of it. He might also be the most chill player on the team, he nearly missed Lionel Messi’s farewell press conference at Barcelona and showed up in a fake Chicago Bulls jersey because he was playing soccer on the beach with a bunch of kids. Dest came up through the Ajax system in the Netherlands, spent two years with Barcelona, and moved to Italy’s AC Milan in September.

Aaron Ray Long, 30, New York Red Bulls – A coast-to-coast American and late bloomer, Aaron Long was born in California, he took the college route and graduated from UC Riverside before being drafted by the Portland Timbers. However, it wasn’t until he was transferred to the New York Red Bulls in 2016 that Long started to break through. Long ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2021 but has worked his way back from the injury in time to be included in the World Cup squad.

Japan v United States - International Friendly

Shaquell Kwame Moore, 26, Nashville SC – A native of Powder Spring, Georgia, Shaq Moore moved to Spain ahead of his 18th birthday and spent the next seven seasons playing in several divisions, including a season with Levante in La Liga, at the time becoming just the fourth American to play in Spain’s top division. Moore also spent three years in the Canary Islands with CD Tenerife who play in Spain’s second division. In June of this year Moore move back stateside, taking a role at right-back with Nashville SC.

Timothy Michael Ream, 35, Fulham – The elder statesman of this year’s team is Tim Ream who hadn’t been called up for a national team game in over a year and at 35 had made peace with saying goodbye to the dream of playing World Cup soccer. However, a hot start to the season with Fulham in the English Premier League was apparently enough to catch the eye of Gregg Berhalter who called Ream up. Fulham are a “yo-yo club” that typically see themselves relegated straight back to the Championship on the occasions that they’ve been promoted to the EPL for a season. The 2022-23 season has had a bit of a different feel thus far though as the side, captained by Ream, currently sit in 9th place in the standings. Ream is in his eighth season with Fulham, after four years spent with the Bolton Wanderers.

Antonee Robinson, 25, Fulham – Arguably the best Left-back in USMNT history, Antonee Robinson (or Jedi as he prefers) is an Englishman whose father was also English but gained US Citizenship while being raised in White Plains, New York. USMNT eligible through his father’s citizenship Robinson elected to represent the US and there’s been no looking back as he started eleven of the fourteen qualifying matches for the team. Robinson is a speedster who seems to come flying out of nowhere to make his presence felt for club and country. Robinson pairs with Tim Ream on the left side of defense for Fulham so is likewise contributing to a surprising start for the club this Fall. If that weren’t enough he’s also a bit of a magician and back flip expert.

Joseph Michael Scally, 19, Borussia Monchengladbach – Just 19 years old, Joe Scally is already in his second season in the Bundesliga, Germany’s topflight of football, where he’s regularly matching up against the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Scally is a native of Lake Grove, New York who became the second youngest professional soccer player in United States history when he signed with New York City FC just a few months after his 15th birthday. After just seven appearances with NYCFC across three years Scally moved to Germany late in 2020 and would make his first appearance for Gladbach last Fall. Scally appeared in thirty matches for Gladbach last season, including twenty starts, and has started every match for his team this year. Scally is also close friends with Giovanni Reyna as the two spent time together in the NYCFC system.

DeAndre Roselle Yedlin, 29, Inter Miami – The only member of the 2022 World Cup squad with previous World Cup experience is DeAndre Yedlin who eight years ago was a 20-year-old backup right back making his ascent. Yedlin appeared in three matches off the bench and following the tournament would make a move from his hometown Seattle Sounders to Tottenham in the EPL. Yedlin made just one appearance for Tottenham and played the following season on loan with Sunderland before transferring to Newcastle United and playing five seasons with the Magpies. In 2020 Yedlin moved to Turkey and spent two seasons playing with Galatasaray before coming back to MLS in 2022 to play for Inter Miami. Most importantly Yedlin’s middle name, Roselle, is presumably a nod to the Women’s National Team’s Rose Lavelle and thus Yedlin is a very, very good human being. Seriously though, in addition to providing some much-needed World Cup experience, Yedlin has been described as a “vibes” guy who is close friends with Timothy Weah.

Walker Dwain Zimmerman, 29, Nashville SC – Perhaps the most surprising revelation of the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle has been Walker Zimmerman who was a bit of an afterthought as the cycle started but has become one of the first names written down on the team sheet. Zimmerman is a native of Georgia, who started his professional career with FC Dallas, before a move to LAFC, and now he plays for Nashville SC with teammate Shaq Moore. While “Captain America” is the most overused nickname for the US team, Zimmerman looks to have laid sole claim to the American Thor throne.

Midfielders:

Brenden Russell Aaronson, 22, Leeds United – Hailing from Medford, New Jersey and a product of the Philadelphia Union academy, Brenden Aaronson joined RB Salzburg in January 2021 at the age of 20. Aaronson played a year and a half with RB Salzburg, scoring nine goals in 46 appearances before moving to Leeds United in the English Premier League this summer where he joined forces with Tyler Adams (more on him below) and American manager Jesse Marsch. Aaronson is a little buzzing, bundle of energy, who channels that energy into causing chaos for the opponent.

Kellyn Kai Perry-Acosta, 27, Los Angeles FC – The USMNT is filled with dual nationals but one that might fly under the radar is Kellyn Acosta whose father was born in Japan making Acosta (whose surname comes from his Mexican step-grandfather) eligible to represent Japan or the USA. Acosta will be the first Japanese-American to represent the US at a men’s World Cup. Acosta started his career in the FC Dallas system before being traded to the Colorado Rapids. This year he was traded to LAFC where he would help the club to finish the regular season in first place and capture their first MLS Cup title, including scoring the opening goal in the Final.

Tyler Shaan Adams, 23, Leeds United – There are approximately fifty-seven “Captain America” nicknamed players on this roster but the one that seems most likely to actually be the captain is Tyler Adams whose demeanor, intelligence, and communication make him a natural for the role, whether he is wearing the armband or not. A native of Wappinger Falls, New York, Adams grew up in the Red Bulls Academy which he joined at the age of 12. Adams would make his senior team debut shortly after his 17th birthday and would go on to play three years with NY Red Bulls before moving to RB Leipzig early in 2019. Adams moved to Leeds United this summer where he reunited with his former coach Jesse Marsch and fellow USMNT teammate Brenden Aaronson. Adams has been at his best this season against the EPL heavyweights such as Liverpool and Chelsea where he has been a menace all over the field, shutting down attacks.

Luca Daniel de la Torre, 23, Celta Vigo – Born and raised in San Diego, Luca de la Torre moved to London shortly after his freshman year of highschool to join the Fulham academy. Luca spent seven years in the Fulham system, seeing little playing time at the senior level before moving to the Netherlands in 2020 to join Heracles Almelo. de la Torre spent two years at the club and made enough of an impression to start seeing callups to the senior US side and make a move to his father’s home country of Spain and join La Liga side Celta Vigo this past summer.

Weston James Earl McKennie, 24, Juventus – A youth product of the FC Dallas system, Weston McKennie chose to bet on himself, declining a homegrown contract with the club to make a move to the German Bundesliga and join FC Schalke in 2016 shortly after his eighteenth birthday. McKennie played with Schalke for four years in the Bundesliga, showing himself to be a versatile piece as he was played all over the pitch. Then in 2020 as Schalke was being relegated and experiencing extreme financial issues McKennie joined the Italian giants Juventus. Now in his third season with the club McKennie is a clear favorite of manager Massimiliano Allegri though rumors of a move to the EPL continue to swirl. McKennie is a real set piece threat with an ability to get his head through a ball to smash it home. If you see the Harry Potter fan whip out his magic wand celebration than something has gone well for the USMNT.

Yunus Dimoara Musah, 19, Valencia – It’s possible that no one represents the melting pot of America better than Yunus Musah whose nationality options are outpaced only by his enormous smile. Musah is the son of Ghanian parents, who were living in Italy but visiting family in New York City when he was born, thus making him eligible to represent the US. In addition to Ghana, Italy and the US Musah was also eligible to represent England after his family moved there when he was nine. In fact, Musah came up through England’s national team system and it wasn’t until March of 2021 that he committed to playing for the US. Musah joined the Arsenal academy when he was nine and his family moved to England but he made the move to Spain and La Liga to join Valencia when he was 16, making his debut a year later. Don’t take your eyes off of Musah, who can change the game in a moment.

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Cristian Roldan, 27, Seattle Sounders – Speaking of dual national experiences Cristian Roldan has had the unique experience of suiting up against his brother in international competition. Cristian and his brother Alex were both born in the US and play together for the Seattle Sounders but were both eligible to represent the United States, El Salvador, or Guatemala in International competition. The Roldan’s father is Guatemalan while their mother is from El Salvador. While the younger brother Alex chose to represent El Salvador, Cristian has chosen to represent the United States. While he has not seen much playing time in qualifying Cristian is lauded by teammates as being an exemplary teammate and he has been known to pull out the occasional banger for his club.

Forwards:

Jesus David Ferreira Castro, 21, FC Dallas – Born in Colombia, Jesus Ferreira moved to Texas when he was 10 and his father signed a contract with FC Dallas. Fast forward 11 years and it’s Jesus who is scoring goals for club and country. Ferreira led FC Dallas with 18 goals in the 2022 season, ironically this was made possible in part by Ricardo Pepi moving to Germany in January which led to Dallas signing Ferreira to a long-term contract. Ferrira was named the 2022 MLS Young Player of the Year and named to the MLS Best Eleven.

Jordan Perry Morris, 28, Seattle Sounders – Born and raised in Seattle, Jordan Morris has found himself living the dream of playing for his hometown Sounders where his father is also employed as the team’s Chief Medical Director. Still a student at Stanford University when he was first called up to the USMNT in 2014, Morris became the rare type of player to be called up to the senior team while still playing at the collegiate level. Morris is also a rarity in that he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of nine and has become one of the few professional athletes to play through the condition. The challenges don’t stop there, Morris has recovered from two separate ACL tears, the most recent occurring while on loan with Swansea City in the Championship League in February of 2021.

Christian Mate Pulisic, 24, Chelsea FC – If you’ve heard of just one USMNT player it’s probably Christian Pulisic. Pulisic, a native of Hershey, Pennsylvania was able to acquire a European passport at the age of 16 thanks to his Grandfathers Croatian citizenship. Pulisic signed for perennial Bundesliga contenders Borussia Dortmund at 16 and made his debut for their first team when he was 17. After four seasons with Dortmund Pulisic moved to Chelsea FC in the English Premier League in 2019 for the largest fee ever paid for an American soccer player. In 2021 Pulisic would help Chelsea to win the Champions League, in the process becoming the first American to score in the tournaments semi-final with a goal against Real Madrid, and the first American to play in the final.

Mexico v United States: 2022 World Cup Qualifying

Giovanni Alejandro Reyna, 20, Borussia Dortmund – If this name rings a bell, it could be because Giovanni Reyna is US Soccer royalty. The son of USMNT legend Claudio Reyna and Danielle Egan, who played for the US Women’s national team, Reyna’s ascent to the USMNT has seemed like a foregone conclusion. Reyna is a part of the U.S. crew that was actually born in England, Reyna while his father was playing for Sutherland. Giovanni was raised in New York City and played for the New York City FC academy until 2019 when he moved to Borussia Dortmund as a 16-year-old in 2019. In early 2020 Reyna would become the youngest American to make their Bundesliga, just two months after turning 17. While he certainly has the pedigree the path hasn’t always been easy for Reyna, who’s story includes tragic family loss, and more recently a series of highly frustrating injuries that have kept him out of action. When he’s on the field Reyna shows the ball control and finishing skills to be a true difference maker for the US.

Joshua Thomas Sargent, 22, Norwich City – A native of O’Fallon, Missouri, Josh Sargent joined Bundesliga side Werder Bremen on his eighteenth birthday in 2018. He would play in Germany for three season before moving to EPL side Norwich City in 2021. It was a rough season for player and club as Sargent scored just two goals in twenty-six appearances and Norwich were relegated to the English Championship. Sargent stuck with the club and things have gotten back on track this fall as Sargent has banged in nine goals already in nineteen appearances for his club.

Timothy Tarpeh Weah, 22, Lille – Actual soccer royalty, Timothy Weah is the son of the President of Liberia who also happens to be former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah (the award given annually to the best soccer player on the globe). Tim was born in Brooklyn in 2020 and was actually eligible to represent four different countries: Jamaica, Liberia, France, and the U.S. Weah has represented the US through various Youth Levels, starting at the age of 12 on the Under 14 team and has said the decision to represent the U.S. at the senior level was an easy one based on his love of the country and his teammates. Weah’s professional career has been based in France where he started with Paris Saint-Germain and has now spent the past four seasons with Lille.

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Haji Amir Wright, 24, Antalyaspor – Another product of the U.S. youth national teams Haji Wright played for the youth sides beginning at the U-15 level and continuing throughout to the U23 level where he has developed friendships with a number of his senior side teammates including Christian Pulisic who reportedly argued for Wright to get his first callup to the senior side in May of this year. Wright’s professional career has been a bit more unconventional and has included stops in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and most recently in Turkey where he signed a three-year deal with Antalyaspor in July.

Nov 16, 2022

Ryan O’HanlonESPN.com writer

When I first did this, seven months ago, I wrote the following: “Players can get injured, players can play poorly, players can appear out of nowhere, managers can quit their jobs — the list of complicating factors is endless.” And yet, I still went ahead and made a prediction for all 64 of the matches scheduled to be played in Qatar.

Since then, the final two slots in the tournament were confirmed. (Sorry, Peru!) And so have the 26-man rosters for all 32 teams. (Sorry, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Diogo Jota, Reece James, and on and on.) We now know who’s playing, both at a micro and macro level, in a way I did not, back in April. Players have been injured, players have played poorly, players have appeared out of nowhere, and managers have left their jobs.

So, with this added information, we’re running it back and predicting all the matches from Nov. 21 through Dec. 18 — again. Some of the predictions and analysis from the first time around will not change, while other parts will read very differently. Like last time, all of the stats mentioned in the piece come from Stats Perform, but unlike last time, we are only looking at data from competitive matches played since August 1, 2021..

And also like last time, I’ve employed the help of the consultancy Twenty First Group, which has built a model that combines individual player ratings and team performance to create a rating for every international team. With international soccer, there aren’t enough games to truly judge a team based on its recent results, and the rosters are always changing, so this player-based method attempts to address those problems. I’ll reference their ratings throughout this journey; it’s just another tool to help guide us from start to finish.

All right, let’s get to it — again!

Qatar vs. Ecuador (Group A): One big thing that’s changed since the first go-round? The date of and participants in the opening game! Senegal–Netherlands was supposed to be the opener, but tournament organizers have since bumped up this match a day to ensure the host nation gets Game 1. Does the fact that no one had thought about this until a couple of months ago bode well for the general logistical success of a massive global event taking place in a tiny desert nation? It does not, but we’ve already lost the thread here. Back to the games …

There’s no other way to say it, really: Qatar are the worst host nation team in the history of the World Cup, and the Qataris are only in the tournament because of the incredibly dubious process that led to their country being awarded the tournament.

– Is Qatar’s World Cup an attempt at sportswashing, or something more?

They’re 50th in the FIFA rankings, and Twenty First Group’s model rates them as the worst defensive team in the tournament by a good margin. Per the ratings, the gap between them and the 31st-ranked defensive team (Costa Rica) is bigger than the gap between Costa Rica and No. 17 Senegal. Qatar can play some nice possession soccer at times (see: their match against the United States at the 2021 Gold Cup) — but it’s hard to see them not getting overpowered by bigger and stronger teams.

Despite some fun talent, Ecuador don’t seem all that good — they barely eked out a positive goal differential in qualifying — but they should cruise in this one.

Result: Qatar 0-2 Ecuador

Gab & Juls preview Group A at the 2022 World Cup, which contains hosts Qatar, Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador.

England vs. Iran (Group B): England have been awful ever since I wrote those first predictions. They were relegated from the first tier of the Nations League and haven’t won any of their past six games. Since 1998, teams that made the semifinals of the World Cup have, on average, won better than 60% of their final five games before the tournament. Gareth Southgate’s team, of course, have won 0%.

After Spain, England are the slowest team in the tournament, moving the ball upfield at a crawl’s pace of 0.96 meters per second. And while Iran can’t score, they’ve always been tough to score against. This one, especially the first half, could be a slog for the Three Lions.

Result: England 2-0 Iran

Senegal vs. Netherlands (Group A): OK, now that we’ve reached what should be the first competitive game of the tournament, it’s time for some ground rules, base rates, what have you. Over the past two World Cups, 80% of the matches were won by one team or another, with the remaining 20% ending in draws. And there have been an average of 2.6 goals scored per game.

When a team wins, they score 2.3 goals and concede 0.6. When it’s a draw, the scores, very nicely, add up to 1.0 goals for and 1.0 goals against. So roughly, the average win at the World Cup is a 2-1 margin, and the average draw is 1-1.

Among teams that have appeared in the past two tournaments, France have averaged both the most goals scored (2.0) and conceded the fewest (0.8). At the other end of the spectrum, among teams with appearances in both events, Iran have scored the fewest goals (0.5 per game), while Australia have allowed the most (2.3). If we limit it to teams who have made at least one appearance, then Panama have allowed the most goals (3.7), while Cameroon and Honduras (0.3) have scored the fewest.

While they missed out on Russia 2018, Netherlands have scored the most goals (2.1) and conceded the second fewest (0.6, behind Denmark‘s 0.5) among teams to appear in at least one of the previous two tournaments. Their manager in 2014? Louis van Gaal. Their manager in 2018? One Louis van Gaal.

Befitting what is widely considered the worst group in the tournament, Netherlands are the eighth-best team, according to the Twenty First Group model, while Senegal rank 18th. One stylistic indicator to keep an eye on: Senegal have moved the ball upfield faster (1.73 meters per second) than any team in the tournament other than Morocco. In contrast, LVG’s teams have a history of slow-moving, sideways possession. Should be a fun one, and it’s a nice matchup for Sadio Mane & Co. The winner of this likely wins the group.

Result: Senegal 1-1 Netherlands

United States vs. Wales (Group B): The U.S. had a really hard time with teams that could effectively sit back and counter during qualifying; and with a supposedly fit and healthy Gareth Bale leading the way, the Welsh have been one of the most effective sit-back-and-counter teams in international soccer over the past decade. Of course, we have seen Bale sprint approximately one time since April, and that was after he scored the tying goal in the dying minutes of the MLS Cup for Los Angeles FC against the Philadelphia Union. He sure can dunk; can he still run?

The U.S. truly do have more talent than Wales, but their Day 1 opponents will present a tactical puzzle that Gregg Berhalter’s team haven’t yet solved.

Result: U.S. 1-1 Wales

Gab & Juls preview Group B at the 2022 World Cup, with Marcotti wondering if England can finally go all the way.

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia (Group C): The vibes around Argentina are as good as they’ve ever been right now, and the Saudis just match up terribly with them — and frankly, with most teams in the tournament. They like to possess the ball, so there should be plenty of space for Argentina’s dynamic attackers to run into as Lionel Messi continues to drop deeper and deeper as he gets older, pinging pinpoint passes up and across the field. Their 35-game unbeaten streak continues apace.

Result: Argentina 3-0 Saudi Arabia

Denmark vs. Tunisia (Group D): In international soccer, everyone knows you’ve got the Big Nine. (Actually, don’t use this term; I just made it up, and people will look at you funny if you try to drop it in conversation.) There’s Brazil and Argentina from South America, along with the European septet of France, Spain, England, Germany, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands. But after that group, Denmark have the shortest odds to win the whole thing. They made the semis of the Euros, and it wasn’t a fluke.

– World Cup 2022 team-by-team previews

The level of coaching at this tournament and at international soccer in general will vary widely, but Kasper Hjulmand showed an ability to build a really fun, interesting and flexible side last summer. The Danes are still lacking a truly standout goal scorer, but they’re one of the more cohesive and well-thought-out teams in the event. They’ll smash the set-piece button, too.

Result: Denmark 2-0 Tunisia

Mexico vs. Poland (Group C): Yes, Poland do have Robert Lewandowski, the red-hot best striker in the world. But also: Poland have had Robert Lewandowski for over a decade at this point and never really accomplished anything of note at the international level. I don’t see much of a difference in these two teams overall.

Result: Mexico 1-1 Poland

France vs. Australia (Group D): Sure, France lost the entire midfield that made this team go, but there’s still no need to overcomplicate this. Despite attempting to qualify out of a comparatively easy region, Australia produced an expected-goal differential of plus-0.22 per 90 minutes in their competitive matches since last August. Only Uruguay, Costa Rica and Ghana were worse — with the latter two somehow making it into the tournament despite consistently getting buried under great chances by their opponents.

France will probably play this more conservatively than they should, but hey, it worked last time, didn’t it?

Result: France 1-0 Australia

Gab & Juls preview Group C at the 2022 World Cup, with Argentina expected to cruise into the knockout rounds.

Morocco vs. Croatia (Group F): These are two teams that illustrate the dual beauty and curse of international soccer: some global superstars playing with some guys from the Croatian and Moroccan first divisions. In April, I wrote, “It would be a massive boost for Morocco if Chelsea‘s Hakim Ziyech decides to unretire before the World Cup, but we’re counting him out for now.” Guess what? Ziyech is back, baby! Croatia, meanwhile, are essentially just a worse, older version of the unlikely team that made the World Cup final last time around.

Among tournament sides, Croatia rank 10th according to Twenty First Group, while the Moroccans sit 17th. INCREDIBLY MINOR UPSET ALERT.

Result: Morocco 2-1 Croatia

Germany vs. Japan (Group E): Don’t sleep on this game — metaphorically, that is. For some of you, this game will be played while you literally are sleeping, but DVR it if you have to because it could be a lot of fun.

In the sample of games mentioned in the intro, Germany had the best expected-goal differential per game, while Japan were sixth. By hiring former Bayern manager Hansi Flick, the Germans have basically doubled down on the push-everyone-forward high-wire act that saw them get dumped out in the group stages in 2018; all of their matches are a must-watch.

Result: Germany 3-2 Japan

Spain vs. Costa Rica (Group E): Time for some introspection. I stand by the phrase, uttered in April, “Spain have the best coach in the tournament.” But Luis Enrique is really testing my resolve here and making me wonder what “coaching” even means. He left the likes of Liverpool‘s Thiago and PSG’s Sergio Ramos off his roster, and he recently admitted that he thought practicing set pieces was a waste of time. Despite, you know, some people (me) writing whole chapters of whole books about how set-piece practice is the most cost- and time-effective way to score goals.

That being said, Spain mopped the floor with Italy in the semifinals of the Euros only to lose in a shootout, and the team is built around a core of young, dynamic, flexible winger/attacker/midfielder/whatever types that have produced some really intricate and club-team-like possession play.

Costa Rica, meanwhile, might be the oldest team at the tournament. I’m not buying their late surge in CONCACAF or their win over New Zealand, either.

Result: Spain 2-0 Costa Rica

Belgium vs. Canada (Group F): This is just an awful matchup for Belgium. They’re weak at the back and can’t really defend in space, but Roberto Martinez has the team playing in a way that requires his aging slew of center backs to sometimes still do that. Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David are both one-man counterattacks … and they play on the same team.

The Belgians might overwhelm Canada with possession, but it’s really hard to imagine any pattern to this game that doesn’t involve David and Davies streaking up the field into wide-open space at least a couple of times.

Result: Belgium 1-2 Canada

Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez take a look at which CONCACAF players make ESPN FC’s World Cup rank.

Switzerland vs. Cameroon (Group G): Will Xherdan Shaqiri finally take off all of his clothes during a World Cup match? Tune in on Thanksgiving morning as we begin our collective journey.

Result: Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon

Uruguay vs. South Korea (Group H): I must repent.

April me: “Sorry, but I just can’t get excited about a team that (A) is managed by a coach who was fired by the worst club in MLS, (B) conceded as many goals as it scored in qualifying and (C) still relies on a pair of 35-year-old strikers. This will be South Korea’s last World Cup with Son Heung-Min somewhere near his peak. I like that a little better.”

– World Cup vignettes: People in Qatar talk about what it means to them

November me: Darwin Nunez is the most exciting player in world soccer. He’s averaging more than a goal or an assist per 90 minutes. He frequently looks like he doesn’t know how to tie his shoes, let alone walk and chew gum at the same time, let alone play professional soccer for one of the best teams in the world. He will, on a single play, dribble the ball 60 yards, beat three defenders, and then somehow shoot the ball … backward. He’s complete chaos — and he’s likely going to be paired with a mild-mannered veteran named … LUIS SUAREZ. Throw in midfielders Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur, neither of whom can stop scoring, then add in a recent injury to Son Heung-Min, and we’re taking Uruguay this time.

Result: Uruguay 1-0 South Korea

Portugal vs. Ghana (Group H): Remember all those Ghana teams the U.S. had trouble with? Good, now wipe that from your memory. Although they’ve added some new, nationalized talent like Inaki Williams and Tariq Lamptey, the Black Stars limped into the tournament off a lucky Thomas Partey goal in a match that Nigeria dominated. This team didn’t get out of its group at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Result: Portugal 2-0 Ghana

Brazil vs. Serbia (Group G): When they played four years ago, the match ended 2-0. When they play while you’re falling asleep on your couch from too much turkey …

Result: Brazil 2-0 Serbia

Wales vs. Iran (Group B): It probably won’t happen, but this match could consist of 90 minutes of both teams staring at the ball while it sits in the middle of the center circle, daring the other side to take the initiative. With both sides at their best without the ball, this feels like a terrible matchup for everyone, especially those who decide to wake up early to watch it.

Result: Wales 0-0 Iran

Qatar vs. Senegal (Group A): Senegal soaks up possession from Qatar, the hosts can’t break down the likes of Everton‘s Idrissa Gueye and Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly, the ball turns over and all of a sudden, it’s Sadio Mane breaking into the penalty area — over and over and over again.

Result: Qatar 0-2 Senegal

Netherlands vs. Ecuador (Group A): The Netherlands have been on fire over the past few months. The Elo ratings get updated each time a team plays a game based on the result and the competitiveness of the match, and only Brazil, Argentina and Spain are currently ahead of the Dutch. But this roster … just doesn’t make much sense. They have a bunch of good center backs who can’t all play together and a bunch of gigantic strikers who can’t all play together. Beyond that, the midfield feels very light, and then it’s a bunch of wide attackers who all like to occupy the same spaces and not many guys who can stretch a defense.

Gab Marcotti says he has no idea what to expect from defending champions France at the 2022 World Cup.

Tunisia vs. Australia (Group D): Based on the Twenty First Group ratings, this would be the worst game of the tournament: No. 25 vs. No. 29.

Result: Tunisia 1-1 Australia

Poland vs. Saudi Arabia (Group C): This feels like one of those “guy wins the Golden Boot in one game” type matches, doesn’t it? Would the over/under on Lewandowski goals be 1.5? Maybe even 2?

Result: Poland 4-1 Saudi Arabia

Argentina vs. Mexico (Group C): The last time Tata Martino coached an international match involving the greatest soccer player of all time, Lionel Messi immediately retired after the game. Let’s all hope that’s not the case this time around! I’m skeptical that Martino’s familiarity with the Argentina setup will provide too much of an edge, but it certainly can’t hurt.

Result: Argentina 2-1 Mexico

France vs. Denmark (Group D): The holders against the Euro semifinalists makes for a fun group stage rematch. They drew 0-0 when they played in the group stages in 2018. Denmark have definitely improved since then, and although Pogba and Kante are gone, Karim Benzema is back.

Result: France 1-1 Denmark

Japan vs. Costa Rica (Group E): It’s time for the transitive property of analysis. Japan pummeled the USMNT in their tuneup friendly a couple of months ago. Despite the score lines over their matches, the U.S. were clearly a better team than Costa Rica over the course of qualifying. Therefore …

Result: Japan 1-0 Costa Rica

Belgium vs. Morocco (Group F): In April, I said, “This is a much better matchup for Belgium than Canada, I think.” I’m proud of myself for absentmindedly inserting “I think” there because it suggested some trepidation. And while I do think Morocco are a slightly better matchup, I no longer think they’re a much better matchup. After all, as mentioned earlier, the Moroccans are the fastest team in the tournament. This is a less talented, and much older, Belgium team than the one we saw at the last World Cup, and the situation hasn’t improved much since April. Eden Hazard has essentially fallen off the face of the earth but is expected to play a prominent role, while Romelu Lukaku has scored a whopping one goal in Serie A this season. He’s on pace to score fewer goals for Inter than he did during last season’s disastrous stint at Chelsea.

– What big European clubs are doing during the World Cup

Remember: A favorite goes out early in every tournament …

Result: Belgium 1-1 Morocco

Croatia vs. Canada (Group F): Against Canada in Canada, the U.S. dominated possession, pressed well and put together some really nice combinations, but it rarely ever led to a quality shot on goal. Croatia should be able to control this game in the same way, and with more midfield talent than the Americans can offer, they also should be able to turn that possession into some more dangerous chances.

If they can’t, they’ll just bop crosses into the box and shoot from range — two specialties of Ivan Perisic — opting for a more industrial Plan B the U.S. never resorted to.

Result: Croatia 2-1 Canada

Spain vs. Germany (Group E): With Nos. 2 and 7 in the Twenty First Group ratings, this is, theoretically, the Game of the Group Stages. But more often than not, the Game of the Group Stages ends in disappointment because both sides have more to lose than to gain by going all-out for the win. Hell, and even when they do, like with Spain and Portugal in 2018, the match can still end even.

Result: Spain 1-1 Germany

Professor of Islamic history Jonathan Brown gives the definitive pronunciation of Qatar with Gio Reyna, Reggie Cannon and Sam Vines.

Cameroon vs. Serbia (Group G): This just isn’t a good group for Cameroon. Brazil might be the best team in the tournament, while Serbia and Switzerland both rank within the top 15 of the Twenty First Group rankings. As such, TFG gives the Indomitable Lions just an 11% chance of reaching the knockout rounds. Only Qatar (9%) and Costa Rica (8%) have a smaller chance of advancing.

Result: Cameroon 1-2 Serbia

South Korea vs. Ghana (Group H): Among all the teams in the tournament, Ghana are the only ones who were outscored in all of their competitive matches since last August. This isn’t a vintage South Korea side by any means, but they should be alive come the final Matchday.

Result: South Korea 1-0 Ghana

Brazil vs. Switzerland (Group G): They tied 1-1 in the group stages last time around, but Brazil totally dominated the shot count 21-6. There’s no good reason to suggest any different this time around, and there’s no good reason to expect the bounces to fall Switzerland’s way a second time.

Result: Brazil 2-1 Switzerland

Portugal vs. Uruguay (Group H): Funnily enough, the Twenty First Group model rates Uruguay as exactly the same as Serbia. And that Serbian team beat and drew Portugal en route to winning the World Cup qualifying group and forcing Fernando Santos’ team into a playoff. Portugal lost Diogo Jota since I first wrote this thing, and Cristiano Ronaldo seems to be rapidly declining and killing the vibes at every possible opportunity, while Uruguay have a bunch of ascending soon-to-be-if-they’re-not-already superstars. But even without Jota and with a big question mark over Ronaldo’s performance up top, Portugal still have way more talent up and down the roster.

Uruguay knocked Portugal out in the round of 16, but these two teams are in very different places four years later — even if the headline names remain the same.

Result: Portugal 2-1 Uruguay

Netherlands vs. Qatar (Group A): One of those classic World Cup matchups between one team that’s already eliminated and another team that’s trying to score as many goals as possible in order to win the potential goal-differential tiebreaker atop the group.

Result: Netherlands 4-1 Qatar

Ecuador vs. Senegal (Group A): While the incentives tend to be uniform over the first two matches of the group stages — win as many points as you can — by the third game, you’re just trying to do whatever you think maximizes your chances of qualifying. While a win would put Ecuador through, a draw or a win would be good enough for Senegal.

It was the same exact situation when Senegal played Colombia in the final group stage game in 2018 — and lost. Four years later, they’ve learned their lesson.

Result: Ecuador 1-1 Senegal

Wales vs. England (Group B): Based on the prior outcomes, England will have already clinched first place in the group through the first two matches. That, theoretically, bodes incredibly well for Wales … until you remember that England’s second-choice team is likely to be nearly as good as its first. Southgate rotated his squad during the group stages of the Euros without much issue, and the same should be true this time around.

Result: Wales 1-1 England

Iran vs. United States (Group B): Another team that doesn’t want the ball.

In April, I wrote: “Hopefully you’re sensing a theme here … and hopefully Gregg Berhalter is too. While, paradoxically, it seemed like the U.S. might match up better against better competition come the World Cup — less of the ball, but more transition opportunities, and more space in the attacking third — they’ve drawn a collection of teams who also function better without it. Figuring out how to break these teams down — hint, hint, set pieces! — should be the goal of the next seven months.”

Spoiler: They did not figure it out over the next seven months. However, I am now dangerously close to proclaiming, “The USMNT is better against good teams than bad teams,” and that’s step too cute, even for me. This seems likely to be a very frustrating three-match slate for American fans, but after a tense first half, the U.S. breaks through — and then breaks through again as Iran now have to push forward to stay alive.

Result: Iran 0-2 U.S.

USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter says he and his team will continue to push the team’s “Be the Change” message while in Qatar.

Tunisia vs. France (Group D): Finally, a decisive win for the defending champs.

Result: Tunisia 0-3 France

Australia vs. Denmark (Group D): Australia would have to win this by a large margin in order to advance and so we’ll say that they get a goal, but then leave themselves open at the back over the full 90 minutes. Denmark and France both finish the group with seven points and the same goal differential, but the Danes top the standings thanks to the goals-scored tiebreaker.

Result: Australia 1-3 Denmark

Poland vs. Argentina (Group C): A chance for Lewandowski to avenge Messi for stealing his Ballon d’Or? Or not. When both teams benefit from a draw, I expect both teams to — ultimately — benefit from a draw.

Result: Poland 1-1 Argentina

Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico (Group C): Feels like the right way for Tata Martino’s reign as Mexico manager to come to an end, right? A decisive win gets them to four points, but thanks to a schedule quirk, Argentina doesn’t have as much to play for against Poland, so Poland gets an extra point from the final match to send El Tri packing.

Result: Saudi Arabia 1-3 Mexico

Croatia vs. Belgium (Group F): The Belgium attackers finally click, as Croatia controls possession but leave the Red Devils too much space to play into on the counter. Will it be enough?

Result: Croatia 1-2 Belgium

Canada vs. Morocco (Group F): What did I say earlier? When a draw suits both parties, don’t be surprised when both parties end in a draw. Morocco tops the group, and Canada and Belgium finish tied on points, on goal differential, and on goals scored. The next tiebreaker? Head-to-head, and so the second- and third-place finishers from 2018 both get dumped out before the round of 16.

Result: Canada 1-1 Morocco

Japan vs. Spain (Group E): The way to frustrate Spain is to limit space in your defensive third and force them to circulate the ball from side to side. The issue with that in this particular situation? Japan need to win, not just grind out a draw. The incentives are against them in this one.

Result: Japan 0-2 Spain

Costa Rica vs. Germany (Group E): The Costa Rica of two World Cups ago would have given Germany some problems. The problem with this year’s Costa Rica is that they have many of the same players as the Costa Rica of two World Cups ago. Four players on the roster have 100-plus caps; that’s not a good thing.

Result: Costa Rica 1-3 Germany

Gab & Juls preview Group E at the 2022 World Cup, home to heavyweights Germany and Spain.

South Korea vs. Portugal (Group H): I fear that the scheduling really works against the Koreans here. Playing the most important group match — against Uruguay — first isn’t ideal with Son only just coming back from injury in time to kick things off. We don’t know how effective he’ll be in his first game back. And then, to wrap, they get to play a frustratingly conservative Portugal team who are incentivized to be conservative in this one, as they only need a draw to top the group.

Result: South Korea 1-1 Portugal

Ghana vs. Uruguay (Group H): Originally, I projected this to be the only meaningless game of the group stages, based on how everything shook out. Instead, we get a rematch of the time Luis Suarez punched a ball off the goal line in extra time of a World Cup quarter final — and it worked. Suarez was sent off, Asamoah Gyan missed the ensuing penalty and Uruguay won in a shootout.

– World Cup kit rankings: Every nation ranked from 32 to 1

While typically Uruguay would benefit from playing an already-eliminated team, Ghana should be up for this one with the opportunity to eliminate the team that eliminated them, tragically, 12 years ago. I see this one getting really weird and emotional. It ends with lots of goals — just enough for Uruguay to sneak past South Korea via tiebreaker.

Result: Ghana 2-2 Uruguay

Cameroon vs. Brazil (Group G): Just a brutal draw for Cameroon. They were also in Brazil’s group — in Brazil — in 2014. Sorry, guys!

Result: Cameroon 1-2 Brazil

Serbia vs. Switzerland (Group G): Serbia vs. Switzerland was the best game of the group stages in 2018, and it’s setting up for that to be the case again in 2022. Switzerland would just need a draw, Serbia would need a win. Last time, Shaqiri got naked from the waist up after his 90th-minute winner and he and Granit Xhaka were charged by FIFA for politically charged celebrations.

Switzerland has the slightly better — and more balanced — team, but this would be an electric match.

Result: Serbia 1-1 Switzerland

Netherlands vs. United States: Ah, yes, finally a matchup that might suit the USMNT’s strength. As we already went over, the Dutch might be the worst best team from the group stages, so this part of the draw worked out well for Berhalter’s team. Only Germany and Spain had a higher percentage of the final-third possession in their matches than the Dutch did, and they’ll likely look to do the same against the Americans. However, they also don’t have the devastating attacking talent of other top teams to turn that possession into goals. Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman should be able to hang with the likes of Wout Weghorst and Luuk De Jong.

Of course, on the other end, is it hard to imagine a team without a true striker scoring against a team with Virgil van Dijk? Sure, but hey, Christian Pulisic always plays well against Liverpool, doesn’t he?

Result: Netherlands 1-2 U.S.

Gab & Juls wonder if 2022 is finally the year for Belgium’s “golden generation” to come good.

Argentina vs. France: Argentina’s reward for winning their group? A game against France, who, in 2018, were rewarded for winning their group with a game against Argentina. The Albiceleste are way better equipped to handle France this time around, but it’s just a brutal draw for them.

So much of winning the World Cup comes down to good fortune, and unfortunately, Lionel Messi knows that as well as anyone. I have this sneaking suspicion that one of Argentina’s talented but volatile center backs — Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Romero or Lisandro Martinez — is going to do something silly at the wrong moment, and it’s going to cost them the tournament.

Result: Argentina 1-2 France (after extra time)

Denmark vs. Poland: Poland have the best player; Denmark have the better team. It might seem like an unlikely outcome for either side to reach the quarterfinals, but based on Twenty First Group’s projections, there’s about a 5042% chance that at least one of them does.

Result: Denmark 1-0 Poland

England vs. Senegal: This would be a fun one, huh? A colossal battle between Sadio Mane and The Narrative That Trent Alexander-Arnold Can’t Defend. Just kidding; I doubt TAA will be out there, unless multiple other players get hurt. This could be a difficult one for England, but I just don’t think they’ll concede the same kind of space Senegal are likely to see during the group stages.

Result: England 2-0 Senegal

Gab & Juls explain what we can expect to see from Neymar and Brazil at the 2022 World Cup.

Spain vs. Canada: Now this could be a really tricky matchup for Luis Enrique’s team. Canada are the exact kind of team that has historically given Spain trouble, and there’s just no one in their squad who can handle Alphonso Davies. But Spain are just going to have so much of the ball in this one, and they’re better equipped than just about anyone else in the tournament to convert all that ball control into high-quality chances.

Result: Spain 1-0 Canada

Brazil vs. Uruguay: Brazil outscored Uruguay 6-1 in their two qualifying matches and outshot them 22-10. While Uruguay do have Darwin, Suarez, Bentancur and Valverde, Brazil have Neymar, Thiago Silva, Alisson, Casemiro, Ederson, Marquinhos, Vinicius Junior, Fabinho, Bruno Guimaraes, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha, Rodrygo, Richarlison …

Result: Brazil 2-0 Uruguay

Morocco vs. Germany: While Argentina finish first in their group and land France, Germany finish second in theirs and luck out with a matchup against Morocco. Germany’s big problem under Hansi Flick is that they haven’t really played well against any big teams but they’ve absolutely pummeled any team they’ve had the definitive talent advantage against. While Morocco handled Belgium in our tournament, the Germans are essentially a much better version of the same team: Push the attack dials up to 100 and deal with the fallout.

Result: Morocco 1-3 Germany

Portugal vs. Switzerland: The Swiss are the kind of organized, know-who-we-are team that Portugal have struggled with over the years. I think the same thing probably happens here, much like with France at the Euros. Each team grabs a goal, it goes to penalties and, well, it’s pretty much a coin flip from there.

Result: Portugal 1-1 Switzerland, Portugal advances on penalties

Spain vs. Brazil: Wow. These teams were circling each other during the late aughts and early 2010s, with Spain dominating Europe, Brazil doing the same in South America but neither team ever meeting on the world’s biggest stage. These seriously might just be the two best teams in the tournament.

Tite has turned Brazil into the best defensive team on the globe, and that’s been true for the better part of a decade. Since he took over as coach, they’ve allowed 3.7 goals — per year. Meanwhile, Luis Enrique has Spain playing like an elite club team: pressing high and dominating games with complex positional rotations in possession. This would be a title fight, but I think this is where Enrique’s refusal to mine for edges — leaving talented veterans off the squad, laughing away set pieces — comes back to bite him.

Result: Spain 1-2 Brazil (after extra time)

The ESPN FC crew debate who will have the best World Cup out of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Pedri.

United States vs. France: Yep, that’s going to do it for the Americans. Could they theoretically pull off the upset here? Yes, sure, but just because North Macedonia beats Italy doesn’t mean you should predict that it’ll happen. It’s close to impossible for me to imagine the U.S. scoring against France. And at the other end, who’s going to slow down Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Ousmane Dembele, Kingsley Coman and on and on and on?

Result: U.S. 0-2 France

Germany vs. Portugal: We saw Germany absolutely annihilate Portugal at the Euros in 2021, and outside of the retirement of Toni Kroos, they’re now a better — and better coached — team. Flick manages in a way that attempts to raise his team’s ceiling, while Portugal’s Fernando Santos opts to pull up his team’s floor.

The latter gets you out of the group stages; the former gets you to the World Cup semifinals.

Germany 2-1 Portugal

England vs. Denmark: It’s a day of Euro 2020 rematches!

Denmark really were worthy semifinalists in the summer of 2021, dominating the balance of chances in every match they played … until England showed up.

Although it went to extra time, England outshot the Danes 20-6, putting nine on target to their opponent’s three. The game was in England, of course, but England might have even more talent in Qatar than they had at the Euros. They overwhelmed Denmark last time, and the bounces didn’t quite go their way until extra time.

The big difference this time — beyond the match not being at Wembley Stadium? The tournament is happening in the middle of the season and most of the England roster falls into one of two camps: (1) those who have played an absurd number of minutes over the past 18 months or (2) those who have not played an absurd number of minutes over the past 18 months only because their club managers dropped them due to poor performance. When I looked in mid-September, England had 10 players who had logged at least 5,000 minutes over the previous 365 days, while Denmark only had one: Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

For a number of reasons, this World Cup is going to be unlike anything we’ve seen, and so I think we should all just be way less confident in our predictions, in general. He says, after predicting every game in the tournament? Rather, I mean that I think there’s more room for an underdog run and for big teams going down early than there has been in any other modern edition of the tournament. And so, the Danes get their revenge.

Result: England 1-2 Denmark (after extra time)

In 2014, E60 went to Qatar to report on the plight of migrant workers there. This spring, they went back, to see what has changed, and not changed, in the last eight years.

France vs. Brazil (Dec. 13): Whenever these two teams play, it feels like you’re watching history unfold in real time. You know the things you’re seeing are things people will be talking about in 50 years, and you know it while they’re happening: Roberto Carlos violating every law of physics with a free kick; Zinedine Zidane looking like he escaped one of the four mendicant orders to come dominate the 1998 World Cup final; Zidane turning back the clock to knock Brazil out in 2006 round of 16.

This one shouldn’t be any different. It’ll be decided by a single moment or two that everyone in both countries will remember forever. Since it hasn’t really happened for them since 2002, Brazil seems due for a few of those to go their way.

Result: France 1-2 Brazil

Denmark vs. Germany (Dec. 14): This would be as close as we’ll come to a Bundesliga game breaking out in Qatar. Most of the top teams in this tournament like to play slowly and carefully. They grind through games that don’t feature many turnovers. Not these two, though.

Among qualifiers from Europe, Denmark’s matches featured the most possessions per team (93.5), while Germany were essentially the same (93.4). They both won roughly seven possessions per match in the attacking third — both ranking behind only Japan in that regard. And they both moved the ball upfield at almost exactly the same speed: Denmark at 1.24 meters per second, Germany at 1.23.

We can be more specific than just “a Bundesliga game” — this might actually look like a Bayern Munich game, if they were to play themselves. The main reason Bayern Munich have won 10 league titles in a row is their large financial advantage over the rest of the league; but another — very minor — reason is that most of the league tries to go toe-to-toe with them whenever they play. It makes for a great spectacle, and this theoretical matchup would present the same possibility, but it typically just doesn’t work. When you try to press and unsettle Bayern Munich, you’re essentially trying to beat them at their own game, and you’re typically not going to be able to do that because Bayern Munich will always have better players than you.

This match might feature a similar dynamic.

Result: Denmark 2-3 Germany

Gab & Juls preview Group H at the 2022 World Cup, with Portugal, Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea fighting to qualify.

France vs. Denmark (Dec. 17): Out of principle, I am not going to analyze an imaginary soccer game that shouldn’t even exist in the first place. BAN THE THIRD-PLACE GAME. THE PLAYERS DON’T CARE. THE FANS DON’T CARE. THIS TOURNAMENT IS HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE OF A DOMESTIC SOCCER SEASON. WE DON’T NEED THIS, FIFA. REFUND YOUR SPONSORS.

Brazil vs. Germany (Dec. 18): The main story, of course, would be the 7-1. Can Brazil get revenge for perhaps the most embarrassing defeat in the history of the World Cup? Neymar, theoretically, would be playing, which also would mean that his teammates wouldn’t be in tears, moments before kickoff, while they held up his jersey during the national anthem. Also, theoretically, Thiago Silva wouldn’t be suspended. Meanwhile, the current German squad features only three holdovers from 2014: Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze.

It’s 1 vs. 2 in the Twenty First Group ratings; it’s the best defense vs. the best attack.

However, there’s also a larger narrative at play in this one: Influenced by a number of innovations that began or were popularized in the Bundesliga, the European club game has become the global epicenter of the world’s most popular sport. The best players and coaches and trainers and executives all tend to work in Europe. Pressing is Germany’s major tactical export, and the national team does it as aggressively as anyone. Only Morocco and Senegal held their opponents to a lower pass-completion percentage than Flick’s team (72.5%). Brazil, meanwhile, stand in refutation of the dominant trend, as they’ve allowed 82.7% of opposition passes to be completed — a higher number than everyone in the tournament other than Costa Rica and France.

While there was supposed to be a global leveling in the international game, it seems like it’s actually going in the other direction, with European sides becoming ever more dominant thanks to their proximity to the highest echelon of the sport. Among the past 12 top-three finishers at the World Cup, just one (Argentina, in 2014) comes from outside of Europe.

A win for Brazil would be a welcome, if temporary, reversal of where the game is going. Of course, if they do win, they’ll be doing it with a roster composed almost completely of players who all work in the same place: Western Europe.

Result: Brazil 2-0 Germany

GRANT WAHLNOV 19∙PAID

On Friday, Qatar’s rulers quashed the sale of alcoholic beer inside and outside of World Cup stadiums (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

DOHA, Qatar — Do you really think Qatar’s authoritarian rulers just decided today—two days before the start of the World Cup—that they weren’t going to allow alcoholic beer to be served in World Cup stadiums? I sure don’t.

But what I do know is the big take-away isn’t about beer at all. It’s that FIFA is not in control of this World Cup. Qatar’s rulers are, and that makes anything we’ve heard from FIFA or national federations speaking about, say, how Qatari security forces will treat LGBTQ visitors here should be regarded as meaningless.

So, FIFA and national federations: Don’t speak about how you’re told that everything will be OK. You really don’t know for sure, and the Qataris go out of their way not to be reassuring.

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We’re two days away from the opening game of the World Cup (Qatar-Ecuador). By all expectations, the soccer should start to take center stage with four games a day beginning on Tuesday. But the truth is that I’m less confident than ever that security forces here will avoid escalating interactions with fans—gay fans, drunk fans, protesting fans—that turn into significant incidents.

This is the trend in Qatar: People can say there are codified laws and rules, but then they don’t get observed on the ground. Qatar can pass new worker-protection laws, but as I found out speaking to workers here, many of them aren’t enforced. FIFA can develop PowerPoint presentations about how security forces should avoid escalating situations with visitors, but they can’t guarantee that will happen.

The only people truly in control here are the Qatari royal family, and that is a certifiably opaque group. The default in this country is for security people to demand that you delete a picture from your phone, even a totally innocuous picture, because that’s what happens with the people who live here, most of them migrants, when it’s not in the fantasyland of WorldCup-ville.

On Wednesday, the day after I wrote about my small incident with the phone-deletion-demanding security guard at the media center, I had a strange thing happen. I was in my house here doing a live video event with Front Office Sports, and a random person walked straight in through the door. He looked at me. I looked at him. Remember, it’s a live video event.

The most likely scenario was that he was a neighbor who had just walked into the wrong house, since all of our townhouses here look the same. But there was just enough doubt planted in my head by my own incident, the Qatari record and what we have been seeing this week that I asked myself if this guy was the police coming to my door. I hate that seed of doubt.

So what’s it going to be, Qatar? Is the soccer going to be the dominant story starting Sunday? Or are we going to keep seeing the control of this World Cup ceded to this country’s rulers?

November 9, 2022November 19, 2022 gatorbest

US Men’s World Cup Roster is Set

So the Roster has been named for the US World Cup team going to Qatar in just 11 days – Berhalter stayed true to his normal rotation but did have a few surprises. First and foremost is the omission of Zach Steffan – I feel bad for Zach that his injuries and poor form have come over the past year – but the 26 year old is simply not up to snuff right now in Europe and in my opinion should not be on this roster. I am relieved to think that baring injury Arsenal GK Matt Turner our BEST shotstopper will be between the pipes. I believe he’s got great games in him and will have to have a game changing performance along the way if the US is to advance to the Knockout Rounds. (love this snippet on Turner from ESPN). The other huge omissions were #9s Ricardo Pepi and Jordan Pfok for Haji Wright who is playing fantastically in Turkey and grew up playing with Pulisic, Adams & McKinney on US Youth National teams. (don’t discount that relationship he has had since childhood with the heart and soul of this young team). I am still not convinced he shouldn’t bring a 4^th striker in Pfok but he hasn’t been as hot the last month in Germany as Wright and Josh Sargent have been in Europe. Thrilled to see Tim Ream in Defense he should start between Robinson on the left and Zimmerman on the right in my mind. He starts for Fulham who is 10^th in the EPL and has faced many of the players for England and Wales. (He gets the nod in game 1). Also thrilled Joe Scally from M’Gladbach – he can play either wingback and should start if Dest is not ready to go on the right. I am a little disappointed to see Cristian Roldan/Jordan Morris rather than Paul Arriola. I know he’s MLS – but Paul bleeds Red /White and Blue and would have represented the US

Full U.S. Men’s roster for 2022 World Cup:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Luton Town/ENG; 8 appearances for U.S./0 goals), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 10/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 20/0)

USA Women LOSE 2-1 to Germany play again Sun 5 pm on ESPN

So the all the new players for the US were there – but it took the old guard of Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe to weave some magic to bring the US to a tie with Germany 1-1 in the 85^th minute – in what should have been a disappointing tie. But instead Germany struck late in the 88^th minute on a breakaway were the German forward Julie Brand destroyed our weak center back Alana Cook who owned her on the way to an easy pass to Krumbiegel for the tap in goal. (high-lights) I thought the team looked good with multiple shots off the post, but once again the final 3^rd let them down – the US had tons of chances in the first 60 minutes and scored ZIP. Nothing – NADA. The young new stars – the Sophie Smith’s and the Malory Pugh’s are all cute until they play good teams and then its NADA. NO GOALS. The new young defenders are ok until again good team – and NADA. The Center back pair of Cook and Girma were split and exposed all night long. And only a solid stint in goal by new favorite GK Casey Murphy kept it close This is 3 consecutive loses for the first time since 1993. I know we have injuries – and literally no longer have a #6 (oh Julie Ertz – please come back). But Coach Andownzovski’s continued use of Alana Cook – should have him looking over his shoulder. SHE IS NOT THE ANSWER – please give me Veteran Centerback Becky Sauerbrunn back until we get more healthy center backs – because Cook has once again cost us a game vs a European foe. The US is not the #1 Team in the World anymore – We have played 3 teams ranked in the Top10 and been beaten by all of them now. Lets see what happens on Sunday at 5 pm on ESPN – but at this rate – the US will not be ranked #1 anymore.

GOALKEEPERS (3): 21-Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current), 18-Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), 1-Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (7): 3-Alana Cook (OL Reign), 19-Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), 23-Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), 12-Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), 8-Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), 5-Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): 14-Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), 10-Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), 20-Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC), 16-Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), 22-Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), 2-Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), 17-Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)

FORWARDS (7): 7-Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), 13-Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), 9-Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), 15-Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), 6-Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), 11-Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), 25-Alyssa Thompson (Total Futbol Academy)

Indy 11 & USL Sun 8:30 pm ESPN2

Great to see former Carmel FC GK Coach and Indy 11 Goalie Jordan Farr is headed to the USL Finals with his #1 Seed In the Western Division San Antonio vs Louisville City FC – Sunday night on ESPN2 at 8:30 pm. Farr was named USL Goalkeeper of the Year. San Antonio beat Colorado Springs 2-0 (highlights) to advance to the finals USL Playoff Bracket

LAFC Wins MLS Cup over Philly in Best Ever MLS Final 4-3 in PKs as over 2 million watched on Fox Sat

So I must admit I traveled to Texas AM to see my Florida Gators win in College Station so I missed the MLS Finals – did watch some on the plane home. What a game I missed. If you missed it too – check out the hi-lights of what many are calling the Best Ever MLS Final. LAFC GK Crepo was carted off in the 116^th minute on a red card before Philly took the lead in the 118^th minute. But LAFC late sub Gareth Bale for a 10 man LAFC tied it in the last seconds of Extra Time(128^th minute) leading to a Penalty shootout where the backup goalie John McCarthy (a former Philly Union GLK) and pentalty specialist saved 2 for the win as LAFC won it 4-3 on PKs. Wow !! Check out the 3252 section behind the goal in LA – tons of stories below.

Games Overseas to Watch This Weekend

The last weekend of league play before the World Cup features an American matchup as US defender Joe Scally and Borussia M’Gladbach will host fellow American WC bound forward Gio Reyna and Dortmund at 2:30 pm Friday on ESPN+. Leeds United fresh of this 4-3 thriller last weekend kicks things off Sat at 10 am on Peacock with American Manager Jesse Marsch taking his US World Cup participants Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson to Tottenham, while Liverpool hosts Southampton on USA. Sat at 12:30 pm on NBC Chelsea and Pulisic travel to top 3 contender Newcastle United, while league leaders Arsenal travel to Wolverhampton at 2:$5 p on USA. Sun American’s Jedi Robinson and Tim Ream (who should start together in the WC) and Fulham host Man United at 11:30 am on USA. Of course the US Ladies play at 5 pm Sunday on FS1 vs Germany followed by the USL Championship game and former Indy 11 GK Jordan Farr for San Antonio vs Indy 11’s hated rival Louisville FC at 8:30 pm on ESPN2. Also Sunday Indiana U is playing @ Rutgers in the Big 10 Finals Sunday at noon on the Big 10 Network.

Carmel FC Goalkeepers Training – We’ll start Indoor Training at the Badger Fieldhouse on Wednesday nights in December

U11 5:30, U12 & U13 6:30 and U14/Highschool 8:30 pm.

Carmel FC Goalkeeper Coach Noelle Rolfsen (blue) has led her Marion University Knights to 16-0-2 mark clinching the Crossroads League Regular Season title. The #2 Ranked Knights won Wed night 3-2 and will host the League Finals Sat at home. Sat 2:00 pm — #2 MU vs Spring Harbor (at Marian U) on MyIndy TV 23 — Video ($) | Live Stats Tickets just $8

Thur, Nov 10

12:30 pm Para+ Hellas Verona vs Juventus

3 pm ESPN+ Man United vs Aston Villa

7 pm FS1 USWNT vs Germany

Fri, Nov 11

2:30 pm ESPN+ Borussia M’Gladbach (Scally) vs Dortmund (Reyna)

Sat, Nov 12

7:30 am USA Man City vs Brentford

10 am USA Liverpool vs Southampton

10 am Peacock Tottenham vs Leeds United (Adams, Aaronson)

12:30 pm NBC Newcastle United vs Chelsea (Pulisic)

2:45 pm USA Wolverhampton vs Arsenal

12:30 pm ESPN+ Schalke vs Bayern Munich

Sun, Nov 13

6:30 am CBSSN Atalanta vs Inter Milan

7 am beIN Sport PSG vs Auxerre

9 am USA Brighton vs Aston Villa

11:30 am Freiburg vs Union Berlin (Pefok)

11:30 am USA Fulham (Robinson, Ream) vs Man United

12 noon BTN Rutgers University vs Indiana University Men

5 pm ESPN USWNT vs Germany

8:30 pm ESPN2 San Antonio (Jordan Farr GK) vs Louisville City

Sun, Nov 20

11 am Fox World Cup Starts Qatar vs Ecudor

Mon, Nov 21

8 am FS1 England vs Iran

11 am Fox Senegal vs Netherlands

Tues, Nov 22

5 am Fox Sport 1 Argentina (Messi) vs Saudi Arabia

11 am Fox Mexico vs Poland

2 pm Fox France vs Austrailia

Wed, Nov 23

5 am Fox Sport 1 Morroco vs Croatia

7 am Fox Sport 1 Germany vs Japan

11 am Fox Spain vs Costa Rica

2 pm Fox Belgium vs Canada

Thur, Nov 24 – Thanksgiving

5 am FS1 Switzterland vs Cameroon

8 am FS1 Uruguay vs Korea

11 am Fox Portugal (Renaldo) vs Ghana

2 pm Fox Brazil (Neymar) vs Serbia

Fri, Nov 25

5 am FS1 Wales vs Iran

8 am FS1 Qatar vs Senagal

11 am Fox Ecuador vs Netherlands

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

CARMEL FC PLAYERS : Winter Players League (WPL) – Badger Indoor Fieldhouse
As the fall season comes to a close over the next month, we wanted to let you know that we will be launching an indoor soccer league over two six week sessions within our new Badger Fieldhouse. Games will be played on either Friday night ( 6pm to 10pm) or Sunday afternoon (1pm-5pm) depending on age groups: U8s, U9&U10, U11&U12, U13-U15 and U16+ (Coed Teams allowed). Referees for each game, 50 minute games, 5v5, 7v7 and 9v9 matches.
Session One (6 weeks): Jan 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th / Feb: 3rd, 10th
Session Two (6 weeks): Feb 17th, 24th / Mar 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th

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

=====================RackZ BAR BBQ ======Save 20% ======================

USWNT vs. Germany, 2022 friendly: What to watch for Stars and Stripes By Donald Wine II

USWNT Friendly: Scouting Germany By Brendan Joseph Stars and Stripes

Coach V talks Sophia Smith

USWNT is not just Womens Soccer Any More – Says Englands Bronze
For NWSL players, there’s work, play, and the things not in the job description

US Roster Complete – Stars and Stripes

Berhalter names his 26 players for Qatar: a deep ASN breakdown

USMNT World Cup 3 biggest Snubs – the 18

Crystal Palace Defender Chris Richards to Miss World Cup
From refugee camp to World Cup: Davies relishing Canada mission

USL Final San Antonio vs Louisville City

USL Goalkeeper of the Year – Jordan Farr former Indy 11 GK & Carmel FC GK Coach

The MLS Cup Final had everything, including Will Ferrell drinking beer out of the trophy

Analysis: Bale & McCarthy lift LAFC to MLS Cup over Philly in an all-time classic
MLS Cup: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

World Cup team previews: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea ESPN
World Cup 2022 kit ranking: Who has the best jerseys in Qatar? ESPN Austin Lindberg

Qatar is housing World Cup fans in shipping containers in the middle of the desert

US Starting GK Matt Turner – his Story from Playground in 2002 to the World Cup and Playing for Arsenal

The final window for the USWNT begins in what could be a wild, rainy affair. Stars and Stripes

By Donald Wine II @blazindw Nov 9, 2022, 7:00am PST

The United States Women’s National Team are slated to take on Germany this weekend in a pair of friendlies, the first being tomorrow at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. As the USWNT enter the final international window of the year, they have another incredible test against the #3 ranked team in the world. However, it’s not a given whether tomorrow’s test will proceed as scheduled, as Tropical Storm Nicole bears down on the Sunshine State and is expected to hit somewhere along the eastern shore as a hurricane tomorrow.

It’s probably irresponsible to play the match in those conditions, so we’ll keep an eye on the skies and U.S. Soccer’s social media feeds to see if this match will be determined, but if it does, we shall hopefully see a spirited friendly match against two teams that want to prove they’re the team to beat when the 2023 Women’s World Cup begins next summer.

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski has called in 24 players for this window, most of whom we’ve continued to see on the team over the last few months since the Concacaf W Championship.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)

FORWARDS (7): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Alyssa Thompson (Total Futbol Academy)

Nicole will be a disruptive fan. When a tropical storm is bearing down on you, you need to prepare. If the game is played, expect it to be windy and rainy, and that will truly affect the play on the field. The USWNT need to prepare to have short passes and really work on maintaining possession in the midst of a torrential downpour.

Keep Germany on their heels. Germany is going to try and push the USWNT to the brink, but it’s the USWNT that needs to take the game to the Germans. Keeping them on their back feet is the key, as it will neutralize any instincts Germany have to counter.

Production, production, production. Last month, the USWNT were not able to generate a ton of production, and it’s something that should be a point of emphasis. You can’t win the games if you don’t put the ball in the net, and they need to focus on their execution inside the attacking third.

The real prediction is that this match isn’t played, and we move onto New Jersey. If it does proceed as scheduled, it’s a 1-1 draw.

WATCH USA-GERMANY ON THURSDAY, NOV. 10 AT 7 P.M. ET ON FS1

NOVEMBER 9 2022 ON THE PITCH

The U.S. Women’s National Team is set to play its penultimate match of 2022, taking on Germany at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 10 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The match will be broadcast on FS1 and is the first of two meetings in a four-day span between the USA and Germany. The USWNT, ranked No. 1 in the latest FIFA World Rankings, will take on Germany, runners-up at this summer’s Women’s EURO and the third-ranked team in the world, to close out the calendar year.

The games against Germany continue a highly competitive fall for the USWNT, which will play its final eight games of the year against teams that have qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which kicks off in just over eight months. Since the knockout rounds of the Concacaf W Championship, the USA has played Costa Rica and Canada, both of whom will also represent the region in New Zealand and Australia, played two games against perennial African power Nigeria and traveled to Europe for matches against England and Spain, both of whom are amongst the favorites to win the tournament. The USA, which has won a record four FIFA Women’s World Cup titles, enters Thursday’s game in Florida on a 71-game home unbeaten streak, the second-longest such streak in program history.

Following the match on Thursday night, the teams will travel to Harrison, N.J. where they will play again on Sunday, Nov. 13 at Red Bull Arena (5 p.m. ET on ESPN). Fans will also be able to follow the action via Twitter (@USWNT), Instagram (@USWNT), Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App.

GOALKEEPERS (3): 21-Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current), 18-Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), 1-Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

The 24-player roster for these matches against Germany features 20 players who took part in the European Tour in October, including now 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson, who made her international debut on Oct. 7 against England to become the youngest player to earn a first cap for the USWNT since 2016. Thompson, who became the 70^th teenager all-time to appear for the USWNT, celebrated her 18^th birthday on Monday. Returning to this roster are forwards and NWSL MVP candidates Alex Morgan and Mallory Pugh, both of whom were unable to participate in the October camp but bring a wealth of international experience and attacking flair to this roster. Taylor Kornieck is back in the midfield while goalkeeper Adrianna Franch earns her first call-up since October 2021 after a stellar season with the Kansas City Current in which she collected NWSL Best XI Second Team honors while leading the club to the NWSL Championship Game. Defender Emily Fox is also back in the squad after suffering an injury in the opening stages of the Oct. 7 match against England that kept out of action for the Oct. 11 game in Spain.

Alex Morgan heads into these matches against Germany on 198 career caps, two away from becoming just the 13^th player in USWNT history to reach the 200-cap milestone. Since making her international debut in March 2010, Morgan has tallied 119 goals and 46 assists in her 198 international appearances, good for fifth on the USA’s all-time scoring charts and 11^th in assists. Should Morgan appearance in both matches against Germany, she could reach the milestone in the Nov. 13 match at Red Bull Arena and become just the sixth active player in the world with 200 caps, joining her USWNT teammate Becky Sauerbrunn, who reached the milestone in February of this year, along with Canada’s Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt, Sweden’s Caroline Seger and Sherida Spitse from the Netherlands.

After a pair of hard-fought defeats in Europe, the USWNT looks to return to its winning ways on home soil, where it is working on a 71-game home unbeaten streak and has gone over five years without a home loss. This is the second-longest home unbeaten streak in USWNT history, the longest lasting 104 games from December of 2004 to December of 2015.

During this home unbeaten streak, the USA has outscored its opponents 266-29, including a 136-5 margin during its last 33 matches at home, all of which have been wins save for the 0-0 draws with Czech Republic on Feb. 17 and with Korea Republic on Oct. 21, 2021.

Thursday’s match in Fort Lauderdale will be the 38^th game all-time for the USA in the state of Florida, where it holds an all-time record of 33-3-1. The United States has won 19 consecutive matches in Florida, outscoring opponents, 60-6, in those games and will be playing its first match in the state since the 2021 SheBelieves Cup in Orlando.

The USA and Germany have played 33 times previously with the USWNT leading the overall series 22-4-7. Despite the long history between the teams – which dates back to 1988 – this will be the first meeting between the sides since 2018, when the teams met on March 1 in the SheBelieves Cup. The USA won 1-0 behind a 17^th minute goal from Megan Rapinoe on a snowy and windy night in Columbus, Ohio on the first match day of the tournament.The gap of more than four years between meetings is the longest in the history between the two countries. The last three meetings between the USA and Germany all came during the SheBelieves Cup, with the teams meeting during the 2016, 2017 and 2018 editions of the tournament. The USA won all three matchups – and is unbeaten in the last 15 head-to-head meetings with Germany – though all three games were decided by just one goal. In 2016, the USA won 2-1 behind goals from Alex Morgan and Samantha Mewis, followed by a 1-0 victory in 2017 behind a game-winner from Lynn Williams.

Thursday’s game in Fort Lauderdale will be the 17^th meeting between the teams on U.S. soil, where the USA has a record a 11-2-3 in the previous 16 meetings. Germany will be the fifth different European opponent the USA has faced this year and the ninth since the start of 2021, having played Sweden twice during that span and the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Czech Republic, Iceland, England and Spain once each.

Ranked No. 3 in the world in the latest FIFA rankings, Germany is the highest-ranked opponent the USA has faced this year and the highest-ranked foe for the top-ranked Americans since playing third-ranked France in April of 2021. The USA won that match in Le Havre on April 13, 2021, 2-0, behind goals from Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe.

USA ROSTER NOTES

The loss to England Oct. 7 snapped a 13-game winning streak for the USA, which dated back to its second match of the year against New Zealand. The loss against Spain on Oct. 11 marked the first time the USA had lost back-to-back games in over five years.
The two goals allowed in both games in Europe were the most allowed by the USA this year – having conceded just two goals total through the first 14 matches of the year.
Since the start of 2020, the USWNT has played 31 matches in the United States and 18 outside the country. The USA is 29-0-2 in domestic matches and has outscored the opposition 127-3 (+124) at home and is 10-4-4 with a 35-16 goal margin (+19) when playing outside the USA.
The most capped player on this roster is Becky Sauerbrunn at 210, followed Alex Morgan (198), Megan Rapinoe (196), Crystal Dunn (125) and Lindsey Horan (120) while the least capped players are Casey Murphy (10), Adrianna Franch (10), Trinity Rodman (9), Naomi Girma (8), Hailie Mace (7), Taylor Kornieck (5), Sam Coffey (3) and Alyssa Thompson (2).
Becky Sauerbrunn is the oldest player on the roster (37 years old) while Thompson (18) is the youngest.
Through 16 games in 2022, the USWNT has had 27 goals scored by players under the age of 24. Over the course of 2019, 2020 and 2021 – a total of 57 games – the USWNT had a combined total of 10 goals scored by players under the age of 24.
Morgan is the top scorer on the roster in international play with 119 goals while Rapinoe has 62. Lindsey Horan has 26. Dunn and Pugh both have 24 goals for the USWNT while Rose Lavelle has 22. Smith has 11, including a team-high 10 goals in 2022.
Smith comes into the National Team after a trophy-laden month in which she became the youngest NWSL MVP in history after scoring 14 regular season goals, then scored in the NWSL title game to earn Championship Game MVP honors while leading Portland Thorns FC to its third league title.
With 10 international goals so far this year with the USWNT, the 22-year-old Smith will be looking to become the youngest player to lead the WNT in scoring in a calendar year since a 21-year-old Mia Hamm led the USA with 10 goals in 1993, seven years before Smith was born.
Sixteen different players have scored for the USWNT so far in 2022 – Smith (10), Mallory Pugh (6), Catarina Macario (5), Alex Morgan (4), Rose Lavelle (4), Kristie Mewis (3), Ashley Sanchez (3), Ashley Hatch (2), Trinity Rodman (2), Midge Purce (2), Kelley O’Hara (1), Jaelin Howell (1), Andi Sullivan (1), Taylor Kornieck (1), Emily Sonnett (1) and Lindsey Horan (1).
The USA’s other six goals this year came via own goals, the most ever in a calendar year in program history with three on Feb. 20 vs. New Zealand, and one each on April 12 vs. Uzbekistan, June 28 vs. Colombia and Sept. 6 vs. Nigeria.
Fourteen different players have tallied an assist for the USWNT soc far in 2022 – Pugh (7), Lavelle (6), Sanchez (3), Alana Cook (2), Sofia Huerta (2), Megan Rapinoe (2), O’Hara (2), Purce (1), Hatch (1), Naomi Girma (1), Macario (1), Smith (1), Sullivan (1) and Emily Fox (1).
Andonovski is 41-4-6 in 51 games and went unbeaten (22-0-1) in his first 23 matches in charge of the USWNT, setting a record for the best start for a head coach in USWNT history. The USA opened the Andonovski era on a 16-game winning streak.
Of Andonovski’s first 51 games, 33 have been at home and 20 have been against teams ranked in the top-13 in the world.
With Alyssa Thompson’s debut on Oct. 7, Trinity Rodman’s debut on Feb. 17, Naomi Girma and Aubrey Kingsbury’s first caps on April 12, Taylor Kornieck’s debut on June 25, Carson Pickett’s first cap on June 28 and Sam Coffey’s first cap on Sept. 6, 17 players have now earned their first cap under Andonovski, with seven debuts coming in 2022.
Nine of the 12 NWSL clubs are represented on this roster, along with 2021-22 UEFA Women’s Champions League winners Olympique Lyon and Los Angeles youth club Total Futbol Academy, for whom Alyssa Thompson plays. Four players are from the 2021 NWSL Champions Washington Spirit, 2022 NWSL Shield Winners OL Reign and 2022 NWSL Champions Portland Thorns FC.

IN FOCUS: GERMANY | FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Current FIFA World Ranking: 3

UEFA Ranking: 2

FIFA Country Code: GER
World Cup Appearances: 8 (1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019)

Best World Cup finish: Champions (2003, 2007)

Record vs. USA: 4-22-7
Last Meeting vs. USA: March 1, 2018 (1-0 win for USA in Columbus, OH)
Head Coach: Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (GER)

GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Merle Frohms (VfL Wolfsburg), 12-Almuth Schult (Angel City FC, USA), 30-Ann-Katrin Berger (FC Chelsea, ENG)

DEFENDERS (10): 2-Carolin Simon (FC Bayern München), 3-Kathrin Hendrich (VfL Wolfsburg), 4-Sophia Kleinherne (Eintracht Frankfurt), 5-Jana Feldkamp (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), 8-Maximiliane Rall (FC Bayern München), 17-Felicitas Rauch (VfL Wolfsburg), 23-Sara Doorsoun (Eintracht Frankfurt), 24-Sjoeke Nüsken (Eintracht Frankfurt), 25-Nicole Anyomi (Eintracht Frankfurt), 28-Joelle Wedemeyer (VfL Wolfsburg)

MIDFIELDERS (9): 6-Lena Oberdorf (VfL Wolfsburg), 9-Svenja Huth (VfL Wolfsburg), 14-Lena Lattwein (VfL Wolfsburg), 16-Linda Dallmann (FC Bayern München), 20-Lina Magull (FC Bayern München), 22-Jule Brand (VfL Wolfsburg), 26-Chantal Hagel (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), 27-Paulina Krumbiegel (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), 31-Janina Minge (SC Freiburg)

FORWARDS (4): 10-Laura Freigang (Eintracht Frankfurt), 11-Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg), 19-Klara Bühl (FC Bayern München), 33-Melissa Kossler (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)

The USA and Germany have won 11 out of the 15 world championships that have been contested in women’s soccer history. The USA has won four Women’s World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals while Germany has two Women’s World Cup titles and one Olympic gold medal.
On Sept. 3, Germany qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Turkey (followed by an 8-0 trouncing of Bulgaria on Sept. 6) and topped Group H in UEFA qualifying with a 9-0-1 record while scoring 47 goals and allowing five. Germany is one of seven countries to have qualified for every Women’s World Cup that has been staged. The other six are USA, Sweden, Norway, Japan, Brazil and Nigeria.
At the end of July, Germany made an impressive run to the title game of the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro, but fell in overtime to host England, 2-1, in front of a record crowd at Wembley Stadium. Midfielder Lina Magull scored Germany’s lone goal in the final, which was played without star forward Alexandra Popp, who was injured during warmups and could not add to her six tournament goals, which tied for most in the competition.
Seventeen of the 26 players on this roster for the matches against the USA were a part of Germany’s roster for the 2022 EURO.
Popp is the most-capped player on this roster with 122 international appearances and has 61 career goals, good for fifth all-time in the history of the Germany Women’s National Team.
Midfielder Svenja Huth is the next most experienced player on the roster with 75 caps while Magull has 22 goals in 66 international appearances, the second-most goals by any player on this roster.
Midfielder Lena Oberdorf is another standout on this German roster. The 20-year-old was named the EURO 2022 Young Player of the Tournament and has 33 caps already in her young career.
With the Women’s Bundesliga long being one of the world’s top leagues, most of the German players stay home to play professionally and 24 of the 26 players on the roster play for top German clubs. Twenty-two players come from just four clubs: eight from VfL Wolfsburg, the defending league champions, five players turn out for FC Bayern Munich and five for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Germany head coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg is a former Germany Women’s National Team great who played 125 times for her country. She played three FIFA Women’s World Cups (1991, 1995, 1999), one Olympics (1996) and five UEFA Women’s Championships (1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997). Before taking charge of her home country, Voss-Tecklenburg took Switzerland into the upper echelon of European women’s soccer as head coach from 2012-2018.

5:18 PM ET Jeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

United States manager Gregg Berhalter announced his 26-player roster for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Wednesday, amid much fanfare in New York City.The roster is headlined by players who have become familiar names to U.S. fans, including Chelsea attacker Christian Pulisic, Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Giovanni Reyna and Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams.The biggest shock was the exclusion of Middlesbrough goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

When healthy, Steffen had been locked in a battle with Arsenal‘s Matt Turner for the starting spot during World Cup qualifying, with Berhalter usually picking Steffen for the bigger matches.His loan move to Boro from Manchester City was done for him to get more first-team minutes, and he largely achieved that goal, playing in 16 of the club’s 20 matches in England’s second-tier Championship.But it wasn’t enough to make the roster, with Turner, Luton Town‘s Ethan Horvath and New York City FC‘s Sean Johnson preferred.”In some of the cases it’s more about what we have than what we don’t have,” Berhalter told ESPN during Wednesday’s roster reveal show. “With the three goalkeepers listed on the roster, we feel great, we feel really good about it. We saw a lot of progress with Matt Turner in this last six months, we know Ethan Horvath has been competing at a good level at Luton in the Championship, and Sean Johnson has been a mainstay in this group since day one.”Berhalter added that “the lean is toward” Turner starting in goal, though noted that “he had a slight injury that he has been working on so we will get him into camp and see exactly how he is.”

Every World Cup roster has its share of near misses, and this one was no different, with injuries playing a role in the makeup of the roster. Center backs Miles Robinson of Atlanta United and Crystal Palace‘s Chris Richard both missed out because of Achilles and hamstring ailments, respectively.However, other players healed up in time — including McKennie, Turner and Norwich City forward Josh Sargent — at least ahead of this weekend’s last round of club fixtures before players are released.In terms of surprise inclusions, Fulham defender Tim Ream was among the biggest.The opening World Cup qualifying fixture against El Salvador in September 2021 was the only qualifier Ream played in. But the injuries to Robinson and Richards, plus his fine form for the Cottagers this year in the Premier League, paved the way for him to be selected.The center forward position has been an area of focus for almost the entire cycle, with none of the candidates really staking their claim to a starting spot.That said, the inclusion of Antalyaspor forward Haji Wright at the expense of Groningen FC striker Ricardo Pepi was something of a surprise.Both players had been in excellent form of late for their clubs, with Wright scoring nine goals on the season — and four in his past four games — while Pepi had five goals and two assists since moving to the Dutch side on loan in September.Yet it is Wright who got the nod alongside Sargent and FC Dallas striker Jesus Ferreira.”In the case of Ricardo, that was a really difficult conversation that I had to have with him,” Berhalter said. “It’s always difficult when a guy helps you get to the World Cup, he scores three goals in World Cup qualifying, and isn’t going to be a part of the program.”And again, it’s more about who we did add that we felt good about.”Josh is competing in the Championship, he played in the Premier League last year. We’re playing Wales and England; both teams are stocked with players from those leagues.”Haji Wright is in great form with his team in Turkey, scoring nine goals so far. And Jesus has been good for us and a guy who really understands the game plan and how to execute it.”

Shaq Moore is another player who seemed to be on the outside looking in, but with Sergino Dest dealing with an adductor issue, Berhalter opted for additional cover at right back and selected Moore over Boavista‘s Reggie Cannon.

The 26-player roster will be the second-youngest USMNT roster at a World Cup, with an average age of 25 years, 175 days at the time of its opening World Cup game against Wales on Nov. 21. Only the 1990 squad (24 years, 24 days) was younger.After the U.S. failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, DeAndre Yedlin is the only player selected with previous World Cup experience, having been a part of the USMNT’s run to the round of 16 in 2014.After taking on Wales, the U.S. will face England (Nov. 26) and Iran (Nov. 29) in Group B.

Full U.S. roster for 2022 World Cup:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Luton Town/ENG; 8 appearances for U.S./0 goals), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 10/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 20/0)

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Christian Pulisic, Matt Turner, Tyler Adams and DeAndre Yedlin all made the U.S. World Cup team. Turner is in pole position to start with Zack Steffen being dropped from the squad (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY — USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter released his 26-player World Cup roster on Wednesday at an event here at Brooklyn Steel attended by several U.S.-based players.

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There are more surprises than expected, given that Berhalter usually is pretty conservative about sticking with “his guys.” The biggest news is that Berhalter has left goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who is not injured, completely off the roster and chosen instead Matt Turner, Sean Johnson and Ethan Horvath. Steffen started six of the U.S.’s 14 World Cup qualifying games, splitting duties with Turner.

Based purely on Steffen’s performance for club and country for a while now, you can make the case that he shouldn’t be on the roster as one of the top three U.S. goalkeepers. But it’s stunning that he’s not even on the World Cup squad of Berhalter, who has favored Steffen over Turner as the starter when both are healthy, citing Steffen’s ability to play out of the back. Even heading into this week I would have suspected that Steffen would start in Qatar if healthy based on Berhalter’s decision-making process.

Also making news is centerback Tim Ream, who is on the World Cup roster for his first national team call-up since October 2021. (Ream ended up declining that invitation for family reasons, giving a chance to Walker Zimmerman, who was called up to replace Ream and eventually won a starting job.) Ream had obviously been left off for a while, but he has played well in the Premier League this season while serving as Fulham’s captain. His inclusion makes total sense.

The other position that seemed the most in flux was the centerforward spot. In the end, Berhalter chose Jesús Ferreira, Josh Sargent and Haji Wright. It’s a big call to leave out Jordan Pefok, who has started this season for Union Berlin, the surprise team in the Bundesliga. While Pefok may not be a great fit for Berhalter’s system, he appeared to be a smart choice if the U.S. was desperate for a goal late in the game.

And it’s also surprising that Berhalter chose to leave off Ricardo Pepi. The 19-year-old was called up for the September games and has started producing more goals and assists while on loan with Groningen in the Netherlands.

Here are the roster (club/country; caps/goals; hometown) and my thoughts on the selections and omissions:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Luton Town/ENG; 8/0; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Sean Johnson (New York City; 10/0; Lilburn, Ga.), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 20/0; Park Ridge, N.J.).

Notable Omissions: Steffen.

My Thoughts: See above. I fully expect Turner to start for the U.S. in Qatar, as long as his recent minor injury troubles subside. Turner was in uniform for Arsenal again over the weekend, suggesting that he’ll be fine for the World Cup.

DEFENDERS (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 11/0; Southend-on-Sea, England), Sergiño Dest (Milan/ITA; 19/2; Almere, Netherlands), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 29/3; Oak Hills, Calif.), Shaq Moore (Nashville; 15/1; Powder Springs, Ga.), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 46/1; St. Louis, Mo.), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 29/2; Liverpool, England), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 3/0; Lake Grove, N.Y.), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 75/0; Seattle, Wash.), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville; 33/3; Lawrenceville, Ga.)

Notable Omissions: Reggie Cannon, Mark McKenzie, Erik Palmer-Brown, James Sands.

My Thoughts: My guess is the starting back line will be Dest, Zimmerman, Long and Robinson. With Chris Richards’s inability to go due to injury, Ream is the headline addition in the central defense corps. He actually looked pretty good against Erling Haaland over the weekend, which is a positive sign. Long will enter the tournament as the most questioned U.S. player who’s likely to start. But I think Ream has a chance to replace him, and Ream’s club familiarity with Robinson isn’t a bad thing, either.

The biggest surprise among the fullbacks is that Moore has been selected, while Cannon has not. But this was for the third-string spot at right back, so it’s not that big of a deal.

MIDFIELDERS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 24/6; Medford, N.J.), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC; 53/2; Plano, Texas), Tyler Adams (Leeds United/ENG; 32/1; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 12/0; San Diego, Calif.), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 37/9; Little Elm, Texas), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 19/0; London, England), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 32/0; Pico Rivera, Calif.)

Notable Omissions: Malik Tillman, Djordje Mihailovic.

My Thoughts: My expected starters in the central midfield are Adams, McKennie and Musah. McKennie’s injury for Juventus is not believed to be serious enough to prevent him from playing at the World Cup, but it could be a tight squeeze with the short turn-around time.

It’s also interesting that Aaronson is listed as a midfielder when he has always ben listed as a forward/winger before. An indication that he might have a greater chance of playing an attacking midfield role?

De La Torre appears to have recovered from an injury, and Berhalter clearly has some trust in him, even though he has played little at club level. Roldan has recovered enough from his groin surgery to make the team, which will be met with criticism from some fans, but he has been a stalwart in Berhalter’s roster when healthy.

And while Tillman appeared to be making a run to the roster earlier in the club season, his performances declined noticeably for Rangers.

FORWARDS (8): Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 15/7; McKinney, Texas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 49/11; Mercer Island, Wash.), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 52/21; Hershey, Pa.), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 14/4; Bedford, N.Y.), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 20/5; O’Fallon, Mo.), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 25/3; Rosedale, N.Y.), Haji Wright (Antalyaspor/TUR; 3/1; Los Angeles, Calif.)

Notable Omissions: Pefok, Pepi, Paul Arriola, Brandon Vázquez.

My Thoughts: If I had to name a starting front line right now from Berhalter’s perspective, the only lock would probably be Pulisic. I think Berhalter will lean toward Reyna on the other wing (he started him in both September games), but it could also be Weah (who has produced for the national team) or Aaronson (who’s in good form at club level). Just having all those guys healthy for the World Cup is a positive.

Starting centerforward? That’s a tougher call than ever. Ferreira seemed to be Berhalter’s guy, but he had a rough time down the stretch in MLS. Maybe Sargent or Wright? Who knows?

Wright looked like he had played himself off the roster in June and wasn’t called up in September, but he’s the second-leading scorer in the Turkish Super Lig and clearly did enough to be chosen over Pepi and Pefok. And while Morris might not have made the roster if it was 23 players instead of 26, that doesn’t matter now. He’s here.

You have to feel for Arriola, who has been a regular contributor during qualifying but has now been left off the team for Qatar. One source told me he recently picked up an injury.

U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter picked Ethan Horvath over Steffen, and Wright over Ricardo Pepi. by Jonathan Tannenwald Philly Star

Striker Haji Wright (left) was a surprising inclusion on the U.S. men’s World Cup team. Jeff Dean / AP

NEW YORK — The U.S. men’s soccer team’s World Cup roster unveiled by manager Gregg Berhalter on Wednesday had a lot of surprises — including one that stung one of the Philadelphia area’s top players.While Medford’s Brenden Aaronson and Hershey’s Christian Pulisic made the team, Downingtown’s Zack Steffen was perhaps the biggest omission from the 26-player group.Berhalter made a late turn away from a goalkeeper he has known and trusted for years. Ethan Horvath was picked instead, alongside the expected pair of presumed starter Matt Turner and Sean Johnson.Steffen went on loan from English power Manchester City to second-tier Championship team Middlesbrough this season so he could get regular playing time. He has gotten it, but it hasn’t always gone well.Horvath also made a loan move, from the Premier League’s Nottingham Forest to the second division’s Luton Town, and it has gone better for him: 19 goals conceded and eight shutouts in 19 games, to Steffen’s 19 goals conceded and four shutouts in 16 games.Berhalter took a slew of questions from reporters and ESPN’s broadcasters during the roster announcement about why he dropped Steffen, and never gave a direct answer.“Me and Zack go way back,” said Berhalter, who coached Steffen on the Columbus Crewfrom 2016-18. “Zack’s been there for me a bunch of times, and to tell him he’s not going to be a part of the World Cup team was heartbreaking for me. But those are the decisions that we made as a staff.”Beyond that, Berhalter spent a lot of time aiming to redirect the conversation.“Sean Johnson [has] been with this program since Day 1, and we think he’s a really valuable piece of the team,” he said. “Ethan is a guy that always responds when his number’s called. … He’s a guy that’s Johnny-on-the-spot — if you need him, he’s ready, and I think that’s valuable in a World Cup-type of competition.”Berhalter noted that Horvath came in as a sub for Forest in the win last season that clinched promotion to the Premier League; and starred as a sub for the U.S. in last year’s Concacaf Nations League final win. He told ESPN that “the lean is toward Matt being the No. 1.″Left unsaid was that Horvath subbed in for an injured Steffen in the latter game; and that Steffen withdrew from this summer’s set of games because of family issues, giving Johnson and Horvath the games Turner didn’t play.

Among defenders, there were two surprises: Shaq Moore over Reggie Cannon at right back, and veteran Tim Ream as the last of four centerbacks. Ream has been playing well for Fulham in England’s Premier League, including games against powerhouses Liverpool and Manchester City, and that earned him a return to the national team for the first time since September of last year.“Have you watched any Fulham games lately? Then you know why we brought him in,” Berhalter quipped. “It’s really hard to ignore stuff like that. … I think Tim, based on what we’re seeing, the level he’s playing at, he’s ready to play in a World Cup for sure.”It wasn’t too surprising that former Union centerback Mark McKenzie — who grew up in Bear, Del. — didn’t make the cut, because he had some high-profile struggles in national team games over the last year and a half. But a recent run of good form at Belgium’s Genk raised hope that he might get the spot opened by Chris Richards’ injury, or that Berhalter might take five centerbacks instead of four.In the end, Berhalter stuck with four: presumed starters Walker Zimmermanand Aaron Long, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Ream.

The midfield had not so much a surprise as a gamble: the inclusion of Luca de la Torre, who suffered a muscle tear in his left leg in late October.“He was training, he’s up to 95% of his top speed, he’s doing a bunch of fitness work,” Berhalter said of the 24-year-old from Spanish club Celta de Vigo. ”I would say now, my guess would be he wouldn’t be 90 minutes fit [for] Game 1, and he’s a guy that we’re going to have to ramp up during the tournament.”The closest thing to a true surprise was Cristian Roldan over Malik Tillman, but Tillman has had a rough time lately at Scotland’s Rangers. Roldan might not play much in Qatar, but he can play multiple positions and is a strong locker room presence. With 26 players on World Cup squads now instead of the 23 of the past, there’s space for such a player.Among the wingers, Roldan’s Seattle Sounders teammate Jordan Morris edged FC Dallas’ Paul Arriola. It seemed that Berhalter picked Morris’ versatility across the front line over Arriola’s solid history as a defensive closer.“For one reason or another, we haven’t always had our wingers fit and available, and now as we lead up to the World Cup, every one of those players is fit and available,” Berhalter said. “And it just made [it] that Paul was the odd man out. … It’s the worst thing to have to tell him that we feel that there’s other players, there’s other wingers that are ahead of him.”After the announcement, Arriola wrote on social media: “I am heartbroken to not be included on the final World Cup roster … This year my goal was to put myself in the best position possible to get to this point and I believe I did, unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all came at forward: Ricardo Pepi didn’t make the cut after being one of Berhalter’s most trusted players in World Cup qualifying. Pepi moved from Germany’s Augsburg to the Netherlands’ Gronigen on loan this summer to regain his scoring form, and he seemed to have found it with six goals and two assists in nine games.But Berhalter chose otherwise: Haji Wright, a 6-foot-3 target striker who made his senior national team debut this past June after being a big-time teenage prospect. He played with current U.S. stars Pulisic and Weston McKennie back then, but he didn’t make it to the big time until going to Turkish club Antalyaspor last year. Wright has scored 24 goals in 47 games there, including nine in 12 games this season.Wright, Josh Sargent, and Jesús Ferreirawill be the three strikers — and it turns out Wright wasn’t judged directly against Pepi. He was judged against Jordan Pefok, a fellow target forward who plays for Germany’s Union Berlin. Pefok shot out of the gates in the Bundesliga season with four goals and two assists in the first month and a half, but he hasn’t scored since Sept. 18.“When we were looking at this as coaches, we were evaluating Haji vs. Jordan Pefok, and that’s what it came down to,” Berhalter said. “They’re both physical strikers, Jordan maybe a little more so. But Haji has pace, he’s got the ability to go one-v-one, he’s got finishing with his head [and] both feet, and he’s performing really well in the Turkish league.”

He also revealed that not calling in Pefok since last March was not in fact a sealing of the player’s fate.“If we would have made the decision [in] mid-September, Jordan Pefok would have probably been a lock to be in based on his form at Union Berlin,” Berhalter said. “But since then, it’s a different story.”And if this was a normal World Cup with a full training camp before games, he added, Pefok might have been brought in to regain form and chemistry.As for Pepi, Berhalter said he was judged against Ferreira and Sargent. Ferreira has been a lock to make the squad for months. Sargent got bonus points for playing on English second-tier club Norwich City — and thus facing some of the players the U.S. will see in group stage games against Wales and England. “The Dutch league, I think, is a great league, but it doesn’t bring the same physicality that the Premier League brings and the [second-tier] Championship brings,” Berhalter said.However many people were involved in picking the roster, Berhalter knows the ultimate responsibility lies with him. And the ultimate verdict will be rendered when the U.S. takes the field in Qatar, starting Nov. 21 against Wales (Fox29, Telemundo 62).“These may not be the right choices — these are the choices that we picked,” he said. “Ricardo Pepi could have a great argument for why he should be there, and I can understand that argument. But we had to choose, we chose to bring three strikers, and these are the three that we chose.”

By Paul Tenorio and Sam Stejskal The Athletic

Much of the U.S. men’s national team’s 26-man roster for the 2022 World Cup turned out as expected. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams are the main headliners, with Brenden Aaronson, Sergiño Dest, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Matt Turner, Tim Weah and Walker Zimmerman also expected to play significant roles in Qatar. But there were a few surprise decisions, too.On Wednesday, the U.S. Soccer Federation hosted a group of VIPs, sponsors and select fans at concert venue Brooklyn Steel in New York City for the announcement of the full roster.The event provided a touch of the absurd to an important occasion. Pre-announcement festivities included a playlist of clubby electronic tracks and the USMNT’s very own, very enthusiastic hype man — a middle-aged guy named Devin who was also at every home World Cup qualifier. The buildup wrapped with a sizzle reel narrated by rapper Jack Harlow. Then, ESPN’s Kay Murray, Taylor Twellman and Jermaine Jones took the stage to reveal the team that head coach Gregg Berhalter will bring to Qatar. Among the more surprising inclusions was Fulham center back Tim Ream, who was recalled to the team after more than a year away, making the squad ahead of Mark McKenzie and Erik Palmer-Brown. At striker, Antalyaspor’s Haji Wright was included over Ricardo Pepi, who had been a regular call-up since the start of qualifying. At goalkeeper, Middlesbrough’s Zack Steffen, the U.S.’s No. 1 keeper for most of the last four years, was left off of the roster entirely. Luca de la Torre was also deemed healthy enough to make the team after he recently suffered an injury in training with Spanish club Celta de Vigo.The other controversial inclusions came further down the roster and involved players who probably won’t make a big impact at the tournament. Seattle winger Jordan Morris and Nashville right back Shaq Moore made the team ahead of Paul Arriola and Reggie Cannon, respectively, despite the fact that Morris and Moore were less involved in qualifying than Arriola and Cannon. Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan was called into the team over young German-American Malik Tillman, who was involved in the last two U.S. camps.Berhalter and several players spoke about the roster with reporters in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, while several of the Europe-based members of the team called in for video press conferences. We have a quick glimpse at how the team might line up in Qatar here; a piece on realistic expectations for the U.S. in Qatar will be out on Thursday. We’ll have plenty, plenty more over the coming days and weeks, as both of us head to the Middle East this weekend ahead of the full USMNT arrival on Monday. Until then, here are our our main takeaways from the announcement:

Just a few weeks ago, Ream making the final roster felt like an extreme long shot.

Though the 35-year-old was excellent for Fulham in the Championship last season, has been solid for the club thus far in the current Premier League campaign and has spent the last two seasons forming a good on-field relationship with U.S. and Fulham left back Antonee Robinson, Berhalter had not called Ream up since last October. He had to withdraw from that camp due to personal reasons, then wasn’t brought back to the USMNT in any of the subsequent five international windows.Berhalter was consistent in his reasoning for excluding the St. Louis native, leaving him out not because of form, but because of fit. Berhalter prefers to use a high defensive line. As such, he wants his center backs to be relatively mobile and strong in the air. Those aren’t Ream’s best qualities, which Berhalter pointed out after leaving him off the roster for the September friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia.Ream’s strengths and weaknesses didn’t change over the last two months, but the circumstances shifted at center back for the U.S. Chris Richards, who Berhalter said in September would’ve been selected for Qatar if healthy, didn’t recover from a hamstring injury in time to make the World Cup squad. Mark McKenzie was given a chance in September, but he, like Aaron Long, performed relatively poorly that window. Berhalter said Wednesday night that Ream’s convincing form in the Premier League made it easy to include him in the roster.“In Tim’s case, you know, he was in the Premier League (two) years ago, and he struggled,” Berhalter said. “The whole team struggled. And he went to the Championship and he started performing better and they got promoted, and now he’s in the Premier League and he’s a top performer for his team. It’s really hard to ignore stuff like that. And by the way, he’s been a guy that’s been with us since day one. So to me, all the pieces were aligned to bring him back into the squad. And there is, in my opinion, a difference between qualifying in CONCACAF and playing in the World Cup. And I think Tim, based on what we’re seeing, the level he’s playing, he’s ready to play in a World Cup for sure.”

Long and McKenzie struggled with their distribution in September, an area in which Ream excels compared to the other U.S. center backs. Their struggles on the ball hindered the U.S.’s ability in possession against both Japan and Saudi Arabia. With the Americans set to face two teams during the World Cup group stage in Wales and Iran who will likely sit in organized, compact blocks, that quality could become particularly important to the U.S.’s chances of advancing out of Group B.“To be there representing the U.S, 300 million people, the pressure is immense but it’s what I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid,” Ream told Fulham’s website about his selection. “It’s a dream come true and something that I’m proud of. I’m proud that I’ve earned it.”

Of course, Ream still has his limitations. He has won 57.6 percent of his aerial duels this season, according to TruMedia, and ranks in the 18th percentile of center backs in the top five leagues this season in that area, according to FBref.com. Playing him alongside Zimmerman would probably prevent the U.S. from using as high of a line as Berhalter likes. For that reason, it’d be a surprise to see him start every game in Qatar. Long, who has started the last six games for the U.S., and Carter-Vickers offer more athletically than Ream and will no doubt be in contention to start alongside Zimmerman.

Regardless of how much he plays, Ream should bring a calm, veteran presence to an otherwise overwhelmingly young U.S. team. He only played one match in qualifying, starting and performing solidly in the opener at El Salvador last September, but he seemed like a positive influence throughout that up and down first window, going as far as to get up off the bench repeatedly in the U.S.’s 1-1 draw with Canada in Nashville to offer instruction to different defenders. That’s a small thing, but World Cup rosters — and games — are often decided by fine margins.

Ream’s inclusion is a great capstone to his career, as well. He made his debut for the U.S. all the way back in November 2010, before some of his teammates in Qatar had even turned 10, but wasn’t selected for the 2014 World Cup squad. Now, at 35, he’s set for what will likely be a lifetime highlight.

McKenzie will no doubt be feeling quite different. He was the center back left off the roster at the expense of Ream. He’s been playing quite well for Genk and, while he’s had a bit of a bumpy ride with the U.S., it seemed like a decent bet that he would make this squad.

In one way, it’s puzzling that he didn’t. Despite the unsettled nature of the position, Berhalter chose to only bring four center backs to the World Cup. He brought five fullbacks instead, even though Robinson and Sergiño Dest are likely locked-in as starters at those spots. Not included in those five fullbacks was Reggie Cannon, who has experience playing center back and could have provided depth in a pinch.That could loom large in what is a troubling position for the Americans. The U.S. center backs will have difficult tests at the World Cup, facing a Wales team that will include Gareth Bale in the opener, then a dangerous England attack spearheaded by Harry Kane, then an Iran team likely to include a trio of big-time forwards in Porto’s Mehdi Taremi, Bayer Leverkusen’s Sardar Azmoun and PSV’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh. If they falter, it’ll more than likely be a short stay in Qatar for the U.S.

USMNT World Cup 2022 squad

POSITION	PLAYER	CLUB	AGE	CAPS
GK	Matt Turner	Arsenal	28	20
GK	Ethan Horvath	Luton Town	27	8
GK	Sean Johnson	NYCFC	33	10
DEF	Antonee Robinson	Fulham	25	29
DEF	Joe Scally	Borussia M’gladbach	19	3
DEF	Sergiño Dest	AC Milan	22	19
DEF	Shaq Moore	Nashville SC	26	15
DEF	DeAndre Yedlin	Inter Miami	29	75
DEF	Cameron Carter-Vickers	Celtic	24	11
DEF	Aaron Long	NY Red Bulls	30	29
DEF	Tim Ream	Fulham	35	46
DEF	Walker Zimmerman	Nashville SC	29	33
MID	Kellyn Acosta	LAFC	27	53
MID	Tyler Adams	Leeds United	23	32
MID	Luca de la Torre	Celta Vigo	24	12
MID	Weston McKennie	Juventus	24	37
MID	Yunus Musah	Valencia	19	19
MID	Cristian Roldan	Seattle Sounders	27	32
MID	Brenden Aaronson	Leeds United	22	24
FWD	Jordan Morris	Seattle Sounders	28	49
FWD	Christian Pulisic	Chelsea	24	52
FWD	Gio Reyna	Dortmund	19	14
FWD	Tim Weah	Lille	22	25
FWD	Jesus Ferreira	FC Dallas	21	15
FWD	Josh Sargent	Norwich City	22	20
FWD	Haji Wright	Antalyaspor	24	3

Over the last year there has been plenty of debate and speculation about which strikers Berhalter would bring to Qatar. For months, that was because none of the options were scoring with any regularity. Then, suddenly, it was because all of them were scoring.

After all that debate, Berhalter still somehow managed to surprise with his picks.

Most considered it to be a four-forward race for the final three spots: Jesús Ferreira, Ricardo Pepi, Josh Sargent and Jordan Pefok. In the end, two of those four did not make the roster. Berhalter opted instead to bring Haji Wright, who is in fine form in the Turkish Süper Lig, over both Pepi and Pefok.

Pefok started the season excellently with Bundesliga club Union Berlin, recording three goals and two assists in his first six appearances, but he’s fallen off more recently, not scoring in his last 10 games across all competitions. Berhalter confirmed on Wednesday that Wright, who has nine goals in Turkey this season, was taken over Pefok. Berhalter also noted that Belgium forward Michy Batshuayi has five goals this season in the Turkish league, four fewer than Wright.

“In this particular case we felt like Haji is in a great goalscoring form,” Berhalter said. “They’re both our physical strikers — Jordan, maybe a little more so, but Haji has pace, he’s got the ability to go one-v-one, he’s got finishing with his head, both feet, and he’s performing really well in the Turkish league.”

Pepi had a brutal goalless run from October 2021 through this September, but has rebounded nicely since he began his loan at Dutch club Groningen this fall, tallying five goals and two assists in eight appearances in the Eredivisie. He was also part of the U.S. squad in September and has been a consistent call-up since the start of qualifying; his exclusion was one of the biggest surprises. Berhalter said Pepi was in competition with Sargent and Ferreira for a role. He believed Sargent’s success in the more physical Championship would translate better against Wales and England than Pepi’s success in the Netherlands.

“These may not be the right choices, right?” Berhalter said. “These are the choices that we picked and you know, Ricardo Pepi could have a great argument for why he should be there and I can understand that argument. But we chose to bring three strikers and these are the three that we chose.”

The debate now pivots to which striker should start in Qatar.

Berhalter has quite clearly favored Ferreira in the months leading into the tournament, but things have changed since the U.S. last met up in September. The FC Dallas forward had scored six goals in six games leading into that international window. Ferreira now heads into the World Cup having failed to score in his last five games of the season. He also hasn’t played since FCD was eliminated from the MLS playoffs on Oct. 23, though he did recently participate in a USMNT fitness camp with other out-of-season MLS players in Texas.

Sargent has eight goals this season for Norwich, but he hasn’t scored since Oct. 15. The St. Louis-area native was able to get back into the picture with his strong early form in the Championship, however, and despite getting just 45 minutes across the two friendlies in September, he clearly did enough to show Berhalter he deserves a spot in Qatar.

Wright, meanwhile, is the hottest striker in the pool. The 6-foot-3 forward has scored in a variety of fashions recently. He has three goals from headers off crosses, found space with runs in behind the back line, has capitalized off of pressing and turnovers and has also netted two penalties.

In tournament play, Wright should be able to bring something different than both Sargent and Ferreira: a target up top for more direct play who will also be valuable on crosses and set pieces. That style of striker could be particularly useful if the U.S. is in need of a goal late in a game.

The biggest surprise of the day wasn’t a player who is going to Qatar, it was a player left off the list.

Steffen, who had been the USMNT’s No. 1 for most of the last few years, was excluded entirely. The 27-year-old has a long history with Berhalter, playing for him in 2017 and 2018 with the Columbus Crew and starting under him 23 times with the national team.

He missed a good number of matches in qualifying because of injury but, when healthy, he was typically the starter in the Octagonal round. Though Turner probably outperformed him in qualifying, Steffen never seemed completely out of the picture.

Steffen missed the June camp due to “family reasons,” however, and then was left out of the September camp. Despite taking several questions about Steffen, Berhalter did not directly address why he left him out of the picture except to say that he was comfortable with the goalkeepers he was bringing to Qatar.

“Me and Zack go way back, and Zack’s been there for me a bunch of times and to tell him he’s not going to be a part of the World Cup team was heartbreaking for me,” Berhalter said.

Ethan Horvath and Sean Johnson were the two other goalkeepers who made the team ahead of Steffen. Berhalter said that Johnson has been an important member of the squad as a respected veteran. He noted that Horvath has shown an ability to step into games and perform at a high level — both for Nottingham Forest late in a promotion playoff last season and for the U.S. in the Nations League final in June 2021, when he entered as a sub and stopped a penalty against Mexico.

Notably, Berhalter did not commit to starting Turner in Qatar, citing the injury that he recently suffered with Arsenal as a potential hindrance to his making the XI against Wales. Turner missed three games for Arsenal because of the knock, but returned to the bench for their match against Chelsea on Sunday and the Carabao Cup contest against Brighton on Wednesday.

De la Torre had a major question mark around his status going into Wednesday’s roster announcement. Celta de Viga announced on Oct. 28 that he suffered a hamstring injury that would hold him out for at least three weeks. That pegged his earliest possible return as Nov. 20, just one day before the U.S. takes the field against Wales.

The Spanish club has since posted multiple videos of De la Torre working out and running in the last week, and clearly Berhalter felt confident enough that the midfielder could get fit in time for the tournament. It’s a crucial inclusion. De la Torre is one of the few options on the roster capable of providing a similar skill set to Yunus Musah in his ability to pick up the ball, carry it forward and distribute and link up with the forward lines.

There are still some major concerns, however. In addition to the fact that De la Torre is working back from injury, he also hasn’t featured much since moving to Celta de Vigo in the summer. He has played just 50 minutes in La Liga this season and did not look sharp in his minutes with the U.S. in September.

Berhalter said De la Torre is running at about 95 percent of his full speed, and while he will not be 90 minutes fit for the first game, Berhalter said they could ramp him up as the tournament goes on.

Berhalter also made some tough calls in some areas deeper down the depth chart.

Among the more surprising decisions was the omission of FC Dallas winger Paul Arriola. Arriola was one of the few carryovers from the pool of players who had failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2018. He played in five qualifiers for the U.S. in the Octagonal round of this cycle, starting three times and scoring once.

Berhalter said cutting Arriola was among his more difficult decisions, but that the health of the other wingers — Jordan Morris, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Tim Weah; Brenden Aaronson is listed as a midfielder — simply meant that Arriola was the odd man out.

Making the team is a huge moment for Morris, who most certainly had doubts about his future after tearing an ACL for a second time in February 2021 while on loan at Swansea. Morris worked his way back into the national team picture and made six appearances in World Cup qualifiers, including a start in a 3-0 win over Honduras in February.

Roldan, Morris’s club teammate and close friend, had a similar experience more recently as he worked to come back from groin surgery to try to get back into form ahead of the World Cup. The 27-year-old was able to get back on the field for the Sounders at the end of the regular season, is well-liked by his teammates and valued by U.S. coaches for his attitude and work ethic in training.

“I was pushing to get back for the Sounders to make the playoffs, and obviously the United States, and making the World Cup squad was part of the bigger picture, as well,” Roldan said. “There’s always doubt in your mind, whether you’ll make it or not when you’re going through so much pain and rehabbing and at times, not even getting better. Jordan has dealt with it plenty of times. It puts life into perspective. … That was going through my head, thinking that if I can give myself a chance to find my way back and work extremely hard and give every ounce of energy into rehab and getting back onto the field, I was going to give myself the best chance to make the squad.”

Berhalter also opted to bring Nashville right back Shaq Moore at right back over Cannon, who has featured regularly for the U.S. during the head coach’s tenure. Berhalter said Moore’s one-v-one defending ability gave him an edge, especially when they considered some of the opponents they would face at the tournament.

On the whole, Wednesday was a pretty festive evening for the USMNT. There were a few surprises, but nothing approaching the shock of the U.S.’s last World Cup roster announcement, when manager Jurgen Klinsmann left Landon Donovan out for the 2014 World Cup. Berhalter certainly seemed loose, cracking jokes on stage with the ESPN crew and looking incredibly relaxed in his press conference with reporters after the team was revealed. He’ll fly to Qatar later Wednesday night. The entire team will arrive in Doha no later than Monday. From there, they’ll have just a week to prepare for their opening match against Wales on Nov. 21. Wit the group that will be available for that match set, it’s now time to really gear up for it.

5:19 PM ET Sam Borden ESPN Senior Writer

It has been a long four years for the U.S. men’s national team, but finally — finally — graduation day is here.On Nov. 21, these young American students (of the game) will walk across the biggest stage (in sports). They’ll leave behind their classrooms and confront the harsh realities of the real world (of international soccer).Those weak performances in the September friendlies? Nothing more than some senioritis, perhaps. Because now, with everyone watching, these graduates are ready — ready to make an impact, ready to make themselves heard, ready to shine.Here, then, is your team: The USMNT Class of 2022, grouped, of course, according to their “majors.”

These are the “money” players for the U.S., the ones responsible for delivering currency (that is, goals). A World Cup isn’t about long-term investments, either. In a four-week tournament, these are the players whom the U.S. need to go on a heater.

Age: 24
Club: Chelsea (England) | Position: Forward
Debut: Mar. 29, 2016 vs. Guatemala
Appearances: 52 (21 goals)

Look for him to … Create goal-scoring chances and attack from the edge of the field (he prefers it to be from the left). Pulisic has struggled to find regular minutes with Chelsea under two different managers this season, but he remains the American linchpin.

Notable or Quotable: “[It’s] a team that no one loves to play against — it’s that American spirit, that we can always win. That we can beat anyone.” — On the identity of this USMNT

Age: 24
Club: Juventus (Italy) | Position: Midfielder
Debut: Nov. 14, 2017 vs. Portugal
Appearances: 37 (nine goals)

Look for him to … Perpetually be around the ball, pushing it forward into dangerous areas, as well as offer a stout presence in the defensive midfield. McKennie’s work rate makes him a game-breaker for the U.S., the player most capable — if he’s on — of disrupting the opposition.

Notable or Quotable: Frequently celebrates goals by waving an imaginary wand, in homage to Harry Potter. (For the record, McKennie says he would be a Gryffindor.)

Age: 22
Club: Lille (France) | Position: Forward
Debut: March 27, 2018 vs. Paraguay
Appearances: 25 (three goals)

Look for him to … Show speed on the outside, frequently from the right, and deliver penetrating crosses. Weah, who missed seven games of the club season with an ankle injury, also likes to get on the ball and interchange with the wide defender on his side of the field.

Notable or Quotable: “My dad is in the history books so I just have that fire in me all the time.” — On his father, George Weah, who is the president of Liberia and one of the greatest African players in soccer history

Age: 21
Club: FC Dallas (USA) | Position: Forward
Debut: Feb. 1, 2020 vs. Costa Rica
Appearances: 15 (seven goals)

Look for him to … Score, likely by using his speed (Second Spectrum data showed he was the second-fastest player in MLS in 2022). Ferreira isn’t the prototypical No. 9, but he scored 18 goals for Dallas this season and has a unique skill set among U.S. striker candidates.

Notable or Quotable: “Cheetah — cheetah is my favorite animal of all time.” — On what kind of animal he’d like to be if he wasn’t a human (Ferreira wants to become a zoologist after retiring).

Josh Sargent

Age: 22
Club: Norwich City (England) | Position: Forward
Debut: May 28, 2018 vs. Bolivia
Appearances: 20 (five goals)

Look for him to … Provide versatility, as he can play both as a central striker and in the wider role he is often used in at Norwich. Sargent can be streaky — six of his eight goals this season came in a six-game stretch from mid-August to mid-September.

Notable or Quotable: “There will be hundreds of comments saying how great you are, how amazing you are. And that one comment that says you’re the worst player will stay in your head all night.” — On why he’s one of the few USMNT players who stay off social media entirely

Age: 24
Club: Antalyaspor (Turkey) | Position: Forward
Debut: June 1, 2022 vs. Morocco
Appearances: 3 (one goal)

Look for him to … Be a total X factor offensively, as he hasn’t featured much with the USMNT but is their most dangerous No. 9. After scoring 14 goals last season, he has already scored 9 in 12 matches this year.

Notable or Quotable: Wright comes from an athletic family; one of his cousins is Joseph Addai, the former NFL running back who won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007.

Safety. Stability. Reliability. These are the guys charged with protecting U.S. assets. Gregg Berhalter needs them to keep things under control in the most fraught moments, and especially when being threatened by a rogue striker.

Age: 28
Club: Arsenal (England) | Position: Goalkeeper
Debut: Jan. 31, 2021 vs. Trinidad & Tobago
Appearances: 20

Look for him to … Start in goal for the U.S. after the surprise omission of Zack Steffen. A relative latecomer to the sport, Turner’s shot-stopping ability is top-shelf, but he does struggle to offer as much as other keepers when it comes to playing with the ball at his feet.

Notable or Quotable: “I decided to join soccer just to meet some new people and sort of integrate myself and stay in shape for basketball and baseball.” — On why, at age 16, he decided to play on the soccer team at his new high school

Age: 29
Club: Nashville SC (USA) | Position: Defender)
Debut: Feb. 3, 2017 vs. Jamaica
Appearances: 33 (three goals)

Look for him to … Stabilize the backline, with the rare trip forward on a set piece or corner. Unlike the many young phenoms on the team, Zimmerman is a bit of an international late bloomer, but he has become a defensive mainstay under Berhalter.

Notable or Quotable: “I think it comes with a lot of responsibility. You’re expected to kind of do the right thing, say the right thing. I took a lot of pride in that, and I think it helped develop me as a person.” — On growing up with a father who was the pastor of a Baptist church

Age: 30
Club: New York Red Bulls (USA) | Position: Defender
Debut: Oct. 16, 2018 vs. Costa Rica
Appearances: 29 (three goals)

Look for him to … Be safe and sturdy in defense, generally taking a conservative approach to marking. Like Zimmerman, Long is a veteran who has been overlooked (and sidelined by various injuries) for much of his career but now seems to finally have found his chance.

Notable or Quotable: “I think I led the league in interceptions that year — we went to the state finals, too.” — On moonlighting as a cornerback and kicker on the high school football team his senior year

Age: 24
Club: Celtic (Scotland) | Position: Defender
Debut: Nov. 14, 2017 vs. Portugal
Appearances: 11

Look for him to … Be assertive in duels and use improved passing skills to push for playing time at center-back. CCV is a quiet leader, too — when Callum McGregor got injured, Celtic turned to Carter-Vickers to stand in as their team captain.

Notable or Quotable: Was loaned by Tottenham to seven different teams over five years — Sheffield United, Ipswich, Swansea, Stoke, Luton, Bournemouth and Celtic — before finally signing a new permanent deal with Celtic in June

Age: 35
Club: Fulham (England) | Position: Defender
Debut: Nov. 17, 2010 vs. South Africa
Appearances: 46 (one goal)

Look for him to … Defend fiercely and intelligently (which offsets a lack of speed). Ream isn’t necessarily a perfect fit in Berhalter’s preferred high-line system, but he’s thriving at Fulham, and a slew of injuries to other U.S. defenders pushed him back onto the radar.

Notable or Quotable: Ream has lived through a series of emotional swings with Fulham: Over the past five years, he has been part of two relegations and three promotions.

Age: 27
Club: Luton Town (England) | Position: Goalkeeper
Debut: Oct. 7, 2016 vs. Cuba
Appearances: 8

Look for him to … Compete for time as the backup to Matt Turner. With Steffen not selected, Horvath — who has been in excellent form for Luton and is particularly skilled at long-range ball distribution — will battle Sean Johnson for the No. 2 spot.

Notable or Quotable: Despite having only 8 caps, Horvath has already had a historic USMNT moment: in June 2021, he replaced an injured Steffen in the second half and made four critical saves, including a dramatic penalty save, as the U.S. beat Mexico 3-2 to win the Nations League final.

Age: 33
Club: New York City FC (USA) | Position: Goalkeeper
Debut: Jan. 22, 2011 vs. Chile
Appearances: 10

Look for him to … Provide a reliable pair of hands if the U.S. get into an emergency goalkeeper situation. Third keepers are (by definition) rusty whenever they’re called on, but it’s especially true for Johnson: Playing in MLS means his last game action came on Oct. 23.

Notable or Quotable: “I think I got my first cap when some of these guys were 10 or even younger.” — On what it’s like to be an older player on a young team

What does the foundation of the U.S. team look like? It’s these players, the ones who build the American infrastructure, the ones who create the framework for the team’s success. They’re thoughtful and purposeful, dedicated to the system that could (should?) take the U.S. into the knockout rounds.

Age: 23
Club: Leeds United (England) | Position: Midfielder
Debut: Nov. 14, 2017 vs. Portugal
Appearances: 32 (one goal)

Look for him to … Be the engine for the U.S., with wide defensive field coverage and a steady sense for moving the ball. Adams embodies the “gritty midfielder” label, but he also shows the occasional flair for a colorful interchange with the wingers.

Notable or Quotable: “I do some of the dirty work that not everyone wants to do.” — On what distinguishes him as a midfielder

Age: 22
Club: AC Milan (Italy) | Position: Defender
Debut: Sept. 6, 2019 vs. Mexico
Appearances: 19 (two goals)

Look for him to … Wear out the right wing, making penetrating runs to link the U.S. defense and attack. Dest, who has battled injuries and muscle soreness, remains indispensable to the U.S. even as he has struggled to get the regular playing time he wants at Milan.

Notable or Quotable: “Orange chicken and fried rice — I always get that at Panda Express. The sweet chicken is just perfect.” — On his favorite meal when he’s in the United States

Age: 27
Club: LAFC (USA) | Position: Midfielder
Debut: Jan. 31, 2016 vs. Iceland
Appearances: 53 (two goals)

Look for him to … Be a steady hand off the bench in the midfield, particularly when it comes to set-piece delivery. Berhalter has talked often about the importance of intangibles with a young team, and Acosta is the embodiment of the idea.

Notable or Quotable: “I thought my national-team career was done. And it was a sad feeling because I experienced a lot but I felt like I still had a lot to give.” — On going more than two years between call-ups before getting another opportunity in 2020

Age: 27
Club: Seattle Sounders (USA) | Position: Midfielder
Debut: July 12, 2017 vs. Martinique
Appearances: 32

Look for him to … Read the game as well as any player on the field, allowing him to be serviceable off the bench in a variety of roles, either in midfield or on the wing. Throughout qualifying, Berhalter raved often about Roldan’s tactical awareness and energy.

Notable or Quotable: Roldan had a choice when it came to which country he would represent internationally. While he chose the U.S., his younger brother, Alex, plays for the El Salvador national team.

Age: 25
Club: Fulham (England) | Position: Defender
Debut: May 28, 2018 vs. Bolivia
Appearances: 29 (two goals)

Look for him to … Push forward (a lot) on the left, helping to create chances as well as attacking at the back post when the ball comes from the opposite side. Robinson is also a robust defender. Over the past year, he’s been statistically top-level in blocks, clearances and aerials won.

Notable or Quotable: Often goes by the name Jedi, which he has been called since he was young because of his love for the Star Wars movies.

Age: 29
Club: Inter Miami (USA) | Position: Defender
Debut: Feb. 1, 2014, vs. South Korea
Appearances: 75

Look for him to … Add versatility off the bench either as an attacking wing-back or in a more defensive role. Yedlin is the only player who has previously been on a U.S. World Cup roster: He played in three games during the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Notable or Quotable: “We were just too complacent in the last game, too complacent going into it. So every game I play in, I try to just be in the moment. Because if you get too far ahead of yourself, things that are happening in the present will pass by you. And all of a sudden, you have like the situation what happened to us in 2018.” — On the crushing feeling of failing to qualify for the World Cup four years ago

Age: 19
Club: Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany) | Position: Defender
Debut: June 1, 2021 vs. Morocco
Appearances: 3

Look for him to … Offer insurance at full-back as a player who is stout in defense and likes to push forward, while also serving as an option at center-back. If he sees an opening in the attacking third, too, be ready: Scally has shown a penchant for shooting from distance.

Notable or Quotable: “I feel like the Europeans always think they’re better in all these ways just because they’re from Europe. So that’s definitely one perception I’ve taken when I came over here: that they think we’re just like NFL players running with the ball.” — On how he feels European players see American players

Age: 27
Club: Seattle Sounders (USA) | Position: Forward
Debut: Nov. 8, 2014, vs. Republic of Ireland
Appearances: 49 (11 goals)

Look for him to … Give the starters on the wing a break and offer needed energy late in a game. Even at 27, Morris is still a speedster and can finish when given the chance: He scored seven goals for Seattle this season.

Notable or Quotable: The tattoo on his right forearm is of the caduceus, a medical symbol, with the characters T1D above it; it’s there to let medics know, in case of an emergency, that Morris has Type 1 diabetes.

Inventive. Whimsical. Innovative. These are the creatives, the maestros for the U.S. They’re the ones charged with unlocking the Americans’ flair, the ones who will use their talents to showcase the beauty that lies within the U.S. team.

Age: 19
Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany) | Position: Midfielder
Debut: Nov. 12, 2020, vs. Wales
Appearances: 14 (four goals)

Look for him to … Run with the ball at his feet, creating space and opening lanes for his teammates. Injuries have been regrettably constant for Reyna, but if he can stay healthy for the whole tournament, he figures to be a legit candidate for the team’s most valuable player.

Notable or Quotable: Reyna’s father, Claudio, was a USMNT legend, and his mother also represented the U.S. Danielle Egan, as she was known then, made six appearances (and scored one goal) for the USWNT in 1993.

Sam Borden chats with USMNT midfielder Gio Reyna about dealing with his mental health and his injury struggles.

Age: 19
Club: Valencia (Spain) | Position: Midfielder
Debut: Nov. 12, 2020, vs. Wales
Appearances: 19

Look for him to … Be assertive, both on the ball and defensively, as a critical piece of the McKennie-Adams-Musah midfield trio. Musah is one of the team’s most complete players: In LaLiga, he’s statistically strong among midfielders in everything from assists and dribbles to tackles and clearances.

Notable or Quotable: “I feel like we want to be on the field and express ourselves, and when you’re on the field and trying to express yourself, I think the best version of yourself comes out.” — On what he likes about the USMNT’s philosophy

Age: 22
Club: Leeds United (England) | Position: Forward
Debut: Feb. 1, 2020, vs. Costa Rica
Appearances: 24 (six goals)

Look for him to … Never stop running, whether on the wing or centrally (and he may be used in both spots). Aaronson, whose energy has made him a quick fan favorite at Leeds, finds ways to open up the opponent: He’s in the 94th percentile among midfielders when it comes to delivering key passes.

Notable or Quotable: “The way I would describe myself is just energetic — I like to get after it, I’m relentless. Anybody I’ve ever talked to says I’m like a little pest.” — On how he tries to impact a game

Age: 24
Club: Celta Vigo (Spain) | Position: Midfielder
Debut: June 2, 2018, vs. Republic of Ireland
Appearances: 12

Look for him to … Make good decisions, utilizing excellent field awareness, when used as a rotational starter or substitute, though inactivity could be a concern. De la Torre hasn’t played more than 20 minutes in a game for Celta Vigo this season.

Notable or Quotable: “I think I have a skill set where I try to put players around me in better positions. So, I think I can make other players better.” — On his role with the USMNT

Age: 26
Club: Nashville SC | Position: Defender
Debut: June 2, 2018 vs. Republic of Ireland
Appearances: 15 (one goal)

Look for him to … Be an option off the bench at outside back, where he’s a very strong tackler and aggressive in creating chances. After bouncing around Spanish clubs since 2015, he joined Nashville this summer for the late-season MLS playoff push.

Notable or Quotable: Moore has just a single international goal, but it’s a memorable one: In the 2021 Gold Cup, Moore scored after just 14 seconds against Canada, setting the record for the fastest goal in USMNT history.

8:22 PM ET ESPN Jeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

United States manager Gregg Berhalter said it was “heartbreaking” to tell goalkeeper Zack Steffen that he had been left off the World Cup squad for Qatar.Steffen was thought to be a lock to make the team after featuring regularly for the U.S. during this World Cup cycle and battling Arsenal‘s Matt Turner for the starting spot during World Cup qualifying.Steffen was also viewed as a favorite of Berhalter’s given that the two worked together at the Columbus Crew from 2016-18.But when the squad was announced on Wednesday Steffen was left off the team, with Turner, Luton Town’s Ethan Horvath and New York City FC‘s Sean Johnson preferred.”Me and Zach go way back, and Zach’s been there for me a bunch of times,” Berhalter said of Steffen during Wednesday’s press conference after the squad announcement. “And to tell him he is not going to be part of the World Cup team was heartbreaking for me.”But those are decisions that we made as a staff and we move forward and now it’s about, ‘Well, who do we have in camp and how are we going to be successful?'”

When asked from a technical perspective what went into the decision, Berhalter said: “I think it’s more about who we do have, and the comfort level with the guys that are on the roster. We felt really comfortable with [Turner, Horvath and Johnson], and that’s the direction we decided to go.”Berhalter was also questioned about this choice of central strikers, with FC Dallas forward Jesus Ferreira, Norwich City striker Josh Sargent, and Antalyaspor forward Haji Wright chosen.The U.S. coach lauded Ferreira’s link play, movement in the box, and ability to initiate the team’s press. As for Sargent, Berhalter said the forward “does a lot of things well” and valued his physicality and familiarity with English and Welsh opposition, who will make up the U.S. team’s first two opponents in Qatar.

Wright, who was something of a surprise selection given that he didn’t play in a single World Cup qualifier, was praised for his aerial threat on set pieces, ability in transition and finishing. The striker selections came at the expense of FC Groningen forward Ricardo Pepi — scorer of three goals in CONCACAF qualifying — and Union Berlin’s Jordan Pefok.”I think when we were looking at this as coaches, we were evaluating Haji versus Jordan Pefok and that’s what it came down to,” Berhalter said. “And in this particular case we felt like Haji is in a great goal-scoring form.”They’re both are physical strikers. Jordan may be a little more, but Haji has pace. He’s got the ability to go one-v-one, he’s got finishing with his head, both feet and he’s performing really well in the Turkish league.”Berhalter added that timing also played a part in the Wright-Pefok decision.”If we would’ve made the decision mid-September, Jordan Pefok would’ve probably been a lock to be in based on his former with Union Berlin,” Berhalter said. “But since then, it’s a different story now. Now Haji has come on more. So that was the tricky thing about it.”As for Pepi, Berhalter said he lost out in a competition against Ferreira and Sargent.”We felt it was valuable that Josh was playing in that competition where two of our three opponents are coming from,” the U.S. coach added. “We think that that brings value. The Dutch League I think is a great league, but it doesn’t bring the same physicality that the Premier League brings and the Championship brings.”The U.S. begins play in Group on Monday, Nov.21, against Wales, followed by matches with England and Iran in its first World Cup since 2014.

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 11/08/22, 11:30AM EST

Former Carmel FC GK Coach & Indy 11 GK is named GK of the Year in USL for San Antonio – who plays in the Finals Sun 8:30

TAMPA, Fla. – San Antonio FC’s Jordan Farr was on Tuesday named the 2022 USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year, honoring a career-best season for the 28-year-old that saw him equal the league’s single-season shutout record and finish second in the race for the Championship Golden Glove while helping San Antonio earn the best record in the 2022 regular season and a first trip to the USL Championship Final.

Farr is the second San Antonio FC goalkeeper to have claimed the award, following Diego Restrepo’s award in the 2017 USL Championship season.Farr signed with San Antonio this offseason having served as an emergency loanee for the club last postseason after an injury to starter Matt Cardone saw him acquired from Indy Eleven. A run to the Western Conference Final under SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina before the side fell in a penalty shootout made a big impression on Farr. “I remember going into the coach’s office at the end of the Orange County game last year, and I didn’t know if I was going to see them again, I didn’t know what the future held,” he said. “But I remember seeing [Marcina’s] disappointment, and seeing how much he wanted it, and in that short month how much I felt that I was ingrained into the fabric of the team and to feel those feelings of sorrow and closeness to achieving something great.”Farr wasn’t initially San Antonio’s starter to begin the 2022 campaign, but after the early-season departure of Cristian Bonilla after three games, he grabbed his opportunity. That’s the way it’s often had to be for the Salem, Oregon native, who played at NAIA program Corban College and in USL League Two prior to finding an opportunity with Indy prior to the 2018 season.

“For guys like me, coming from where I’ve come from, don’t normally get recognized at this level or even get a chance to play at this level,” he said. “This means a lot for not only me but my family. Every coach and teammate that believed in me. This goes to my wife, I can’t do anything without her. And for us as a family, it validates a lifelong dream of being a professional soccer player playing at one of the highest levels.”Off the field, 2022 has been a memorable one as well for Farr and his wife, Ale, who in October welcomed daughter Evie Jean Farr to their family. “It’s amazing to look back and see how much can change in one year,” he said. “It’s crazy how God works, and we kind of have to pinch ourselves every once-in-a-while to make sure we’re not dreaming.”

Next for Farr is the chance to cap his year in this Sunday night’s 2022 USL Championship Final (8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2 | ESPN Deportes | SiriusXM FC) in which San Antonio looks to become the first team to lift the trophy after ending the regular season with the best record since the New York Red Bulls II side that featured current United States Men’s National Team players Tyler Adams and Aaron Long in 2016. “We’re just really proud as a family to represent ourselves well but also represent San Antonio well,” said Farr. “And I credit that to our team. This award’s impossible to win on your own, and I couldn’t be happier to play on a team like this.”Farr earned 48 percent of the ballot to claim the award, while Louisville City FC’s Kyle Morton took second place with 39 percent, and Phoenix Rising FC’s Ben Lundt took third place on 12 percent.The 2022 USL Championship Awards were voted on by team technical staffs and executives and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL Championship market. Voting was conducted following the conclusion of the 2022 Championship regular season.

Nov 5, 2022; Los Angeles, California, US; Los Angeles FC forward Gareth Bale (11) celebrates with Los Angeles FC midfielder Ryan Hollingshead (24) after scoring a goal in overtime against Philadelphia Union at Banc of California Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

By Sam StejskalNov 5, 2022 athletic

LAFC beat the Philadelphia Union to win its first MLS Cup in unbelievable fashion Saturday at Banc of California Stadium. Here’s what you need to know:

LAFC got a 128th-minute equalizer from Gareth Bale to bring the game level at 3-3 and force penalties, where backup goalkeeper John McCarthy, a former Union player and Philadelphia native, made two saves to lead the Black and Gold to an unreal win.
McCarthy, who was named MVP, was substituted on after starting keeper Maxime Crepéau was carted off with an injury — and got a red card — late in extra time.
LA is the eighth team in MLS history to win both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in a single season.

The two teams traded goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation and in stoppage time of the second period of extra time, which was extended by nine minutes because of the brutal injury suffered by Crépeau. Crépeau was shown a red card for his role in the play, on which he brought down Philadelphia forward Cory Burke, who otherwise would’ve been alone on goal.Center back Jack Elliott scored his second goal of the match to put the Union ahead 3-2 in the 124th minute, tapping home a rebound from close range following an incredible initial save by McCarthy. Bale, who arrived this summer to huge fanfare but came nowhere near living up to expectations this season, somehow answered four minutes later, rising above Elliott to head home a cross to make it 3-3. It was the latest goal in MLS history, breaking the record set four minutes earlier by the same man he beat to the equalizing cross.McCarthy, who was born in Philadelphia, went to college in Philadelphia and spent the first four seasons of his MLS career in Philadelphia, stole the show in the shootout. Both teams missed their first attempt, with Union goalkeeper Andre Blake saving Cristian Tello’s weak effort before Philadelphia midfielder Daniel Gazdag slipped on his runup and sent his shot over the bar. McCarthy then saved the Union’s next two attempts, denying Jose Martinez and Kai Wagner, while Denis Bouanga and Ryan Hollingshead converted the subsequent two attempts for LAFC to make it 2-0 heading into the fourth round of kicks.Ilie Sanchez took it from there, narrowly beating Blake with a penalty to the bottom right corner to give LAFC the title.

The match, as MLS commissioner Don Garber said just before he presented the trophy to LAFC captain Carlos Vela, was “Major League Soccer at its very best.” It was one of the best in league history, an incomprehensibly dramatic battle between the two best teams in the league this season in front of a raucous crowd at a state-of-the-art stadium. It was far from the prettiest game of soccer, but what it lacked in beauty it more than made up for in excitement, with LAFC eventually emerging as champions.

While LA ended the day on top, Philadelphia was actually the better team for most of the opening half hour, comfortably playing over and around LAFC’s pressure and tilting the field toward the Black and Gold’s goal. LAFC still managed to score first, however, taking the lead against the run of play in the 28th minute.Martinez committed a sloppy turnover in the Union half, then chopped down LAFC striker Chicho Arango to give the hosts a dangerous free kick 25 yards from goal. Midfielder Kellyn Acosta stepped up to the free kick, firing a shot that deflected off the head of Union midfielder Jack McGlynn, flew past a wrong-footed Blake and went into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.LAFC improved after going ahead, nearly making it 2-0 in the 39th minute. Vela created the chance, playing a gorgeous ball directly into the path of an onrushing Diego Palacios in the left side of the area. Palacios attempted to play the ball back across the face of goal and into the path of a teammate, but Blake made a tremendous play to deflect the ball out of danger.LAFC had another good look in the 41st minute, when Acosta nearly picked out Vela at the right post with a driven cross. Vela couldn’t quite reach the ball with his outstretched leg, otherwise he would’ve had a tap-in goal.The Union’s best chance of the first half came a couple of minutes later. Bouanga played an errant back pass directly to Philadelphia forward Julian Carranza, who quickly played fellow forward Mikael Uhre into the penalty box. Uhre beat center back Sebastian Ibeagha, but defender Jesus Murillo and Crépeau quickly converged to prevent him from putting a shot on target.

Philadelphia equalized in the 59th. Martinez collected a recycled set piece and attempted an ambitious shot from about 35 yards out, but didn’t get much power on the effort. That ended up working in Philadelphia’s favor, with the ball rolling directly into the path of Gazdag, who collected, turned and calmly slotted his shot past Crépeau to make it 1-1Neither club was able to generate much else until the 83rd minute, when Murillo headed home a Vela corner to retake the lead for LAFC. Vela curled in an inswinger from the right side, with Murillo beating Martinez to the ball and heading home from six yards out at the near post.With the clock winding down and Philadelphia struggling to generate chances, LAFC looked like a safe bet to hold on for the title, but Elliott stunningly pulled the Union level in the 85th. Wagner, who tied for second in the league with 15 assists in the regular season, whipped a free kick into the box from the left sideline. The 6-foot-6 Elliott lost his mark, got on the end of the cross at the near post and powered a header in from 10 yards. Crépeau actually got a hand to the shot, but the ball had too much pace for him to keep it out.All four goals in regulation came directly from or immediately after set pieces, appropriate for a game in which both teams struggled to string together sustained attacks.The Union had a scary moment in the second minute of extra time. Blake came out of the box to sweep up a Vela through ball, but Bouanga blocked his attempted clearance. The ball redirected toward the goal, but Bouanga couldn’t quite get to it before it trickled over the line and out for a goal kick.Philadelphia had a chance in the 104th. Wagner curled in a cross from the left that popped high into the air after it was deflected by an LAFC defender.Carranza maneuvered himself underneath it in the right side of the area, heading a looping shot toward that far post that only narrowly missed the top corner.The second half of extra time was marred by the brutal collision between Crépeau and Burke in the 110th minute. Union right back Olivier Mbaizo played a long clearance out of his own box to midfield. Burke challenged for it, but the LAFC center backs appeared to have it handled, with Murillo running onto the ball and playing a pass back to Crepéau. He underhit the pass, however, and Burke continued his run. Crepéau came out of the box in a desperate attempt to clear the danger, but slid in late and fouled Burke, who would’ve been in on goal had he not been brought down.Referee Ismail Elfath initially only gave Crepéau a yellow card for the challenge, but changed it to a red after review, bringing LAFC down to 10 men for the remainder of the match.Both players went down injured, with Crepéau appearing to suffer a serious leg injury; neither Fox nor Univision showed replays of the incident in an apparent attempt to avoid showing the gruesome collision. The game was stopped for nearly eight minutes as both Burke and Crepéau received treatment. Crepéau was eventually taken off on a golf cart, replaced by McCarthy. Burke attempted to continue playing, but he had to be subbed out shortly after play resumed.The delay led to a remarkable nine minutes of stoppage time, which, even more remarkably, included two more goals.Elliott scored the first in the 124th. LAFC initially dealt with a Philadelphia corner, but the Union kept them pinned in the final third, serving ball after ball into the box. Wagner had the final delivery, hitting a cross from the right side that Carranza and Sanchez contested at the back post. McCarthy made an incredible reaction stop to keep out the redirected shot, but Elliott pounced on the rebound, tapping home from close range to give the Union a 3-2 advantage.That should’ve been it. It wasn’t. LAFC somehow hit back, with Bale, who had been so quiet all season, getting the crucial finish in the 128th. That set up the shootout, where McCarthy took over, leading LAFC to their first-ever league title directly in front of the club’s supporters’ section.

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 05: Gareth Bale #11 of Los Angeles FC lifts the championship trophy as he celebrates with teammates during the 2022 MLS Cup Final at Banc of California Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Jeff RueterNov 6, 2022

As the second half of MLS Cup progressed, it looked like Gareth Bale wouldn’t play a part in the biggest match in Los Angeles FC’s five-year history.Bale was brought in over the summer after his contract with Real Madrid expired, and he arrived with every intention to play enough minutes to prepare for the upcoming World Cup after making just a handful of appearances last season for his previous club. He worked with the club’s staff to build a load management plan that would simultaneously benefit the Welshman and the Western Conference leaders. However, he followed infrequent availability during the regular season with a knock that kept him from participating as LAFC began its quest to win a first postseason title.By the week of MLS Cup, Bale and the staff agreed he could play 25 to 30 minutes — if LAFC needed a goal, that is.“I knew if the game was close, then yeah, I’m obviously a good player to call upon,” Bale said with a self-aware smirk after the match, and who can blame him?

To chronicle Bale is to document more goals in big moments than many clubs experience in a century. There was his levitation act in the 2014 Champions League final against Atlético Madrid and his lung-busting run in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona the same year, then a pair — including an overhead stunner — against Liverpool in 2018. There have been a slew of vital goals for Wales as they made Euro 2016 and the 32-team field for Qatar, and Tottenham fans have a whole catalog from which to choose their favorite.LAFC signed Bale with every hope that he had an iconic goal or two left to contribute. Unfortunately, he entered Saturday with just 347 minutes played to show for his $2.39 million salary.As fate would have it, he needed just 23 more to make clear that he was, in fact, priceless.“You see there’s so many players that are dropping out, and now they are missing the World Cup,” Bale said of his infrequent availability. “It’s been difficult mentally, and I’m sure it has been for a lot of players going into the World Cup. For sure it’s been in the back of my mind, trying to make sure I’m 100 percent fit. Today, obviously, I felt good enough to come on the pitch and help the team.”When Bale entered for Carlos Vela in the seventh minute of extra time, he was given a singular focus. The match was still level at 2-2, and surely it would just take one connection with the ball to send the home faithful into rapture. However, an already excellent match took a turn for the unforgettable, and by the 128th minute, it appeared that Los Angeles would once again fall short of their desperate push to win MLS Cup.Then came the Bale-out in the form of the latest goal in MLS history to equalize at the very end of extra time and send the match to a shootout.“It’s always nice to score in finals, and I seem to have a knack for doing that,” Bale said. “It’s big. It’s important for the club. It’s important for the fans.”The emphatic header was vintage Gareth Bale — needing just one opportunity to come through in the clutch. Still, the game wasn’t yet won for LAFC as Bale ran to the corner flag to celebrate with the fans. It was just another stunning moment in the most incredible game in the history of MLS.

Fans spent their Saturday morning milling about outside of Banc of California Stadium before the 1 p.m. kick off. The smell of bacon-wrapped hot dogs and fajitas on the grill narrowly powered through that of some other California greenery being ignited. Dozens of vendors prepared identical tubular entrées while beckoning fans to order another cerveza.

While the Black and Gold were out in full force, they weren’t alone. Three sections worth of Philadelphia Union fans were also in attendance, though many steered clear of the tailgate. One embraced his heel turn by walking down the street that had been blocked off for the occasion, holding his Union scarf high as he was booed by most he passed. Another quintet of fans kept just outside of the congregation, each wearing jerseys with the No. 3 on the back.When asked if they’d come all the way from Philadelphia, one of them, a six-foot-tall blonde man, replied: “No, I’m from London,” he said, looking confused. “I’m Jack Elliott’s brother.”It was five years ago, also in Los Angeles, when the center back was selected 77th overall in the MLS SuperDraft. By the time the West Virginia University defender was taken by the Union, three teams had passed on the opportunity to make a pick — deciding they were better off not taking any player than getting the rights to Elliott or another collegiate player at that point.

His brother predicted a 5-1 win; another in the group asked if 7-0 was a reasonable guess. While both were bullish ahead of the biggest game of Elliott’s career, neither could have imagined him playing as crucial of a role as he would. The defender drew the match’s first yellow card in the 14th minute, forcing him to take a more conservative approach in front of goalkeeper Andre Blake. Fortunately for the Union, he was able to avoid a second yellow throughout the rest of the match, keeping him on the field to score a set piece equalizer in the 85th minute — just two minutes after LAFC thought they’d won it in similar style to go up 2-1.As the match extended into extra time, Elliott stayed out there, tracking both Vela and Bale as they led the line. Then, in the fourth minute of added time in extra time, Elliott scored his second goal of the day to give Philadelphia what seemed like an untouchable 3-2 lead.It’s bound to be one of MLS’ great forgotten goals — for a few moments, it was the latest goal in the league’s history. Four minutes later, both the lead and that distinction were cruelly taken away from him thanks to Bale’s gilded forehead. While Blake, Kai Wagner and Jakob Glesnes (who also won defender of the year) represented the Union defensive corps on the league’s year-end best XI, head coach Jim Curtin took Elliott’s performance as an opportunity to highlight the importance of Philly’s SuperDraft steal.“I thought Jack Elliott is a guy that maybe flies under the radar,” Curtin said. “So many others got individual accolades this year, and sometimes they can’t choose so many players from one team, and I understand that. Maybe he got overlooked quite a bit. An incredible final from Jack, a great performance.”And as incredible as it was, it will likely still fly under the radar given everything else that happened in this match.

Since making his debut for Canada’s national team in 2016, goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau has earned only 15 caps due to Milan Borjan’s firm grip on the position, but he has remained a regular inclusion in John Herdman’s rosters and was all but guaranteed to make the roster for this month’s World Cup.

Although Crépeau’s international standing has been secure, he struggled throughout much of Saturday’s match. By the time Elliott scored the equalizer that sent the match to extra time, Crépeau had failed to stop either of Philadelphia’s only two shots on target.

As the 110th minute neared, Crépeau was determined to redeem himself. Center back Jésus Murillo had underhit a pass toward the Canadian, and the Union’s Cory Burke eagerly ran onto the ball as Crépeau darted out of his box. It was a high-stakes chase between two players hunting for glory. Unfortunately, Crépeau came a bit later than the speedy Jamaican, and was eventually shown a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

However, by the time he was shown that red card, he was being loaded onto a cart since the collision with Burke left him in excruciating pain with a fractured leg.

Despite some miscues earlier, Crépeau was there when his team needed him, sacrificing his body and so much more. Granted, the sweeping act left his team a man short for the final three minutes plus eight minutes of stoppage time, but he kept Burke from scoring before Elliott or Bale played their final part in the action. Ultimately, it kept his team in the game at the expense of his World Cup trip.

“He made a big-time decision by coming out and making that play,” McCarthy said after the game. “I’m absolutely devastated for him because it seems like it’s a pretty serious injury and he’s going to miss the World Cup. I don’t know the extent of it, but if you come out of a game in that situation, you’re not coming out for a Band-Aid.”

When McCarthy woke up on Saturday, he didn’t expect to take the field.

The LAFC backup goalkeeper had featured just twice in competitive action during his first year with the club. The first appearance was a U.S. Open Cup third-round match against second-division Orange County SC on April 20 that resulted in a 5-1 victory, and the other came a few weeks later in a loss at Colorado. Still, he knew two scenarios could bring him into the game.

“It was crazy to talk to family and friends the past three weeks,” McCarthy said of the postseason run. “‘Hey, if PKs come around, I might have an opportunity to play.’ Or if something tragic happened, which it did, I might have an opportunity to play.”

Just moments after the Fox commentators discussed McCarthy’s previous success in penalty shootouts and how LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo might opt to substitute him in near the end of extra time for that reason, the injury to Crépeau forced the manager’s hand.

But where did Cherundolo get the idea to use McCarthy as a shootout specialist? From the Philadelphia Union, McCarthy’s hometown club. McCarthy played parts of four seasons for the Union, and in the 2015 U.S. Open Cup final against Sporting Kansas City, Curtin made the bold move to pull Blake for McCarthy at the end of extra time so he could be in goal for the shootout.

Back in the present, LAFC’s Cristian Tello started the shootout with a tame penalty attempt that was smothered by Blake. It seemed like McCarthy would need to bail his team out.

Fortunately for him, Philadelphia’s Gazdag slipped and sent his follow-up attempt into the supporters section. Then McCarthy saved the ensuing penalty taken by José Martínez after the Venezuelan attempted a stutter-step approach. When Wagner stepped up next, McCarthy again dove to parry the penalty away from goal. LAFC went on to win the shootout and McCarthy became the fifth goalkeeper to win MLS Cup MVP, needing just 13 minutes to do it. It was such a whirlwind that McCarthy had begun to walk back to the goalmouth for a fourth shot from the Union that wasn’t meant to come. Only when midfielder Ilié Sanchez converged on him did he realize his shift was over.

“To be put in that moment and come on, I just was hoping we find a way to keep it clean and then save a PK and hopefully something good happens,” McCarthy later said. “ But it’s a dream come true. And I had no idea when Ilié scored that it was done. I had no clue. I was walking towards the goal, and Ilié scared the (expletive) out of me.”After the match, McCarthy played the role of reluctant hero as he gnawed on a corner piece of a tavern-cut pizza. It wasn’t just false modesty or a subdued celebration due to the sequence which had led to his inclusion in the game, though.

“To be a Philly kid and play against my hometown team in their first MLS Cup, it’s something special,” McCarthy said. “I would root for them any day of the week besides today, and I genuinely mean that. There’s a lot of good people in that organization, and they mean a lot to me. From that aspect, they have a lot of meaning in my heart, but there’s something that the group of people there actually taught me: when you cross a white line, (it) doesn’t matter who you are playing against. You play to win.”

It was going to take something remarkable for anybody but Bale to win the MVP honor. As it turned out, no player was better prepared to outdo the global superstar than a backup goalkeeper.

After the game, cameras caught McCarthy FaceTiming with Crépeau in the middle of the celebrations, repeatedly expressing his love for his absent teammate. In Steve Cherundolo’s post-match press conference, a team employee brought his phone to the front of the room, where the injured goalkeeper was able to see his coach and the assembled media for a congratulations on the triumph.If Crépeau is able to recover and return to starting status, he should still be in line to challenge for playing time when Canada co-hosts the World Cup in 2026. For now, however, he’ll have to make due with wearing his MLS Cup winners’ medal in his hospital bed.

While Curtin was forced to take a gradual approach to becoming one of MLS’ great coaches, his the man leading the opposition on Saturday cut right to the chase.Just 12 months ago, Cherundolo hadn’t been preparing for LAFC’s 2022 season. He was still toiling in the second division.“I was preparing for the USL season with the Las Vegas Lights again, to be honest with you,” Cherundolo said on Friday, “finishing their roster and was partaking in the MLS roster for LAFC, as well. Then obviously, things changed pretty quickly.”On November 18, 2021, Bob Bradley resigned from his post as the only head coach in LAFC’s brief history to try turning Toronto FC around. Bradley had been among the earliest sporting hires made by LAFC, and his departure left many outside of the club wondering if they’d need a rebuilding phase after missing the playoffs for the first time since joining the league in 2018.

When Cherundolo was interviewing for the job, he didn’t want to propose a clean slate. In fact, he hardly even saw a need to take an eraser to the club’s longtime plan.“What’s working, hold onto, and what’s not working, change,” Cherundolo said after the triumph. “That was my approach in the interview process and I was able to convince the right people to give me a shot, and I think they are happy with their decision now.”The former U.S. national team defender took the pragmatic approach to revitalizing the Black and Gold, preaching balance and an aversion to the concept of pressure. It galvanized the newcomers to the team and the old guard alike, bringing an air of confidence back into a humbled locker room.Three years ago, Cherundolo was out of a job. He had left his longtime home at Hannover and a brief pair of roles in 2018 with Stuttgart and the U.S.’s senior team under then interim manager Dave Sarachan. In early 2021, Cherundolo told media he had interviewed for multiple MLS vacancies before heading up Las Vegas in the USL. On Saturday, he added an MLS Cup triumph to the season’s prior Supporters’ Shield capture.So much for a rebuild.“Yeah, it’s pretty wild,” Cherundolo said. “This business as a coach or as a player is not plannable. Things happen. You need to be ready for them. The worst thing you can do as a coach is jump into a situation you’re not prepared for. So during those times when you are looking for the right job or looking for a job, it’s about preparing yourself when it does come.“I felt very well prepared for this job, and I think maybe (winning) two titles speaks for itself.”

After the 2021 season, Bradley wasn’t the only franchise mainstay to wonder what other opportunities he might find. Carlos Vela was the team’s first signing and first designated player. In 2019, he won MVP with arguably the greatest individual campaign in league history, scoring a league-record 34 goals and adding 15 assists. By 2022, he had begun to slow a bit, as Second Spectrum data showed he had lost half a meter per second on his sprint speed.With his contract set to expire at the end of June this season, he mulled over his options. Ultimately, however, he found his desire to deliver an MLS Cup to LAFC too strong to overlook.“Everything in life needs to change sometimes,” Vela said on Saturday. “When something is not getting the way you want, you have to move things. You have to try something different, and that is what the club did. In my case, I was not thinking of Bob Bradley — I was thinking about myself. I finished my contract and (was) thinking about if I (should) stay here or not. In the end, we talk about the future, and say, ‘Come on, we need the trophy before I can leave the club or I can retire. Give me the chance.’”While he may not be the same pacey winger he once one, Vela was still impactful in 2022. Still the club’s captain, he made his third MLS best XI since 2018 with a 12 goal, 11 assist campaign. In his first full season since that record-shattering display, he helped quickly bring fellow global stars Bale and Giorgio Chiellini (who didn’t feature on Saturday after suffering a muscle injury against Austin last week) into the fold.

Vela wasn’t a 90-minute player for much of the home stretch, and his attempt to play on into extra time was cut short for Bale’s cameo. But he finally won the first true league title (not counting the Supporters’ Shield) of a career that also included stints with Arsenal and Real Sociedad. He compared watching Crépeau’s injury from the sidelines as “a Halloween film” before Bale’s goal and McCarthy’s heroics turned it into a “Hollywood movie.” When asked what his future held, he quickly suggested he test his luck with a trip to Las Vegas.After months spent in a contract standoff, he’s now locked in for 2023. After finally lifting the Philip F. Anschutz trophy on Saturday, he may stay even longer.“I want to still be here,” Vela said of his future. “I want to enjoy the CONCACAF Champions League, the new (Leagues) Cup is coming — and win more. When you get a trophy, you want more. Maybe it’s a bit selfish, but ah, how cool it is. So I want more. … This is special, the first one, but if you get more, you can say ‘okay, I can retire now.’ So maybe one more, two more and I retire. So take me for a couple of years.”

For a league that sometimes operates with an unhealthy inferiority complex, this MLS Cup was a perfect combination of drama and spectacle worthy of the Hollywood matinee it was set up to be. LAFC co-owner Magic Johnson addressed the crowd before kickoff, Rob McElhenney and Colin Hanks brought out the trophy and, throughout the game, cameras highlighted the stars among the 22,384 in attendance: Justin Bieber, LAFC co-owner Will Ferrell, Wiz Khalifa and Sia, to name a handful.That’s not to say a league is undeniably respected if Justin Bieber can be found sitting pitchside with a mystery beverage in hand, but how many leagues in the world can claim such a hybrid of entertaining play and celebrity endorsements?MLS is in a very different place than it was even when LAFC first began play in 2018. Its teams are getting more adept at nimbly operating within the league’s wonky roster rules, building greater depth and bringing in top talent beyond their three designated players. Coaches are getting increasingly diverse with their tactical approaches, and the days of most teams playing in similar styles and formations are fortunately behind us.On Saturday, MLS played its final game of the pre-Apple broadcast deal era with its two greatest teams of the year squaring off. They delivered arguably the league’s wildest and most unforgettable contest, and while neither team was flawless — the teams’ combined 71.6 percent passing rate was only better than New York Red Bulls’ putrid 66.6 percent clip this year — they both came through to exceed any reasonable expectation for this year’s MLS Cup.In total, this myriad of storylines only affirms MLS’ growing stature — and they combined for an amount of showtime glamor even Magic Johnson had to admire.

Nov 8, 2022 EPSN+ Ryan O’Hanlon

If you’ve watched a single Leeds United match this season, you’ve likely had one of two reactions: “OH MY GOD, WHY DOESN’T EVERY TEAM PLAY THIS WAY?” Or: “OH MY GOD, WHY WOULD ANY TEAM PLAY THIS WAY?” And, well, if you watched Leeds United play AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, you likely had both of those reactions before you had lunch.

Amid the chaos, it seemed like Jesse Marsch‘s job was on the line two weeks ago. Hell, the Leeds manager even said as much after a 3-2 loss to Fulham on Oct. 23. That marked four defeats in a row, and the result pushed the club into the relegation zone.

“I’m not done here,” Marsch said. “But I’m not dumb. … I understand that, if we don’t win, I put the board in a difficult position.”

If you wanted to read into body language, you could’ve said the players seemed defeated. And if you wanted to read into the history of the relegation battle, you could’ve said that a team that continued to insist on pressing high and trying to score lots of goals was doomed. From a certain, traditional vantage point, it certainly looked like Leeds had to make a change. They were, in an overused word, naive.Since then, they’ve won twice, and in increasingly thrilling fashion. First, a 2-1 win at Anfield, thanks to an 89th-minute goal from 21-year-old ~~Charles Dickens protagonist~~ Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville. Then, at home to Bournemouth, they blew a 1-0 lead, were down 3-1 by minute 50, and won the match, 4-3, thanks to another Summerville goal in the 84th minute. All of a sudden, they’re all the way up in 12th place.Winning games this way might still feel unsustainable, but that’s to misunderstand what this team is trying to do. When I talked to Marsch for my book, “Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game’s Analytics Revolution,” he told me: “I love scoring goals way more than I love giving them up. If we’re winning 2-0, I’m always thinking about 3-0 and rarely thinking about protecting 2-0.”The volatility of these first few months? That’s the whole point.

Despite everything you’ve seen and everything you just read, Leeds United are basically an average Premier League team.Through 13 games, they’ve scored 1.5 goals per game (10th in the league) and conceded 1.7 (tied for 14th) for a per-game differential of minus-0.2 (tied for 11th). They’ve been slightly better than their goals or points suggest, too. They’ve created 1.5 expected goals per game (7th) and conceded 1.4 (tied for 10th). Their cumulative xG difference is plus-1.3 — eighth in the league, one spot behind Liverpool and better than Manchester United and Chelsea.

All things considered, this is quite good. While the salary data from the site FBref requires lots of estimates, it’s still a useful ballpark number. And according to FBref, Leeds are carrying the second-lowest wage bill in the league after Brentford. Meanwhile, the data provider Off the Pitch has wage data for two seasons ago; it’s for all personnel at a club — not just players — but the only teams that paid lower wages were three teams that have since been relegated (Burnley, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United) plus a fourth, Newcastle United, that has since been purchased by a nation state with a comparatively unlimited amount of money.

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

Either way, in a sport in which wages tend to be destiny, a positive xG differential or league-average performance across 38 games would be a massively successful season for a team with the second-lowest wage bill. Throw in the fact that Leeds sold Raphinha to Barcelona and Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City over the summer, and the consternation over Marsch’s credibility starts to seem absurd. Some of that comes down to the fact that most soccer watchers still haven’t come to grips with how random the sport is on a game-to-game basis. Leeds had impressive underlying numbers even before the wins against Liverpool and Bournemouth. A team that’s playing well and not getting the bounces being dubbed “in crisis” is nothing new, but the way Leeds got there and then got it out of it? That’s different.

The history of coaching across all sports is a slow march away from conservative decision-making. Baseball teams have all but abandoned the sacrifice bunt, in favor of swinging for the fences despite the risk of a strikeout. NBA teams have only recently discovered that three-pointers are worth more than two-pointers. And you’re seeing the same trend play out in real time across the NFL every weekend, as coaches grapple with fourth-down decisions, over and over and over again.While this has all been driven by “analytics,” it’s really just an increased understanding of probabilistic thinking. The more conservative decision is more likely to succeed in the short-term. The sacrifice bunt is probably gonna work out. The midrange 2-pointer will go in more often than the 3. The punt or the field goal is less likely to end in catastrophic failure than the attempted fourth-down conversion.However, in the long run, the conservative decisions actually make you more likely to lose. If a 2-point shot is converted 50% of the time, but a 3-pointer has a 35% make rate, you’re going to score more points by replacing all those 2s with 3s, even though you’re also more likely to have more individual possessions that end with zero points, too. It’s the same calculus across all the other sports. In a strange way, to increase your chances of long-term success, you also have to increase your chances of immediately failing — and then dealing with all the inevitable fall-out that comes with it.

According to data provided by Seth Walder from ESPN’s fourth-down decision-making model, which accounts for all kinds of contextual factors to suggest the option that most increases a team’s chances of winning a game, coaches have made the “correct” decision in what we call “non-obvious situations” 79% of the time this season. There’s data going back to 2001, and the all-time low was 68% in 2008.If other sports have seen similar trajectories, but remain a ways away from anywhere near an optimized level of aggression, why shouldn’t soccer? And while the sport’s dynamic nature mostly eschews this kind of analysis, I think the risk-reward nature of a high-press comes closest to mirroring the evolutions we’ve seen across the major American sports.

“We’re pretty sure that pressing is the most high expected-value system,” said Ted Knutson, CEO of the consultancy StatsBomb. “But it’s got the highest costs.”Pressing not only demands a heroic physical output from your players; it’s also more likely to produce more high-profile, demoralizing breakdowns. Marsch’s teams both try to win the ball back high up the field as soon as they lose it, and then they try to immediately take advantage of the gaps in the defense by playing difficult vertical passes. They currently have the most aggressive pressing rate (measured by passes per defensive action (PPDA) in the league, and they complete the second-lowest percentage of their passes:

As such, their matches feature 101 possessions per team — more than anyone else in the Premier League. The bet is that they are both better than opposition at living in the chaos, and that most of the turnovers are happening in the other team’s half. But there’s also an obvious downside that doesn’t exist if a team plays in a conservative, low-block shell. More turnovers simply mean more opportunities for your opponent to break you down, but then on top of that, Leeds are pushing all 11 players high up the field so they’re way more prone to egregious-looking breakdowns, where the opponent beats the press and creates an easy-to-convert chance at the other end.Like any good manager, Marsch didn’t admit to me that a few terrible goals a season were a natural byproduct of playing this way. “Most of those times that it looks bad is a tactical breakdown where the players behind the ball, when we lose a ball, are not in tactically sound positions,” he said. “Then the game looks more open than it should be.”In reality, no players are perfect across 90 minutes, and so no unit can be tactically bulletproof for an entire season, let alone an entire match.”It’s aggressive,” he said. “There’s no doubt. But it’s also intelligent. The goal is to not be wild; the goal is to still be in control.”

It’s intelligent because it’s based on a number of relatively sound assumptions. Despite the downsides, the idea is that you’re ultimately going to concede fewer chances across a whole season because the ball spends most of its time in the opposition half. And you’re going to score more goals because you’re creating thousands of moments where the opposition defensive structure is unsettled. For a team with the resources of Leeds, it’s a lot easier to find athletic, hard-running players who can create and thrive in these transitional situations than to land the dominant in-possession players that only the best teams in the world can afford. But it works only if you fully commit to it.”You have to be willing to either enforce that across your whole club and say this is our ethos even if you don’t like it,” Knutson said. “This is what we’re going to be as a club, so it’s not the head coach’s fault.”Leeds appear to be committed to playing this way. You don’t replace the Argentine godfather of the high press, Marcelo Bielsa, with Marsch in the middle of a relegation fight, as they did last season, if you’re not fully bought into pressing high. And you also don’t cut bait when the bounces don’t go your way because you know, by design, you’re playing in a way that invites as many bounces as possible. They didn’t, and things have finally started to even out.Now, could a more traditional defend-deep-and-counter approach have produced a similar level of results for Leeds and maybe a roughly equivalent level of performance? Perhaps. But what would you rather watch?

Nov 7, 2022 Mark OgdenSenior Writer, ESPN FC

Two of the favourites to win the 2022-23 Champions League will crash out at the round of 16 in March after a box office draw paired Bayern Munich with Paris Saint-Germain and gave us a re-run of last season’s final between Real Madrid and Liverpool.

UCL draw: Liverpool face Real, Bayern vs. PSG2dESPN
Man Utd to face Barca in Europa League playoff Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens
Racing vs. Boca saw 10 red cards but it’s nowhere near the world record Chris Wright

With the 2022 World Cup due to kick off in less than two weeks, the focus of the game is now beginning to be fixed on international football’s biggest tournament. But there will be no time for a World Cup hangover with the Champions League returning in mid-February with a series of outstanding ties.

While Liverpool-Real and PSG-Bayern are the standout fixtures, there are some finely balanced ties between AC Milan and Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea, and Club Brugge and Benfica.

Manchester City and Napoli, two of the strongest teams in the group stage, will also face RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively. So how will it all play out, and which teams will make it to the quarterfinals?

Liverpool vs. Real Madrid

The tie that neither side would have wanted. Liverpool’s failure to finish top of Group A left them vulnerable to facing a big hitter in the round of 16, and they don’t come any bigger than defending champions Real Madrid, who would also have preferred to avoid Jurgen Klopp’s team at this stage.

Liverpool’s mixed form this season make Real favourites to extend their hold over Klopp’s side, having beaten them in their last three Champions League ties. In fact, aside from winning the Champions League against Tottenham in Madrid in 2019, Liverpool’s hopes in the competition have been extinguished by either Real or Atletico in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022, so the omens are with Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Liverpool have lost five of their last six encounters with Real, dating back to October 2014, but they are capable of ending that miserable run. Real are unbeaten in LaLiga this season, however, and can go top by winning their game in hand on leaders Barcelona, so they are in impressive form and will be favourites to beat Liverpool.

WINNERS: Real Madrid

A repeat of the 2020 final, when Bayern beat PSG in Lisbon in the French club’s first appearance in the Champions League final. But having been eliminated in the round of 16 by Real Madrid last season, PSG face a daunting challenge if they are to overcome that disappointment against Bayern.

Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi have delivered in the competition this season, with PSG unbeaten after six games, but Bayern qualified with six wins from six in a group containing Inter Milan and Barcelona.

It will be a huge clash over two legs, and the winners could go on to lift the trophy in Istanbul next June. Bayern are as tough an opponent as PSG could have faced.

WINNERS: PSG

Gab & Juls look ahead to a mouthwatering Champions League clash between PSG and Bayern Munich.

Pep Guardiola’s City will be strong favourites to win this tie, but Leipzig are a dangerous outsider and their 3-2 win against Real Madrid in Group F proved crucial in their qualification for the round of 16.

If Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne are fit, it is tough to see past a City victory over the two legs, but Marco Rose’s club have quality in their squad, and it all depends on whether they can hold onto the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Josko Gvardiol — both of whom are Chelsea targets — during the January transfer window.

If Leipzig can keep their best players and if forward Timo Werner can recover from the ankle ligament injury that has forced him out of Germany’s World Cup plans, they could pull off a shock. Make no mistake, City are outstanding favourites to go through; they just need to respect this opponent.

WINNERS: Man City

Chelsea duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Christian Pulisic will get the chance to return to former club Dortmund in this tie, and there will also be a huge focus on Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham against one of the many clubs who want to sign him next summer.

Both teams are struggling for consistency this season, but they are also packed with top-level experience, so it will be a case of which side has enough players who can rise to the occasion. Dortmund have the likes of Mats Hummels, Marco Reus and Niklas Sule; Chelsea boast Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling and N’Golo Kante.

There is also the battle between U.S. teammates Pulisic and Gio Reyna, so there is no shortage of storylines in this tie.

WINNERS: Chelsea

An intriguing tie between two teams that have been inconsistent in the Champions League this season but are both capable of going deep into the competition. It also hands Spurs boss Antonio Conte the chance to return to San Siro, where he guided Milan’s rivals Inter to the Serie A title in 2021, so there will be plenty of noise off the pitch as well as on it.

This one could come down to a battle of the forwards. Will Harry Kane and Son Heung-min blow Milan away with their quality, or will former Chelsea and Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud return to haunt Spurs again? And does 41-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic still have one big goal in him?

A tough tie to call, and it will be a fascinating battle between Conte and Milan coach Stefano Pioli.

WINNERS: AC Milan

Craig Burley doesn’t understand how Tottenham continue to start games so poorly after they came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 vs. Marseille.

Inter made it into the round of 16 by edging out Barcelona, but Simone Inzaghi’s team go into this tie as outsiders.

Domestically, Inter are struggling for form, with Inzaghi’s position under threat due to five defeats in 13 games, leaving the club in seventh spot. Romelu Lukaku’s return on loan from Chelsea has yet to work out, too, with injuries restricting the former Manchester United striker to just five appearances.

Porto qualified as winners of Group B, beating Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen along the way, and Sergio Conceicao’s team have bags of Champions League experience. It will be a closely fought tie, but Porto are the favourites at this stage.

WINNERS: Porto

Two of the surprise teams of the Champions League so far this season. Benfica beat Juventus twice in Group H, forcing the Italian giants into the Europa League, while a 6-1 win against Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 6 was enough to snatch top spot, and a place among the seeded teams, from PSG.

Brugge, meanwhile, made a flying start in Group B with three straight wins and only eased off after qualification had been confirmed — a loss of focus which saw them surrender top spot to Porto.

Carl Hoefkens’ squad has a blend of youth and experience, including ex-Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet and former Benfica forward Roman Yaremchuk, along with youngsters such as Abakar Sylla. But Benfica possess the greater Champions League experience, reaching last season’s quarterfinals, so the Portuguese giants will be favourites.

WINNERS: Benfica

Two of the most exciting teams in this season’s Champions League, but runaway Serie A leaders Napoli look more of the finished article than Eintracht, who qualified for the competition by winning last season’s Europa League.

Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli destroyed Liverpool 4-1 at home in their Group A opener and dominated at Anfield until two late goals consigned them to defeat. But Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Giovanni Simeone give Napoli the attacking threat to make life very tough for Eintracht.

Oliver Glasner’s Eintracht showed incredible spirit to win at Barcelona and West Ham in last season’s Europa League, and they have grown into the Champions League. They have pace in attack and will score goals, but Napoli might just be too strong for them in February.

WINNERS: Napoli

Nov 8, 2022

ESPN is previewing each of the World Cup’s 32 teams ahead of the tournament. Here’s what you need to know about the four sides set to do battle in Group B.

Jump to: United States | England | Wales | Iran
Also read: Group A | C | D | E | F | G | H

Manager: Gregg Berhalter
Nickname: The Stars and Stripes
FIFA Rank: 16

How they qualified

The U.S. were fairly well positioned throughout the eight-team final round in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, but the failure to reach the 2018 event hung on the team like a weighted vest. Every stumble brought back nightmarish memories of the night in Trinidad when the U.S. squandered qualification. The Americans also seemed to lack a killer instinct on the road to get results that would have eased the path to Qatar.

But ultimately, the U.S. got the job done. A road win in Honduras that concluded the first qualifying window settled nerves. Consecutive home wins over Costa Rica and Mexico created some momentum. There was still work to be done heading into the last trio of games, but a priceless road draw against El Tri and a 5-1 rout of Panama effectively clinched qualification.

Style of play

Early in his tenure, manager Gregg Berhalter had the U.S. playing out of the back almost to a fault. But the dogmatic approach eventually morphed into something more pragmatic, with the U.S. aiming to press the opposition and create chances that way. Berhalter also aimed to get full-backs Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest into the attack and utilize the likes of Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson and Tim Weah on the flanks.

Biggest strength

The U.S. enjoy significant attacking depth on the wings. Beyond Pulisic, Aaronson and Weah, there’s also Giovanni Reyna. All four players are skillful on the ball in their own ways. Aaronson is all energy, and his ability to initiate the press often kickstarts the U.S. attack. Weah’s pace gives the American side a different element, and Reyna — when healthy — has the kind of close control and vision that can torment defences. Pulisic’s dynamism is vital as well (more on him later.)

Biggest weakness

Both the striker position and the center-backs are causes for worry. No center-forward has really made the position their own, with Jesus Ferreira, Josh Sargent, Jordan Pefok and Ricardo Pepi all being given ample opportunity. Just four of the U.S. team’s 20 goals in 14 qualifying matches came from a center-forward. All four have been finding the net of late for their clubs, but the extent to which that translates to a World Cup is a massive unknown.

The center-back slot was once a strength for the Americans. Walker Zimmerman was solid throughout qualifying. But this area of the field has been hit hard by injuries. Miles Robinson suffered a torn Achilles back in May and will miss the World Cup. Chris Richards has been slow to recover from a hamstring injury and is ruled out. John Brooks has long been out of favor, despite his experience. That leaves one of Aaron Long, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Mark McKenzie to duke it out now Richards can’t recover. Given the way the U.S. struggled to play through Japan’s press in a recent friendly, this position is a huge area of concern.

Star player: Christian Pulisic

Pulisic is still the main man when it comes to the U.S. attack, with his ability to run at defenses, score goals and set up chances all critical elements. His ability to win free kicks — he was by far the most fouled U.S. player during qualifying with 26 fouls suffered, despite missing four games — is another important asset in a tournament where games are often decided by set pieces.

But is Pulisic up to the task of carrying the load? It’s a responsibility that has, at least outwardly, weighed heavy. The U.S. certainly have more talent playing beside him in Aaronson, Weah and Reyna than there has been in the past. But if the U.S. are to make to the group stage, Pulisic will need to be at his best.

Projected starting XI

(4-3-3) Steffen; Dest, Zimmerman, Long, Robinson; McKennie, Adams, Musah; Weah, Ferreira, Pulisic.

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: Semifinals (1930)

– The U.S. are the youngest team to qualify to this World Cup, by average age of players used in qualifying.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 53% chance to make the round of 16, 11% to make semifinals

Betting odds: +10000 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Prediction: Group B is deceptively difficult. At No. 21 in the FIFA rankings, Iran are the worst-ranked team. And while those rankings have to be taken with some skepticism, every other group has a team ranked at least 30th or worse. For that reason, the U.S. team’s odds are 50-50 in terms of advancement. Based on recent form, their odds don’t look to be improving. Health will be a huge factor, but at this stage, it looks like the U.S. will fall just short. — Jeff Carlisle

Manager: Gareth Southgate
Nickname: The Three Lions
FIFA Rank: 5

How they qualified

England were unbeaten in qualification and scored more goals (39) than any other team in Europe. However, 24 of those were against minnows San Marino and Andorra, suggesting the team’s potency was perhaps slightly inflated. They needed a late Harry Maguire goal to see off Poland 2-1 at Wembley in their first meaningful test in March 2021. Gareth Southgate’s side recovered quickly from their Euro 2020 final disappointment by beating Hungary 4-0 at the Puskas Arena last September, but a 1-1 draw in Poland later that month and the same scoreline at home to Hungary in October raised more questions than answers. Two facile wins against Albania and San Marino in November ensured England ended their campaign on a high, but the Nations League campaign that followed is a different matter entirely (more of that later).

Style of play

Pragmatic. One of the widespread criticisms of Southgate is that England should be more expansive given the attacking talent they have at their disposal. However, he is more calculated as a result of concerns over England’s habitual struggle to retain possession in tournaments and a lack of top-class centre-back options. England can switch between systems and they may play with a back four at some point in Qatar, but the recent Nations League matches strongly suggest 3-4-3 is his preferred formation.

Biggest strength

The sheer number of attacking options. Although Harry Kane is clearly England’s first-choice centre-forward, Southgate has an embarrassment of attacking riches to call on with Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount among those vying for two attacking positions either side. And that’s not to mention Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and James Maddison, who all might not make the squad at all. England have an exciting and dynamic blend of forwards, many of whom will be more acclimatised to the demands of tournament football after last year’s run to the delayed Euro 2020 finals. The emergence of Jude Bellingham is also an exciting prospect to inject some flair into England’s central midfield. If it all clicks, England could be very good.

Biggest weakness

There are a few concerns, but the biggest is at centre-back. Maguire’s form has fallen off a cliff at Manchester United yet Southgate continues to select him on past performance for England. That is both a reflection of his importance in 2018 and 2021 but also the lack of top-class options at centre-back. England, still, do not keep the ball well enough in major finals. The pattern of the matches against Croatia (semifinal in 2018) and Italy (final, 2020) was markedly similar in that England started well before giving the ball away too often, conceding control of the game to their opponents. Bellingham is England’s big hope there. Injuries have also mounted in recent weeks with Kyle Walker, Reece James and Kalvin Phillips all major doubts for the finals while form in general is a problem: England have not won for six matches, and although there were mitigating factors, they were relegated from the Nations League as they failed to win any of six matches against Italy, Germany and Hungary.

Star player: Harry Kane

Kane won the Golden Boot at the past World Cup and will likely target the same outcome in Qatar. The 29-year-old is two goals short of equalling Wayne Rooney’s England record of 53, but he hasn’t netted from open play since November 2021, when scoring four against San Marino. He remains England’s talisman, however, and any injury or loss of form would be a major blow given he is Southgate’s best centre-forward option by such a big margin. The Tottenham striker will also attract attention of a different kind as one of several captains to wear a “OneLove” armband during matches — even if it is prohibited by FIFA — as part of an anti-discrimination initiative.

Projected starting XI

(3-4-3): Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Bellingham, Rice, Shaw; Foden, Kane, Sterling.

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: Champion (1966)

– England enter the tournament on poor run of form, as they were winless in the 2022 UEFA Nations League (0-3-3.)

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 47% chance to make the quarterfinals, 6% to win title.

Betting odds: +700 (via Caesars Sportsbook.)

Prediction

England will expect to get out of Group B, but the draw quickly gets tricky. A last-16 tie — most likely against either the Netherlands or Senegal — looks tough before a possible quarterfinal against France or Argentina. England simply have not defended well enough, often enough, for anybody to have a high degree of confidence they could win back-to-back matches against elite opposition. If they benefitted from more inviting knockout draws in 2018 and 2021, the same cannot be said this time. — James Olley

Manager: Robert Page
Nickname: The Dragons
FIFA Rank: 19

How they qualified

Wales reached their first World Cup since 1958 after a dramatic and emotional playoff against Ukraine. By their own admission, Wales had the will of the world against them in September given the war in Ukraine, but a Gareth Bale free kick was enough to snatch a 1-0 win and a place in Qatar. Prior to that, Wales finished second in a group containing Belgium (winners) and Czech Republic (third), winning four of their eight matches and losing only once (to Belgium in March 2021). Head coach Robert Page was rewarded for qualification with a new four-year contract in September.

Style of play

Counter-attacking. Wales averaged 45.1% possession in their World Cup qualification group and that figure dropped to 40.9% in their six UEFA Nations League games against Poland, Netherlands and Belgium (five of which they lost). Wayne Hennessey is a fine goalkeeper, and Wales will try to stay defensively compact before hitting teams on the break through the pace of Dan James, the guile of Aaron Ramsey and the star quality of Bale.

Biggest strength

Team spirit. This is not intended to be patronising, especially given Wales possess several talented individuals including most obviously Bale and Ramsey, but this is a team whose recent history has proved time and again they can become more than the sum of their parts. Reaching the semifinals of Euro 2016 was a truly remarkable feat, subsequently backing up their presence on the biggest stages by qualifying for Euro 2020 and now a first World Cup in 64 years. The presence of old rivals England in Group B will only multiply that collective stirring of the soul; England were heavy favourites to beat Wales six years ago in France but needed a stoppage-time winner to snatch a 2-1 victory.

Biggest weakness

A lack of strength in depth. An injury to Bale or Ramsey would be a hammer blow to Wales’ hopes. Joe Allen is already a doubt with a hamstring problem and has seen a specialist in recent days to try to ensure he is fit in time. Although younger talents have emerged to bolster Page’s options — for example, defender Ethan Ampadu is 22 but already has 37 caps to his name — Wales are reliant on their smattering of big-name stars for goals, in particular. Bale was top scorer in qualifying (with five) while the absence of an elite centre-forward is a problem. Kiefer Moore scored twice for Bournemouth against Tottenham recently, but the 30-year-old has plied his trade outside the Premier League until this season and has just nine international goals to his name.

Star player: Gareth Bale

Rumours persist that the 33-year-old has delayed his retirement just for this World Cup. Bale signed a one-year contract with LAFC in June, and although there is an option to extend to 2024, it remains possible Bale could choose to bow out shortly after Qatar depending on what happens. His club career might have all but ground to a halt at Real Madrid, but Bale has always been Wales’ talisman, amassing 40 goals in 108 appearances. Don’t be fooled by his mixed form in MLS — Bale retains the capacity to rise to the occasion like few other players and he revels in the role of carrying a nation’s hopes on his shoulders.

Projected starting XI

(3-4-3): Hennessey; Ampadu, Rodon, Davies; Roberts, Allen, Ramsey, Williams; Bale, Moore, James.

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals (1958).

– The 64-year gap between appearances is the longest in World Cup history.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 32% chance to make the round of 16, 13% to make quarterfinals

Betting odds: +10000 (via Caesars Sportsbook.)

Prediction

Wales face a tough task to replicate their recent tournament heroics. Nevertheless, although England are clear favourites to top the group, Page’s side will expect to be competitive for one of the top two spots, and the fact they play England last could help in that regard. It might be only the first game, but United States vs. Wales already feels huge for both team’s prospects. The round of 16 might be the best they can hope for.

Manager: Carlos Queiroz
Nickname: Team Melli
FIFA Rank: 20

How they qualified

Having made their World Cup debut in 1978, Iran return for a sixth time, and a third in a row, having exited at the group stage at each of the previous attempts. An 18-match AFC qualification journey that started all the way back in September 2019 saw Iran win 14 matches, draw once and lose just three times on route to Qatar. An early hiccup in the form of back-to-back defeats to Bahrain and Iraq proved insignificant as Team Melli topped their group in the second round. In the decisive third round, they were as clinical as ever, winning eight of their 10 matches to book their place at the World Cup with three games to spare, finishing ahead of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

Style of play

The reappointment of Carlos Queiroz as head coach at the start of September signalled a return to the familiar for Iran. The Portuguese coach had led them for eight years between 2011 and 2019, including at the two previous World Cups. Under the former Real Madrid boss, Team Melli play a 4-3-3 system relying on compact defence and a hardworking midfield, while the attacking burden is largely left for their target man flanked by two out-and-out wingers.

Biggest strength

Iran’s approach under Queiroz has always been defined by an exceptional defensive solidity. The side did not concede a single goal in their first five games at the AFC Asian Cup 2019, and their record in international tournaments under the Portuguese coach includes an impressive 10 clean sheets in 16 games. At Russia 2018, they conceded only twice in a group that featured the past two European champions at the time: Spain and Portugal. Expect more of the same in Qatar. Iran will make it difficult for the likes of Pulisic, Kane and Bale to find a way through.

Biggest weakness

Key to Queiroz’s “defence-first” method is to remain focused for the full 90 minutes under opposition pressure and, while his players are adept at the tactical and physical aspects of the game, it can be the mental side that lets them down. In 2014, they earned a 0-0 draw against Nigeria and lost to Argentina only thanks to a last-minute Lionel Messi wondergoal, but then capitulated in a 3-1 defeat to Bosnia & Herzegovina. Their five-game clean sheet run in the AFC Asian Cup 2019 came to an end in a spectacular 3-0 collapse against Japan, while at Russia 2018, they failed to stay composed to take any of their chances against Portugal, which could have sent them through to the round of 16.

Star player: Mehdi Taremi

Any of Iran’s front three could lay a claim to being the side’s talisman. For the best part of seven years, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi formed an undroppable trio for Team Melli, but it is the latter who has reached new heights in recent years. With 18 goal contributions in 16 matches across all competitions this season so far, Taremi has been in impressive form for Portuguese giants FC Porto, where he had already netted 20+ goals in each of the past three seasons.

Projected starting XI

(4-3-3): Beiranvand; Moharrami, Kanaani, Hosseini, Hajsafi; Ezatolahi, Amiri, Ansarifard; Jahanbakhsh, Taremi, Azmoun.

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: Group stage (all five times).

– Queiroz was hired as coach in September (his third World Cup with the team) and won 60 of his 100 games in his first spell from 2011 to 2019.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 40% chance to make the round of 16, 18% to make quarterfinals

Betting odds: +50000 (via Caesars Sportsbook.)

Prediction

In 2014, Iran picked up just one point from their group. Four years later, that tally was up to four points despite a more difficult draw. With years of experience under their belts and a coach who knows the ins and outs of this team, it might finally be time for Iran to reach the round of 16 at the sixth time of asking. — Wael Jabir.

ESPN is previewing each of the World Cup’s 32 teams ahead of the tournament. Here’s what you need to know about the four sides set to do battle in Group H.

Jump to: Portugal | Ghana | Uruguay | South Korea
Also read: Group A | B | C | D | E | F | G

Manager: Fernando Santos
Nickname: Selecao (The Selection)
FIFA Rank: 9

How they qualified

“Nothing to see here” was the Portugal mantra as the Euro 2016 champions edged their way to within 180 minutes of direct qualification — a 2-2 draw in Serbia tucked tidily under their belt. Then, a road bump. A 0-0 draw against Republic of Ireland in Dublin left Portugal needing to beat Serbia at Estadio Da Luz but, leading from the second minute, they fluffed their lines and lost in the 90th minute to finish second in the group. Frustrating, but the beginning of some notable spirit. Beating Turkey 3-1 in Porto in the playoff semifinal was heart-stopping — Burak Yilmaz missed a late penalty to make it 2-2 — but taking Italy’s conquerors North Macedonia to the same stadium five days later for the final was a walk in the park as Bruno Fernandes scored twice to send Portugal to Qatar.

Style of play

Four clean sheets in the qualifying group and another when it really counted in the playoffs should, theoretically, bring pride and praise. But fans and analysts alike seem unified in the idea that coach Fernando Santos isn’t just too defensive-minded but significantly too conservative in maximising a terrifically talented emerging generation of quick, creative footballers.

Biggest strength

In qualifying it was arguably Diogo Jota as he had a far better goal-per-minute ratio than Cristiano Ronaldo, more assists, a big goal in the playoff semifinal (plus one of those assists in the final) … but he’s not fit to make it to Qatar. Can it be goalkeeper Diogo Costa? One of three keepers used in qualifying, the 23-year-old Porto player has a penchant for saving penalties and now looks to have made himself No. 1. Or, let’s face it, is it still Ronaldo? Troubled at club level with Manchester United, but the 37-year-old was born to compete when the curtain raises.

Biggest weakness

The Fernando Santos factor. Having won Portugal their first major international trophy at Euro 2016, he is lucky enough that there are high quality players bursting through in every position, so he should really be presiding over a golden era. Instead he has been castigated for a poor Euro 2020 and failed to qualify for the Nations League final four, despite only requiring a draw in their last qualifying match at home to Spain. On the positive side, Santos knows how to win a tournament. On the negative are the growing, but unconfirmed, reports that his players feel mutinous about the team’s lack of flair, daring and “front-foot” attitude.

Star player: Rafael Leao

Why wouldn’t midfielder Bernardo Silva be in the team of the tournament come the end of the World Cup? Or centre-back Ruben Dias? Some will say Ronaldo, of course, because there’s few who have been a bigger star anywhere in the world over the last 20 years. But AC Milan forward Rafael Leao has the capability of surprising everyone.

Projected starting XI

(4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa: Mendes, Dias, Danilo Pereira, Cancelo; Carvalho, Neves; Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo.

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: 3rd place (1966.)

– Ronaldo is looking to become first player to score in five different World Cups.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 43% chance to make the quarterfinals, 7% to win the title.

Betting odds: +1200 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Prediction

Not only do Portugal need to cope with an interesting and disparate group but they’ve got to be canny. Few teams have greater variety of styles and philosophies than Portugal-Ghana-Uruguay-South Korea. But should Santos’ team finish second then, almost certainly, it’s Brazil next in the round of 16. Too much, you might say. So if they win the group they may get to face Serbia, who forced them into the playoffs for this tournament in the first place. Life ain’t easy. — Graham Hunter.

Manager: Otto Addo
Nickname: Black Stars
FIFA Rank: 61

How they qualified

Ghana pipped South Africa — against a backdrop of refereeing controversy — to top Group G of CAF’s qualification campaign, losing just once. This set up a mouth-watering double-header against fierce rivals Nigeria, by which point optimism was low after they finished bottom of their group at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, buoyed by the appointment of Otto Addo, the Black Stars held their nerve to advance on away goals. A 0-0 draw in Kumasi was followed by a 1-1 draw in Abuja, with Thomas Partey’s 10th-minute opener ultimately securing progression.

Style of play

Midfield is key, where Partey will attempt to control the play alongside the more defensive-minded Iddrisu Baba. In-form Mohammed Kudus offers a goal threat through the middle, with the Ayew brothers Andre and Jordan and likely Inaki Williams, who was born in Spain but made the switch to represent Ghana earlier this year. Whether playing with a back four or a back three, full-backs such as Denis Odoi, Tariq Lamptey and Abdul Rahman Baba can offer a threat from out wide.

Biggest strength

The new arrivals — particularly Lamptey and Williams — have raised Ghana’s quality and given them new energy, helping the Black Stars turn the page after the miserable AFCON campaign. The pair’s technical attributes, coupled with the tactically astute Addo, should give Ghana the flexibility to switch between a 3-4-3 and a 4-2-3-1 formation, depending on the demands of each fixture.

Biggest weakness

While Ghana demonstrated resilience and maturity to edge past Nigeria in the qualifiers, that showing was an anomaly for this squad. It remains to be seen if Addo has truly eradicated the brittleness that has affected them in the past; witness Andre Ayew’s petulant behaviour at the conclusion of Ghana’s AFCON draw with Gabon, his inflammatory comments after that match or his early red card when the Black Stars needed him most in their subsequent fixture against Comoros. Partey’s fitness is similarly fragile — he withdrew from a friendly against Brazil in September just moments before kick-off — and both mentally and physically there remain serious questions about Ghana’s durability.

Star player: Mohammed Kudus

Kudus has replaced Partey as Ghana’s great hope for the World Cup following a sensational start to the season with Ajax. It’s been a remarkable turnaround for the 22-year-old, who was reportedly pushing for an exit from the club in the summer transfer window, skipping training in a bid to force a move having struggled for game time. It’s been all change since, as Kudus has had a hand in nine goals in the Eredivisie and Champions League since the start of September, including a stunner scored against Liverpool. Ajax’s use of him as a false No. 9 could be an interesting blueprint for Addo to explore.

Projected starting XI

(4-2-3-1): Wollacott; Baba, Djiku, Amartey, Odoi; Iddrisu, Partey; A Ayew, Kudus, J Ayew; Williams

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals (2010.)

– Ghana are the last African team to reach the quarterfinal stage of a World Cup and were the 3rd all-time to do so.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 12% chance to make the round of 16, 2% to make quarterfinals.

Betting odds: +15000 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Prediction

The 3-0 thumping by Brazil in September has dampened expectations, prompting a reality check after the euphoria of their playoff triumph. A tough group means they’re up against it, and a first round exit looks likely. However, Ghana may be quietly confident that in grudge matches against ageing Portugal and Uruguay teams, their youth and vitality can cause an upset. — Ed Dove, ESPN Africa.

Manager: Diego Alonso
Nickname: La Celeste (The Sky Blue)
FIFA Rank: 14

How they qualified

With problems … and with a late change of coach. With four rounds to go, the epic, and hugely successful, 16-year reign of Oscar Washington Tabarez came to an end and in came Diego Alonso for the last few rounds. Tabarez could not resist the urge to stay on after Russia 2018, for obvious reasons. His young midfielders — now the best part of the team — would come of age and the old guard — the likes of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin — would still be around for a fourth World Cup. But Tabarez never managed to get the balance right. More than anything, though, he was undone by a combination of injuries and a nightmare run of fixtures. Uruguay’s World Cup place was at risk with four defeats on the bounce until Alonso, with the benefit of much easier fixtures against Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru and Chile, saw them over the line.

Style of play

Variable. Alonso likes to prepare on a game-by-game basis, and his team have already used a number of different formations and approaches, with the capacity to change during matches. They are more likely to sit deep and create space for a counter attack, but can also push up higher if necessary.

Biggest strength

Uruguay can count on centre-backs such as Jose Maria Gimenez and Ronald Araujo (assuming he wins his fitness battle), midfielders like Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur, and Darwin Nunez, Suarez and Cavani up front. That is an inspiring array of talent from a country with a population of little more than three million. Over the last two decades, Uruguay have done splendid work at U20 level, which has provided them with a conveyor belt of talent with which to refresh their senior side. And if Alonso can get the balance of the side right, then, with individual ability backed up by Uruguay’s fighting spirit, no one will relish facing them.

Biggest weakness

A spate of recent injuries has not helped, but it is still not clear how the team will line up. Coach Alonso has some big decisions to take, both about personnel and about formation. Playing to the side’s current strength almost certainly means a trio in the centre of midfield. But that makes it hard to have two up front (unless perhaps there is a move to a back three, which could be the best way to fit in 36-year-old centre-back and captain Godin). But if there is only room for one out-and-out striker, then should it still be Luis Suarez? And does the side have enough attacking pace to stop them being pinned back?

Star player: Federico Valverde

Valverde was the first of Uruguay’s new generation of midfielders to be promoted to the senior side, but then succumbed to injury and was forced out of Russia 2018. He is no longer the new boy. The Real Madrid man is now the beating heart of the Uruguay side with his stamina and versatility. Becoming an important part of the Madrid first team has done wonders for his confidence, giving him the self-belief to quietly proclaim himself as the most important member of the Uruguay side, desperate to go to Qatar and make up for the disappointment of missing out on Russia.

Projected starting XI

(4-3-3): Rochet; Suarez, Araujo, Gimenez, Olivera; Vecino, Bentancur, Valverde; Pellistri, Suarez, De Arrascaeta

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: Champion (1930, 1950).

– Changed head coaches in January and still made tournament by rattling off four straight CONMEBOL qualifying wins.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 66% chance to make the round of 16, 15% to make semifinals.

Betting odds: +5000 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Prediction

Uruguay are one of the hardest teams to predict, because of their own dilemmas and also the ferociously balanced nature of the group. Alonso says the team are aiming to win the trophy, but if he fails to get the balance right, it could be a case of elimination at the group stage. However, it is worth recalling that, statistically at least, Uruguay have been South America’s best team in two of the last three World Cups. — Tim Vickery.

Manager: Paulo Bento
Nickname: Taegeuk Warriors
FIFA Rank: 28

How they qualified

South Korea were hardly troubled as they maintained their impressive record of qualifying for every World Cup since 1986 — with this year’s tournament set to be their 10th consecutive appearance. Entering the Asian qualifiers in the second round, the Taegeuk Warriors topped a fairly comfortable Group H with five wins and a draw, scoring 22 goals and conceding just once. Things expectedly got trickier in the third round but they were arguably handed a favourable draw and were always expected to claim a top-two finish alongside Iran, which duly proved to be the case as South Korea finished a comfortable 11 points ahead of third-placed United Arab Emirates.

Style of play

Since finishing fourth at the 2002 World Cup under Guus Hiddink, South Korea have been associated with a brand of high-octane football where they rarely give their opponents time and space in their defensive third. Under current coach Paulo Bento, they tend to be a little more conservative but boast plenty of penetration to hurt teams in transition.

Biggest strength

Without trying to make this all about one player, South Korea’s greatest strength arguably lies in the fact that they have a genuine world-class player at their disposal — which is not something many of the other 32 teams can lay claim to. After a stunning season with Tottenham that saw him share the Premier League golden boot with Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min has already stated his determination to do well at this World Cup, especially after a disappointing group-stage exit last time out, but has to recover from facial surgery first. There is also a capable supporting cast of fellow Europe-based names, including Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves) and Lee Kang-in (Mallorca.)

Biggest weakness

Of course, the fact that the Taegeuk Warriors boast such a talismanic star also means they run the risk of being overly reliant on Son. But perhaps the greater weakness is that, apart from Napoli defender Kim, the South Korea backline will hardly strike fear in the hearts of opposition attackers. It is perhaps for this very reason that Bento tends to adopt a conservative approach and his insistence on deploying an anchorman to shield the defence — usually Jung Woo-young — usually prevents South Korea from deploying their three most creative playmakers together, with Hwang In-beom, Lee Jae-sung and Lee Kang-in usually vying for just two berths.

Star player: Son Heung-min

It is impossible to look past Son as South Korea’s star player. But given his fitness is in doubt and the side will be coming up against some formidable opposition attackers — including Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez — the man who could have the biggest influence on how far the Taegeuk Warriors go might just be Kim. Standing at 6-foot-3 and strongly built, Kim is perfectly equipped to handle any striker he comes up against and it is hardly a surprise that he has already emerged as one of Serie A’s leading centre-backs just months after joining Napoli from Fenerbahce in the summer.

Projected starting XI

(4-2-3-1): Kim Seung-gyu; Kim Tae-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su; Jung Woo-young, Hwang In-beom; Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung, Son Heung-min; Hwang Ui-jo.

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: 4th place (as hosts in 2022.)

– South Korea’s 10 straight World Cup appearances are the longest by a team outside of Europe or South America.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 45% chance to make the round of 16, 16% to make quarterfinals.

Betting odds: +25000 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Prediction

Games against Portugal and Uruguay, two teams perennially expected to reach the knockout round, will not be easy — and Ghana are no slouches either. But if Son is fit and firing, South Korea could stand a chance. Victory over Ghana is a must and, should they manage to get a point off either Portugal or Uruguay, a round-of-16 berth could be on the cards. — Gabriel Tan, ESPN Asia.

Nov 8, 2022

ESPN is previewing each of the World Cup’s 32 teams ahead of the tournament. Here’s what you need to know about the four sides set to do battle in Group D.

Jump to: France | Denmark | Australia | Tunisia

Manager: Didier Deschamps
Nickname: Les Bleus (The Blues)
FIFA Rank: 4

How they qualified

France finished top of their group and unbeaten to qualify for Qatar 2022. However, they struggled and drew with Ukraine (home and away) and Bosnia & Herzegovina (at home), so it was not the most convincing journey ever. Their mini-drop in form happened on the back of the disappointing end to Euro 2020, as they were knocked out against Switzerland on penalties in the round of 16, which really hurt the squad. But wins against Finland (twice) and Kazakhstan were enough to get the job done.

Style of play

Deschamps has tried to play a more proactive style of football since winning the 2018 World Cup. To fit Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in the team, he moved to a 3-4-1-2 formation which had mixed results for Les Bleus. But while the French are more attacking and press a bit higher, Deschamps is still a defensive-minded coach so he might revert to what worked well years ago if things don’t go as planned.

Biggest strength

The talent and depth in the squad are what make it so special. Even with a host of injuries, the names on show are impressive. From the genius of 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Benzema, to Mbappe, and top young stars such as Aurelien Tchouameni and William Saliba, France are packed in every position with so many options to choose from. They also have experience, having been there and done it in 2018. They know how to control the game and want to use the disappointment of Euro 2020 to bounce back in style like they did at Russia 2018 after losing to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final.

Biggest weakness

Ideally, France would have gone to Qatar to retain their crown with all their best players who are available and fit. Instead, there will be no Paul Pogba, no N’Golo Kante and maybe no Raphael Varane either, which is a huge blow. Pogba and Kante will be hard to replace in midfield and have been so important for this team. There will be a slight lack of experience too as the 2022 version of France will be younger than the 2018 one. There are question marks over Deschamps as well regarding his ability to make this team play better and win again. With the likes of Benzema, Mbappe and other attacking talents such as Griezmann, Christopher Nkunku, Kingsley Coman and Ousmane Dembele, the coach’s conservatism could be a problem.

Star player: Karim Benzema

After a six-year exile from the national team, Benzema has had to wait eight years to play in a World Cup again. He missed the win in 2018 and now wants to make up for lost time. The Real Madrid striker has had an incredible few years, winning the Champions League and LaLiga with his club as well as the Nations League with France and the individual prize of the 2022 Ballon d’Or. Now, Benzema has his eyes set on delivering the World Cup. The 34-year-old’s partnership with Mbappe up front — and their ability to gel with Griezmann — will be one of the keys to France’s success. Les Bleus have a real chance of winning the tournament again, but only if Benzema performs at his best.

Projected starting XI

(3-4-1-2): Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Kimpembe; Pavard, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Theo Hernandez; Griezmann; Mbappe, Benzema.

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: Champion (1998, 2018), the side have two titles and three finals since 1998 (the most in that span).

– No defending World Cup champion from Europe has advanced past the group stage of the next tournament since Germany in 1994.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 50% chance to make the quarterfinals, 9% to win the title.

Betting odds: +600 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Prediction

It is very hard to retain a World Cup. The fact that the last time it happened — Brazil in 1962 — was so long ago shows it. However, France have the qualities to do it: incredible talent, experience and a team spirit to bring them together. If Mbappe and Benzema are at their best, France will be hard to stop. — Julien Laurens.

Manager: Kasper Hjulmand
Nickname: De Rod-Hvide (The Red and Whites)
FIFA Rank: 10

How they qualified

Kasper Hjulmand’s side steamrolled through a fairly straightforward qualification group. In fact, the Danes were so dominant they didn’t even concede a goal before the penultimate round of games — Austria, Israel and Moldova were all brushed aside, with the latter suffering an 8-0 defeat in Herning — when the Faroe Islands grabbed a late consolation score. Their only defeat, and loss of points, came at the hands of Scotland in the final round of games.

Style of play

Whether deploying his preferred 3-4-3 (3-4-2-1) formation — which can either appear with two auxiliary attackers wide or tucked in behind the centre-forward, or even two central attackers with Christian Eriksen operating in the spaces behind — or lining up in a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 shape, Hjulmand remains true to his principles of high pressing, a compact midfield and quick transitional play. While hurrying the opposition into making mistakes, and then capitalising quickly, has proved particularly efficient, the Danes are also capable of controlling games, often with Barcelona’s centre-back, Andreas Christensen, playing the first pass out of defence.

Biggest strength

The collective. While not short of high-quality players performing in top European leagues, Denmark remain a team rooted in rigid organisation, loyally deployed match plans and an evenly matched squad. They have plenty of quality in depth, dependable options across the field with clearly defined roles, and are a cohesive unit (which was evident in how they rallied together in the wake of Eriksen’s cardiac arrest during Euro 2020). While such an approach can appear ambitious at the international level — where proper training groundwork is a luxury for the head coach — Hjulmand has made it click to the extent that he’s considered one of the most meticulous and astute head coaches on the European circuit.

Biggest weakness

With an average of three goals per game — and having beaten France home and away in the Nations League during the past five months — the lack of a high-scoring centre-forward won’t necessarily give Hjulmand issues, as it’s not essential for the way he sets up his team. However, going into the tournament he would want his striking options — the likes of Kasper Dolberg, Martin Braithwaite, Andreas Cornelius (if picked) or Jonas Wind (if picked) — to register better recent tallies than they have been doing from club level. Winger Mikkel Damsgaard is also struggling to regain the momentum that saw him emerge as one of the most exciting attacking prospects of Euro 2020, while in goal, Kasper Schmeichel has faced adverse periods of form since he left Leicester for Nice in the summer, though his performances have picked up in recent weeks.

Star player: Christian Eriksen

Given Denmark’s “team before individuals” ethos, the need for a standout profile is secondary. However, based on pure footballing talent, pedigree, the dramatic nature of his comeback and positive displays for Manchester United — let alone nearly 120 caps — Eriksen remains the most obvious candidate. From a more advanced midfield role than he plays at club level (more akin to the position he played at Spurs), Eriksen was excellent during the home win against France in September. The No. 10 dictated the rhythm of the game (70 passes over 90 minutes), identified the right spaces between the French defensive lines and orchestrated waves of attacks.

Projected starting XI

(3-4-1-2): Schmeichel; Christensen, Kjaer, Andersen; Skov Olsen, Hojbjerg, Delaney, Maehle; Eriksen; Braithwaite, Poulsen.

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals (1998.)

– Denmark have reached the round of 16 in four of their previous five appearances at a World Cup.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 56% chance to make the round of 16, 28% to make the quarterfinals.

Betting odds: +2800 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Prediction

No matter how well they perform in qualifiers or previous championships, Denmark are never mentioned in the same breath as the traditional European or South American heavyweights. The Danes won’t mind though; they’ll embrace their underdog status and enter the World Cup as possibly the trickiest opponents to face. They have already shown they can compete with France, while with Australia and Tunisia as their two other Group D adversaries, Denmark should be confident of advancing to the round of 16. In fact, nobody should be surprised to see this well-balanced, diligent side make the latter stages and possibly even repeat last summer’s feat of reaching a semifinal. — Tor-Kristian Karlsen.

Manager: Graham Arnold
Nickname: Socceroos
FIFA Rank: 38

How they qualified

In short, an absolute rollercoaster. At its commencement, the Socceroos looked like they were cruising through AFC qualification when they became the first nation to register 11-straight wins in a single FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. However, the underlying weaknesses that were papered over by this streak eventually began to show and, as results began to align with performances, coach Graham Arnold slowly came under pressure. But wins over the UAE in the AFC fourth round and Peru in the intercontinental playoff — the latter in a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout — secured the side a place at a fifth-straight World Cup.

Style of play

After starting his tenure by declaring that his side would play like Liverpool, Arnold has settled into a much more familiar and pragmatic style more attuned to his dominant Sydney FC sides. In Qatar, the Socceroos’ approach will be built on principles of containment, physicality, mental battles and seeking to hit sides on the counter.

Biggest strength

The Socceroos are at their most threatening when they are able to get out in transition and run at their opponents — particularly when they win the ball high up the pitch on the few occasions they utilise a high press. As qualifying wore on and his side’s position became more fraught, however, Arnold increasingly identified “Aussie DNA” as his side’s biggest asset: a nostalgic call to the supposed spirit of a bygone age where “you kick, you fight, you scratch, you run till you drop and leave nothing on the park and have no regrets.”

Biggest weakness

Given that they are at their best when getting out in transition and exploiting the physicality that Arnold has identified, it should perhaps come as no surprise that, like a great many nations around the world, the Socceroos struggle during extended periods in possession, particularly against a low block. Fortunately for them, this likely won’t be too much of a problem against group opponents France and Denmark — the conundrum instead is the sheer disparity in the number and depth of top-end talent. The Socceroos have also at times proved wobbly defending against transition, which could play into their game against Tunisia.

Star player: Ajdin Hrustic

The Socceroos’ preparations for the World Cup have been blighted by a wave of injuries and a dearth of minutes, none more concerning than those experienced by creative dynamo Ajdin Hrustic. One of the few Socceroos playing in one of Europe’s Big Five leagues, their most skilled attacker and an important reference point in possession, Hrustic has seen a lack of game time at Eintracht Frankfurt — where he won a Europa League in 2021-22 — resulting in a move to Serie A side Hellas Verona in September. He was just beginning to find form only to suffer an ankle injury in late October. The Socceroos are bullish that he will be ready for Qatar, but any absence would constitute a major blow.

Projected starting XI

(4-1-4-1) Ryan; Behich, Souttar, Rowles, Karacic; Mooy; Irvine, Hrustic, Mabil, Boyle; Duke.

What the stats say

– Best World Cup Finish: Round of 16 (2006.)

– The Socceroos have been eliminated in the group stage in four of their previous five tournament appearances.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 18% chance to make the round of 16, 6% to make quarterfinals.

Betting odds: +40000 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Prediction

True to form, Arnold has presented a publicly optimistic outlook, telling ESPN in August: “My expectation is the second round.” However, delivering on that target would be one of the shocks of the tournament and a more realistic target would be a first World Cup win since 2010. What is certain, though, is that predictions such as that will likely be used as motivation by this group. — Joey Lynch.

Manager: Jalel Kadri
Nickname: Eagles of Carthage
FIFA Rank: 30

How they qualified

Tunisia rode their luck to qualify, at no point giving an indication that they are a team who can make a big impact in Qatar. They won all three of their home games and away at a dysfunctional Zambia side to progress from their group, losing in Equatorial Guinea in the process, and were drawn in the third round of qualifying against Mali — the only one of the eight playoff qualifiers never before to reach a World Cup. Moussa Sissako‘s bizarre own goal in Bamako ultimately proved decisive, with the Eagles of Carthage largely content to neutralise their opponents at home having nabbed that fluke away goal.

Style of play

Tunisia will sit deep, absorb pressure, give little away and attempt to eke out every available minor advantage possible. Fans call the team’s battling spirit “grinta,” which is true for this particular generation, whose combative, workaholic midfield will need to compensate for ageing legs up top.

Biggest strength

Tunisia’s reputation as being defensively stout and tough to break down may well be re-evaluated after their recent 5-1 demolition by Brazil, although it is worth noting that they didn’t concede a single goal in their previous seven games, stretching back to the Nations Cup. Indeed, the Eagles of Carthage had only let in three goals in 12 matches throughout 2022 to that point, and they’ll be looking to lean (heavily) on this infamous resolve during the tournament. Ageing legs also mean experienced heads, and the underdogs won’t be overawed by the task ahead of them.

Biggest weakness

All of Tunisia’s star attackers, with the exception of Seifeddine Jaziri, are the wrong side of 30, and it remains to be seen whether the likes of Youssef Msakni or Naim Sliti still have enough zip to truly express themselves against a higher level of opposition at the World Cup. Beyond the forward unit, there’s also a lack of the kind of top-level quality and experience that both Denmark and France will bring to the table in Group D.

Star player: Wahbi Khazri

Msakni may be the more flashier of the forwards — and has a point to prove having missed Russia 2018 through injury — but it’s Wahbi Khazri whose performances will likely be decisive in determining what Tunisia can achieve in Qatar. He’s had a strange career, evolving from a creative midfielder who struggled to establish himself at Sunderland into a consistent goal threat and regular line-leader for club and country. He struck 10 goals for relegated Saint-Etienne last term, and Tunisia lost a dimension after he was missing with COVID-19 during the AFCON. He is struggling under new management at Montpellier, but he netted twice during the last World Cup, and from set pieces or open play he can trouble Tunisia’s Group D opponents.

Projected starting XI

(4-3-3): Dahmen; Drager, Talbi, Ifa, Maaloul; Laidouni, Skhiri, Sassi; Khazri, Jaziri, Msakni

What the stats say

– Best World Cup finish: Group stage

– Tunisia have five group-stage eliminations, which is tied for 2nd most by a team that have never advanced. Scotland have 8.

FiveThirtyEight SPI: 47% chance to make the round of 16, 20% to make quarterfinals

Betting odds: +30000 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Prediction

On paper, Tunisia don’t have enough quality to progress. Australia represent eminently beatable opponents, but Denmark were among the toughest teams in Pot Two and could be tournament surprises. Even though confidence has been dented by that demolition by Brazil, Tunisia’s defensive solidity gives them optimism of neutralising the Danes and troubling France, but realistically, neither side will be too concerned. — Ed Dove, ESPN Africa.

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita knows that being one of three women picked to officiate matches at the World Cup — the first time a woman will be in charge on the game’s biggest stage — is not simply about soccer.

Stephanie Frappart of France and Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda must be of the same mind. They are in a pool of 36 referees listed for Qatar — the rest are all men. FIFA has also named three female assistant referees in a pool of 69: Neuza Back of Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States.Yamashita is aware that her selection put the focus on Japan’s low ranking on most measures of equal pay for women, and in global studies of gender equality.“I would be very happy if women could play an active role in sports in this way, and if sports and especially soccer could lead this,” Yamashita said in an interview with The Associated Press. “In Japan, there is still a long way to go in the world of soccer (regarding participation of women), so it would be great if this could connect to the promotion of female participation in different ways, not only in soccer or in sports.”All three have worked men’s matches, and their World Cup debut comes in a Middle Eastern country where the role of women is closely prescribed.Frappart is the best known and has already worked men’s games in World Cup qualifying, and the Champions League. She also handled the 2019 Women’s World Cup final, and refereed this year’s men’s French Cup final.Yamashita has worked games in Japan’s men’s league, and has also been in charge of the Asian equivalent of the men’s Champions League. She was also a referee at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.Earlier this year, Mukansanga became the first woman to referee an Africa Cup of Nations match, leading an all-female officiating team.“As always, the criteria we have used is ‘quality first’ and the selected match officials represent the highest level of refereeing worldwide,” said FIFA referees committee chairman Pierluigi Collina, who worked the 2002 World Cup final. “In this way, we clearly emphasize that it is quality that counts for us and not gender.“I would hope that in the future the selection of elite women’s match officials for important men’s competitions will be perceived as something normal and no longer as sensational.”Yamashita said the difference in the men’s and women’s game was, of course, speed. But not simply that some men might run faster.“It’s the speed, but not just the players’ speed,” she told the AP. “Not the ball speed. It’s just the game speed. It means for me I have to make quicker decisions — more speed.”Then there’s the stress, the largest stage, and the attention she is certain to generate at the World Cup.“Of course, I think the pressure is huge,” she said, “and I think I have a lot of responsibility. But I am really happy to take this duty and pressure, so I try to take it positively and I try to be happy.”Though it’s likely that all three will be in charge of games, it’s not a given. They could alsobe used as “fourth referees” on the sideline. However, they cannot be used as assistants.Like many referees, Yamashita said her job was to stay out of the way and let the game shine.“One of the big goals as a referee is to bring out the the attractiveness of soccer,” she said. “I do my best for that, and I will do what I should at that time toward that end. So if I need to communicate with the players, I will do that. If I need to show a card, I will show a card. Rather than control, I’m thinking about what to do toward the big goal of bringing out the appeal of soccer.”Yamashita conducted most of the interview with the AP in Japanese, but said she would use English and “facial gestures, body gestures” when communicating with players in Qatar.“Usually when I give a card, I say nothing,” she said, shifting to English. “But when I give a warning, I just tell them I’m not happy. They understand.”

November 4, 2022November 4, 2022 gatorbest

MLS Finals LAFC vs Philly Union Sat 3:30 pm FOX

The participants in the 2022 MLS Cup final are set, and for the first time since 2003, the top seed in each conference the 2 best records in MLS– the Philadelphia Union in the East and LAFC in the West — will square off. MLS Finals Preview really comes down to one team that bought its players LAFC (Carlos Vela, Crisitan Arango, Kellyn Acosta, Chiellini, Gareth Bale) with former US National Team defender and German taught coach Steve Cherundolo vs a Philly Union team led by the best new American coach in the game -2 time MLS Coach of the Year Jim Curtin and a Philly team that has been built mostly using home-grown players that have come from their academy system. (Remember Brenda Aaronsson is a Philly Union homegrown as is his younger brother. Philly also has the best GK in the game and 3 time Goalkeeper in the League in Andre Blake. MLS GK of the year Andre Blake working out in LA before Sat’s Championship game (see GK section below in the OBC.) As for a pick – I love LAFC especially at home as I have experienced the 3252 cheering section and it can be intimidating. But I just have this feeling that its Philly’s time – and part of me really wants to see the MLS team that builds from within (thusly helping to grow American’s via their Academy) and that’s Philly. So I am picking a 2-1 Philly win. Though I am hoping its 3-2 Philly.

Indy 11 & USL Sun 8:30 pm ESPN+

Great to see former Carmel FC GK Coach and Indy 11 Goalie Jordan Farr is headed to the USL Conference Finals with his #1 Seed In the Western Division San Antonio vs Colorado Switchbacks Sunday night on ESPN+ at 8:30 pm. In the East what else – longtime rivals Louisville will face the Tampa Bay Rowdies Sat at 7:30 pm on ESPN+. The finals are next Thurs night on ESPN2. USL Playoff Bracket

Games Overseas to Watch This Weekend

So Leeds United had a huge win at Liverpool last weekend here is the response from Leed’s beleaguered American Manager Jesse Marsch who well may have saved his job with the the win here’s the great saves by Leed’s GK Illan Meslier to be Liverpool at Anfield to to protect help that win. The next to the last weekend of league play before the World Cup features Leeds United hosting Bournmouth at 11 am Sat on Peacock, while Man City is hosting American’s Jedi Robinson and Tim Ream (who should be on the US World Cup team by the way) and Fulham at 11 am on USA Network. Sunday we get Chelsea and Pulisic hosting league leader Arsenal at 7 am on USA, followed by Tottenham hosting Liverpool at 11:30 on USA. American Jordan Pefok (who should also be on the US squad) and German League leaders Union Berlin travel to Bayer Leverkusen at 10:30 am Sun on ESPN+, while Juventus minus the injured McKinney will host Inter Milan at 2:45 pm on CBSSN or Para+. Of course the US Ladies play Germany Thurs at 7 pm on FS1 and next Sun 5 pm on ESPN before the USL Championship game at 8 pm next Sun on ESPN2.

USA Women Play Thur/Sun vs Germany, US Men Roster Reveal Thurs

USWNT 24-player roster vs. Germany

Goalkeepers: Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars).

Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC).

Midfielders: Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit).

Forwards: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Alyssa Thompson (Total Futbol Academy).

NWSL Final Has Record TV Audience.

The largest audience to ever watch an NWSL game almost 1 million viewers watched Saturdays Championship game on Sunday afternoon a 71% increase on last year. Hopefully this will lead CBS to put more games on CBS and CBS Sportsnetwork rather than just Paramount plus next year. Especially leading into World Cup year where the most of the US players play. NWSL League MVP Sophia Smith lands the Winner for Portland as they beat Kansas City 2-0 on CBS Sat night to win the NWSL Championship in front of nearly 18K in Washington DC. See stories in the OBC.

Champions League Draw Mon

Wow Champions League never disappoints. We are down to the final 16 with the draw for the knockout stages on Monday. Some huge games on the final matchday as Tottenham came from behind late to top Marsielle. Napoli romped over supposed group favorites Liverpool and Ajax by a combined 14-4 over three matches, quickly clinching top spot in Group A. Club Brugge were nearly as exciting and creative in winning their first three matches and quickly clinching advancement. LaLiga crashed and burned, with three of its four teams failing to advance — including not only Atletico Madrid but also Barcelona, who laid down huge chunks of future revenue to upgrade their team and contend again. In solidarity with their Super League brethren, Juventus fell apart as well.

World Cup – 3 Weeks

Can you believe it – -the World Cup in Qatar is just 3 weeks away now! Tons of guys getting hurt here late – including some American’s like McKinney and Luca De La Torre and Matt Turner. While defending Champs France’s Kante and Pogba are out.

Carmel FC Director Juergen Sommer congratulates JD Slivinski on signing his letter of intent to play college soccer for The University of Saint Francis Ft. Wayne. Huge congrats JD !!

Carmel FC Goalkeeper Coach Noelle Rolfsen (blue) has led her Marion University Knights to 15-0-2 mark clinching the Crossroads League Regular Season title. She made 6 saves in the Final game Wednesday. The #2 Ranked Knights host the League Quarter Finals Sat at home. Sat 7:00 pm — #1 MU v #8 GO (at Marian U) on MyIndy TV 23 — Video ($) | Live Stats

Sat, Nov 5 (Americans in parenthesis)

9:30 am ESPN+ Bayern Muchen vs Mainz

10:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Bochum

11 am USA Man Cty vs Fulham (Robinson, Ream)

11 am Peacock Leeds United (Adams, Aaronson, Marsch) vs AFC Bournemouth

4 pm ESPN+ Barcelona vs Almeria

4 pm FOX LAFC vs Philly Union MLS Finals

7 pm My Indy TV 23 Marion U (GK Noelle Rolfsen) vs

7:30 pm ESPN+ Louisville City vs Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sun, Nov 6

7 am USA Chelsea (Pulisic) vs Arsenal

8 am ESPN+ Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol

10:30 am ESPN+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Union Berlin (Pefuk)

11:30 am USA Tottenham vs Liverpool

2:45 pm Para + Juventus vs Inter Milan

8:30 pm ESPN+ San Antonio (Jordan Farr GK) vs Colorado Springs

Thur, Nov 10

7 pm FS1 USWNT vs Germany

Sun, Nov 13

5 pm ESPN USWNT vs Germany

8 pm ESPN2 USL Finals

Sun, Nov 20

11 am Fox World Cup Starts

Mon, Nov 21

8 am FS1 England vs Iran

2 pm Fox USA vs Wales

Mon, Nov 22

11 am Fox Mexico vs Poland

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

Also get your Game Picking Skills sharpened as Carmel FC might have an official World Cup Pool.

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10 big questions ahead of MLS Cup 2022

Bandwagon guide to MLS Cup: To root for Philadelphia Union or LAFC?

How LAFC & Philadephia Union built MLS Cup-Rosters

Final Bracket MLS

Power Rankings: Where did your team end the 2022 regular season?
LA Galaxy defender Julián Araujo talks World Cup, humble beginnings
Another El Tráfico? USC football blocks parking for LAFC fans attending MLS Cup
MLS Cup: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

MLS Cup playoffs: Philly, LAFC advance to championship game as top seeds prevail 23hJeff Carlisle

– Report: LAFC reach first MLS Cup after thrashing Austin

– Report: Philly come back to defeat NYCFC, win Eastern Conference title

Top Seed Philly Advances to Finals – Yahoo Sports

What’s driving MLS’ reported playoff revamp? 4dESPN

2022 MLS Cup playoffs: Fixtures, results and more 7dESPN
LAFC vs Philadelphia Union set for MLS Cup Final

Three big questions following Austin FC’s 2022 season

Playoff X Factors with 4 teams left – Backheeled.com

Congrats and Good Luck Sunday 8:30 pm ESPN+ Former Carmel FC GK Coach and Indy 11 Goalkeeper Jordan Farr

USMNT Injuries Mount as WC Nears Henry Bushnell

great saves by Leed’s GK Illan Meslier to be Liverpool at Anfield

MLS GK of the year Andre Blake working out in LA before Sat’s Championship game

Chelsea’s GK Kepa is Player of Month

GKE in NSWL Champ Game as US Backup AD Franch Gives up an Easy

Portland Thorns ride the rise of Sophia Smith to an NWSL title Yahoo Soccer Henry Bushnell

GKE in NSWL Champ Game as Franch Gives up an Easy

Portland’s success built around Smith and adaptability 2dJeff Kassouf

Champions League last-16 Power Rankings: Can anyone stop Man City, Bayern? ESPNFC Bill Connelly
AC Milan, Leipzig take final last-16 places as PSG lose top spot
Spurs, Eintracht into Champions League last 16 as Liverpool beat Napoli
PSG pipped to top spot in Champions League group by rampant Benfica
Giroud fires AC Milan past Salzburg and into Champions League knockouts
Chelsea erase early deficit to beat Dinamo Zagreb in UCL finale
Chilwell’s World Cup in severe doubt after injury
Man City conclude UCL group with win over Sevilla (video)
Five-star Real Madrid seal top spot with Celtic drubbing
Leipzig thrash Shakhtar to reach knockout stage
Tottenham, Frankfurt advance in CL; Bayern stays perfect
‘Fantastic’ comeback takes Tottenham into Champions League last 16 as group winners
Porto seal top spot, dump miserable Atletico out of Europe

By J. Sam Jones @J_SamJones ESPNFC Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022, 03:52 PM

first time in 19 years, the top teams in each of Major League Soccer‘s conferences have reached the MLS Cup final. Both teams are aiming for their first league title, and the respective paths the organizations took couldn’t have been more different.Philadelphia Union‘s arrival to the final has been a long, steady climb. The Union qualified for the playoffs just twice in their first eight years. But starting in 2018, the club hit upon a formula of heavy reliance on its academy — Jack McGlynn is the latest to pass through and make an impact — combined with astute mining of the transfer market, picking up the likes of left back Kai Wagner and holding midfielder Jose Martinez, to become one of the most consistent performers in the league. The last three seasons have seen the Union finish no lower than third in the Eastern Conference, with the Supporters Shield being claimed in 2020.This season saw Philadelphia claim another Eastern Conference regular-season title, but with a twist. The Union’s defensive backbone remained in place, setting an MLS record with just 26 goals conceded. But added to it was an attack that scored a league-best 72 goals, with Daniel Gazdag bagging 22 goals to go along 10 assists. EDITOR’S PICKS

By comparison, LAFC‘s march to the final has been more caffeine-infused. The Black-and-Gold were competitive from the moment they started play in 2018, winning the Supporters Shield a year later. A year after that, LAFC nearly claimed the CONCACAF Champions League in 2020, squandering a second-half lead against Tigres. There was the bump in the road that saw the team miss the postseason in 2021, but LAFC retooled with some astute pickups of their own, like holding midfielder Ilie Sanchez and right back Ryan Hollingshead.

There is a tendency to think this matchup boils down to whether LAFC can break down Philly’s defense, and that will certainly be a factor. Philadelphia had the third-lowest possession percentage in the league at 43.6%, while LAFC had the 10th best at 51.1%, so this is a match where the Black-and-Gold figure to have more of the ball. LAFC’s attacking trident of Cristian Arango, Denis Bouanga and Carlos Vela has shown it is adept at wearing opponents down, especially in the postseason.

But Philadelphia is plenty comfortable playing without the ball, and the fact that it still had the third-highest xG mark at 63.72 points shows how the Union are adept at creating — and exploiting — transition moments. That will be a huge challenge for LAFC, though their defense put up some impressive numbers as well. LAFC allowed the fewest shots on goal per game in the league at 3.4.Perhaps the more important factor will be if LAFC can find a way past Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake. Blake won his third MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award last month, and ranked second in goals prevented (a measure of goals allowed vs. expected goals allowed) with a mark of 11.4. In terms of the eye test, Blake was brilliant against both FC Cincinnati and NYCFC.

Then there is home-field advantage. It’s worth noting that the two teams finished level on points, but since LAFC had two more wins, they claimed the Shield — and home field for Saturday’s final — instead of Philly, despite the Union’s vastly superior goal differential.Since MLS went away from neutral venues starting in 2012, the home side has prevailed in seven of the 10 ensuing MLS Cup finals, though two of the defeats were via penalties. Banc of California Stadium figures to be an absolute cauldron, even with the 1 p.m. Pacific time kickoff.

Playing at home on such an occasion can create its own special kind of pressure, but LAFC is likely to embrace that tension, cheered on by the partisan crowd. That makes them a narrow favorite to prevail.

Ahead of the MLS Cup, ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, Kyle Bonagura, Dan Hajducky, and Austin Lindberg predict which of the two final teams will lift the trophy.

LAFC's logo LAFC has a smidgen more quality in attack and, as impressive as Philly’s defense is, that should carry the day. — Carlisle

LAFC's logo First, let’s acknowledge that this should be viewed as possibly the best MLS Cup final matchup of all time. It’s rare for the two top seeds — let alone teams tied for Supporters’ Shield on points — meet in the final and, the last time it happened in 2003, the quality of MLS wasn’t nearly what it is today. Anyone who feels strongly about who will win has misplaced confidence, and with that understood, LAFC is the pick. Banc of California Stadium provides an incredible home field advantage and the Black-and-Gold’s attacking talent is superior. — Bonagura

the Philadelphia Union's logo There seems to be something spooky-good happening for Philadelphia’s sports franchises of late — and I’m not betting against that good juju. The best offensive firepower in MLS in LAFC’s Carlos Vela and Cristian Arango will fall short against the second-best defensive squad in league history and 2022 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year (a league-record third award) Andre Blake. Two-time MLS Coach of the Year and Union gaffer Jim Curtin finally gets his hardware. — Hajducky

the Philadelphia Union's logo Regardless of the outcome, this stands to be one of the most memorable MLS Cups in years. These have been the two best teams in the league all season, so it’s going to be a real treat to watch them square off with everything on the line. LAFC may have the edge in talent and star power, but I like the depth and cohesion of Philadelphia, and their defending and goalkeeping that threaten to nullify the Black-and-Gold’s homefield advantage. — Lindberg

Thursday, Nov 3, 2022, 02:07 PM

MLS Cup!!! Time for questions!!!

Here are 10 big ones, in no particular order, that could define LAFC vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday afternoon at Banc of California Stadium (4 pm ET | FOX, Univision in US; TSN, TVA Sports in Canada).

How much of a tilt will homefield advantage be?

Of the last five MLS Cups, just one road team had a trophy celebration. That was NYCFC (2021), who won after penalties. The previous road team that won MLS Cup was also after penalties (2016 Seattle).

Since MLS switched to hosting priorities going to the higher seed in 2011, just one road team has won without penalties (2015 Portland). Three of 11 visitors have won at all (penalties count, you know).

Home field (and the Supporters’ Shield) in this matchup was decided on a tiebreaker. The regular season matters.

The year of Goalkeeper Andre Blake?

Speaking of penalties… well, the longer the game stays close, the more it suits Philly. Home teams have the impetus to push in these scenarios anyway, but particularly so when Andre Blake is between the posts on the other end.

Blake has been awesome this year and spectacular in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. He made a handful of great saves against FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, then a stunning reaction save against NYCFC right after Philly went 1-0 down in the Eastern Conference Final.

We often talk about match-winners in the attack. Blake is a match-winner in goal and can completely change a game.

Big-game Vela?

Carlos Vela has gotten some criticism for disappearing in big games, but that’s always been a little odd to me, for his time with LAFC at least.In 2019, he had 2g/1a in two playoff games. This year he has 0g/2a in two games (155 minutes). He was awesome in their 2020 CCL run.Maybe he hasn’t gone supernova in the playoffs yet, sure. There’s another chance Saturday.

Who will win transition moments?

For the first 60 minutes against NYCFC, Philly were uncharacteristically pensive and wasteful in moments of attacking transition. That changed dramatically over the final 30 minutes, and it tends to get better as they wear teams down. But LAFC absolutely suffocated Austin FC’s transition opportunities over the first 60 minutes of the Western Conference Final and put the game out of reach en route to a 3-0 win.

This, for me, is the biggest tactical question/X-factor.

Who will win on set pieces?

In knockout competitions, the variance of set pieces plays an outsized role. It’s so key for good tournament teams to be excellent on set pieces. Both of the teams are on the attacking side, Philly more so on the defensive side.

Matt Doyle wrote about this and instead of just stealing his stats, I’m going to let him take it from here:

Both of these teams are elite on restarts. LAFC’s 17 goals scored across the regular season and playoffs is third behind Nashville and Austin, while Philly led the league in xG off of dead-ball situations this year (and scored 13).

Philly conceded just five off of restarts all year, while LAFC were a little looser with eight goals allowed in those situations.

What role can Bedoya or Bale play?

These two players are not equal in their importance to their team; I want to point that out on the front end.

Alejandro Bedoya has played at a Best XI-ish clip for half a decade with Philly and was elite once again this year at age 35. He’s their captain, culture-setter and emotional leader. Gareth Bale has played around 350 minutes in four months since signing for LAFC, after he left Real Madrid.Their impacts are not equal, that’s not why they’re grouped together. But they are two injury question marks, that’s why they’re grouped together.Bedoya started his first game in more than a month in the ECF and was clearly hampered. He lasted 45 minutes, at least 15 of which came as a very muted version of his normal self. Will he be able to give any minutes?Bale, meanwhile, made the bench against Austin but was an unused sub, in large part due to an injury. Will he actually be available off the bench on Saturday?

What to expect from Jose Martinez?

This dude is an absolute showman. Watching him off the ball is an experience in and of itself. He’s one of the best defensive mids in the league, a crucial part of any title-contending team (like Ilie Sánchez for LAFC), but he can be chaotic.Whether that’s discipline or otherwise, what kind of performance will Philly get from their midfield dynamo?For all the talk about him being a walking yellow card (fair), Martinez has just one straight red card in his Philly career, and only one other time has he been sent off for two yellows. It’s not as much as you think.The best version of Martinez is (semi-) controlled chaos.

Will Giorgio Chiellini start? How would that impact the game?

LAFC’s legendary central defender was on the bench for their first playoff game and then started against Austin, but was subbed out at halftime.ESPN’s Taylor Twellman said that change was tactical, not injury-related. It’s a curious decision… What was the tactical change? More pace?Austin sought out to try and not let Chiellini’s passing open them up. His passing would be very useful against Philly’s compact structure, but is Steve Cherundolo concerned about Philly’s ability to get out in transition against a 38-year-old center back?

High-scoring affair?

The last three games between these two teams have ended in draws with high scoring. One was a hugely memorable 3-3 draw, the last game before the league shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league was introduced to Jakob Glesnes and Jose Martinez that day, and Brenden Aaronson took another step forward. Vela was at the peak of his powers, and LAFC were coming off their historic 2019 season.

This year, it was a thrilling 2-2 draw in May. Both teams have changed since May even, but the vibes seem the same when they play.One of the last nine MLS Cup finals has had more than three goals. This feels as good a bet as any to break that threshold.

Who gets the Hollywood sendoff?

There are numerous players (and staff) at both clubs who seem very likely to depart this winter. Philly left back Kai Wagner and LAFC midfielder Jose Cifuentes are the two most likely who come to mind, both expected to depart in big-money transfers abroad.To win MLS Cup would be a Hollywood ending to their stories.

Additionally: If Jim Curtin accomplishes his goal of winning an MLS Cup at Philly, will he stay or consider options? His contract is up after 2023. What other players could be playing their final club games?

The US Plays Nov 21, November 25 an November 29th all on Fox.

Oct 9, 2022; Frisco, Texas, USA; FC Dallas forward Jesus Ferreira (10) in action during the game between FC Dallas and Sporting Kansas City at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

By Jeff Rueter5h ago

In most World Cup years, much of the United States men’s player pool would have made their case for tournament inclusion well before the provisional roster is due. Those in Europe would have had at least a couple of weeks of ice baths and beach walks to rejuvenate themselves. And while MLS has often slated games up until the start of the group stage, players have been able to treat the start of the year as a tune-up to arrive to national team camp in midseason form. That general approach went out the window (like many normalities) when FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar and switched to a November kickoff. The European leagues have a greater urgency to front-load their schedule to make up for the lost month of matches, leaving players open to missing the tournament due to simple one-to-two week knocks. MLS will have its season settled by week’s end, but any U.S. roster hopefuls who missed the playoffs will have gone without a game since October 9 — 43 days before the opener against Wales. No matter how the schedule sits, those final league matches before a roster is finalized bring some of the greatest scrutiny and internal pressure a player will face in their career. Every performance carries extra weight as players attempt to make their closing arguments for inclusion. Fair or otherwise, a team’s struggles could color how a player is perceived as the roster is drawn up. And, as is often the case in soccer, arguably no position comes with greater pressure in the stretch run than striker — an area viewed with an obsessive focus on goal totals, which has seldom been the U.S.’s strong suit.

Throughout the first months of 2010, Herculez Gomez felt like he could play without pressure.

In January of that year, the striker left the Kansas City Wizards after they didn’t offer him a contract to get his career back on track in Liga MX. He couldn’t have made a stronger first impression, scoring 10 goals in 15 matches with Puebla to tie Javier Hernández and Johan Fano for the Clausura golden boot. Unlike Chicharito, however, Gomez had little reason to believe he was in contention for a World Cup roster. Not only had Gomez failed to feature in CONCACAF qualifying — he hadn’t suited up for the United States since their 2007 Copa América appearance.

Ultimately, a host of factors left the final tune-up friendlies before the 2010 World Cup as an open competition for the pool’s strikers. Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies had entered qualifying as Bob Bradley’s first-choice center forwards, but the latter was involved in a career-altering car crash in October 2009. Eddie Johnson had done well in Greece with Aris, but was injured as the tournament neared. It re-opened the door for an in-form goalscorer like Gomez, who made the provisional 30-man roster as Bradley weighed his final decisions.

Gomez was one of six forwards called into that final camp before Bradley crystalized his 23-man squad for South Africa. Along with Altidore, Johnson and hold-up specialist Brian Ching, he was joined by fellow fringe hopefuls Edson Buddle and Robbie Findley. Gomez arrived for camp in East Hartford without any misconceptions about his longshot odds, but he still felt the pressure.

“I just remember thinking to myself, I’m not part of this team,” Gomez told The Athletic. “Any fitness drill, any shooting drill, finishing drill, whatever the case may be, I have to be top three. I have to be a guy that stood out because if not, I wasn’t going to make the World Cup. I got to the stadium and I got into the locker room and the numbers went one through 30. I’m looking for my name, I’m looking for my number, and as I keep going down, it’s like further down. Twenty five. Twenty six. Twenty seven. Twenty eight. Twenty nine…

“There I am: 30. Thirty of 30. That’s when the reality hit me: if I want to go, it’s now 30 of 30. The pressure for the roster really hit me. That was the only time I really felt it.”

As you’d expect, Gomez began the opening match of the camp against the Czech Republic from the bench. He checked in at halftime, with 45 minutes to make his case against one the world’s best goalkeepers of all-time, Petr Cech. Ives Galarcep’s live blog of the friendly serves as a good encapsulation of his shift, tracking just about every involvement Gomez had.

“Gomez with 45 minutes to state his case for a spot. Neither Johnson or Buddle were all that stellar in the first half,” Galarcep wrote as the second half started. Then in the 64th minute, “GOMEZ WITH A BLAST right at Cech” after a back heel from Ching. And two minutes later… “GOAL USA!!! And it’s Herculez Gomez with the FINISH!”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=iQyTjNsn0Jw%3Fstart%3D161%26feature%3Doembed

It was Gomez’s first goal for the United States — and it couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time, as his elation made clear. After the camp, Gomez joined Altidore, Buddle and Findley on the World Cup roster. Even with the inescapable pressure in Connecticut, his determination paid off.

“It’s a very difficult moment not just for a striker, but for any player thinking every single day is that day where you have to stand out… but even more so for a goalscorer,” Gomez said. “We live and die by the amount of goals we score. You could be very good in combination play, help the team with the little things defensively, tactically, everything as far as being a team player, but at the end of the day, you’re there to score goals. I guarantee you if I don’t come off the bench against the Czech Republic and score a goal, I don’t go to the World Cup.”

Fast forward a dozen years to Gomez now working for ESPN as one of the U.S.’s most prominent soccer pundits. In October, he was in Austin to cover second-year MLS side Austin FC’s match against FC Dallas. There, he had a first-hand look at possibly this cycle’s most scrutinized U.S. striker: Jesús Ferreira.This is the first year in which Ferreira has played as an out-and-out striker. Last year, he was the deep-lying deputy for Ricardo Pepi, as his teammate was anointed the U.S. national team’s successor to Altidore and earned a move to FC Augsburg. After that transfer, Ferreira signed a big extension to stay in Dallas as a designated player for years to come. He’s rewarded the club for their confidence, winning MLS’ young player of the year award after scoring 18 goals and adding six assists.With the U.S. team, however, his misses have garnered far more attention than his goals. He missed several chances against Panama and El Salvador late in World Cup qualifying, and while his club form helped rebuild fans’ confidence, he sent a close-range header over the bar in a friendly against Uruguay. His performances in September were largely forgiven, as the entire U.S. squad looked outmatched against Japan and languid against Saudi Arabia. It put even more pressure on his league form, though, which was enough to vault FC Dallas to third place in the West at regular season’s end.

Ferreira had another crucial miss in the playoff opener against Minnesota United, flubbing his first touch and negating any chance at a shot as the ball thunked into Sebastian Lletget’s path. While he made his penalty in the ensuing shootout, he wasn’t able to make much of an impact as Austin took a 2-0 lead into halftime a week later. All season, Dallas head coach Nico Estévez — in his first year with the team after working under Gregg Berhalter with the USMNT — had trusted Ferreira up top. As Ferreira struggled to finish and the scrutiny around him from fans and media alike reached a crescendo, the coach made a dramatic change.“Fairly or unfairly, that’s another discussion, but yeah, absolutely,” Gomez said of the scrutiny’s impact on a striker — something which Inter Miami’s Gonzalo Higuain also highlighted before his retirement.

“There will be that scrutiny and that pressure,” Gomez added. “As soon as Franco Jara came on (against Austin) — 34 years old, an Argentine who scored three goals all season — what was Nico Estévez’s move? He dropped Jesús Ferreira into an attacking midfielder role. When they needed a goal, the head coach who was with Gregg Berhalter, who knows the system in and out, dropped him into an attacking midfielder role so a guy who scored three goals all season could be the guy up top. Those are things that’re gonna affect any player.”

After Jara checked in, Ferreira logged just 0.12 xG across three shots. The last — a skied free kick at the start of stoppage time — elicited sarcastic “USA! USA!” chants from the Austin faithful.

Throughout the playoffs, Ferreira appeared to play with the pressure of a young striker who’s expected to lead the line in a World Cup.

While MLS is still a lower level than the top leagues of Europe, it isn’t as far off as it used to be. Simply scoring in Europe isn’t enough to become a guaranteed inclusion on a U.S. roster — just ask Jordan Pefok, who has three goals and three assists in his first 10 Bundesliga games but appears to be a World Cup longshot.

In the past, finding the hottest U.S. goalscorer often meant scanning the MLS golden boot race. That method helped Chris Wondolowski go from a surprise breakout goalscorer in 2010 to earning his first senior callup the following January as he neared age 28. By the end of 2014 World Cup qualifying, he was a likely-but-not-guaranteed option in Jürgen Klinsmann’s roster for Brazil. Gomez was a regular starter that cycle, but suffered a knee injury in the run-up. Altidore was a lock, which left Wondolowski competing against the likes of Áron Johannsson, Terrence Boyd and Landon Donovan for roster spots.

“It’s weird because it’s a friendly rivalry, but you know these are your teammates and friends,” Wondolowski said. “I look at Jozy, and that’s a good friend of mine, but we were still competing for minutes and for positions and being able to do that. It’s definitely a weird thing because sometimes you get fixated on what the other person is doing. What’s Aron Johannsson doing? He scored that goal? Oh, now I better score this one. The hardest thing is to worry about yourself and try to bring the best out of yourself each day and each play, each minute. That’s not always the easiest thing to do.”

Of course, Wondolowski’s 2014 World Cup became impossibly tangled with a high profile miss that, five years later, he told The Athletic was “one of the biggest mistakes of my life.”

He had fared better in the 2014 MLS season than the year before, scoring 14 goals to top the previous season’s 11. However, the position’s obsessive focus on scoring goals can become a striker’s downfall if they can’t get out of their own way.

“I mean, it’s not do or die but I just remember trying to give every single thing I had, whether it was in camp, a league game or the 30 man a couple of weeks before (the final roster),” Wondolowski said. “It was a very trying time. I wish I could go back and just tell myself to relax. Just let it come to you. It will happen; the chances will come. Sometimes, especially as a striker when you press so much, that’s when it doesn’t happen. I think that sometimes that happens, but it’s never an easy thing and to try to just let it come to you.”

It’s a feeling that Gomez knows well, particularly given his experience in that 2010 moment before the final list went out.

“I literally felt like I had to be the best or among the best at everything we did,” Gomez said. “It’s an immense sense of pressure. You can do whatever mental exercise you want with psychologists, sports psychologists, mental health gurus, whatever you want, but it’s through action. It’s through putting the ball in the back of the net and not having to think about it, having it be instinctual. The moment you get inside your head as a forward, It’s over. You start doubting yourself and the moment you doubt yourself, you have no business being on the field.”

In many ways, there are two profiles of strikers who benefit from the home stretch before what’s often a career-defining tournament. The first category is the no-doubt inclusions: Altidore in past U.S. cycles, or generational greats like Robert Lewandowski and Luis Suarez, who each made moves to different clubs this summer without much worry over how it would impact their World Cup chances.

The second, as Gomez embodied, is the “house money” approach. As Buddle began the 2010 season in top form, he similarly tried to downplay the potential for inclusion on Bradley’s roster.

“At this point, for me to put my attention to that… kind of defeats the purpose of me being here with the Galaxy,” Buddle said a month before the East Hartford camp. “I want to focus on what I have been doing with the Galaxy. (The World Cup) is a long shot in my mind. But it’s definitely something that I would like to be a part of.”

Being a longshot sounds damning at the outset, but it can serve the lesser-heralded options in the pool well. To Gomez, one striker in contention for Qatar appears similarly poised to turn time out of the spotlight into a World Cup roster spot.

“Maybe Josh Sargent, because we only saw him in the opening (international) window,” Gomez said. “We saw him open the window against El Salvador and that was pretty much it. Since then, many didn’t have him on their list to make the World Cup; he was out of sight, out of mind. He was playing in the Premier League as a winger on a very bad team, and here we are now. He’s in the Championship and he’s lighting it up. He’s doing everything in his power and, right now, he’s just playing with nothing to lose. He was on nobody’s radar, he’s playing freely, he’s playing with a sense of enjoyment and he’s getting the most of it.”

Whether you’re unable to escape the pressure like Ferreira or blissfully proving doubters wrong like Sargent, it’s undeniable that making a World Cup roster would fulfill nearly any player’s lifelong dreams. The calculus for inclusion can seem a bit less rigid for midfielders and defenders, and even goalkeepers, at times.

In order to be a top striker, however, there needs to be a requisite obsession with scoring goals. When that obsession overlaps with meeting a career objective that is largely met or failed by someone else’s decision, it can be hard to escape the pressure. Whether or not that’ll aid whoever Berhalter calls in for the 2022 World Cup will be among the most important factors in how the U.S. fares in Group B and, hopefully, the knockout stages.

By Ed MackeyNov 2, 202222

After an unusually short nine-week Champions League group stage, we have learned which teams will be progressing to the knockouts.Those sides will find out their fate on Monday November 7 when the last-16 draw takes place at the European House of Football in Nyom, Switzerland.But it is not quite as simple as just drawing teams from pots. There are still a few rules, some more complex than others, which prevent certain teams from meeting. Here is the full lowdown on which teams each side could be drawn against.

The draw for the last-16 will take place at 11am GMT (12pm CET, 6am EST) on Monday, November 7.

The last-16 draw is the last of the competition that includes a couple of limitations and rules:

The 16 teams will be split into two pots; the eight group winners (seeded) and the eight runners-up (unseeded).
Clubs cannot be drawn against a team that was in their group or a team that is part of the same association/country.
Seeded teams will play the first leg away before playing the second leg at home.

Following the final Champions League gameweek, we know all 16 teams that will make up Monday’s draw.

Those teams already through are:

Napoli*
Liverpool
Porto*
Club Bruges
Bayern*
Inter Milan
Tottenham*
Eintracht Frankfurt
Chelsea*
AC Milan
Real Madrid*
Red Bull Leipzig
Manchester City*
Borussia Dortmund
Benfica*
PSG

*Confirmed as group winners and seeded in the draw

Graham Potter’s side secured top spot in Group E. As they can only draw non-English runners-up from other groups, that leaves a handful of clubs for them to be pitted against.

Club Bruges
Inter
Eintracht Frankfurt
RB Leipzig
Borussia Dortmund
PSG

The path to the quarter-final is potentially much tougher for the current FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders as they were unable to leapfrog Napoli at the top of Group A on Tuesday evening. Because the other three English clubs have finished top of their groups, Jurgen Klopp’s men have a limited list of potential next-round opponents.

Porto
Bayern
Real Madrid
Benfica

The Premier League champions made relatively light work of finishing top of Group G. That leaves them with a similar group of potential last-16 opponents to Chelsea.

Club Bruges
Inter
Eintracht Frankfurt
AC Milan
RB Leipzig
PSG

Antonio Conte watched from the stands at the Velodrome as his side secured top spot with a last-minute winner against Marseille. Because of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s goal, Tottenham’s quarter-final route is likely to be significantly easier than it would have been had they finished as runners-up.

Club Bruges
Inter
AC Milan
RB Leipzig
Borussia Dortmund
PSG

The current holders of the Champions League are the only Spanish team to have progressed from the group stage and they secured top spot with an emphatic win against Celtic in gameweek six. Here are their potential last-16 opponents.

Liverpool
Club Bruges
Inter
Eintracht Frankfurt
Milan
Borussia Dortmund
PSG

There are four German teams and three Italian teams who have booked safe passage into the knockout stage. They cannot be drawn against clubs from the same league but do still have plenty of options.

The German champions are the only club to have won each of their Champions League group stage fixtures and, as they are every year, are a real threat to any club they are pitted against. Having finished top of Group C, here are their potential last-16 opponents.

Liverpool
Club Bruges
AC Milan
Real Madrid
PSG

Edin Terzic’s side confirmed their place as runners-up in Group G behind Manchester City. This is the list of teams they could face in the last 16.

Napoli
Porto
Tottenham
Chelsea
Real Madrid
Benfica

The Europa League holders came from behind against Sporting to book their place in the last 16 and, had it not been for Tottenham’s late winner, they would have progressed as group winners. However, they had to settle for second place so they will face one of the winners of the other groups.

Napoli
Porto
Chelsea
Real Madrid
Manchester City
Benfica

Having beaten Barcelona to second place in Group C, the Serie A giants face the prospect of a group winner in the last 16.

Porto
Tottenham
Chelsea
Real Madrid
Manchester City
Benfica

Having stunned much of Europe with their start to the 2022-23 campaign, Luciano Spalletti’s side progressed to the last-16 as winners of Group A ahead of Liverpool. Their potential opponents are as follows.

Club Bruges
Eintracht Frankfurt
RB Leipzig
Borussia Dortmund
PSG

The French champions were left frustrated in Group H as Benfica’s 6-1 win against Maccabi Haifa knocked them out of top spot in stoppage time. That means they will face a group winner in the last 16.

Napoli
Porto
Bayern
Tottenham
Chelsea
Real Madrid
Manchester City

Having topped the group ahead of PSG, here is how Benfica’s potential last-16 opponents look.

Liverpool
Club Bruges
Inter
Eintracht Frankfurt
AC Milan
RB Leipzig
Borussia Dortmund

The Belgian underdogs were unable to hold onto their place as Group B leaders on Tuesday evening but they will still be playing Champions League knockout football in the new year. They will be handed a tough task however the draw shapes up as they will be face one of the group winners.

Napoli
Bayern
Tottenham
Chelsea
Real Madrid
Manchester City
Benfica

Sergio Conceicao’s side pipped Club Brugge to top spot and, in turn, will be assigned an easier last-16 opponent. Here are the teams that could be drawn against them.

Liverpool
Inter
Eintracht Frankfurt
AC Milan
RB Leipzig
Borussia Dortmund
PSG

The first legs will be played across four dates in February: 14, 15, 21 and 22, while the four dates for the second legs fall on March 7, 8, 14 and 15.

Seeded group winners will play away in the round of 16 first legs and are at home in the return matches.

Round of 16 first legs: February 14/15/21/22
Round of 16 second legs: March 7/8/14/15
Quarter-final and semi-final draw: March 17, 2023
Quarter-finals: April 11/12 & 18/19, 2023
Semi-finals: May 9/10 & 16/17, 2023
Final: June 10, 2023 (Istanbul)

Oct 31, 2022 ESPNCFC Jeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan, the Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Pugh and NWSL MVP Sophia Smith of the Portland Thorns headline United States national team 24-player roster for a pair of friendlies against Germany next month.Morgan, who missed last month’s European tour alongside Pugh, has 198 international caps and is on the verge of becoming just the 13th player in USWNT history to amass 200 caps.The U.S. is looking to rebound from defeats against Spain and England earlier this month, with its first opportunity to do so when the team hosts Germany in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on Nov. 10, and then again in Harrison, N.J., three days later — the last two matches of 2022 for the top-ranked U.S. side.”These are the kinds of games that help our World Cup preparation in many ways and these 180 minutes to end our schedule this year are going to be extremely valuable for the players and coaches,” U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski said.”It will be good to get some players back on the roster and we’re all expecting these games to be very competitive and entertaining for fans.”Kansas City Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch also returns for her first call-up since October 2021, as does San Diego Wave attacker Taylor Kornieck.The roster includes three NWSL end-of-season award winners in Golden Boot winner Morgan, MVP Smith and Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year Naomi Girma. Smith also won the MVP of the NWSL Championship Game after scoring to help lead the Thorns to their third NWSL title.Germany, which is ranked No. 3 in the world, reached the final of the 2022 Women’s Euro, falling to a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England. November’s meeting will be the USWNT’s first clash with Germany since a narrow victory at the SheBelives Cup in 2018.

Earlier this month, the U.S. learned its group opponents and path through the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The U.S. was drawn into Group E where it will face Vietnam, Netherlands and the Group A Playoff Winner. Germany was drawn into Group H where it will face Morocco, Colombia and Korea Republic.

Goalkeepers: Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars).

October 31, 2022 3:51 pm ET

The U.S. women’s national team is currently dealing with a lot of injuries.Some are long term and others are more minor, but many of the USWNT’s most important players over the past several years are presently sidelined.On Monday after announcing his roster for November friendlies against Germany, USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski offered updates on no less than 10 players who are currently out: eight who are injured and two coming back after giving birth.Here is a list of the players Andonovski spoke about on a conference call.

Macario is working her way back from a torn ACL suffered in June.

Andonovski said the attacker “has been recovering very well” but also cautioned: “It’s hard for her to predict exactly when she’s going to be back.”

“If she doesn’t have any setbacks, we can see Cat back on the field in late February,” Andonovski added.

Ertz hasn’t played for the USWNT since the Olympics in 2021, and gave birth to her son Madden this August.

“She’s enjoying motherhood, she’s very happy and doing a great job at it,” Andonovski said. “Now we want to give Julie time to get back slowly. [Returning to the USWNT] is not something that we want even to discuss. This is a time for Julie to enjoy her time with her family and when the time comes, if she’s prepared and she’s anywhere near her best, I know this team will welcome her back.”

Dahlkemper has been struggling with a back injury that limited her to just eight games with the San Diego Wave this season.

Andovovski said the defender is set to go under the knife.

“She’s going to have a surgery,” the coach said. “She’s gone through some tough times unfortunately with three consecutive injuries. We’re just hoping that everything goes well once she has the surgery.”

Davidson looks to be on track to return soon after tearing her ACL in March.

“Tierna is looking really good,” Andonovski said. “She’s actually started training a little bit and we expect her to be [ready] in full by the middle of November and then obviously she will be available for the January roster.”

Krueger is working her way back after giving birth in July.

“She’s doing really good,” Andonovski said. “She actually did some training with the Chicago Red Stars before they got eliminated [from the playoffs], and she is in training with a group of players from Chicago even after the season. Looking forward to see her in camp as well.”

Sonnett hasn’t played since June after picking up a foot injury with the USWNT in the CONCACAF W Championship.

“Sonnett is recovering well,” Andonovski said. “She just started a little ball work and we expect her to be available for selection in January.”

O’Hara sounds like she is getting close to a return from a lingering hip injury that has seen her sidelined since August.

“Kelley is recovering well and doing some PT, and will also be expected to be back for January,” Andonovski said of the right back.

Mewis missed the entirely of the 2022 season with a lingering knee issue, which still seems to be troubling her.

“Sam is going to take a little bit longer and right now we’re just giving her a little bit of time to see how she’s going to approach her PT,” Andonovski said of the midfielder.

Like Mewis, Williams missed all of the 2022 season for the Kansas City Current.

Williams is almost back from a serious hip and hamstring injury, though Andonovski said she did experience a small setback.

“Lynn Williams is training in full,” Andonovski said. “She just had a little setback but we expect her to be back and available for selection in January.”

Press suffered a torn ACL in June. Andonovski said after a setback, she is likely to be working around the same timeline as Macario.

“Christen had just a slight setback but she’ll be probably in line, or just a little bit behind Cat,” the coach said.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 01: Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur goes down with an injury during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Olympique Marseille and Tottenham Hotspur at Orange Velodrome on November 01, 2022 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

By Anthony HayNov 2, 2022

A leading brain injury charity has questioned football’s reluctance to introduce concussion substitutes following Tuesday night’s incidents involving Son Heung-min and James Milner.Tottenham Hotspur forward Son was forced off against Champions League opponents Marseille in the 30th minute after a collision with defender Chancel Mbemba.Liverpool’s Milner had to be substituted early in the second half of his side’s win over Napoli after being involved in a clash of heads in the first half.Milner carried on playing after receiving medical treatment but then went down off the ball within the opening minute of the second half.Both players were taken off as regular substitutes as there are currently no concussion substitutes in any UEFA competitions, unlike the Premier League.Luke Griggs, interim chief executive of brain injury charity Headway, said: “The assessment of players for potential concussion remains extremely challenging for medics.“They are not helped by football’s continued and unjustifiable reluctance to introduce temporary concussion substitutes that would enable extended assessments in the quiet confines of a dressing room, away from the intense atmosphere of the pitch.“We have repeatedly warned football of the risk it is taking with the short and long-term health of players. This should be a concern not only for elite-level players who are being allowed to return to the field of play potentially concussed, but we should all be concerned by the impact this is having on grassroots and youth players who follow examples they see on their screens.

Why Martinez incident has led to calls for concussion rules to change

“’If in doubt, sit it out!’ is supposedly at the heart of concussion protocols in all sports. And yet too often we see teams fail to take that approach. Instead, the approach seems to be ‘let’s see how they get on for the next 15 minutes’, during which time they risk exacerbating the effect of the initial injury.“Football’s stubbornness to accept the clear evidence that has emerged in recent years can no longer be tolerated.“We need the introduction of temporary concussion subs in all competitions but more importantly we need to see a change in attitude from IFAB, UEFA, FIFA when it comes to brain injury in football.”UEFA trialled concussion substitutes at the 2021 European Under-21 Championship finals in Hungary and Slovenia. They also planned on using it for the under-17 and under-19 finals in 2020-21, but the tournaments were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.Concussion replacements are currently an option in the Premier League and the WSL. It was also trialled at the Club World Cup in Qatar last year.

LISBON, PORTUGAL - OCTOBER 05: Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the UEFA Champions League group H match between SL Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on October 05, 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

The Athletic Soccer staffNov 1, 2022

After David Beckham and his Inter Miami partners were awarded MLS’ 25th franchise in late January 2018, the man who revolutionized the league as a player for LA Galaxy shared a video message from Lionel Messi on his Instagram account. “Who knows, maybe in a few years you will give me a call,” Messi concluded after congratulating Beckham on the new project. As The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported on Monday, that call eventually came, and Inter Miami is now confident in Messi’s eventual arrival. Four-year-old social media posts aside, the potential for Messi to move to Miami has only increased with time. In 2020, he told Spanish network La Sexta, “I would like to play in the United States one day, it’s always been one of my dreams.” Messi and his family have made numerous visits to the Miami area, last year staying in nearby Key Biscayne. The appeal of South Florida to someone like Messi is clear: the sun, the lifestyle, the lack of a state income tax in Florida, perhaps slightly less scrutiny than he’s faced in Europe and his native Argentina, plus the presence of large, Spanish-speaking South American communities.

And as much as Messi likes the area, Inter Miami has long been just as interested in him. In June 2021, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas told The Athletic, “It’s not out of the question that Lionel Messi will wear an Inter Miami uniform at some point in time. David and I are working very hard at making something like that happen, which I think is not only transformational for Miami, but I think for the league. That will propel a very important discussion among us and the league because I think we have to do everything in our power to facilitate Lionel Messi coming to Miami and coming to the MLS. I will push as hard as I can, personally, in making that happen.”Messi’s current contract with PSG is set to expire at the end of the 2022-23 season, so the soonest he could arrive in Miami is the summer of 2023, likely after taking some time to rest and recover following a long season that includes the unusual interruption of this month’s World Cup. It would mean jumping into MLS in the middle of its season, which Beckham did with LA Galaxy in the summer of 2007 and Gareth Bale did with LAFC this year. But regardless of when it comes, Messi’s arrival in the US would be the latest in what has been a trend of transformational footballers advancing American soccer with their presence, starting with Pele in the 1970s and continuing with Beckham in the 2000s.No single player in the history of American men’s soccer has had as seismic an effect on the trajectory of the game in this country as Pele. The Brazilian legend famously joined the New York Cosmos of the nascent North American Soccer League in 1975. The Cosmos, backed by the corporate might of media empire Warner Communications, were seeking to do what no other soccer club in American history has ever done: make soccer truly, deeply relevant in this country. For a brief time, it appeared as though they might succeed.

Pele acknowledges the crowd in Giants Stadium (Photo: George Tiedemann /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Pele’s mere presence with the Cosmos certainly had some short-term benefits: the club’s average home attendance increased from around 3,500 fans in 1975 to around 45,000 by the time of his departure after the 1977 season. Three times, the Cosmos drew over 70,000 fans to watch Pele at Giants Stadium, an unheard of feat in that era. Away matches featuring the Cosmos became featured attractions; his presence attracted other giants of the game to the NASL — George Best, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and more. What Pele could not do, however, was save the NASL. His outsized impact on the Cosmos inspired an upward trend in spending that would eventually contribute to the demise of the league in 1984. Pele’s impact, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was generational. In the 1970s, when Cosmos president Clive Toye approached the Brazilian in an attempt to lure him to the States, he made a fairly simple pitch — you’ve won many games and many trophies. In the United States, you have a chance to win an entire country over and be a soccer missionary.In a way, it worked. Though the NASL collapsed, the kids who watched Pele during his three-year stay in the United States became the US’s first great generation of soccer players, the pioneers who qualified for the 1990 World Cup and featured four years later in the 1994 edition of the tournament on home soil. From the wreckage of the NASL, the founders of Major League Soccer — some of whom had also owned NASL clubs — learned their own lessons. They chose a more reasonable path of financial prudence, one that has kept the league alive for nearly twice as long as the NASL ever existed. So when Beckham arrived in MLS in 2007, the league was better equipped to make the most of their new global superstar than the NASL ever was. That season, the league had 13 teams, just three more than its inaugural season in 1996 — including newcomers Toronto FC, who paid a $10million (£8.7m) expansion fee to join MLS — and an average league-wide attendance of 16,770 (over three million in total). In 2022, MLS has 28 teams — including newcomers Charlotte FC, who paid a $325million expansion fee to join the league — and a league-wide average attendance of 21,033 (more than 10 million total). Next season, a 29th club, St. Louis City SC, will join the league. That supercharged growth is largely thanks to Beckham. “Without doubt, MLS has more global awareness than at any other time in our history and has more legitimacy in the United States because of David,” MLS commissioner Don Garber told the New York Times in November 2007. “Every measure of our business has grown because of him. We have sold more than 300,000 Beckham Los Angeles Galaxy jerseys, which was 700 times the number of Galaxy jerseys sold in 2006. Merchandise sales overall have gone up two or three times. International TV sales have gone up from next to nothing to distribution in 100 countries, with live games in Asia and Mexico.”Messi’s presence in MLS would have a similar effect on league-wide attendance, international exposure, merchandise sales and in attracting other talented players as Pele and Beckham before him, even though he is joining a league that’s in a stronger position than either of his predecessors. It is difficult to imagine that any MLS stadium would not be full to watch a man that many peg as the greatest player in the history of the game. If anything, MLS’ soccer-specific stadiums, many of which hold 18,000 to 30,000 people, might not be big enough to maximize gate revenue when Messi comes to town, given that crowds of 60,000 to 80,000 turned out to see Messi on a Barcelona pre-season tour in 2017.

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring at Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium in 2017 (Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

The economic impact Messi would have on Inter Miami alone is its own story. If the numbers PSG have reported since Messi’s arrival in Paris are any indication, Inter Miami will become among the most popular brands in American sports. According to a report from Marca, PSG generated €700million in revenue over the course of one year after his arrival. The report cites an investigation by Argentine outlet El Economista, which reported that since Messi joined the club, PSG had added 10 new sponsorship deals ranging from €3m to €8m each. Image rights and match day sales also skyrocketed, as has demand for Messi’s No 30 PSG shirt. In July, Diario Ole in Argentina revealed that only Real Madrid had sold more shirts than PSG since Messi’s arrival in France, with 60 per cent of PSG shirts sold being Messi’s. On social media, PSG has seen its following increase astronomically. PSG gained 5.6 million followers the week after announcing Messi’s signing and have since added 15 million new followers across its social media platforms. PSG also became the most followed French company on Instagram. Messi’s personal Instagram following of 370 million dwarfs LeBron James’ 137 million and Tom Brady’s 12.8 million. “He is the most impactful player on the planet. Moving to any MLS club would fundamentally change the fabric of the league,” AJ Swoboda, managing director for the Americas at sports consultancy Twenty First Group, told The Athletic’s Matt Slater last year.

Messi is a marketer’s dream. Not only would he significantly alter the brand equity of both Inter Miami and MLS, but he would also boost his personal interests, as well. Particularly as North America prepares to host the 2026 World Cup and more money than ever before is poured into the game by businesses operating in the US. The group that put together North America’s 2026 hosting bid projects the newly expanded, 48-team event will make $14 billion in revenue for FIFA — a massive increase on the $235 million in rebuke generated by the last World Cup hosted in the US in 1994.By establishing a more substantial presence in the US, Messi would become an even greater focus for sponsorship dollars. He could even follow in Beckham’s footsteps further by owning an MLS club himself one day — perhaps one in Las Vegas.

And the timing of his potential arrival could be perfect for the league.

2023 will mark the beginning of what the league is billing as a groundbreaking 10-year deal in which Apple will show every MLS match on its Apple TV streaming service.

While we don’t yet know exactly what the broadcasts will look like, we do know that the foundation of the $2.5billion agreement rests on Apple selling subscriptions. Apple will make slightly more than 40 per cent of its MLS inventory available for free to anyone with an internet connection next year, but the remaining nearly 60 per cent of MLS games will only be available on the to-be-named MLS subscription service that will live within Apple TV. The exact price of that channel has not yet been announced, but revenue from it is how Apple will make back its average annual payout of $250million to MLS.

MLS has long had poor viewership for its nationally broadcast matches, a trend that continued in 2022. According to Sports Business Journal, average MLS regular season viewership fell six per cent on the Fox family of networks to 198,000 per game this year. Spanish-language telecasts on the Univision networks dipped 14 per cent to 244,0000 from 2021. Average viewership for MLS matches on ESPN’s English-language networks grew by 12 per cent, but that figure was driven by a doubling of the number of matches shown on the ABC broadcast network. The average viewership for matches on ABC actually went down by seven per cent to 469,000 this season, while average viewership on ESPN fell two per cent to 252,000 in 2022.

That’s a small potential domestic audience for Apple, though it should be noted that the company will be selling MLS subscriptions all over the world, not just in the US.

When one accounts for the fact that every MLS season ticket account will get one free subscription to Apple’s MLS streaming service in 2023, and for the idea that the league is looking to simulcast select matches on linear TV in the US and Canada, that slice of potential subscribers gets even smaller.

Given all that, it’s clear that MLS and Apple could use a bit of a boost to help sell subscriptions in 2023. Messi would provide that and then some. No matter where he’s playing, his matches are appointment viewing for a significant subset of global soccer fans. Not all of them would buy the MLS subscription service within Apple TV, of course, but some surely would. Others who may be on the fence about purchasing the MLS package in Apple TV could be pushed to buy it should Inter Miami sign Messi.

Would that alone result in millions of new subscribers? That seems very unlikely. But it’d no doubt get a decent amount through the door.

And then there are on-field matters. To put it lightly, Inter Miami won’t have the supporting cast that Messi enjoys with his national team or PSG, or anything like the assembly line of quality young players he elevated at Barcelona. In fact, following the imposed sanctions for breaking the league’s budget rules and assessments that Inter Miami “launched a brand, not a team,” Miami remains a mid-table MLS side at best, despite qualifying for the 2022 playoffs.

Would Lionel Messi be happy to work under Phil Neville? (Photo: Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)

Who would coach Messi in Miami is another interesting storyline. Phil Neville has led the quick turnaround on the pitch, but is he the type of coach who would appeal to Messi? Current Paraguay national team coach and former Galaxy boss Guillermo Barros Schelotto, a Messi family friend, set a unique set of parameters that an MLS side would have to meet in order to lure the Argentine to the league.

“(In MLS) I’d expect him to play for one of the teams in Los Angeles, Miami or on a team with an Argentine influence — someone who can work closely with him, whether that’s a coach or an executive,” Barros Schelotto told The Athletic last summer, before Messi signed with PSG.

Neville’s contract expires at the end of this year, but Inter Miami is expected to re-sign the former Manchester United, Everton and England defender. From a squad construction perspective, Inter Miami has the available designated player spots to add Messi. Thanks to Gonzalo Higuain’s recent retirement, Miami could add Messi and still have an available DP spot to add another star signing. Currently, Miami’s other DP is midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo.

So does Messi make Miami instant MLS Cup favorites?

Vegas will likely say so, but the realistic answer is no.

Those sanctions against Inter Miami extend into 2023, leaving the club hamstrung to retool the squad in certain ways. That, more than anything else, will likely keep them from being MLS Cup favorites until 2024 at the soonest. Miami finished sixth in the Eastern Conference in 2022, good for 11th in the broader MLS table.

“But it’s Messi!” some will say. However, history has shown that one individual alone can’t conquer MLS like an NBA superstar might.

Take Beckham as an example. He joined LA Galaxy at a time when an MLS team’s best path to contention was to build through the American college soccer system. He had a worthy attacking ace in Landon Donovan at the height of his powers — and he still didn’t win the MLS Cup until his fifth season with the team. Thierry Henry joined a perennial contender in the New York Red Bulls and didn’t even make it to the MLS Cup final. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was irresistibly prolific in front of goal during his two seasons with the Galaxy, but MLS remains the only league in which he’s played without winning a major trophy.

The best comparison to Messi joining Miami in the summer window would be one from the most recent regular season. Toronto FC made Lorenzo Insigne the highest-paid player in league history when he left Napoli to collect $14million per season. The Euro 2020-winning winger was joined by Italy team-mate Federico Bernardeschi and former international left-back Domenico Criscito, but after starting the season so poorly before the Italian cavalry arrived, Bob Bradley’s side finished as the league’s second-worst in 2022.

Like Insigne and Bernardeschi found in Toronto, being a high-level MLS attacker doesn’t fix most teams’ fatal flaws. The league is known for a poorer standard of defending than the quality of midfield and attacking play. Miami allowed 56 goals this year — tied for the most among postseason qualifiers and a total eclipsed by only five teams league-wide. You don’t need a Wyscout subscription to know that Messi isn’t going to help with pressing from the front, and if anything, his presence will put even more pressure on the team-mates behind him to fortify in the middle and defensive thirds. He will likely score a lot of goals in MLS, even aged 36, as he currently has 12 in 17 appearances across all competitions with PSG, but Miami will likely be conceding a lot of goals, too.

Simply having the best player in the league isn’t a guarantee of success on the pitch. In fact, only two of the last 14 MVP winners played for the eventual MLS Cup winner (Robbie Keane of LA Galaxy in 2014, Josef Martinez of Atlanta United in 2018). Messi will instantly make Miami appointment viewing, fill the club and league’s coffers and influence a new generation of American fans and players, but don’t think his presence alone will turn Miami into an MLS Cup winner.

Sam Stejskal, Pablo Maurer, Jeff Rueter, Felipe Cardenas and Brooks Peck contributed to this piece.

On August 23, 1997, Uriah Rennie became the first black man to referee a Premier League match. Rennie, who made his bow overseeing a game between Leeds United and Crystal Palace, had a career that lasted 11 seasons and more than 170 games, until his final game on May 11, 2008, where he officiated a 2-0 victory for Liverpool over Tottenham. Rennie’s final appearance remains the last time a black man was the lead match official in a Premier League fixture.Rennie was a trailblazer in English football but his status as the first and last black referee in Premier League football is a source of debate. Why have there been no black referees in the English top flight for 14 years?“The first thing that I should acknowledge is I don’t think it’s good enough, for a game that is as colourful and as seemingly diverse as it is currently, that there has been one notable black referee in the middle,” says Ashley Hickson-Lovence, a former semi-professional referee and author of Your Show, a novel written in collaboration with Rennie, fictionalising the match official’s life story.There were no non-white referees in the Championship or Premier League across the 2021-22 season, and out of the 200 referees that officiate in the top seven leagues in England, only four (two per cent) are black or Asian: Sam Allison, Joel Mannix, Aji Ajibola and Sunny Gill.

Sam Allison before a League Two match between Crawley Town and Port Vale in 2020 (Photo: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

“There have been issues in the past with the systems in place to get referees of colour — but also referees of certain marginalised communities — through the system because of the quite subjective observation and assessment system that you need to get promoted,” explains Hickson-Lovence.“Referees are always going to make mistakes. You can’t get everything right. When you are a referee of colour, you will stand out even more and I feel that’s been to the detriment of many very talented semi-professional referees who are trying to climb that ladder.”One person who helps semi-professional referees trying to rise through the ranks is Russell Hoyte, who works within the Lancashire & Cheshire Amateur Football League.Hoyte came into his refereeing career in his late thirties, taking a free course with the Cheshire FA with 16 other players from his local league as part of a three-weekend programme. Several years later, Hoyte combines many roles for the Cheshire FA, serving as a referee, referee coordinator, and referee secretary. On an average week, he is responsible for 70 people, checking if they are available to referee a game of football. Hoyte says there are “four or five” non-white referees in the leagues he is responsible for (and no women of colour), and has a straightforward view on how to assign the right match official to a fixture.“At a certain grassroots level,” says Hoyte, “the steps beyond a grassroots level are dependent on several circumstances: 1) is that person able to move above that standard? 2) Are the reports coming in about that person of a positive nature? If they’re not, why aren’t they of a positive nature?

“I’m sure, yes, there will have been circumstances where an individual’s colour has mattered, an individual’s sex has mattered, but in general, I would say it has been totally dependent on the abilities of the individual to officiate the game. You see where Ashley and I come from (in the football pyramid) and you go right to the top of the pyramid in this country, and there are not enough officials of colour. You have to look at why that is.“Right at the bottom, there are not enough officials of colour at the bottom, and that’s a problem. If there’s more at the bottom level, by a natural process, they will push up and progress.”

Uriah Rennie, Premier League Rennie books Fernando Torres during a Premier League game between Manchester City and Liverpool in 2007 (Photo: Mike Egerton – PA Images via Getty Images)

The “bottom level” that Hoyte describes comprises the majority of referees in the country. Figures taken last year saw the Football Association estimate that of the 24,500 active referees in England, 2,000 of those match officials identify themselves as being from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds. The majority of these officials are seen at amateur to semi-professional level, fficiating Sunday league games.For several years, Hickson-Lovence was one of those referees, officiating games at Hackney Marshes in east London. Hickson-Lovence came to refereeing aged 16, taking care of adult fixtures in 2007. He spent several years officiating Sunday league games but explains that, in 2010, referees from minority backgrounds were discouraged from progressing further up the pyramid, a sentiment shared by The Black, Asian and Mixed heritage Ethnicity Referee Support Group.In English football, referees are categorised into 13 levels: Levels 10 to 3, 2b and 2a cover everything from amateur to semi-professional and National League level. A further four elite criteria — Level 1, Select Group 2, Select Group and FIFA List/International — cover the Football League up to the Premier League and beyond.Promotion to Level 4 — where one can be refereeing a senior amateur league game at the county level, or be an assistant referee at semi-professional (or contributory) league level — is described as one of the more difficult progressions, requiring one to have high marks in referee assessments across a full season where they have refereed a minimum of 20 matches and served as an assistant referee for five matches. On top of that, the FA require a mandatory fitness test and only a fixed number of referees can be promoted to Level 4 each season, depending on referees who are promoted to Level 3, demoted to Level 5, or retire or leave the game.

The jump from Level 5 to Level 4 is, essentially, the jump from refereeing as a hobby to a realistic future profession. Hoyte, who prefers to be the man in the middle over being an assistant referee, has chosen to stay at Level 5. Though he was initially hesitant to apply for promotion to Level 4, Hickson-Lovence did referee at that level for five years.“As much as I enjoyed the process, I did have some dodgy observations,” he says. “Observations from FA observers who I felt weren’t judging me purely on my refereeing abilities.“They were judging me on a number of factors. Those factors are not necessarily just race. The fact I was a London FA referee. The London FA didn’t have a good reputation for referees climbing the ladder. Even now, look at the top level and the south of England is harder (to break through from). (Although) Surrey FA has a decent reputation.“I had a Fresh Prince-esque high top (haircut). Observers would comment on my hair. I had an earring that I would always take out and they would comment on my earrings. For many, I wasn’t in the mould of a traditional, conventional referee that could make it to the top. Sometimes that gets to you.“I would have a good game, 22 handshakes at the end of the game, but the observer would have an issue with something and I didn’t think that was fair. I don’t think that’s a purely subjective experience. I’ve had friends — very good referees — who have been unfairly criticised because of the subjective observations and weighting criteria for them to get promoted.”

Referee, Sam Allison Sam Allison became only the second black referee in EFL history – behind Rennie – in the 2020-21 season (Photo: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Difficulties at Level 4 led Hickson-Lovence to leave officiating after a decade.“I will go back to a match where I feel I had a really great game,” he says. “I had been five years as a semi-pro referee at this time. I had a really good game but I missed one yellow card in 90 minutes — it’s always good to recognise your own mistakes.

“Twenty-two handshakes, the assistant was pleased, fans were pleased. You know when it’s a bit awkward and the home team loses, and you’ve got to go into the boardroom, but they were all in good spirit — and then the observations in the assessment were very unfair. And it was at that moment I decided, ‘That’s it, I’ve had enough. It’s not my refereeing ability. It’s something else’.”Despite walking away from officiating, Hickson-Lovence continues to be a referee observer himself.“I’m on the other side and thankfully, the systems have changed for the better and we have necessary bias training,” he adds. “A lot of those issues I experienced going up through the system have been eradicated and it wasn’t pleasant.“For five years, I wanted to be a Premier League referee because my hero, Uriah Rennie, was a Premier League referee, but as time went on, I thought, ‘That’s not going to happen. I don’t fit the mould’. It was demoralising at times, I have to say, but I do think it’s changing. I mean that sincerely. There are great people doing great things now.”This February, the Premier League launched the Elite Referee Development Plan in the hopes of improving the standard and diversity of referees in the country. The scheme has been worked on alongside the FA, EFL and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The FA has also set a target of 2024 to “grow the pipeline of a high-performing refereeing workforce across both grassroots and elite football, which is representative of females, black, Asian, mixed or other ethnic groups, and disabled people”.Any such pipeline will need to consider the economic difficulties that need to be overcome to make it as a referee.“At the bottom level, once they’ve passed their exams, they have to then go out and buy a shirt, a pair of shorts,” says Hoyte. “You also need flags, a watch, a pair of football boots — normally black at the moment, so you don’t stand out and look like you’re a showcase pony. A tracksuit to keep yourself warm, a bag to carry stuff.“You can do referee courses, ranging from £100 to £150 depending on which postcode you happen to live in and which FA you do your course with. Before you’ve handed in your money, done the course, you have to get the equipment to be able to get about on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning.”

Ashley Hickson-Lovence, centre, pictured during his refereeing days (Photo: Canvey Island FC)

Hoyte estimates a person can spend “anything from £250 to £400” before they can even begin to start a refereeing career, and further promotion up the levels would see a person purchasing additional equipment, including buzzer flags and body cameras. While a referee would recoup some costs through part of the match subscription fees many Sunday league teams pay each week, it is a fine economic line that sees many decide against pursuing it as an occupation.

“You don’t want to do too many games to earn that money back,” adds Hickson-Lovence. “Your body needs rest between games. You can do three games on a Sunday but you’ll be knackered, and you’ll make mistakes. It’s probably disproportionately more expensive for black people but generally, people in lower socioeconomic backgrounds, working-class people, we could do better to get them into refereeing.”

A difficult job with unclear progression and varying pay is made even more challenging by the abuse that match officials suffer up and down the pyramid.

“I referee to the best of my ability,” says Hoyte, speaking with a veteran’s experience. “I’d rather just go, drive in my car, get there, do my game. If they want to pay me there and then, great. If I don’t get paid, then I’m not bothered. I drive home and get on with my life. That’s the easiest way for me to handle any situation I’m dealing with in terms of being a referee.

“It’s glorified playground football and the higher you get, it’s more glorified playground football. Yes, some of them are very lucky to be paid to do it. But it’s no different than when I played the game in my schoolyard 30 or 40 years ago. The rules are the same and it’s how people want to behave themselves that’s the problem.”

So why be a referee at all, no matter your skin colour? Hoyte and Hickson-Lovence describe refereeing as something that might appear thankless and not worth the stress to the outsider, yet nourishing to those who don the black shirt and blow the whistle.“I would not be the person I am today — confident; I’m never fazed by anything — without being a referee at Hackney Marshes. I owe refereeing everything,” says Hickson-Lovence, who has been involved in refereeing since he was 17.“Yes, there’s been some real concerning elements to it, however, the positives far outweigh the negatives. In relation to specific comments about me and my skin colour, I’ve never actually encountered any explicit overt racism at all in my various roles within refereeing circles. The only occasion that I did hear something I shouldn’t have was when I was 17 and I refereed a vets game, and someone was calling someone on his team something they shouldn’t.“It’s been really positive, but I can’t escape those micro-aggressive, reading-between-the-lines, inferring things that have occurred.”The next step for Hoyte is to create more opportunities in the game for those interested. From all walks of life.“Could you have done a good job at a higher level?” Hoyte asks Hickson-Lovence. “We can’t say whether he would have done a great job and been the best Premier League match official going because he never got the opportunity to do so.“I’m lucky. I’m in an area where there were a number of top-quality match officials who reached the top of their profession in this country. Anthony Taylor is from Cheshire. Chris Kavanagh. David Coote — not from Manchester but was Manchester FA referee development officer. There are others in the area who have gone through the systems in their local area, whether it be this particular area, and have been able to progress. I would like to see more.”In the present day, Rennie now contributes to Sheffield FA as a referee observer. The “next Rennie” may not yet be in immediate sight but many remain hopeful for the future.“We need to be there, giving people the opportunity to do so,” says Hoyte. “It’s like Ashley was saying before; I’m doing it because I love football. Yes, I could go and do a vets game of football. It’s probably been four or five years since I last kicked a football in anger. It doesn’t interest me. I’ve played too many games. I enjoy refereeing and I enjoy co-ordinating it.“I don’t want to have referees who just referee at the level I got to. I want them to go beyond what I was doing. If they’re seeing me and my level, and that’s their ultimate goal, that’s fine, but I don’t want that. I want to find somebody who passes me by very quickly. I see them for one week and the week after, you can’t use that person because they’re too good.”

Tom Kludt Tue, November 1, 2022 at 1:00 AM·8 min read

Ray Hudson will always be a Geordie, but America claimed his heart long ago.

As a kid growing up in Tyneside, Hudson, was drawn to the pop culture of the United States, its movies and television. He loved Motown, but he also loved listening to his father, who worked for Ford Motor Company, share stories about Michigan and the Great Lakes region.“I was in love with America before I even came to the United States,” Hudson said. “It was otherworldly. It wasn’t just a skip across the ocean like it is now. It was a different world. It was the Emerald City, where you wanted to be.”Hudson’s maiden voyage came in 1977, when a scout approached him with an offer to join the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League on loan from his hometown Newcastle United.

“I had never heard of Fort Lauderdale,” Hudson said. “The scout says, ‘It’s just outside of Miami.’ I says, ‘OK, that’s good. I like that.’”Arriving in the country for the first time at the age of 22, Hudson was immediately smitten by the Florida sunshine. He was also swept up in the excitement surrounding a league that had hit its apex in the late 1970s. Hudson joined a squad anchored by Gordon Banks in goal. In Hudson’s first season in Fort Lauderdale, the Strikers lost in the playoffs to a Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer-led New York Cosmos side in front of more than 77,000 fans at Giants Stadium.The loan spell turned permanent. Hudson played another six seasons for the Strikers in the NASL, and spent the better portion of his playing career in the United States. Fort Lauderdale has been his home ever since.“I had no desire to go back to Newcastle,” Hudson said. “It was just completely seductive here in every way – the lifestyle, the wonderful competition on the field. It was the most incredible time in my life.”It was the start of a life steeped in soccer, with Hudson playing first-hand witness to a number of inflection points in the sport’s evolution in the US. After playing in the NASL during the peak of its popularity, Hudson later held a pair of coaching positions in what was a still-fledgling MLS, first with the now-defunct Miami Fusion and then with DC United.“This is a different landscape than anywhere else in the world because America has its own wonderful, massively popular games,” he said. “But every rung of the ladder in soccer is only going one way. It’s not going down.”It was the job he took after his managerial stints that turned him into a seminal figure in the American soccer scene.After parting ways with DC in late 2003, Hudson was approached about taking a job as a commentator for GolTV, a Florida-based broadcaster that had just acquired the U.S. broadcasting rights to La Liga. Hudson was known for his gift of gab. He dabbled in commentary for ESPN’s coverage of the 2002 World Cup, and earned a reputation for his colorful post-match interviews as a coach in Miami and DC, but few were prepared for what the self-described “verbal gymnast” brought to the broadcast booth.A match called by Hudson is a cascade of metaphors, analogies and pop culture references, punctuated by frequent audible gasps and 10-dollar words. In Hudson’s telling, a goal is never merely “beautiful”; it is “sweeter than a mother’s kiss at bed time,” “cool as Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock,” or – the ultimate Hudson-ism – ”magisterial”.“Where does that come from?” said Roger Bennett, founder of the Men In Blazers Media Network. “Is it Ray, speaking in tongues, or the footballing gods speaking through him as some kind of commentating prophet?”Hudson credits his verbal prowess not to divine intervention, but to an English teacher he had as a kid back in England. “She would always tell the class, ‘Don’t be afraid of the English language, children. It won’t break. You have to stretch it,’” he recalled.He took that lesson to heart. As a commentator, Hudson said he is constantly expanding his “mental rolodex”, collecting phrases and descriptions to brandish on future broadcasts.“I’ve always done this, where I think of a descriptive that would be wonderful to use in a situation that is deserving of it,” Hudson told me. “I’m always aware of anything that comes along in my day-to-day life. You can get something from the guy who cuts the lawn. You can get something from watching a cartoon, the old ‘Tom and Jerry’ or something like that.”Hudson’s on-air rhapsodies have inspired YouTube compilations and various online tribute pages. That style has brought him a side gig on Cameo, where he has fielded nearly 800 requests for personalized greetings to fans.“They all want to hear me wish them a ‘magisterial birthday,’” he said.Even Hudson himself has his own favorite Ray Hudson Moments.There was Lionel Messi’s 92nd-minute winner against Real Madrid in 2017, which prompted a piercing shriek out of Hudson before he offered up this instant-classic: “Messi, you could drop a tarantula into his shorts and he’ll still be cool.”Or there was Ronaldinho’s sensational overhead kick against Villarreal in 2006, which Hudson described as “electrifying as a hair dryer thrown into a hot tub”.

Hudson was with GolTV until 2012, when the upstart Qatari-funded beIN Sports obtained the rights to La Liga and hired Hudson to lead its coverage. In his more than 15 years with the two networks, Hudson emerged as the defining voice for a generation of American soccer fans, providing the soundtrack to a halcyon era in Spain’s top division headlined by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.More than just a cult hero, Hudson’s broadcasting career has made him a sort of footballing ambassador to a country where the NFL reigns supreme.“Few have done more to grow global football in this nation,” said Bennett.Hudson, 67, left beIN last year after the network lost the rights to La Liga to ESPN. In September, CBS announced that it hired Hudson as lead color commentator for its broadcasts of Champions League in the US, marking the first time he’s provided match commentary for Europe’s signature club competition. Two months in, Hudson has already produced some vintage calls. After Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sané sliced through the middle of Barcelona’s defense for a dazzling run and goal in a match last month, Hudson exclaimed that the German winger was “attached to the ball like a teenager to a cell phone”.As for the competition itself, Hudson sees three early favorites with the group stage nearly complete: Real Madrid (“Can they produce the miracle string of results that they got last year?”), Manchester City (“I’ve picked them the last two seasons and been severely disappointed, but I would put them again near the top.”) and Napoli (“They’re anybody’s box of toys, and a wonderful one at that.”)Hudson has called all of this season’s Champions League matches from a studio in Florida, just as he did during his time with GolTV and beIN. When he was approached by CBS Sports about the job, Hudson was flattered, but also wary of the travel commitment. The network had initially suggested that he call the matches, which are carried on Paramount+ and CBS, from its studio in New York City.

CBS eventually agreed to accommodate Hudson with its studio space in Fort Lauderdale, where he has worked alongside play-by-play announcer Andrés Cordero.“I’ve just had enough of the traveling,” Hudson said.Hudson doesn’t make it back to Newcastle much these days either. He said the city “doesn’t have the same pull” since his father, Wilfred, passed away five years ago. But Hudson remains loyal to his boyhood club, which signed him to a contract when he was 17. He has been delighted by Newcastle United’s start to the Premier League season – even while acknowledging the “problematic” nature of the new Saudi Arabian ownership.“It’s my football club. These are still our black-and-white colors. You can criticize the human rights record of Saudi Arabia. That is one aspect that unfortunately cannot be separated from our love of the club. It just cannot,” Hudson said. “But what are we supposed to do? Just say, ‘Well, there goes our team’? It takes a brave man, and a morally high man, to do that. But this is our game. This is our team, our sport. We were there before we had even heard of Saudi Arabia, and we’ll be there forever after.”Hudson shares a similar kinship with Inter Miami, which just completed its third season in MLS. He has been the club’s lead color commentator since it began play in 2020, a job that he said represents a “completion of the circle”. Since he moved there in 1977, Hudson has never lived farther than seven miles away from where he used to play for the Strikers, now the location of Inter Miami’s home ground, DRV PNK Stadium.“This is my town,” Hudson said.

Qatar orchestrated a large-scale and long-standing intelligence operation against FIFA officials with the help of former CIA operatives. Switzerland was a key theatre of operations. The highest echelons of the Qatari government were involved. This content was published on November 2, 2022 – 11:07November 2, 2022 – 11:07 Leo Eiholzer and Andreas Schmid, SRF Investigativ

An espionage network working in secret. Intelligence agents planning on swaying world events in a covert operation. Hackers stealing controversial information. And an obscure client funding the entire project with hundreds of millions of dollars.This is the story of a global secret operation.An investigation by Swiss media SRF’s investigative team, “SRF Investigativ”, shows the details of how the state of Qatar had officials of world football spied on. And how critics of the upcoming World Cup outside of FIFA were targeted as well.The ultimate goal of those efforts: to prevent Qatar from losing the World Cup bid after massive criticism was raised, when FIFA awarded the tournament to the authoritarian country in 2010.The scale of the espionage activities is considerable. One sub-operation alone involved the planned deployment of at least 66 operatives over nine years. The budget amounted to $387 million. And the activities spanned five continents.The highest echelons of the Qatari government were involved in the espionage activities, including the current head of state, the Emir of Qatar.The documents show that the desert country wanted to make sure that no change of position within FIFA, no new friendship, no potentially dangerous alliance, nothing that could jeopardise Qatar’s holding the 2022 World Cup could slip their attention. The goal was to gain absolute control. Or “worldwide penetration”, as it is referred to in a document of the espionage operation. GRA propses... zVg To do this, Qatar hired American private firm: Global Risk Advisors (GRA). The company’s staff consists of former members of US intelligence agencies; its founder is former CIA operative Kevin Chalker.Switzerland was a key venue in the operation. The chief spy and his Qatari clients met in Zurich. And Switzerland is where they spied on various individuals. Thus, presumably, crimes were committed by order of Qatar.Chalker denies all allegations. The state of Qatar did not respond to questions. Shortly after SRF had contacted them, the Emir of Qatar complained about a “campaign” against his country in a public speech.The SRF investigation found that victims were at the mercy of the agents spying on them. Their email accounts, computers, phones, friends, and even family members became targets of Qatar’s shadow warriors.The operation aimed at more than obtaining intelligence. The investigation concludes there was an invisible hand trying to pull the strings of FIFA policies during the past ten years. The spies claim to have penetrated the highest FIFA board, the FIFA Executive Committee. This is the story of ‘Project Merciless’. The story is set in a demi-monde. Spies are invisible. Their activities, however, have real-life consequences. In real places.On 5 January 2012, a cyberattack on a Swiss citizen is launched.A former advisor to FIFA President Sepp Blatter receives strange emails. Their senders seem to want to get him to open the attachments to the messages by all means. They try again and again.Had he clicked on the files, a software secretly would have been installed on his computer. Without him noticing, the software would copy all data on its hard drive and send it to the hackers.The man sitting behind the computer is Peter Hargitay. Officially, he acts as an advisor, but within FIFA, he is considered a spin doctor, an influential power broker behind the scenes. He had been close to the then omnipotent president Sepp Blatter. Later, he was a consultant for the Australian football association and its chairman Frank Lowy, a billionaire. Hargitay was meant to help Australia host the 2022 World Cup, and therefore worked closely with Lowy. Hargitay’s computer no doubt held valuable information. A treasure trove for anyone who would like a good grasp of the real goings-on at FIFA.Who could want such information so desperately that he or she was prepared to be liable to prosecution? Indian lead Hargitay is a Swiss citizen; his company had an office in Zurich at the time. He filed charges, and the attack on the FIFA insider became a case for the Swiss authorities.Evidence quickly pointed to the infrastructure of an IT company based in India, Appin Security. SRF obtained records of the Zurich criminal proceedings. The hackers seem to have been careless in their work. The server they used for the attack holds many pieces of evidence indicating the involvement of Appin.Appin is an elusive company. At the time, it was controlled by Rajat Khare, an Indian entrepreneur. Officially, Appin offered legal services only, including the protection against hacker attacks.A legal representative for Rajat Khare told SRF that his client was “a successful international entrepreneur with a good standing. He has never been questioned by law enforcement authorities in any country. He clearly denies all connections with any illegal activities whatsoever.”However, attacks that bore the fingerprint of Appin started to attract attention around the globe. They seemingly followed no pattern, as if the Indian company was attacking at random.According to the investigation by SRF and international media reports, a relatively new business model is behind the method: A company attacks targets for a fee and provides the information to a client. It is called “hacking for hire”.The attack on FIFA insider Peter Hargitay was just contract work. But who is the client? Documents show that Peter Hargitay was the target of a secret spy network that worked for the government of Qatar. A highly confidential Global Risk Advisors planning document reveals what presumably happened in the hacking case. And it shows that Swiss citizens were apparently attacked on behalf of the Qatari government.The documents reveal a plan for a global smear campaign, a cynical manipulation of the FIFA power base. The idea presented in the document was to collect incriminating information on FIFA insiders Hargitay and Lowy and leak them to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI.The paper is entitled «Project Clockwork: Concept of Operations» and is dated from December 2011 – just one month before Peter Hargitay received the first contaminated emails.The real target was Lowy, not Hargitay, as documents shows. Lowy had been working closely with Hargitay for the Australian World Cup bid. The reason for the spies’ efforts against Lowy seems obvious: The Australian was a bitter opponent of the World Cup being held in Qatar, and he had said publicly that the desert country may lose the tournament.The planning document says under the title “what we must accomplish”: “9-month-plan to neutralize the role and influence of […] Frank Lowy”. It also mentions that Lowy was a difficult target. His wealth and network gave him access to considerable means in the area of counterintelligence. This risk for Global Risk Advisors’ officers, in the event that anything went wrong, was considered high. The document also specifies that the «Deadline demands brute force attack.». In addition, the document features a picture of Peter Hargitay.In the section entitled «Walking the tightrope», the operatives lay out how they intended to neutralise Lowy and Hargitay. They apparently had inside knowledge of an investigation by US law enforcement agencies, and they planned to use that investigation for their own purposes.The document alleges connections between Hargitay, Lowy and the Russian bid for the 2018 World Cup, and includes highly incriminating lines: «Can we help connect the dots?». And: «Provide supporting evidence to relevant law enforcement agencies” An investigation by the FBI would have destroyed both Lowy’s and Hargitay’s reputation on a global level. They would have been effectively “neutralised”.According to documents, Qatar approved “Project Clockwork“. And within one month of the drawing up of the planning document, Hargitay’s computer was hacked. That the attack was carried out by another company is not unusual. Global Risk Advisors frequently draws on the services of subcontractors to carry out operations, the SRF investigation shows. This approach makes ascribing the attack to Chalker’s company difficult. And identifying Qatar as the client even more so. In one document, the company explicitly promised to provide “patsies” and “lightning rods” to deflect suspicion on.Chalker had identified Hargitay as an important target long before the cyberattack on him. He had said so to associates at the time. Chalker even had a code name for Hargitay: “Broken Arrow”. Tip of a massive iceberg The plan to compromise Lowy and Hargitay, however, represents the tip of a massive iceberg. In the years following the decision regarding the World Cup at the end of 2010, an undetected espionage and manipulation operation no one could have imagined unfolded behind the scenes of FIFA.SRF obtained a range of documents that describe the operation. The reporters received the information from multiple sources who had authorised access to them.The brains behind the espionage activities is Kevin Chalker, a former member of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the foreign intelligence service of the USA. Chalker – brown-haired and wearing an auburn beard – had been working for the CIA during at least five years. And he did not work as an analyst in some office, he acted as an “operations officer” and thus in an area of the intelligence service that is carrying out undercover activities. A real spy.Chalker left the CIA several years ago. Subsequently, he was first in talks to work for Diligence, a British private intelligence company. But he ended up founding his own firm, Global Risk Advisors. His team mainly consists of former members of US intelligence services. Eventually, Global Risk Advisors was working for Qatar. A lawyer for Chalker denied all allegations when reached for comment by SRF: “Global Risk Advisors and Mr. Chalker know nothing about these purported new hacks or the other misconduct suggested in your inquiry, and certainly did not participate in them in any way.” Further, “You claim to have documents from GRA to support some of the false accusations. To the extent you actually have any documents, as a journalist you should challenge their authenticity”.SRF employed a number of measures to verify the authenticity of the documents. Chalker offered no comment on specific questions regarding the nature of the role he played in Qatar.The SRF investigation shows that initially, prior to the awarding of the World Cup in December 2010, Chalker spied on the various bids. But upon the criticism raised with regard to corruption and human rights violations in Qatar after the World Cup was awarded, the target changed. Now, the task was to prevent FIFA, at all costs, from taking the World Cup from Qatar.Chalker and his company developed the plan that would leave nothing to chance.“Project Clockwork” and the activities against Lowy and Hargitay were just part of that plan.The next part was “Project Merciless”. Its project description reveals just how elaborate the intelligence service gimmickry was going to be, and how ambitious the project was.“Qatar must attain predictive intelligence to achieve total informational awareness”, the document reads. The plan was to know the plans and intentions of various targets in advance, including those of “critical elements within FIFA”, of “FIFA President Sepp Blatter”, and of “key FIFA ExCo members – present and future”. The abbreviation stands for the FIFA Executive Committee.
“The ultimate goal is to achieve worldwide penetration,” the document specifies. Global Risk Advisors intended to miss nothing. No changes to any plans, no changes in positions within FIFA. The goal was to gain absolute control.IT specialists and experts for “technical collection” were to be deployed for the project.According to internal company documents, “Project Merciless” was approved by Qatar, with a budget of $387 million.This was just the “low” option out of three presented. But apparently, it did make an impact. One document reads: “The greatest achievement to date of Project Merciless […] have come from successful penetration operations targeting vocal critics inside the FIFA organization.”Another document describes the activities as follows: “[The project] is designed to hide Qatar’s role in operations, while utilizing technology and human intelligence to […] manipulate public sentiment.” The highest echelons of the Qatari government were involved in Chalker’s activities, “SRF Investigativ” found. According to documents reviewed by SRF, the then heir to the throne and current Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani personally ordered the obtainment of detailed phone and SMS records of several members of the FIFA Executive Committee prior to the awarding of the World Cup.How exactly the Emir was involved after the World Cup was awarded to Qatar remains unclear. The operation still had a code name for him – “Apex” – years later.Clearly, however, Chalker and Qatar were more than ready to take risks, and they did not shy away from targeting prominent figures. A document obtained by SRF indicates that Michael Garcia, the lead investigator of the FIFA Ethics Committee, may have become a target for operations. The document entitled “Target Profile” contains several pages describing Michael Garcia.According to the news agency Associated Press, the FBI has been investigating Chalker for several months. In addition to potential violations of the law in the area of lobbying and exporting sensitive technology, prosecutors are focusing on Chalker’s surveillance activities on behalf of Qatar. The Associated Press published reports on Chalker’s operations for the desert country in connection with the world cup last yearExternal link already.Neither the Qatari embassy in Bern nor the Government Communications Office in Doha responded to various information requests by SRF. Shortly after the requests, the Emir held a speech in the Consultative Assembly of Qatar, a kind of parliament without power, in which he mentioned that Qatar had become the victim of an “unprecedented campaign” after the country was picked as host for the World Cup. He said: “It soon became clear to us that the campaign continues, expands and includes fabrications and double standards, until it reached an amount of ferocity that made many wonder, unfortunately, about the real reasons and motives behind this campaign.” Surveillance operation in Switzerland The SRF investigation shows that Switzerland was key to the Qatari intelligence operation.According to the investigation, Chalker, at the behest of Qatar, travelled to Zurich for the purpose of bugging the hotel rooms of members of the Executive Committee and of journalists.One document includes photos obviously taken secretly as part a surveillance operation. They were taken at Zurich’s plush Baur au Lac hotel. And they show individuals connected to FIFA meeting with officials and journalists.The operatives apparently felt at ease in Switzerland. According to the investigation, Chalker met his Qatari clients in Zurich to discuss operations. At least one member of Global Risk Advisors had his permanent base in Switzerland after Qatar was picked as the host of the 2022 World Cup.That is a problem. Spying on behalf of a third country on Swiss soil is prohibited. Such activities may be indictable as espionage.Nevertheless, Chalker met one of his closest contacts, a high-ranking Qatari official named Ali Al-Thawadi, in Zurich. His code name was “Shepherd”. He is the chief of staff of the current Emir’s brother, Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, also known as MBH.In addition, two young men had close ties to Chalker in the espionage operation on behalf of Qatar: Ahmad Nimeh, officially a consultant for the Qatari bid, and a Qatari named Ahmed Rashad. Both men have connections to a mysterious Doha-based company called Bluefort Public Relations. Nimeh was connected to so called “black operations” related to the World Cup by British newspaper The Sunday Times in 2018. Nimeh is the son-in-law of Patrick Theros, the former US ambassador to Qatar. Another close partner of Nimeh, Nikos Kourkoulakos, was officially working for the Qatar World Cup bid.According to the register of companies, Nimeh’s colleague Ahmad Rashad is the majority shareholder of Bluefort Public Relations.The investigation by SRF found that a key person for the upcoming World Cup, Hassan Al Thawadi, oversaw the spy operation on behalf of Qatar. He was the CEO of the successful World Cup bid and is the current general secretary of the Supreme Committee, a body that organises the World Cup in Qatar.FIFA apparently remained largely oblivious to the spy operation. The organisation’s former President, Sepp Blatter, said in an interview with SRF: “That there was an organized espionage affair in FIFA, that surprised me. And it’s alarming”. Several documents show that Blatter was of great interest to the spies. They mention, for instance, that Blatter’s “plans and intentions” ought to be known in advance.Chalker and Global Risk Advisors are currently facing a civil lawsuit in connection with similar alleged activities. The suit was filed by former US president Donald Trump ally Elliott Broidy. Private data of Broidy were leaked to newspapers in 2018, and he is accusing Chalker and his company of a hacking attack on behalf of Qatar. Chalker denies all allegations. The lawsuit is still pending. ‘Cancer of world football’ There was a figure in world football who seemed important enough to Qatari spies that they dedicated an entire project to him: “Project Riverbed”. The code name was used for the German football official Theo Zwanziger.According to documents obtained by SRF, Qatar invested $10 million in the spying on and influencing of Zwanziger. The Associated Press reported the same number this spring.Zwanziger had served as president of the DFB, the German Football Association, until 2012. And as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee until 2015 and thus an enormously influential football official associating with powerful figures in world politics, he was a critical and provocative voice against Qatar. At one point, he called Qatar the “cancer of world football”.Qatar wanted to stop this. According to documents, a network was built around Zwanziger, consisting of people who were to influence him to the benefit of Qatar.In order to neutralise Zwanziger, the spies relied on intelligence methods, as documents specify.They mention “black ops”. Also in their sights was “Riverbed Family” – that is Zwanziger’s family. The Global Risk Advisors attackers apparently built relationships with individuals who were close to Zwanziger. They created a network of “assets, sources, and contacts” who were active on five continents, working on influencing Zwanziger.Zwanziger was to be persistently presented with one message: “The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is good for the world”.In order to salvage the World Cup, Qatar wanted silent critics. The efforts of the operation did not completely fail to have an effect on Zwanziger. He was brought into line within FIFA, as he says today. He led a working group that pushed for more human rights and less criticism of Qatar. In an interview with SRF, he said, “There were a number of people who steered me in that direction. Of course, that was in Qatar’s interest. To bring about precisely this change in thinking.”But the efforts did not have the intended effect on his views, according to Zwanziger. In the interview, he said: “What they underestimated, however, is that I did not give up my opinion in the process. This award was – as I once put it – a cancer of world football. From there came many currents that have damaged world football. I still have that opinion today.”As far as the espionage operation against him is concerned, Zwanziger thinks that FIFA was obligated to act. He said: “This is such a scandal. It should be taken up by those who are in charge. FIFA President Infantino would be the very first. But he won’t do that, of course, because he is a vassal of Qatar.” FIFA and Gianni Infantino declined to comment. Targeting unions The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) presented another problem for Qatar. For years, the trade union federation, which includes 200 million members, had repeatedly raised questions with regard to the World Cup in Qatar. And it worked to make sure that the suffering of workers in Qatar was brought to the attention of the world and moved people.The union became a victim of a cyberattack at the end of 2015. Someone had copied the email account of the then media spokeswoman for the general secretary. And the emails soon appeared – in an altered version, according to the union – in the media.The attack bore the fingerprints of Global Risk Advisors. SRF obtained a document, in which Global Risk Advisors identifies the union as an equally serious problem for Qatar as FIFA or the Gulf Cooperation Council – a major group of countries on a diplomatic level.The spies also drew up a detailed network of relationships of people who work for the union and in what way they were connected to FIFA. This document mentions the media spokeswoman, who was hacked. FBI attention Even though he never played a professional football match in his life, Sunil Gulati is one of the most important figures in US football. He started out by carrying the towels for the members of the junior national team, before he advanced to the position of president of the United States Soccer Federation. For decades, he was the most influential individual in North American football. Pictures taken in those days show him with Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, or Joe Biden.At the height of his power, Gulati was spied on, his computer was hacked, apparently without being noticed. The evidence for the attack on Gulati seems unimpressive at first: an ordinary digital folderHowever, the folder contains approximately 800 files, all of them stolen from Gulati’s computer. The hacker seems to have copied all PDF, Word, PowerPoint and Excel files on that computer. And these copies found their way to SRF.The files include confidential documents, such as the employment contract of the then US national coach Bob Bradley, as well as letters to and from Gulati and other FIFA officials. The hack did not spare Gulati’s private life. There is a photo book in the files, for instance, documenting Gulati’s childhood years, and there are health data. The draft contract with new US national coach Bob Bradley contains every employment detail. SRFGulati was a direct competitor of Qatar two years earlier, during the World Cup bidding process. He was president of the American bid for the 2022 World Cup, during which time Global Risk Advisors took an interest in him and prepared a multi-page personal dossier on him.The metadata show that the last of Gulati’s files were edited in spring 2012. The hack therefore presumably occurred just weeks after the attack on Hargitay. FIFA insiders SRF talked to consider Gulati a Qatar critic. There is no doubt that someone whose identity is still not clear wanted to know what was on Gulati’s computer. And that they were not reluctant to launch a cyberattack on a US citizen, even though the FBI strictly prosecutes cybercrime. The inactivity of Swiss authorities Agents have spied on the world of football on behalf of Qatar for ten years. SRF found that Zurich’s public prosecution department knew about one alleged activity of the spy network early on. They were aware of the hack on Peter Hargitay’s computer since 2012 – when the attackers first launched their operations. And it was obvious that the Hargitay case was a big deal.However, nothing much happened with regard to investigations by the public prosecution department. Prosecutors omitted obvious investigative actions. The most striking example for this concerns Rajat Khare, the CEO of the Indian company Appin Security which had been considered suspicious in the case. The prosecutor initially asked Khare whether he would be willing to answer questions regarding the case. A lawyer informed the prosecutor that Khare would be willing to do this in writing. But then the prosecutor simply did not send any questions. It remains unclear why.Eventually, the public prosecution department closed the case eight years later for lack of suitable investigative avenues. The Zurich public prosecution department said in a statement to SRF that, for legal reasons, they were unable to comment on their own activities in the proceedings. A spokesperson wrote that there had been comprehensive efforts for the investigation on file that had been carried out within legal provisions. The spokesperson further said: “There was no exertion of influence on any members of the public prosecution department.” Khare lives in Switzerland today. In autumn 2020, just after the investigation was closed, he purchased an impressive villa on Lake Geneva. According to the land registry office, he paid CHF13.5 million to the daughter of a Ukrainian oligarch in the transaction. He now presents himself as a renowned start-up investor and had his picture taken for the French edition of Swiss magazine Bilanz.What would he have testified had he been asked to in 2013? Would the story have taken another course? Would the Qatari spies have scaled back their efforts for fear of being exposed? There will be no answer to such questions.Less than three weeks to go until the starting whistle is blown for the first match in Doha. Millions will set their eyes on Qatar. But maybe they will not view things in the way the Emir had always wished them to. If the 2022 World Cup turns out to be a celebration of football, it will be one that is tarnished by intelligence agents, lies and manipulation.

November 1, 2022November 1, 2022 gatorbest

Champions League Tues/Wed

We are down to the final games of the Group Stage in Champions League (Europe’s best teams) and Europa League with some big games this week featuring Americans this week on Paramount plus with Wrap-Around shows on at 3 pm on CBS Sports Network.

Already through to round of 16
(*confirmed group winners): Bayern Munich*, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund,
Chelsea*, Club Bruges, Inter Milan, Liverpool,
Manchester City*, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Real Madrid

Could progress to knockout round on
matchday 6: Tottenham,
Sporting Lisbon, Eintracht
Frankfurt, Marseille, AC Milan, Red Bull
Salzburg, RB
Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk

Confirmed to finish third and enter
Europa League knockout round play-offs: Barcelona, Sevilla

Cannot reach Champions League last
16 but could get Europa League chance via third-placed finish: Ajax,
Atletico Madrid, Dinamo Zagreb, Juventus, Leverkusen,
Maccabi Haifa, Rangers

MLS Finals LAFC vs Philly Union Sat 4 pm FOX

The participants in the 2022 MLS Cup final are set, and for the first time since 2003, the top seed in each conference — the Philadelphia Union in the East and LAFC in the West — will square off.

Portland Wins NWSL Title 2-0 on Sophia Smith’s Goal

NWSL League MVP Sophia Smith lands the Winner for Portland as they beat Kansas City 2-0 on CBS Sat night to win the NWSL Championship in front of nearly 18K in Washington DC. GKE in NSWL Champ Game as Franch Gives up an Easy

Indy
11 & USL

High
School – Carmel loses to Noblesville in State Finals 1-0

The Carmel High Girls lost a heartbreaker 1-0 to Noblesville Sat in the state Finals. Noblesville wins their 2^nd straight State Championship and third in 4 years. While Carmel has made it to the Championship Title game 4 of the last 5 seasons.

Brian Haenchen Indianapolis Star

INDIANAPOLIS — Ava Bramblett did the deed. Because of course she did. Who else would it be?The Noblesville senior lifted the Millers to one final win Saturday evening, scoring the decisive goal in the 37th minute of a 1-0 win over Carmel in the Class 3A state championship game at Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium. In four varsity seasons, Bramblett recorded 47 goals, 23 assists and guided the Millers to a record of 70-2-5 with championships in three of her four seasons. Simply incredible.”Ava wasn’t going to be denied a state championship today. She’s a special, special player,” Noblesville coach Mike Brady said. “Many of them are, but Ava’s unique. One of a kind. It’s been my pleasure to coach her these four years.”

Bramblett’s goal showcased what makes her so lethal. The Ohio State commit picked up a pass from Atley Pittman along the right side of the box and deftly carried the ball towards the penalty mark. She recognized a lane through the maze of white jerseys and took her shot, ripping a left-footer back across her body that skipped through, untouched, into the right side of the net. “Honestly, that was the first time in the game I felt we were calm and actually built up an attack,” Bramblett said. “I got a touch across the box, the two Carmel girls collided and there was the goal. … At the end of the day, that’s all it took to beat them. That’s all we needed to make the end of our careers picture perfect.””She always puts 100% effort in and when she (attacks), you just know,” senior defender Lauren Adam added. “That goal, you could see her going and her body movement, and you could tell she was going to score that goal. You have complete trust knowing she’s going to do everything she can to put that ball in the net.”Though outshot 15-3 in the half, the Greyhounds did a good job forcing Noblesville’s attackers to the outside and limiting their shots to the low-danger areas. Coach Frank Dixon was also pleased with their defense of Bramblett, forcing her to go sideways and backwards. But one momentary lapse, a decision to step in and try to win a ball by the Greyhounds, threw the defenders off and left them scrambling to switch someone onto No. 10.Bramblett made them pay. “We lost to a kid who’s going to be Miss Soccer, I think,” Dixon said of Bramblett, describing her as an all-around player. “Superstars win games, and she got the goal when they needed it.”

Bramblett was excellent, but so too was the Noblesville defense. An effort spearheaded by Adam, a Purdue commit, the Millers allowed just six shots, and goalkeeper Bella Wyatt was required to make three saves. “We’re tough to score on,” Brady said. “From my goalkeeper to my back line to Marit (McLaughlin) playing in front of them, that’s one of the best defenses in the state and I think that was proven tonight.” Carmel generated some quality chances in the second half, including one by Sophie Shepherd who broke in one-on-one, but Wyatt made the save. Adam on what it’s meant to be part of the Noblesville soccer program: “It’s not only that the skill is so high, but the people you actually play with and the bonds you create are just so amazing. I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else.” Noblesville won three state championships Saturday with the boys soccer and girls cross country teams joining the girls soccer team.

Tues, Nov 1 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

12:45 Para+, TUDN Porto vs Atletico Madrid

12:45 Para+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Club Brugge

4 pm Para+, TUDN Liverpool vs Napoli

4 pm Para+ Tottenham vs Marseille

4 pm Para+ Bayern Munich vs Inter

Wed, Nov 2

1:45 pm Para+, TUDN Real Madrid vs Celtic ( )

1:45 pm Para+ Shaktar Donetsk vs RB Leipzig

4 pm Para+ Milan vs Salzburg

4 pm Para+ Juventus vs PSG

4 pm Para+ Chelsea (Pulisic) vs Dinamo Zagreb

3 pm Para+ Kabenhaven vs Dortmund (Reyna)

Thur, Nov 3 EUROPA

1:45 pm Para+ Real Sociedad vs Man United

4 pm Para+ Arsenal (Turner) vs Zurich

4pm Para+ Union Berlin (Pefuk) vs Union Saint Gilloise

4 pm Para+ Sheriff vs Omonia Nicosia

4 pm Para+ West Ham vs FSCB

Sat, Nov 5

9:30 am ESPN+ Bayern Muchen vs Mainz

10:30 am ESPN+ Dortmun (Reyna) vs Bochum

11 am USA Man Cty vs Fulham (Robinson, Ream)

11 am Peacock Leeds United vs AFC Bournemouth

4 pm ESPN+ Barcelona vs Almeria

4 pm FOX LAFC vs Philly Union MLS Finals

7:30 pm ESPN+ Louisville City vs Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sun, Nov 6

7 am USA Chelsea (Pulisic) vs Arsenal

8 am ESPN+ Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol

10:30 am ESPN+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Union Berlin (Pefuk)

11:30 am USA Tottenham vs Liverpool

2:45 pm Para + Juventus vs Inter

8:30 pm ESPN+ San Antonio (Jordan Farr GK) vs Colorado Springs

Sun, Nov 10

7 pm FS1 USWNT vs Germany

Thur, Nov 13

5 pm ESPN USWNT vs Germany

8 pm ESPN2 USL Finals

Sun, Nov 20

11 am Fox World Cup Starts

Mon, Nov 21

8 am FS1 England vs Iran

2 pm Fox USA vs Wales

Mon, Nov 22

11 am Fox Mexico vs Poland

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

Champions League: How every team can qualify for the knockout rounds Dale Johnson

Best Champions League and Europa League tifos, from astronauts to leprechauns Chris Wright

MLS Cup playoffs: Philly, LAFC advance to championship game as top seeds prevail 23hJeff Carlisle

– Report: LAFC reach first MLS Cup after thrashing Austin

– Report: Philly come back to defeat NYCFC, win Eastern Conference title

Top Seed Philly Advances to Finals – Yahoo Sports

What’s driving MLS’ reported playoff revamp? 4dESPN

2022 MLS Cup playoffs: Fixtures, results and more 7dESPN
LAFC vs Philadelphia Union set for MLS Cup Final

Portland Thorns ride the rise of Sophia Smith to an NWSL title Yahoo Soccer Henry Bushnell

GKE in NSWL Champ Game as Franch Gives up an Easy

Portland’s success built around Smith and adaptability 2dJeff Kassouf

USMNT Injuries Mount as WC Nears Henry Bushnell

Weston McKennie out two weeks with a hamstring injury and other USMNT health updates

USMNT midfielder Luca de la Torre to be out for three weeks with muscle injury

USWNT getting some of its familiar names back, starting with Alex Morgan and Mallory Pugh
Harvard-Westlake senior Alyssa Thompson, Alex Morgan highlight USWNT roster
Morgan eyes 200th USWNT cap vs. Germany Jeff Carlisle /ESPN FC
Key figure in NWSL abuse investigation, Mana Shim, named chair of US Soccer’s safety taskforce

GKE in NSWL Champ Game as Franch Gives up an Easy

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Oct 26, 2022

We’re into the closing matches of the Champions League group stage, and many teams have booked their places in the round of 16.Here we take a look at the state of play across all eight groups.The group winners and runners-up will go into the Champions League round of 16; third place drops into the Europa League knockout round to face group runners-up from that competition; and fourth is knocked out completely.

QUALIFIED AS GROUP WINNERS: Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester City
QUALIFIED AS GROUP RUNNERS-UP: Borussia Dortmund
QUALIFIED, POSITION TBC: Benfica, Club Brugge, FC Porto, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid

ELIMINATED, COULD MAKE UEL: Ajax, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Dinamo Zagreb, Juventus, Maccabi Haifa, Rangers
ELIMINATED FROM EUROPE: Celtic, Viktoria Plzen

TIEBREAKERS:
– points in head-to-head matches among the tied teams
– goal difference in head-to-head matches among the tied teams
– goals scored in head-to-head matches among the tied teams
– overall goal difference
– overall goals scored
– overall away goals scored
– overall wins
– overall away wins
– disciplinary points
– UEFA club coefficient

Next fixtures, Nov. 1: Liverpool vs. Napoli, Rangers vs. Ajax

Napoli: Have qualified and will win the group with a win/draw against Liverpool, or if they lose by no more than three goals.

Liverpool: Have qualified but must beat Napoli by 4+ goals to top the group.

Ajax Amsterdam: Will qualify for the Europa League as long as they don’t lose to Rangers by 5+ goals.

Rangers: Have been eliminated and must beat Ajax by 5+ goals to reach the Europa League.

Next fixtures, Nov. 1: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Club Brugge, FC Porto vs. Atletico Madrid

Club Brugge: Have qualified and will top the group with a win away to Leverkusen, or a draw if FC Porto draw/lose vs. Atletico, or with a defeat if FC Porto lose.

FC Porto: Have qualified and will top the group with a win if Club Brugge draw/lose, or with a draw if Club Brugge lose.

Atletico Madrid: Have been eliminated and must beat FC Porto to guarantee a place in the Europa League. Will be in the UEL with a draw if Leverkusen draw/lose, or with a defeat if Leverkusen lose.

Bayer Leverkusen: Have been eliminated and will drop into the Europa League if they win and Atletico Madrid and Atletico draw/lose. A draw will be enough if Atletico lose. Cannot reach the UEL with a defeat.

Next fixtures, Nov. 1: Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan, Viktoria Plzen vs. Barcelona

Bayern Munich: Have qualified as group winners.

Inter Milan: Have qualified as group runners-up.

Barcelona: Have qualified for the Europa League.

Viktoria Plzen: Have been eliminated from Europe.

Next fixtures, Nov. 1: Sporting CP vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille vs. Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur: Will qualify with a win/draw at Marseille, while a win securing top spot. Cannot qualify with a defeat.

Sporting CP: A draw at home to Sporting guarantees a place in the round of 16, while a win gives them top spot if Spurs draw/lose.

Eintracht Frankfurt: Must win at Sporting CP, which secures a place in the round of 16.

Marseille: Guaranteed to go through win at home to Tottenham, and they will top the group if Sporting-Frankfurt is a draw.

Next fixtures, Nov. 2: AC Milan vs. FC Salzburg, Chelsea vs. Dinamo Zagreb

Chelsea: Have qualified as group winners.

AC Milan: Will go through in second with a win/draw at home to FC Salzburg.

FC Salzburg: Must beat AC Milan to go through in the Champions League.

Dinamo Zagreb: Have been eliminated from the Champions League and can only make it into the Europa League if they win at Chelsea and FC Salzburg lose.

Next fixtures, Nov. 2: Real Madrid vs. Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk vs. RB Leipzig

Real Madrid: Have qualified for the round of 16 and will win the group with a victory at home to Celtic. A draw/loss will also be enough for top spot if RB Leipzig fail to beat Shakhtar Donetsk.

RB Leipzig: Must avoid defeat away to Shakhtar to qualify, and can top the group with a win if Real Madrid draw/lose.

Shakhtar Donetsk: Victory at home to RB Leipzig will send them through in second on head-to-head record.

Celtic: Have been eliminated from Europe.

Next fixtures, Nov. 2: FC Copenhagen vs. Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City vas Sevilla

Manchester City: Have qualified as group winners.

Borussia Dortmund: Have qualified as group runners-up.

Sevilla: Have qualified for the Europa League.

FC Copenhagen: Have been eliminated from Europe.

Next fixtures, Nov. 2: Juventus vs. Paris Saint-Germain, Maccabi Haifa vs. Benfica

Paris Saint-Germain: Have qualified and are top of the group only on goal difference, so even a win in Turin might not be enough to finished first — but it will leave Benfica needing a big score. The head to head between the two teams at the top is level, with both games finishing 1-1.

Benfica: Have qualified but trail PSG by a goal difference of 4, and have also scored 4 fewer goals. It means they realistically must better PSG’s result on Matchday 6 to finish top — if both teams win then Benfica must do so by at least 4 more goals than PSG win theirs.

Juventus: Have been eliminated from the Champions League. The head to head is level with Maccabi Haifa but Juve have a much better goal difference. It essentially means Juve will be in the Europa League if they match or better Maccabi Haifa’s result.

Maccabi Haifa: As their goal difference is 6 worse than Juve’s they will have to better the Italian side’s result on Matchday 6 to make the Europa League.

Final knockout positions are on the line, as the World Cup draws ever nearer.

By Justin Moran @kickswish Nov 1, 2022, 10:12am PDT

Shakhtar Donetsk v Celtic FC: Group F - UEFA Champions League

It’s a busy week! The Champions League group stage says farewell this week, with less than 3 weeks until the opening match of the World Cup in Qatar. Some USMNT players are in action, so let’s get into it!

Rangers FC v Ajax, 4p on Paramount+, ViX+: Malik Tillman and James Sands are already eliminated from the knockout stage, and are essentially out of Europa contention as well. The only way they can make Europa League is to win this match by 11 goals or more.

Also in action:

Bayer Leverkusen v Club Brugge, 1:45p on Paramount+, ViX, ViX+: Owen Otasowie is unlikely to play for Brugge, who are top of Group B and already qualified for the knockout stage. Leverkusen are fighting for a Europa League spot.
Hull City v Middlesbrough, 3:45p: Zack Steffen and Boro face Hull in the Championship. Boro also includes Matthew Hoppe, and Hull includes 19-year-old American Vaughn Covil.
Luton Town v Reading, 3:45p: Ethan Horvath and Luton host Reading in Championship action.
Sporting CP v Eintracht Frankfurt, 4p on Paramount+, ViX+: Timmy Chandler and Frankfurt are even on points in Group D. Only one of them will advance to the knockout stage. Sporting is +2 on Frankfurt in goal differential.
West Brom v Blackpool, 4p: Daryl Dike has been sidelined with injury much of the time since joining West Brom.

Real Madrid v Celtic, 1:45p on Paramount+, TUDN, UniMás, fuboTV (free trial), ViX+: Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic are going to finish last in Group F regardless of this game. Madrid have clinched knockout stages and may rest some starters at home.
Chelsea v Dinamo Zagreb, 4p on Paramount+, ViX+: Christian Pulisic and Chelsea have already qualified for knockouts, on top of Group E.
AC Milan v RB Salzburg, 4p on Paramount+, ViX+: Sergiño Dest and Milan are one point ahead of Salzburg in Group E. A win would qualify them for the knockout round.
Copenhagen v Borussia Dortmund, 4p on Paramount+, ViX+: Gio Reyna and Dortmund have essentially clinched knockout competition in Group G. For them to miss out, they would have to lose and Sevilla would have to gain 9 goals on them, which seems unlikely as Sevilla is facing Man City in Manchester.
Juventus v PSG, 4p on Paramount+, TUDN, Univision, fuboTV, ViX+: Weston McKennie and Juve will miss Champions League knockouts; they need to get an equal or better result as Haifa gets against Benfica in order to make Europa League (Group H).
Maccabi Haifa v Benfica, 4p on Paramount+, ViX+: Josh Cohen and Maccabi Haifa need to win and hope Juve loses in Group H; John Brooks and Benfica are already through to the knockouts.

Also in action:

América Mineiro v Internacional, 3p on Paramount+, Premiere 2, Fanatiz, Sling TV, ViX+: Johnny Cardoso and Internacional are trying to stay within reach of Palmeiras atop Brazil’s league table; 10 points behind with 4 games left.
Huddersfield Town v Sunderland, 3:45p: Duane Holmes and Lynden Gooch square off in the Championship.
Norwich City v QPR, 3:45p on ESPN+ (free trial): Josh Sargent and Jonathan Tomkinson could see the field for Norwich.

Arsenal v FC Zürich, 4p on Paramount+, TUDN, UniMás, fuboTV, ViX+: Matt Turner may be an option for the Gunners in Group A; he missed their last Europa match with a minor injury. Arsenal will at least advance to knockout round playoffs, and can clinch a round of 16 berth today.
Union St. Gilloise v Union Berlin, 4p on Paramount+, ViX+: Jordan Pefok and Union Berlin could use a point or three in Group D to help them stay above Braga for the knockout round playoffs. It will be a tough test on the road against group leaders St. Gilloise.

Also in action:

Real Sociedad v Manchester United, 1:45p on Paramount+, TUDN, fuboTV, ViX+: Jonathan Gómez could be in the La Real squad as they host the Red Devils in Group E. Sociedad is top of the group and 3 pts ahead of United.
Bodø/Glimt v PSV, 4p on Paramount+, ViX+: Richy Ledezma and PSV are second in Group A. They could leap-frog Arsenal for first if PSV wins and the Gunners lose.

That’s it! Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below. Let’s see who impresses this week!

By The Athletic Staff Oct 31, 2022

The UEFA Champions League group stage is heading towards its conclusion, with only one match left to play.Twelve sides have already sealed progress to the knockout stages with a game to spare but other clubs face crunch final encounters and there is plenty left to settle.Finishing positions will have an impact on the last-16 draw, with group winners seeded, runners-up unseeded and third-place sides dropping down into the Europa League.And if teams are level on points, they will be separated by their head-to-head records, not goal difference.The Athletic guides you through what can still happen on matchweek six and how the last-16 draw will work.

Already through to round of 16 (*confirmed group winners): Bayern Munich*, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea*, Club Bruges, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Manchester City*, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, Real Madrid

Could progress to knockout round on matchday 6: Tottenham, Sporting Lisbon, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, AC Milan, Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk

Confirmed to finish third and enter Europa League knockout round play-offs: Barcelona, Sevilla

Cannot reach Champions League last 16 but could get Europa League chance via third-placed finish: Ajax, Atletico Madrid, Dinamo Zagreb, Juventus, Leverkusen, Maccabi Haifa, Rangers

Group A

	PLAYED	W	L	GD	PTS
Napoli (qualified)	5	5	0	16	15
Liverpool (qualified)	5	4	1	9	12
Ajax	5	1	4	-7	3
Rangers	5	0	5	-18	0

Final group fixtures: Liverpool vs Napoli, Rangers vs Ajax

Napoli: Through. Must avoid losing by more than three goals against Liverpool to finish as group winners.

Liverpool: Through. Must beat Napoli by more than four goals or more to top group.

Ajax: Out of the Champions League but will drop down to Europa League if they avoid thrashing by Rangers.

Rangers: Out of the Champions League and will only drop down to Europa League if they beat Ajax by five goals or more.

Group B

	PLAYED	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Club Bruges (qualified)	5	3	1	1	3	10
Porto (qualified)	5	3	0	2	4	9
Atletico	5	1	2	2	-3	5
Bayer Leverkusen	5	1	1	3	-4	4

Final group fixtures: Porto vs Atletico, Bayer Leverkusen vs Club Bruges

Club Bruges: Through but top spot is all to play for.

Porto: Through but top spot is all to play for.

Atletico: Out but can still reach the Europa League if they match or better Bayer Leverkusen’s result.

Bayer Leverkusen: Must better Atletico’s result on matchday 6 in order to drop down to Europa League.

Group C

	PLAYED	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Bayern (qualified)	5	5	0	0	14	15
Inter (qualified)	5	3	1	1	5	10
Barcelona	5	1	1	3	-2	4
Viktoria Plzen	5	0	0	5	-17	0

Final group fixtures: Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan, Viktoria Plzen vs Barcelona

Bayern Munich: Through as group winners.

Inter: Through as group runners-up.

Barcelona: Confirmed place in Europa League.

Viktoria Plzen: Out of Europe.

Group D

	PLAYED	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Tottenham	5	2	2	1	1	8
Sporting	5	2	1	2	0	7
Eintracht Frankfurt	5	2	1	2	-2	7
Marseille	5	2	0	3	1	6

Final group fixtures: Marseille vs Tottenham, Sporting vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Tottenham: Will progress to last 16 if they claim a point in Marseille.

Sporting Lisbon: Through if they draw with Frankfurt due to their head-to-head record against Sporting.

Eintracht Frankfurt: Must beat Sporting to continue in the Champions League.

Marseille: Must beat Tottenham to progress in Champions League.

Group E

	PLAYED	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Chelsea (qualified)	5	3	1	1	5	10
AC Milan	5	2	1	2	1	7
Red Bull Salzburg	5	1	1	3	0	6
Dinamo Zagreb	5	1	1	3	-6	4

Final group fixtures: Chelsea vs Dinamo Zagreb, Milan vs Red Bull Salzburg

Chelsea: Through as group winners.

AC Milan: Must avoid defeat against Red Bull Salzburg to progress.

Salzburg: Must defeat Milan to progress.

Dinamo Zagreb: Can still finish third in group.

Group F

	PLAYED	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Real Madrid (qualified)	5	3	1	1	5	10
RB Leipzig	5	3	0	2	0	9
Shakhtar	5	1	3	1	2	6
Celtic	5	0	2	3	-7	2

Final group fixtures: Real Madrid vs Celtic, Shakhtar vs RB Leipzig

Real Madrid: Through but must better RB Leipzig’s result to top group.

RB Leipzig: Draw will see RB Leipzig progress.

Shakhtar: Must beat RB Leipzig in final match to qualify for last 16.

Celtic: Out of Europe.

Group G

	PLAYED	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Man City (qualified)	5	3	2	0	10	11
Dortmund (qualified)	5	2	2	1	5	8
Sevilla	5	1	2	2	-4	5
FC Copenhagen	5	0	2	3	-11	2

Final group fixtures: Manchester City vs Sevilla, Copenhagen vs Borussia Dortmund

Manchester City: Through as group winners.

Dortmund: Through as group runners-up.

Sevilla: Guaranteed Europa League place.

FC Copenhagen: Out of Europe.

Group H

	PLAYED	W	D	L	GD	PTS
PSG (qualified)	5	3	2	0	8	11
Benfica (qualified)	5	3	2	0	4	11
Juventus	5	1	0	4	-3	3
Maccabi Haifa	5	1	0	4	-9	3

Next fixtures: Juventus vs PSG, Maccabi Haifa vs Benfica

PSG: Through but yet to secure top spot.

Benfica: Through but in running for top spot.

Juventus: Out but now competing for Europa League place.

Maccabi Haifa: Also out but could pip Juventus to Europa League place.

The draw for the first knockout stage in this season’s competition takes place at 11am (BST) on Monday, November 7.

The draw will feature the eight group winners and eight runners-up.

Seeded group winners will play the return fixtures of the two-legged ties at home.

No team can play a club from their group, or any side from their domestic league at this stage.

Round of 16 draw: November 7
Round of 16: February 14/15/21/22 & March 7/8/14/15, 2023
Quarter-final and semi-final draw: March 17, 2023
Quarter-finals: April 11/12 & 18/19, 2023
Semi-finals: May 9/10 & 16/17, 2023
Final: June 10, 2023 (Istanbul)

9:34 AM ET Jeff Carlisle U.S. soccer correspondent ESPNFC

The participants in the 2022 MLS Cup final are set, and for the first time since 2003, the top seed in each conference — the Philadelphia Union in the East and LAFC in the West — will square off .It will take some doing to reach the drama of that 2003 final, won by the San Jose Earthquakes over the Chicago Fire by a score of 4-2 with some wild changes in momentum. But these two teams have the talent, toughness and cohesiveness to deliver something memorable, and Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles is the perfect venue for a final.Here’s how the two teams got there.

Every championship team has its dragon, that side that they just can’t seem to get past, or inflicts a deep hurt that stifles championship dreams.

For the Philadelphia Union, that is — or it was — New York City FC. Last year, in the Eastern Conference final between these same teams, COVID-19 protocols prevented 11 Union players from even being considered for the starting lineup. Philadelphia’s collective hands couldn’t hold a 1-0 lead, and NYCFC went on to claim that year’s MLS Cup. This time around, Philly slayed the dragon, with the Union coming from behind to claim a 3-1 win over the Blues, scoring three times in 11 second-half minutes in front of a raucous home crowd.

– Report: Philly come back to defeat NYCFC, win Eastern Conference title

And it wasn’t just the goal scorers — Julian Carranza, Daniel Gazdag and Cory Burke — wielding the vorpal swords. Andre Blake’s save from Alex Callens’ header in the 60th minute — with NYCFC up 1-0 — delivered a wound of its own. Had Callens’ effort found the net, a 2-0 lead almost certainly would have been too tall a mountain to climb. Instead it breathed new life into the Union.

What’s driving MLS’ reported playoff revamp? 4dESPN
Portland’s success built around Smith and adaptability 2dJeff Kassouf
2022 MLS Cup playoffs: Fixtures, results and more 7dESPN

It helped that NYCFC’s defense experienced a collective brain fade that was downright befuddling. The Blues fell asleep on Carranza’s equalizer, which came immediately after their own substitution, allowing him to collect Jakob Glesnes‘ quickly taken free kick and fire past Johnson. Then NYCFC got caught ball-watching on Gazdag’s eventual game-winner, with Carranza nodding down a cross for an easy finish. Burke’s capper came after his mazy run appeared to end with a clearing attempt that ricocheted right back to him, allowing him to fire home. Credit the Union for punishing mistakes, but it was a spell one normally doesn’t associate with the reigning MLS Cup champions. And so, the Union now find themselves in their first MLS Cup. It’s not quite the Island of Misfit Toys, but it seems like every one of their players has an unconventional path that took them to the City of Brotherly Love. Carranza was acquired via Inter Miami’s fire sale after the Herons were found to have violated MLS roster rules. Gazdag arrived from Hungarian side Budapest Honved and proceeded to score 22 goals this season. Jakob Glesnes was acquired from unfancied Norwegian side Stromsgodset IF. Thanks to the team’s academy, which produced Jack McGlynn, the list goes on. Credit GM Ernst Tanner for spotting talent that would work in MLS, as well as manager Jim Curtin who molded it into a team that has been consistently been among the best in MLS over the past three seasons. The Union’s approach reiterates that it’s not enough to spend; an organization must spend wisely too. Now there is just one obstacle — and it’s a real doozy — to overcome.

Remember when Chico Arango was on the trading block? It didn’t matter how many goals he scored: he didn’t help LAFC defend enough from the front, or so the thinking went, and therefore he was surplus to requirements. But as the old adage goes, sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make, and so it proved for LAFC in its 3-0 Western Conference victory over Austin FC. It was Arango who provided some reward for LAFC’s first-half dominance, heading home Carlos Vela’s corner in the 29th minute. Given the final margin of victory combined with the Black-and-Gold’s control of the midfield throughout, it’s tempting to think there was an air of inevitability about the win. But there have been plenty of times when a dominant team failed to cash in on its opportunities and then got punished — ultimately, Arango’s tally provided a bit of calm and confidence. The goal also highlighted Arango’s underrated ability in the air. At 5-foot-10, it would be stretch to say Arango is undersized, but he isn’t a giant either. The tally was the fourth with his head this season, a mark bettered only by FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez (6), Atlanta United’s Juan Jose Purata (6) and the Portland Timbers‘ Bill Tuiloma (5). The fact that Arango has scored 32 goals in 53 games — including two this postseason — makes his contribution priceless.

– Report: LAFC reach first MLS Cup after thrashing Austin

The same could be said about a much less flashy component of LAFC’s lineup: holding midfielder Ilie Sanchez. The Spaniard was a free agent at the end of 2021, and the prevailing thought was that he no longer had the legs to be a mainstay in a team’s lineup. But he’s been just that for LAFC, was a Best XI selection this year, and was part of a defensive effort on Sunday that limited Austin’s Sebastian Driussi to 33 touches, the fewest in a game all season in which the Argentine went 90 minutes. And he has long been the metronome for LAFC’s attack. Now it’s up to LAFC to finish the deal, and fulfill the promise that they have shown since their inaugural season back in 2018. With a home match in front of their raucous fans, the odds that the Black-and-Gold get the job done are excellent indeed.

Henry Bushnell Sat, October 29, 2022 at 2:04 PM YAHOO SOCCER

Three-plus weeks before the U.S. men’s national team opens a long-awaited 2022 World Cup campaign, six likely members of its squad missed games due to injury. And a seventh, Weston McKennie, is reportedly out for at least 15 days after leaving a Juventus game early.

Tyler Adams, Matt Turner, Sergiño Dest and Josh Sargent were held out by their clubs as precautions over the past week; and Adams returned on Saturday. But Luca de la Torre and Chris Richards are sidelined, and the World Cup, for both, appears to be in doubt. McKennie then joined the injured list on Saturday. He left Juventus’ win over Lecce at halftime with what was later reported to be a quadriceps problem. The 15-day timeline would rule him out until the World Cup break. Richards, a potential starter at center back, is the other primary subject of worry. He was initially named in the USMNT’s September squad, then withdrawn due to what U.S. Soccer called a “minor” injury. But a month and a half later, he is still not training with Crystal Palace. “He is still doing some individual work,” Palace coach Patrick Vieira said Friday. In early October, Richards told the “Scuffed” podcast the he was “a week and a half or so away from being fully fit.” But on Friday, Vieira said he was still 7-10 days away from a return to team training. He has just started one first-team game since April, and hasn’t played at all since August. He has long been considered the solution at the USMNT’s position of gravest need, but seems borderline unplayable against Wales on Nov. 21 if he has not gotten back into a game for Palace before the World Cup break.

The freshest worry, meanwhile, surrounds de la Torre and depth. The 24-year-old midfielder has played sparingly at Celta de Vigo, and is now out for “around three weeks” after tearing a thigh muscle, the Spanish club said Friday. De la Torre is not a USMNT starter, but would likely be the first central midfielder off the bench. If he cannot recover in time for Qatar, the U.S. midfield would suddenly look rather thin — especially with McKennie also ailing.

Adams is the most integral name on this injury report, and his return to Leeds United’s starting lineup on Saturday against Liverpool eased concerns. Adams had missed last Sunday’s loss to Fulham with a minor muscle injury. Leeds coach Jesse Marsch had said that Adams was questionable entering Saturday. But he was healthy enough to reclaim his customary place at the base of Leeds’ midfield.

Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, Christian Pulisic and Luca de la Torre, from left, arrive for a training session of the US soccer team in Cologne, Germany, prior to a friendly match against Japan, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. A sign reads in German — Luca de la Torre (right) is out for three weeks. Chris Richards (not pictured) has missed the last two USMNT training camps and still hasn’t returned to the field for Crystal Palace. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Dest has also “recovered,” and is “available” for AC Milan’s Sunday match at Torino, Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. The U.S. fullback had exited last Saturday’s win over Monza at halftime, and did not play midweek in the Champions League.

Turner is another likely USMNT starter. The 28-year-old goalkeeper had, prior to Thursday, played every minute of Arsenal’s 2022-23 Europa League campaign, and hadn’t conceded a single goal from open play. But on Wednesday, as he prepared for the fifth of six group games, “he had some discomfort in his groin,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said. Turner “tried” on Thursday, the morning of the match, “but he was not well,” Arteta said. “It did not look like a serious injury,” Arteta concluded. But the club is assessing it. And at the very least, it cost Turner 90 valuable minutes with the World Cup a few weeks away.

And finally there is Sargent, one of two or three candidates to start for the USMNT up front. He’s been excellent for Norwich City in the English Championship this season. He’d recovered from a minor knock to go 90 minutes last Saturday and again on Tuesday. But in Tuesday’s game, “he just felt his calf,” Norwich manager Dean Smith said. It was “too tight to risk it” on Saturday, so Sargent was held out of Norwich’s squad entirely. “He was close,” Smith said. “It’s a calf strain. And he’s got the opportunity to maybe get called up for the World Cup as well. We can’t risk him. And he didn’t feel it was right to go today.”

It is likely that Sargent, Adams, Dest and Turner will all be fit in plenty of time for the World Cup. The U.S. roster will be unveiled on Nov. 9, but isn’t technically due until Nov. 14. The opener is a week later.

But their injuries are harbingers of what is to come. There is no extended runway toward this World Cup. There are European club games the weekend before it begins. There will be further injuries, and little time to recover from them, and more players than ever before who enter soccer’s quadrennial showpiece at something less than 100%.

The USMNT has only definitively lost one player (Miles Robinson) thus far. But fans, and head coach Gregg Berhalter, are bracing themselves.

“Do I think we have the best players in each position identified? Yes,” Berhalter said last month. “Do I think they’re all gonna be available for the start of the World Cup? I don’t know. That’s just what every international manager will be dealing with right now. We’ll be holding our breaths.”

2:00 PM ET

Jeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

Morgan, who missed last month’s European tour alongside Pugh, has 198 international caps and is on the verge of becoming just the 13th player in USWNT history to amass 200 caps.The U.S. is looking to rebound from defeats against Spain and England earlier this month, with its first opportunity to do so when the team hosts Germany in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on Nov. 10, and then again in Harrison, N.J., three days later — the last two matches of 2022 for the top-ranked U.S. side.”These are the kinds of games that help our World Cup preparation in many ways and these 180 minutes to end our schedule this year are going to be extremely valuable for the players and coaches,” U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski said.”It will be good to get some players back on the roster and we’re all expecting these games to be very competitive and entertaining for fans.”Kansas City Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch also returns for her first call-up since October 2021, as does San Diego Wave attacker Taylor Kornieck.The roster includes three NWSL end-of-season award winners in Golden Boot winner Morgan, MVP Smith and Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year Naomi Girma. Smith also won the MVP of the NWSL Championship Game after scoring to help lead the Thorns to their third NWSL title.

Germany, which is ranked No. 3 in the world, reached the final of the 2022 Women’s Euro, falling to a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England. November’s meeting will be the USWNT’s first clash with Germany since a narrow victory at the SheBelives Cup in 2018.Earlier this month, the U.S. learned its group opponents and path through the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The U.S. was drawn into Group E where it will face Vietnam, Netherlands and the Group A Playoff Winner. Germany was drawn into Group H where it will face Morocco, Colombia and Korea Republic.

Goalkeepers: Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars).

Henry BushnellSat, October 29, 2022 at 10:06 PM

Oct 29, 2022; Washington, D.C., USA; Portland Thorns FC forward Sophia Smith (9) celebrates scoring a goal against the Kansas City Current in the NWSL championship game at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

Sophia Smith has spent roughly half of the NWSL’s entire existence as its prophesied future. She earned the weighty title as a talented teen, and carried it with her through high school, to college. She arrived in the pros just two short seasons ago carrying unprecedented expectations; she would, so many assumed, become a Golden Boot winner and U.S. women’s national team star.

She was the future, future, future, until, in 2022, and specifically on Saturday night, she became the present.She became, at 22 years and two months old, the league’s youngest-ever MVP this week. And then she became a champion. She needed only four minutes to swing Saturday’s title game in Washington, D.C., and win the Portland Thorns their third NWSL title.Smith pounced on a Kansas City mistake, rounded AD Franch, and slid the first goal of a 2-0 triumph into an empty net.And she celebrated, in front of 17,624 awestruck fans, as if she’s been doing this her entire life — because, well, she has.Smith became the future long before she’d even turned 18. She tore up youth tournaments and, at 16, earned her first USWNT call. She went off to Stanford, and scored 17 sophomore-year goals. She bagged an NCAA tournament semifinal hat trick en route to a national championship.She glided past helpless defenders in college, and conjured sorcery even against the world’s best youth national teams. She wriggled in and out of tight spaces. She spanked quick-trigger shots, and showcased vision and spatial awareness well beyond her years. She left Stanford after two seasons, and became a no-brainer No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020. She joined a Portland team with five World Cup winners and the greatest international goalscorer ever. A few of those veterans remained the cornerstones of a 2022 team that endured unfathomable heartache but possessed unbelievable depth. The Thorns regularly brought international stars off the bench. One, Crystal Dunn, won their semifinal with a 93rd-minute banger.Smith, meanwhile, entered the year as a still-very-promising 21-year-old. She was already a national teamer, but five Thorns players had made the NWSL’s 2021 Best XI first or second team, and Smith hadn’t been one of them. She scored seven league goals last year. She was a piece of a superteam, but merely a piece — until, from the outset of the 2022 season, she became something far more. She scored early and often, and especially often in June. She scored in the league and in the NWSL Challenge Cup. She scored for the national team in World Cup qualifying and against England at Wembley. She scored 28 goals in total.

She remains the future, and brighter than ever. But she arrived, definitively, as the now this year. Her presence created Portland’s second goal on Saturday at Audi Field as well. Her quickness and confidence nearly created more.

By Steph YangOct 31, 2022 The Athletic

Congratulations to the 2022 NWSL champion Portland Thorns. In its 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current at Audi Field, the club added a third star above their crest thanks to a well-executed plan carried out over 90-plus minutes. The plan was so well-executed, in fact, that forward Sophia Smith said “It was honestly just a fun game to play” afterward. All in all, a successful cap to an intense, sometimes painful, season.

One thing that really stood out at this year’s edition of the NWSL Championship was that it had a sense of occasion for the whole weekend. It hasn’t always been so; previous championships might have had a few events like a supporter meetup or a pre-match party, but this championship truly felt like the culmination of 10 years of growth. For starters, it was a primetime game on over-the-air CBS in the U.S., and the pre-game fanfest outside of Audi was loud, crowded, and plastered with sponsorships. There were live broadcasts from both CBS Sports via their Attacking Third show, and from the league’s partner Just Women’s Sports. Players from other teams were everywhere, and there was a particularly special presentation of custom letterman jackets to players who have been in the league since its first season.There was also, crucially, a giant truck parked outside, selling merchandise from every team in the league. That might sound like an extremely low bar to set, and yet it’s been a recurring problem not just in NWSL, but in all of women’s soccer, even at the international level. The line for the merch truck was, at points, nearly the full length of the fan fest itself, with well over a hundred people waiting to make purchases. People spending money on women’s soccer! What a concept!

You’ve seen the goal celebration by now. It’s right there, pictured at the top of this piece. The USWNT forward’s reaction to scoring an early opening goal was also the exclamation mark from Smith on a fantastic year. If fans didn’t think she’d arrived before, she was telling them right then and there that she is here to chew bubblegum and score goals, and she’s all out of bubblegum.“There’s been, you know, a lot of people who don’t think that I deserved to win MVP. So that was a little bit of ‘that’s that’,” said Smith after the game when asked about the celebration. There’s always going to be arguments for or against players for MVP no matter who gets nominated. If you want to say, for example, Alex Morgan or Debinha should have been MVP of 2022, there’s certainly evidence to support that. But there is no denying that Smith should be in the argument. Per FBRef, she led the league in shots on target per 90 with 2.73 (second place was Mal Pugh with 2.1) and her shot creation and shot creation per 90 are among the best in the league, third overall in both categories. Her actual goal creation and goal creation per 90 are also tops, fifth and tenth overall respectively. These stats are heavily dominated by midfielders, understandably so given their roles on the field, so it’s even more special to see a forward like Smith so dominant in creating shots and goals for her team.We have been told that this picture of Smith will now hang in the National Portrait Gallery.The Current isn’t done yet

It doesn’t feel good to lose a championship, no matter how outmatched you might have been at the end, and Current players were understandably glum after the game. Yet there also seemed to be a seed of resolve – this entire season has been the proof of concept that with the right mindset and the right work and the right personnel and the right resources, you can fight your way to the top. You can win vs. teams with superstar names or glitzier rosters, move past teams that have historically done much better than you, outperform teams with longer histories or a more recognizable name. It can be done, because the Current did it, and they’ll be determined to do it again in 2023.“We earned this. I don’t think anything was given to us,” said midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta after the final. “This is why it hurts, because Kansas City showed up for us for sure,” she said, thanking one of the local KC reporters for having made the trip out to Washington, D.C. “And we played for them. You know, the whole time when we didn’t have the support of our city when we were FCKC, we played for each other. And the best thing that we did this year is get the support of the entire city behind us. That’s why it hurts so much.”“We have the city on our back now and the future is so bright for this team for sure,” LaBonta continued. “We were in last (place) last year and we turned it around immediately with investment in people buying in, new staff members. So we can only go up. I have two more years in my contract…so let’s go. I don’t think anybody will sleep on this team anymore.”

It felt notable that, for just a few days, the majority of the conversations in NWSL circles were about…soccer. Just soccer. Sure, the media had some questions for the players about finding joy from these games or coping with a difficult season, but everyone seemed happy to just be able to focus on a soccer game between two good teams, and the battle on the field. The issues that have come to light this season about the extensive abuse and harassment that has pervaded NWSL are critical issues, and discussing them openly and in-depth is absolutely required in order to find justice for victims of abuse and to prevent this from happening to more players in the future. But after weeks of intense questions on the topic after the release of the Yates report just before the USWNT friendlies in Europe, there was certainly a little bit of relief when the conversations could just be about two teams playing a game, and one of them being crowned the winner. In the offseason, there will be more questions and more hard feelings to process, especially with the impending NWSL investigation yet to come. But we can’t forget that the players can’t and shouldn’t have to be constantly advocating for themselves. At some point they need a break too, and a big, exciting game with tons of fans and a primetime spotlight was no less than they deserved.

GRANT WAHLOCT 29

Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville celebrates his game-winning goal to beat Liverpool at Anfield (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Under-fire coach Jesse Marsch and Leeds United got a huge 2-1 win at Liverpool on Saturday, with the game-winner coming from Crysencio Summerville in the 89th minute to send the Anfield partisans into shock and the visiting Leeds support into ecstasy. Here are my three thoughts on the game:

• It was a deserved win for Leeds—and a phenomenal performance by goalkeeper Illan Meslier. These are the kinds of results that can turn seasons around. Leeds hadn’t won in eight league games and had lost four in a row, sinking into the relegation zone and putting Marsch’s job in serious jeopardy. So what do they do? They go and win at Anfield. Rodrigo’s fourth-minute goal was a gift from Joe Gomez, and it looked like order was being restored when Mohamed Salah equalized 10 minutes later. But Meslier was immense in goal, making nine saves, and Leeds never stopped going toe-to-toe with Liverpool. If anyone wondered whether the Leeds players had stopped playing for Marsch, they answered that today with an enormous effort for every minute of the contest. That paid off in the game’s final stages, when good work by second-half sub Willy Gnonto and Patrick Bamford (who struggled otherwise) put the ball on the foot of Summerville, who stabbed it past Alisson for the match-winner and pulled his shirt off in a wild celebration. The game marked the first defeat ever for Virgil van Dijk in his 70 matches played there.

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• The American players were terrific. Leeds had really missed Tyler Adams when he was out injured in the last game, a 3-2 loss to Fulham, and he came back with authority at Liverpool. Adams did what he does best: cover a lot of space, win balls, pass the ball upfield and harass opponents like Andy Robertson. Adams also has a swagger about him that tells everyone that he belongs here in the biggest games at the most hallowed stadiums. Like Adams, Brenden Aaronson played the entire game, and he had his moments, including hitting the crossbar on a first-half shot attempt. And like Adams, Aaronson brought an energy and commitment that didn’t waver. Even during the toughest moments so far this season, Adams and Aaronson have been two of Leeds’s best players, and if you’re a U.S. fan you have to be happy seeing how well they have performed and how many minutes they have gotten to be ready for the World Cup.

• Marsch should get a reprieve now. Is it crazy that Leeds has just three wins, and two of them have come against Liverpool and Chelsea? Yeah. But the truth is that almost all the underlying data has shown that Leeds’s performances have been better than where the team has been in the table. Marsch has been saying he has the board’s support while acknowledging that he needed to get some Ws, and soon. Leeds has three more games before the World Cup break—league matches against Bournemouth and Spurs and a League Cup tie with Wolves—and it seems likely now that Marsch will remain the coach through the World Cup break. It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of his team’s win at Anfield. Liverpool needed points badly and couldn’t get them. And in one 90-minute game, Leeds may have turned its season around. We’ll know more soon enough, but Leeds players have to know that their ceiling is high. They just need to approach it more often.

October 25, 2022October 26, 2022 gatorbest

Champions League Tues/Wed

We are nearing the final 2 games of the Group Stage in Champions League (Europe’s best teams) and Europa League with some big games this week featuring Americans this week on Paramount plus with Wrap-Around shows on at 3 pm on CBS Sports Network. Tues at 12:45 pm Chelsea and Pulisic (who has started) still need wins to advance as they travel to Salzburg, while Celtic and Carter-Vickers must win vs Shaktar Donetsk at 3 pm. Dortmund and Gio Reyna are 2^nd as they host Man City vs their former Talisman #9 Halland also at 3 pm. Wed Barcelona must win vs Bayern Munich to stay alive at 3 pm on Para+, while Liverpool needs to at least tie Ajax at home at 3 pm to secure advancement. Rangers and Americans James Sands and Malik Tillman must win @ Napoli at 3 pm to stay alive. Watch the Golazo shows on CBSSN at 3 pm on both Tues/Wed to see wrap-around coverage with pregame and postgame as well. Thurs Arsenal’s American Goalie Matt Turner will look for his 3^rd straight shutout vs PSV at 12:45 pm while Jordan Pefok and Union Berlin needs a home win or tie vs Braga to stay in contention at 12:45 pm in Europa League action on Paramount plus. Live Update Pulisic Asst vs Salzburg Goal in Spanish as it should be. UCL Permutations.

MLS Conf Finals Sun + NWSL Final Portland vs KC Sat 8 pm CBS

Again wow – theMLS Playoffs continue to excite as we are down to the final 4 teams this Sunday. The East has the Philly Union facing NYCFC on Sunday at 8 pm Fox Sports 1 Prime time. While the West has Supporter Shield holders LAFC hosting Austin FC at 3 pm on ABC. The NWSL Finals will feature the Portland Thorns (Crystal Dunn, Sophia Rodriguez, Sophia Smith) vs the Kansas City Current at 8 pm on CBS. Portland’s Crystal Dunn a 2^nd half sub scored the game winner vs Seattle 2-1. Listen to that soldout Crowd in Portland – Soccer Capital of the US! KC vs Seattle highlights, Portland vs San Diego highlights.

Indy 11 & USL

Great to see former Carmel FC GK Coach and Indy 11 GK Jordan is headed to the playoffs with his #1 Seed In the Western Division San Antonio vs Colorado Switchbacks Saturday on ESPN+ at 8 pm. Jordan was just edged out for GK of the Year. USL Playoff Bracket

High School – #2 Carmel Girls to the State Finals on Sat 4 pm vs #1 Noblesville@ IUPUI (Indy 11 Michael Carroll Stadium)

The Carmel High Girls defeated Center Grove 1-0 to advance to a DREAM State Final match-up vs #1 Ranked Noblesville Sat at 4 pm. For Carmel and Legendary Coach Frank Dixon its the 4th state title game if 5 years. Noblesville beat Carmel mid-season 3-1 at home but Carmel has certainly found their scoring touch over the last month of the season. Carmel FC has a ton of current and former players on the that Carmel squad, also a player on Park Tudor – best of luck this weekend ladies. Also Carmel FC coach Carla Baker is Asst coach for Park Tudor they play Fort Wayne Canterbury right after the Carmel game (6:30 pm). If you are interested in going down to watch, tickets are $15 and should be purchased prior via GoFan.

A lot of Carmel FC Representation on this Carmel High Squad headed to State Finals vs Noblesville on Sat 4 pm @the Mike. CFC GKU all 3 GKs.

State High School Soccer Finals

Saturday, Oct. 29

Class 1A Boys

Greenwood Christian (11-7-3) vs. Park Tudor (18-2-1) | 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT

#1 – Derek Etherington / #2 – Michael Crump / #3 – Chris Smith

Class 2A Girls

Evansville Memorial (20-0-1) vs. Leo (18-4) | 8:15 pm ET / 7:15 pm CT

#3 – Dottie Outcalt

Saturday, Oct. 29

Class 2A Boys | Brebeuf Jesuit (16-4-1) vs. Mishawaka Marian (17-1-2) | 11 am ET / 10 am CT

Class 3A Boys

Columbus North (18-1-1) vs. Noblesville (14-3-3) | 1:30 pm ET / 12:30 pm CT

#1 – Eric Bozeman

Class 3A Girls

Carmel (18-2-2) vs. Noblesville (19-1) | 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT

#2 – Chris Doerner / #3 – Jerry McClatchey

Class 1A Girls

Park Tudor (20-1-1) vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury (12-8-2) | 6:30 pm ET / 5:30 pm CT

#4 – Chuck Mayfield

If you are interested in going down to watch, tickets are $15 and should be purchased prior via GoFan. The names in Red are local referees who are doing these games – Congrats guys!!

Tues, Oct 24 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

12:45 pm Para+ Salzburg vs Chelsea (Pulisic)

3 pm Para+ Benefica vs Juventus (McKinney)

3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig

3 pm Para+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Man City

Wed, Oct 25

12:45 Para+ Club Brugge vs Porto

3 pm Para+ Barca vs Bayern Munich

3 pm Para+ Tottenham vs Sporting

3 pm Para+ Ajax vs Liverpool

3 pm Para+ Napoli vs Rangers ()

Thur, Oct 26 EUROPA

12:45 pm Para+ PSV vs Arsenal

12:45 pm Para+ Union Berlin (Pefuk) vs Bragga

3 pm Para+ Man United vs Sheriff

3 pm Para+ West Ham vs Silkeborg

Sat, Oct 29

7:30 am USA Leicester City vs Man City

9 am CBSSN Napoli vs Sassuolo

9:30 am ESPN+ Bayern Muchen vs Mainz

10 am USA Chelsea (pulisic) vs Brighton

11 am bein Sport PSG vs Troyes

12:30 NBC Everton vs Fulham (Robinson, Ream)

12:30 ESPN+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Frankfort

2:45 pm USA Liverpool vs Leeds United (Aaronson, Adams)

3 pm ESPN+ Valencia vs Barcelona

8 pm CBS Portland Thorns vs KC Current

Sun, Oct 30

10 am USA Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest

10:30 am ESPN+ MGladbach vs Union Berlin (Pefuk)

12:15 pm USA Man United vs West Ham

1 pm Big 10 Net Indiana U Men vs Maryland

3:45 pm Para + Torino vs Milan

3 pm ABC LAFC vs Ausstin West Con Final

8 pm Fox Sport 1 Philly Union vs NYCFC East Con Final

8:15 pm Univsion Pachuca vs Toluca Mexico playoff

Tues/Wed Nov 8 &9 Champions League

Sat, Nov 5

4 pm Fox MLS Finals

Sun, Nov 10

7 pm FS1 USWNT vs Germany

Thur, Nov 13

5 pm ESPN USWNT vs Germany

8 pm ESPN2 USL Finals

Sun, Nov 20

11 am Fox World Cup Starts

Mon, Nov 21

8 am FS1 England vs Iran

2 pm Fox USA vs Wales

Mon, Nov 22

11 am Fox Mexico vs Poland

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

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CARMEL FC PLAYERS : Winter Players League (WPL) – Badger Indoor Fieldhouse
As the fall season comes to a close over the next month, we wanted to let you know that we will be launching an indoor soccer league over two six week sessions within our new Badger Fieldhouse. Games will be played on either Friday night ( 6pm to 10pm) or Sunday afternoon (1pm-5pm) depending on age groups: U8s, U9&U10, U11&U12, U13-U15 and U16+ (Coed Teams allowed). Referees for each game, 50 minute games, 5v5, 7v7 and 9v9 matches.
Session One (6 weeks): Jan 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th / Feb: 3rd, 10th $100 (includes Tshirt)
Session Two (6 weeks): Feb 17th, 24th / Mar 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th $100
Registration Information coming shortly, gather teammates and be ready to play!

Also CFC Goalkeepers we’ll have Indoor Training at the Fieldhouse on Wed nights – U11 5:30, U13 6:30 and U14/Highschool 8:30 pm starting Dec 3.

Lewis Bagley Special for IndyStar

SEYMOUR — For the fourth time in five years, coach Frank Dixon will take Carmel to the Class 3A girls soccer state finals. This time, however, his team is a bit different. Third-ranked Carmel netted the only goal it would need in the 31^st minute and took down No. 7 Center Grove, 1-0, in the semistate contest at Seymour High School. It’s the 14^th semi-state title for the program.

IHSAA soccer state tournament: Semistate pairings, schedule

Up next: Noblesville leaves no doubt with 7-0 win. Up next? Carmel for a state title.

Carmel (18-2-2) will meet top-ranked Noblesville in the title game at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium. Date and time to be announced Sunday by the IHSAA. “What’s different with this team?” Dixon asked, pondering the question a second. “Well, what’s the same is that we have a lot of good players, but the difference is I don’t think we have a ‘star’ player. “Look at this game. It was a freshman that got us through. We’re not a star-studded team, but a hard-working team that gets the job done.” The “freshman” Dixon referred to was Adalyn Cameron, who notched the only goal. Cameron camped out to the left of Center Grove goalkeeper Sophia Gorall and picked up a corner kick from junior Megan Hamm and tallied only her second goal of the season. The assist for Hamm was her team-leading ninth of the season. The goal came on the north end of the field with a strong, brisk wind at Carmel’s back. That helped the Greyhounds stymie a Center Grove offense that was a victim of a 2-0 shutout loss to Carmel in their last meeting Sept. 21. Carmel had nine shots on goal in the first half, while CG couldn’t muster any on Greyhounds keeper Aubree Empie. Carmel also had a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks. With the wind at its back in the second half, Center Grove coach Myron Vaughn made an adjustment that helped his team mount more of a challenge, “We added a couple more attackers going with the wind,” Vaughn said. “It helped us get some more set pieces (in our offense) and we’ve been able to score on those all year.” This time, Empie and the Carmel defense stood tall to complete the shutout. The loss ends Center Grove’s season at 17-3-2 and brighter days seem to be ahead for the program. “From August until now, it’s like night and day,” Vaughn said of his team. “This group really came together and bought in and that’s why we were here. We have 16 juniors on our roster and the experience of playing in the semistate will help them. Carmel, meanwhile, will be seeking its 11^th state title (all under Dixon) and the first since 2018. Carmel finished as runner-up in 2019 and last season. “I thought we played Noblesville well last time, until the final minute,” Dixon said, referring to a 3-1 loss to the Millers Sept. 19. “I think we are a better team now, but they probably are, too.” Bishop Chatard girls fall in Evansville No. 1 Memorial scored twice in the second half of a 2-0 win over No. 5 Chatard in the Class 2A girls semistate. Myla Browning opened the scoring with 35 minutes left. An Avarie Zeller cross was saved but Browning poked the loose ball over the line. Zeller netted the final goal, a header over the keeper, with 6:32 remaining. Memorial (21-0-1) will face the Mishawaka Marian-Leo winner in the state championship. Chatard finished with an 18-3-1 record. No. 1 Park Tudor girls advance in Class A No. 1 Park Tudor advanced to the state championship with a 1-0 win over No. 4 Mater Dei.Paige Dill recorded the only goal for the Panthers with 16 minutes left in the first half. The sophomore connected on a 40-yard free kick that hit the crossbar and deflected off the hands of the goalkeeper.Park Tudor (20-1-1) will face the Andrean/Fort Wayne Canterbury winner in the 1A state final. Mater Dei finished with a 14-8 record. Noblesville girls soccer leaves no doubt with 7-0 win. Up next? Carmel for a state title. Richard Torres Special for IndyStar KOKOMO – No. 1 Noblesville wasn’t taking any chances.A year removed from losing a shot at a potential third straight Class 3A girls soccer state championship, Noblesville opened up its offense during the Kokomo semistate and showed why its only lost two games in four seasons.The Millers (19-1) converted four goals in the first 28 minutes against No. 12 Crown Point Saturday and didn’t allow a shot until the 68^th minute to win 7-0 with a chance to claim their third state crown in four years. ‘Always Find a Way.’Noblesville boys soccer does just that on road back to state finals.

Sophomore Meredith Tippner recorded a hat trick to give the Millers a 3-0 lead by the 24^th minute, and she finished with four goals overall with her finale making it 6-0 by halftime. “Honestly, you don’t get four goals unless you have people around you that can put in you that position,” said Tippner, who has 15 goals on the season. “I know at least two or three of those were gimmes based off a teammate and the team working up. Couldn’t ask for a better team to be with right now.”The Millers have won 15 games by shutout, including five consecutive state tournament contests. The only team to score against the Millers this postseason was No. 8 Fishers in the sectional quarterfinals on Oct. 4.“We have set the bar high for ourselves, but that’s what we keep looking to achieve. We knew this wasn’t our last game of our season. We knew we wanted to get another chance,” Noblesville coach Mike Brady said. “To get to the state final the way we’ve played all year, now, again, we’re going to have to play our best game of the season, if we want to bring home the trophy.”Noblesville’s seven-goal performance was its highest output of the season, and it came at the ideal time with No. 3 Carmel (18-2-2) sitting in between the Millers and another state title. “It’s the biggest stage you can be on, and I think we’re ready to compete,” Tippner said. “I’m ready and excited for it.”Tippner unveiled her focus with her first two goals coming off assist from senior Ava Bramblett in the 6th and 18th minutes. Her third goal was assisted by Atley Pittman, a sophomore, and her fourth was a header off a corner-kick pass by senior Victoria Goodwin in the 78th minute.Pittman increased the lead 4-0 in the 28^th minute off an assist from senior Mia Brake. Bramblett made it 5-0 in the 36^th minute on a pass from Tippner, which initiated the mercy-rule running clock in the first half.The Millers’ final goal was a putback by junior Stella Scroggin in the 43^rd minute, wrapping up the program’s third semistate title in four years.“Last year, we lost to a great Homestead team, who ended up winning it all. We were all crushed and felt this was our season,” Tippner said. “I’m just glad that we’ve all come together this season and now get a chance to play a really good Carmel team. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”In 2021, Noblesville lost to eventual state champion Homestead in the regional semifinal, 4-2. Since the loss, the Millers have focused on redemption and will join the Noblesville boys team that will also contend for a state title enxt weekend at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.“I still put that Homestead loss on me. For some reason, I feel like we didn’t play the way we were able to, and that’s kind of what we’ve done all year. There was one game earlier this season (against No. 4 Zionsville) we didn’t show up and we lost (2-1), but we learned,” Brady said.“We haven’t lost since. It’s an attitude that’s addictive in this program. And again, we’re all pushing ourselves because when you’re ranked No. 1, there’s only one goal you set for yourself and we have a chance to play for it.”

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Oct 20, 2022; Los Angeles, California, US; Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (99) celebrates with forward Cristian Arango (9) after scoring during the first half of the MLS Cup Playoff semifinal against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Banc Of California Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

By Paul Tenorio Oct 21, 202217

Somehow, someway, El Trafico always delivers.Thursday night’s rivalry game between LAFC and the LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup playoffs delivered plenty of excitement, including three goals in the final 18 minutes of play, as LAFC downed its crosstown rival, 3-2, in a back-and-forth affair.The third goal of that crazy final stretch, scored by LAFC forward Chicho Arango three minutes into second-half injury time, set off the home crowd in a raucous celebration and eventually sent LAFC back to the Western Conference final for the first time since 2019.It was yet another thrilling chapter in this nascent LA derby.Arango’s 93rd-minute goal, scored from the doorstep after Dénis Bouanga’s volley was stopped by Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, provided an exclamation point on what was a frantic final 20 minutes.Bouanga netted his second goal of the night in the 80th minute after a beautiful sequence from LAFC. Diego Palacios found Arango near the top of the box, and the Colombian laid it off to an overlapping Ryan Hollingshead, whose cross just missed a sliding Kwadwo Opoku only to land on the foot of Bouanga at the far post. The designated player did not miss.Just five minutes later, however, the party at Banc of California Stadium was silenced.Dejan Joveljic was on the field just 86 seconds before adding to what was a legendary super-sub season. The 23-year-old scored his ninth goal as a substitute this year with a brilliant right-footed finish curled to the far post, seemingly saving the Galaxy’s season.Eight minutes later, however, Arango found the game-winner.Bouanga was the hero on the night for LAFC. When the Frenchman joined LAFC as a designated player in August on a reported $5 million transfer fee, there was some question about what type of impact he could make as a late addition to a star-studded squad.Doubts increased about the 27-year-old when he managed just one goal in seven games with LAFC in the regular season. But Bouanga made a huge impact in his first MLS playoff game.Bouanga opened the scoring in the 23rd minute by jumping on LAFC’s first big chance in the game. Carlos Vela dropped into space to get on the ball, then threaded a pass through the Galaxy back line to Bouanga, who showed his strength to stay in front of Douglas Costa, control the ball and finish to the far post.That 1-0 lead surely felt like a huge relief to the home side after the Galaxy had found the better chances through the opening 20 minutes.The Galaxy, though, snagged an equalizer just before halftime when Samuel Grandsir jumped on a poor clearance to power a shot to the far post and past LAFC netminder Maxime Crépeau.Grandsir’s goal set up a fantastic second half, and behind Bouanga and Arango LAFC was able to find its way to the Western Conference final for the first time since 2019. LAFC beat the Galaxy, 5-3, to get to that conference final before bowing out to the eventual MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders.LAFC will now await the winner of Sunday’s FC Dallas-Austin FC semifinal.

By Jeff RueterOct 20, 2022

In one of the most anticipated matchups of the MLS Cup Playoffs quarterfinals, the Philadelphia Union overcame an FC Cincinnati side that was largely rebuilt by sharing its identity. Jim Curtin’s side withstood a worthy challenge by his former assistant and first-year Cincy head coach Pat Noonan, with Leon Flach proving an unlikely hero with his first goal since October 3, 2021.

With captain Alejandro Bedoya absent due to a hip flexor, 19-year-old Jack McGlynn took his place in midfield. McGlynn was part of the U.S. side which won this summer’s CONCACAF U-20 Championship but made just nine starts in the regular season. As for Cincinnati, Geoff Cameron was limited to a bench role due to injury and replaced by rookie Ian Murphy, while Yuya Kubo was omitted for family reasons.

While Cincinnati was the only team to win away from home in the first round, they hardly started the match as a distant underdog. The Orange and Blue were the aggressors for the first five minutes, keeping 70 percent of the ball in the early interval and working to pressure the Union backline. However, they struggled to turn the time into chances, and Philadelphia quickly worked back into the game.Although the match was evenly contested through 30 minutes, Cincinnati talisman and Best XI candidate Luciano Acosta fell to injury in the 34th minute. The playmaker caught his left foot in the grass and had it buckle underneath his weight as he tried to keep a ball in play under minimal defensive contest. Acosta was able to stay in the game but was visibly hobbled for several minutes after his return. Ultimately, the two sides headed to the locker room for halftime in a scoreless deadlock — although the half was anything but dull.The second half started much as the first had, with Cincinnati looking to force the issue. Andre Blake (who was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year earlier on Thursday) was forced into action several times, keeping the stalemate while his defense absorbed pressure. Finally, the Union was able to get the ball into the attacking third with intention in the 59th minute. While the ball bounced through the team’s attacking triumvirate of Mikael Uhre, Julian Carranza and Dániel Gazdag in the box, it spilled out to midfielder Flach.While the midfielder only managed one goal in 2021 and didn’t score during 34 regular season appearances, the former FC St. Pauli man didn’t waste a rare chance despite three Cincinnati defenders converging on him. Flach got his laces through it and sent the ball above a diving Roman Celentano, giving the hosts a breakthrough with half an hour remaining.Once again, Cincinnati was quick to respond with a convincing string of attacks. The visitors kept the possession battle at a near 50/50 split through the 75th minute, regularly moving the ball into the final third. However, the staunch Philadelphia defense kept its shape and ensured that the dangerous trio of Acosta (who appeared less hobbled after halftime treatment), Brenner and Brandon Vazquez was limited to shooting in less threatening areas. Even when they did make attempts, Blake was up to the occasion, with the Union faithful chanting “M-V-P” after his most impressive parries.Center official Timothy Ford let the two sides live up to the moment’s intensity, staying hesitant to show cards and allowing for persistent infringement by some of the matchup’s feistiest players. Philadelphia had a golden chance to put the game away just before stoppage time, but a corner kick bounced off several Union men before Cory Burke’s touch from two yards out went wide of the post.Burke had another chance to ice the game a minute later, but his looping shot went over the far corner of the goal. Cincinnati sent many players forward as they desperately chased an equalizer. A last-gasp shot by Álvaro Barreal was blocked before it could reach the goalmouth, and Ford blew his whistle as the rebound settled back toward the center circle. The Union will host the winner of CF Montréal – New York City on Sunday, Oct. 30.

By Meg Linehan and Steph YangOct 24, 2022

Portland Thorns FC and the Kansas City Current are heading to Washington, D.C. In the first match of Sunday’s duo of semifinals, the Thorns needed all 90 minutes plus stoppage time to dispatch the San Diego Wave, with Crystal Dunn providing the storybook ending. Portland is now back to another final to play for a third star. The Current went into OL Reign’s home stadium and walked away with a 2-0 win, thanks to goals from Alex Loera and Kristen Hamilton, plus yet another clutch performance from Adrianna Franch in goal.There are so many narrative threads to follow leading into next week’s NWSL Championship: two first-year coaches, KC’s worst-to-championship turnaround, Portland’s players banding together for each other as the club faces huge systemic challenges following the Yates report. That’s in addition to more player-focused stories like Dunn’s incredible return to action after giving birth, Franch’s importance on this Current team and the role of rookies like Sam Coffey for Portland and Elyse Bennett for KC. Portland may be heading to the East Coast as the No. 2 seed, but as we’ve seen this season in the NWSL, there’s no such thing as a clear favorite this year. Before we fully turn our attention to next Saturday’s primetime final, let’s savor these two semifinals.

That is not an exaggeration. Both of the goals Portland scored to close out the Wave on Sunday were absolute screamers. Let us relive them together. First: Rocky Rodriguez. After this game, the laces part of that boot should be preserved in a museum.

And then the winner from Dunn, substituted into this game and hitting it sweet from almost the same spot as Rodriguez.The Thorns had about three weeks of rest between the last game of the regular season and Sunday’s semifinal, and they looked pretty good throughout despite going down early. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson hinted before the game that so much rest isn’t necessarily good for a team; too long between games and players can get antsy, go flat, and lose cohesion. But that rest ended up coming in handy as the Wave tired and eventually got pinned in their own box as the Thorns generated ever more chances. Credit to Wilkinson for setting the team up well, and for starting young Yazmeen Ryan with team captain Christine Sinclair on the bench. Wilkinson told the media after the game that she knew the matchup would probably be highly transitional, and she wanted Ryan’s ability to cover the wing.The game also featured a great crowd; something that clearly meant a lot to players at a club where there’s been a lot of understandable tension over attendance, with fans debating whether or not they want to boycott games, while players ask fans for their support. “I think when we heard that there were many, many people showing up today it really allowed us to get hyped for this game,” said Dunn after the game. “Our fans have been through a lot as well this year, along with players, and I think them showing up is exactly what we want for this community. We want everyone to obviously be able to voice their opinion and be able to share their feelings, but at the same time we also understand without the fans, I mean, the game is just not as fun. And being able to deliver that moment today for them was really special because it made me feel like we’re all in this together. It’s a tough year but we have lived and survived to fight for another game.”

The mood in the Wave camp postgame was certainly down, but it was also pretty clear that head coach Casey Stoney — along with Taylor Kornieck and Naomi Girma — still had plenty to be proud of in their 2022 season. Stoney, once again with her kids beside her on the podium, credited the two amazing goals as well as Thorns goalkeeper Bella Bixby’s clutch saves for the end result. “My overriding emotion is huge pride in the team, the players and the club,” she said, “and what we’ve been able to do in a short space of time. Now we need to use this feeling to fuel us to get better.”Kornieck said multiple times how she could not wait for preseason to kick off in February; Girma was also already considering what the team would take away from this result to use in the future. “I think there’s a lot for us to learn as a group and for me individually from my rookie year,” Girma said. “I think the sky’s the limit for this group, so just really excited for next year.”Stoney expanded on a few specific areas where she thinks the Wave can improve. “This team has grown from week to week, strength to strength,” she said. “Now, how can we consistently, when we’re not playing well, get results? I think we struggled with that midseason. We’ll look at how we can be really hard to beat when we’re not necessarily on our game, and then when we are on our game, finishing our chances and being clinical in that final third is something that we’ll look at.”San Diego truly did set a standard for themselves — and the current NWSL teams and any future expansion team — in 2022. Stoney has lived through her first NWSL postseason and now gets a few months to figure out how to take her team to the championship next season. It’s almost a scary thought to think about how there’s still so much room to grow for year two.

Ohhhh, OL Reign. Another NWSL shield win, another defeat at the hands of Kansas City to show for it. This loss was obviously quite different than it was in 2014 and 2015, but this one might hurt even more in many ways. Thinking back to the tail end of the regular season, the three Reign OGs in Megan Rapinoe, Jess Fishlock and Lu Barnes talked about this particular edition of the team — this was supposed to be the year that they broke through to the championship and won it all. There weren’t any excuses after the game. Both head coach Laura Harvey and Rapinoe dismissed any concerns about the bye week playing a role in the loss, especially considering the international travel that impacted so much of the team. “I don’t even really know if we deserved more out of the game. We didn’t really take our chances and impose ourselves on the game,” Rapinoe said. “Tough, tough moment for us, especially playing the way we’ve been playing and having the season that we’ve had.”Mostly, it seemed, it was having to face the fact that they simply had not been anywhere good enough on Sunday. “We lacked quality when we needed it, and that was the game really,” Harvey said. “That was my message at the end of the game. We’re a very honest group with each other, and at the end, I was honest with them to say that I truly believe that over the course of the season, do we deserve to get closer to that championship? Yes. On tonight’s performance, we didn’t show quality when we needed it.”It’s now been two years in a row where the Reign looked like they had the team on paper to win it all. And — to agree with Fishlock once again — winning the Shield does not get enough credit in the NWSL; it is a much harder task, especially this chaotic season. But the Reign showing up and simply not having it on Sunday night has to be one of the most painful ends of the season this team has ever had.

What a statement game for Kansas City. They’ve grown into their roster and their tactics over the course of the season, showing a steadiness both in their gameplay and in their mental resiliency that has brought them to the brink of a championship. From their fourth-minute goal off of Alex Loera – who also had herself a goal-line clearance – to their direct team effort on Kristen Hamilton’s 63rd-minute follow-up, they just never looked rattled.“Alex loves to express herself on the attacking side of the game and she was allowed to do that a little bit more this evening,” said head coach Matt Potter after the game. Hamilton’s goal in particular was a great encapsulation of KC’s desire to always win the ball and the attackers’ ability to be disruptive with their movement It was also the result of a little bit of luck.“I was kind of fortunate enough to be on the sideline talking to Matt at the moment,” said Hamilton after the game, “Where we were talking about the subs coming in and what we were going to do from there. And I just happened to see (Franch) decide to play the ball early and I was like, ‘Well, I gotta go Matt’. Kind of in the perfect spot of the perfect time. So thanks, Matt.”Potter, Hamilton, and Franch expounded further on the way that KC has built a team culture together, something that perhaps carries additional meaning for a club going from last on the table to championship game in one season. “You have to come together to be a championship team,” said Franch after the game. “You have to have some type of togetherness and everybody on the same page and moving to where we want to go and wanting to get better every single day and wanting to achieve the things that we were achieving. And that’s every single person on the team, staff included, putting in the time and the effort to be here.”“The players that were here (last season), I’m so excited for them because they’ve worked hard as professionals in this league for a long time,” said Potter. “Some of the names you’ve talked about, you know, Lo’eau LaBonta, Kristen Edmonds, Desi Scott, Kristen Hamilton, AD, I mean, the list goes on. I’m so, so proud of them in many ways, but also so excited for them because they’re getting to experience something that brings so much joy in anybody’s life and I couldn’t be more delighted for them and for the new players. Hopefully, this becomes the norm for them.”

A note to the moms in the league

A notable moment from the Thorns-Wave postgame was Wilkinson being asked several questions about Dunn’s return to soccer after giving birth to her child in May, questions that both Wilkinson and Dunn have been asked in multiple press conferences. It’s obviously quite an achievement from Dunn and yet further evidence that Dunn is one of her generation’s greatest athletes. But Wilkinson also had a good point with this:

“I’m not a mother and that experience with your body, unless you’ve had a child, I can’t speak to it. What I can say is that I tried my best to make everything possible for her and just see how she adapted, because some women might be like Crystal Dunn, and some might need a year and a half. I don’t know. But what I do know is we never pushed her. We supported her but we never tried to push any limits. And it just turns out that she’s ready for the end of the season. It’s such a unique experience for every mother…. I don’t also want other mothers in the league to now think they’ve got to do what Crystal Dunn did. It is incredible what she did. But it was done very carefully with a lot of very, very skilled people supporting her return to play.”

Goal line technology when?

Let’s revisit that aforementioned goal-line clearance from Loera for a moment. In the end, it wouldn’t have changed the outcome — but once again, we’re all struggling to have a definitive take on if this ball fully crossed the line using broadcast angles that ultimately tell us nothing definitive at all.

VAR is incoming next season (honestly, we’re still undecided on just how to feel about it but mostly think that the league could have prioritized other investments), and goal-line technology is not fully within every team’s control… but if there’s one big splurge in this area the league could choose to focus on, that might be the one.

Let’s talk about attendance for these NWSL playoffs, and why it’s been so important for the continued success of the league — particularly at this complicated moment in time. Every single match surpassed 20K fans — and while that’s the capacity for Audi Field, a league spokesperson confirmed they’re trending well for a sell-out next Saturday at the championship (the stadium is currently around 70% sold).

The Houston Dash drew 21,284 fans for their quarterfinal against Kansas City last week, setting a new record for playoff attendance that was immediately surpassed in San Diego. 26,215 attended their quarterfinal victory against the Red Stars.This weekend, 22,035 fans filled Providence Park for the first semifinal between the Thorns and the Wave, then a new record at Lumen Field was set with 21,491 in the house for the KC upset.The four best NWSL playoff crowds all happened in the last four NWSL playoff games. The 21,144 who attended the 2018 NWSL Championship in Portland are now in 5th place.There is a virtuous cycle at play here. Full, loud stadiums for the biggest games means a better product on TV, which means more viewers, which means more coverage and sponsors. Sponsors and their money can apply pressure on the league and the teams, especially for better player health and safety — consider all those ad boards in Providence Park on Sunday, pleging their support to the players first and foremost.There’s power in showing up. Bella Bixby asked that of fans in Portland before the semifinal, and she got it on Sunday. It happened in Houston, in San Diego, in Portland, in Seattle. There’s energy here that needs to be carried through into DC, into 2023, through all levels of the sport.I (Meg here) can’t stop thinking about something Andrea Brimmer, chief marketing officer of Ally, said about her approach to the brand’s sponsorship of the NWSL, about the role she has to play for the league right now. She said in an interview that the players are “using their power to take their league back. I want ‘em to have a league to take back.” We’ll see you in D.C. next week.

Oct 23, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Diego Wave FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan (1) passes the ball during the second half against the Portland Thorns FC during the semifinals of the 2022 NWSL Playoffs at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

By Leo BaudhuinOct 24, 2022

The afternoon before the Portland Thorns battled the San Diego Wave for a spot in the NWSL championship game, a group of 20 people gathered outside the northeast entrance to Providence Park. They had three main goals: support the players, build community, and pressure Peregrine Sports LLC to sell its two pro soccer teams: The NWSL’s Portland Thorns and MLS’s Portland Timbers.The crowd held signs, declaring that “Thorns belong to us, not ‘good guys’” and “you knew.”The latter is a refrain that has echoed across the league this year, in the wake of allegations of abuse against multiple former NWSL coaches and staff. Portland had its own reckoning when The Athletic published a story on former Thorns head coach Paul Riley’s sexually coercive behavior toward several of his former players in September 2021 and accounts of the Timbers covering up former player Andy Polo’s domestic violence emerged in February.

This week in NWSL chaos: Bangers only in Portland, KC Current upset OL Reign

Last year, the club temporarily suspended general manager Gavin Wilkinson from his Thorns duties, but many fans felt that his stepping away was not close to the restructuring that both PTFC teams needed. A collection of those fans started Soccer City Accountability Now (SCAN) in April. The organization has arranged protests, contacted club sponsors and media and demanded that Timbers and Thorns owner Merritt Paulson sell both teams.“The front office has just continued to give us reasons to keep coming out,” said Amy Cothron, who’s been a fan of both teams since 2018. “They’ve demonstrated time and time again their inability to treat people with respect and really support their employees.”At the start of October, former U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates released a U.S. Soccer-commissioned investigation into the allegations of abuse in Portland and a handful of other NWSL teams, detailing the systemic failures to protect players across the league. Both Wilkinson and President of Business Mike Golub stepped away from the teams following the Yates report. Paulson resigned from his role as CEO soon after — though he remains financially involved as an owner of Peregrine Sports.For SCAN and other PTFC fans, Peregrine Sports’ continued ownership of the clubs meant Paulson’s removal wasn’t good enough. Hence, the demonstrations ahead of Portland’s semifinal match — the first Thorns or Timbers home game since the Yates report was published.For fans like Cothron, PTFC games are community events where she gets to spend time with friends who she may not see in other areas of her life. Paulson’s continued silence around abuses has “sullied” the idea of that community, she said, and he’s passed on enough opportunities to address abuse in his club that she thinks him leaving completely is the only way to ensure that those patterns don’t continue.For some fans, the solution is simple: transfer the clubs to the ownership of their supporters. They’ve started the Onward Rose City project, which has seen 65,000 pledged shares totaling around $7.3 million since Friday.SCAN member and Timbers and Thorns supporter Sofia Freja said she’s seen overwhelmingly positive responses to the group’s protests. But, she said, “tomorrow’s going to be about supporting the players” in their semifinal game.rs group, the Rose City Riveters — gathered outside the west side of Providence Park, across the street from the players’ entrance. By noon they’d grown to a crowd of 50, holding signs that read “Sauerbrunn is my hero” and “Christine Sinclair GOAT” and larger two-sticks that said “This club was made for you and me” and “Keep your eyes on the prize” accompanied by an NWSL shield drawing. As players showed up, they erupted into cheers.“We know that there are a lot of emotions and feelings,” Gabby Rosas said of the group gathered outside the stadium. Rosas is a member of the Riveters and board president of the 107ist, a nonprofit for Portland soccer supporters. She said she’s talked to people that don’t feel comfortable going into the stadium — some because they don’t want to give money to PTFC ownership, others because it’s a place of trauma for them — but the Riveters rally is a way “to be able to show the players we love you, we care about you, we want to support you.”It’s also about making sure that the players know that fans have their back, SCAN member Tina Ettlin said. Although SCAN planned a demonstration in the stadium — fans held up red “for sale” and “sell the club” signs in the 10 minutes leading up to kickoff — its members emphasized that once the ref blew the starting whistle, everyone’s attention would be on the players. After goalkeeper Bella Bixby urged fans to come show their support for players by packing the stadium, over 22,000 turned out for the match — the second-largest playoff attendance in league history. Their attention paid off. Despite going down early when an unmarked Taylor Kornieck capitalized on a header opportunity to put the Wave up 1-0, the Thorns were able to secure a victory with two brilliant goals.

Kansas City Current advances to NWSL final

Rocky Rodríguez leveled the play in the game’s 20th minute, getting on the end of the third ball off a Thorns corner just outside the 18 and hitting a rocket volley into the back of the net.

But, despite a handful of strong looks from the Thorns and a brilliant first-half save from Bixby, it would take until second-half stoppage-time for either team to strike again — through none other than 2015 NWSL golden boot-winner, new mom, and second-half substitute Crystal Dunn.In the dying minutes of the game, Dunn got on the end of another poorly-cleared ball from a Thorns corner and — as she put it in the postgame press conference — “literally hit it with all [her] might.” And it was enough to put Portland through to its first NWSL final since 2018.“Our fans have been through a lot this year, as well as the players,” Dunn said in the postgame presser. “I think them showing up is exactly what we want for this community. We want everyone to be able to voice their opinion and share their feelings. But at the same time, we understand that without fans, the game’s just not as fun.”The goal was “an explosion of emotions” for everyone in the stadium, Rodríguez said – a feeling backed up by those in the stands.“I wouldn’t do what I do for a millionaire,” said Ettlin, who also serves as a capo for the Timbers and Thorns. “I’m not doing this for Merritt. These players and non-male-centric sports are super important to me, personally, so making sure that people who are involved in that, centering them is all I want to do.”

By Jacob Whitehead Sep 28, 2022

International football is a strange beast.

Bring together players who are not usually team-mates, ship them thousands of miles around the world, stoke expectations beyond all reasonable measure and let them play.It is little surprise that in such odd circumstances, surprise teams often reach the semi-finals and beyond — hosts South Korea in 2002, unfancied Uruguay in 2010, losing finalists Croatia in 2018.Could the World Cup be understood in isolation? A half-tournament, half-fever dream in which events rely more on randomness than destiny or logic? In short, does form matter?To clarify, this is not referring to individual form — whether a striker is in a purple patch or whether a goalkeeper is filled with confidence — in the days preceding the tournament.This is analysing the form of a team, ie, their collective results in the five games preceding the tournament.It is particularly pressing for sides such as England, the United States, Germany and France. The latter three nations have only won one game in their last five, and England have failed to win in their last six matches.On the other hand, sides such as Brazil, Argentina and the Netherlands — who have not lost between them in their last five matches — will want to ensure the likelihood of their form being rewarded in Qatar.So, what do the results say?

For teams with designs on winning the World Cup, the importance of form is clear. Of the World Cup-winning sides of the 21st century, only one team — France in 2018 — lost a single match in their five games before the tournament.In 2002, Brazil won four and drew one. Italy, a more pragmatic side, won two and drew three. Vicente del Bosque’s Spain had a perfect record before the 2014 Germany side won three and drew two.Even that singular France defeat was followed by three successive wins before a much-changed side drew against the United States.Between them, those sides had a win percentage of 68 per cent. If you were to allocate league points to each team’s build-up, the worst form would be the 2006 Italy side, who still took nine points from a possible 15.The last occasion a team had a truly poor build-up and still won the tournament was in 1986, when a Maradona-inspired Argentina won the 1986 World Cup with a record of one win, two draws and two losses. That single win, however, was a 7-2 thrashing of Israel immediately before the tournament.

The worst pre-tournament record by a winning side? That’s Uruguay, from 1950, who lost four of their five games before the tournament. Two of these, at least, were against Brazil, who they shocked in the final. When England won, in 1966, they won each of their five games before the tournament.

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England, France, and Germany will have to rely on events unprecedented for 72 years if they are to add to their tally in Qatar.

The importance of form is still evident, even for those sides who narrowly missed out on the trophy.

This century’s losing finalists average a pre-tournament win rate of 60 per cent. Croatia — with the worst record — still won twice and drew once in their five preceding matches.

Extend the parameters to semi-finalists and the pattern continues. In a small quirk, losing semi-finalists actually have a slightly better win rate than losing finalists — 62 per cent.

Belgium and England, who reached this stage in 2018, were both undefeated in the lead-up to the tournament.

In total, teams who reach the final four win 63 per cent of their pre-tournament matches. Of the 100 matches analysed, they only lost 12.

What does this mean for the upcoming tournament? The likely contenders can be roughly separated into three groups.Brazil, Argentina and the Netherlands are all unbeaten in their last five games and will enter Qatar in sparkling form. Brazil, in particular, have produced some impressive results, albeit against slightly weaker opponents than several European nations. Nevertheless, 18 goals scored for only three conceded is nothing to be sniffed at.Five teams are in mediocre form, with a loss dotted here and there — Belgium, Spain, Uruguay, Portugal and Denmark.Then, at the bottom, are the aforementioned strugglers, which includes several sides for whom anything but victory will be a disappointment — France, Germany, England, Mexico and the US.Since 2002, no side has reached the semi-finals having lost more than two of their five pre-tournament matches. Turkey’s 2002 side and Croatia’s 2018 team have the poorest record, with two wins, one draw and two losses.Of the groups listed above, none of the struggling sides exceed Turkey and Croatia’s record. Their progression would be a significant outlier.

Looking at potential winners, 21st-century champions average 11.6 points from their five pre-tournament games, if matches were allocated the same points as league matches.

Want to place a bet on a World Cup winner? The only sides who have earned at least 10 points are Brazil (15), Argentina (13), Netherlands (13), Spain (10) and Uruguay (10). Victory for any other side would be unparalleled in modern tournaments.

The words of legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi ring true: it seems winning is a habit.

By The Athletic UK StaffOct 22, 2022

After Jurgen Klopp was sent off in Liverpool’s ill-tempered 1-0 win over Manchester City last weekend, Dr Tom Webb posted an image on Twitter similar to the one above of the Liverpool manager screaming at assistant referee Gary Beswick.“What sort of message does this send to people watching?” wrote Webb, who co-ordinates the Referee and Match Official Research Network. “It’s images like this that make people think #referees are fair game… ‘if coaches and players in the Premier League are doing it, then it must be OK’… it isn’t and it certainly won’t help the trend of referee #abuse.”Klopp’s actions came in the Premier League’s marquee Sunday afternoon game on a weekend where Merseyside Youth League matches were postponed “following multiple incidents of inappropriate and threatening behaviour towards our league and match officials”.Klopp, of course, is not the only manager to lose his cool with an official this season and the abuse of officials is a problem throughout the pyramid — and in children’s football, too. So what responsibility do Premier League managers have to set a good example? Does the fish rot from the head down?“I know about our role in public and how difficult it is to be a ref,” said Klopp two days later. “Oh my god, I know all that. I am a ref five times a week in different situations in training and you can never do it right.

Klopp Klopp on the sideline in Liverpool’s win over Manchester City (Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)

“But in the end, we are all human beings and you react how you react. For 99 minutes, in this case, it was pretty intense and always being the perfect version of yourself is actually not possible in life and in these moments (it is) more difficult.“I went over the top in the moment but I don’t think I was disrespectful to anyone. I apologised to the assistant, of course.”This is about much more than the Liverpool manager getting upset with referee Anthony Taylor’s decision not to give a foul on Mohamed Salah by Bernardo Silva. It is a problem deep-rooted in the English game and one that shows little sign of getting better any time soon.So, The Athletic asked Premier League managers whether they think they should set a better example and if it is something of which they are conscious.Do they ever look back at footage of themselves on the touchline and feel embarrassed about their ranting and raving? Or is it just part of the game now; the natural consequence of the pressure and scrutiny which managers find themselves under?

And what can be done to improve the situation?

“I think we all do,” said Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers. “That’s always been the notion for every manager. It is a very passionate game and obviously, from time to time, those passions and those pressures will come out on the side of the field. Sometimes that can spill over, but I think we all have that responsibility as managers, coaches and players to uphold the values of the game.“I was over in Belfast during the international break and I was watching a five-a-side tournament. I was laughing to myself because my own nephew was rolling about the floor and holding his knee and he’s only six. So it definitely does (translate from the professional game to grassroots). It follows through and it’s something that we always need to be aware and conscious of.”

Leicester Rodgers thinks what happens in the top flight translates to grassroots (Photo: John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)

“I think we need to be role models,” agreed Brentford manager Thomas Frank. “We need to be very aware of what we are doing out there.“I think it’s important for, especially Sunday league or grassroots football, they play for fun. Here it’s a professional game and there is so much at stake. So much (media) focus, but even with all that said we still need to be calm and be role models.“I have also been on the touchline and watched my son play, but because I have got a professional career I never said anything. I understand it’s difficult out there because you just want your son or daughter to do well. People need to remember it is the most beautiful game, it gives everyone so much joy and we need to remember that when we are a little bit heated.”Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has a unique perspective given his father, Keith, became a Football League linesman in 1975 and went on to referee in the Premier League before his retirement in 1996.“There are a lot of people watching, of course,” said Cooper. “You always want to be the best version of yourself and a good role model. But at the same time, being a good role model can be about showing that you care; showing that you are ready to stand up and be counted, particularly if things go against your team, which you don’t believe are right.“There are ways and means of going about that. That might sometimes mean a bit of animation or aggression and I think that is OK.”“We all have to act as a role model,” said Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira, who was sent off eight times in the Premier League as a player. “When I say all, I’m not just talking about managers, I’m talking about yourself (journalists). We all have an impact on youth so how we conduct ourselves is important.”

“For 90 minutes or a bit longer, it becomes an emotional game and maybe sometimes you can change your character from what your true character is,” said West Ham manager David Moyes. “If you were in Jurgen Klopp’s position you would probably do the same. But we’ve all got great respect for referees and the work they have to do. I hope, in their way, they will understand that for 90 minutes or a bit longer we can sometimes lose our heads here and there a little bit.“But I think if we stood there and did nothing then our supporters, the public, you (the media) would probably be questioning why not?”Everton boss Frank Lampard picked up this theme, highlighting how after former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte had a skirmish in August, a lot of the rhetoric centred on the passion of Premier League football.

Tuchel, Conte Things boiled over between Tuchel and Conte in August (Photo: Getty Images)

“I remember earlier this season when Tuchel and Conte had this,” he said, “and afterwards it was ‘This is great! This is what the Premier League is all about, people showing passion and showing themselves!’ so you can’t have everything in one go.“We have a responsibility I understand that, but there is also a microscope on managers in the modern day where we’re in highly pressurised jobs. It’s easy for me to sit here in a calm moment and say we should be better, but the amount of pressure we’re under and sometimes the decisions that go against you can throw you.”Lampard also argued that it is more about everyone taking personal responsibility for their actions than Premier League managers acting as role models.He said: “If you’re trying to draw a line from (the Premier League) to a Sunday league game or someone going and physically attacking a referee, then that’s just the personal responsibility of someone who did that, as it would be if they did it on the street.“I understand our responsibility but I don’t draw the line directly from that. I don’t see it much. I see managers in our position handle themselves really well for 99.9 per cent (of the time) and sometimes that little bit comes out.”“We have a lot of cameras on us,” said Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. “It’s happened to me as well many times (getting too emotional). I’d like to control my emotions but during those moments, in certain stadiums, sometimes it can happen. We want to respect the referees and everything involved in the game, but sometimes emotions are there.”

Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp Klopp and Guardiola at Anfield on October 16 (Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

“I am very aware that I am going to be looked at by millions and millions of people, especially children,” said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe. “And I think you have an expectation to make sure the game is upheld in the right way and with the right spirit.“I am certainly aware of my demeanour and behaviour on the touchline. That’s not to say I don’t want to win and I don’t want to win with every fibre of my being, because I do, but I’ve always just had that inside me not to lose my discipline.“Also, my players are looking at me and what are they going to think of me? I’m not going to be able to help them in that moment if I’m not in control of my emotions.”Frank admitted he has reflected on his behaviour “a few times”.“I think in general the fourth official gets too much abuse,” he added. “What can they do? Sometimes it seems like they are only there for us to let the steam out and can say something and I’m definitely doing that myself sometimes. We need to be better in that aspect.”“It has always been my way to be calm,” said Rodgers. “There are obviously games that are more intense but it doesn’t take away your passion for the game. You don’t need to be running up and down the line and shouting, jumping and gesticulating to be passionate, you know. But I think we’re always aware of our conduct.”“I’m certainly conscious of it,” said former Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard earlier this week. “I’ve made mistakes previously on the side and it takes time to calm down. But it’s because we all want to win games and do as best as we can individually for our teams. We want to show our supporters that we’re the leader of those teams. We’re human and mistakes happen.”“We have to show, always, respect,” said Conte. “Sometimes you agree, sometimes you don’t agree with a decision. In the past, I was angry much more with the VAR, not with the referee’s decision, because the decision during a game sometimes is positive and you can take advantage. Sometimes it’s negative and you can argue.”

“Keep talking about it, keep being aware of it, try to create the relationship between each other,” said Frank. “Let’s say you and I went out for a drink every Thursday. We would create a relationship. Then I think that’s better.“If you have a very good relationship with a very good friend, it’s more difficult to be really angry with him. Of course, in the heat of the moment, we are all professionals, but I think it’s about creating a relationship which is most likely difficult because when do we have the time to do it?”“I can always live with good arguments,” said Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who suggested officials should explain their decisions more to help managers’ understanding. “It is not good when we are always jumping on referees. This is definitely not the way we should do it.“It should be always in a respectful way and the referee should explain what he thinks. The fourth officials should also explain the reasons why and then I can live with it.”“I think it’s constant reminders,” said Rodgers. “Behaviour is very, very important. You can be competitive, you can fight tomorrow, but there always has to be a level of behaviour. It’s sometimes harder to do that because there’s emotion, which at times wants to come out and explode but you try to remain calm and keep it inside but it has to come out somewhere.”“We have to try and use common sense in every moment,” said Conte. “I know it’s not simple — I live the game with a great passion and you’re totally involved in the situation.“The best is to find the right balance, for us to have great respect for the referee, the linesman, the fourth official. At the same time, it’s good (for referees) to understand the moment and to look at what happened and be intelligent.“The respect has to be there for them and the referees have to show respect for us. Honestly, in England, there is great respect, I see that.”“When we have our group chats as managers with the LMA (League Managers’ Association, the managers’ union),” said Gerrard, “and everyone is together with the referees — when we’re in a calmer situation — we make an effort to try and decide how we look as managers.“But we’re not perfect. If you feel hard done by, it hurts. We want to win football matches. We’re also professional as well and we’re aware that sometimes we can overstep the mark and it doesn’t look good. When the dust settles we understand and recognise that we need to stay on the right side of it.”

CHESTER, PA - APRIL 12: Catarina Macario #20 of the United States kicks the ball during a game between Uzbekistan and USWNT at Suburu Park on April 12, 2022 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

By Meg Linehan and Steph Yang Oct 24, 2022 The Athletic

The 2023 World Cup creeps ever closer. We now know the group-stage schedule for the United States, so all that’s really left to find out is what the final roster will be — a process that will be shaped by the seven to eight months of international and club form, and multiple players working their way back from significant injuries. There are two final tests on home soil against Germany that await in this calendar year before the pressure cranks up even higher at the start of 2023.We’ve made an attempt to guess what those rosters will (or should) look like, although there’s a healthy dose of personal wish-fulfillment in here, too. We’ve also assumed these will be 23-player rosters instead of an expanded 26, and that any players we include will be fully healthy and fit for the World Cup.

Goalkeepers (3): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), A.D. Franch (KC Current), Bella Bixby (Portland Thorns)

Defenders (8): Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Naomi Girma (SD Wave), Alana Cook (OL Reign), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Hailie Mace (KC Current)

Midfielders (6): Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Catarina Macario (Lyon), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit)

Forwards (6): Mal Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Alex Morgan (SD Wave), Christen Press (Angel City), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)

Goalkeepers (3): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), A.D. Franch (KC Current), Casey Murphy (NC Courage)

Defenders (8): Becky Saurberunn (Portland Thorns), Alana Cook (OL Reign), Naomi Girma (SD Wave), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign)

Midfielders (6): Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Jaelin Howell (Racing Louisville)

Forwards (6): Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Mal Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Catarina Macario (Lyon), Alex Morgan (SD Wave), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign)

Yang: It’s such pressure to put on a young player, but in my mind it’s Naomi Girma. You’ll notice I left Becky Sauerbrunn off my roster just because, with a healthy Davidson, I don’t know that bringing a fourth center back makes sense. I still think Sauerbrunn is absolutely World Cup-caliber and, more than that, she’s a calming veteran presence. So you’d have to maybe displace Cook, or one of the fullbacks, to bring Sauerbrunn. But Girma is a must. If she’s healthy, she’s going to play so, so much of the World Cup. She’s the future of this squad and so far she hasn’t seemed fazed in the slightest by the pressure.

Linehan: It feels a little scary to say, considering the rehab is ongoing, but I still think it’s actually Catarina Macario. I definitely agree with Steph that, defensively, it’s Girma — I was ready to crown her number one on my center back power ranking back in July. Offensively, Macario is the player who feels essential to build around, wherever she’s playing on the field.

Yang: I’ve written about it before, but I think the U.S. needs to focus on its midfield. I think more time has to be given over to developing say, Jaelin Howell, or Coffey, whom I listed above. Maybe even Alex Loera from the Current, although I think part of that is hindsight being 20/20. But that’s also such a difficult question — these are all newer players who haven’t been around for a super long time, so how do you apportion finite resources between working with the players you’ve got and investing in the players who might not even be ready for this cycle, as opposed to the next one?

Linehan: If Sam Mewis’ injury continues to be a problem into 2023, then I think the U.S. does have an issue with options for another box-to-box midfielder. We’re going to get into the midfield (once again) more here in a second, but the USWNT has options to either double-pivot at the 6, or overload a team with two 10s. Providing a look beyond Horan at the 8 does not have an immediate answer as of October.

Yang: The list of injured players right now includes Kelley O’Hara, Tierna Davidson, Catarina Macario, Christen Press, Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams. Some of these players are more likely to be included than others. For example, it really looks like Sam Mewis’ injury rehab is going to be a lot longer and more complicated than anyone would want. If she’s not back with the Current by the start of their season, then she may not have the time needed to get World Cup match fit. I think maybe the biggest players returning who could change how the squad looks are Macario and Press, with O’Hara right behind them.

Linehan: The worrisome part is that we’re talking about injuries that have already been sustained and timelines for players to come back. I’m a nervous human being who’s watching all the injuries currently happening on the men’s side ahead of their World Cup, and just wondering what potential fresh hell awaits us between now and next July.

Yang: I would absolutely love to see Trinity Rodman cement a place in this squad. I included her in my World Cup lineup for a reason. If you’re searching for a ruthless 9, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to put more eggs in that basket. I’d also enjoy seeing a Midge Purce resurgence, no matter how slim a chance she has due to the depth of the forward pool. Really, so much of that will rely on her having a good NWSL season, and…well…Gotham.

Linehan: There’s absolutely a battle ahead for the final forward roster spots — Christen Press, Midge Purce and Lynn Williams are leading that charge, but Ashley Hatch, Mia Fishel, Morgan Weaver… I mean, the depth here remains ridiculous. (I also think there should be zero question about Rodman on this roster.)

But the player I’m absolutely watching is outside back Carson Pickett (NC Courage). She’s been rock solid in the league for a long time, but her contributions from the wing are what might finally get her called up more regularly rather than being added to a roster as an injury replacement.

Yang: Why did we include this question? It’s a jinx question. It’s dependent on so many factors that are TBD, like injuries and upcoming friendlies and maybe even NWSL preseason. If everyone is truly healthy and the vibe in camp is good, it’s a squad that reaches the final. If the same weird problems from the Olympics follow them? Quarters.

Linehan: No matter what’s happening in terms of results before the World Cup, the talent is here to make it to the final. But ask me this question again after the two Germany friendlies, and I might have a real answer (I won’t have a real answer, just a better read on what actual level of panic we should maybe be at.)

Oct 22, 2022 ESPN

England, who beat Germany in the final of Euro 2022 at Wembley, could face co-hosts Australia in the round of 16 if they top Group D as expected, after being paired with China, Denmark and the winners of the Chile/Senegal/Haiti playoff path.

– 2023 Women’s World Cup full bracket and fixtures schedule

New Zealand will face 1995 world champions Norway in the opening game of the tournament at Eden Park, Auckland, on July 20, with Australia kicking off their campaign against Republic of Ireland at the Sydney Football Stadium later the same day.In other stand-out pairings, France will meet Brazil in Group F, with Sweden and Italy pitched together in Group G.How will it all play out? ESPN’s Marissa Lordanic (Groups A, B), Mark Ogden (Groups C, D), Sophie Lawson (Groups E, F) and Becky Thompson (Groups G, H) have assessed each group to predict the big games and the teams who will advance.

If ever there was a time for New Zealand to nab their first-ever Women’s World Cup win, 2023 is surely it.

July 20	New Zealand vs. Norway
July 21	Philippines vs. Switzerland
July 25	New Zealand vs. Philippines
July 25	Switzerland vs. Norway
July 30	Switzerland vs. New Zealand
July 30	Norway vs. Philippines

The perks of hosting are such that the Football Ferns may never have a better chance at creating a little bit of Kiwi history. Standing in their way, however, are Norway, Switzerland and the Philippines.

Norway’s Euro 2022 campaign was nothing short of a disaster so redemption will be front of mind for Hege Riise’s side. Switzerland, meanwhile, will be enjoying their return to the world stage for the first time since 2015 but will likely be just as disappointed at their group stage exit from this year’s continental tournament. The Philippines are one of a number of countries who will taste World Cup football for the first time. Alen Stajcic has big-tournament experience, after his stint with Australia, but can he impart that wisdom into his side and get a historic first win as well?

Must-see match: New Zealand vs. Norway

Is it a little bit of a cop out to put the opening game as the must-watch one? Maybe so. But opening matches truly are something special.

In countries like Australia and New Zealand, who don’t get to experience moments like these in football very often, if ever, the enthusiasm of a home crowd will be worth the price of admission.

X factor: Can Hegerberg do it on a cold night in Auckland?

Ada Hegerberg had long been the asterisk when it came to Norway’s chances at big tournaments, but her return to the national team certainly didn’t go to plan in England for the Euros. In what will be her first Women’s World Cup since 2015, Hegerberg will once again be the focus of a Norwegian team which has plenty of big-name players but has yet to put in a big-team performance on the world stage.

Predicted finish: Norway, Switzerland, New Zealand, Philippines

Australia’s hopes of a best-ever result at a Women’s World Cup will be dependent on how Tony Gustavsson’s team navigates Canada, Republic of Ireland and Nigeria.

July 20	Australia vs. Rep. Ireland
July 21	Nigeria vs. Canada
July 26	Canada vs. Rep. Ireland
July 27	Australia vs. Nigeria
July 31	Canada vs. Australia
July 31	Rep. Ireland vs. Nigeria

Canada’s gold medal at the Olympics signified progress from Bev Priestman’s side, though the team will undoubtedly be disappointed that they could not best the United States in the CONCACAF W Championship final this year.

Republic of Ireland’s historic run will see them take part in a Women’s World Cup for the very first time, while Nigeria are a perennial presence at the biggest tournament in women’s football. However, Nigeria will enter this tournament without a WAFCON title behind them, failing to win the competition for only the third time.

Must-see match: Canada vs. Australia

This clash, the final one of Group B, could well determine who finishes top and who finishes second. The teams have a history at major tournaments, most recently at the 2016 Olympics, as well as in friendlies, with Canada earning two wins on Australian shores in the September window. Only six places separate the two sides in the world rankings and this closeness is replicated on the pitch. With Sam Kerr vs. Christine Sinclair, it is sure to be a knockout contest.

X factor: How will Sinclair’s (assumed) swan song play out?

An undisputed GOAT in world football, the all-time leading international goal scorer, Sinclair’s legacy is already secured. The Canadian gold medal in Tokyo ensured that Sinclair would always end her career with some level of international success, but a World Cup is a different beast. A fourth-placed finish is Canada’s best-ever result but there is no doubt they will want to send Sinclair out a little better than that.

Predicted finish: Canada, Australia, Nigeria, Republic of Ireland

Spain had been tipped to win Euro 2022 before losing to hosts England in the quarterfinals, but with 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas likely to be back in action after missing the Euros with a cruciate knee ligament injury, they will be among the favourites at the World Cup.

July 21	Spain vs. Costa Rica
July 22	Zambia vs. Japan
July 26	Spain vs. Zambia
July 26	Japan vs. Costa Rica
July 31	Japan vs. Spain
July 31	Costa Rica vs, Zambia

But an ongoing dispute between several players and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over the management style of coach Jorge Vilda — the RFEF claimed 15 players said they would refuse to play for the team last month unless Vilda was removed — remains unresolved and could yet affect Spain’s prospects.

But with Japan the only likely threat to claim the top spot in Group C — Costa Rica and World Cup debutants Zambia complete the group — Spain should progress comfortably, despite their problems.

With a second-round clash against the winners of Group E — likely to be the U.S. — waiting for the runners-up, the key for Spain and Japan will be to avoid that by topping the group for a more favourable route through the latter stages.

Must-see match: Japan vs. Spain

It’s all about Japan vs. Spain in the final group game on July 31.

If this group goes to form, the two teams are likely to meet at the Wellington Regional Stadium with top spot up for grabs and the need to avoid a possible meeting against the USA.

While both Japan and Spain are capable of testing the world champions, it is a tie that neither would choose, so the stakes will be high when they meet in New Zealand.

Japan, ranked 11th in the FIFA World Ranking, will be outsiders against Spain, but could take advantage of problems within the Spanish camp to win this game.

X factor: How will the group’s minnows perform?

The group lacks the unpredictability and tension that we are likely to see in Group B, F and G, but with the World Cup expanding into a 32-team tournament, the focus will be on how the likes of Costa Rica and Zambia shape up against two heavyweights in Spain and Japan.

During their first World Cup in 2015, Costa Rica claimed surprise draws against South Korea and Spain in the group stage and were only denied a place in the second round by a narrow defeat against Brazil.

Measuring Costa Rica’s progress on the big stage will be fascinating, while Zambia are making their debut in the tournament after finishing third in the Africa Cup of Nations this year.

But having suffered a 10-3 defeat against Netherlands in 2021, the World Cup could be a steep learning curve for Zambia.

Predicted finish: Japan, Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia

While this group looks to be a routine section for European champions England, the Lionesses will be wary of the strength of China, despite their relatively low world ranking of 15 going into the tournament.

July 22	England vs. Playoff
July 22	Denmark vs. China
July 28	England vs. Denmark
July 28	China vs. Playoff
Aug. 1	China vs. England
Aug. 1	Playoff vs. Denmark

The Chinese are seasoned performers at the World Cup, finishing as runners-up in 1999, and will be aiming to qualify for the knockout stages for the eighth successive tournament.With Denmark ending a 16-year absence from the World Cup next year and the final spot in the group to be taken by the winners of the Chile vs. Senegal/Haiti playoff, this section should be a straightforward path for both England and China.But with the group winners and runners-up facing the teams who finish first and second in Group B, there is no clear advantage to topping the section with a likely encounter against either co-hosts Australia or highly rated Canada in the round of 16.

Must-see match: China vs. England

England’s clash with China at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium on Aug. 1 should be the fixture which decides the winners of the group.The two nations have met just four times previously, with China winning 2-1 in their most recent encounter in 2015.Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses will be favourites to top the group and beat China, especially after ending England’s long wait for major tournament success at Euro 2022.But China, nicknamed the Steel Roses, are a well-established power in the women’s game and could pull off a shock win if England aren’t fully focused.

X factor: Can England live up to the hype?

Having won Euro 2022, England have established themselves as one of the box office teams in the women’s game and are arguably the biggest threat to the USA’s hopes of achieving a World Cup “three-peat.” So all eyes will be on how the Lionesses cope with the pressure of being one of the favourites to win the tournament.But they passed a big test of their new status by beating the U.S. at Wembley in October, and Sarina Wiegman’s team will want to build on that during the early stages of the World Cup.

With world-class talents such as Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Lauren Hemp, and emerging youngsters such as Alessia Russo, every game they play in the tournament will attract huge attention.

Predicted finish: England, China, Denmark, playoff winners

Containing both the winners and the runners-up from the last Women’s World Cup, Group E has the scales firmly tipped in favour of the seeded teams; four-time winners, the U.S. are so far ahead of the rest in terms of ranking and women’s football development.

July 22	Vietnam vs. USA
July 23	Netherlands vs. Playoff
July 27	USA vs. Netherlands
July 27	Playoff vs. Vietnam
Aug. 1	Playoff vs. USA
Aug. 1	Vietnam vs. Netherlands

For Vietnam, who will play their first-ever World Cup match against the U.S. in Auckland on July 23, there were certainly kinder draws out there for a team ranked 34th in the world.

Even against the winners from playoff A (Cameroon, Portugal or Thailand), Vietnam might have a mountain to climb — as do the Netherlands, who find themselves in another period of transition having only just brought in a new coach, and would be right to be fearful of a Cameroon or Portugal team who could make it through the playoffs.

Must-see match: United States vs. Netherlands

It’s the obvious one, with the top two seeds clashing midway through the group stage in Wellington on July 27.

These two teams didn’t just meet in the World Cup final in Lyon back in 2019, they also played out a memorable quarterfinal tie at the 2020 Olympics. With both teams struggling to put their best football on the pitch, anything could happen when they meet in New Zealand next summer.

X factor: Which U.S. will turn up?

The back-to-back champions, who are going for a “three-peat,” have been far from convincing in recent years and when many expected them to switch into tournament mode at the Olympics, they did just the opposite, looking a shadow of themselves. With the weight of expectation on their shoulders, the U.S. may well sink rather than swim; yet in a group that should be navigable, there is still the chance to tread water.

Predicted finish: U.S., Netherlands, playoff winners, Vietnam

It’s very easy to call Group F on paper, but when you actually get to a tournament, things don’t always go to plan — as Jamaica could tell you, with the Reggae Girlz being without key player Bunny Shaw for their debut four years ago.

July 23	France vs. Jamaica
July 24	Brazil vs. Playoff
July 29	France vs. Brazil
July 29	Playoff vs. Jamaica
Aug 2	Playoff vs. France
Aug 2	Jamaica vs. Brazil

France, who have a history of peaking too early at major tournaments, will like their chances of having a strong group stage, wrapping up with a match against one of Chinese Taipei, Panama, Papa New Guinea or Paraguay — all four nations potential debutantes.

But Brazil are not to be taken lightly by anyone, the ever-presents with a glut of young talent coming through.

Must-see match: France vs. Brazil

It’s the obvious one, the clash of the top two seeds in Brisbane on July 29, and it should be a litmus test for where both nations are at and just how likely either are to go the long yards at the World Cup.But it is worth noting that should a team such as Panama qualify for the World Cup through the playoffs, the clash with Jamaica could be one to watch for sheer fun on the pitch.

X factor: Will the real France please stand up?

We have long talked about France as a dark horse or even one of the favourites to win major silverware. Yet, for a multitude of reasons, it has yet to happen. Les Bleues started so well at the Euros and there was a rising belief that it was finally their time to shine, but the team looked less assured with each passing match.Even without a banana-peel draw, it’s hard to know just which France will turn up and whilst they have the ranking to best anyone they face in the group stage, there are pitfalls everywhere for a team that have historically shown a mental fragility.

Predicted finish: Brazil, France, Jamaica, playoff winners

Sweden have played in every edition of the tournament and have made the semifinals on four occasions. The Olympic silver medallists will be hard to match in this group with their experience in major competitions.

July 23	Sweden vs. South Africa
July 24	Italy vs. Argentina
July 28	Argentina vs. South Africa
July 29	Sweden vs. Italy
Aug 2	Argentina vs. Sweden
Aug 2	South Africa vs. Italy

Sweden’s biggest challenge will undoubtedly be in fellow European nation Italy, who are playing in their third World Cup and have been building momentum in recent years. The Italians topped their group in 2019 and will be looking to replicate that success.

South Africa are playing in only their second World Cup, while Argentina have played in three — and neither have registered a win. They face what seems to be a nearly insurmountable task against Sweden and Italy to get out of the group. However, a Cinderella story for either of these nations cannot be completely ruled out.

Must-see match: Sweden vs. Italy

Who will take the top spot in Group G? It’s a rematch from the Euro 2022 group stage, which saw Italy win in a five-goal thriller 3-2.

Italy had a dominant qualifying campaign, only conceding one goal, to Switzerland. Meanwhile, Sweden, who finished third in 2019, boast experience and will be looking for revenge after their Euros defeat this year.

Sweden have one of the best defenses in the world, led by Chelsea star Magda Eriksson, while Italy’s attacking power is equally exciting with players such as Cristiana Girelli.

X factor: Can Argentina find their first win at the World Cup?

In 2019, Argentina had their best-ever performance at the World Cup. Despite not making it to the knockout rounds, they notched two exciting draws — a 0-0 against Japan and a thrilling 3-3 with Scotland; their only loss was a narrow 1-0 defeat to England.

Four years later, the youth in the squad from 2019 have gained tremendous experience and will be ready to take on the challenges in front of them. While it is hard to imagine Argentina making it out of the group, a win would mark continued growth and success for this team.

Predicted finish: Italy, Sweden, Argentina, South Africa

Germany will be hard to match in this group. The depth and talent of this squad carried them all the way to the final of Euro 2022, falling just short to England. Germany have qualified for all eight editions of the Women’s World Cup and have topped their group in every appearance. Their route to the top spot here seems locked in; barring any major breakdowns, they should wrap this one up easily.

July 24	Germany vs. Morocco
July 25	Colombia vs. South Korea
July 30	Germany vs. Colombia
July 30	South Korea vs. Morocco
Aug 3	South Korea vs. Germany
Aug 3	Morocco vs. Colombia

Colombia’s best World Cup performance was in 2015 when they qualified for the knockout phase, but they failed to make it out of the group in 2019. Group H is well-poised for them to make another run into the elimination rounds, with a key game against South Korea in their way.

South Korea follow the same history as Colombia in the last two editions, making it to the round of 16 in Canada but failing to get out of the group in France.

Morocco will be making their first appearance in the Women’s World Cup. When they take the field in Melbourne, they will make history as the first Arab nation to compete in the tournament. While it’s next to impossible to see a way out of the group, this history-making moment will be another mark of growth for the women’s game and the success of African women’s football.

Must-see match: Colombia vs. South Korea

It’s simple. This match will decide who will progress and who will go home. Both nations will be battling hard with something to prove after not qualifying for the elimination rounds in France. South Korea, led by former Chelsea player Ji So-Yun, boast the depth and experience, while Colombia are full of energy and creativity.

These sides have only met a few times in history, with South Korea beating the Colombians in the Olympic group stages in 2016. However, It has been many years since their last meeting and with everything on the line, this match is an unmissable watch for the tournament.

X factor: Lena Oberdorf

One of the most exciting players at only 20-years-old, Oberdorf is ahead of her time and has been nominated for countless awards this year after marshalling Germany’s midfield at the Euros.

Oberdorf’s expansive and creative play kick-starts Germany’s attack and is a pleasure for any football fan to watch. This young star will be one to watch throughout the tournament next year.

Predicted finish: Germany, Colombia, South Korea, Morocco

Grant Wahl Oct 22

At the World Cup 2023 draw in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday, the U.S. drew Vietnam (July 22 in Auckland), the Netherlands (July 27 in Wellington) and the winner of an upcoming playoff (Portugal, Cameroon or Thailand; August 1 in Auckland) in Group E. Here are my three thoughts on the draw:

• There are plenty of reminders of recent tournaments for the U.S. here. USA-Netherlands is a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final (won by the U.S.) and the 2021 Olympic quarterfinals (also won by the U.S.). Both teams will be heavy favorites to be the two to advance from the group, though the Netherlands will have a relatively new coach in Andries Jonker (who has replaced Mark Parsons). Opening with Vietnam, a first-time World Cup team from Asia, has several similar characteristics to opening against Thailand in that infamous 13-0 game from 2019. And look, there are the Thais again as a possibility from the playoff (though Portugal will be the favorite). If the U.S. advances from its group, its Round of 16 opponent would come from Group G (Sweden, Italy, South Africa and Argentina) and take place in Australia (Sydney or Melbourne).

• In most groups, there are two clear favorites on paper to advance. The women’s World Cup is a 32-team tournament for the first time, which is a good thing overall with more countries getting opportunities and thus the chance to grow the women’s game globally. But there will be more mismatches in the group stage and likely a significant gap between the top two teams in most groups and the rest. That would include Group B (Australia and Canada), Group C (Spain and Japan), Group E (USA and the Netherlands), Group F (France and Brazil) and Group G (Sweden and Italy). However, that’s not the case in other groups like Group A (New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland), Group D (England, Denmark and China) and Group H (Germany, South Korea, Colombia and Morocco).

• There are nine teams capable of winning this World Cup. For me, those are USA, Australia, Canada, Spain, England, the Netherlands, France, Sweden and Germany. (I’m not including Japan, Brazil or Norway.) Australia wouldn’t be on that list if it wasn’t hosting the tournament. But nine is a reflection of how much the women’s game has gotten better in more countries, as well as the growth in Europe in particular. Spain, the Netherlands and France have significant coaching issues that may put their campaigns in peril, but what are likely to be unsurprising group stages will be rewarded with knockout rounds that should have some phenomenal matchups. I’m fired up to be in Australia and New Zealand for this tournament next year.

Grant WahlOct 21

May 13, 1986: The power of imminent possibility (Photo by RENZO GOSTOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

I love this photograph.

It captures the sense of possibility in the month before a World Cup. The image was taken by Renzo Gostoli of Diego Maradona in the Argentine training camp at Mexico’s Club América on May 13, 1986, 18 days before the start of the World Cup that transformed the sport of soccer itself.

Was Maradona, then 25, globally famous at the time? Of course. He had just finished his second season at Napoli and was the most expensive player in the world. But truth be told, at this point he had been something of a disappointment compared to the enormous expectations placed on himMaradona’s first World Cup, in 1982, had been a disaster, with defeats to Belgium, Italy and Brazil, the last of which saw Maradona sent off for a kick to the groin of Brazil’s João Batista. Nor had Maradona’s tenure at Barcelona (1982-84) gone well, which led to him being sold to Napoli.By the time Argentina arrived in Mexico for the World Cup, expectations for the national team were so low that Maradona made sure to point out the negative things that had been said when their fortunes changed. We all know what happened in that tournament: Maradona dominated a World Cup like no other player in history and cemented his legacy, becoming a mythical figure in the game.But this photograph catches something special: The player at the moment when he is on the verge of something magical, something that will change his life forever and alter how the world perceives him. When limitless talent meets a global launchpad possibility: That is an intoxicating moment. That is the power of the World Cup. We are in those last days before a World Cup again.It is possible that no player ever again will lord over a World Cup in the way that Maradona did in 1986. But there are a few players out there who could break out in a big way: Either to help win the tournament or to take their careers to the next level in front of billions watching on TV. Here are some possibilities from my perspective:

TEAMS THAT COULD WIN THE WORLD CUP

England: Phil Foden (22), Bukayo Saka (21). Foden has become one of the most potent attacking threats for perhaps the world’s best club team (Man City) and a reliable choice for England boss Gareth Southgate. Saka is heating up at the right time and could become the same for the Three Lions.

Germany: Jamal Musiala (19). Hansi Flick already trusts the Bayern Munich attacking midfielder, and why shouldn’t he? He’s ready to become a global household name.

Netherlands: Jurrien Timber (21), Cody Gakpo (23). Louis van Gaal has no problem going with youngsters, and he’s already choosing Timber to start on his back line ahead of Matthijs de Ligt. Meanwhile, PSV’s Gakpo, an attacking central mid, is on the purchase list of all the top clubs and will get the chance to shine in Qatar.

Portugal: Rafael Leão (23). He’s already the best player on reigning Italian champion AC Milan. The question is how much he gets to show as long as Cristiano Ronaldo is on the field.

Spain: Pedri (19). Wise and talented beyond his years, Pedri made a significant impact on Euro 2020 and should again at the World Cup.

Argentina: Julián Álvarez (22). There’s a reason the Man City player didn’t get loaned out by Pep Guardiola—and a reason he’s getting starts for Argentina as Lionel Messi prepares for one last ride at a World Cup.

Brazil: Vinícius Júnior (22). We’ve been watching Vini Jr. for so long at Real Madrid that it’s easy to forget he’s still just 22. But he could be the difference-maker as Brazil tries to win its first World Cup since 2002.

PLAYERS WHO COULD BREAK OUT WITHOUT WINNING THE WORLD CUP

Ecuador: Moisés Caicedo (20). The Brighton midfielder is already making waves in the Premier League, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he did so at the World Cup.

Uruguay: Darwin Núñez (23). Yes, the Liverpool striker can be “agricultural,” but he’s also a chaotic force of nature.

USA: Yunus Musah (19). The Valencia central midfielder creates all sorts of danger carrying the ball up the gut, and he’s the most likely U.S. player to break out in Qatar.

Canada: Jonathan David (22). We all know who Alphonso Davies is, but if David lights up the scoring chart the way he’s done at Lille, he’ll do even more to set up the big transfer that’s inevitable.

Ghana: Mohammed Kudus (22). The Ajax forward has been tearing it up at club level, and Ghana would be smart to ride him as far as it can.

What do you think is the best way to move the needle on the abuses in Qatar? I don’t know if I’m strong enough to boycott watching the World Cup—when it comes to the USMNT, I’m a good example of why fan is short for fanatic. But I’m seriously considering it. If fans don’t act, FIFA will have no motivation to change, and I can’t think of anything that will get their attention other than the bottom line.

SoccerJohn

I have no issues with anyone who wants to boycott watching this World Cup, but honestly I don’t with anyone who decides to watch it either. When it comes down to it, I have a deep understanding of anyone who has conflicting emotions about this particular tournament. I do too. As I reported in my recent story, public pressure has already caused some change in Qatar, which adopted new worker laws in 2019 that haven’t been adopted in other Gulf states. The big questions are whether those laws are being observed on the ground and whether there will be a rollback after the Qatar World Cup. But there has been some much-needed progress. I certainly hope there will be more.

What’s wrong with Leeds: America’s team in the EPL?

richard greene

I watch every Leeds game, so I have some thoughts. The club knew it needed to buy a striker and left back in the transfer window, and it didn’t end up pulling the trigger. Those two spots have been a real issue. The central defense hasn’t been good enough, the cutting edge to score goals hasn’t been there often enough, and there hasn’t been as much advantage on set-pieces (attacking and defending) as I would have expected from a Jesse Marsch team. The Americans, Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams, have actually been among Leeds’s best players, so it’s not their fault. But I do feel a lot is riding on this weekend’s game at home against Fulham. LUFC needs a win.

What group stage games at the World Cup not involving the U.S. are you most looking forward to?

Doug Steiger

Senegal-Netherlands. The Dutch are good enough to win the tournament, and Senegal has a chance to go deeper than we’ve ever seen an African team go at a World Cup. Plus one of these teams could be the U.S.’s opponent in the Round of 16.

Belgium-Canada. The Belgians will be favored, obviously, but we’ll get a sense early in the tournament if the young Canadians will be able to hang with an older heavyweight. (Chance No. 2 comes against Croatia.)

Portugal-Uruguay. A rematch of the 2018 elimination game won by Uruguay. Lots of big names on the field for two soccer nations that punch way above their weight.

France-Denmark. Four of the last five defending men’s World Cup champions have gone out in the group stage of the subsequent tournament. If France does a pratfall, this game will likely have something to do with it.

Argentina-Mexico. We’ve seen plenty of Argentina-Mexico matchups in the World Cup over the years, so why not one more?

Spain-Germany. The 2010 and 2014 champions will want to make a statement here.

What role will fatigue and rest play in the World Cup? Both for the USA and for all teams? I’m thinking of the Soccernomics chapter that explains how much fatigue plays a role in the World Cup because teams like England whose players play in the Premier League and have many more games do worse than teams that don’t have so many fatigued players. That comes even with one month off before the start and in a longer tournament.

Joseph Radosevich

Well, you could say that players won’t have a full club season, so it may not be as big of an issue this time around. The main thing to be concerned is injuries, especially of the kind that don’t heal in the week off between club and World Cup games that might heal in the three weeks we usually see between the club season and World Cups. I will say that important U.S. players like Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson have incredible stamina from their typical Leeds workload, so those guys are not to be worried about.

Will you put out your projected USMNT lineup (aka, what lineup do you think Berhalter will go with, at least for the first match) and your preferred USMNT lineup (if you were the manager/coach)?

Chris Stowell

Me: Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, Carter-Vickers, Robinson; Adams, McKennie, Musah; Pulisic, Pefok, Aaronson.

Berhalter: Steffen; Dest, Zimmerman, Long, Robinson; Adams, McKennie, Musah; Pulisic, Ferreira, Reyna.

Who do you like for the MLS playoffs? LAFC seem bound for the final, but Supporters Shield winners rarely make it to (let alone win) the final. Philadelphia has been on the bubble for years and probably would’ve made the final last year had half the starting lineup not been out of the conference final because of COVID protocols. What are the odds this is their year? Or do you see someone else lifting the cup in the end?

Aaron

I actually think we’re going to see a No. 1 vs No. 1 matchup with LAFC and Philadelphia in L.A. for the final. Which would be a great occasion. And I’ve seen Philadelphia impress me enough over the last couple seasons that I’d like the Union to win it.

An unexciting game for neutrals heats up in the final minutes. my thoughts on Pulisic.Grant WahlOct 22

Casemiro was a difference-maker in the end for Man United (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Manchester United got a 94th-minute equalizer on a header from Casemiro that barely got over the line and came away with a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s marquee match. Here are my three thoughts on the game:

• This was a deserved point for United to cap off a really good week overall. In a game that only got exciting in the final minutes, Casemiro’s equalizer was a just reward for a United team created more non-penalty chances over the course of the match. Chelsea looked like it was heading for three points against the run of play after Armando Broja essentially baited Scott McTominay into wrestling him down in the penalty box on a corner kick. But after Jorginho converted the penalty, United threw everything it had forward in the final minutes and was rewarded by Casemiro’s first goal with the club, which ended Kepa Arrizabalaga and Chelsea’s remarkable 623-minute scoreless streak. This has been a big week for United coach Erik ten Hag, who got four points from games against Spurs and Chelsea (taking United to within one point of the Premier League top four) and established new levels of control with his suspension of Cristiano Ronaldo. United did just fine without Ronaldo this week, which sets a tone that Ten Hag needs in his dressing room. After a miserable start to the season, United has a better tone these days.

• Christian Pulisic didn’t start, but he did play a role. The American came on in the 74th minute and had some solid moments on the ball, including doing good work to earn the corner kick that Chelsea got its penalty on. If you’re looking at things purely from a USMNT perspective, I would have thought Pulisic would get more starts during Chelsea’s extremely busy seven-game schedule since the international break. Instead, Pulisic had had just one start (a game in which he scored) and his minutes since the break have been (starting most recently): 16, 29, 0, 0, 72, 0, 6. I still think it’s possible to be 1) surprised Pulisic hasn’t played a bit more, and 2) not buying the Twitter conspiracy theory that coach Graham Potter’s choices are somehow anti-American. In fact, there’s a wide gulf between those two things. But Potter doesn’t operate from a purely USMNT perspective, obviously, and the fact is Potter hasn’t lost yet in eight games, five of them wins, as Chelsea has completely turned things around in the Champions League. That said, this Chelsea performance at home wasn’t great (the Blues now have two points from their last two league games), and maybe that will open the door to some extent for Pulisic.

• Injuries in the final days before the World Cup are just gutting to see. United centerback Raphaël Varane looked to be in tears after pulling up and coming off with a non-contact injury in the 60th minute. We’ll have to wait and see if Varane’s situation is serious enough to put his World Cup hopes in danger, but it could be yet another blow for defending champion France—which is already without N’Golo Kanté and likely Paul Pogba in Qatar due to injuries. The unique timing of this World Cup in November and December during the middle of the club season means that injuries that could have been overcome during the two to three weeks between the club season and the World Cup in the past won’t have that opportunity this time when there are just seven days between the end of club games and the start of the World Cup. What’s more, there is an absolute glut of games during this month before the World Cup as the top clubs are playing on weekends in the league and in mid-week Champions League games as that tournament completes its six-matchday group stage in just nine weeks before the World Cup. Sadly, Varane will hardly be the last image we’ll see like that. Which is why I can put in perspective that while it’s a bummer for U.S. fans that Pulisic hasn’t been playing as much as expected, at least he’s not injured ahead of the biggest tournament of his career (knocking on wood heavily).

October 21, 2022October 21, 2022 gatorbest

MLS Playoffs

Wow what a first round of knockout games in playoff action this past weekend – as NYCFC, Cincy, Austin and Dallas all won home games to advance. For Dallas former Carmel Dads Club and Carmel High School star Matt Hedges scored on his PK to help Dallas advance. Sunday we get Montreal hosting defending champs NYCFC at 1 pm on ESPN while 2^nd year squad Austin FC hosts Dallas and Matt Hedges at 8 pm (see Austin story below). Playoff Conference Semi’s Preview. El Traffico Playoffo did not disappoint Thurs night – the 3-2 instant classic won in the 94th minute by LAFC in front of the 3252 as a packed house looked on. Here are the Hi-lights. Spectacular Save by the Galaxy keeper (see GK Saves below). Cincy’s 2nd season ends in Philly 90 second hi-lights,

NWSL Semi’s Are Sunday on CBS Sports Network (not streaming 😊) starting 5 pm with Portland Thorns hosting Alex Morgan and the San Diego Wave followed by Seattle Reign vs KC Current at 7:30 pm. NWSL Preview

Indy 11

Great to see former Carmel FC GK Coach and Indy 11 GK Jordan Farr win the Player of the Month award for his new team San Antonio – they are headed to the playoffs as the #1 Seed In the Western Division next week as they got a first round bye. The USL Playoffs start Sat/Sun of this week on ESPN+. Jordan is up for USL GK of the Year. BYB announces year end awards for Indy 11.

Games to Watch

Big games this weekend include Saturday’s Man United traveling to Chelsea and Pulisic on Sat at 12:30 pm on NBC I suspect Pulisic might get the start after his good showing midweek in 30 minutes. While Christiano Renaldo stormed off (full story below) after being unused Sub in huge Man U win over Tottenham earning him a suspension for this weekend’s game. Sunday at 9 am if you have CNBC (can’t believe USA network isn’t showing this ALL-AMERICAN Game) you can watch Leeds United States of America managed by American Jesse Marsch and Adams and Aaronson running the midfield hosting Fulham America with what should be the left side of the US defense Jedi Robinson and Tim Ream. (See Fulhams win highlights) vs Aston Villa leading to Aston Villa’s Steven Gerard being fired. Champions and Europa League action will return on Tues/Wed/Thurs with Chelsea and Pulisic facing Salzburg Tues at 12:45 pm on Para+, Dortmund and American Gio Reyna will host Man City and their former striking superstar Halland (the leading scorer in the world for Man City) Tuesday at 3 pm on Para+. Wed we get Barcelona in a must win game vs Bayern Munich at 3 pm while Liverpool will travel to Ajax at the same time on Para+. Thurs Arsenal will travel to PSV at 12:45 pm, while American #9 Pefuk and German Leaders Union Berlin vs Bragga at the same time all on Para+. Was listening to Rocky Ray Hudson announcing the Arsenal game today and reminded me of some of his great Messi calls – magisterial.

High School – Carmel Girls 17-2-2 travel to Semi-State on Sat 1 pm vs Center Grove 17-2-2 @ Seymore

The Carmel High Girls defeated Cathedral 4-2 at home to advance to a Semi-State match-up vs Center Grove in Seymore Sat at 1 pm. Good luck to our former and current CFC’ers still alive in playoff action! The Carmel High School boys lost a heartbreaker – the year after they reached the finals as they fell in a shootout after a 1-1 tie at home to Cathedral last weekend.

Carmel High Girls defeat Cathedral 4-2 advance to Semi State vs Center Grove Sat 1 pm @ Seymore

Brian Haenchen Indianapolis Star

CARMEL — The Carmel Greyhounds have discovered their scoring touch and in junior striker Megan Hamm, they seemingly have a go-to attacker for their well-balanced (and suddenly, very potent) offense. Hamm scored twice and added one (potentially two) assists Saturday afternoon, leading Carmel to a 4-2 victory over Cathedral in the Class 3A regional championship game. The Greyhounds scored 30 goals in 16 regular-season games, and were limited to a goal or less in five of their final seven regular-season games. They have 19 since the start of sectionals and have tallied multiple goals in all five games, including three against Zionsville (a season-worst for the Eagles) and four against a Cathedral outfit that had allowed just 14 goals all year. IHSAA girls soccer regionals: Scores, schedule, updated pairings

“We watched a lot of tape and we saw the mistakes we were making,” Carmel coach Frank Dixon said. “We were creating stuff and then we wouldn’t make the extra pass or settle for a bad shot. Even at the end there, Megan could have taken the shot there and instead she laid the ball across to the other player to take the shot. It’s just that one more pass so you can get that free player to take the shot.” We’re finding players to-feet more and playing together as a team more,” Hamm added. “Today we focused on breaking (the Fighting Irish) down, like splitting them, and going through gaps and just playing the ball to get them unorganized.” Hamm was the catalyst vs. Cathedral. She opened the scoring midway through the first half, deftly dribbling around her defender near midfield and into the box, where she held off another incoming player before blasting a shot past a diving Kate Phillips from a few yards out. Hamm helped double the lead with seven minutes remaining with a corner kick into the box that was eventually headed in by Adalyn Cameron, then made it 3-0 in the final minute, dribbling the length of Cathedral’s side, before sliding a pass to Greta Heyl for the finish. “She’s just a very dynamic player on the ball and technically she’s very good,” Cathedral coach Marc Behringer said of Hamm. “She has what I consider a rare characteristic of really looking to take people on with the ball and she showed in this match that she’s confident and able to take people on and beat people. And that’s going to create a lot of problems for anybody they face.” No. 20 in blue added another goal in the second half to negate Cathedral’s first score, giving her two on the day, four for the tournament and 12 on the year. Hamm has looked unstoppable and her well-time emergence has coincided with the entire Carmel attack catching fire. Yeah, last year’s Class 3A runner-up has something cooking. “She’s just been on fire and she’s just made up her mind that she’s not going to lose,” Dixon said. “Obviously everyone’s playing well right now, but she’s carried us a lot of times. We struggled all through the year scoring goals but eventually it’s worked itself out — and she’s taken charge of that, too.” Follow Indy Star Brian Haenchen on Twitter

This one should be a doozy. Center Grove had not allowed a goal in seven straight matches prior to last weekend’s 4-1 win over Evansville Reitz, while Carmel is averaging nearly four goals over its past five games after struggling offensively through most of the year. The Greyhounds’ attack has been led by Megan Hamm and a fully healthy Olivia Cebalo; the Trojans have been bolstered by the return of senior Kayli Farmer, and bring a similarly potent attack led by Emily Karr, Ali Wiesmann, Taylor Wert and Molly Tapak. Carmel beat CG, 2-0, on Sept. 21 — and I guess that gives them a slight edge entering the rematch? — but after watching both teams in regionals last week (Center Grove vs. Roncalli; Carmel vs. Cathedral), this game feels way too close to call. The Noblesville girls, ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps, have not allowed a goal since the opening round of sectionals. They play Crown Point at 6 p.m. at Kokomo.

Carmel FC Home Grown Sophomore Olivia Cebalo will hope to help lead The Carmel High School Girls to the State Finals Sat.

Thur, Oct 20

1 pm Para + Arsenal vs PSV Europa

2:30 pm USA Fulham (Ream, Jedi) vs Aston Villa

3 pm ESPNd + Barcelona vs Villareal

3:15 pm Peacock Leicester City vs Leeds United (Aaronson, Adams)

8 pm FS1 Philly vs Cincy MLS Playoffs

10 pm FS1 LAFC vs LA Galaxy

Sat, Oct 21

7:30 am USA Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool

9:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Stuttgart

10 am USA Everton vs Crystal Palace

12:30 NBC Chelsea (pulisic) vs Man United

3 pm ESPN+ Real Madrid vs Sevilla

7 pm Univision Club American vs Toluca Liga MX Playoffs

Sun, Oct 22

9 am USA Leicster City vs Wolverhampton

9 am Peacock Leeds United (Aaronson, Adams) vs Fulham (Ream, Jedi)

9:30 am ESPN+ Bochum vs Union Berlin (Pefuk)

11:30 am NBC Tottenham vs New Castle United

2:45 pm CBS Sportsnet Roma vs Napoli

1 pm ESPN CF Montreal vs NYCFC PLAYOFFS

5pm ET: CBSSN Portland Thorns (Sophia Smith) vs. San Diego Wave (Alex Morgan)

7:30pm ET CBSSN Seattle Reign (Rapinoe, Huerta) vs. Kansas City Current (CBS Sports Network)

8 pm ESPN Austin vs Dallas (Matt Hedges) PLAYOFFS

9 pm FS1 Monterrey vs Pachuca Liga MX Playoffs

Mon, Oct 23

3 pm USA West Ham vs Bournmouth

Tues, Oct 24 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

12:45 pm Para+ Salzburg vs Chelsea (Pulisic)

3 pm Para+ Benefica vs Juventus (McKinney)

3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig

3 pm Para+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Man City

Wed, Oct 25

12:45 Para+ Club Brugge vs Porto

3 pm Para+ Barca vs Bayern Munich

3 pm Para+ Tottenham vs Sporting

3 pm Para+ Ajax vs Liverpool

3 pm Para+ Napoli vs Rangers ()

Thur, Oct 26 EUROPA

12:45 pm Para+ PSV vs Arsenal

12:45 pm Para+ Union Berlin (Pefuk) vs Bragga

3 pm Para+ Man United vs Sheriff

3 pm Para+ West Ham vs Silkeborg

Sat, Oct 29

8 pm CBS NWSL Championship Game

Sun, Nov 10

7 pm FS1 USWNT vs Germany

Thur, Nov 13

5 pm ESPN USWNT vs Germany

Sun, Nov 20

11 am Fox World Cup Starts

Mon, Nov 21

8 am FS1 England vs Iran

2 pm Fox USA vs Wales

Mon, Nov 22

11 am Fox Mexico vs Poland

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

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MLS PLAYOFF ANALYSIS: BREAKING DOWN EVERY GAME FROM ROUND ONE

DRIP RANKINGS: WHAT EACH MLS COACH’S STYLE SAYS ABOUT THEIR TEAM’S PLAYOFF CHANCES
MLS Cup Playoffs 2022: Live stream, game times and dates, odds, how
LAFC’s transformation into MLS Cup title contenders comes with a $10-million price tag
“The dream is over” says Higuain after final match
NYCFC knock out Miami, Dallas edge Minnesota

Tonight’s El Tráfico feels like the biggest MLS rivalry game ever

Arsenal dominate Europa League, but American Matt Turner has little to do in final pre-World Cup reps
USMNT’s Ferreira wins MLS best young player ESPN
Christian Pulisic ‘to earn my position’ under Graham Potter at Chelsea
Tottenham report: Juventus will listen to Spurs offer for Weston McKennie

Ronaldo ruining his Man United legacy with walk-off from bench before match was over EPSN FC ark Ogden
Gerrard out as Villa boss after 3-0 loss to Fulham ESPN
Christian Pulisic ‘to earn my position’ under Graham Potter at Chelsea
Tottenham report: Juventus will listen to Spurs offer for Weston McKennie
Manchester United report: Erik ten Hag says David De Gea’s future is undecided
PL RAW: Salah lifts Liverpool to massive victory
Aston Villa report: Mauricio Pochettino tops list of potential Steven Gerrard replacements
Jurgen Klopp explains what made him ‘snap’ for red card: ‘I lost it, I’m not proud’

Liverpool-Man City has become England’s ugliest rivalry
Man City stumble gives Spurs, Chelsea hope of Premier League title fight
Aston Villa fires Steven Gerrard

Benzema wins Ballon d’Or as Putellas retains women’s prize
Every Ballon d’Or winner: A complete list of every men’s player to have won the award
Ballon d’Or 2022 rankings: The full men’s and women’s lists revealed
Barcelona’s Gavi wins Kopa Trophy for best youngster at Ballon d’Or gala
Ballon d’Or winner Benzema is ‘more of a leader’, says Ancelotti

El Clasico: Real Madrid bosses Barca, propelled by an age-old rivalry’s new stars
Manchester United report: Diego Simeone says Cristiano Ronaldo has never been close to Atletico Madrid – and never will be

Ballon d’Or-elect Karim Benzema leads Real Madrid to El Clásico win over Barcelona

World Cup 2022 rankings: Who are the favorites?
World Cup 2022 Group D: France, Denmark, Australia, Tunisia schedule, fixtures, rankings
World Cup 2022 Group B: England, USA, Iran, Wales schedule,
Portugal forward Jota ruled out of World Cup with calf injury
Kante to miss France’s World Cup defence after hamstring surgery
Qatar’s glitzy World Cup is ready and expensive
Qatar’s eight World Cup stadiums
Euro kings Italy nursing World Cup wound as another rebuild begins

Mexico’s World Cup fans told to leave tequila at home

Women’s World Cup Draw next Summer on Saturday

Fallout from Yates report as NWSL playoffs begin: How are the players feeling?

2022 NWSL Playoffs: Schedule, how to watch, results

Here’s why England and Spain made the USWNT look so bad, and how the USWNT can respond

San Diego Wave clinch first-ever club win in playoffs on Sunday
Hope Solo Fights USWNT Settlement Over Lawyers’ Fees, Payout Details

LA Galaxy Goalkeeper with a fantastic save in El Traffico

Andre Blake Great MLS Saves for Philly Union

Best Saves of the Year MLS

Best Saves Oct Week 2

Gigi Donnarumma’s Miracle Triple Save

NWSL Saves of the Year

Oct 19, 2022 ESPN

The opening round of the 2022 MLS Cup playoffs lacked some of the drama we’ve come to expect from the postseason; after all, there was only one upset. Nevertheless, we were still treated to two penalty shootouts, some raucous crowds in Austin and Montreal and a table set for an appetizing final four.

So, with the conference semifinals kicking off on Thursday, ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, Kyle Bonagura, Dan Hajducky and Austin Lindberg preview the matchups, predicting which clubs will be moving on to the final four and which players will join the league’s other 20 clubs already watching the playoff drama unfold from the comfort of their living rooms.

Jump to: Philadelphia-Cincinnati | Montreal-NYCFC | LAFC-Galaxy | Austin-Dallas

FC Cincinnati weren’t just bad during their first three years of existence in Major League Soccer. They almost redefined how spectacular a team can get everything wrong, from an on-field perspective, as it entered the league. It came at a time when first-year success had become common and several, replicable blueprints for success had been established around the league. So when things spiraled out of control, the club took a step back, looked around and finally decided to ask itself: What has worked?And there it was, one state over: the Philadelphia Union. Cincinnati appointed longtime Union executive Chris Albright as their general manager, he hired Union assistant coach Pat Noonan as head coach and … voila, here are Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference semifinals (after beating the New York Red Bulls in the first round), ready to play spoiler to the Union after their historically dominant 2022 season.That’s an oversimplification, of course, but the speed in which Cincinnati turned things around speaks to the importance of a front office and coaching staff that has experience in the league. Only the wins tiebreaker prevented Philadelphia from winning the Supporters’ Shield during a season in which they were the best team by almost every way to measure it. With the league’s best defense, the Union should be considered heavy favorites Thursday night at home, where they didn’t lose during the regular season. However, there is something to be said about familiarity as an equalizer, so it will be interesting to see what tactical wrinkles Noonan rolls out. — Bonagura

Predictions:

FCC have done well to change the trajectory of the organization, but the Union seem to be a bridge too far, and should prevail over their former apprentices in Cincinnati GM Chris Albright and manager Pat Noonan. — Carlisle

The Union were the best team in the league during the regular season (certainly during the second half), have a historically dominant defense and were undefeated at home. There is no logic in picking against them. — Bonagura

Sure, I’ve said I was a sucker for an underdog, but that Pollyanna notion has an expiration date when Philadelphia is on the opposing half. The Union allowed only 26 goals all season. Twenty-six! Their plus-46 goal differential was the second-best tally in a decade. Andre Blake, who’ll win his record third MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, is an MVP finalist. The Union and Blake’s storybook season doesn’t end with the Orange and Blue. — Hajducky

The most prolific attack in MLS, the stingiest defense in the league, an MLS-best goal differential nearly twice as good as their nearest rivals, Philadelphia just have too many ways in which they can beat opponents. — Lindberg

NYCFC are the defending champions, they’ve won five in a row, and they looked back to their best in their Round One win over Inter Miami CF at Citi Field on Monday night. And yet, they still look like a long shot to beat Montreal at Stade Saputo on Sunday.

CFM have lost just once in their past 16 games, dating to the middle of July. In that stretch, they’ve earned 36 points (plus a playoff win) from 45 available. For context, Supporters’ Shield winners LAFC and level-on-points Philadelphia took 27 and 34 points, respectively, over the same stretch.

In the two meetings between the Bronx Blues and Montreal this season, it’s the former who took four points but the latter who outplayed their opponents in each game. The Quebecois won the xG battle, 3.2 to 1.99 — despite the aggregate scoreline reading 4-1 in favor of NYCFC — they outshot their rivals 26-15 and outchanced them 16-13.

This is a Montreal team that, if not for the glitz and glamor of LAFC or the model-franchise designation of Philadelphia, would be the talk of MLS in these playoffs. — Lindberg

Predictions:

The Blues seemed to regain some of their championship swagger in eliminating Inter Miami, but Montreal’s consistency means they rarely get flustered, and with Ismael Kone, Djordje Mihailovic and the ageless Kei Kamara clicking, CFM should get the win. — Carlisle

Neither team has lost in more than a month and both looked the part in decisive first-round wins, but Montreal get the edge playing at home. — Bonagura

Round One underdelivered on MLS Cup playoffs’ usual chaos2dJeff Carlisle
2022 MLS Cup playoffs: Fixtures, results and more3dESPN
Is it a failure for Toronto, with Insigne and Bernardeschi, to miss the playoffs?3dNoah Davis

It’s a testament to how good NYCFC are, top to bottom, that they lost 2021 Golden Boot winner Valentin Castellanos to Girona and still made the conference semis. But New York stumbled to the playoffs, winning only four MLS matches from Aug. 6 to season’s end. The offensive trio of Montreal’s Romell Quioto, Kamara and Mihailovic — each with at least nine goals and six assists — will be too much for the Bronx Blues. — Hajducky

Since the middle of July, Montreal have lost just once, demonstrating consistently impressive play, contrasted against NYCFC’s stretch of one win in ten that preceded their current five-game winning streak. CFM may lack the pedigree and glamor signings, but it’s been one of the best teams — in the truest sense of the word — in MLS all season. — Lindberg

Plenty has changed since LAFC defeated the LA Galaxy 3-2 on July 8. The Galaxy’s midfield has been completely revamped with the additions of Ricard Puig and Gaston Brugman, and Martin Caceres has been brought in to stabilize the back. LAFC haven’t been idle either, bringing in six new players, including Gareth Bale, Giorgio Chiellini and Denis Bouanga.

The new arrivals didn’t quite have the desired effect for LAFC, who endured a 1-4-1 stretch before righting themselves late in the campaign. But while the Black and Gold are largely playing the same, the Galaxy look a different outfit, with the additions of Puig and Brugman having a ripple effect on the rest of the lineup. Douglas Costa can stick to the wing instead of shouldering the creative burden that now belongs to Puig. As a result, the Galaxy’s possession and passing have improved, as has their finishing.

So what does this all mean for Thursday’s Western Conference semifinal? It means a battle royale in the center of the park, with LAFC’s Ilie Sanchez, along with Jose Cifuentes and Kellyn Acosta, tasked with stopping Puig, Brugman and Marky Delgado. Whichever team prevails in that area will then be able to feed their potent frontline, that being Bouanga, Carlos Vela and Cristian Arango for LAFC with Costa, Samuel Grandsir and Javier Hernandez for the Galaxy. — Carlisle

Predictions:

The Galaxy seem to be jelling at the right time, especially with Puig and Brugman operating in midfield. That makes for another Supporters’ Shield winner to fall short of an MLS Cup double. — Carlisle

Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez predict the winner of LAFC vs. LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup playoffs.

The Black and Gold fixed something that wasn’t broken by adding Bale, Chiellini and DPs Bouanga and Cristian Tello during the regular season. The moves all made sense on paper, but it hasn’t worked out according to plan. Meanwhile, the Galaxy turned things around in the second half and appear to be peaking at the right time. LAFC are on notice, but talent should still win the day. — Bonagura

Another conference semifinals El Trafico, the first since 2019. Does the Supporters’ Shield curse — only seven winners have also won an MLS Cup — rear its ugly head? Or do LAFC finally hoist the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy? It’s LAFC’s — and Carlos Vela’s — year. — Hajducky

In the 11 games since Puig’s arrival, the Galaxy have been playing at a 1.81 points-per-game pace, a level of play that extrapolated across a full season would’ve made them a No. 2 seed in the West. Meanwhile, LAFC have lost five of their past nine. — Lindberg

Only two teams in MLS scored more goals than Austin in 2022. Only one conceded fewer than Dallas. This is a classic power-vs.-power matchup, and it’s going to be interesting to see how Nico Estevez organizes his FCD side to try to contain the Texas capital club.

In the Round One shootout win over RSL, Austin got little in the way of chance creation from attackers Maximiliano Urruti, Ethan Finlay, Diego Fagundez, Moussa Djitte and Emiliano Rigoni, which suggests that Dallas could match up favorably. However, that would ignore MVP candidate Sebastian Driussi, who scored both the Verde‘s goals in that win, on top of the 22 he netted in the regular season, and has a knack for running into pockets of space and conjuring opportunities from deeper starting positions.
SUNDAY, OCT. 23
• Montreal vs. NYCFC (1 p.m. ET)
• Austin vs. Dallas (8 p.m. ET)

No one in MLS has figured out Driussi. Whoever lines up at the base of midfield for Dallas, be it Facundo Quignon or Edwin Cerrillo, they’re going to have their hands full shadowing the 26-year-old River Plate academy graduate.To sweeten an already appetizing pot is the atmosphere in Q2 Stadium. It was loud and rowdy in the city’s first-ever professional playoff game, now add the tension that will arise from Dallas supporters driving 200 miles to the south for a postseason Texan derby. And with Formula One in town for the U.S. Grand Prix on Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ABC), fan excitement won’t be higher anywhere in the world than it will be in Austin. — Lindberg

Predictions:

There isn’t much separating the two teams in this all-Texas matchup, but in Driussi, the Verde have just a smidgen more quality, and that should prove to be enough to get Austin the victory. — Carlisle

This should be an incredible atmosphere at Q2. In fact, maybe one of the best MLS has ever had in the state for this Texas derby. Austin is the pick based on their explosive offense, despite FC Dallas owning the best defensive goal-scoring record in Western Conference this season. — Bonagura

Last time, I said the MLS Cup playoffs might be a fitting farewell to Jesus Ferreira before he gets poached by a European club. Well, Ferreira won the Young Player of the Year award on Tuesday, and everything seems to be bouncing right just weeks from Qatar. Austin beat LAFC 4-1 in late August and then won only once the rest of the season, allowing twice as many as they scored in that span. The ingredients are there for something spectacular for Dallas. — Hajducky

As hypnotic as Driussi’s play is, Dallas’ organization and their deep and variable attack will present Austin with problems that Josh Wolff will struggle to solve. — Lindberg

9:39 AM ET

Sam Marsden Barcelona correspondent

As a player, Valencia coach Gennaro Gattuso, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, was tenacious and fiery. He was once sent off for slapping Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the face with the back of his hand. Then there was the time he squared up to Tottenham Hotspur coach Joe Jordan, pushing him in the throat and later admitting he “lost control” after being provoked.Gattuso was also a talented player. He added bite to an exquisite AC Milan midfield that boasted Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Kaka, three of the best of their generation. As a coach, Gattuso has had spells with Milan and Napoli and is now in charge of developing an exciting crop of players at Valencia, including the young United States midfielder Yunus Musah, who insists Gattuso is calmer than he was as a player.”He’s not like on the field when you saw him,” Musah told ESPN’s Alexis Nunes in an exclusive interview. “When he played [the idea was] he was always angry and stuff, you know. With us, he gets angry as well, but you see that he’s just trying to help you, encourage you, so you take it in a good way. He is great to work with. He’s a good person, a friend.”

If Gattuso has been good for Valencia since taking over in the summer — they have 15 points from 10 games — he has been especially good for Musah.

FIFA: Qatar World Cup ticket sales near 2.9m 3dAssociated Press
USMNT’s Ferreira wins MLS best young player1dESPN
USMNT, Chelsea star Pulisic’s new book: What we learned about Tuchel relationship, mental health and more 9dAdam Snavely

Born in New York to Ghanaian parents, Musah was raised in Castelfranco Veneto near Venice, Italy, before moving to London, where he spend seven years at Arsenal‘s academy. He joined Valencia in 2019 at age 16, and after a season with the B-team is now in his third season in the first team.

It is only this season, however, that he has become a regular. He was in and out of the starting lineup in his first two seasons, often playing out of position on the wing. Under Gattuso, who knows a thing or two about playing as a central midfielder, Musah is back in the middle — and it helps that the two have a language in common.

“When he was first appointed, he actually called me a few times to tell me how he works,” says Musah, who speaks Italian, English and Spanish. “We spoke in Italian. Obviously, that connection helps sometimes because we communicate easier and things like that.

– Stream LIVE: Valencia vs. Mallorca, Sat. 10/22, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+ (U.S.)

“When he came in, I did think this is an ex-midfielder coming in to help us, so it has been a natural transition [back to central midfield] because I spent my whole youth playing in the middle. Obviously, whenever I go to the [U.S.] national team I play in the middle as well, so it’s been a good transition and it helps the style of play in the team as well.”

The focal point of the Valencia side is veteran Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani — “Just get the ball to him in the box, man, and he’ll do the magic,” Musah says — but in general, this is a young Valencia side looking to get the stories club back into European competitions for the first time in three seasons.

Musah, who will turn 20 during the World Cup in Qatar, is competing for a spot in Valencia’s midfield with Nico Gonzalez (20), Ilaix Moriba (19), Hugo Guillamon (22) and Andre Almeida (22). The team’s young core also includes Samuel Lino (22) and Justin Kluivert (23), among the options to flank Cavani.

“We’re a young group that just wants to do well,” Musah says. “That’s why we try to play every match without thinking about expectations. We know the stakes, but we have the same mindset all the time and we’re always driven to keep going.”As a team, we’re really confident right now. We’re in a good mood. We’re enjoying the way we’re playing, we have a lot of the ball with the way the coach wants us to play and we enjoy that. It’s still early days, but even the matches we’ve lost, we’ve still been in the game. And the fans are loving it as well. I’m feeling positive.”

It is not just Valencia that Musah’s feeling positive about. He also has high hopes for the U.S. men’s national team in Qatar. Since making his USMNT debut in November 2020 and then officially switching in March 2021 after representing England at the youth level, Musah has become an increasingly important part of Gregg Berhalter’s side. He helped the U.S. win the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League title over Mexico in June 2021, and then played a key role during the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Under Berhalter’s watch, there has been an emergence of a so-called golden generation. Along with Musah, the U.S. count on several Europe-based youngsters such as Chelsea‘s Christian Pulisic, Juventus‘ Weston McKennie, Lille‘s Timothy Weah, AC Milan’s Sergino Dest, Borussia Dortmund‘s Giovanni Reyna, and Leeds United duo Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson.

“It basically is a brotherhood. When I had my first camp [in November 2020], things just clicked,” Musah said. “It’s just a thing that — I don’t know — something about the group that is right. Whenever we are on the pitch, we click. When we are off the pitch, we’re great friends, and as Weston said, we’re a brotherhood.”Musah adds that the team can live up to lofty expectations set upon a side that’s returning to the World Cup after missing the 2018 edition in Russia.”I feel like being [called the golden generation] is a compliment because [the USMNT has] a lot of players in the top teams in [Major League Soccer]. … There are a lot of players in Europe right now, and young players that are playing week in, week out at the top level, playing Champions League, playing in the top five leagues.”In Qatar, the USMNT’s group-stage opponents will be Iran, England, and Wales. But it is that match against the Three Lions that Musah is most looking forward to.”This game is going to be really special for me,” he says with his London accent. “I played for England and I lived there. So that match is special because I have to win that match, you know.”Musah believes work still needs to be done in the final third for the team to come together — “When we get there, sometimes we get stuck,” he says — but he is already looking forward to facing some familiar faces.”I know some people from the team, [Bukayo] Saka and [Jude] Bellingham, so I am going to have to go toe-to-toe with them in that match and smash them, really, because it’s pride, you know! I told some of my friends back home as well that if we win that match, they have to celebrate, in the English pubs and everything they have to celebrate, that would be nice.”

A minor injury kept Musah out of friendlies in Spain last month — a defeat to Japan and the draw with Saudi Arabia — but there is a case that Musah will be the U.S. player in the best form heading into the World Cup. As his fortunes at Valencia under Gattuso have improved, the same can’t be said about some of his U.S. teammates: Pulisic has had limited game time at Chelsea, Dest has failed to make his mark at Milan after being pushed out by Barcelona, and Reyna is still making his way back from injury problems at Dortmund.

Gab Marcotti doesn’t understand why USMNT and Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah is not on ESPN FC’s list of the top players under the age of 21.Despite those concerns, Musah believes the USMNT — who have not reached the quarterfinals since 2002 — can make a run in Qatar.”Just getting out of the group isn’t good enough,” he says. “I feel like we’ll be quite disappointed if we don’t get out the group, but if we just get out of the group and then get knocked out, I feel like it would be disappointing.”We’re a team that can go to the latter stages. We have to be on our game all the time. You can’t slack, basically, and that’s hard to do, but we’re capable of doing it. I really believe we can. We have to get to the latter stages of the competition to feel like we’ve achieved something. If we go out earlier, it will feel disappointing for sure.”

– World Cup stock watch: Tim Weah rising for USMNT?

With lofty ambitions in the camp perhaps not reflected across the world, is it fair to say the USMNT still aren’t given due respect?”I would say they’re respecting [us] a bit more, but still not where I think it should be,” he adds. “I feel like we deserve more respect, but we have to go out there and earn it this time because this is the stage to show it and to change the way the world views it.”And having that in your team in the U.S. is huge. Gregg has put together that young group and to be able to perform the way we do in the World Cup qualifiers, in a Gold Cup, CONCACAF Nations League, we’ve been doing some big things, and the group is so mature and they’re willing to go that step ahead all the time. The ambitions and the drive that we have is so high. And should the USMNT advance far into the tournament, there is a remote chance of them facing Ghana, the country where Musah’s parents were born.”My mum could do something like that, but my dad would just be like, ‘Nah, don’t do that, come on,'” he smiles when asked if his family would split their allegiances in that scenario. “They will probably have U.S. shirts on or something.”

Grant Wahl Oct 19

Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and I go back a long ways. We did a series of long interviews in 2016 and 2017 that formed the chapter for my last book. He has gone into minute detail explaining to me how he plays the game. And on Tuesday we had another long one-on-one interview, which is below. Paid subscribers to GrantWahl.com can read all of it today, and the audio version will be on the Fútbol with Grant Wahl Podcast on Thursday.

The entirety of the written interview below is reserved for paid subscribers. As always, you can still get the entire free audio version of my podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you like to go for your pods.

Grant Wahl:

The LA Galaxy meets crosstown rival LAFC in an MLS quarterfinal on Thursday night at 10:25 PM Eastern on FS1 and Fox Deportes. Our guest now is Javier Chicharito Hernández of the LA Galaxy. Javier, it’s great to speak to you again. Thanks for coming on the show.

Javier Hernández:

Thank you, Grant.

Grant Wahl:

So I am legit excited about this game on Thursday. I was at the U.S. Open Cup game earlier this year between your two teams, LA Galaxy and LAFC. It got really nasty during the game and after the final whistle when your team won. How much do your two teams dislike each other?

“I haven’t retired from the national team. I will see in the future.”

Javier Hernández

I mean, it’s a way of putting the question, but I don’t care how much we dislike or not. We just want to win. They are in our way to the sixth [title]. So it doesn’t matter who’s going to be in front of us, we want to go in and try to win. Fortunately we’re going to play in LA. It’s not in our home. It’s not in our stadium. But we’re going to play in our city. So we’re glad about that. But yeah, the rivalry, you know how intense it is, so we’re very happy that everyone, same as us, we’re going to live that experience.

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Grant Wahl:

So there is a famous photograph of you and LAFC’s Carlos Vela together at the Chivas academy in 2003. You are 15 years old in the photograph. He is 14. What do you remember first thinking about Carlos Vela in those days when you were 15 years old?

Javier Hernández:

Yeah, he was going to be one of the greatest for sure. The way that he was playing, he was playing with all these players like myself and against other teams. And his talent and everything was just amazing. And even difficult to describe that he was with so much composure, so much talent. The IQ about the game that he had since then, it’s been amazing. That’s why the career that he had already and why he’s, from my point of view, one of the greatest Mexican players ever.

Grant Wahl:

Now that you and Carlos Vela have played in World Cups together, now that you are the two biggest soccer stars in Los Angeles, how would you describe your relationship these days?

Javier Hernández:

Great. Same. Good. I think it’s been a little bit complicated because of Covid. Because when I arrived over here, all the Covid situation, then he has his kids, or his son and his daughter. Then yeah, we haven’t spent that much time that we would love to, but we’ve been in contact so much time. And then in the last three games that we played against each other, after the game, we catch up over here like 10, 20 minutes just chatting after the games.

And that relationship is going to last forever, because we admire each other. We love each other. And we know how much we both experience in our own careers and as well together. But you said it, in the World Cups and then in the national team and then as well here. Even though we are rivals, the admiration, the respect is going to be there always.

Grant Wahl:

I always like asking this question: In your opinion, what is the identity of this LA Galaxy team?

Javier Hernández:

I think the identity of this team is resilience, for sure. I want to use that word because it’s one of our most important values inside our team. Because last season we couldn’t draw so many games because, as you see as an example only, because we didn’t have that resilience. That maturity of when someone’s comes first, it’s still as much time as is left in the club to try to maintain our style of play, maintain our mindset, maintain our focus, to try to come back from those games. You can see in the last run of the 11 or 12 games that we had in this season with a lot of draws, with a lot of victories, and just one very difficult and painful loss in Vancouver.

So yeah, that’s what I think the identities are there. And I think as well, a lot of teams see us like that, because they all know that we have a lot of talent. They all know that we can have a good day. But yeah, last season, in the beginning of this season, they knew that if they didn’t score first, probably they will win the games. But now it’s completely the opposite. Now we can come back, as you can see in Houston and the last games that I mentioned before. So yeah, I think that the identity is about resilience, about that character and consistency we want to show.

Grant Wahl:

It really seems like Riqui Puig in particular has made a big impact on this Galaxy team since arriving this summer. What have you learned about Riqui so far?

Javier Hernández:

Sure, and Gastón [Brugman] and Martín [Cáceres], I think that center line that we said in Mexico, that we spoke before the World Cup. How do you say it in English?

Grant Wahl:

The spine.

Javier Hernández:

Yeah, the spine, exactly, of soccer. With the goalkeeper, central defender, central midfielder or number 10, or just a striker or strikers. So those are very important ones. And I think these guys came to glue us inside and outside the field as well because the character that they brought with them. It’s amazing. We have so much fun. Even though they don’t speak so much English yet. But with the Spanish speakers over here, we joke a lot.

We take accountability in a better way. Their European experience as well. And international as well is very big. So yeah, same as Riqui, Martín, and Gastón, and as well, someone that I mentioned as well before the other game in Nashville that I wanted to mention is Douglas Costa. The way that he’s been improving, the way that he’s committing to the cause because people think that it’s very easy to come here and just start scoring and making it is very easy. And we all realize that it’s not that easy as a lot of people want to portray it. So yeah, I think Douglas Costa has been improving a lot and he’s giving us a lot of his talent and working.

Grant Wahl:

Now, as someone who played for Manchester United and Real Madrid, the world’s two biggest clubs, during the satellite television era, you are, I would argue, the most recognizable Mexican person in the history of the world to more human beings. What is it like for you?

Javier Hernández:

I don’t know about that, but thank you.

Grant Wahl:

Think about it. Who else would be? I mean, these are the two biggest clubs in the world. What is that like for you to live that? Being the most recognizable Mexican person basically in the history of the world?

Javier Hernández:

With a lot of calm, with a lot of humbleness. Not fake humbleness. What I mean with humbleness is like I don’t feel that I have more value or less value than any other human being. I don’t care. Fame, I realize, thankfully with my grandfather and with my dad, that fame is a tool. Fame is something that you can utilize with good causes. Create good impact. It’s only about that because then in the end, you need to be yourself. You need to be authentic. You need to live your life in the way that you want to live it, regardless if people like what you do, what you decide or not. So yeah, speaking about my profession and my job, I think I had a lot of very solid foundations from my family that they teach me all the things that a lot of soccer players don’t learn. That is more in the outside of the game.

A part of my grandfather and my father that they were very focused on the inside of the field, but as well outside of the field. Those two and then the feminine side of my family, they were crucial. They were crucial to just make me feel that it doesn’t matter how many goals I scored, it doesn’t matter how many people know me, like you mentioned, I’m still Javier Hernández, Chicharito, whatever you want to call me. And this realization that I got after I played with those teams and stuff, it’s like, yeah, what’s next? It’s just what’s next. Because after those teams, even when you retire, what’s next, you know? You are a soccer player for just a period of time. So yeah, we need to be very focused, and don’t forget that we’re human beings. That we play soccer. Not the other way around.

Grant Wahl:

So how is the human being Javier enjoying Los Angeles? You’ve been there for almost three years. Are there some things that you do in Los Angeles that you maybe didn’t do when you lived in Europe?

Javier Hernández:

No, it’s not about doing things. It’s the consciousness that I realize this city brought me my daughter as well. She was born over here two years ago. I had the opportunity to be in the biggest organization in the MLS, in the way the MLS trust in me as well as does this organization. The way that they want to make this league more exposed internationally. And they want to grow a lot. So man, I’ve been just enjoying a lot of my life. It’s not about how much I do, how much I don’t do, because honestly the price is to try to be one of the best players over here.

It’s my dedication and the professionalism. It is the time that I spend apart after trainings over here in the way that I have to take care of my body, in the way that I train double sessions in the afternoons, in the way that I try to organize my life so the main focus is just soccer. My mental training, my emotional training as well. So yeah, I mean this city brought me a lot of consciousness about myself, what I want to do with my life. And that’s the same that I’ve been doing just with all the maturity and with all the decisions and with more self-esteem, I can say that, yeah, I want to enjoy. I want to give all every single day. I want to push myself beyond those limits that my mind sometimes tells me, to just keep growing and to try to be the best version of myself every single day.

Grant Wahl:

You’ve had a great season, 18 goals in MLS this season. You’re Mexico’s all-time leading goal score. Mexico needs goals. Tata Martino says he will not bring you to the World Cup next month. What is the feeling that you have because of this?

Javier Hernández:

I mean, the feeling is like I wish them the best. I hope we as a country can break that taboo kind of thing about the fifth game. So they can just go through that and then they can qualify, they can go as far as they can. And yes, as a soccer player, obviously you always want to play World Cup, you always want to be involved with the national team, but as well you need to respect it when you are not taken in consideration. So we need to move on. I need to be focused on myself, and I need to keep playing in the best way possible if I want to be calling up in the future.

Grant Wahl:

I guess that was one question I have. You have not retired from the Mexican national team. And I figured that’s for a reason. So where do you stand on that?

Javier Hernández:

Same, that I haven’t retired from the national team. I will see in the future. Yeah.

Grant Wahl:

Okay. Moving on here. In terms of if this game against LAFC, which is going to be watched by many people, if this game goes to penalty kicks, would you consider taking a Panenka?

Javier Hernández:

Taking a Panenka?

Grant Wahl:

Yeah.

Javier Hernández:

We’ll see as well. We’ll see. [laughs]

Grant Wahl:

I guess my question for you is you’ve had so much success in your career, but in soccer itself, the sport itself is about so many little failures by everybody, right?

Javier Hernández:

Life is about that. Life is about what do you do with your mistakes? And you can see the Mamba mentality. You can speak with LeBron James. You can speak with Derek Jeter that I’m watching his documentary now, with Tom Brady. With a lot of people that are just the greatest of the greatest in their sports. It’s what do you do with the mistakes. That’s the thing. It’s not about what you do with the success, because success is not infinite, as well as the mistakes. You’re going to keep making mistakes. The problem is how you learn from them.

And another thing that I learned a lot since I was a kid that my family, I think it’s a very good way as well to see about mistakes and stuff is: Try to make different mistakes. What does that mean in the context? If I don’t repeat the same mistakes. Because if not, you are not growing. At least in that mistake, try to learn as possible. Don’t make that mistake and learn different mistakes. Do different mistakes. So I think mistakes aren’t failures, that’s a word that people are very scared to say it. And for me it’s very dramatic because there’s no failures. For me it’s just mistakes, mistakes, and mistakes. And as well, you can see, I’m going to use one of the greatest of all time in my sport, a lesson that sometimes soccer or football is like that. Remember the 2008 Champions League final, it was Chelsea against Manchester United. Who scored the first goal? Cristiano Ronaldo? Who was the MVP? Who was the golden ball, and I think golden boot as well of that year? Cristiano Ronaldo. He misses a penalty, and they still won.

Soccer is like that. Soccer is not about, again, heroes and stuff. We need to learn that this sport the same as others, it’s about grace areas. Grace, grace, grace. We’ll like in this society and then make those systems to just be polarized. You are green, or you are blue. You are completely just to mention the other color, but it’s like that. You need to be on the left or in the right, like man, you can take good things from each side and each side has their flaws. Like all of us.

There’s even Lionel Messi, he is the GOAT of the GOATs of the GOATs. And then he has things that he needs to improve, but he knows. He hasn’t won the World Cup, for example. So there’s going to be always something, nothing is enough. So I’m very tired of listening to those words about failure and success and stuff. Even though competition brings that because, of course, if I do an interview after Thursday and I’m eliminated, I’m going to be completely frustrated, sad, angry, and I’m going to tell you that it was a complete failure for this organization and next year we need to bounce back. But that’s what competition gives you, is how much you can grow.

Grant Wahl:

You’ve informed us that you are coming back to the Galaxy in 2023. How much longer do you want to keep playing this sport? And do you want the Galaxy to be your last team?

Javier Hernández:

As long as my body answers to my mind, that’s something as well that I learned from my father and my grandfather, is as long as your body still reacts in the correct way, when the mind tells the orders, the commands, you can keep playing of course in a very high level. So yeah, we’ll see. And of course, being here in this organization, I’m completely happy. I’m very committed to the cause. I’m very grateful. I’m very responsible about my situation. Then we’ll see. We’ll see. Of course, I want to maintain my relationship with this organization as long as we can.

Grant Wahl:

I want to finish up here the last couple of minutes with something I call the Rapid-Fire Quiz. And I only do this with the very best players I have ever interviewed. So I’ve done this with Ronaldo Fenómeno, with Zlatan, with Paolo Maldini, and I love doing this. So I hope you enjoy this as much as I will.

Javier Hernández:

Thank you for considering me one of the best.

Grant Wahl:

First off, what have you achieved in soccer that you are most proud of and why?

Javier Hernández:

Showing that you don’t have to be the most talented to be in the top of the top of the top.

Grant Wahl:

Who is the player that you have most admired in your career and why?

Javier Hernández:

That’s a very good question because my favorite player ever was Ronaldo Fenómeno, but in admiration, I’ll say Cristiano Ronaldo, for sure.

Grant Wahl:

Why?

Javier Hernández:

Because in the way that he has pushed himself to be on the top, and still people don’t want to give him credit because he’s not the most talented. There’s another one that is more talented in certain ways, in different ways. But for me, talented is not only what you do with the ball, it’s what do you do with this [points to his head] and with this [points to his heart]. And people don’t want to recognize that because yeah, if Cristiano shows you that he can be on the top and there’s a lot of people they don’t want to push themselves to be that great.

It’s like pointing out the failures that Cristiano did. Another example, like Roger Federer is my favorite tennis player ever. But someone that I admire a part of both difference more is Rafael Nadal as well, in the way that he has competed, in the way that they create that legacy between each other. It’s like they live from each other. That’s why you saw when Roger Federer retired how Rafael was very devastated because they feed from each other. So yeah, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Grant Wahl:

What is your favorite goal that you have ever scored in your career and why?

Javier Hernández:

I always answer to that question the debut, because without the debut none of this wouldn’t happen. And not everyone can say that in their professional debut they score a goal. It’s not normal. It’s not common. And the other one that I’m going to mention for sure is the goal that I scored in my first World Cup against France, because of my family history that my granddad scored a goal against France as well in the World Cup.

Grant Wahl:

Who is the best defender you have ever faced and why?

Javier Hernández:

I’ll say Thiago Silva.

Grant Wahl:

Why?

Javier Hernández:

Because of the intelligence that he shows. He has the aggressiveness and the defensive skills, don’t get me wrong. But the intelligence about reading the game, he’s one step in front of you. And that’s one of my skills as well because I’m not the quickest, I’m not the strongest, I’m not the fastest. I try to be always one step in front of someone to try to score, but he was like in the same way or even ahead of me. So that intelligence, it was the toughest for me. Because then you can face very tough and strong defenders, but they’re not as intelligent, so you can just take an advantage. But for him, in the few times I played against him in Brazil, he was very, very difficult.

Grant Wahl:

Who is the best teammate you have ever had and why?

Javier Hernández:

It’s very difficult. It’s very difficult. But names that come to my mind, I will just throw names. It’s Ramón Morales, Patrice Evra, Miguel Layún, Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Pepe, Iker Casillas. Yeah, I think with those.

Grant Wahl:

Is there any particular common thread in those players that you say them?

Javier Hernández:

Yeah, because all of them, they all had a very big influence. Personal. They took their time, and even though probably with some of them it wasn’t like a long relationship, but they took their time to try to help me in certain ways, in certain moments in my life, those players in particular.

Grant Wahl:

Who’s your favorite player in the world today and why?

Javier Hernández:

Today? My favorite player today. My top three will be Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappé and Kevin De Bruyne.

Grant Wahl:

Any particular reason?

Javier Hernández:

Because I like watching them play. They play very good. I will buy a ticket to go and watch them play, for sure.

Grant Wahl:

Javier Hernández and the LA Galaxy meet crosstown rival LAFC in the MLS quarterfinal Thursday night, 10:25 PM Eastern on FS1 and Fox Deportes. Javier, thank you as always. That was a really enjoyable conversation.

Javier Hernández: Thank you very much, Grant. Take care.

Mar 6, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Austin FC midfielder Ethan Finlay (13) celebrates with Austin FC forward Diego Fagundez (14) and Austin FC forward Sebastian Driussi (7) after scoring a goal against Inter Miami in the second half of a MLS game at Q2 Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

By Jeff RueterOct 15, 2022 The Athletic

Austin FC wasn’t a disaster in 2021. While they finished second to last in the West and had the conference’s worst goal differential (-21), it was far from as porous a defensive showing as Minnesota and Cincinnati made in their debut seasons. Still, it may have been difficult for head coach Josh Wolff to pinpoint a time when his team delivered an ideal performance in that inaugural campaign. Fast-forward to October 2022, and Wolff has an answer ready as soon as the question is finished.“I think the LAFC game was a fairly complete game,” Wolff told The Athletic last week. “I think from the offensive side and the defensive side, it was a very strong performance. Consistency is always something that you’re looking for. Having clear ideas of how you can hurt the opponents is something that we talk about a lot. You know, between lines, around them and over them are things that we talk about a lot. You also have to defend; eliminate some of the options for the opposition..”Hold on… LAFC? The side that won the Supporters Shield, that managed to fold Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini into their salary budget after firmly gaining control over MLS? That LAFC?

Perhaps even more surprising to an hypothetical (and, frankly, unambitious) time traveler from late 2021 would be the follow-up that Wolff’s answer required: which win over LAFC this year? The 2-1 win from May in California, or the 4-1 September showing on home soil? “Oh, sorry,” Wolff said with a chuckle. “The one at home. The one there had a different approach. You respect opponents, you really do, and they are loaded with talent. I think (we used) two different approaches given the location and the game, but the good thing is we showed we could win in two different ways. That also shows the character and certainly the resilience in our group.”A casual MLS fan would be forgiven for wondering how Austin got there so quickly. But in a league with a myriad of roster mechanisms to make acquisitions and a host of players with option years to allow teams greater flexibility when things to south, it really didn’t take much for Austin to rise up the charts in its second year — and they’ve loved every minute of the task at hand, too.

Despite their initial difficulties, Austin finished their first season with several players who could be part of a winning core. In Brad Stuver, they’d acquired a domestic goalkeeper who had been stuck on other teams’ bench, but was a dependable shot-stopper (and a great human being). Even if the defense needed a rework, Julio Cascante looked the part and was worthy of another year in the lineup. The first pick of the 2021 SuperDraft, Daniel Pereira, quickly looked like a tidy addition to the midfield alongside club captain Alexander Ring. Perhaps the two most promising holdovers were in the forward line. The first, Sebastian Driussi, is one of two bonafide MVP candidates this season. With 22 goals and 7 assists, Driussi earned the endorsements of past MLS MVPs and fellow Argentine greats Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Diego Valeri. Even more impressive is his all-around game. While a player with those attacking credentials could be forgiven for being allergic to defensive responsibility, Driussi makes a regular point of tracking back and helping fortify the midfield. “I think the first thing with Sebastian is his work ethic,” Wolff said. “I mean, it’s not hard to motivate Sebastian Driussi, which is an incredible quality. The reality is teams are gonna key in on you and want to take you away; let’s have some other ways of getting you involved directly or indirectly.”Many of the scoring chances he converted were dished out by the second holdover attacking standout: Diego Fagúndez.Fagúndez will forever live in league lore as one of the first MLS homegrown players to become a regular in the league. He debuted for the New England Revolution at age 16, and by 2020, Fagúndez had spent a decade playing on the turf in Foxborough. Though he only turned 26 months before the 2021 season kicked off, he felt his team had decided he was on the decline.

“I think sometimes people think that your career is over,” Fagúndez said this week, “and then you go somewhere else and you pop off and you have good years. I think for me, that’s what they thought of me. I think people thought that I was done and I wasn’t gonna be the same Diego I was in 2013, 2014 and stuff, but I wanted to come here and prove everybody wrong. Having the confidence, playing my position, scoring goals, assists, having fun — that’s what it’s all about.”

The change of scenery has done wonders. He followed a seven goal, five assist debut in 2021 with a career year in 2022. His 15 assists were tied for second best in MLS, while he added six goals to set a new career high for combined goal contributions. The Driussi effect here is undeniable, but it goes beyond Fagúndez being the right guy at the right time.

“I think having a player like Sebastian who makes me a better player, and I can make him a better player, I think it’s awesome,” Fagúndez said.

Indeed, what may have looked this offseason like Austin running a rag and bone wagon ended up being the secret to flip their fates from second-worst in the conference to second-best. Like Fagúndez before them, several MLS veterans headed to Texas over the past year. Ethan Finlay had worked with Wolff in Columbus and was a rotational figure with Minnesota in 2021. Felipe Martins played for four sides in his first decade playing in MLS, most recently languishing with a poor D.C. United team. Maxi Urruti was even more nomadic (five MLS clubs in nine years), often miscast as a deep-lying forward or a pressing striker due to his passing ability and athleticism. The process of bringing more out of players who other teams felt were past their best is something that Wolff enjoys tremendously.“The players that you have need to believe that you can make them better,” Wolff said. “That’s a real piece of what we do as a coach — I’m a teacher. I think there’s always satisfaction in helping players achieve more than they did previously, but much more about them getting better and achieving what they truly believe they can achieve. Whether you’re 20 or 30, being coachable, having a growth mindset, isn’t a given. Those are things that we really talk about a lot and our guys really responded to that, and they’re gonna need to continue to do that next year. We’re gonna have new ideas, subtle things, but maintaining hunger and maintaining an open mindset to learn is important.”Rounding out the fresh faces are Ruben Gabrielsen, a Norwegian center back who’s become a beloved figure in the locker room, and Emiliano Rigoni, a designated player and former teammate of Driussi’s at Zenit. Each had to learn the intricacies of Wolff’s system of positional play, which increasingly looked like a well-oiled machine during the dog days of summer.“We just tweaked a few things positionally to give us a little more balance,” Wolff said of changes made from year one to year two. “Really specified a little bit more (about) how we want to attack while being able to capture second balls or score goals, but they weren’t significant changes. It was a number of things that really helped us and at the end of the day: winning games, scoring goals, that’s what’s going to validate all the players. You have to validate the work. Last year, there wasn’t enough validation. Some of that lack of quality. Some of that’s just the lack of performance and we were able to correct some of those things early this year and it really, really kicked in for our guys as the season went on.”

Along the way, the players found outlets to get closer off the field. Cookouts became a regular occurrence, with Felipe and Urruti finding another way to become indispensable at their new club by manning the grill. Steaks and sausages are the main course, Fagúndez said, supplemented by various side dishes and small bites.

The good vibes have spilled onto the club’s social platforms. Driussi, Fagúndez and Urruti launched a series called “Maté Con Vos,” a discussion show where the trio banter while enjoying the caffeine-heavy South American staple beverage.To Wolff, that level of camaraderie doesn’t just make away days a little more enjoyable — it helps improve the on-field product to a great extent.“I think it’s more self-evident in our country and our league — probably with our national team — than probably anywhere else in the world, the chemistry and camaraderie,” Wolff said. “We’re a welcoming community, a welcoming society, as Americans. It’s different going abroad. It can be cold, it can be a little standoffish, and you got to prove your value and your worth when you’re stepping inside of a European locker room. It’s a little different, I think, in Austin. We typically bring guys in pretty freely. I mean, you really got to screw up in order to get kicked out of the circle of trust, so to speak.”

Both tactically and in terms of culture-building, Driussi had plenty of praise for Wolff, who was hired by Austin ahead of their launch for his first head coaching role.

“Each one of us knows what we have to do, and that we have to always perform at our best, which is a very good thing,” Driussi said. “He’s a great coach, he’s making his first steps and he’s on a good path.”

The Argentine is also loving his time in Austin, and has deservedly become a favorite among fans. Understandably, he isn’t in a rush to leave — though he does hope to return to Europe someday.

“I hope so,” Driussi said. “It’s still one of my dreams. Obviously Zenit was in Europe, but I’d like to play in one of the five most-known leagues in Europe. I’d like to take that step, it’s a dream that I have.”

The regular season couldn’t have gone much better for Driussi and Austin alike. Up next is the team’s postseason debut at the friendly confines of Q2 Stadium (Sunday, October 16, and 2:00 p.m. Central on ESPN), pitting the hosts against Real Salt Lake. While Austin won at home against RSL in September, the latter club also famously advanced in last year’s postseason against Seattle without taking a single shot. If any team can revel in crashing a good party, it may be Pablo Mastroeni’s side.

Maybe the occasion will require a special cookout on Saturday. Maybe it’ll take an extra cup of maté. Expansion teams haven’t historically fared well in their playoff debuts. Of the five teams which have played postseason soccer and debuted in 2017 or later (Atlanta, Minnesota, Los Angeles FC, Nashville, Miami), only Nashville won its first playoff match — and that was against Miami, a matchup which guaranteed a trend-busting result.

Whatever the case, the moment won’t faze Gabrielsen. After overperforming compared to preseason expectations, it’s safe to guess that his peers in the locker room will share a similar mentality.

“It’s not that new,” Gabrielsen said. “There are sort of playoffs in Europe. Whether that’s Champions League or Europa League or World Cup or European Cup, it’s just a playoff game. Either you win or you go home. This is the passion that we like to have as a football player.

“It’s the same no matter where you do it: when you lose, you go home and you’re sad and you want to start the season all over again. So we just want to win, of course.

Oliver KayOct 20, 2022 The Athletic

Cristiano Ronaldo is the one Manchester United player who knows how it looks and how it feels inside the dressing room when a legendary player burns his bridges.He was there, as a 20-year-old, when Roy Keane eviscerated several of his team-mates, assistant manager Carlos Queiroz and, finally, Sir Alex Ferguson before the captain’s contract was terminated in November 2005. He was there six months later, when Ruud van Nistelrooy clashed with Ferguson once too often and stormed out of the Old Trafford dressing room, never to return.And, on both occasions, the young Ronaldo breathed a huge sigh of relief — just as several of his team-mates will, along with Erik ten Hag, when the Portugal forward’s unhappy second spell in Manchester comes to end.It is less than 14 months since Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in a blaze of glory, scoring two goals against Newcastle United in his first game back, but the feelgood factor faded within weeks as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure unravelled.Barely a year on, Ronaldo finds himself banished from United’s first-team squad following another show of dissent. He will train on his own for three days and will not be part of United’s squad to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.Perhaps the most damning thing about Ronaldo’s miserable trudge down the touchline on Wednesday evening is that the Old Trafford crowd barely noticed.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure on Wednesday night (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

The majority of the 73,677 in attendance were far too wrapped up in United’s performance, the best they had witnessed for a long time, to see Ronaldo slipping away into the night as his relationship with the club moved towards breaking point.

The exception was a gaggle of wide-eyed youngsters sitting on the front row next to the tunnel, holding their hands in the hope of a high-five. But Ronaldo walked straight past them. By the time the final whistle was blown a few minutes later and the crowd erupted in celebration of a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, he was on his way to his car.

Ronaldo looked stony-faced as he walked down the touchline and into the tunnel, as if insulted by the thought of spending another second watching from the bench, seeing Marcus Rashford starting ahead of him and Anthony Elanga preferred as a substitute.He can always count on the sympathy of his enormous fan club, who will feel that the disrespect he showed to his team-mates and to Ten Hag was more than justified by the lack of respect shown to a player of his status. But there was precious little sympathy elsewhere — even before it emerged on Thursday evening that he had refused to come on as a substitute in the closing stages of the game.

One pundit after another lined up to say it was disrespectful to his team-mates, his manager and the club. Ten Hag told Ronaldo as much when, having been substituted, the forward left the stadium during a pre-season game against Rayo Vallecano in July. On that occasion, Ten Hag described the player’s behaviour as “unacceptable”. In defiance of that, Ronaldo walked off again on Wednesday night.

But this time, Ronaldo’s team-mates didn’t seem to notice. Or if they did notice, they didn’t care. The post-match mood in the United dressing room was buoyant, such was the players’ exuberance at the display against Tottenham. They didn’t miss him on the pitch and they didn’t miss him afterwards.

Ronaldo cast a shadow over United during the first weeks of Ten Hag’s tenure: agitating for a transfer in the summer, missing the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia (after being given time off for personal reasons), walking out on that friendly game against Rayo and then performing dismally (along with everyone else, it must be said) in that abject 4-0 defeat at Brentford before losing his place.

Ronaldo was not the only one to perform poorly against Brentford (Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

His United career has not recovered from that show of dissent. Indeed, it has not recovered from his lost summer of disillusionment and solo training.

He has started just two Premier League matches under Ten Hag. The first was away to Brentford in August, when the coach was so appalled by the team’s lack of spirit and work rate that he ordered them all to report the next day and complete the 13.8km they had been outrun by their west London opponents. The manager joined in for good measure, too. The second was the 0-0 draw with Newcastle on Sunday, in which United looked short of ideas until Ronaldo, shaking his head, made way for Rashford in the closing stages.Ronaldo has started games in the Europa League, converting a penalty against FC Sheriff, and has at times looked lively as a substitute, coming off the bench to score the winning goal at Everton recently. But he looks increasingly like an uncomfortable bit-part player in a team where the centre-forward — as Ten Hag explained with reference to Rashford both before and after Wednesday’s game — is required to bring dynamism, speed, energy and work ethic as well as a goalscoring threat.United, by contrast, have slowly but surely begun to recover under Ten Hag. Their supporters have seen enough false dawns in the post-Ferguson years to exercise caution — and there hasn’t yet been a great deal of the fast-paced, free-flowing football Ten Hag wants them to play — but in terms of organisation, resilience, spirit, energy and attacking verve, the performance against Tottenham was a real step forward.

And here we come back to Van Nistelrooy. United fans still revere the Dutch forward, lauding him from the terraces more than 16 years after he left the club, but the point here is less about the goalscoring phenomenon he was and more about the sullen, divisive, fractious figure he became during his unhappy final months in Manchester.

Van Nistelrooy was still a prolific centre-forward, scoring 21 Premier League goals in that 2005-06 that season, but he had become a problem. The team was in a state of transition and, rather than inspire his younger team-mates, he was felt to be undermining them. His attitude towards Ronaldo, in particular, was troubling.

United’s supporters caught glimpses of it on matchdays. They would see Van Nistelrooy vent his frustration when Ronaldo dallied too long on the ball or tried one trick too many rather than delivering the crosses. Many of those fans shared that frustration, as did some of his team-mates. The young Ronaldo, all fancy footwork and stepovers, had that effect on most people in those days, but Ferguson felt that Van Nistelrooy, in particular, inhibited him.

The tensions between Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo bubbled over on the training ground and in the dressing room. The pair traded insults and very nearly exchanged blows in training in January 2006 in the unhappy aftermath of a derby defeat by Manchester City, in which Ronaldo was sent off. Van Nistelrooy thought his young team-mate was all style and no substance. And he wasn’t afraid of letting him know.

Eventually, it became untenable. Ferguson felt Van Nistelrooy slowed the team down and had begun to have an adverse effect on team spirit, so he sold him to Real Madrid and built a new forward line around Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha. Almost overnight, Ronaldo began to blossom into a world-class forward and, ultimately, one of the greatest players to play the game.

Even now, in the twilight years of his career, Ronaldo can do things that Rashford cannot dream of. But even at the peak of his powers, he was not the high-pressing, defence-stretching, all-action centre-forward that this United manager requires. And he certainly isn’t at the age of 37, discontented, without a proper pre-season behind him and struggling to build up any kind of rhythm or match-fitness.

Disrespectful as it was, Ronaldo’s petulance on Wednesday night didn’t hurt United. It overshadowed the victory to a degree but, if anything, it underlined how, having been terribly reliant on his goals last season, they are finally beginning to look like a football team without him.

If it was intended as a challenge to Ten Hag’s authority, it looked like pretty ill-conceived. The manager’s authority has never looked stronger.

This was a point Rio Ferdinand missed in a post-match debrief on his YouTube channel Five. Ferdinand seemed bewildered that his former team-mate had been left out — “My only thought could be that Cristiano is being saved for the weekend against Chelsea” — and suggested Ten Hag had given himself a problem by keeping Ronaldo against his wishes in the summer and then failing to pick him regularly.

Ferdinand’s interpretation overlooked one inconvenient truth: Ten Hag was willing to let Ronaldo go in August, once he had begun to appreciate the tactical and man-management challenges of trying to reintegrate a fading superstar who appeared either unwilling or unable to grasp what Ten Hag (like Ralf Rangnick previously) was telling him about counter-pressing. This view solidified with Ronaldo’s performance in the 4-0 defeat at Brentford on August 13.

The timing didn’t help, late in the transfer window, and neither did the United hierarchy’s concern about losing such a high-profile player and commercial asset, particularly as they were struggling to land their own top targets in the transfer market. But by mid-August, they were open to offers.

Long before the Brentford tipping point, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes had been offering him to leading clubs across Europe. The Athletic revealed a meeting with Chelsea owner Todd Boehly in Portugal in June. As well as Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, the agent approached Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and even Sporting Lisbon, where Ronaldo began his career. Some conversations went further than others, but the only firm offer came from Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal.

This can be hard to accept for those — which include some of Ronaldo’s former team-mates, like Patrice Evra — who accuse Ten Hag of disrespecting the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Ronaldo was not exactly a player in demand this summer.

The mind goes back to that video of a Real Madrid fan confronting club president Florentino Perez in a hotel lobby in August, urging him to re-sign Ronaldo. “Again?” Perez asked. “Thirty-eight years old.” With that, he raised his hand dismissively as he walked off.

In fact, Ronaldo is 37 — and few elite footballers have appeared more immune to the passing of time — but you could see Perez’s point. Real had just won another Champions League title with Luka Modric (then 36, now 37) in the team, but the Croatia midfielder is high-output, low-maintenance, less likely to be personally affronted if the coach substitutes him or prefers a less established player in the starting line-up.

Ronaldo is different “because of how big he is, how much an icon he is, how much of a superstar he is,” as Ferdinand put it. But that is part of the difficulty. He is no longer the player whose performances won five Ballon d’Or awards, but he still appears to expect the status that those achievements gave him.

Never mind the respect United showed him by presenting him with an award at the weekend for scoring his 700th goal at club level. Ronaldo left Old Trafford that day indignant at being substituted.

Ronaldo Ronaldo and Ferguson celebrate the Portugal striker’s 700 club career goals (Photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

It was Ferguson who gave him that award on the pitch, smiling as he did so; no doubt recalling happier times at a club which has endured nine largely miserable years since his retirement.Like many others, Ferguson was seduced by the thought that Ronaldo’s return last year would herald a new golden era, but it hasn’t.If anything, it has underlined another truth from the glory days: that no player is bigger than the club.There were instances when Ferguson would push certain boundaries in support of one star player or another — and that certainly included Keane and Van Nistelrooy at the height of their powers — but as the years passed and their on-pitch contribution faded, their mood darkened, tensions rose and their position became untenable.That seems to be the stage Ronaldo is at now: lobbying for a move, performing indifferently, resorting to petulant behaviour and now banished from a first-team squad that seems ready to leave him behind.His statement on Thursday night evoked his early days at Old Trafford. “I started very young, the older and most experienced players’ examples were always very important to me. Therefore, later on, I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters that grew in all the teams that I’ve represented. Unfortunately that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us.”“Giving in to the pressure is not an option. It never was. This is Manchester United, and united we must stand. Soon we’ll be together again.”Ferdinand suggested that Ten Hag would have a big decision to make in January or at the end of the summer but, barring a dramatic change of mood, it appears Ronaldo has made the coach’s mind up for him — just as Van Nistelrooy did for Ferguson with his treatment of a young Ronaldo a generation ago. Maybe it’s all part of the circle of Old Trafford life.

By Jeff RueterSep 29, 2022 The Athletic

In the interest of providing another data point to assess the U.S. men’s national team’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup, The Athletic presents the fifth installment of the USMNT fan confidence index. After the final whistle in Murcia, we asked readers to fill out a form ranking their confidence in each position group over the past two windows, as well as their confidence in the team’s preparedness for the tournament. For each position, we also asked for the name of one player who wasn’t involved in the last six qualifiers that they would like to see in November. Readers were asked to rate their confidence on a 1-to-5 scale, with 1 representing “not at all confident” and 5 meaning “extremely confident.” These totals were converted to corresponding percentages: 1 getting 0.01%, 2 at 25%, 3 at 50%, 4 at 75% and 5 a perfect 100%. The mode will also be highlighted to showcase which rating was most common among the 868 USMNT fans which took the survey. You can revisit the previous edition from April to see just how much the mood has changed after 282 scoreless minutes. Full results at the bottom.

Sean Johnson, Gabriel Slonina, Zack Steffen, Matt Turner

	OCT. ’21	NOV. ’21	JAN. ’22	MARCH ’22	SEPT. ’22
Score	78.60%	78.00%	76.30%	60.70%	66.50%
Mode	4 (566/932)	4 (286/453)	4 (412/637)	4 (277/654)	4 (469/868)

Goalkeeper has been one of the least volatile groups of the entire pool this cycle, both in terms of the players selected in the squad and fans’ assessment of their performance. However, there has been plenty of change with the starting role. The U.S. entered this World Cup qualification cycle with Zack Steffen fastened to the top of the depth chart. However, injuries and form opened the door for Matt Turner, who impressed in his opportunities. Now, even with Steffen unavailable due to injury in September, the fans’ rating of the group seemed unbothered by his absence.

For most of qualifying, it seemed like these finals months would find Steffen and Turner in a dead heat to start in Qatar. Now, the only close shave may be if Turner embraces tradition and shaves his head before the tournament.As for the rest of the depth chart, Ethan Horvath and Sean Johnson figure to be in a dead heat for the third goalkeeper spot if Steffen is healthy in November. Having been sold to Chelsea this summer and remaining with the Chicago Fire on loan this year, Gabriel ‘Gaga’ Slonina led the write-in ballot with 190 votes — with many adding a note that the exposure to a World Cup would be beneficial to the anointed goalkeeper of the future.

Reggie Cannon, Sergiño Dest, Joe Scally, DeAndre Yedlin

	OCT. ’21	NOV. ’21	JAN. ’22	MARCH ’22	SEPT. ’22
Score	72.30%	74.80%	75.30%	73.3%	61.10%
Mode	4 (493/932)	4 (234/453)	4 (329/637)	4 (370/654)	4 (369/868)

There are two ways you can look at the steep drop which this group suffered in the latest poll, and both feel entirely fair.

The first would say that given the team’s poor form in the final matches before the tournament, just about every position group would look worse. The numbers bear this theory out: the only position which didn’t see a significant dip in its confidence rating is the goalkeeper corps.

The second is that all three players who featured prominently in qualifying (Cannon, Dest and Yedlin) have arguably seen their club situations get less favorable over the past twelve months. Dest was essentially forced out of FC Barcelona and is a rotational figure at best with AC Milan. Cannon had a difficult first full year with Boavista and is now playing as a wide center back in a back three. While Yedlin is finally getting regular starts again with Inter Miami, it required him to end an eight-year stay in Europe as he left Galatasaray.

Even overlooking the club situations, this group did little to alleviate the concerns about this team’s chance creation. If Antonee Robinson is ruled out for any reason and Dest is needed to log significant minutes on the left, neither Cannon nor Yedlin has provided a similar forward threat for the national team. Scally represents the relative unknown, as he’s been seldom used under Berhalter despite strong regular play with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Shaq Moore led the write-in ballot with 52 votes, as he made a similar move to Yedlin’s by joining Nashville SC over the summer.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Aaron Long, Mark McKenzie, Erik Palmer-Brown, Chris Richards, Walker Zimmerman

	OCT. ’21	NOV. ’21	JAN. ’22	MARCH ’22	SEPT. ’22
Score	62.70%	67.60%	66.50%	69.6%	29.50%
Mode	4 (401/932)	4 (222/453)	4 (304/637)	4 (336/654)	2 (371/868)

Woof.While it wasn’t as positive as other position groups, few areas of the pitch received as consistent of marks during qualifying as the center backs. There wasn’t a ton of experimentation throughout the fourteen matches, as Berhalter mostly entrusted a core anchored by Chris Richards, Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman.Since March, Robinson suffered a season-ending Achilles tear. Richards made a move to Crystal Palace, where he’s been out with an injury and wasn’t making starts before his absence. Zimmerman is still at the heart of Nashville’s backline, but has made some crucial mistakes with his passes for club and country alike. As it stands, only Zimmerman is a certainty to make the World Cup roster.

Aaron Long started each of the September friendlies, but experienced issues with his distribution and struggled to cover wider areas of the back line whenever the right back was making a recovery run after a turnover. Mark McKenzie somehow looked even shakier, perhaps desperate to make his case after being left low on the pecking order throughout much of the past year. If Richards isn’t 90-minutes fit by November, Tim Ream would appear to be the top option based on current form and received 186 write-in votes. However, his lack of mobility next to Zimmerman would be a serious liability against nimble opponents.

There are so many questions left unanswered, but unlike most of those, few have arisen so late in the cycle as the United States center back crisis. Perhaps James Sands and Cameron Carter-Vickers will help alleviate concerns with strong play in the Scottish Premiership. However, it’s one of the program’s two biggest problem areas heading into November, and the survey respondents know it.

George Bello, Antonee Robinson, Sam Vines

	OCT. ’21	NOV. ’21	JAN. ’22	MARCH ’22	SEPT. ’22
Score	61.90%	57.80%	68.60%	64.3%	48.20%
Mode	4 (386/932)	3 (198/453)	4 (307/637)	4 (298/654)	3 (378/868)

While most folks left the September window having more questions than answers about this team, one thing was abundantly clear: there isn’t a dependable second option behind Antonee “Jedi” Robinson.

As neither George Bello nor Sam Vines have made convincing cases at the international level after moves abroad, this situation could enhance the odds of Scally making the roster. The former New York City FC academy product can play on either side of the backline and has become a regular starter for Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga. Scally was the only write-in option to get even modest consideration, notching 21 votes. All told, Dest may be the backup option on the left, as Cannon, Scally and Yedlin have all seen more run-out on the right.

To paraphrase Max von Sydow, “Without Jedi, there can be no balance in the defense.”

Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso

	OCT. 21	NOV. ’21	JAN. ’21	MARCH ’21	SEPT. ’21
Score	67.70%	72.40%	78.00%	79.5%	60.10%
Mode	4 (414/932)	4 (233/453)	4 (313/637)	4 (332/654)	4 (365/868)

As was the case throughout qualifying: this group’s rating rises and falls due to Tyler Adams’ performances alone.

This group’s rating rose in each successive window, as Adams stayed healthy and in form while Kellyn Acosta assumed the mantle of capable understudy. Adams played all 180 minutes of the September friendlies; while he proved adept at timing and weighing the through ball over the Saudi Arabian back line, he was also caught out of position far more often than usual against Japan. Having debuted for the U.S. back in 2017, Adams will enter the World Cup with 32 caps to his name. Acosta got his minutes further up in the midfield, while Johnny Cardoso didn’t play up to the level in his cameo against Japan.

James Sands led the write-in ballot with 28 votes. It’s Hhrd to imagine anyone but Adams or Acosta playing the role in the World Cup.

Kellyn Acosta, Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Cristian Roldan, Malik Tillman

	OCT. ’21	NOV. ’21	JAN ’22	MARCH ’22	SEPT. ’22
Score	67.40%	76.10%	80.80%	80.5%	61.70%
Mode	4 (428/932)	4 (250/453)	4 (321/637)	4 (370/654)	4 (397/868)

Yunus Musah was certainly missed, with Luca de la Torre trying to emulate his more progressive midfield role in the loss to Japan. While the Celta Vigo midfielder was tidy at times, he did little to create chances or advance the ball to the attackers ahead of him. Acosta started against Saudi Arabia, enabling Weston McKennie to run into the attacking area more often to keep the ball further up the pitch.

As has been the case throughout the past year, Musah and McKennie will start with Adams in the ideal Berhalter midfield. Worryingly, however, few of the auxiliary options have looked as strong over the past few months as they did last year. Leading write-in vote getters Eryk Williamson, Gianluca Busio and Djordje Mihailovic (each between 20 and 25 nominations) have each had success at various points of the past six months, but none are obvious upgrades over de la Torre.

Cristian Roldan is returning from a groin injury at the right time to see the field in Seattle’s final two regular season matches and could return to roster contention for the U.S. Still, what once appeared to be a deep area of the field is worrying thin on impact performers.

Brenden Aaronson, Paul Arriola, Jordan Morris, Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna, Timothy Weah

	OCT. ’21	NOV. ’21	JAN ’22	MARCH ’22	SEPT. ’22
Score	86.30%	88.10%	75.10%	89.1%	70.50%
Mode	5 (504/932)	5 (267/453)	4 (344/637)	5 (396/654)	4 (449/868)

Similarly to the midfield, the USMNT’s wide attackers have had a brighter gleam in past windows. The lone positive here may be Brenden Aaronson, who has handled the transition from RB Salzburg to Leeds better than many could have reasonably expected. He (like the rest of the team) was unable to catalyze much against Japan, but his work rate was a sight for sore eyes in an otherwise languid performance by the U.S. Paul Arriola had some nice interplay with Jesús Ferreira and Ricardo Pepi after coming off the bench against Saudi Arabia, and has had a fine season with FC Dallas.

From there, we’re back to the list of players in difficult club situations. Christian Pulisic didn’t get his desired loan away from Chelsea, and while there’s a clear role for him in Graham Potter’s system, Potter has preferred Raheem Sterling there in his first couple of matches. Gio Reyna was forced to exit the Saudi Arabia match in the 30th minute with a muscle strain. While that injury alone shouldn’t hamper his World Cup hopes, we just haven’t seen enough of him over the past year to know where he’d fit best in Berhalter’s team — or if he starts at all.

Timothy Weah missed this camp with a foot injury, but should return soon for Lille. Jordan Morris struggled to make an impact against Japan (may as well turn that phrase into a drinking game) and was overlooked from the bench when Reyna was injured. It could be reading too much into one change, but it feels as though Arriola has the inside track on a roster spot over the Seattle homegrown.

No alternative received more than Konrad De La Fuente’s 15 votes, despite the winger having been a bit-part player thus far at Olympiacos.

Jesús Ferreira, Ricardo Pepi, Josh Sargent, Haji Wright

	OCT. ’21	NOV. ’21	JAN. ’22	MARCH ’22	SEPT. ’22
Score	52.90%	44.40%	30.00%	25.9%	16.10%
Mode	3 (484/932)	3 (223/453)	2 (287/637)	2 (337/654)	1 (460/868)

The trend is, to say the least, not great. While they may not be scoring goals, the strikers have extended their own record for the lowest confidence rating of any group in the exercise’s five installments.

The United States won’t be facing Grenada in this World Cup, which makes it hard to transfer Jesús Ferreira’s four-goal glut against the Spice Boys to the biggest stage. Haji Wright buried a penalty against fellow qualifier Morocco, but wasn’t called in for the September friendlies. Ferreira led forwards with 76 minutes this past window, while Ricardo Pepi had 59 and Josh Sargent played 45 minutes after a year-long absence from the national team. None looked particularly threatening, though Pepi at least kept the Saudi Arabian defense honest as he is less likely to track back and join into the midfield than Ferreira. That spacing may be vital for a U.S. team which looks likely to be dared to beat a low defensive block, as they’ve struggled to break one down for much of the Berhalter era.

Leading all vote-getters by a comfortable margin, Jordan Pefok (a staggering 412 mentions from 868 total ballots) was left on the outside of this camp. This, despite logging three goals and two assists for Bundesliga-leading Union Berlin after making a summer move away from Young Boys. Given the younger trio’s struggles at the international level, it’s hard to grasp just why Pefok wasn’t given another look in the September camp.

At this stage, fans and writers alike can be forgiven for expecting that any goals at the World Cup are likely to come from other areas of the pitch.

Ready or not, here the World Cup comes. The United States doesn’t have another tune-up friendly between now and the opener in Qatar against Wales on November 21, leaving other factors to play a role in deciding Berhalter’s final roster.

Before we look at a pair of “state of the program” questions, it’s worth remembering what the expectations for this World Cup were among the 654 fans surveyed in the immediate aftermath of qualifying.

Expectations for World Cup as of March ’22

OUTCOME	VOTES	% OF 654
Qualifying was enough	3	0.5
Narrowly miss the knockout	21	3.2
Out in Round of 16	352	53.9
Quarterfinalist	269	41.2
Semifinalist	7	1.1
Runners-up	0	0
World Cup champion	1	0.2

Even after a bleak defeat against Costa Rica in what was essentially a dead rubber matchup, 96.3% of readers expected the team to advance. Granted, the poll was conducted before the U.S. was drawn into a balanced group alongside England, Iran and Wales. Still, the talent and performances after the initial window left the fanbase with hope.

Now, let’s look at the current state of things…

Do you think the U.S. is prepared for the World Cup?

Yes	2.70%
Hard to say	19.80%
No	77.50%

Needless to say, the September window left fans with few happy feelings.

There’s been a statistic floating around that the United States had won its three most recent send-off matches before the draw against Saudi Arabia. The unspoken part: the most recent defeat had come in…2002, ahead of the quarter-final run which is the program’s greatest World Cup performance in the modern era. Mere weeks before the tournament kicked off, the United States hosted the Netherlands at Gillette Stadium and were on the wrong side of a 2-0 scoreline. (Another fact from that game: Berhalter came off the bench in the 41st minute, replacing Jeff Agoos.)

Still, it would be a folly to assume that history will repeat itself. At this point, fans are wondering if there will be a knockout round match to stress over at all.

Where will the U.S. finish in Group B?

First	0.80%
Second	24.20%
Third	52.90%
Fourth	22.10%

Say what you will about the importance of friendlies — even after missing the 2018 tournament, there are few fond feelings among the fanbase’s diehards heading into the World Cup.

OCTOBER 19, 2022 BY JOHN MORRISSEY Backheeled.com

It’s time for the postseason in the USL Championship! Not all playoff teams are created equal, though

Ahead of this weekend’s opening round of games, we’re dividing the playoff field into tiers

It’s time for the postseason in the USL Championship, but not all playoff teams are created equal. Who’s for real, who could make a run, and who’s just lucky to have made the cut?Let’s talk about that.

San Antonio FC: Champions of the Western Conference and the overall points leader in the regular season, San Antonio boasts an elite defense a great goalkeeper in Jordan Farr and a deep group of forwards. Their conservative style of soccer is built for a single elimination format. They’re the favorites.

Louisville City FC: Home-field advantage until a potential title game means a lot for Louisville; no club had a better record at home in 2022. Their new back three is sharp, too, and it just might be this team’s year after a title drought that dates back to 2018.

Tampa Bay Rowdies: Last year’s Eastern Conference champions finally have their star striker Sebastian Guenzatti scoring goals again and they’ve settled on a consistent backline. No team in the entire USL had a better goal difference in the regular season than the Rowdies.

Memphis 901 FC: This club nearly nabbed the East’s top seed, finishing four points behind Louisville. They’re well-organized in a 4-2-3-1, underrated forward Phillip Goodrum nearly won the Golden Boot, and the defense has been good even while dealing with injuries. Still, Memphis needs to prove they’re elite.

San Diego Loyal: The Loyal have the most dangerous offense in the USL and their midfield trio of Alejandro Guido, Jack Blake, and Charlie Adams is wildly creative. San Diego’s defense is suspiciously leaky, but they beat San Antonio in the regular season and could repeat the trick.

Sacramento Republic: Having reached the U.S. Open Cup final, Sacramento have proven their tournament mettle. Attacking is a red flag, but a flexible 4-2-3-1 that Mark Briggs debuted in the final week could help the final third play finally match the quality this team has consistently shown in defense.

Birmingham Legion: The Legion have a self-defeating tendency to play elite defensive midfielder Anderson Asiedu out of position as a winger and they’ll often sit back instead of pressing defensively. But when they do go aggressive, they’re a very formidable team. Enzo Martinez is a game-changer; he can win a match in a single moment.

New Mexico United: Head coach Zach Prince regularly changed systems in 2022, but the 4-4-1-1 that he landed on towards the end of the year balances attacking talent and conservative fullback play. The expected goals data hates New Mexico, but their hard-nosed style leaves the door open for a playoff run.

Rio Grande Valley FC: No team in the USL earned more points than RGV in the last ten games of the season. Midseason pickups like forwards Christian Pinzon and Jonas Fjeldberg and fullback Akeem Ward add electricity in front of a stingy defense, and H-E-B Park is a fortress.

Detroit City FC: Le Rouge allowed the second fewest goals in the East, and Antoine Hoppenot can be the man for a team making a playoff run. Defensive injuries and general offensive inconsistency hold Detroit back, though.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds: The Riverhounds have struggled against elite competition this year and regularly underperform with the most talented roster in the East. Bob Lilley has a sterling reputation, but he needs to prove his tactical chops in 2022.

Miami FC: Anthony Pulis has done a great job to get Miami in the playoffs in his first season, but the offense is lacking with just 47 goals in the regular season. Their defense is strong, but a first round Rowdies matchup is brutal.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks: The Switchbacks’ defense is the worst in the playoff field by a distance and their offense has been gutted since Hadji Barry’s transfer to Egypt.

Oakland Roots: Noah Delgado taking charge in the middle of the season and taking the Roots to the playoffs is a lovely story, but Oakland doesn’t have the balance to make a run. The midfield is dangerously thin.

October 14, 2022October 19, 2022 gatorbest

US Women lose to England then Spain 2-0.

Just in case we thought it was an accident – the USMNT put a bow on their European trip with an EMBARASSING 2-0 loss to Spain’s B-team. Now the US is without some key starters and contributors as Coach A gave the ball to the kids and well they dropped it – big time. This as a B team – depleted by Spanish player defections due to complaints about the coaching and federation of Spain from the Spanish starters – most of which start in Champions League on strong European teams. The US of course was missing our top 2 #9s I Alex Morgan, along with our top defenders. But the team they put out managed to get blown out by this depleted Spanish squad – putting into question just what the heck is the US and Coach A doing? Is he setting up for next summer’s World Cup by making the US ladies – #1 in the World despite playing absolutely NO ONE of quality since the Olympics? To say the rest of the world has caught up is one thing – the get blanked by the #10 team in the World missing 9 of 11 starters is another. Is it time to panic – oh I think so.

Indy 11

Great to see former Carmel FC GK Coach and Indy 11 GK Jordan Farr win the Player of the Month award for his new team San Antonio – they are headed to playoffs as the #1 Seed In the Western Division they play this Saturday? Also huge congrats on a personal level as he and his lovely wife Ale welcomed their first child into the world this week. A healthy baby girl named Ivy Jean. Oh the Indy 11 lost their last game of the season to finish 8^th in the East.

Games to Watch

Big games this weekend at El Classico with Barcelona fresh off near elimination in Champions League this week will travel to Real Madrid trying to right the ship at Sat at 10:15 am on ESPN+. Sunday gives us Liverpool hosting Man City at 11:30 am on USA. That’s right after Leeds United and the American’s travel to top seated Arsenal at 9 am on Peacock., while Man United host New Castle on USA at 9 am. Sun at 11:30 US players in Germany’s top 4 Union Berlin (Jordan Pefok) and Dortmund (Gio Reyna) battle on ESPN+. While MLS and NWSL Playoff action gets underway this weekend.

High School Local back to back games Sat at Murray – #2 CHS Boys host Regional Final 4:30 pm, #3 CHS Girls host Regional Final at 2 pm Sat

The Carmel High School boys host the Sectional Finals tonight at 7 pm at Murray Stadium. Here’s the shootout from Thursday night where long time Carmel FC forward Will Latham hit the winner.

Goals from former Carmel FC players Olivia Cebalo and Claire Swigart carried the CHS Lady hounds to the Sectional Championship last week. They defeated Brownsburg 3-0 and host the Regional finals Sat at 2 pm at Murray vs Cathedral. The Carmel High Boys won 1-0 win over Pike to advance to the Sectional Finals at home vs Cathedral at 4:30 pm at Murray Stadium.

Sat, Oct 15

7:30 am USA Leicester City vs Crystal Palace

10 am USA Wolverhampton vs Nottingham Forrest

10 am Peacock Fulham (Ream, Jedi) vs Bourmouth

10:15 am ESPN+ Real Madrid vs Barcelona EL CLASSICO

12 noon unimas Cincy vs NY Red Bulls – PLAYOFFS

12 noon Paramount+ Torino vs Juventus (Mckinney)

12:30 NBC Tottenham vs Everton

Sun, Oct 16

9 am USA Man United vs New Castle

9 am Peacock Arsenal vs Leeds United (Aaronson, Adams)

11:30 am USA Liverspool vs Man City

11;30 ESPN+ Union Berlin (Pefuk) vs Dortmund (Reyna)

12 noon CBS Sportsnet Napoli vs Bolonga

3 pm ABC Austin vs Real Salt Lake PLAYOFFS

5 pm Para+ Houston vs KC Current NWSL Playoffs

8 pm ESPN Montreal vs Orlando City PLAYOFFS

10 pm CBS SN San Diego Wave (Morgan) vs Chicago Red Stars (Saubraun) NWSL Playoffs

Mon, Oct 17

7 pm FS1 NYCFC vs Inter Miami MLS Playoffs

9:30 pm FS1 Dallas (Matt Hedges) vs Minn United

Wed, Oct 19

2:30 pm USA Brentford vs Chelsea (pulisic)

3:15 pm Peacock Man United vs Tottenham

Thur, Oct 20

1 pm Para + Arsenal vs PSV Europa

2:30 pm USA Fulham (Ream, Jedi) vs Aston Villa

3 pm ESPNd + Barcelona vs Villareal

3:15 pm Peacock Leicester City vs Leeds United (Aaronson, Adams)

8 pm FS1 Philly vs Cincy MLS Playoffs

10 pm FS1 LAFC vs LA Galaxy

Sat, Oct 21

7:30 am USA Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool

9:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Stuttgart

10 am USA Everton vs Crystal Palace

12 noon unimas Cincy vs NY Red Bulls – PLAYOFFS

12:30 NBC Chelsea (pulisic) vs Man United

3 pm ESPN+ Real Madrid vs Sevilla

Sun, Oct 22

9 am USA Leicster City vs Wolverhampton

9 am Peacock Leeds United (Aaronson, Adams) vs Fulham (Ream, Jedi)

9:30 am ESPN+ Bochum vs Union Berlin (Pefuk)

11:30 am NBC Tottenham vs New Castle United

2:45 pm CBS Sportsnet Roma vs Napoli

1 pm ESPN CF Montreal vs NYCFC PLAYOFFS

8 pm ESPN Austin vs Dallas (Matt Hedges) PLAYOFFS

Mon, Oct 23

3 pm USA West Ham vs Bournmouth

Tues, Oct 24 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

12:45 pm Para+ Salzburg vs Chelsea (Pulisic)

3 pm Para+ Benefica vs Juventus (McKinney)

3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig

3 pm Para+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Man City

Wed, Oct 25

12:45 Para+ Club Brugge vs Porto

3 pm Para+ Barca vs Bayern Munich

3 pm Para+ Tottenham vs Sporting

3 pm Para+ Ajax vs Liverpool

3 pm Para+ Napoli vs Rangers ()

Thur, Oct 26

12:45 pm Para+ PSV vs Arsenal

12:45 pm Para+ Union Berlin (Pefuk) vs Bragga

3 pm Para+ Man United vs Sheriff

3 pm Para+ West Ham vs Silkeborg

Sat, Oct 29

8 pm CBS NWSL Championship Game

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

US Women lose 2 in a row – should we be worried ? Yahoo Sports – Bushnell

US women stunk

What the US Ladies Need to Do next

Barca to wear Drake Jersey in El Classico

EPL betting preview: Liverpool needs a win at home against Manchester City

Box office Erling Haaland’s persuasive power stretches far beyond pitch for Man City

By NICHOLAS MURRAY – nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/14/22, 12:51PM EDT

San Antonio FC’s Jordan Farr and Louisville City FC’s Kyle Morton are separated by 0.001 in goals-against average going into the final game of the regular season on Saturday for their respective clubs.

San Antonio FC’s Jordan Farr and Louisville City FC’s Kyle Morton have been two of the best offseason acquisitions of the 2022 USL Championship season.

Now, they’ve got 90 minutes – and a margin of 0.001 in goals-against average – separating them from the USL Championship’s Golden Glove on Saturday night in one of the major storylines on the final day of the regular season.

Farr currently sits with a goals-against average of 0.737 in 30 appearances this season for San Antonio, having played a key role for the side that could claim single-season records for wins, points and shutouts this weekend. Narrowly behind him is Morton, who is at a goals-against average of 0.738 in 28 appearances for the two-time USL Championship title winners and No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

It’s a margin that even in the closest races in past Championship seasons is unprecedented.

Because make no mistake, there have been narrowly decided Golden Glove honors in the past. The closest of all came two years ago in the abbreviated 2020 regular season when Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Danny Vitiello edged out San Diego Loyal SC’s Jon Kempin by a margin of 0.004 for the award. The closest full-season race? That was in 2018 when FC Cincinnati’s Evan Newton defeated Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Dan Lynd by 0.005 for the award.

And yet, there’s a strong argument that this is the best race for the Golden Glove we’ve ever seen in the Championship’s history. For one, both Farr and Morton have been at the top of their games for a full season and are almost certainly sitting 1-2 in most people’s minds when it comes to this year’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. More importantly, they’re both currently leading their sides on the field.

(The irony of Newton’s Golden Glove in 2018 is by the end of the season, he was no longer FC Cincinnati’s starter, replaced by Spencer Richey. He won the award after Lynd conceded in second-half stoppage-time of Pittsburgh’s final game of the regular season against the New York Red Bulls II, qualifying for the award having previously started 20 of FCC’s 34 regular season games, above the 50 percent of a team’s minutes threshold.)

As slim as the margin is between the two going into LouCity’s game against Hartford Athletic at 7:30 p.m. ET and San Antonio FC’s clash with Orange County SC an hour later, one goal – especially that of the kind conceded by Lynd and Pittsburgh four years ago – could make all the difference.

A shutout by Farr – which would clinch the Championship’s single-season record as well – would end the race.

If Morton posts his 14th clean sheet in a campaign that has seen him yet to concede more than two goals in a game, then the second half at Toyota Field will have even greater intrigue.

On a night where there’s plenty at stake for teams and individuals, this duel across time zones and venues should have your close attention.

Photo courtesy Darren Abate / San Antonio FC

30 appearances
2,686 minutes
22 goals conceded
0.737 goals-against average
15 shutouts
72 saves
76.6 save percentage
-1.41 G-minus-xG

Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

28 appearances
2,439 minutes
20 goals conceded
0.738 goals-against average
13 shutouts
52 saves
72.2 save percentage
-2.85 G-minus-xG

Grant Wahl

Oct 14

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Why do I love the MLS and NWSL playoffs? Because we get moments like Orlando defender Rodrigo Schlegel putting on the goalie gloves and leading his team to a shootout victory (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

This is a huge weekend in the soccer world, with the planet’s most storied club rivalry game (Real Madrid-Barcelona), the most compelling club rivalry in recent years (Liverpool-Manchester City) and three other dynamite matchups in Europe (Leeds-Arsenal, Union Berlin-Dortmund, Bayern Munich-Freiburg). If it feels like club soccer is trying to get everything done in October ahead of next month’s World Cup, including the Champions League group stage, that’s because it is.

But I want to save some love for the MLS and NWSL playoffs, which are also taking place starting this weekend (earlier in the calendar than usual due to the World Cup). Say what you will about the not-always-high-stakes regular seasons in both leagues, but all that goes out the window once the single-elimination playoffs get going. From Saturday to Monday, I will be watching eight playoff games: six in MLS and two in the NWSL.

Why do I love the MLS and NWSL playoffs? Let’s break it down:

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World Cup broadcaster Fox Sports says it won’t cover Qatar’s migrant workers, LGBTQ concerns, etc. Not surprising given how much money Fox is making from state-owned sponsor Qatar Airways, but still embarrassing sportswashing. I wrote about it recently: grantwahl.substack.com/p/friday-newsl…

• Desperation soccer is compelling soccer. Too often regular-season games don’t feel like the stakes are very high. That’s not the case in the playoffs. In fact, things can get downright wild when teams know their season is over if they lose the game. And crazy things can happen, like Roy Miller taking a decisive free kick instead of Thierry Henry or teams melting down once they realize things aren’t going to go their way.

• The games are more appealing to a national audience. MLS and the NWSL have had success building local interest, but they have yet to become attractive to national audiences, at least in the regular season. The playoffs are different; it’s all one national tournament, so MLS fans in, say, Orlando should have more interest in LA Galaxy-Nashville than they might during the regular season.

• Dumb little storylines get magnified into big deals. Which, frankly, is always kind of hilarious. My favorite this week is everyone at Inter Miami getting so worked up about New York City switching the location of their playoff game to Citi Field.

• You never know who might become a playoff hero. Also known as the Rodrigo Schlegel/Trinity Rodman Rule.

The latest pod discussion with Chris Wittyngham mentioned that it is unlikely that Julie Ertz and Sam Mewis will return to the national team. I’ve heard that hinted at elsewhere, but there never are any details provided. Ertz is now a mom and Mewis has an injury that doesn’t seem to be improving. Are you hearing that neither is ever going to play soccer again at all—club or national team? Can you provide any more details on either of them?

Jo Wilhelm

I totally understand the importance of your question: Ertz and Mewis were integral parts of the World Cup run in 2019—and, in Ertz’s case, 2015. It’s kind of crazy that in ESPN’s Top 50 global players list just 19 months ago Ertz was No. 8 and Mewis was No. 1.

I tend to err on the side of caution, so what I would say is that it is impossible that 2019-quality Ertz and Mewis will be part of the U.S. World Cup campaign in 2023, and right now I do not expect they will be on the U.S. World Cup team. With Ertz, I wonder if her situation might be similar to the players from Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning team, so many of whom retired from the sport at an unexpectedly young age. Did that career triumph change your goals and how you saw the end of your career playing out? In Mewis’s case, there are real questions now being asked whether her playing career is in jeopardy due to her injuries. I’d love to see them dominating on the field again, but I don’t really expect it at this point.

What’s holding up more info on the 2023 MLS/Apple+ deal? The price point is critical to success. When is the optimal time for the league to announce the package specifics?

Dan Skinner

I don’t have any inside information on this, but I wouldn’t expect there to be much coming out until after the men’s World Cup and the winter holiday season are over. The focus for MLS right now is the playoffs, and then everything is about the World Cup, and then people will be busy with Christmas and New Year’s. So I’d look for something in January as the ramp-up to the new season starts.

It seems very optimistic to imagine the Paulsons selling the Portland Timbers and Thorns during this offseason. But what are the odds of a sale happening in the next 365 days?

From what we’ve seen, it’s very clear that Merritt Paulson does not want to sell either team. And from what we know about MLS rules, it does not look like the framework or support from fellow owners is in place for the league to force a Timbers sale like we saw with Dell Loy Hansen and Real Salt Lake. The questions from my perspective are: 1) Would public and sponsor pressure force the Paulsons to sell the Thorns or both teams? 2) Would NWSL owners push them to sell?

Any chance Vlatko Andonovski will be replaced before the World Cup?

Abby Howe-Heyman

I don’t think it’s impossible, but I do think it’s highly unlikely. My sense is it would require shambolic USWNT performances against Germany next month, which I don’t think will happen at home. If Andonovski wasn’t going to be let go after the disappointing Olympic performance, then U.S. Soccer was basically saying: We’re giving him the World Cup and will make a decision on his future after that.

Of the Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and the EPL, which do you think is the most likely to end up with a surprise winner this season?

Willie

It depends what you mean by “surprise winner,” because I’m inclined to say Serie A based on the view that Napoli would have been seen as a “surprise winner” before the season. Obviously, there’s still a long way to go in all these countries, and current Bundesliga leader Union Berlin would certainly be viewed as a surprise after Bayern Munich has won the last 10 league titles. That said, I’m still convinced Bayern will win in Germany, PSG will take France and Man City will win the Premier League. That leaves Serie A, where the two teams that wouldn’t be surprises are Milan (currently fifth) and Inter (currently seventh). Can they rebound? Of course. But the way first-place Napoli is playing is absolutely glorious right now.

With the controversial World Cup approaching, how have you found your more “independent” journalistic status changes your ability to cover it? Have you spoken to other journalists (off the record) about hurdles they are encountering that you have not (or vice versa)? Is there a big change in the broader approach after lessons were learned (rather late) about how sportswashing helped Putin maintain control and advance his violent and dangerous goals after the 2018 World Cup?

professorllanas

Great questions. I’m definitely independent on the writing side now compared to when I was at Sports Illustrated. But I would also say that in my years at SI (when it was under prior ownership) I was never prevented from doing any journalism for political reasons, not wanting to offend an advertiser, etc. Where things are different is I’m my own assigning editor now, so I don’t have story pitches turned down. I’m not sure that today’s Sports Illustrated—whose current owners are literally running the brand of David Beckham, who has a lucrative deal with Qatar—would have approved my story about going to Qatar and interviewing migrant workers about the new laws there.

One thing I never had to worry about at SI was being credentialed by FIFA to cover the World Cup. It’s a little more up in the air when you’re independent like I am now, but I got confirmation of my World Cup credential this week. U.S. Soccer recommended me to FIFA for a credential in large part because I spent the money to report on the ground for all 14 U.S. World Cup qualifying games.

I don’t know of other U.S. journalists who are facing any particular hurdles covering Qatar. However, we did get confirmation on Thursday that Fox Sports, the U.S. English-language broadcaster for the World Cup, says it will not be covering anything connected to Qatar’s migrant workers, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, etc.

Grant Wahl @GrantWahl

10:26 PM ∙ Oct 13, 2022

897Likes271Retweets

It’s not surprising that Fox is ignoring the elephant in the room, but it’s also one of the reasons I chose not to extend my contract with Fox in 2019 after what I had seen at Russia 2018 and at other points in my time there. That company is just not a good fit with journalism.

Some great games to see this weekend. Enjoy!

MLS Playoff action starts and several players have returned from injury across the ocean

By jcksnftsn Oct 14, 2022, 8:46am PDT

CA Osasuna v Valencia CF - LaLiga Santander

We’re making a slight modification to the viewing guide over the next month or so as we’ll try to expand coverage a bit to include matches outside of the Top Five and MLS where there are streaming options available that allow you to watch a match of a player who seems like they have a solid chance to make the World Cup roster, you can call it the Josh Sargent exception (though perhaps more importantly it applies to a couple goalkeepers as well). In addition this weekend in Europe we have some players returning to health and stateside we have the MLS playoffs starting this weekend with two matches a piece Saturday through Monday. It should be a full weekend so let’s get to it.

Yunus Musah also returned from injury last weekend to get 28’ off the bench as Valencia secured a 2-1 win in their midtable clash with Osasuana. The club face an Elche side this weekend that has managed just two points through eight matches and currently sit solidly at the bottom of the table. Valencia are in seventh place, just three points back of Atletico Madrid for fourth and Champions League qualification though it looks like it’s already a two horse race for the La Liga title with Barcelona and Real Madrid tied on 22 points, five points ahead of the next closest competitor.

Chris Richards has yet to return from injury with reports that he has yet to return to group training. Crystal Palace face Leicester at 7:30a on USA Network
The New York Red Bulls and Cincinnati kick off the MLS Playoffs at Noon on UniMas and TUDN. Aaron Long and John Tolkien will start for the Red Bulls while Brandon Vasquez will lead the attack for Cincinnati.
Walker Zimermann and Nashville SC travel to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy at 3p on Univision and TUDN.

Timothy Chandler’s Eintracht Frankfurt face Bayer Leverkusen at 9:30a on ESPN+.
Kevin Paredes and Wolfsburg host Joe Scally and Borussia Monchengladbach at 9:30a on ESPN+.
Pellegrino Matarazzo has been dismissed from Stuttgart so we won’t be tracking the club moving forward. They do face Bochum at 9:30a on ESPN+ this weekend.

Weston McKennie and Juventus continue to flounder, their most recent dissapointing result being a 2-0 loss to Josh Cohen and Maccabi Haifa in Champions League play midweek with McKennie getting pulled at half-time. Juventus will now face Torino at Noon on Paramount+.
Some of that bonus Championship action as Josh Sargent’s Norwich side will face Watford at 2:45p on ESPN+.

Jesse Marsch, Tyler Adams, and Brendon Aaronson need to get things back on track as they have just two points from their past five matches but they’ll have their work cut out for them as they face first place Arsenal. Leeds have fallen to fourteenth in the league standings just three points out of the relegation zone. It’s not a terrible position for a team that narrowly avoided relegation last season but it is a bit disappointing after their hot start to the season that included a 3-0 win over Chelsea. Unfortunately, that defeat of Chelsea was the sides last real positive result.

Austin FC host Real Salt Lake in a first round playoff matchup at 3p on ABC and ESPN Deportes.
Djordje Mihailovic and Montreal take on Orlando City SC at 8p on ESPN.

Celta Vigo and Luca de la Torre face Real Sociedad at 8a on ESPN+.
Christian Pulisic got the start and scored a nice goal last weekend but didn’t see time off the bench midweek for Chelsea. They face Aston Villa at 9a on Peacock.
Erik Palmer Brown and Troyes face Ajacio at 9a on beIN Sports.
Jordan Pefok and Bundeslgia leading Union Berlin take on a Borussia Dortmund side that scored in the dying minutes to draw with Bayern Munich last weekend. Giovanni Reyna made his return from injury on Tuesday, playing 30 sharp minutes in BVB’s 1-1 draw with Sevilla.
Sergino Dest is looking to break his way back into the starting lineup for an AC Milan team that face Hellas Verona at 2:45p on Paramount+. Dest came on as a first half substitute in Milan’s 2-0 loss to Chelsea with his team already down by two and playing with 10 men.

NYCFC host Inter Miami and DeAndre Yedlin at 7p on FS1.
Jesus Ferreira, Paul Arriola and FC Dallas take on Minnesota United at 9:30p on FS1.

What will you be watching this weekend? Let us know in the comments section below.

Henry Bushnell Tue, October 11, 2022 at 4:28 PM

Three days after the U.S. women’s national team lost to England, and as it readied to meet a Spanish team devoid of 17 top players, U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski came to a pre-match news conference prepared with some basic math.He knew he’d be asked about those missing Spanish players, who’d temporarily resigned in a dispute over working conditions; and about the Roja remnants that, surely, we all assumed, the U.S. would beat. And he repeatedly made a point that the American narrative seemed to be missing.”They can say the same thing about us,” Andonovski argued, almost preemptively. Unprompted, he rattled off the names of 15 players whom his team was missing, and whose absences severely weakened the USWNT on their European tour.Without them, the U.S. lost 2-0 to Spain on Tuesday. The Americans put zero shots on goal until late in the game, and looked disjointed going forward. They were physically superior to a Spanish side missing roughly nine of 11 starters, but tactically and technically inferior. They conceded a sloppy first-half goal, and never recovered.They dropped a second consecutive game for the first time since 2017, and naturally, worries spiked. The World Cup is nine months away. The team’s only major tournament so far under Andonovski ended in disappointment. Preparations for the next one are going far worse. As Esther Gonzalez volleyed home Spain’s second goal, a fan base wondered in unison: Is it time to panic?But the answer, according to Andonovski and to common sense, is an emphatic no. Among the names that Andonovski rattled off on Monday were Alex Morgan, Mallory Pugh, Sam Mewis, Julie Ertz, Kelley O’Hara, Emily Fox and Tierna Davidson. He initially forgot to mention Catarina Macario, arguably his best player. All of them are currently injured or otherwise absent. All should be in Australia and New Zealand next summer.Without them, the USWNT still should have been better than a Spanish B-team. That they weren’t was less a cause for alarm, and more a reminder of longstanding flaws. Even with Pugh and Morgan present, their attack has often been inefficient. Its structure and rhythms don’t generate the type of chances that such a talented front six should.

But without half of those six — and especially in the context of a “heartbreaking,” emotionally draining week after the release of the Yates report — the USWNT’s performance really isn’t worth overanalyzing.”There’s no excuse with the team that we have, because I think we have incredible players,” Andonovski clarified Monday. “And I think every single one of them has earned the spot on the team.”But he knows that half of his starting lineup is missing. He knows that he could’ve added Crystal Dunn, who remains on a minutes restriction five months after giving birth, to his list. He knows that they all have the better part of a year to get healthy, and that he and the entire team have the better part of a year to fix their flaws.And there are flaws, certainly, even beyond the incoherence of the attack. The defensive personnel is unsettled. Given the spate of injuries and pregnancies, on-field chemistry is lacking. The USWNT is very much not a finished product.But the one certainty is that it will be far more of a finished product at next summer’s World Cup.The last time it lost two consecutive games, in 2017, it went on to lose only two of its next 78. Among the dozens of wins was a 2019 world championship.The loss to Spain will give renewed rise to the narrative that Europe has “caught up.” But that was the narrative four years ago. “The rest of the world caught up 15 years ago,” Andonovski said. “But the U.S. always figured out a way to stay a little bit ahead, or find a way to get on top.”And it can do so once again in 2023. Two tight losses away from home, with its roster and emotions both tattered, aren’t reasons for doubt.

The U.S. women’s national team lost to Spain 2-0 on Tuesday in Pamplona, Spain. It marks the first two-game losing streak for the USWNT since 2017. Here are my three thoughts on the game:

• The U.S. midfield is a huge concern and needs a formation change now. You can say all you want about the missing U.S. players from this game, but if we’re being honest 2015-era Julie Ertz and Sam Mewis aren’t walking through that door ever again, and Vlatko Andonovski needs to change his midfield set-up ASAP. Specifically: He has to go to a double-pivot, at least against top competition, because a single D-mid in Andi Sullivan just isn’t going to work. No single D-mid can do what Ertz used to do, including Ertz herself. The U.S. needs to switch to a 4-2-3-1 and use the added stability to help create the conditions for Rose Lavelle to do what she does best as a No. 10 in a central role. Right now the U.S. midfield isn’t controlling possession and isn’t creating the chances for whomever is on the front line to score goals. Spain’s B-team midfield outplayed the U.S., which can’t rely on forcing turnovers as the only way to create scoring chances. It’s that simple. Time for a change now.

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• There is time for the U.S. to right the ship, but not much. Several players missing from these losses to Spain and England should be back in the picture as we get closer to the World Cup, including Catarina Macario, Mal Pugh, Alex Morgan, Tierna Davidson and perhaps Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonnett and Midge Purce. And it’s unlikely that future U.S. games will have the debilitating emotional context that surrounded the team over the past week in the wake of the Yates Report release. I’m glad the U.S. scheduled two away games in Europe against difficult opponents—although a Spain team missing 15 striking players was obviously far from full strength—in part because it shows us exactly how much the U.S. needs to improve in the coming months. Playing Germany twice in November will help as well. But the vibe around the USWNT right now feels a lot like it did during the disappointing Olympics run, and recognizing that is necessary if things are going to get better.

• This result won’t help the cause of progress with the Spanish team. Beating the World Cup champion 2-0 (after tying Sweden 1-1) without the 15 prominent players who refuse to play for Jorge Vilda will only give Vilda and the Spanish federation more ammo in their refusal to listen to the concerns of those players. Obviously, there’s a giant problem there, and the Spanish federation’s strategy of infantilizing the players and refusing to meet with them is of a piece with the unwillingness to engage serious matters that we saw from American soccer officials in the Yates Report. This has to stop. Spain got a good result today, but it’s remarkable to me how much turmoil several European World Cup contenders are in just a few months before the tournament, whether it’s Spain, France (which has somehow retained coach Corinne Diacre), the Netherlands (which just fired coach Mark Parsons) or Norway (which replaced its coach after the Euros). That may be a saving grace for this U.S. team: things aren’t quite as bad for the Americans as they are for several other contenders.

JULY 12, 2022 BY JOSEPH LOWERY

The USWNT beat Mexico 1-0 on Monday night, finishing the group stage at the Concacaf W Championship

With a semifinal game against Costa Rica coming up later this week, let’s talk about what the U.S. still needs to accomplish in this tournament

It wasn’t pretty, but the U.S. finished the group stage at the Concacaf W Championship with a 1-0 win over Mexico on Monday night. That result helped the USWNT secure the top spot in Group A and set up a semifinal match against Costa Rica on Thursday.Now that the group stage is over, what does the United States still need to do at the W Championship?Let’s talk about that.

Simple, right?

Qualifying for the Olympics was always one of the two results-based goals for the USWNT heading into this tournament down in Mexico. The other goal was to qualify for the World Cup, which the United States did after two games. To qualify for the 2024 Olympics, the U.S. needs to make it past Costa Rica in the semis and then take down their next opponent, likely Canada, in the final.With all of the USWNT’s quality players, they’re more than capable of winning the W Championship and earning that auto-qualification spot for 2024. But being capable of winning this tournament isn’t enough. Making it to the final – and then winning it – is a must for the United States. After finishing third at the Olympics last summer, these next two games are two of the biggest of Vlatko Andonovski’s tenure. Because the U.S. underperformed in Tokyo, it’s critical that they improve and get results over this next week. Unfortunately for the U.S., Monday’s game against Mexico doesn’t give them much momentum. It was the worst of their three group stage games by some distance: there were far too many sloppy touches, poor passes, and questionable tactical choices. The United States’ only goal came late in the game once Mexico had already gone down to 10 players.Overall, the game felt eerily similar to the USWNT’s matches at last year’s Olympics, albeit with much lower stakes. The U.S will need to be sharper and more consistent in the knockout rounds if they want to win this tournament.

TRUST THE NEW GUARD

It’s becoming increasingly clear that the United States’ new guard is ready to change games. That new guard includes an immensely talented group of young forwards (see: Mallory Pugh and Sophia Smith). It also includes creative midfielder Ashley Sanchez and up-and-coming center back Naomi Girma.

At least one, if not both, of the USWNT’s young wingers is going to start however many games the U.S. has left in Mexico. But setting the forward group aside, I think Andonovski should continue to start Sanchez in the midfield and Grima in the back in the knockout rounds.

Girma was strong defensively in both of her group stage starts, one against Jamaica and one against Mexico. Her patience and quick reads help her elevate the United States’ backline. More than that, she looks like an upgrade over Becky Sauerbrunn in pretty much every phase of play. I’m not sure if Andonovski would be willing to start Girma over Sauerbrunn, a U.S. legend, in big games at this tournament, but I think he should consider it.

And then there’s Sanchez. Sanchez tries stuff, people. Her ambition on the ball, creativity in the attack, and defensive mobility make her an extremely valuable presence for the USWNT. She’s appeared in all three games for the U.S. so far, mostly playing as a No. 8, but also playing some as a No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 against Mexico (more on that later). I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the U.S. had their best attacking performance against Jamaica when Sanchez and Rose Lavelle started together in central midfield. At this point, Sanchez has shown that she should be starting as one of the No. 8s.

Before this tournament, Andonovski mentioned that the United States might play with a “double six”. They did just that for long stretches against Mexico on Monday, with Andi Sullivan and Lindsey Horan sitting deeper in midfield.The U.S. had the edge on Mexico, but they didn’t play well. The 4-2-3-1 shape (or, at the very least, a super lopsided 4-3-3 with Horan playing lower on the left and Sanchez playing higher on the right) and the USWNT’s execution in that shape was poor, to say the least. With both Sullivan and Horan sitting deep, there was a massive gap between the back four/double pivot and the front three/No. 10. That gap forced Sullivan into too much distribution. In general, she struggled to control the game and her errant passing hurt the USWNT. As the game wore on, the U.S. primarily advanced the ball through long balls over the top from Sullivan and Horan, which didn’t lead to many meaningful chances. You can see that gap in midfield in this image, with Horan setting up for a ball over the top.Looking a little higher up the field, Sanchez didn’t get enough touches playing as a No. 10 or even as a second forward next to Alex Morgan. Finally, because Andonovski flipped the central midfield shape and because the fullbacks were very reserved, there weren’t as many FB-CM-W combinations. As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, the U.S. reverted to hopeful long balls and scattered play even against a 10-player defense.With all of those attacking issues in mind, the United States should stay away from the 4-2-3-1 and go back to the 4-3-3 against Costa Rica.If the U.S. can find their attacking rhythm and create consistent chances with the possession that most opposing teams give them, they’ll be in great shape. If not…we’ll all be reliving last summer’s Olympics.

October 8, 2022October 8, 2022 gatorbest

US Women lose to England, play Spain Tues 2:30 pm

The US ladies lost a heartbreaker to England on Friday 2-1 after some questionable calls which included a PK for England and a US goal called back by VAR. Coach V – took a young squad to Europe, with Alex Morgan and Becky Sauerbrunn among others missing due to injury. Sophia Smith was sensational along with Trinity Rodman and Megan Rapinoe up front. Alana Cook playing centerback for the injured Sauerbrunn – gave up the pretty bad 2^nd goal. The US pushed down the stretch but couldn’t find the net in front of a sold out Wembley Stadium in England. The #2 team in the world played well at home over our #1 US squad. The US will travel to Pamplona to run with the Bulls vs #9 Spain on ESPN2 at 2:30 pm on Tuesday. Hey Refs – What do you think of this offsides call that cost the US a great goal? More Ref stuff below.

Indy 11 Last Home game Sat 7 pm

The Indy 11 wrap up the home season tonight at 7 pm at the Mike, An 8W-6L-2D overall record at home this season has put off mostly good vibes, and the impetus this weekend for the squad falls on leaving the Eleven faithful with a good impression of what could come at Carroll Stadium in 2023. Tickets start at $15 at indyeleven.com/tickets or watch MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+. Be Sure to Vote for former CFC GK Coach and Indy 11 GK Jordan Farr Player of the Month in the USL. His San Antonio team is first seed in the USL West. More GK stuff below.

High School – #1 CHS Boys Sectionals Final 6 pm at Murray, #3 CHS in final vs North Central @ Westfield 2 pm

The Carmel High School boys host regionals tonight at The Carmel High School boys host the Sectional Finals tonight at 6 pm at Murray Stadium. Here’s the shootout from Thursday night’s 4-4 (5-4) win where long time Carmel FC forward Will Latham hit the game winner. The #3 CHS ladies knocked off Zionsville 3-1 and now play North Central in the Finals at 2 pm at Westfield. Best of wishes to former Carmel FC GK Bethany Ducat who injured her kneecap and will miss the playoffs – fortunately another CFC GKU former keeper Aubrey Empie is there.

U13 Gold Boys went 4-0 – with 3 4-0 wins in Group play at a 2-0 win in the final. Coach Mark Stumpf (right) Asst Coach Shane Best (left)

Sat, Oct 8

10 am USA Wolverhampton vs Chelsea (Pulisic)

10 am Peacock Fulham (Ream, Jedi) vs New Castle United

12 noon Paramount+ AC Milan vs Juventus (McKinney)

12:30 pm ESPN+ Bayern Munich @ Dortmund (Reyna)

12:30 NBC Brighton vs Tottenham

Sun, Oct 9

9 am USA Crystal Palace vs Leeds United (Aaronson, Adams)

11:30 am USA Arsenal vs Liverpool

12 noon Big 10 Net Rutgers vs Indiana

1:30 pm ESPN+ Stutgart vs Union Berlin (Pefok)

2:30 pm FS1 Orlando City vs Columbus Crew

5 pm ESPN2 Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers

Mon, Oct 10

3 pm USA Nottingham’s Forest vs Aston Villa

Tues, Oct 11 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

12:45 pm Para+ Maccabi vs Juventus (McKinney)

2:30 pm ESPN2 US Women vs Spain (Pamplona)

3 pm Para+ Chelsea (Pulisic) vs AC Milan

3 pm Para+ PSG vs Benifica

3 pm Para+ Celtic vs RB Leipzig

3 pm Para+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Sevilla (Musah)

Wed, Oct 12

12:45 Para+ Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid

3 pm Para+, TUDN Barca vs Intermilan

3 pm Para+ Tottenham vs Frankfurt

Thur, Oct 13

12:45 pm Para+ Bode vs Arsenal

3 pm Para+ Union Berlin (Pefuk) vs Malmo

3 pm Para+ West Ham vs Anderlecht

Sat, Oct 29

8 pm CBS NWSL Championship Game

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

US loses to England 2-1

US Loses @ Wembley

England’s Hemp bosses US

Be Sure to Vote for former CFC GK Coach and Indy 11 GK Jordan Farr

Best Goalkeeper Saves this Past Week

Be Sure to Vote for former CFC GK Coach and Indy 11 GK Jordan Farr

MLS Saves of the Week

Can a Keeper be MVP

What do you think of this offsides call that cost the US a great goal?

Was absolutely thrilled to do Girls Academy Games last weekend with these fine refs.

Oct 7, 2022; London, ENG; United states forward Sofia Smith (11) scores a goal against England at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

By The Athletic StaffOct 7, 2022

The U.S. women’s national soccer team fell 2-1 to England on Friday in a packed Wembley Stadium in London, snapping a 13-game winning streak by the U.S. The result of the friendly between two top-four teams in FIFA’s world rankings didn’t end in the Americans’ favor, but it provided a chance for younger players to test themselves against a formidable English side.

Forward Sophia Smith provided the only goal for the top-ranked U.S. in the 28th minute on a play set up by veteran Lindsey Horan, who muscled the ball away from England as they played out the back. Smith finished with a hard shot to the lower left corner past England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps.

Lauren Hemp opened the scoring in the 10th minute for the Lionesses, ranked fourth in FIFA standings heading into the match, who took the 2-1 lead with a penalty kick netted by Georgia Stanway in the 33rd minute.

The U.S. nearly leveled the score minutes later when Trinity Rodman sent a ball into the net off a pass by Smith, but it was overturned with Rodman called offside.The match also saw defender Crystal Dunn return to action for the national team after the birth of her son in May. The absence of star forward Alex Morgan, who was ruled out of the trip due to a knee injury, was notable, but 17-year-old forward Alyssa Thompson saw her first minutes on the senior squad.“I can literally be her mom and like not her team mom,” forward Megan Rapinoe said. “I asked her a couple times: are you just like, What the fuck is going on? You’re playing in this massive game. It’s such a young age.”The USWNT is set to play in a friendly against Spain on Oct. 11 in Pamplona.

Meg Linehan

Oct 8, 2022

Last summer, one of the main themes of the U.S. women’s national team’s performance at the Olympics centered around joy. Or rather, the apparent lack of it. Whether it was the strangeness of lockdowns and empty stadiums, or the lack of time to build chemistry, or the adjustment period with head coach Vlatko Andonovski at his first major tournament, or some other reason or a combination of all of them, the USWNT looked flat and uninspired for significant spells of their time in Tokyo. The door opened significantly to the creeping fear that the world was catching up ahead of the 2023 World Cup and an attempted three-peat.On Friday night, four days after the release of the full findings from U.S. Soccer’s independent investigation led by former deputy attorney general Sally Q. Yates, joy wasn’t just an important ingredient for the potential success of the team; it became a concept to cling to, to find a moment’s respite from an extraordinarily heavy week.“I’d be lying if I said we were doing well,” Crystal Dunn told assembled reporters on Wednesday before training. “We’re getting through it. I think a lot of us are trying to find joy in playing this game.”

England and the USA sent out a message that can’t be ignored

Every player on the team was navigating it differently, she said — some were able to separate the work from the news, to focus on one training at a time. Dunn said she personally tried to navigate everything at once. “I find joy in playing the game, but I also know that there are things bigger than training and this game coming up, that really matter and they deserve our attention as well.”

Friday’s 2-1 loss to England was supposed to be one of the major tests of the calendar year for the USWNT, after the CONCACAF W Championship final against Canada, and followed by another away match against Spain, before a double test against Germany in November. The narrative was simple, and billed like a heavyweight title fight on the half-and-half scarves sold outside Wembley at the bootleg merch stands: the world champions vs. the European champions.

Emerging from the Jubilee line outside Wembley on Friday night, fans were greeted by banners honoring every single player on the Euros roster (and, of course, head coach Sarina Wiegman), changed over at some point between Thursday’s pregame press conference and Friday’s match. A sea of ecstatic England fans flowed and crested below, before orderly filing into Wembley where the final count would prove to be less than the expected full capacity, but impressive nonetheless: 76,893 strong and loud.

England defender Lucy Bronze promised a moment of solidarity with the USWNT ahead of the match. “Every single one of us is in solidarity with all of those players,” she said on Wednesday. “Particularly the ones who have spoken out and told their truths because I can imagine — well, I can’t even imagine — how hard it must be to have gone through it, and then to speak out.”

On Friday night, players from both teams wore teal armbands in solidarity with sexual violence survivors. The lights of Wembley stadium also became a wash of teal. The two teams gathered for a pre-match photo behind a banner reading “Protect the Players.”

Moments like these are not the true work, but there can still be power in a symbol if that solidarity continues and builds.

“Any time teams come together like that, any time any team, really, takes a stand, I think it galvanizes everybody,” Megan Rapinoe said after the match.

England 2 – 1 USWNT: Hemp’s No 9 audition, Sophia Smith and players stand together

She mentioned the team’s next opponent, Spain, where 15 of the team’s most prominent players are embroiled in their own battle against their federation; Rapinoe said the USWNT was behind those players “100%.” While there are other, bigger reasons for the Spanish players to essentially boycott their own national team, consider this smaller detail: until 2019, they could not lock their own hotel room doors at night while traveling with the team. They had to wait for manager Jorge Vilda to check on them at night and meet his standards. Only then could they close their door and go to bed.

“Without the players, you don’t have anything,” Rapinoe said. “You don’t have a game, you don’t have a sport at all. If we’re not protected in the right ways, then nothing really else matters. For us to come together, and take a moment on a night like this, I think is really important and powerful.”

This week has largely been an exercise in still trying to comprehend the scale of the problem, the depth of the systemic abuse: sexual, emotional, verbal, racial, and homophobic. How those intersect with each other, how they extend with many tendrils to other parts of the game and other parts of the globe. There has been some progress on the accountability front in certain markets, even greater pressure from the public, media and sponsors, but we are just scratching the surface — even with a 171-page report. The true work still lies ahead.

Investigation: U.S. Soccer, NWSL didn’t provide safe player environment

“The scope of (the NWSL and NWSLPA) joint investigation includes every instance of inappropriate conduct towards players by individuals in positions of power at every existing NWSL club since 2013 and seeks to trace it back to its origins,” a statement from the players’ association (issued on Wednesday) reads. “While the findings of and recommendations in the Yates report are significant and disturbing, it is not the end of the story.”

There is still yet more light that needs to shine brightly into every corner of the sport. As much as the Yates report has been painful, the account is not yet complete. We may now have a much better sense of the scale, but we are still waiting to see the true extent. We have not yet seen the bottom of this hole.

On Friday night, though, the match provided a moment to hold all of this at once, to grapple with the highs of a massive crowd at Wembley with two top teams battling it out, existing right alongside the sobering context of the last week, the last year, the ten-year history of the NWSL. It was an opportunity to see everything that this game could be, but also to know the cost of reaching this moment, to feel a twinge of guilt for enjoying a world-class football match but to embrace that inner conflict, or even recharge thanks to the electric atmosphere.

England vs. USA was a time to hope that there is not just a way out of the darkness, but a way that reimagines a night like Friday as the norm, rather than the remarkable outlier.

Charlotte Harpur Oct 8, 2022

Fireworks flew and lights flashed as the pre-match show to England against the USA foreshadowed the lightning talent on the pitch.It was a fitting celebratory atmosphere as the European champions looked to make a statement against the champions of the world in front of a 76,893-strong Wembley crowd. England did just that, defeating the icons of women’s football for the first time in five and a half years and the first time on home soil since 2011.Juxtaposed with that carnivalesque feel, however, was an important message. Before kick-off, every player, wearing teal blue armbands, stood behind a banner which read “PROTECT THE PLAYERS” while the Wembley arch also shone in the same colour.It was a show of solidarity from the two squads after the report published on Monday — commissioned by US Soccer and led by former deputy attorney general Sally Q. Yates — that found allegations of abusive behaviour and sexual misconduct in America’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

Investigation: U.S. Soccer, NWSL didn’t provide safe player environment

There is a tension between the joy of playing on the pitch and the “horrible situations”, in Sarina Wiegman’s words, that many players experience off it. Both exist side by side, a reflection of the state of the women’s game.“We celebrated lots of things but also when this happens, you can’t let it go,” said Wiegman after the match“The timing is now. We used this momentum to spread the word that this is unacceptable. We are all behind it and supportive, but then we can play a very intense game. You could see lots of respect.”

So what does this victory mean for England? A 2-1 friendly win over the USWNT — “a good measure” and a “test”, according to their manager Wiegman — extends England’s winning streak to 15 games, a run which includes victories over the world’s top three ranked sides, plus the Netherlands and Spain. They are undefeated in 23 games and have never lost under Wiegman. The World Cup is 10 months away and this was another step in the right direction.“We took this moment to take another starting point to see where we are and we will take it from there,” said Wiegman.Since her appointment in September last year, the England manager has cultivated an unshakeable self-belief. The focus is not on their opponents’ strengths but their own.“As English people, we are the first to point out opposition and say, ‘They’re unbelievable’,” said Georgia Stanway. “Whereas now, we look in the room and we think we’re unbelievable.“This is us — this is what we’re here to do, that is how we play, this is our crowd, this is our home.”Before kick-off, captain Millie Bright, in the absence of the injured Leah Williamson, said she told her team “to put the stamp on our game”. The US are quick, physical, and make darting runs in behind. England didn’t choose to sit back, though, and restrict the space behind the defence. They set out with a high press and went at their opponents; a team they, and the world, had once feared.England reaped the rewards with Lauren Hemp, filling in for Alessia Russo at No 9, poking home from close range in the 10th minute.England’s performance, in the first half in particular, was dominant. They reduced the US’s possession to 31 per cent, the lowest number recorded since 2016. Of course, it’s not all about possession but it’s what you do with it, but England looked strong offensively, despite Russo’s absence, registering an expected goals (xG) total of 1.89.The all-conquering US put England under pressure, however; a much-needed test to see if they could adapt.“There were moments that were challenging, especially when we’re trying to build up and play out from the back,” said Stanway, who, hassled by Lindsey Horan, conceded possession in front of goal. Sophia Smith found the equaliser with a razor-sharp finish.In previous times, England may have crumbled but this summer’s triumph has established an unwavering confidence. For Stanway to step up and convert a penalty five minutes after five minutes after she was dispossessed, leading to the US’s equaliser, is symbolic of this side’s resilience.“We had already overcome that (mental) barrier before this game,” said Bright. “The summer proved to ourselves the level that we can play. Winning a major trophy, you’re on an equal ground almost; two top teams coming together.”“We proved to ourselves that we can beat anyone,” added Wiegman. “We just have to do what we can control and stick together, communicate with each other at all times. We need to have the freedom to make our own choices. We are doing well in that.”

Banned, ignored… adored: How England’s women fought to became champions of Europe

There are “extra gears”, in Stanway’s words, to be found and that counts for both sides. Of course, the caveat is the US squad is missing key players and come the new year, their team will look very different. Wiegman, as is her trademark, made few substitutions compared to her US counterpart, Vlatko Andonovski. Lauren James’ 91st-minute appearance is a nod to her progress so far.Just as this is not cause for panic for the US, Wiegman is not getting carried away. “It’s now October and not July yet,” she said. “You are the best team in the world when you have won the World Cup. We didn’t.”It was a display of two of the top teams on the biggest stage but Megan Rapinoe wrapped it up best.“Without the players, you don’t have anything. You don’t have a game, you don’t have a sport at all,” she said.“If we’re not protected in the right ways, then nothing else really matters. So for us to come together and take a moment on a night like this, it is really important and powerful.”

By Phil HayOct 7, 2022

The first episode of Leeds United’s Academy Dreams documentary starts with a question-and-answer session for their under-21s. Sam Greenwood is the best finisher in the squad, or so says Nohan Kenneh. Charlie Cresswell is the player who cannot keep out of the gym. Sean McGurk is most in need of a haircut and Crysencio Summerville is promising (or threatening) to drag McGurk to his barber.Lewis Bate gets onto talking about Joe Gelhardt and cuts to the chase, saying Gelhardt has it in him to be an England international, to go to the top, to be whatever he wants to be. Gelhardt hears that said about him a lot and he is one of those footballers who will end his career with his reputation lying one of two ways: either promise fulfilled or promise which should have been. No one could look at him and pretend that the faculties were not there in the first place, ready to be mined.

So sold are Leeds on him that he was used as part of the justification for the club’s inclination to let the last transfer window close without signing a forward. To quote their chief executive, Leeds — prior to hastily summoning Wilfried Gnonto from FC Zurich at the last minute — were content with their choices up front because those choices included someone “widely regarded as the best young striking talent in the league” and it is hard to be any more effusive than that. Gelhardt, for a snip from Wigan, was the sort of signing which could hardly go wrong; the sort of signing which could, quite easily, earn a club a killing competitively or financially.

Leeds Gelhardt was signed from Wigan in 2020 and has already made an impression in the Premier League (Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

They talk constantly about pathways at Leeds because pathways are essential bargaining chips in negotiations with any young footballer of any real value who is not simply chasing the dollar. Academy players with a brain and a clue want to know that the first team exists as an entity they have a reasonable chance of reaching. Clubs in the market want to be able to show that they do. Gnonto is a thinker, an intelligent cove, and it is almost inconceivable given his previous career choices that he did not ask that question or do some homework on what academy dreams at Leeds actually entail.He must have thought about Gelhardt because, to some extent, they are in direct competition: emerging, admired, looking to push themselves and working on establishing the exact type of forward they are. Gnonto likes to play a little deeper than a No 9 and moves into wider roles with Italy’s national side. Gelhardt can be highly effective off a striker too, but compared to Gnonto, looks more vibrant and more of a handful in central areas, congested or otherwise. Moving at speed, his touch and balance makes him difficult to contain but Gnonto has that air about him too, a player who wants the ball at his feet.In analysing strikers in the transfer market this summer, Leeds said more than once that they were mindful of avoiding any signing that, in style or ability, would cramp Gelhardt’s pathway. Despite everything, Gelhardt was able to turn last year into something of a break-out season, which made him a focal part of selection discussions.

It invited Leeds to push him further again. But on Sunday he was the spare part at Elland Road, the player omitted as Jesse Marsch picked his 20 for a goalless draw with Aston Villa. The fitness routine Gelhardt went through before the warm-up told the crowd he was available, simply because it was obvious from the running drills that he was fit. This is what players sometimes do when they are about to watch from the stands.Marsch and Leeds have options up front which, in the context of the year behind them, is a welcome and necessary novelty. What is yet to establish itself on his watch, though, is a clear or complete pecking order in which people know their place.There is a sense that if Marsch had all of his cards to play, Patrick Bamford would start up front but Bamford suffered another knock last week so the game of persistence continued with Rodrigo. Marsch doubted at first that Gnonto would be primed for the Premier League straight away but it turns out that he is, to some degree anyway, and a seat for him on the bench meant no seat for Gelhardt.

“It’s not based on performance because I think (Gelhardt) is playing well,” Marsch said. “We have a lot of other guys performing well right now. Please don’t take that as a negative on Joffy.” Which is fair enough and Gelhardt knocked in two goals for the under-21s two days later. But omitting Gelhardt on Sunday touched on something Marsch found himself discussing 48 hours earlier: how best to manage those players who are caught in the grey area where under-21s football is easy bread and butter but first-team football is not fully in their grasp? How to keep pathways open when the laws of choosing a squad dictate that a coach cannot maintain pathways for everyone? Who has to suck up the reality of hard numbers?Those numbers ebb and flow, dictated by some things Marsch cannot control. Luis Sinisterra’s impending one-match ban will open up a space in the squad for Sunday’s game at Crystal Palace. Gelhardt, in any case, is good enough to prove the theory of cream always rising to the top. But it is not a secret that he would have liked more minutes last season and that certain occasions when he wasn’t used, particularly as a substitute, confused him as much as others watching. Every appearance he makes in Academy Dreams says the same thing: that he wants to play, any time, anywhere.That the door is not open quite so wide is not inherently a bad thing for the club. It was incumbent on Leeds over the summer to move beyond the stage where players were in the squad by default or where naming a squad meant making up the numbers. Whereas last season Gelhardt had no guarantee of starting, now there is no guarantee of who will make the bench.It is on him to take up the challenge and on Marsch to keep the pathway clear.

September 30, 2022October 2, 2022 gatorbest

US Men

Wow and we thought Japan on Thurs was bad – now we couldn’t beat a Saudi Arabia teamed ranked 69^th in the world. Things are falling apart quick for a US team with so much hope just a few months ago. Now we were still missing key guys as Winger Tim Weah and Mid Yanus Musah showed how much we really miss him with his absence. Any thoughts that MMA (Mckinney/Musah/Adams) works without Musah has been negated this week. With Musah – balls move out of pressure as he does the work to connect our D to our offense as he drives forward with abandon. NO ONE else except perhaps Aaronson in the mid has show this ability. Overall while we were better in the mid vs the Saudi’s than we were vs Japan – we still didn’t look good. And Pepi and Pulisic up top ? Well they barely touched the ball at all? I thought Dest looked ok on the left – and serves as a serviceable left back if Jedi goes down. I thought Scally also looked good on the right – but it seems he doesn’t drink the Berhalter Kool-Aide – (he’s just a starter for a Bundesliga team (the what 3^rd bet league in the world? Why would GB like him. Much like Tim Ream (who 100% sure be on the plane to Qatar – he starts in the EPL for heaven’s sake). I have defended Berhalter for years now – give him time – look at the results I have said. See him trying to change our culture to a team that possesses instead of counter attacks and buckles down to play tough American defense. Now we play no defense at all – play out of the back with horrific results – and basically look like one of THE WORST TEAMS IN THE WORLD coming off this international break. Maybe he’s setting us up for a 3-0 sweep with the final nail coming on the Day After Thanksgiving when the largest Ever US Audience can watch us get drummed by England 4-1 or something. I mean if not for the spectacular shot stopping of Matt Turner (who by the way Berhalter won’t start if he has his way – he loves our 3^rd best GK right now Zach Steffan instead). At this point the defense looks slow and clueless, the midfield disjointed and the offense non existent. Pulisic pouted his way thru 75 lackluster minutes before stomping off in the 76^th minute – throwing his captain band to Adams. Adams who by the way should be the captain. Gio Reyna – perhaps our best actual player if he ever gets healthy again – left unexpectedly in the 30^th minute with tightness in his leg. Do we really think Reyna who hasn’t played ALL YEAR is going to have an impact on the World Cup in less than 60 days? Doubtful. And up front – well besides Aaronson trying to do it all himself – we had little to nothing. No shots by Pepi the all world 19 year-old who is continuing his disappearing act while Berhalter strokes his back and begs him to score – a goal – any goal for the first time in over a year. If he leaves the only #9 in the World actually playing well Jordan Pefok from Union Berlin (3 goals, 3 assists leads the Bundesliga) at home – well he may well have his Donovan moment. That moment where the entire team knows he’s clueless and won’t be able to even coax a win out of the most talented group of American’s to ever wear the Stars and Stripes at the same time. GK Matt Turner was the one bright spot this window. Speaking of Goalkeepers – check out the GK section Below.

Indy 11 Home Sat – Breast Cancer Awareness Night 7 pm

Indy Eleven used a 2^nd half penalty kick conversion from its captain Ayoze and a dominant defensive performance to capture a hard-fought 1-0 home win. The victory marked the Eleven’s 4 straight home win. They return home Saturday, Oct. 1, when they host FC Tulsa for Breast Cancer Awareness Night Tickets start at $15 at indyeleven.com/tickets or watch MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+.

Big Games

The end of the international break is highlighted by some huge games this weekend and this week. Sat league leading Arsenal hosts Tottenham at 7:30 am on USA, while at 9:30 am league leading Union Berlin and Jordan Pefok travel to top 6 foe Frankfurt and fellow American Timmy Chandler. 10 am on USA gives us Pulisic sitting the bench I am sure for Chelsea vs Crystal Palace while #6 Fulham along with Jedi and Tim Ream will host New Castle in a surprising top 10 battle. Sunday gives us the Manchester Derby at 9 am on Peacock while Leeds United States of America with Coach, and Aaronson and Adams host Aston Villa looking to move back into the top10. Sunday also gives us huge MLS playoff battles as Portland fights for their playoff lives hosting league leading LAFC on ABC at 3 pm followed by Sporting KC vs Seattle – both still mathematically alive at 5 pm on Fox Sports 1. Of course ladies NWSL has battles royal Sat and Sun as well. Oh and Champions League is back Tues/Wed next week with Inter vs Barca and Chelsea vs AC Milan (see full schedule on the obc)

CFC GKU – GK Coach Noelle Rolfsen Named All Conference Player of the Week

Carmel FC GK coach Noelle Rolfsen was named all Conference Player of the Week for her 3rd ranked Marian University Knights. Noelle Rolfsen was voted the Crossroads League Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office earlier this afternoon. The honor marks the first time in her career as a keeper for the Knights. The senior goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes and recorded a shutout in a win against No. 18 Grace, posting four saves to help the Knights to a 2-0 win over the Lancers. Rolfsen has played in every game this season, notching 28 saves with 0.67 goals against average, helping Marian towards an 9-0-1 record. Rolfsen and the Knights knocked off #2 Ranked Spring Arbor Wed night and return home Saturday at 7:30 PM to host Bethel for senior day with hopes that a #1 Ranking may follow.

High School Local – #1 CHS Boys host Regionals, #3 CHS Girls travel to Westfield

The Carmel High School boys host regionals next week. The #3 CHS ladies tied #4 Zionsville 0-0 as 5 former or current Carmel FC Goalkeepers saw action between the pipes in JV and Varsity action. They close out the year at #15 Westfield tonight. Carmel Men’s highlights in win over Guerin. The Carmel Girls head into regionals next week ranked 3^rd in the US and Indiana according to Max Preps – who also has Noblesville (2^nd), and Zionsville (21) in the top 25 nationally.

US Women’s Roster Set

The USWNT will face European champion England at a sold-out Wembley Stadium on October 7, before taking on Spain in Pamplona four days later. “These are big tests for our team in front of crowds cheering against us and after long travel, but our players absolutely love games like these,” said Andonovski. “The group we are bringing to Europe includes players who have a lot of experience against top European teams and some that don’t, so these games are even more critical for our growth as our team. Our whole squad needs to get a clear picture of what these games are like as we continue to prepare for the World Cup.”

GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)

FORWARDS (6): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Alyssa Thompson (Total Futbol Academy)

Good Luck to our Carmel FC teams playing in Soctoberfest in Zionsville this weekend – I will be out there coaching and reffing – be sure to post your pics to our Twitter and FB pages !

Also if looking to watch some solid soccer this weekend – the GA Girls Academy teams from all over the US are playing at Grand Park this weekend – I will be reffing on Friday/Sunday.

Was privileged to ref my first Girls Academy games this weekend with Marco from Indy left and Steve from North Carolina right.

Fri, Sept 30

2:30 pm ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen

Sat, Oct 1

7:30 am USA Arsenal vs Tottenham

9:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Koln

9:30 am ESPN+ Frankfurt vs Union Berlin (Pefok)

10 am USA Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (Pulisic)

10 am Peacock Fulham (Ream, Jedi) vs New Castle United

12 noon ESPN+ Roma vs Inter Milan

6 pm Para + NY Gothem vs Portland Thorns NWSL

7:30 pm ESPN+ Chicago Fire vs Cincy

10 pm Para+ Seattle Reign vs Orlando Pride NWSL

Sun, Oct 2

9 am USA Man City vs Man United

10 am USA Leeds United (Aaronson, Adams) vs Aston Villa

2:$5 pm ESPN+ Juve vs Bologna

3 pm ABC Portland Timbers vs LAFC

5 pm FS1 Sporting KC vs Seattle Sounders

6 pm Para + Chicago Red Stars vs Angel City NWSL

Mon, Oct 3

3 pm USA Leicester City vs Nottingham’s Forest

Tues, Oct 4 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

3 pm Para+ Inter Milan vs Barcelona

3 pm Para+ Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid

Wed, Oct 5

3 pm Para+ Chelsea (Pulisic) vs AC Milan

3 pm Para+ Sevilla (Musah) vs Dortmund (Reyna)

Fri, Oct 7

3 pm FOX US Women vs England in London

Tues, Oct 11

2:30 pm ESPN2 US Women vs Spain (Pamplona)

Sat, Oct 29

8 pm CBS NWSL Championship Game

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Women’s Schedule

MLS National TV Schedule

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

As Qatar 2022 looms the US look like who they are: Concacaf’s third best team
USMNT player ratings vs Saudi Arabia
US need to improve at World Cup says Berhalter
Giovanni Reyna exits USMNT friendly vs Saudi Arabia with apparent injury
USMNT vs. Saudi Arabia result: Final pre-World Cup friendly ends in scoreless draw
5 takeaways from U.S. men’s soccer team’s friendly loss to Japan

European giants struggle for form as World Cup looms

World Cup 2022 rankings: Who are the favorites?
Mbappe revels in greater ‘freedom’ with France
Nick Pope’s fumble squanders three-goal fightback but England take heart from Germany draw
England in ‘good place’ for World Cup, says Kane
England player ratings vs Germany: Declan Rice in driving seat with man-of-the-match performance
Bellingham gives England cause for hope at World Cup
Spain snare Nations League semis spot from Portugal
Italy beat Hungary for consolation of Nations League final-four
Do not worry, England fans – the rest of Europe are just as bad
Croatia, Netherlands into Nations League semi-finals
Wílmar Barrios’ stunner highlights Colombia’s 3-2 comeback vs. Mexico at Levi’s Stadium
Lozano lifts Mexico to 1-0 win over Peru in World Cup warm-up

World Cup Send-off Not Good for Mexico either
Messi scores two beauties, accosted twice as Argentina tops Jamaica 3-0
Messi in the 100 club as Argentina streak continues with Jamaica defeat
Scaloni to remain as Argentina coach through 2026 World Cup
Banana thrown at Richarlison as Brazil thrash Tunisia
Son’s header gives South Korea win over Cameroon in World Cup

Report: Christian Pulisic ‘in talks’ over move to Juventus

Premier League betting: The EPL returns with a couple of mammoth fixtures

Are Man United playing Man City at the right time?

Arsenal, Spurs both peaking entering derby clash

Galaxy and LAFC to open 2023 season against each other at Rose Bowl
MLS Franchise Valuations Ranking List: From LAFC to CF Montreal

Angel City loses control of their playoff fate after falling to Racing Louisville
Q+A: Diana Ordóñez on her prolific NWSL rookie season, tattoos and
NWSL Boom, Global Growth Usher in New Goals for Women’s Soccer

GK Matt Turner Man of the Match vs Japan

Best Saves Week 3 Sept

Best Saves Week 2 Sept

Best Saves Week 1 Sept

Gigi Dondarumma Saves

The American Gigi – Slonina of Chicago/Chelsea

Goalkeeper Training with the US

NWSL Saves of the Season

The injured Yunus Musah was in attendance and saw that the U.S. needs Yunus Musah in a 0-0 tie against the World Cup-bound Saudis.
MURCIA, Spain — The U.S. men’s national team tied Saudi Arabia 0-0 on Tuesday in the last game before the World Cup starts in November. Here are my three thoughts on the game:
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• This was better than the ugly Japan loss, but the U.S. still isn’t where it should be so close to the World Cup. The U.S. had to make an improvement over that performance against the Japanese, and they did, showing more poise and a bit more energy against a not-full-strength Saudi Arabia starting 11. Weston McKennie and especially Tyler Adams had better performances over Friday in the midfield, and central defenders Aaron Long and Walker Zimmerman didn’t lose their composure this time. (They even looked for some line-breaking passes over the top.) It was good to see Christian Pulisic back on the field, and the U.S. looked decent on the handful of occasions when Pulisic showed flashes of creativity on the ball in the attack. But Pulisic still didn’t have a signature moment that could have really gotten him going again amid his club issues. Meanwhile, the U.S. still didn’t create many scoring chances and had just two shots on goal against a Saudi team that was well-organized by the veteran coach Hervé Renard. The Saudis don’t concede many goals (they tied fellow World Cup entrant Ecuador 0-0 here on Friday), and the U.S. didn’t do enough to find holes in the defense. Playing at left back, Sergiño Dest remains an enigma, a player capable on this night of some brutal unforced errors but also of a couple piercing runs forward. Simply put: It has to getter from the U.S. before the World Cup opener against Wales if the Americans are going to put three points on the board in that game.
• The U.S. really needs Yunus Musah. The 19-year-old Valencia midfielder could have made a huge difference in this game had he been on the field instead of missing with an injury. Musah actually came down the coast and watched the game in the stadium, and what he saw was a U.S. team that doesn’t have anyone quite like him who can carry the ball forward on the dribble in the midfield and threaten opposing defenses. Musah has a real chance to be the breakout player of the World Cup for the United States. Give Gregg Berhalter credit for recognizing early that Musah can be dangerous in a central role instead of the wide role that his club played him at until Rino Gattuso decided to do so this season. But is it a concern that the U.S. doesn’t seem to have anyone else who can do what Musah does? You bet it is. Which is why it’s so important that Musah gets healthy and stays that way through November.
• Gio Reyna can’t buy a break health-wise. The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund attacker has been plagued by injuries for the past year, and he recreated an all-too-familiar scene in the 30th minute when he touched the ball out of play and walked off the field through the tunnel (with Gregg Berhalter following behind). U.S. Soccer said Reyna had muscle tightness and came out as a precaution. Reyna, who still seems better-suited to a central midfield than a winger spot with the U.S., hadn’t made a major mark in these two international games, but it was good just to see him start two games in a row as he tries to get back to full fitness for club and country. It has almost become a meme at this point to see a distressed Reyna walking off the field through the tunnel, and you have to hope that it isn’t an injury that will set him back as he tries to become a regular contributor for the U.S. and for Dortmund. There’s a psychological element to how Reyna processes his injuries, and it’s something you never want a player so young to have to deal with on a regular basis.
USMNT winger Gio Reyna will return from injury ahead of World Cup
Sep 29, 202215

U.S. men’s national team winger Giovanni Reyna “has a strain and will be out for seven to 10 days,” Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzić said Thursday.Reyna, who also plays for the German club, sustained the injury during a friendly against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The 19-year-old exited the World Cup tune-up match after just 30 minutes and headed right to the tunnel after leaving the field. He was replaced by Paul Arriola, and the match ended in a scoreless draw.Reyna has struggled with hamstring injuries in the past, most recently missing the bulk of the European domestic season due to a torn tendon sustained while playing for Borussia Dortmund in April. That injury required four full months of recovery and followed another hamstring problem that prevented him from playing for five months.The Americans begin World Cup play with a Group B match against Wales on Nov. 21. Given Reyna’s estimated recovery timeline, he should be available to play.
World Cup state of play: Dismal form, injuries and lack of striker impairing USMNT
Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio
Sep 29, 2022
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The U.S. men’s national team’s final two matches before the World Cup — a 2-0 loss to Japan in Dusseldorf, Germany, last Friday and a scoreless draw against Saudi Arabia in Murcia, Spain, four days later — raised some serious concerns.
What went wrong in the buildup? What problems does head coach Gregg Berhalter face?
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Here, Paul Tenorio and Sam Stejskal answer the big questions.

What is the team’s form like and how have they performed during this break?
This was perhaps the most disheartening international window for the U.S. since the one in October 2019 when they suffered a shock defeat on the road to Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League.
That loss served as a turning point for this national team — a reminder that their intensity and energy are still critical to their success. This latest window reinforced that notion.
There are still some very big weaknesses in this young team. The two big areas of concern — center-back and forward — flared up in the defeat to Japan and draw with Saudi Arabia. Just as concerning, though, was the midfield’s inability to play through the opposition. The U.S. certainly felt the absence of 19-year-old Yunus Musah and they’ll hope his return in November will help settle the midfield.

Which players are in or out of form? Are there any that the fans/the manager will be worried about?
Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams are starting every week for Leeds United, Weston McKennie is getting healthy minutes with Juventus and Walker Zimmerman is having another fine season for Nashville. But those four aside, there are legitimate form concerns for most of the U.S.’s main players.
Christian Pulisic has had a rough start to the season at Chelsea. His playing time under new head coach Graham Potter will be a major focal point for U.S. fans in the coming weeks. Giovanni Reyna had not made a league start for Borussia Dortmund before this month’s international break as he continued to work his way back to fitness and his injury on Tuesday will likely delay that further. Sergino Dest didn’t play at all for Barcelona in the three games between the start of the season and his deadline-day loan move to AC Milan, where he’s been used in a reserve role so far, making three substitute appearances.
It’s conceivable that none of those three will have a consistent run of starts between now and kick-off in Qatar.
Striker may be the most confounding position. Jesus Ferreira is in good form in MLS but he has yet to translate any success he’s had with FC Dallas to a match against a difficult opponent on the international level. Ricardo Pepi is off to a fine start to his loan at Dutch top-flight club Groningen but it’s only been two solid games after a rut that lasted nearly a year.
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Josh Sargent and Jordan Pefok are performing well at their clubs, but Sargent played the fewest minutes of any of the three strikers called into the September camp while Pefok was left off the roster entirely.
Aaron Long is starting at center-back for the U.S. but he isn’t having his best year for the New York Red Bulls. Mark McKenzie entered September in good form at Genk in Belgium but he then struggled mightily for the U.S. This position will remain a huge concern up to, and likely throughout, the World Cup.
Then there are the injuries. Lots and lots of injuries.
Are there worries over the fitness of, or injuries to, certain players?
The U.S. went into the September window missing several starters due to injury: Musah, left-back Antonee Robinson, center-back Chris Richards and winger Tim Weah. It then got worse.Robinson emerged as one of the most influential players in this U.S. team due to his attacking abilities but missed out on this window with an ankle injury. There has been no indication of just how bad the ailment is. If he misses the World Cup, his absence would likely force Dest to the left side and shake up the back line.Richards has struggled to stay healthy and his injuries have limited his availability and playing time with the national team. Center-back is the thinnest spot on the roster and Richards’ passing ability is especially missed. If he can get healthy and play a stretch of games with Crystal Palace, the U.S. will be much better for it. Another center-back, Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers, also pulled out of this camp due to an injury, forcing the U.S. further down the depth chart for the September games.Musah was a late exclusion due to a muscle injury but his issues seem like a shorter-term problem. Weah, meanwhile, remains out for Lille due to a foot injury and is yet to play this season. As mentioned above, Reyna left Tuesday’s draw as a precautionary measure due to some hamstring tightness. The injury is not expected to be serious, according to Berhalter, but it’s a reminder that over the past year, Reyna has been unable to stay on the field for long stretches. Right-back Reggie Cannon picked up a groin injury in this September camp and is expected to miss a few weeks.Cristian Roldan missed camp due to a groin injury suffered in August but he returned to the field for Seattle on Tuesday. He could be back with the U.S. squad in November — he’s seen as an important presence within the locker room.

What is the squad’s depth like? Are there any problem positions?
There’s good depth at winger, where Pulisic, Reyna, Aaronson and Weah are competing for two starting spots, and Paul Arriola and Jordan Morris are fighting for a reserve role. The U.S. is pretty thin just about everywhere else, however. We saw that in the September window. Luca de la Torre, who started against Japan, and Kellyn Acosta, who went the full 90 minutes against Saudi Arabia, didn’t come close to replacing Musah’s ability to break pressure and assist Adams in buildout play. At center-back, injuries to Richards and Carter-Vickers prompted Berhalter to start Long in both matches.The absence of Robinson and the tough outing that Sam Vines had against Japan led to Dest flipping from the right to the left on Tuesday. It worked fine but it was a case of hurting one side of the back four to fix the other. Berhalter likely only felt comfortable trying the flip because the U.S. has somewhat decent depth on the right with DeAndre Yedlin, Joe Scally and Cannon, though the latter is now out for the next few weeks due to his injury.Again, the main problem positions are center-back and striker. Zimmerman has been solid defensively but he’s limited in possession. Long hasn’t been up to par while McKenzie was poor in September. The U.S. need Richards to get healthy and onto the field for Palace, but given his lack of playing time before his recent injury, the latter outcome seems unlikely. Carter-Vickers returning to the field at Celtic could provide a boost, too. It’s a similar picture at striker.None of the options have done anything of note at the international level. Ferreira has finished poorly with the U.S. and hasn’t done a good job of threatening opposition back lines with runs in behind. Sargent didn’t get much of a chance in this window. Pepi is a total wild card, given his prolonged struggles over the last year. Union Berlin’s Pefok is the option du jour but Berhalter seems to have decided his limitations in possession preclude him from starting in Qatar.Simply put, the U.S. is several cuts below the top international teams at both these positions.That won’t change between now and the World Cup.

Are there any issues to fix before the World Cup?
There are a couple of major aspects to address. The U.S. must be better at handling a team’s press and they have to figure out how to unlock teams who sit in a low block. Both areas have given this team problems and they should expect to see both tactics employed against them at the World Cup.
As mentioned above, the issues at center-back and striker aren’t “fixable”, per se. Players need to step up but there are tactical tweaks that could help in handling the press better and the U.S. need to figure out what to do to unlock the attacking strength of their team: the wingers. Dropping Musah closer to Adams, shifting McKennie a bit to the right, and opening space on the left so that they can play through Pulisic could be key.

What are the expectations of the fanbase for the World Cup?
Before these last two matches, they seemed relatively high. The minimum expectation was to emerge out of group B, which also includes England, Wales and Iran. After the September window, that may have changed a bit.
Most fans will likely still expect the U.S. to advance to the 16-team knockout stage but most certainly feel a lot less confident in that happening than they did just one week ago.
U.S. Soccer’s 30-year run on ESPN has come to an end

Jon Heath followSeptember 28, 2022 5:13 pm ET
The U.S. men’s national soccer team’s 2-0 loss to Japan in a friendly last week marked the end of U.S. Soccer’s 30-year partnership with ESPN.
In the final minute of the game, former USMNT player and current ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman put a bow on a long era of Disney-owned coverage of the national team.
“For so many of us, it was [growing up with] the ABC games, the ESPN family of networks — just watching the games,” Twellman said. “Way before I even got here, they just did such a good job of helping this national team — both the women’s and the men’s — grow. It’s remarkable to think that at the end of 2022, it’s all done.”
Twellman followed up his on-air remarks with a tweet thanking those “behind the scenes” who made the network’s coverage possible.
What networks will broadcast U.S. Soccer games now?
ESPN did not renew its deal with U.S. Soccer that’s set to expire at the end of 2022, so where can fans watch going forward?
First, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will air on Fox Sports networks this fall, and the 2023 Women’s World Cup will be on Fox next summer. Fox also owns the rights to the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, Nations League matches will remain with CBS (likely on Paramount+) through next year and then the rights will become available.
After the World Cup, Turner Sports will take over most non-World Cup matches beginning in 2023. Turner Sports reached an eight-year agreement with U.S. Soccer in March that will pay the federation between $25 million and $27 million per year for English-language rights to USMNT and USWNT games, according to The Athletic.
Turner will have the rights to USMNT and USWNT friendlies, the SheBelieves Cup, as well as USWNT and USMNT World Cup qualifiers among other properties. The USMNT is expected to automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup at home, so qualifiers (for the men’s team) might not come into play before the 2030 World Cup cycle.
As part of the deal, Turner also acquired U.S. Open Cup rights.
According to U.S. Soccer, TNT or TBS will televise approximately half of the more than 20 matches Turner Sports carries annually. All games will also be available to stream on HBO Max, and it remains to be seen if Turner will opt to make any games exclusively available on the streaming service.
Meanwhile, Spanish-language rights remain available, and newly merged TelevisaUnivision appears to be a major contender to acquire that package.
Is this really the end of ESPN’s coverage?
The rights to some USMNT games — such as Gold Cup matches — are held by CONCACAF, so it’s possible that ESPN might acquire select games going forward, but their current agreement with U.S. Soccer is coming to an end.

Henry BushnellTue, September 27, 2022 at 8:03 PM Yahoo Soccer
Gregg Berhalter has 11 players in mind who, “ideally, in a perfect world,” would start for the U.S. men’s national team in its 2022 World Cup opener.The USMNT coach knows, of course, that “that’s not international soccer”; that this world is far from perfect and that injuries will surely disrupt his plans. But he has been concocting them, gradually, for years now. On what is effectively World Cup Eve, with his final warmup friendlies played, he has just about all the information he needs to pick a starting lineup — and, for that matter, a roster.Berhalter has not yet settled on a 26-man squad for Qatar 2022, but he is close. The roster, he indicated, was 80-85% set prior to a September training camp. A 2-0 loss to Japan last week and a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday provided further clues — and for Berhalter, “some clarity.” He and U.S. Soccer will reveal the World Cup roster on Nov. 9. He’ll then sweat through one last weekend of club games before submitting his final list of 26 players to FIFA by Monday, Nov. 14. By then, the entire USMNT will have gathered in Qatar, at their luxurious hotel on The Pearl, and at their Al-Gharafa training base.And by then, barring any last-minute fitness doubts, the starting 11 will also be decided. Here, with less than two months to go, is what we think it will be.
USMNT projected starting lineup for 2022 World Cup
Over the past 12 months, Berhalter’s ideal starting 11 has crystallized. Assuming full health, with the exception of Miles Robinson, it appears to be this — with a few caveats below:
Goalkeeper: Matt Turner
Right back: Sergiño Dest
Center back: Walker Zimmerman
Center back: Chris Richards
Left back: Antonee Robinson
Defensive midfield: Tyler Adams
Central midfield: Yunus Musah
Central midfield: Weston McKennie
Right wing: Tim Weah
Striker: Jesús Ferreira
Left wing: Christian Pulisic
Caveat No. 1: In his “perfect world,” Berhalter would love to start Zack Steffen, who’s more capable than Turner with the ball at his feet. But Steffen’s form and fitness have been unstable. He would need to get back onto the field and into a groove for Middlesbrough, his English Championship club, if he is going to start at the World Cup ahead of Turner — who played all 180 minutes (and played well) in the September friendlies.Caveat No. 2: Same goes for Chris Richards. He is the most talented center back in the U.S. pool, but missed all six World Cup tuneups due to injury. In his place, Aaron Long was the only USMNT player, regardless of position, to start all six. If Richards isn’t ready to play 90 minutes — and given that he has no clear path to regular playing time at Crystal Palace, he might not be — Long appears to be the deputy, no matter how uncomfortable he has looked. (Long might also be the best matchup for 6-foot-5 Welsh striker Kieffer Moore.)The only other slight question mark is at striker. Josh Sargent and Ricardo Pepi remain in contention to start up top. But Berhalter heaps praise on Jesús Ferreira whenever he can, and said this month that Ferreira “checks all [the] boxes.” If Weah and Pulisic are both in the lineup against Wales, Ferreira should also be in it — with some rotation possible further into the tournament.
USMNT 2022 World Cup roster prediction
The roster is a tad more complicated. But 20 outfield players and one goalkeeper appear to be locks or near-locks. Before we get to position-by-position analysis, and identify those locks, here’s our best guess at the 26:
Goalkeepers: Zack Steffen, Matt Turner, Sean Johnson
Fullbacks: Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, DeAndre Yedlin, Reggie Cannon
Center backs: Walker Zimmerman, Chris Richards, Aaron Long, Cameron Carter-Vickers
Central midfielders: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Luca de la Torre, Kellyn Acosta
Attacking midfielders/wingers: Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Paul Arriola
Strikers: Jesús Ferreira, Josh Sargent, Jordan Pefok, Ricardo Pepi
GOALKEEPERS
Locks: Matt Turner
Likely: Zack Steffen
Bubble: Sean Johnson, Ethan Horvath, Gaga Slonina
Turner will be either the starter or the No. 2.
Steffen could be the starter. If not, he could be the No. 2, or he could be off the roster altogether.
For the remaining one or two slots, Berhalter has two options: pick a “locker-room guy,” or peer into the future.
In the first scenario, Johnson versus Horvath is a coin flip. In the second, the 18-year-old Slonina is an obvious choice. He’s the best goalkeeper prospect the U.S. has produced in some time, and the early favorite to start in 2026. He hasn’t played for the national team yet, but could be brought to Qatar for the experience.
FULLBACKS
Locks: Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson
Likely: DeAndre Yedlin, Reggie Cannon
Bubble: Joe Scally, Sam Vines
Berhalter dropped a massive hint on Tuesday when he started Dest at left back and Yedlin at right back, rather than giving Scally a legitimate look on the left. Scally was somewhat impressive off the bench — but on the right, which is telling.
The takeaway is that Dest, in addition to his role as the starting right back, is the backup left back. If Antonee Robinson were to go down in Qatar, Dest would switch flanks, and either Yedlin or Cannon would slot in at right back, depending on situation and opponent. (Cannon is valued for his ability to play on the right side of a back three in possession.)
So, Scally would, in theory, be the third-string left back and fourth-string right back. Vines, who looked a bit out of his depth against Japan, would be the third-string left back. Both seem unnecessary.
With Robinson injured, Berhalter brought only one left-footed fullback to September camp, and his reasoning — “we didn’t feel like we had enough depth on the left side to go with two left-footers” — could probably apply in November as well.
CENTER BACKS
Locks: Walker Zimmerman, Chris Richards, Aaron Long
Likely: Cameron Carter-Vickers
Bubble: Mark McKenzie
Longshot: Tim Ream, James Sands
Zimmerman and his two potential partners are on the plane. Carter-Vickers is the clear favorite to join them. Those were the four on this September roster until Richards and Carter-Vickers pulled out with minor injuries. In their absence, Berhalter called in McKenzie and Erik Palmer-Brown, but, rather than give them real opportunities, he kept trying to forge a viable Long-Zimmerman partnership.
The question is whether he’ll take a fifth center back. The extremely logical option would be Ream, who A) is currently captaining a Premier League club, B) has all sorts of experience, C) would be the left-footed ball-playing center back that the U.S. so sorely lacked against Japan and D) could serve as the third-string, in-case-of-emergency left back.
But Berhalter’s September decisions and words suggest that Ream is, at best, seventh on the depth chart and out of the picture.
“Some of the things that we’re looking for in our center backs is to play a high line, cover a lot of space behind them, be dominant in the air, dominant on offensive and defensive set pieces,” Berhalter said after naming the roster. “And that’s not Tim’s strength.”
(McKenzie played in the second halves of both September games, and, although he’d seem redundant if the top four options are all available, he could be the fifth choice.)
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
Locks: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Luca de la Torre, Kellyn Acosta
Longshots: Cristian Roldan
Can play here too: Gio Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Malik Tillman
The midfield seems simple. The three starters — Adams, Musah and McKennie — are obvious. Acosta is the backup to Adams. De la Torre is a backup at either of the other two positions. So are Tillman, Reyna and Aaronson, who, as a trio, give Berhalter enough flexibility to feel comfortable taking only five true central midfielders.
There remains an outside chance, though, that he could use the 26th roster spot on a sixth, which could be Roldan, a well-liked and versatile veteran who’s currently injured — and whose stock might have risen in absentia.
WINGERS/ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
Locks: Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Brenden Aaronson
Likely: Malik Tillman
Bubble: Paul Arriola, Jordan Morris
We’re hesitant to lock in Tillman only because his USMNT track record is so short. But Berhalter clearly rates him. Speaking prior to camp, he essentially challenged the 20-year-old attacking midfielder to “increase his level,” then said: “He can help this group, but he needs to pick it up a little. He’s a guy that the coaching staff was highly impressed with, and think he’s got a huge ceiling.”
Berhalter then used Tillman in both September games off the bench, once in midfield and once on the left wing. That he didn’t stand out isn’t all that relevant, because nobody did.
With creativity more than accounted for, then, by that locked-in group of four or five, the conventional wisdom is that Berhalter will take a more direct winger as the sixth player in this category. It’ll likely be whoever between Arriola and Morris concludes the MLS season in better form.
STRIKERS
Locks: Jesús Ferreira
Likely: Josh Sargent
Bubble: Ricardo Pepi, Jordan Pefok
Ferreira will be on the plane, even if he doesn’t start. Sargent should be, unless he falls back into a rut at Norwich. And then we arrive at the most controversial decision of all.
Berhalter would do anything to reincarnate 2021 Ricardo Pepi. He called the 19-year-old into September camp despite 11-plus months without a goal. (Pepi finally scored one the following weekend.) He praised him effusively in news conferences, and handed him a start against Saudi Arabia. He desperately wants Pepi to make this 26-man squad, and to be his third striker — or something more.
Whether Pepi ultimately does will depend on his performances for his new club, FC Groningen; but also on Berhalter’s answer to an infrequently discussed question: Might he take four strikers to Qatar?
He certainly does not need four. But he doesn’t need a fifth fullback, a fifth center back or a sixth central midfielder either. The separate scenarios that call Pepi and Pefok into action are far more plausible than the ones that summon Scally, or Vines, or McKenzie, or Roldan.
Pefok, as the third striker, would serve a very specific role. He’d never start, because his profile doesn’t jibe with Berhalter’s system; but he’d be the penalty-box target that Berhalter would turn to when systems fly out the window, with 15 minutes remaining and in need of a goal.
Pepi would then be the fourth striker who could deputize in any of the three roles, and who, in the absolute worst-case scenario, would soak up the experience and store it away for 2026.

Jason Anderson

September 29, 2022 8:00 am ET

The 2022 NWSL regular season is down to its final six matches, but we still have plenty of drama in store.

Four teams have a shot at finishing at the top of the standings when all is said and done (alright, really only three, but our playoff scenario pieces have been about extremes, and technically there are four), while we could very well see the final game of the entire season become a one-game playoff elimination game.

Follow along as we detail all the possibilities for each of the eight teams that are still alive!

This section hasn’t expanded despite two playoff bubble teams both losing last weekend, which is wild, but also shouldn’t be a surprise by now given the territory we’ve covered. We’re in a definitively weird space, you just have to embrace the oddity.

There’s little to play for for this group. Gotham cannot escape the cellar, and while Orlando, Louisville, and Washington all have to balance analyzing their squads for next year against opponents that all have something on the line in the final weekend. Every game on the docket has meaning, which might make for some rough sledding for this quartet.

Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports ORG

One last reminder on the tiebreakers

For 2022, NWSL is applying the following list of tiebreakers to sort out the regular season standings:

Goal differential
Most total wins
Most goals scored
Head-to-head results
Head-to-head most goals scored
Fewest disciplinary points (with points assigned for yellow cards and red cards picked up by an entire team over the year)
If two teams are still tied, the tie is broken by a coin toss. If the tie involves more than two teams, it will be broken by a drawing of lots.

Final game: at Chicago Red Stars (Sunday 10/2, 8:00pm ET, Paramount+)

Angel City has made a tremendous impact on the NWSL in its first year, but to carry that statement to the on-field side, they’re going to need a lot of things to go right this weekend. There’s no dodging that their 3-1 home loss to Louisville this past Sunday is a huge slip-up, and now even a final-day win over Chicago doesn’t do the job for them.

Angel City needs to go to Chicago and win (note: the Red Stars only have two home losses all season), and they also effectively need San Diego to win Friday night’s clash against North Carolina.

Technically a draw in that game would keep the door open for Angel City, but they’d step onto the field in Bridgeview with a 15-goal gap to make up for the tiebreaker, and with all due respect, a team with 23 goals in 21 matches is not likely to score 15 goals, even against a depleted Chicago side.

Playoff chances: Wearing navy blue and pink on Friday while watching every sports underdog movie

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Final game: vs. Angel City FC (Sunday 10/2, 8:00pm ET, Paramount+)

Chicago and Angel City are in the same boat in terms of still being alive amid some very bad vibes from their penultimate game. While Angel City will rue losing at home to an eliminated team, Chicago will instead look to the gritty details of their 3-0 defeat at Portland.

Namely, the Red Stars melted down in a way that will definitely impact their chances on Sunday. Bianca St-Georges — who is on this writer’s shortlist for a Best XI spot — was sent off for choosing to dispute a throw-in call with the suddenly popular double birds, while Zoe Morse (who was on track to be an NWSL “iron woman”) picked up a second yellow card well after the game was dead and buried.

Because they’re 11 goals behind the Courage on the goal difference tiebreaker, Chicago is effectively in must-win mode just like Angel City. The only difference is that they have a few more paths to the postseason. If San Diego avoids defeat against North Carolina, Chicago can get into sixth place with a win on Sunday.

Additionally, if Houston loses at Washington on Saturday night, the goal difference tiebreaker might let the Red Stars sneak past the Dash. Houston is only three goals clear of Chicago at the moment, and a loss necessarily means they’d be no better than two goals clear when Red Stars-ACFC kicks off.

Of course, this potentially huge game could end up meaning nothing, as wins for the Courage and Dash would shut the door on both Chicago and Angel City.

Playoff chances: Down bad, but not down and out

Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Final game: at San Diego Wave (Friday 9/30, 10:00pm ET, Paramount+)

On August 13, the Courage lost a 4-3 thriller to Kansas City that seemed at the time like the end of any NC playoff hopes. By the end of the night, they were alone at the bottom of the NWSL table on 10 points. OL Reign were in sixth place on 21 points, meaning that North Carolina had more points to make up on the playoff pack than they’d collected on the season.

It’s 47 days later, and look at the Courage, sitting in sixth and holding their destiny in their own hands. Much like last year’s Spirit, they’ve successfully run the gauntlet, winning seven times in nine games. While there’s no hiding the fact that things have been rocky off the field, North Carolina have managed something really special on it.

But the job isn’t done yet. They have a tough assignment in their final game, a road trip to San Diego against a Wave team aiming for a first-round bye (or, at the very least, the guarantee of a home playoff game). A loss means they’re out of the playoffs if either Chicago or Angel City wins on Sunday, and a draw would leave them vulnerable to elimination if the Red Stars won the next day.

North Carolina can’t climb higher than fifth place, so their best-case scenario is still a road playoff game, but remember where they were a few weeks ago.

Playoff chances: The epic comeback is one step from reality

Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Final game: at Washington Spirit (Saturday 10/1, 7:00pm ET, Paramount+)

Houston saw a chance to clinch their first-ever playoff spot slip through their grasp, as they fell 2-0 to OL Reign at home. Making matters worse, they’ll be without Shea Groom for their regular season finale, as the attacking midfielder picked up a yellow card accumulation suspension despite the very best efforts of her teammate Katie Naughton.

The Dash also have to deal with their recent history against the Spirit, which is quite bad. They haven’t beaten Washington since July 20, 2019, even after having a Spirit home game end up being played in Houston (which saw Washington score their game-winner with only 10 players on the field after an earlier red card).This year, just as was the case last year, they only need a draw at Audi Field in their final game to secure a playoff spot. In 2021, they had that point in hand, only for a tactical blunder from then-coach James Clarkson to hand Washington the time to find a late game-winner, eliminating the Dash in heartbreaking fashion.But still, the Houston of 2022 seems to be made of sterner stuff, and they really do just need a single point, or a non-win from either the Courage or Red Stars, to finally get into the playoffs. A win opens the door to a possible home playoff game, though they’d need help in the form of either San Diego or Kansas City losing.

Playoff chances: One last ghost to fight off

Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

4. San Diego Wave FC (35 points, 10W-5D-6L, +11 GD, 32 GF/21 GA)

Final game: vs. NC Courage (Friday 9/30, 10:00pm ET, Paramount+)

San Diego’s late two-goal comeback at Orlando was just enough to assure themselves of a place in the NWSL postseason. While they have some concerns — Abby Dahlkemper appeared to suffer a fairly serious injury, while Taylor Kornieck also left that last game after rolling her ankle — they don’t have any must-win or must-not-lose scenarios approaching.

However, they’ve still got a good shot at bringing a playoff game to Snapdragon Stadium, and could even seal a first-round bye. They’re even technically in the NWSL Shield race, but with a 14-goal deficit to cover with Portland, we can put that topic to the side.

If San Diego picks up a draw, Houston would have to win in Washington by at least four goals for the Wave to fall out of the top four, which would guarantee at least one playoff game in SoCal. A loss, combined with the Dash not winning their finale, would also lock in a fourth-place finish.

With a win and some help, the Wave can finish as high as second. They’d need the Reign to tie or lose to Orlando, as well as Kansas City to do something other than win at Louisville (both games are on Saturday).

Playoff chances: In, and possibly (probably?) hosting3. Kansas City Current (36 points, 10W-6D-5L, +1 GD, 29 GF/28 GA)

Final game: at Racing Louisville (Saturday 10/1, 7:30pm ET, Twitch)

After watching the Spirit hit the post early, Kansas City wasted no time in making sure they weren’t going to suffer a fate like Houston’s. The Current scored three goals in a 23-minute span, putting the game away by halftime to clinch their place in the postseason.

They’re in a great position to host a game as well. The only way they can fall out of the top four would be to lose in Kentucky while San Diego takes at least one point on Friday and Houston wins in D.C. on Saturday.

The Current still have a shot at the NWSL Shield, but even with a win, it’s not likely. They’d need the Reign to fail to beat Orlando at home, which feels like a stretch, but they’d also need Gotham to end the NWSL’s all-time record losing streak by beating Portland on Saturday. On the plus side, a win and a Reign draw gets KC into second place, and they get a first-round bye as a result.

Playoff chances: They’re in, and they’re the team no one wants to play

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Final game: vs. Orlando Pride (Saturday 10/1, 10:00pm ET, Twitch)

The Reign have really shown their mettle down the stretch, taking nine points from a three-game road trip over just one week that included victories at Houston and North Carolina.

As the team in the best form in the entire league, they’ve marched up to second, and have a real shot at winning the Shield. Still, it’ll take some help that’s unlikely to come: if Portland wins at Gotham, the Thorns will get the silverware instead. A Reign win is a prerequisite, unless Portland loses by 15 (that’s fifteen) goals at Red Bull Arena, which would also open the door to a Reign draw being enough. It’d probably also signal the end of days, so don’t worry too much about that scenario.

The Reign have guaranteed themselves a home playoff game, but they can get a bye their veteran-laden squad would probably appreciate if they can beat the Pride. They could also get there with a draw if Kansas City and San Diego stumble.

Playoff chances: The vibes are immaculate

Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

1. Portland Thorns FC (38 points, 10W-8D-3L, +25 GD, 46 GF/21 GA)

Final game: at Gotham FC (Saturday 10/1, 6:00pm ET, Paramount+)

A win gets the Thorns another NWSL Shield, but that’s the only way it’s guaranteed. If they slip up in their cross-country trek to face Gotham, the door is open for them to fall to third (or, if you want to pretend there’s any chance that their loss and San Diego’s win wipes out Portland’s plus-14 goal difference edge, then fourth).

If the Thorns only get one point in New Jersey, OL Reign can leap over them at the last gasp. With a loss, wins for the Reign and Kansas City would oblige Portland to host a playoff game without the benefit of a bye.

But let’s be real here: the chances of each of these things happening are remote. Portland will be richly favored to further Gotham’s misery for good reason, and if they do it, they’re your regular season champs, and all paths to the championship go through them.

Playoff chances: The likely No. 1 seed for a reason

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September 27, 2022September 27, 2022 gatorbest

US Men

Wow – what a horrific showing by our boys and our coach vs Japan. Japan’s high press absolutely EXPOSED both our defense and the pathetic plans of Berhalter as the build out of the back BS was destroyed. Right CB Aaron Long was exposed and should be replaced IMMEDIATELY by Fulham’s Tim Ream. Zimmerman also struggled – but when paired with a slow CB like Long who can’t pass for $hit what is the guy to do? McKinney was Equally bad – as we can see now why he can’t get off the bench on a bad Juventus team. Musah was certainly missed in the MMA midfield as there was NO ONE who could maneuver out of pressure – McKinney can’t do it and De La Torre was WAY over his head. I think we saw in the middle today without Musah there to connect between the offense and defense – Adams can’t do it all alone. Adams too was not his normal destroyer in the middle that he is at Leeds. Obviously a 2-0 win loss to a good Japan team that could have easily been 4-0 if not for Matt Turner’s POG performance. We were missing 5 starters and realistically we aren’t deep enough to do that against non CONCACAF competition. Pulisic, Musah, Richards, Jedi and Tim Weah would have made a difference today and will have to make a difference in the World Cup or my prediction of getting to the Round of 16 will look ridiculous – much like Berhalter’s tactics and personnel decisions.

Forward Jesus Ferreira whiffed on his only chance to put us up 1-0 when a perfect ball delivered by Dest was horrifically headed over -even though he was wide open. (Listen I would be upset if our U11 boys missed that header – and they aren’t allowed to head) He blew it and if he’s on the plane – it dang well better not be as a starter. We have a guy who’s got 3 goals and 3 assist in the Bundesliga for league-leading Union Berlin named Jordan Pefok who Berhalter left home. Hopefully Josh Sargent gets the chance to start at the #9 Tues and see how he plays with Pulisic and Reyna in the game. Also hopefully we see Pepi in the 2^nd half to see if he deserves a spot on the plane to Qatar. This game tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm is HUGE. Our defense needs to show it can fix things. That and we need to show if Berhalter can change plans a little and stop forcing us to play out of the back when it isn’t working. We need to see Sargent or Pepi do something up top along with hopefully a fitter Pulisic and Reyna. These guys need to play and play well together. I would move Aaronson into the center midfield with McKinney and Adams and see if that can work.

Here’s my line-up Tues

Pulisic, Pep, Reyna

Adams, Aaronson, McKinney

Scally, McKinsie, Zimmerman, Yedlin

Horvath or Turner

USMNT September roster (caps/goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Luton Town/ENG; 8/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 10/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 18/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 27/1), ~~Cameron Carter-Vickers~~ (Celtic/SCO; 11/0), Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 17/2), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 27/3), ~~Chris Richards~~ (Crystal Palace/ENG; 8/0), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 2/0), Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp/BEL; 8/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 74/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 31/3)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Kellyn Acosta (LAFC; 52/2), Tyler Adams (Leeds United/ENG; 30/1), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 11/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 35/9), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 19/0), Malik Tillman (Rangers/SCO; 2/0)

FORWARDS (8): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 22/6), Paul Arriola (FC Dallas; 47/10), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 13/7), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 48/11), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen/NED; 11/3), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 51/21), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 12/4), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 19/3)

Indy 11 Home Sat – Breast Cancer Awareness Night 7 pm

Indy Eleven used a 2^nd half penalty kick conversion from its captain Ayoze and a dominant defensive performance to capture a hard-fought 1-0 home win.The victory marked the Eleven’s 4 straight home win. They return home Saturday, Oct. 1, when they host FC Tulsa for Breast Cancer Awareness Night Tickets start at $15 at indyeleven.com/tickets or watch MyINDY-TV 23, ESPN+.

High School Local – #1 CHS Boys host Harrison Mon night, #3 CHS Girls travel to Westfield

The Carmel High School boys host their finale tonight vs Harrison at Murray at 7 pm before hosting regionals next week. The #3 CHS ladies tied #4 Zionsville 0-0 as 5 former or current Carmel FC Goalkeepers saw action between the pipes in JV and Varsity action. They close out the year at #15 Westfield tonight. Carmel Men’s highlights in win over Guerin. The Carmel Girls head into regionals next week ranked 3^rd in the US and Indiana according to Max Preps – who also has Noblesville (2^nd), and Zionsville (21) in the top 25 nationally.

CFC GKU – GK Coach Noelle Rolfsen Named All Conference Player of the Week

Carmel FC GK coach Noelle Rolfsen was named all Conference Player of the Week for her 3rd ranked Marian University Knights. Noelle Rolfsen was voted the Crossroads League Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office earlier this afternoon. The honor marks the first time in her career as a keeper for the Knights. The senior goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes and recorded a shutout in a win against No. 18 Grace, posting four saves to help the Knights to a 2-0 win over the Lancers. Rolfsen has played in every game this season, notching 28 saves with 0.67 goals against average, helping Marian towards an 8-0-1 record. Rolfsen and the Knights will be on the road at #2 Ranked Spring Arbor Wednesday before returning home Saturday at 7:30 PM to host Bethel for senior day.

Mon, Sept 26

2:45 pm FS1 England vs Germany

Tues, Sept 27

2 pm Fox Sports1 USMNT vs Saudi Arabia in Spain

2:45 pm FS2 Switzerland vs Czech Republic

Fri, Sept 30

2:30 pm ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen

Sat, Oct 1

7:30 am USA Arsenal vs Tottenham

9:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Koln

9:30 am ESPN+ Frankfurt vs Union Berlin (Pefok)

10 am USA Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (Pulisic)

10 am Peacock Fulham (Ream, Jedi) vs New Castle United

12 noon ESPN+ Roma vs Inter Milan

6 pm Para + NY Gothem vs Portland Thorns NWSL

7:30 pm ESPN+ Chicago Fire vs Cincy

10 pm Para+ Seattle Reign vs Orlando Pride NWSL

Sun, Oct 2

9 am USA Man City vs Man United

10 am USA Leeds United (Aaronson, Adams) vs Aston Villa

10 am Peacock Fulham (Ream, Jedi) vs New Castle United

2:$5 pm ESPN+ Juve vs Bologna

3 pm ABC Portland Timbers vs LAFC

5 pm FS1 Sporting KC vs Seattle Sounders

6 pm Para + Chicago Red Stars vs Angel City NWSL

Mon, Oct 3

3 pm USA Leicester City vs Nottingham’s Forest

Tues, Oct 4 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

3 pm Para+ Inter Milan vs Barcelona

3 pm Para+ Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid

Wed, Oct 5

3 pm Para+ Chelsea (Pulisic) vs AC Milan

3 pm Para+ Sevilla (Musah) vs Dortmund (Reyna)

Fri, Oct 7

3 pm FOX US Women vs England in London

Tues, Oct 11

2:30 pm ESPN2 US Women vs Spain (Pamplona)

Sat, Oct 29

8 pm CBS NWSL Championship Game

Indy 11 Schedule

NWSL Women’s Schedule

MLS National TV Schedule

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

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Pulisic returns, to start U.S. WC warm-up game 19hJeff Carlisle

· Reyna won’t dwell on injury-hit 2021-22. He’s too focused on the World Cup 3dSam Borden

USMNT players on World Cup bubble aren’t stressing yet ahead of Qatar 2022 2dJeff Carlisle

Player Ratings vs Japan – the 18
Berhalter: USMNT has ‘work to do’ before WC 4dJeff Carlisle

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USA vs. Saudi Arabia, 2022 friendly: What to watch for

USA vs. Japan, 2022 friendly; What we learned

USA vs. Japan, 2022 friendly: Man of the Match

2022 USMNT friendly: Scouting Saudi Arabia

Reggie Cannon out of Saudi Arabia friendly with injury

England-Germany was a Nations League classic, but neither proved they’ll contend for the World Cup 15hMark Ogden

Enrique’s Spain squad selection is about players that fit his system, not the big names 4dSid Lowe

Can Barca overcome injury crisis ahead of UCL and Clasico?

Are Gerrard and Lampard the only options for next England manager? 1dMark Ogden

Italy win to book spot in Nations League finals 15h

The final match for the USMNT before the World Cup begins with a lot of questions.

By Donald Wine II @blazindw Sep 26, 2022, 6:47am PDT stars and Stripes

Tomorrow, the United States Men’s National Team will play its final friendly before the 2022 World Cup when they take on Saudi Arabia in Murcia, Spain. It’s the final opportunity for the USMNT to evaluate where they are against another team that will head to Qatar in November.

The USMNT head to Murcia, which has become a home away from home for Saudi Arabia. Tuesday’s friendly will be the 4th straight the Saudis have played in Murcia, so the Americans will take the field against an opponent that understands its surroundings. Still, with World Cup spots on the line, the USMNT need to put on a good show and individual players will want to leave that final positive impression on the mind of head coach Gregg Berhalter, who will name his World Cup roster on November 9th.

Latest Form

USA

L (0-2) – Japan – Friendly

D (1-1) – El Salvador – Concacaf Nations League

W (5-0) – Grenada – Concacaf Nations League

D (0-0) – Uruguay – Friendly

W (3-0) – Morocco – Friendly

Saudi Arabia

D (0-0) – Ecuador – Friendly

L (0-1) – Venezuela – Friendly

L (0-1) – Colombia – Friendly

W (1-0) – Australia – World Cup Qualifying

D (1-1) – China – World Cup Qualifying

Back line needs to be better. The USMNT had several mistakes on defense against Japan, and they cannot duplicate that against a Saudi Arabia team who can take advantage of them. The back line needs to play mistake free, but they also have to play with poise.

Take shots. You can’t win if you don’t shoot. Against Japan, the USMNT did not register a shot on goal, and that doesn’t help you win matches. The team needs to be more creative on offense and more ruthless in the attacking third by putting a ton of shots on net.

Possession doesn’t mean a thing without production. The USMNT had close to 60% possession against Japan, but that didn’t matter because there was no production. The USMNT has to figure out how to turn possession into production, moving the ball forward and creating scoring chances. They have to do that against the Green Falcons.

With Reggie Cannon out for several weeks due to an injury he picked up against Japan, the back line options get a bit thinner. Combined with the other changes that we think are coming, this is what we predict Gregg Berhalter will do tomorrow:

Matt Turner will once again start in goal, while the back line will have a couple of changes. DeAndre Yedlin gets the start at right back with Mark McKenzie lining up alongside Walker Zimmerman as the centerback pairing. Sergiño Dest starts at left back.

In the middle, Kellyn Acosta lines up alongside Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie in the middle, with McKennie being the guy that moves forward on the attack. Up front, Christian Pulisic returns to the lineup at left wing after being held out against Japan, with Brenden Aaronson starting at right wing ahead of Gio Reyna, a player who will likely have his minutes managed by entering as a substitute. Ricardo Pepi gets his opportunity to start at the 9 to see if his recent move to Groningen has helped his confidence.

It turns into another sluggish affair for the USMNT, but they manage to get one on the board. They hang on for a 1-1 draw.

The USMNT took on Japan as preparation for the World Cup, and it didn’t go quite as planned. Here’s what we learned.

By Adnan Ilyas @Adnan7631 Sep 26, 2022, 4:21pm PDT

The United States Men’s National Team took on Japan in Düsseldorf, Germany, and fell 2-0 in what turned out to be a torrid and dispiriting performance.

As a pre-World Cup test, this was a good one. Japan are actually quite a decent team. This particular squad appeared to be a little more experimental than the normal starting XI, but the team overall is pretty good. They were at the 2018 World Cup, where they advanced to the knockout stages (albeit, on the 7th tiebreaker after tying for 2nd place in their group) and very nearly saw off Belgium, one of the darlings for that tournament and a major candidate for the top prize for this year’s tournament.

However, the way that the USMNT played in this one does not inspire confidence. I don’t want to overstate how much it matters to lose a friendly with several months between it and the World Cup, but I do not think this performance was a good sign. To keep things a little more concise — it would take ages to sit and pick apart all the major problems in this match — we will focus on the points of failure on the turn over that led to Japan’s opening goal. From there, we’ll talk about some individual player performances and what that means roster-wise for the World Cup.

Aaron Bears His Doubts
Weston Blesses Empty Space
Blue Samurai Strikes

The opening goal for Japan really highlighted all that was wrong with this match. If you need a second look, you can watch the goal here:

We are going to look at the turn over that preceded the goal. For our purposes here, I’ve illustrated the turnover to show approximately where the outfield players are on the field and to highlight the key actors and decisions.

The play starts out on the USMNT’s right, with the US winning the ball right by the sideline. The ball moves out to Aaron Long towards the middle, who takes a few touches towards the center circle. He passes to Weston McKennie who, in turn, attempts a one-touch pass backwards. That pass is mishit, falling between Long and Sam Vines, the later of whom has moved forward and was no longer a pass option. Japan easily and quickly picks up the ball and, with a 4 vs. 3 on goal, they put a clean finish past Turner.

There are a series of problems that turned a comfortable situation into a one-goal deficit, problems that range from individual errors and moments of unskillfulness, to fundamental tactical problems. To list, we will touch on:

The slow pace at which the USMNT advances up the field.
The disconnect between the backline and the midfield
The fullback and winger decisions sacrificing the left wing
Aaron Long’s mediocre pass
Weston McKennie’s positional and individual mistakes

I will try and go through these sequentially, but each wrinkle is contingent on what else is happening. Each of these problems is contextual and pulling them apart as individual mistakes risks losing the forest for the trees.

To begin with, the US is moving too slowly here. A lot of people will immediately point to Aaron Long’s hesitancy on the ball, but I think that is far too simplistic. On a well-drilled, counter attacking side, as soon as the ball is recovered, you have players moving down the field, presenting possible options to advance towards goal. On the visual, there’s a huge patch of green space on the USMNT’s left side (the top in the picture) that is completely open. With quick play and aggressive movement, there is an opportunity for the US to attack into the space and advance to goal. The fullback can aggressively move into that space. Or the winger can make a run in behind to get onto a long ball (or at least drag the defenders out of their disciplined lines). There’s space for an attacking motion, to advance the ball before Japan can get reorganized or begin aggressively pressing.

However, the USMNT here has a lack of urgency. Rather, it looks like the team looks to establish a stance with clear and comfortable possession. Players do not break towards the space that Japan has left open. They languidly take up central positions. Gio Reyna tucks inside, Sam Vines merely drifts along the wing. Instead of planning and making runs in behind to present a long-ball option, Jesus Ferreira and Brendan Aaronson take up positions where they can receive the ball at their feet during build up.

With nobody taking any aggressive actions, Aaron Long lingers on the ball. Now, would Long have played an aggressive pass? I can’t say. He doesn’t have the reputation for it, but you can’t fault him for not making a pass that wasn’t there. What he does do is look for a passing outlet. And here, there aren’t good options. Sam Vines is open, but he’s not in an advanced enough position to be worth it, especially not with a nearby Japanese player to press him. Gio Reyna is in a Japanese player’s cover shadow, same for Ferreira and Aaronson. Tyler Adams and Luca de la Torre were out wide to recover the ball and they aren’t back in position yet (and shifting the ball right puts it back in danger with so many Japanese players still there). The one straight forward, open option is McKennie. So that’s the pass he makes.

When people say that Aaron Long is not a good passer, I tend to believe they mean he either does not make aggressive forward passes, or he tends to turn the ball over. While Long did, indeed, turn the ball over quite a bit vs Japan, the problem here is more subtle. The pass comfortably reaches its target. But the pass is towards McKennie’s left foot, with him facing goal. This means that McKennie, who is aware that there is a Japanese player who will close down on him, must make a play with his back facing goal. He can either turn and try to dribble out of the pressure and advance up the field (not his strong suit), or he can hit a one-time pass. McKennie chooses to make the one-time pass… and he loses his concentration and hits the ball to no one, allowing Japan to win the ball with a numbers advantage.

Iran, England, Wales
We must return to the world
Demonstrate Talent

On a basic level, if McKennie keeps his concentration up, he doesn’t make this mistake and doesn’t turn the ball over to Japan with the defense in such a vulnerable position. Or, if he were more confident/skillful, he would turn and move up the field. Or, if he were a little more positionally aware, he could have taken a slightly different position a little closer to Long, making it substantially easier for Long to make a pass that McKennie could run onto, while making it more difficult for Japan to close down on him (McKennie overshot that position). And, of course, Long could be a more skillful passer (while that was a big deal in the game, it kind of was the least relevant mistake for this one.)

These fixes would have addressed this particular bad moment. But they would not have addressed the fundamental problems in this game. Everybody is talking about how the USMNT couldn’t deal with Japan’s press. But as this moment shows, the underlying problem is really that the US played too passively. They gave time for Japan to put a press into place, time that they could have used to advance up the field. They need to play quicker.

Player availability was definitely relevant in this game. Antonee Robinson has become such an important player for the USMNT and he was dearly missed for this one. The difference between Robinson’s shaky first few caps under Berhalter and now is that Robinson understands his limitations and plays in a way that minimizes them while highlighting his strengths. Because of that, he’s sufficiently solid on defense and an integral attacker, stretching the field and maintaining width to allow the US to advance. Tim Weah, similarly, helps advance the team by stretching the field both vertically and horizontally, with dangerous runs in behind on the wing. Christian Pulisic is a bit less aggressive with his runs in behind, but, as shown against Morocco, he has the capacity to combine such runs up through the middle with excellent technical skill to break defenses down. On the other side, we missed out on Chris Richards and his more assured passing under pressure. And the team seriously missed the calm presence of Yunus Musah, whose sublime ability on the ball helps the team advance up the field and thwart opposing presses.

All these omissions due to injury were relevant. But the team still had players who would have helped make a difference. A lot of fans detest the inclusion of the likes of Paul Arriola and Jordan Morris with the national program. But one thing those players do consistently that the more-highly regarded players like Reyna and Aaronson do not, is stretch the field vertically. They make runs in behind the backline. And not having them on the field from the start made it too easy for Japan to close space down and shut the US out. While Jesus Ferreira’s ability to combine is often quite useful in and around the final third, the fact that he tucks into midfield instead of making runs in behind did the USMNT no favors. When he came on, Josh Sargent was a marked improvement in this regard. And this is a place where players who weren’t called up, players like Jordan Pefok and Brandon Vazquez, could contribute even more.

These omissions are on Berhalter. I cannot blame him for missing players due to injury, but I can and do blame him for not realizing that the line up he chose was going to be too narrow and too static. I also blame him for failing to instill that sense of dynamism and urgency in his players. I tend to chalk this up to the relative youth of so many of our players and the unfortunate reality that so many key players have had so limited minutes playing together. But this Japan side was also quite young and inexperienced, and they wiped the floor with the US. People are right to raise criticism and questions, what with the World Cup so close at hand.

The good news is that Wales cannot play like this. The Welsh squad has not demonstrated the kind of technical ability nor coordinated press that we saw from Japan. They are a Bunker-&-Counter team and are unlikely to take this approach for the US’s group opener at the World Cup. England and Iran, on the other hand, may approach things differently.

Weston McKennie was outright terrible in this one. He’s been a source of turnovers for a while, but this was just all-around a terrible display. Normally, we get a level of intensity, physicality, and forward thrust from the Juventus man. But for this one, his flaws, his lack of concentration and his limited technical range, were on show. I know he’s been coming back from injury, but he needs to recover that form. Or else, he probably becomes the man that gets dropped from the midfield. Speaking of the midfield…

The USMNT outnumbered Japan in the midfield and STILL got squished there. The US had a midfield trio of Adams, de la Torre, and McKennie, with Reyna and Ferreira tucking in, and they STILL got outrun by Japan’s midfield duo. That’s an effort problem. You need to get more concentration and more intensity there.

The USMNT continues to be weak away from home. Yeah, this was technically a neutral match, but this game continues a long trend where the US is far more limp than they should be while playing on the road. Unless it’s in Mexico’s Estadio Azteca, the US can’t seem to get the intensity and sharpness that they have while playing in the States. And, as it turns out, Doha isn’t in the United States.

There weren’t a lot of good performances in this one, but Matt Turner certainly gave one. There was a bit of concern that Turner, who is the number 2 with Arsenal, wouldn’t be sharp given his lack of playing time. But that wasn’t the case. He made a number of great saves and stood out as the one obvious positive take away from this match. I expect he’s just about gotten that starting spot for the USMNT locked up.

USMNT:

Lowery: What went wrong for the U.S. in possession against Japan (more here)

“We want to use the ball to disorganize the opponent and create goal-scoring opportunities.”

That’s how Gregg Berhalter described his tactical philosophy back in 2019, just weeks into his new job as the manager of the U.S. men’s national team.

But in the United States’ 2-0 loss to Japan on Friday, they failed to truly break down Japan and create chances. Berhalter’s team took just four shots against their very aggressive and well organized opponents. Japan forced the U.S. to play through them and create chances and, after 90 minutes, the USMNT largely failed at both of those things.

So, what went wrong for the United States in possession?

1. Turnovers killed momentum

According to Opta, the U.S. had 20 “high turnovers” (turnovers deep in their own half, which are high up the field for their opponents) against Japan. From those high turnovers, the U.S. allowed six shots and one goal. In all 14 of their World Cup qualifying games, they allowed seven shots and no goals. That absurd increase stemmed from Japan’s decision to press higher up the field in ways that most of the USMNT’s Concacaf opponents avoid. But it also stemmed from some individual and team-wide errors.

Aaron Long struggled with his distribution and had a tone-setting unforced turnover less than 60 seconds into the game. Weston McKennie did… whatever this is in the 24th minute, which created the runway for Japan to break forward for their first goal. Those unforced errors from Long, McKennie, and a host of others killed any brief positive periods that the United States had on Friday.

2. Poor spacing

Sloppy touches weren’t the only thing killing the U.S. on Friday, though. Poor spacing also hurt the USMNT’s ability to play through Japan’s 4-4-2 and exploit the space behind their backline.

Take this sequence in the 13th minute as an example. As Walker Zimmerman looks for a passing option in buildup, Luca de la Torre moves wide to provide width as Sergiño Dest pushes up the right wing. But there’s a problem. De la Torre doesn’t actually move wide enough to get open or to create a passing lane for Zimmerman to find Brenden Aaronson in the right halfspace.

Instead, he clogs up the midfield and doesn’t take Takefusa Kubo out of the play, which lets Kubo intercept Zimmerman’s pass and launch a quick attack for Japan. Two seconds later, Matt Turner is forced into a big save.

3. Not enough direct play

There’s one other thing we have to discuss here when it comes to the USMNT’s attacking issues. It’s this: many of the U.S.’s outfield players on Friday against Japan aren’t very good at using the ball to create chances.

Think about Turner, Long, Zimmerman, Tyler Adams, McKennie, and Aaronson. Are those players comfortable on the ball under pressure? Are they exceptional ball progressers? Or great chance creators? No, not really. Those players will have the occasional good moment in tight spaces. They had a few of those moments even in a messy game on Friday. But they’re not, primarily, players you want building from the back under disciplined pressure.

And yet, Berhalter had the U.S. build attack after attack with passing that started in the back and attempted to bypass Japan’s press. At this point, we know how that story ended.

So what’s one final solution here for Berhalter and the USMNT? Play more direct passes and move in behind. With a starting lineup mostly composed of players who thrive in quick, long passing schemes and second-ball scraps, the United States made life more difficult for themselves by relying so heavily on buildup play and short passing.

For some reason, they chose to lean away from that vertical game and even away from a balanced attack in their most recent game. Given that they have some technically limited players in key positions, the United States can’t afford to forsake that balance.

Time is extremely limited, so finding some sort of attacking balance in what little of it remains before must-win games in November is essential for the USMNT.

Grant Wahl Sep 24

ON BOARD THE USMNT CHARTER FLIGHT TO ALICANTE, Spain — Act like you’ve been here before. That’s my usual mantra when finding myself in unaccustomed situations like sharing a charter flight with the U.S. men’s national team and going through the VIP wing of the airport in Düsseldorf, Germany, the one that actual rock stars pass through when they travel to their next concert. And the fact is, I have been here before. Back in 2013, I flew with a few other journalists on the USMNT charter ferrying the team between World Cup qualifiers in Kingston, Jamaica, and Seattle. When commercial flights between two game locations are a hassle, the added convenience is nice, and we journos pay our own way to prevent any conflict of interest. Media and soccer teams flying together on charters has actually been somewhat common in Europe for travel to Champions League games.The mere fact that there is a charter plane is a sign that U.S. Soccer has come a long way financially over the years. Back when the federation was basically broke, in 2000, I remember flying back with the USMNT on a commercial flight from a World Cup qualifier in Barbados and sitting in economy next to U.S. goalkeeper Zach Thornton. Poor Zach was stuck in a middle seat, and he was a big guy, so he was pushing up against his armrests in a major way.

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