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GAMES ON TV

Thurs, Sept 6

2:45 pm ESPN2 Germany vs France (Eufa Nations League)

Fri, Sept 7

2:45 pm ESPN2 Italy vs Poland (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm FS1? Scotland vs Belgium

7:30 pm FS1 USMNT vs Brazil (Metlife)

10 pm FS1? Mexico vs Uruguay

10 pm Lifetime Portland Thorns v Seattle Riegn (NWSL)

Sat, Sept 8

9 am ESPNews Northern Ireland vs Boznia

12 pm Switzerland vs Iceland (Eufa Nations League)

12 pm Finland vs Hungary (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm England vs Spain (Eufa Nations League)

4 pm univsion NYCFC vs DC United (Rooney)

10 pm ESPN+ Portland vs Colorado

Sun, Sept 9

12 pm ESPN News Bulgaria vs Norway (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm ESPN+ France vs Netherlands (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm ESPNnews Cypress vs Slovenia (Eufa Nations League)

Mon, Sept 10

2:45 pm ESPN + Portugal vs Italy (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm ESPNews Sweden vs Turkey (Eufa Nations League)

Tues, Sept 11

2:45 pm ESPNews Spain vs Croatia (Eufa Nations League)

3 pm ESPN+ England vs Switzerland

8 pm beIN Sport?? Colombia vs Argentina

8:30 pm beIN sport Brazil vs El Salvador

8:30 pm ESPN USA vs Mexico in Nashville (anyone want to go?)

Weds, Sept 12

6:30 pm ESPN+ Penn vs Indy 11

8 pm ESPN+ DC United vs Min United

Fri, Sept 14

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Dortmund (Pulisic) vs Frankfort

2:45 pm beIN Sport PSG (Weah) vs St Etienne

Sat, Sept 15

7:30 am NBCSN Tottenham vs Liverpool

9:30 am FS 1 Bayern Munich vs Bayern Leverkusen

12:30 pm NBC Watford vs Man United

12:30 pm Fox Soccer Mgladbach (Johnson) vs Schalke (McKinney)

Sun, Sept 16

8:30 am NBCSN Wolverhampton vs Burnley

9:30 am FS 1 Werder Bremen vs Numberg

11 pm NBCSN Everton vs West Ham United

1 pm ESPN DC United (rooney) vs NYRB

5 pm FS1 Chicago Fire vs Orlando City

Thurs, Oct 11

7:30 pm FSI USA vs Colombia (Tampa)

Thurs, Nov 15

3 pm ESPN2 England vs USA (Wembley)

Sat, Nov 20

3 pm ESPN2 Italy vs USMNT

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

Christian Pulisic out, Tim Weah in for U.S. roster to face Brazil, Mexico

Sep 3, 2018Jeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

U.S. caretaker manager Dave Sarachan has continued with his youth movement for the upcoming international break in naming a 24-man roster for friendlies against Brazil and Mexico, although as expected, the list doesn’t contain injured Borussia Dortmund midfielder Christian Pulisic.All told, 14 of the 24 players named are 23 or younger, while the split between domestic players and those playing abroad is relatively even, with 11 players performing in MLS. Ten of the players are even age-eligible to take part in the 2020 Olympics. “For these matches against Brazil and Mexico, the theme remains the same in that we are using the opportunity against these high-powered opponents to continue building on the foundation that we’ve laid,” said Sarachan. “We felt it was right to continue allowing this group to get valuable experience for the big picture that includes competitive matches in the future with the Gold Cup, Olympic qualifying and World Cup qualifying.”An undisclosed muscle ailment has sidelined Pulisic for the two games. The injury is not believed to be serious, but it was enough for him to miss the Sept. 7 match against Brazil in East Rutherford, New Jersey, followed by the game against archrival Mexico in Nashville, Tennessee, four days later.”I was excited to have Christian be a part of these games in September,” said Sarachan. “As we all know too well, injuries happen and you can never predict timing. It’s disappointing that we won’t have Christian involved.”I know that he wanted to be a part of things, and we certainly wanted him here, but unfortunately he won’t be available. That said, we haven’t had Christian in with the group aside from one game in the past six friendlies, so I feel confident that this group will continue to build on what we have started.”The roster does see the return of some players who were part of the team’s failed qualifying attempt for the 2018 World Cup. Wolfsburg defender John Brooks, healthy after an injury-hit campaign last season, and Colorado Rapids midfielder Kellyn Acosta make their first appearances since the Americans’ 1-1 draw with Portugal in November. Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes, D.C. United midfielder Paul Arriola and LA Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget are also back in the frame after lengthy absences. They join veterans such as Newcastle United defender DeAndre Yedlin, fresh off scoring his first Premier League goal on Saturday, as well as Hannover forward Bobby Wood.Conspicuous by their absences are the Toronto FC pair of midfielder Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore, but Sarachan appeared to leave the door open for them and other players to be brought back into the team later this year. Last month, Bradley told ESPN FC that there had been discussions between him and Sarachan about his possible involvement for the two upcoming games. Now it is clear that any possible return will have to wait.”With six games remaining in 2018, we felt that at the beginning of the Kickoff Series we wanted to continue where we left off with the makeup of the group,” said Sarachan. “Moving forward into October and November, we will look at a broader mix of players.”Overall, we don’t view the pool in categories by age. We look at what we think is the right blend that will help our team progress and ultimately get results.”Earlier this year, Paris Saint-Germain attacker Tim Weah and Werder Bremen forward Josh Sargent both made their international debuts. In the European club season that has just begun, Weah has seen time with PSG’s first team while Sargent has been playing with Bremen’s second team. This time around, only Weah was called in.”Weah has been included in our roster primarily because he is coming off a very good preseason with PSG’s first team, has logged a lot of first-team minutes and already has a goal to his name this season,” said Sarachan. “With consideration for the senior national team, Timmy has earned the right to be called in.””The decision to leave Josh Sargent off this roster was one made primarily because he is still getting integrated with Werder Bremen,” added Sarachan. “He’s working his way into the first team but has yet to feature for them. The feeling is that he is getting valuable playing time with the club’s under-23 team, evidenced by the minutes he’s played and goals he has scored so far this season. I felt it was best to allow him to continue to train with the first team with the hope of getting minutes in friendlies during the international break.”

U.S. roster to face Brazil, Mexico Friday & Tues

Goalkeeper: Alex Bono (Toronto FC), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC)

Forward: Andrija Novakovich (Fortuna Sittard), Bobby Wood (Hannover 96), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC)

U.S. midfield under the lens vs. Brazil, Tim Weah looks to mimic the rise of teammate Neymar

6:09 PM ETJeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The U.S. men’s national team will face Brazil on Friday at MetLife Stadium in their first match since the conclusion of the 2018 World Cup. The match will mark caretaker manager Dave Sarachan’s seventh game in charge, and he’ll be hoping his youthful side (average age 23) will show well against a Brazil team featuring Neymar and Philippe Coutinho.Here’s what to watch for.

U.S. looking for progress from young midfield

The Americans’ 1-1 draw with France last June was encouraging on some levels, given the pedigree of the opposition and the youthfulness of the U.S. team. The defense and the goalkeeping of Zack Steffen stood out, but France dominated the match territorially, and over the course of the match the play of the U.S. midfield was uneven.With that in mind, the U.S. is hoping to show more fluency when it has the ball. That amounts to a massive challenge for U.S. midfielders such as Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Wil Trapp.”I think we just look at being stingy, being difficult to play against,” Trapp said. “We know that Brazil brings different challenges than France did, than Ireland did. But also building upon: How can we be more dangerous moving forward, scoring goals? Yes, we scored in France, but we also look at it as an opportunity where we could have been better attacking.”Sarachan stressed that his side would need to find “the right balance” between attack and defense, and while Brazil’s roster isn’t comprised completely of A-team players, there is still more than enough talent to trouble the U.S. defense.”You look at the quality of their players in terms of breaking down players 1v1, they can go from zero to 60 in an instant just on the amount of game-changers they have on the field at any one moment,” Trapp said.

Weah hoping to follow in the footsteps of club teammate Neymar

It was eight years ago that Neymar made his international debut against the U.S., scoring his first international goal in a 2-0 win at the same venue where Friday’s match will be held. That no doubt will provide an inspiration for his club teammate and U.S. forward Tim Weah.Yet a look at the lineups from that day reveals a cautionary tale as well. The other Brazilian goalscorer was Alexandre Pato, who at the time was just 20 years old but already on the post-Milan downside of his career.Despite scoring his first Ligue 1 goal last month for Paris Saint-Germain, Weah is at a point in his career where he’s not nearly as hyped as Neymar was back then with Santos. But being the son of a former Ballon d’Or winner — and current president of Liberia, George Weah — carries with it a unique burden.”I can’t imagine that’s an easy thing,” Sarachan said. “But he comes off as though he’s trying to be his own self and find his own way, and that’s a pretty mature way to look at things.”Weah’s comments hint strongly at a player with his feet firmly on the ground, able to tune out any outside noise. “Whatever I do, there’s always going to be hate, always people saying, ‘He’s not as good as his dad,'” he said earlier this week. “I just stay focused on my game. Right now, the national team is the most important thing to me, and that’s what I’m focused on. Whether my name is Weah or something else, I always want to give 100 percent.”Of course, Neymar isn’t the only club teammate Weah will be facing, as Thiago Silva and Marquinhos will also both be suiting up for Brazil.”We actually had a chat with all three of them before I came to camp,” Weah said earlier this week. “We laugh about it all the time, we joke about it. It’s a really cool vibe with all those guys, they love me, I love them, and they’re like my brothers. This is my first time being opponents with them, so it’s going to be a great experience.”But then, Weah couldn’t help letting some youthful exuberance seep out.”I hope they’re ready for us. We’re going to be a challenge for them,” he said.

For Brazil, no time to ease off

The match will be Brazil’s first since the disappointment of its World Cup quarterfinal exit to Belgium, and while there is a tendency to shrug off post-World Cup friendlies, there is plenty of work to do for Brazil’s manager, Tite.The 2019 Copa America is less than a year away, and with Brazil hosting the tournament, the usual pressure to perform well is ratcheted up a level or two. For that reason Tite — who after agreeing to stay on with the Selecao is eager to see what he can do over a full cycle — will be looking to get some answers. In particular he’ll be looking to see if inexperienced national team players like Arthur, Fabinho and Richarlison can become long-term options for Brazil.But Tite will have plenty of familiar faces at his disposal as well. Beyond the aforementioned Neymar and Coutinho, Brazil’s squad is loaded with 2018 World Cup participants. Thiago Silva will anchor the defense, Real Madrid’s Casemiro figures to feature in central midfield, and the likes of Willian, Roberto Firmino and Douglas Costa will all be available in attck. Given the youthful nature of the U.S. team, that presents a formidable challenge indeed.

Without Pulisic, Familiar Faces Return as a Youthful USMNT Braces for Upcoming Friendlies

By BRIAN STRAUS September 02, 2018 SI

The games—next Friday against Brazil and Sept. 11 and Mexico—will be about the men on the field. Sunday’s roster announcement, however, is as much about the man who’s missing.Neither Christian Pulisic’s stature nor his potential is at risk. The 19-year-old Pennsylvania product—he’ll turn 20 in a couple weeks—remains the leading light of his generation and the player around whom the next era of the U.S. national team will revolve. But that era, at least as far as the Borussia Dortmund midfielder is concerned, is slow getting started.Pulisic has played just once for the USA since last fall’s World Cup qualifying disaster in Trinidad—and it was a listless performance at the end of a long club season—and he’s out of the team again this week thanks to a muscular injury suffered while on Bundesliga duty. His next chance to play for country will come in the October friendlies against Colombia and Peru. That means that over the course of an entire calendar year, which amounts to more than a third of his pro career, he’ll have worn a U.S. jersey for only 89 minutes.It’s far from scandalous, but it’s almost unheard of for such a key player to remain out of the international loop for so long. There are obvious explanations, from the lack of a summer tournament to Pulisic’s club commitment and injury. He’ll have missed only seven matches. But as coach Dave Sarachan begins to build up the national team’s next generation—once again, his roster is dominated by youth and features 15 men (of 25) who are 23 or younger—Pulisic is missing out on some of the chemistry and culture under development. When he’s ready, and if and when there’s a permanent coach, he’ll almost certainly and seamlessly slide right back in. But the wait is a bit frustrating and strange, and it’ll be worth watching how and where he fits once he’s ready.”I was excited to have Christian be a part of these games in September,” Sarachan said Sunday. “As we all know too well, injuries happen and you can never predict timing. It’s disappointing that we won’t have Christian involved. I know that he wanted to be a part of things and we certainly wanted him here, but unfortunately he won’t be available.“That said, we haven’t had Christian in with the group aside from one game in the past six friendlies, so I feel confident that this group will continue to build on what we have started.”Sarachan has given 18 players their senior U.S. debuts since taking over on an interim basis last fall. Although he’s said on several occasions that re-integrating veterans will be important as next summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup approaches, this week isn’t that time. The USA will train at the New York Red Bulls’ facility in Morris County, NJ, as it prepares for Brazil, which is bringing the likes of Neymar, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Arthur, Willian and Thiago Silva to the Meadowlands. There’s an imbalance on paper, but Sarachan said he has confidence in his young group. They’ve barely trailed during their 2-1-3 stretch, and showed well (without Pulisic) in a 1-1 draw with impending World Cup champion France in June.”Over the course of the past friendlies we have established a core of players that I felt good about offering opportunities,” Sarachan said. “For these matches against Brazil and Mexico, the theme remains the same, in that we are using the opportunity against these high-powered opponents to continue building on the foundation that we’ve laid. We felt it was right to continue allowing this group to get valuable experience for the big picture that includes competitive matches in the future with the Gold Cup, Olympic qualifying and World Cup qualifying.”So if all goes well, Pulisic will return to a team that’s developing a core and a sense of tactical and interpersonal identity, even if there’s a transition in management (GM Earnie Stewart has been on the job officially for a month). For now, here’s a look at the men who will be in New Jersey and Nashville (for the game against Mexico) this month.

GOALKEEPERS

Alex Bono (Toronto FC), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew)

Steffen, 23, has emerged the clear No. 1 here, although there’s arguably more competition in the player pool than there will be in camp. Brad Guzan, 33, remains part of the long-term picture, and Bill Hamid, 27, soon may get consideration again now that he’s getting minutes in D.C.Steffen has played 225 minutes across three games for the USA this year, yielding one goal.

DEFENDERS

John Brooks (VfL Wolfsburg), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Swansea City), Eric Lichaj (Hull City), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Matt Miazga (Nantes), Shaquell Moore (Reus Deportiu), Tim Parker (New York Red Bulls), Antonee Robinson (Wigan Athletic), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United)

The story in back is the return of Brooks, who was limited by injury to four caps last year. He missed the qualifying stretch run, and hasn’t been in with the national team since the November friendly against Portugal—Sarachan’s first match in charge. But he’s been a regular for Wolfsburg at the start of the German season and when healthy, seems a likely U.S. starter.“John Brooks had a difficult season with an extended injury last season with Wolfsburg,” Sarachan said. “To his credit, he put in a lot of work in the offseason, had a strong preseason and has also started off well in their opening game, contributing with a goal and playing 90 minutes in their win against Schalke. Given all that, I’m pleased that he’s able to be back with the group. Center back is an important position and he’s proven that he’s very capable at this level.”

Sarachan’s best XI almost certainly features Ligue 1 newcomer Miazga alongside Brooks, with Yedlin (who scored his first Premier League goal this weekend) at right back. It’s a bit more uncertain at left back. Robinson, 21, got the start against France and has been ever-present so far this season for Wigan. He’ll likely feature in the friendlies. Lichaj is primarily a right-side player, but can switch and did so against Portugal last November. The first-choice left back for much of 2017 was Jorge Villafaña, who just returned to the Portland Timbers and wasn’t brought in by Sarachan.

Long is the only one of the 25 call-ups making his senior camp debut. Long and Parker, who made his U.S. debut before the World Cup, have been key contributors this season at Red Bull Arena.

MIDFIELDERS

Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC), Julian Green (Greuther Fürth), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Weston McKennie (Schalke 04), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain)

The midfield is this team’s strength, even in Pulisic’s absence, and it gets better with Acosta’s apparent return to form. His move to the Colorado Rapids, even though it involved a precipitous slide down the standings, has provided a spark, and Acosta is in camp for the first time this year.It’ll be interesting to see how he looks with McKennie, another FC Dallas product. The pair played together at the center of a 4-1-4-1 against Portugal last fall. In a similar alignment, which Sarachan has often preferred, Trapp likely would be the defensive midfielder (it was Danny Williams in Portugal). Roldan can play there as well (or McKennie could slide back).“He has worked his way back to good form,” Sarachan said of Acosta. “The change of scenery to Colorado seems to have worked out in that he’s a consistent starter, logging 90 minutes and back to the strong form that we remember seeing during qualifying and the Gold Cup last year. We’re happy to have him back with us.”The wide options are enticing, starting with Weah and Adams (who can play anywhere), and now including Lletget, another player returning to the U.S. fold after a significant layoff. The creative, hard-working midfielder’s international ascendance was derailed by an injury suffered against Honduras in March 2017. The 18-year-old Weah, meanwhile, already has two goals for PSG.Speaking of Lletget, Sarachan said, “He has put himself back at a level to help contribute to the national team. Having a guy like Sebastian gives us different options and he offers a unique skill set to us in midfield.”

And regarding Weah, the manager said, “[He] has logged a lot of first-team minutes and already has a [league] goal to his name this season. … Timmy has earned the right to be called in.”

FORWARDS

Andrija Novakovich (Fotuna Sittard), Bobby Wood (Hannover 96), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew)

The U.S. is thinner up front, and Sarachan has deployed the team primarily in a 4-1-4-1 to compensate, in part. Jozy Altidore will turn 29 in November and likely will get another crack down the road, while the likes of Pulisic, Weah, Green, and others can attack from more withdrawn positions. Meanwhile, Sarachan is continuing to give Wood the chance to get back on track while looking at a promising target forward prospect Novakovich. Wood, 25, scored in the friendlies against Paraguay (penalty) and Ireland and is getting his feet under him at Hannover. Novakovich also made a move, to Sittard in the Eredivisie, and already has two goals.Zardes, meanwhile, has been brilliantly efficient in Columbus, where he leads all U.S.-eligible MLS players with 15 league goals. That’s as many as he scored in 2015-17 combined for the LA Galaxy.

Sarachan saw fit to address Josh Sargent’s absence. The 18-year-old just kicked off his senior club career at Werder Bremen, but he’s already got a senior international goal—he scored against Bolivia in May. Sargent has four goals in six games for Werder’s reserves, who play in Germany’s regionalized fourth tier.

“The decision to leave Josh Sargent off this roster was one made primarily because he is still getting integrated with Werder Bremen,” Sarachan said. “He’s working his way into the first team, but has yet to feature for them. The feeling is that he is getting valuable playing time with the club’s U-23 team, evidenced by the minutes he’s played and goals he has scored so far this season. I felt it was best to allow him to continue to train with the first team with the hope of getting minutes in friendlies during the international break.”Like Pulisic, it would be intriguing to see Sargent in with the national team. But in both cases, there will have to be delayed gratification.

U.S. youth a priority, but experience of Brooks, Acosta still matters

Sep 2, 2018Jeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

Little by little, the veterans for the U.S. men’s national team are coming in from the cold.For the entirety of caretaker manager Dave Sarachan’s spell in charge, his emphasis has been on youth. It’s an approach that is as logical as it is necessary: After the debacle of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, it was important to turn the page and begin to usher in a new generation of players.The roster that Sarachan named for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil on Sept. 7 and Mexico four days later is consistent with that approach. Fourteen of the 24 players named are 23 or younger and include 16 players with seven or fewer international appearances. Included in that latter category is New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long, the only uncapped player on the roster. The biggest absence, of course, is Borussia Dortmund midfielder Christian Pulisic, who is sidelined by a muscle injury that a U.S. soccer spokesperson characterized as “not significant,” but there are a few returnees that Sarachan has opted to bring back, the most notable being Wolfsburg defender John Brooks and Colorado Rapids midfielder Kellyn Acosta.Both players have the ability to be future mainstays. Whether they reach that level remains an open question.Brooks endured an injury-hit 2017-18 club season with Wolfsburg that not only limited him to just 12 league and cup appearances, but caused him to miss the fateful last World Cup qualifier as well. Beyond his club struggles, Brooks’ form with the U.S. has been all over the place and seems to hint at a player who doesn’t travel particularly well. His best moments with the U.S. have come after lengthy camps such as the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Copa American Centenario. During shorter international windows, he’s much been more inconsistent as well as prone to injury or illness, as evidenced by him missing the final four World Cup qualifiers.A return to the level he showed at the Copa America, when the Americans reached the semifinals, would be most welcome for Sarachan and whoever succeeds him. The early returns this season are encouraging.”To his credit, he put in a lot of work in the offseason, had a strong preseason and has also started off well in their opening game, contributing with a goal and playing 90 minutes in their win against Schalke,” Sarachan said about Brooks. “Given all that, I’m pleased that he’s able to be back with the group. Center-back is an important position and [Brooks has] proven that he’s very capable at this level.”Acosta’s performances with the U.S. have been steadier, although in a more limited role, mostly as the central midfield sidekick to Michael Bradley. But his play with FC Dallas earlier this year was so poor that he was eventually benched and then traded to the Colorado Rapids. The trade has had the desired effect in that it looks to have rejuvenated Acosta.”[Acosta] is a consistent starter, logging 90 minutes and back to the strong form that we remember seeing during qualifying and the Gold Cup last year,” Sarachan said.One of the wild cards in the group is LA Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget, who broke his foot back in March of 2017 just minutes after scoring his first international goal against Honduras. His craftiness on the ball is something the U.S. has lacked at times. The fact that he played for Sarachan while the U.S. manager was an assistant in L.A. doesn’t hurt either.”Not only do I know him personally but professionally, I believe he has put himself back at a level to help contribute to the National Team,” Sarachan said. “Having a guy like Sebastian gives us different options, and he offers a unique skill set to us in midfield.”Of course, the center of midfield has become a bit more crowded with the emergence of Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams — both of whom are on the current roster — but there are no guarantees in terms of which players will emerge and who will fall by the wayside. The last cycle in particular saw far too many fall into the latter category. The more competition there is, the better.Sarachan appears mindful of the progress of some of some of his younger players as well. While Paris Saint-Germain’s Tim Weah was included, Werder Bremen forward Josh Sargent wasn’t.”The decision to leave Josh Sargent off this roster was one made primarily because he is still getting integrated with Werder Bremen,” said Sarachan. “I felt it was best to allow him to continue to train with the first team with the hope of getting minutes in friendlies during the international break.”In addition to Brooks, Acosta and Lletget, the likes of D.C. United midfielder Paul Arriola and Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes have also been recalled after long absences. But not every veteran has been welcomed back, although in some cases that seems a matter of time. Midfielder Michael Bradley told ESPN last month that there have been discussions between him and Sarachan; the U.S. manager seems open to his return for as long as he remains in his post. Jozy Altidore also still appears to have something to give to the U.S. even as both he and Bradley remain lightning rods for what took place during World Cup qualifying.But experience will be needed at some point during this cycle, if only to pass the torch onto players like McKennie, Adams and defender Matt Miazga. The future will divulge exactly when that is.

U.S. men’s national team is still searching for a full-time coach. What’s taking so long?

1:04 PM ETJeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

It’s telling that about six months ago, U.S. Soccer Federation news releases stopped referring to Dave Sarachan as the “acting head coach” of the men’s national team. It wasn’t that Sarachan was in the running for the full-time job, but it was more an acknowledgement that a permanent hire — if there is such a thing in the world of coaching — wasn’t going to get made anytime soon.Sarachan’s spell in charge has now stretched to 10 months, a span that will include nine games after upcoming matches against Brazil on Sept. 7 and Mexico four days later. And as the timeline for hiring a new manager has gone on and on and on, Sarachan’s contract has been extended multiple times and now stands to run until the end of 2018. With that reality come the inevitable questions. When exactly will the USSF hire a full-time manager? Why is it taking so long? And, of course, whom will they hire? The answer to the second question lies partly in the upheaval since that night in Couva, Trinidad, last October when the U.S. failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. That ultimately begat Sunil Gulati’s decision not to run for re-election as USSF president, and not wanting to make a decision as a lame duck, the decision of men’s national team manager was left to his successor. Along the way, it was decided that whomever was elected would appoint a general manager of the U.S. national team to oversee the search.

Carlos Cordeiro was duly elected as USSF president, and in parallel with the mad dash that occurred in order to secure the hosting rights — along with Canada and Mexico — for the 2026 World Cup, Earnie Stewart was hired as GM in early June. Except Stewart’s tenure didn’t begin (officially, at any rate) until Aug. 1 amounting to another delay, though he could be seen making the rounds in the days leading up to the MLS All-Star Game.So here we are, into September, and a U.S. Soccer spokesperson has confirmed that no interviews have been held, keeping with Stewart’s statement upon being hired that, “It will be process over speed.” One USSF source said the search could drag into November or December.As for what Stewart has been doing with his time, sources indicate he has been reaching out to former players, coaches and executives and getting their input on what they would like to see in a coach. His remit also includes spelling out the broad strokes in terms of style of play; this has figured into Stewart’s conversations as well.There is a question of how much say Stewart will ultimately have in terms of the decision. He will be the one to make a recommendation to the USF hierarchy and board of directors, but it will be USSF CEO Dan Flynn who will do the negotiating in terms of a contract. It may be that Flynn has the final say.For now it is up to Stewart to lead the search. One source indicated that Stewart is leaning toward making a “legacy hire,” one that would leave a lasting imprint on the national team program, as opposed to one whose sole aim is to get the U.S. men back qualifying for World Cups. Granted, legacy was what Gulati had in mind when he hired Jurgen Klinsmann back in 2011, though the USSF technical hierarchy — which, in addition to Stewart, includes chief sport development officer Nico Romeijn and chief soccer officer Ryan Mooney — has stressed that the working environment will be collaborative in nature as opposed to having the manager or the GM make all the decisions.Such an approach points away from proven international managers such as Louis van Gaal and Dick Advocaat, who would no doubt want total control of all team-related matters. That said, Frank de Boer, whom Stewart knows well, is one name that keeps popping up and he’s available, though his most recent managerial stint with Crystal Palace ended after a mere five games.If that doesn’t sound inspiring, it merely points to the fact that the U.S. job isn’t one to attract a slew of international candidates with impressive résumés. Sure, there is less pressure than in other more soccer-mad countries but it isn’t the kind of stepping stone for a manager on the outside to get back to the European elite.It’s also one not worth waiting around for as former Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio, whom sources say was very interested in the U.S. job, has already signed on with Paraguay. Opinions vary as to whether the USSF missed out or dodged a bad hire but at minimum it would have been prudent to talk to a candidate that is as familiar with the U.S. setup as Osorio.With all that in mind, the signs are pointing to the hiring of a manager currently in MLS or at least one with strong ties to the league. Sources have said Stewart prefers a manager familiar with CONCACAF, MLS and the current player pool.Of the coaches currently operating in MLS, Atlanta United’s Tata Martino has the most impressive résumé given his vast experience managing not only Barcelona and Argentina, but also more modest sides like Newell’s Old Boys. But his inability to communicate in English remains a huge stumbling block, not so much in terms of talking to the team — Atlanta seems to have done just fine under such a scenario — but there is a public facing aspect to the job that requires proficiency in English. That could be seen as too big an obstacle and while his contract is up at the end of the season, he seems to be enjoying his time building a juggernaut in Atlanta.LAFC manager Bob Bradley has the most experience of any American given his stints overseas. While Bradley suffered during his time with Swansea City, then of the Premier League, his spell with the L.A. expansion club has been superb. And with Gulati now gone — he was the one who dropped the hammer on Bradley’s stint as U.S. manager back in 2011 in favor of Klinsmann — the dynamics for a return are better than they might have been otherwise.Bradley is no doubt a better manager than he was back then, except that the U.S. has already gone back to an old standby once already with Bruce Arena, an appointment that ended in the aforementioned qualifying failure. The desire to start fresh is likely too strong to overcome.That leaves Columbus Crew manager Gregg Berhalter as the front-runner; in fact, the job appears to be his to lose. His experiences as a player and coach tick plenty of boxes. He spent the bulk of his playing career abroad and secured the UEFA A coaching license, in German no less. He did have a relatively unimpressive spell in charge of Swedish side Hammarby but has since enjoyed a successful five-season spell with Columbus, reaching an MLS Cup final while operating under considerable financial constraints as well as the club’s overt attempt to relocate to Austin, Texas.Berhalter has also drawn praise from MLS international managerial contingent — be it Martino, former NYCFC manager Patrick Vieira, or current Blues boss Domenec Torrent — for his attacking style and tactical acumen. The only question is whether the presence of Berhalter’s brother Jay as USSF chief commercial officer might create the appearance of a conflict of interest, though the credentials compare well to the competition.There are other American candidates as well, including Sporting Kansas City’s Peter Vermes, current RB Leipzig assistant Jesse Marsch and Toronto FC manager Greg Vanney. Current U.S. U20 manager Tab Ramos also figures to get an interview given his links to the younger elements of the current U.S. player pool, though his lack of experience managing at the club level figures to be a mark against him.Of that group, Vermes in particular seems to be the manager most likely to get strong consideration but the SKC manager has operated in a situation where he has had full control of all technical matters, which is at odds with how the USSF says it wants to operate.Meanwhile the search goes on. So too does the wait for a new manager.

Goalkeeper trio called into US camp know they have a unique opportunity

September 5, 20184:35PM EDTDylan ButlerContributorHANOVER, N.J. —

It’s a door that hasn’t really been open for almost a generation.Tim Howard and Brad Guzan clearly established themselves among the pecking order of US national team goalkeepers over the last decade. Before that, it was Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel, and before that Tony Meola. But now a new, younger generation is getting their chance to prove themselves on the international stage. That includes the trio of Alex Bono, Ethan Horvath and Zack Steffen who are among the 25-man roster for upcoming friendlies against Brazil Friday (7:30 pm ET | FS1, UniMás, Univision Deportes) at MetLife Stadium and next Tuesday against Mexico in Nashville. Each are under age of 25, with six combined caps among them. And yet the door for all of them, it would appear, is wide open.“There’s always open competition, even with the veteran guys,” US coach Dave Sarachan said before training Wednesday. “I think we have a good core of young goalkeepers and I think the margins between what we would consider the starter for Friday [and] the next guy that wouldn’t start is very thin. I’m encouraged, but they’re young and they need experience.”The goalkeepers themselves are trying not to put too much emphasis on a somewhat rare opportunity to establish themselves for the year to come. “If you’re looking at it that way then I think it’s only going to cloud your judgement and cloud your mind of what you should be focusing on,” Toronto FC‘s Bono said. “For me it’s about coming in one training session at a time and making sure I’m preparing myself and making sure that I’m making the guys around me better.”At first glance, the favorite would be Columbus Crew SC‘s Steffen. The 23-year-old has three caps, including a spectacular performance in a 1-1 draw against France in Lyon in early June.“It’s a feeling of motivation to get out there and get better and push yourself each day to learn from the coaching staff and players on the field,” Steffen said Tuesday. “We have a long road ahead of us and every spot is open for grabs. We just got to go into training everyday and train like you want to be out there.”After a stellar MLS Cup-winning season a year ago, the 24-year-old Bono has had a rollercoaster third season with Toronto. Clint Irwin has started the last two games — a pair of losses to the Portland Timbers and LAFC — and the defending champions have struggled throughout a trying campaign.

But he views the change of scenery with the USMNT as a positive and something he hopes he can take back with him for the stretch drive of the MLS season. “Obviously I want to have success when I’m in Toronto,” Bono said. “It’s not something that’s easy to push aside, but the change of environment is definitely nice to refresh and get a new staff and some new guys around you to kind of reset yourself and make sure when I get back to Toronto, I’m bringing that confidence back with me and getting geared up for the rest of the season.”Just like the rest of the young core who are hoping to be the backbone of the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle, the goalkeepers see these games as a chance to prove they belong. “I think it’s important for us as young players within the national team to take with us that it’s our path to create for ourselves,” Bono said. “We have to rely on ourselves to make sure that we continue to get called in and we continue to progress with the national team.”

International break W2W4: Nations League takes its first steps, world champions meet

Sep 5, 2018Nick AmesESPN.com writer

With the international break upon us, and friendlies and Nations League action beginning on Thursday, Nick Ames looks ahead to the biggest story lines of the week of international football.

UEFA’s new brainchild takes its first steps

European football’s governing body must have been doing cartwheels at the way in which this summer’s World Cup breathed life back into international football. It means the first round of Nations League fixtures holds genuine allure, with the prospect of the matches themselves providing more talking points than the competition’s labyrinthine structure. If games like France vs. Germany, England vs. Spain and — next week — Portugal vs. Italy serve up some memorable action, then the prospects will look good, although there are questions lower down the ladder, too.

UEFA Nations League full draw
Watch on ESPN networks in the U.S.
Schedule: Sep. 6 | Sep. 7 | Sep. 8 | Sep. 9 | Sep. 10 | Sep. 11

For teams like Luxembourg and Moldova, who face each other in League D on Saturday, the stakes are higher than you might expect. Fare well in the next 10 days and suddenly a shot at backdoor Euro 2020 qualification looks a distinct possibility. Fail to pick up points and the risk is that by the end of this international break that prospect has already receded, leaving the losers with what would effectively be four unappetising friendlies against lowly opponents.This competition’s format allows traditional minnows a realistic chance of the limelight, but for many of them the danger is that it will not stay interesting for very long. The immediate measure of its success, though, will no doubt be the extent to which it captures the big guns’ imaginations.

Old and new world champions meet

How quickly the mood has changed around both Germany and France. Thursday’s hosts have spent their summer soul searching after their disastrous World Cup exit, and Joachim Low was in full “mea culpa” mode in dissecting their downfall last week. The row around Mesut Ozil’s departure from international football has hardly helped either, and Germany could do with a win — or at least a rousing performance — in Munich to stop the storm clouds growing darker. The fact that their opponents have only just replaced them as world champions should focus a few minds.For their part, France still feel jubilant after their triumph in Moscow and will not want to let up now. They did not always thrill on their way to the trophy but were worthy winners. Such is their depth of quality that they should be aiming to achieve the kind of dynastic success that once seemed to be within Germany’s grasp. That will be the next big test for Didier Deschamps, who answered many of his critics with his own performance in Russia. The Allianz Arena, and the curtain-raiser to a brand-new competition, would not be a bad stage to announce that France are in this for the long haul.

England seek to build on summer of smiles

The feelgood factor around England’s national team sprang up from almost nowhere, and Gareth Southgate wants to keep the good times rolling. He has been faithful to the core of the squad that took them to the semifinals in Russia, missing only Ashley Young — who has been dropped from the squad — the injured Raheem Sterling and recent virtual retirees Jamie Vardy and Gary Cahill.Continuity is king for now and, on Saturday, Spain will provide an opportune test of the lessons they learned during the summer. A harsh reading of England’s performance would be that they ultimately fell short when they faced opposition of genuine quality — in the form of Belgium, twice, and Croatia — so it would do no harm to set down a marker now against visitors with their own point to prove.Spain, now under the charge of Luis Enrique, need to clear the cobwebs from a World Cup that was effectively over when Julen Lopetegui was sent home on its eve. It is a new era for them after the international retirements of Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and David Silva; winning at Wembley would not be a bad way to show that their new coach can manage the transition.

Denmark dispute spills into farce

So far so good, then, where Nations League storylines are concerned. How strange and unfortunate that it is Denmark, not exactly a football country you would associate with upheaval, who stand to add a farcical element to proceedings.Unless a dispute surrounding their first-choice squad’s commercial rights is solved — and time is fast running out for that — they will field a team of low-ranking domestic-based players for a friendly with Slovakia and a Nations League tie with Wales. Instead of Christian Eriksen and Kasper Schmeichel, their opponents can expect to face players from the Danish second tier and, according to some reports, the country’s futsal squad. The latter should, at least, not be found wanting technically.There will be a familiar face in the dugout, with former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen stepping in for Age Hareide, who will not take up his own position either. How unseemly it all appears, although the door has been left open for a last-minute change of heart.”Let’s renew the old [commercial] deal by one month,” Eriksen said. “Sign up and we will sit on the plane immediatelyCameroon, newly coached by Clarence Seedorf and his assistant Patrick Kluivert, will be well advised to take their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Comoros seriously. As things stand, they are effectively a “ghost” team in Group B, their qualification for next year’s tournament assured through their status as hosts. But the doubts about that are growing: the Confederation of African Football president, Ahmad Ahmad, admitted last month that he is “not sure Cameroon is ready to host the AFCON,” with a number of stadiums running late and facilities for the expanded tournament barely up to scratch. Instability in the English-speaking areas of the country is also an issue.A decision should be made by the end of the month, with Morocco mooted as a late stand-in. It certainly adds to the early pressure on the Indomitable Lions’ Dutch pair.There are big games elsewhere, too. Nigeria must win in Seychelles to keep pace with Libya and South Africa in Group E, while Ivory Coast and Egypt are seeking three points against Rwanda and Niger respectively to make amends for poor starts of their own. The big hitters will not want to miss out on next summer’s carnival. Where it will take place, though, is anyone’s guess.

What is the UEFA Nations League and how does it work? A complete guide

4 Sep, 2018Dale JohnsonGeneral Editor, ESPN FC

The UEFA Nations League will begin this week, and you can check out the draw. Here’s a guide for all you need to know about the new competition.

What is the UEFA Nations League?

It is a competition between the 55 member nations of UEFA, created because “UEFA and its associations wanted more sporting meaning in national team football, with associations, coaches, players and supporters increasingly of the opinion that friendly matches are not providing adequate competitionfor national teams.”

So this means there are no more international friendlies?

There will definitely be far fewer, though there are still a couple of spaces in the calendar. For instance, the top nations will play four fixtures across three international weeks over the next three months, and this will leave two spare dates for international friendlies.

However, Euro 2020 qualifying takes place through 2019 in March, June, September, October and November with two games each month, so the majority of teams (and almost all major nations) will not have free international dates for friendlies next year.

When does it start?

The group games will all be played on the six international dates between September and November 2018.

Matchday 1: Sept. 6-8, 2018
Matchday 2: Sept. 9-11, 2018
Matchday 3: Oct. 11-13, 2018
Matchday 4: Oct. 14-16, 2018
Matchday 5: Nov. 15-17, 2018
Matchday 6: Nov. 18-20, 2018

What format does it take?

The 55 nations were split into four “Leagues.” The strongest nations are in League A, and the weakest in League D.

League A and B: Four groups of three nations (12 teams)
League C: Three groups of four nations, and one group of three (15)
League D: Four groups of four nations (16)

Teams within each group will play each other home and away over the three international weeks.

What about promotion and relegation?

Yes. The winners of each group in Leagues B, C and D will move up, while the nations bottom of Leagues A, B and C will drop down for the next edition of the Nations League, which will be 2020-21.

Will there actually be UEFA Nations League champions?

Yes. The four group winners from League A will playoff in knockout format — semifinals, third-place match and final — in June 2019, with all four matches being played in one host European country chosen from the finalists. Italy, Poland and Portugal have all submitted bids, and as these three countries are in the same Nations League group one will definitely host the finals. Only nations in League A can go on to be overall Nations League champions.

Finals draw: early December 2018
Finals: June 5-9, 2019

How were teams ranked?

The pots are based on UEFA’s national association coefficient rankings released on Oct. 11, 2017. This is different to the FIFA Ranking, only factors in competitive games and gives more credit for scoring goals and deducts points for conceding them.

Why take the Nations League seriously?

Firstly, it will decide each nation’s ranking for the Euro 2020 qualifying draw — so 10 of the 12 nations in League A are guaranteed to be top seeds, but Leagues B and C will each split almost down the middle to create the lower-ranked pots. The better you perform in the Nations League, then you might get a more favourable draw in Euro 2020 qualifying.Also, there is the “second chance” via the Euro 2020 playoffs (see below) as another carrot, creating a safety net if your Euro 2020 qualifying campaign goes badly wrong.But it does remain to be seen just how seriously the bigger nations will take it, considering they are highly likely to be to seeded in the Euro 2020 qualifying draw anyway, and they will feel they are going to make the finals regardless.

So what happens with Euro 2020 qualifying?

A few things. First, rather than starting in September 2018 as it usually would, it is pushed back to March 2019 through to November 2019.

Secondly, as stated above, the final positions and records from the UEFA Nations League will be used to rank nations for the Euro 2020 qualifying draw, which takes place on Dec. 2, 2018. So the four group winners from League A, who go through to the playoffs, will be ranked 1-4, and the other nations from League A will fill places 5-12. That will go down to the worst team in League D in 55th. These positions will be used to form the draw pots.This is where it gets a little more complicated — so stay with us.The qualifying draw will create five groups of five teams and five groups of six teams. The four group winners from League A will be drawn into a group of five, enabling June 2019 to be left free for the UEFA Nations League finals.Now it gets even more complicated…

How do the Euro 2020 qualifying playoffs work?

In qualifying for Euro 2016, the eight best third-placed teams from regular qualifying went into November playoffs (similar to the World Cup qualifying playoffs last November).For Euro 2020, the playoff teams will be plucked from the UEFA Nations League. The winners of the four groups in each League will by right go into the playoffs. However, 20 nations will have already booked a place in the finals via regular qualifying, and many of these are likely to be UEFA Nations League group winners too, so it will be the best-placed nation in each group that has not yet qualified who enters the playoffs. If every team in a group/league has qualified, then the next best performing team from that League, or the League below, will take part in the playoffs.

Important dates:

UEFA Euro 2020 play-off draw: Nov. 22, 2019
UEFA Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26-31, 2020

Deep breath. We’re nearly there….

These 16 nations, four from each League, will then play off against other teams from their own League in March 2020 for the final four places at Euro 2020. Thus, one nation each from Leagues A, B, C and D who failed to qualify directly for Euro 2020 will go through via the playoffs.

Will this make any difference?

Yes it will. Most importantly it’s going to give nations who never previously had a real shot of qualifying a chance to make Euro 2020 — and subsequent finals if the idea is a success.Take a look at the nations in League D — and remember that four nations from that League will enter the March 2020 playoffs with the winners guaranteed to go to the finals. These are worst 16 teams in UEFA, and one of them is going to qualify — Azerbaijan, FYR Macedonia, Belarus and Georgia are currently the highest-rated nations. It’s a similar story for League C, with most nations having rarely, or never, appeared at a finals — one of these teams will be there too. It gives hope to Scotland that they can qualify for their first tournament since 1998.

Is the competition a one-off?

No, the next Nations League is due to begin in September 2020, with new divisions based on promotion and relegation, though there is no information at present about how this could affect qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

Why a proposed Global Nations League would outshine the World Cup

9:15 AM ETSimon KuperESPN.com writer

We’ve entered a new era in soccer. It’s the debut of the UEFA Nations League, a competition of national teams played throughout the continent. There’s everything from England-Spain at Wembley in the league’s top division, to Liechtenstein-Gibraltar in Vaduz in the bottom one. Meanwhile, international soccer officials are plotting to spread the Nations League across the planet. The idea is that every continent would host its own Nations League, and these would culminate in something even more interesting: a Global Nations League for the winners from each continent.This is a big deal — so big, in fact, it might one day even marginalize the World Cup.

The Nations League would mostly change the sport for the better. National-team soccer, overshadowed by clubs for at least 10 months a year, aims to come roaring back. So what is happening, and why?About five years ago, some officials at the European soccer association UEFA, including its then secretary general, Gianni Infantino, cooked up the UEFA Nations League. The plan was to clear out the dead space in international soccer. For decades, Europe’s national teams spent too much time playing languid friendly matches or dreary qualifiers: Germany thrashes San Marino, France beats Luxembourg, and nobody cares.The UEFA Nations League will be more competitive and exciting. It divides countries into four divisions, based on strength. The top division this fall includes groups like France-Germany-Netherlands, and Spain-Croatia-England. In the fourth division, you’ll find groups such as Azerbaijan-Faroe Islands-Malta-Kosovo.In June, the four winners of the top groups will play off to see who wins the Nations League. The tournament will also help allocate some qualifying spots for Euro 2020. Everyone will have something to play for: teams that finish bottom of their group in the Nations League will get relegated; in the lower tiers, the top teams will get promoted.Fans will probably love it. Far more people care about national teams than clubs: TV audiences for big World Cup matches dwarf those for big Champions League matches. The only problem is the lack of supply of top-class international soccer. England and Spain, for instance, haven’t met in a competitive match since 1996. Their encounter at Wembley on Saturday will have fans buzzing worldwide.The Nations League won’t mean more games for international players, just better games. If it succeeds, the format could quickly become unstoppable. CONCACAF, the confederation for north and central America, has decided to launch its Nations League in 2019. The biggest Asian federations are thought to want a version, too.Then the winners of each continental league would meet in the global Nations League. Imagine a short eight-team tournament once every two years featuring, say, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, the U.S., Morocco, France, Spain and Germany. It would replace the mostly ignored, lossmaking and frankly pathetic Confederations Cup.The only question is who would own the Global Nations League. When the Europeans of UEFA came up with the idea, they wanted to organise it among continental confederations, leaving almost no role for FIFA. But then Infantino, who in 2016 had become president of FIFA, decided to kidnap the plan. He saw the Global Nations League as a new source of funds for FIFA, which has long been almost a single-product company: it gets 90 percent of its revenues from the men’s World Cup. And FIFA needs cash, given that it has lost several mostly western sponsors following its corruption scandals.By this spring, a consortium of huge investors had agreed to put up $25 billion to fund Nations League on every continent, plus the Global Nations League and a bigger, better Club World Cup. Infantino called it “the — by far — highest investment soccer has ever seen.”Under FIFA’s plan, the eight countries that played in the Global Nations League could expect to make $37.5 million to $75 million each. For comparison: Germany got $4.1 million for winning last year’s Confederations Cup. In return for all this lovely new cash, the consortium expected to control Nations Leagues until 2033. However, in true opaque FIFA tradition, Infantino refused to reveal who his funders were. At a meeting in Bogota, Colombia in March, he nonetheless pressured FIFA’s ruling council to rubberstamp his plan within 60 days. The council said no, for the moment. UEFA was irritated, too. “We had an idea about a possible Global Nations League,” its president, Aleksander Ceferin, told the German magazine Kicker. “We first presented it to the FIFA president, then to national associations and to clubs. And all of a sudden FIFA comes and says they are ready to sell it, our idea, to a fund without any explanations. It is really a strange offer.”Meanwhile, my colleagues at the Financial Times newspaper broke through the shroud of non-disclosure agreements to reveal that FIFA’s scheme was funded by Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank with other investors from China and Saudi Arabia. In reality, most of the influence is Saudi. The soccer-mad petro-state is jealous of its tiny neighbour Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup. The Saudis want to make a landgrab of their own, including hosting the first Global Nations League. Infantino is a frequent visitor to the Gulf state, where he has become chummy with the ruling young crown prince, Mohammad Bin Salman (“MBS”).

UEFA Nations League full draw Watch on ESPN networks in the U.S.
Schedule: Sep. 6 | Sep. 7 | Sep. 8 | Sep. 9 | Sep. 10 | Sep. 11

Given the squabble over ownership, the Global Nations League may not even happen. If it does — and the idea is so lucrative that it probably will — it wouldn’t start until about 2022. But once the global event embeds itself in the calendar, it has the potential to surpass the World Cup in prestige and attention (much as the World Cup from 1930 surpassed the Olympic soccer tournament).Right now, the World Cup is by some estimates the most watched event of any kind. But its status is shakier than it looks. Its average audience per match has fallen this century in countries such as Portugal, Spain and Argentina, chiefly because many games have disappeared from free-to-air TV onto pay channels.And FIFA has made another decision that seems almost designed to put off fans: starting in 2026, it is expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams.The Euros, also recently expanded, have shown that more means worse. The average group game at 24-team Euro 2016 attracted 23 percent fewer viewers than at 16-team Euro 2012, according to consultancy Futures Sport. That was partly because most of the eight additional qualifiers were weak teams playing defensive soccer. At Euro 2016, average goals per game dropped to 2.12, a 20-year-low for the competition. A 48-team World Cup will probably also feature lots of boring Cinderellas. There simply aren’t enough good national teams to justify such a big tournament. This summer’s World Cup showed that Africa and Asia, in particular, don’t deserve more berths: only one of these continents’ 10 representatives, Japan, even squeaked into the second round.”There is nothing bigger in terms of boosting soccer in a country than participating in a World Cup,” Infantino has said. But not if it’s a dull World Cup, which would be outshone in quality by a Global Nations League. Viewers may get into the habit of watching the World Cup only from the knockout stage. And very few countries have the stadiums to host a 48-team competition.FIFA expanded the World Cup chiefly for the money. The bigger tournament will produce more income from broadcasters, sponsors and ticket sales. Much of that cash will go to the 211 national federations. But a bigger World Cup means a diminished World Cup. Luckily, fans should be able to console themselves with the Global Nations League. Its winners may eventually come to be regarded as the true world champions.A decade from now, we may look back on September 2018 as the month that soccer changed … for the better.

U.S. women prep for qualifying as 2019 World Cup field takes shape

By Graham Hays | Sep 5, 2018espnW.com

Labor Day weekend marks at least the symbolic end of summer in the United States, but recent days found the soccer world already hard at work on preparations for next summer.With European qualifying now complete, save a four-team playoff for one final spot, we know 15 of 24 teams that will compete in the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France. We also now know the path the U.S. women will need to navigate in CONCACAF qualifying next month to add their own reservation. From qualifying drama across the Atlantic Ocean to new schedule entries for the United States and final warm-ups for qualifying against Chile, here’s a look at what changed in the past week.

U.S. women (still) control their own path to France

At least if things go terribly wrong for the United States in qualifying, it can still salvage matters with a result against Trinidad and Tobago in its final group game. That always works out well.

The truth is that as much as the recent U.S. men’s qualifying disaster was a reminder not to take even seemingly simple qualifying assignments for granted, the draw for the CONCACAF Women’s Championship is necessary but not illuminating. Mexico, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago join the United States in one group in Cary, North Carolina, while Costa Rica, Cuba and Jamaica join Canada in Edinburg, Texas.

Who has qualified for the 2019 Women’s World Cup?

Asia (5): Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand

Europe (8): England, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden

South America (2): Brazil, Chile

Yes, the U.S. women got arguably the least favorable draw possible. It not only ended up in the same group as Mexico but opens with that game, thereby missing out on any chance to play itself into the tournament. But the team most likely to get in the way in the group stage was never Mexico or any of the six teams that joined the United States and Canada in the field. The biggest risk at that stage has always been, and remains, the U.S. women getting in their own way.As long as that doesn’t happen, this is all a matter of scheduling. Dating back to 2010, when then-host Mexico famously stunned the Americans in qualifying, the United States is not only unbeaten in 10 games against its neighbor but outscored it 43-4. Yes, Mexico scored three of those goals in a pair of games this year and was entertaining in the process, but it also conceded 10 goals.And imagine a disaster scenario in which the U.S. women lose to Mexico in the opening game of the group, finish second and then lose to Canada in a semifinal. They would still need only win the third-place game to reach the World Cup — or lose that game and beat Argentina in a playoff. If they somehow failed to do any of those things, there would be much bigger problems than missing one World Cup.CONCACAF is still too top heavy, with too many paths to the World Cup, for the United States to fail.If only that didn’t sound so familiar.

USWNT warms up for qualifying

Two comfortable wins against Chile, already booked to its first World Cup, offered nothing that suggested the United States is ill prepared for its own upcoming qualification endeavors.The Americans at peak form might have finished a few more chances — and arguably did finish more than the referee allowed in an opening game that begged for video replay. But even with Megan Rapinoe injured, the available rotation was both abundant and effective around Alex Morgan and Julie Ertz, who are locks down the spine of the field. Rose Lavelle played a lot of minutes and created a lot of defensive disarray. Carli Lloyd looked more and more comfortable in a No. 9 role in the second half of each game. Any extended absence for McCall Zerboni, who left Tuesday’s game with a broken elbow, is deeply depressing with regard to someone whose particular skill set and personality were carving out a place on the roster (and worse news, still, for the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage ahead of the playoffs). But that mixing and matching in midfield and the forward line is likely to continue through qualifying and beyond. It’s a feature, not a bug.What Kelley O’Hara’s return at right back after a six-month absence underscored was how much the back line also remains a rotation, which seems at least unusual if not also a little worrisome.O’Hara and Crystal Dunn seem at the moment like the odds-on favorites to start at outside back next summer, but they have yet to play on the same back line this year. Dunn and Rapinoe have developed good chemistry on the left side but Dunn and Tobin Heath, the other player who will see time on the left side, have barely played together since Dunn’s return to defense. (It’s worth noting, in the spirit of all ideas eventually being new again, that Dunn also played outside back the last time the U.S. women warmed up for qualifying in 2014, but was subsequently injured.)Tierna Davidson and Becky Sauerbrunn, who Julie Foudy identified Tuesday as the favorites to start at center back next month in an assessment many would reasonably sign on to co-sponsor, have started together just five times. For that matter, Sauerbrunn and Abby Dahlkemper, who spent 2017 developing chemistry, have started together as center backs just once in 2018.And that isn’t even getting to Casey Short, who came out Tuesday with an apparent injury, and Emily Sonnett, who figures to see ample minutes in qualifying with O’Hara still rounding into form.Chile didn’t pose the back line many problems. It remains to be seen how many CONCACAF opponents, save Canada, will pose. But it also remains to be seen if the United States will settle on a favored four any time soon.

RECAP | INDY ELEVEN CLAIM THREE POINTS AGAINST NEW YORK RED BULLS II, 3-0

By James Higdon, 09/06/18, 12:00AM EDT “Indiana’s Team” retain nine-game undefeated streak with a clean sheet

ndy Eleven march away with three points after a clean sheet victory over New York Red Bulls II, 3-0. The “Boys in Blue” end a seven-game stretch in 22 days with a win after a brace from forward Eugene Starikov and a goal from defender Reiner Ferreira in the first half. The team remains unbeaten in nine games, having last lost against Tampa Bay Rowdies on July 21.“I think it was one of our best performances of the season,” said Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie. “I think we started the game well. We scored three great goals and managed the game and defended very well after that.”“Indiana’s Team” obtained the lead just 101 seconds after the match started. Eleven midfielder Dylan Mares chipped a pass deep into New York’s penalty box after winning possession near the edge of the field in the opposition’s half. Starikov was on the receiving end of the pass when he managed a shot as he slid into the six-yard box. The Ukrainian’s light touch was just enough to put the ball into the lower left corner of the net. The goal was Starikov’s first of the night and Mares’ first assist since returning to the Circle City last month.Red Bulls II attempted to respond in the fifth minute. Forward Andreas Ivan put his free kick attempt on target from the top Indy’s 18-yard box, but Eleven keeper Owain Fon Williams leapt up and knocked the shot away from the frame. The 31-year-old keeper also managed a massive save in the 60th minute with Red Bulls II midfielder Andrew Tinari’s shot off a crossbar deflection.Fon Williams’ stellar performance, which included four saves throughout the 90 minutes, saw the Welshman tally his 10th clean sheet of 2018.Indy’s lead doubled in the 21st minute. Midfielder Matt Watson played a cross forward into New York’s box after gaining control of defender Carlyle Mitchell’s interception. There was only enough time for the ball to bounce once before Starikov rushed in for another shot on goal, this time into the upper left corner of the goal.“He’s been scoring quite a lot when he’s been available,” said Rennie. “Unfortunately, he’s had a few injuries and he was out for a long time. Once we got him back he started scoring and once we got him back he was off for a little bit with a fever, but stopped him playing for a couple games. So he’s not had that kind of rhythm but showed what he can do and that was clinical for us.”Starikov’s two goals were his fourth and fifth on the season, respectively. With five goals, Starikov is Indy Eleven’s second highest goal scorer of the season, trailing behing forward Jack McInerney’s nine on the year.Indy scored its third and the final goal of the match in the 43rd minute. Midfielder broke away on a solo run into New York’s half. His eventual shot was knocked out of the Red Bulls II box by keeper Evan Louro, only to be collected by Mares. Quick passing play to midfielder Seth Moses led to another short pass to Ferreira at the top of New York’s box. Ferreira fought through three defenders for his shot that landed in the bottom right corner of the net.The goal was Ferreira’s first and Moses’ first assist since the pair signed with the “Boys in Blue” before the start of the season.Indy’s 3-0 victory concludes the longest run of back-to-back games in the club’s history. The team resumes play in seven days on the road against Penn FC, giving the team much needed downtime before continuing its playoff push.“I think first of all its get some good rest. Be thankful that we’ve gone unbeaten in nine games, in that seven game spell. Be thankful that we’re moving at the right time and becoming a stronger team,” Rennie said. “At the same time, we’ve got a lot of work to do and to build on what we’ve been doing well. We’ve got a lot of improvement I think we can make and it puts us in a good place. I think it gives us that kind of confidence boost I think we needed because we’ve had to grind so hard for every single point we’ve got.”The “Boys in Blue” return home on Wednesday, September 26, for Faith and Family Night against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Fans can claim tickets to the midweek match at IndyEleven.com or by calling (317)685-1100.

USL Regular Season –Indy Eleven 3:0 New York Red Bulls II
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana
Scoring Summary:

IND – Eugene Starikov (Dylan Mares) 2′
IND – Eugene Starikov (Matt Watson) 21′
IND – Reiner Ferreira (Seth Moses) 43′

Indy Eleven lineup (4-3-3, L–>R): Owain Fôn Williams (GK); Reiner Ferreira, Carlyle Mitchell, Karl Ouimette, Brad Russin, Dylan Mares, Nico Matern (Brad Ring 65′) , Matt Watson (C), Eugene Starikov (Jack McInerney 75′), Seth Moses, Elliot Collier (Soony Saad 83′)Indy Eleven bench: Lundgaard (GK); Brad Ring, Ayoze Garcia, Ben Speas, Juan Guerra, Soony Saad, Jack McInerney

New York Red Bulls II lineup (4-3-3, L–>R): Evan Louro (GK), Lucas Stauffer (Niko De Vera 90′), Kevin Politz, Ndam Hassan(C), Ethan Kutler, Chris Lima, Andrew Tinari, Jose Aguinaga, Andreas Ivan (Jared Stroud 58′), Anatole Abang (Tom Barlow 72′), Brian WhiteNew York Red Bulls II bench: Scott Levene (GK), Niko Ve Vera, Jordan Scarlett, Steven Echevarria, Jared Stroud, Amando Moreno, Tom Barlow

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8/31/18 US Star Clint Dempsey Retires, Indy 11 Tie Again Home Sat/Wed, Champ League Draw, Modric UEFA Player of Year, US Plays next Fri, Carmel FC Teams Win Tourneys

August 31, 2018August 31, 2018 gatorbest

Just 1 week short of the International break which features the US National Team returning to the field vs a loaded Brazil squad next Friday night at 7:30 pm on FS1, one of its biggest stars Clint Dempsey has decided to hang up the cleats. He will retire tied with Landon Donovan as the leading scorer in US Mens Soccer History with 57 goals. In my mind Dempsey and Donovan are the greatest American field players to ever lace them up. Of course Dempsey played more years in the EPL so maybe he gets the nod – certainly among the Euro Snobs I know. Dempsey’s story is well known from the trailer parks of Nagoches Texas (outside of Dallas) to the World’s Biggest League – the EPL and Fulham football club where his goal took them to the quarterfinals of the 2^nd largest club tourney in the world – the Europa League back in 2010. The next season his 29 goals for Fulham helped him finish 4^th in the voting for FA player of the year – YES an American finished 3^rd in scoring in the EPL in 2010 – AMAZING. He made me wake up early on weekends to watch the EPL – as he and US Forward Brian McBride, US defender Carlos Bocenegra and GK Kasey Keller formed FulhaAmerica. His exploits took him from MLS as a rookie at New England to the EPL, back to MLS as a super high paid star for the Seattle Sounders. Interestingly despite his goal scoring expertise it was in a year he was injured that Seattle won the MLS Title 2 seasons ago. Good luck You Great American Soccer Player Clint Dempsey – may the fish be always biting in your pond!!

Indy 11

So our Boys and Blue managed back-to-back ties this past week – the first a disappointing 1-1 draw on the Road after dominating Atlanta United 2 -the 2^nd one however was spectacular as they scored in the 94th minute to tie the Pittsburg Riverhounds at home last night 2-2. The 11 had 55 % possession and a 6 shots on goal to just 4 for Pittsburg – but it was last second goal by Jack McInerney his 2^nd on the night that kept them from dropping down the table in the playoff watch. The 11 stand in 6^th place with 41 points just 5 pts off 2^nd overall as they did not lose a game in the month of July. Our Boys in Blue return home this Sat night at 7 pm and Wed at 7 pm at the Luke – and of course discount tickets below $15 are available Click here for Discount Tickets for the Game and enter 2018 INDY as the promo code.

World

So Real Madrid star Luka Modric who carried his team to the World Cup Finals edged Cristiano Renaldo and Mohamed Salah in EUFA Player of the Year voting this year. Classic Sergio Ramos touching Salah’s shoulder on his return to his seat. Of course Renaldo’s bicycle goal for Real vs Juventus in the Final 4 of last year’s Champions League was voted goal of the year. On to the draw – interesting draw for the group stages that will be carried on Tues/Weds this season on TNT at both 1 pm and 3:30 pm. Liverpool got no favors as 2^nd place finishers last year as they get PSG and Napoli in their group. TNT’s production has been ah SUBPAR at best so far – but at least they are carrying the games. But the studio show is a joke with Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra and Stu Holden along with Hoops star Steve Nash and Fox host Kate Adobe in the most pathetic studio I have seen since my college days at UF.

EPL

Nothing like a 3-0 drubbing at home to turn the heat up on the Special One at Manchester United. As a longtime casual Man United fan who has literally stopped cheering for them because I hate Mourino – I think its great. This guy lost his touch 2 jobs ago and has no clue how to manage in 2018 in my opinion. While watching his team has never been fun – his Real Madrid team scored the fewest goals in the Madradista’s history while he was coach – now its just downright ridiculous. Sad times in this once proud franchises history. Time to make a change I think! Meanwhile Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and yes Watford continue to roll on – while Man City, Leicester, Everton and of course Arsenal have all dropped games. This weekend not much to watch as Man City vs New Castle United and US defender Yedlin at 12:30 pm on NBC is the best game to watch. Leicester and Liverpool will start the day Sat with a 7:30 am match on NBCSN as well.

American’s in Germany

So the German Bundesliga started last weekend and man was it fun to watch young Christian Pulisic both start and really have an impact on the game for the winning home side. He really takes guys on with his speed and footwork – reminds me of Landon Donovan (though Landon was stronger on the ball). Especially fun was Pulisic taking the corner kicks where he placed some really nice balls including an assist on a header for goal. Pulisic still needs to get stronger – I still think Dortmund is the place for him as the EPL might just chew him up and spit him out. He’s a technical player who often gets hacked and kicked not always getting the calls as he is so young. Either way it sure was fun to watch an American doing well on a Champions League quality team at home in front of the Great Yellow Wall. If you are a coach looking to get kids excited about soccer – have them start watching Dortmund games on Fox Sports 1 or 2 – the games are high scoring, the crowds ridiculous and Pulisic is something special. Dortmund travels to Hanover at 2:30 pm on Fox Sports 1, where former US left back Steve Cherundolo is coaching the U17 squad. I missed the battle of American’s Sat as US Center Back John Brooks scored the winning header for Wolfsburg vs Schlake and US Mid McKinney who played the entire game. Sat Brooks and Wolfsburg will host Bayern Leverkusen at 9:30 am on FS1, before Stutgart faces Bayern Munich at 12:30 on FS2. Sunday at noon on FS1 McKinney and Schalke travel to Hertha.

MLS

Atlanta United’s Martinez broke the record for goals in a MLS season (28 goals) with his sublime strike vs Orlando during a spellbounding Rivalry Week last week. The week of rivalries saw NYCFC and NY Red Bulls tie, LAFC & the LA Galaxy Tie 1-1 and Seattle take a huge victory at Portland on Sunday evening. With the playoffs just a couple weeks away key games like Wayne Rooney and DC United hosting Atlanta United Sunday night at 7 pm on FS1 will count more. ESPN+ gives us games with playoff implications as Columbus hosts NYCFC Sat at 8 pm on ESPN+ with 1^st round home field advantage at stake, meanwhile Carmel’s own Matt Hedges will lead Dallas vs Houston on ESPN+ Sat at 8 pm as Dallas looks to stay in the top 3. Finally Zlatan and the LA Galaxy will look to end a 5 game no win streak with their playoff lives on the line Sat night at 10 on ESPN+ vs Real Salt Lake. The US Ladies play Chile a double this week Fri night vs Chile 11 pm on ESPN2 and again vs Chile on Tues at 10 pm on ESPN2.

U15G

Coach Bill Spencer’s U15 & U14 Combo Team won the Jerry Yeagly Soccer Classic in Bloomington last weekend.

CFC -U13G — Congrats to Carmel FC 06 Girls Gold and coach Aaron Monk for winning the Club Ohio Fall Kickoff.

CFC_U15B GOLD — Congrats to John Barnes CFC U-15 Boys for finishing as Finalist in the Westside United MidWest Summer Classic this past weekend.

Indy 11

Indy 11 Score in 94^th Minute to Tie Pitt at Home

Indy 11 Gives up Late one in 1-1 tie with Atlanta

Football Lines will be Visible at Games with New Indy Colts Turf Installed

Indy 11 Discount Tickets for Sat’s Game! (Code 2018Indy)

Soccer Saturday – Radio Show 9-10 am on 1070 the Fan

Parking passes at Gate10 Events is $11 with advance purchase. $15 day of. Save $$$ by buying early.

INDY 11 GAMES

Sat Sept 1 7 pm Wish TV 8 Indy 11 vs Richmond Kickers

Wed Sept 5 7 pm Wish TV 8 Indy 11 vs NY Red Bulls II

USA

Dempsey Personified US Soccers Dream – Jeff Carlisle EPSNFC

Dempsey’s Career Legacy Go beyond Stats and #s – SI Brian Straus

Is Dempsey the Best Ever US Player ? Jeff Carlisle

Dempsey’s Top 5 moments for Club and Country – Matt Pentz ESPNFC

Seattle’s Sigi Schmid on Clint –he was Iconic!

USMNT’s Brooks scores for Wolfsburg in Bundesliga opener

Yedlin Assist to Own Goal for NewCastle

US Players Abroad – SBI

US Defender Geoff Cameron on loan to QPR from Stoke

US Striker Josh Sargent to Stay with Werder Bremen after scoring goal for u23s

Brazil to Bring Stars to Play US in NY Next Friday night

US Depth Chart GK & Defense – Matt Doyle MLS.com
WORLD

Luka Modric wins Player of Year over Ronaldo

Modric Deserved the Trophy over Ronaldo – Marcotti ESPNFC

The Ultimate Defender Sergio Ramos touches Salah’s Shoulder at Awards Ceremony

Champions League Draw

Tough Draws for EPL Teams – ESPNFC

Liverpool and PSG have tough draw with Napoli in the Group

VAR Might Come to Champions League by QuarterFinals this Year

European Wrap-up – SBI

Bayern Munich looks set to run away in Germany once again

EPL

Week 3 EPL What Did We Learn

Steps to Fix What’s Wrong at Man United – SI

US Yedlin goes from hero to Goat in Loss to Chelsea

Watch: Man City held at Wolves thanks to blatant handball goal

MLS

Atlanta United’s Martinez sets MLS single-season goal record

Comparing the #s on Martinez Scoring Record

Games of the Weekend – Crew and NYCFC & Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy

Power Rankings – Atlanta United on Top, NY Teams, Portland on Free Fall

Zlatan Sends Season Ticket Holders Message

Seattle on a 7 Game Tear down the Stretch

Clint Dempsey’s Legacy in Seattle Safe

GAMES ON TV

Fri, Aug 31

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Hanover (Bobby Woods) vs Dortmund (Pulisic)

2:30 pm ESPN+ Milan vs Roma

2:45 pm beIN Sport Lyonnaise vs Nice

11 pm ESPN2 US Ladies vs Chile (LA)

Sat, Sept 1

7:30 am NBCSN Leicester City vs Liverpool

9:30 am FS 1 Wolfsburg vs Bayern Leverkusen

9:30 am FS2 Frankfurt vs Werder Bremen ( )

10 am NBCSN Chelsea vs Bournemouth

11 am bEIN Sport Nimes vs PSG (Tim Weah)

12:30 pm NBCSN Man City vs New Castle United (Yedlin)

12:30 pm FS 2 Stutgart vs Bayern Munich

2:30 ESPN+? Parma vs Juventus

2:45 pm beIN Sport Real Madrid vs Leganes

7 pm Wish TV8 Indy 11 vs Richmond Kickers

Sun, Sept 2

8 am NBCSN Cardiff City vs Arsenal

9 am Fox Sport 1 RB Leipzig vs dusseldorf

11 am NBCSN Watford vs Tottenham

12n Fox Sports 1 Schalke (McKiney) vs Hertha

12:30 pm beIN Sport Barcelona vs Huesca

2:30 ESPN+ Sampandoria vs Napoli

7 pm Fox Sport1 DC United (Rooney) vs Atlanta United (Martinez)

Tues, Sept 4

10 pm ESPN2 US Ladies vs Chile (San Fran)

Weds, Sept 5

7 pm My Indy TV Indy 11 vs NY Red Bulls II

7 pm Yes Network NYCFC vs New England

Thurs, Sept 6

2:45 pm ESPN2 Germany vs France (Eufa Nations League)

Fri, Sept 7

2:45 pm ESPN2 Italy vs Poland (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm FS1? Scotland vs Belgium

7:30 pm FS1 USMNT vs Brazil (Metlife)

10 pm FS1? Mexico vs Uruguay

10 pm Lifetime Portland Thorns v Seattle Riegn (NWSL)

Sat, Sept 8

9 am ESPNews Northern Ireland vs Boznia

12 pm Switzerland vs Iceland (Eufa Nations League)

12 pm Finland vs Hungary (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm England vs Spain (Eufa Nations League)

Sun, Sept 9

12 pm ESPN News Bulgaria vs Norway (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm France vs Netherlands (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm ESPNnews Cypress vs Slovenia (Eufa Nations League)

Mon, Sept 10

2:45 pm Portugal vs Italy (Eufa Nations League)

2:45 pm ESPNews Sweden vs Turkey (Eufa Nations League)

Tues, Sept 11

2:45 pm ESPNews Spain vs Croatia (Eufa Nations League)

3 pm ?? England vs Switzerland

8 pm beIN Sport?? Colombia vs Argentina

8:30 pm ESPN USA vs Mexico in Nashville (anyone want to go?)

Weds, Sept 12

7 pm ESPN+ Penn vs Indy 11

Fri, Sept 14

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Dortmund (Pulisic) vs Frankfort

2:45 pm beIN Sport PSG (Weah) vs St Etienne

Sat, Sept 15

7:30 am NBCSN Tottenham vs Liverpool

9:30 am FS 1 Bayern Munich vs Bayern Leverkusen

12:30 pm NBC Watford vs Man United

12:30 pm Fox Soccer Mgladbach (Johnson) vs Schalke (McKinney)

Thurs, Oct 11

7:30 pm FSI USA vs Colombia (Tampa)

Thurs, Nov 15

3 pm ESPN2 England vs USA (Wembley)

Sat, Nov 20

3 pm ESPN2 Italy vs USMNT

Barcelona
Tottenham Hotspur
PSV Eindhoven
Inter Milan

Clint Dempsey personified U.S. soccer’s dream: developing creative players with attitude, swagger

The end has finally come for the man they call “Deuce”.Clint Dempsey, arguably the greatest player the U.S. has ever produced, announced on Wednesday that he has retired from professional soccer, effective immediately.”After a lot of thought, my family and I have decided that this is the right time for me to step away from the game,” said Dempsey. “I’d like to thank all of the teammates, coaches and support staff that I’ve worked with throughout my career. It has always been my dream to make it as a pro. I’m grateful to have been on this ride. I would like to thank all of the fans who have supported me throughout my career with the New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham, Seattle Sounders and the U.S. men’s national team. Y’all have always made me feel at home, and it is something that I will always remember.”The memories of his exploits will be etched in the minds of those who watched him. Dempsey’s career ends with 57 international goals, tied with Landon Donovan for the most in U.S. men’s national team history. He bagged another 154 at club level.But Dempsey’s legacy will go well beyond numbers. In a country where the hyper-regimented aspects of player development are bemoaned, Dempsey was every bit a product of the pickup games he played in his youth back in his hometown of Nacogdoches, Texas. Whenever Dempsey took the field, he offered the possibility — and at times the reality and pure joy — of the unexpected, a rarity from a U.S. player. As former U.S. manager Bruce Arena so eloquently put it, Dempsey’s had the ability to “try s—.” His delightful chip in the Europa League round of 16 for Fulham against Juventus, a goal that helped propel the Cottagers on their way to the 2010 final, is the most notable example.Sure, other U.S. players have enjoyed stellar careers both at home and abroad, but Dempsey’s ability and style spoke to the broader dreams for the sport in this country: that the U.S. could produce a creative player with attitude and swagger, one who could compete at the highest echelons of the sport. His “Deuce face” that he trotted out during a World Cup qualifying against Jamaica back in 2012 is the stuff of legend.And no matter how many times Dempsey was written off, he would rise up to the top again. For all of the goals Dempsey scored in the Premier League, it’s worth remembering that just about every manager he played for with either Fulham or Tottenham consigned him to the reserves at one point, only for him to prove himself again and again.”I’ve always been a competitive person, wanted to be on the field,” said Dempsey prior to a home World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago last year. “Yeah, it was frustrating when the managers would change, you’d go to the bench and try to work your way back into the team. But it makes you stronger.”With numerous U.S. players getting chewed up by the meat grinder that is the top leagues in Europe, the fans loved him for that resilience. It allowed the broader U.S. soccer community to puff its chest out a bit, and say, “See? We can produce a player like Clint.”Dempsey showed his fortitude in other ways, as well. The loss of his sister, Jennifer, to a brain aneurysm when he was just 12 fueled his competitive fire, and made him play every game like it was his last. A heart ailment back in 2016 nearly ended his career, yet he returned for both club and country. There was simply no keeping him down.Perhaps the most sobering aspect to Dempsey’s retirement, beyond no longer seeing him on the field, is the realization that he remains very much an outlier, at least in terms of U.S. attackers. He and Landon Donovan — the source of constant comparisons for much of his career — are the only ones in the conversation as the country’s greatest attacking player. Christian Pulisic has accomplished much already with Borussia Dortmund, but he still has a way to go to catch up to the exploits of Dempsey. Otherwise the cupboard of creative U.S. players remains bare.Of course, a big reason why Dempsey is so celebrated is that he was unique. All he wanted to do was score goals, spend time with his family and go fishing. Now he’ll have more time to enjoy the last two on that list.

Is Clint Dempsey the U.S. men’s national team’s greatest player ever?

6:53 PM ETESPN

With the news of Clint Dempsey’s retirement from professional soccer, ESPN FC turned to several of its U.S. soccer and MLS writers to ask whether the U.S. men’s national team’s joint-leading goal scorer is also its greatest player ever.

Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle)

Answering the question of whether Dempsey is the greatest U.S. men’s player isn’t as easy as it sounds. There have been a few goalkeepers — Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard — who have at least been Dempsey’s equal in terms of club career, and they give him a run for his money in terms of U.S. exploits, too. But scoring goals is the hardest part of the game, and for that reason Landon Donovan is the only other player who comes close to Dempsey. I think Dempsey did more with his club career and played at a higher level for longer, so when you look at what he accomplished for both club and country, you have to give him the nod as the greatest U.S. player ever.

Matt Pentz (@mattpentz)

I initially thought about pushing back against the premise of ranking something as inherently subjective as greatness, but what the heck, I’ll bite: Yes, with the qualifier that Dempsey is the greatest U.S. men’s national team outfield player of all time. In that specific conversation, it’s likely to boil down to Dempsey versus Donovan, the man with whom he will forever be tied with on the list of most prodigious American goal scorers. That debate is something of a matter of personal taste, but Dempsey’s time with Fulham in the Premier League — not just holding his own but starring in one of the world’s biggest leagues — edge him to the very top of my list.

Arch Bell (@ArchBell)

I do consider Dempsey to be the greatest U.S. men’s national team player of all time. The biggest stage in all of sport is the World Cup, and no U.S. player has delivered in that tournament like Dempsey did, scoring crucial goals in all three tournaments he played in. He also put the U.S. team on his back during its run to the 2016 Copa America Centenario semifinals with three goals. One must also take into account that he scored fewer goals from the penalty spot than Donovan and achieved that 57-goal mark in fewer games (136 total compared with Donovan’s 157). No doubt, he’s the best U.S. men’s player ever.

Noah Davis (@noahedavis)

Dempsey never seemed to care about our stats or our labels or our narratives. He cared about playing soccer his way, on his terms. That meant scoring goals — both in audacious, seemingly impossible ways and with scrappy efforts. He was a unique force in American soccer history, a creative attacking dynamo who grew up in a low-income family from the Texas hinterlands. Was Dempsey the greatest player in U.S. men’s national team soccer history? Who cares. I doubt he does. The program will never have another player like him — although it should strive as hard as it can to find many, many more. That’s all that matters.

Clint Dempsey’s Career, Legacy Go Well Beyond the Stats and NumberPauseMute

CThere will be no flashy farewell tour for American soccer’s foremost ambassador of confidence, clutch, skill and swagger. And for Clint Dempsey, that’s perfect.By BRIAN STRAUSAugust 29, 2018

The announcement was sudden, brief, and included a short statement of thanks that seemed somewhat boilerplate save for the tell-tale “y’all.” There was no soul-baring, one-on-one with a favorite broadcaster, and no weepy news conference—the sort where fellow greats and VIPs fill the room to enhance the occasion and pay their respects. There will be no farewell tour with gifts and video tributes from the opposition.That means it’s perfect. Leave the sentimentality and self-aggrandizement behind, and leave ‘em wanting more. Clint Dempsey retired Wednesday, effective Wednesday. Unvarnished to the last, the 35-year-old Seattle Sounders forward and U.S. national team icon simply and essentially hung a “gone fishin’” sign in his locker. He’ll let us figure out the rest.

And Dempsey left plenty to sort through as he exits the soccer stage almost as abruptly as he took it as a Revolution rookie back in 2004. His list of achievements is long and historic. Dempsey is a three-time U.S. Soccer player of the year, the co-leading scorer in senior national team history and the only American man to strike at three consecutive World Cups. He set a new standard for Yanks abroad, where he twice was named Fulham’s player of the season en route to becoming the top U.S.-born marksman in Premier League annals.

He won three Concacaf Gold Cups and the Bronze Ball at the ’09 Confederations Cup, where he scored in both the semifinal and final. And he mastered a moment like no player before or since, crafting indelible, viral images that captured the collective imagination, personified American ambition and left press conferences and farewell tours unnecessary.That last part, truly, is where Dempsey excelled. The man who shares the U.S. goal scoring record, Landon Donovan, was a more well-rounded footballer. Donovan was a better athlete and a more effective playmaker, and he could impact or shape a game in a greater number of ways. But while there was a sense for many that Donovan hadn’t plumbed the depths of his talent, that he could be somehow distracted or diverted, Dempsey attacked everything with vigor. For that, he’s more beloved. His story read like a classic American tall tale, in which the will and creativity leading to fame and fortune were forged by those three-hour drives to training, financial challenges, family tragedy and so many pick-up games in the East Texas dust.“There’s a few differences between me and Landon. I didn’t get started until late. I didn’t get started until I was 20. I turned 21 in my first MLS season, in March,” Dempsey said in 2012. “It’s always been a race against time, really, for me. It’s kind of my mentality, to make up for lost time. That hasn’t changed. That’s why I continue to push myself every year. I want to do something really special in my life. Not that we haven’t done special things already, but something really special, you know?”So Dempsey (and his parents) pushed himself to youth games in Dallas, over his sister’s untimely death and through Furman University, to MLS and England, and then past the heart trouble that nearly ended his career in 2016. He did so with unapologetic swagger and ultimate confidence, as each measure of success helped strengthen him for the next step.American soccer yearned for that—someone who refused to accept defeat, someone for whom all things were possible, someone who was resilient and unbowed and cowed by nothing. Dempsey ignored cultural and competitive boundaries. And he confronted every challenge and every defender with the desperation of someone with everything to lose, combined with the fearlessness of someone with nothing. His uncanny knack for finding that balance, along with that legendary swagger, manifested itself in unforgettable images, from “Deuce Face” and that jaw-dropping Europa League chip against Juventus, to his post-goal roar against Ghana in Natal and his assault on a referee’s notebook in Tukwila.He doesn’t need the staged photo-ops now. His whole career was an organic, authentic photo-op. And while he didn’t seek out press or any extra attention, he wasn’t shy about reminding you where he’d been and what he’d accomplished. If there ever was a U.S. forward who could tell you how many goals he’d scored on a Saturday wearing white in the rain, it was Dempsey. He didn’t have to pause and think to recall his honors or stats. They were purchased with blood, sweat and tears, and his pride in past achievements strengthened his resolve and fueled his hunger for more.He bemoaned the headwinds created by managerial turnover abroad, and the perception there of U.S. players. There were times when he grew frustrated by criticism. But he always fought through it, and did so with a blunt, human charisma admired by many. Not everyone could get away with the rap videos, or fishing talk or aloof hustles through the mixed zone. They’d be affectations coming from others. But Dempsey somehow made it work. When he was surly or combative, it was just Clint being Clint. He was still cool. Dempsey was even cool when he missed—he’d have the national team record to himself if he’d converted that penalty in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico in 2013. But, hey, “dos a cero.” A lot of people figured he must’ve missed on purpose.Dempsey, painfully, also would have the U.S. record if his shot in Trinidad hadn’t hit the post last October. Even Deuce wasn’t allowed to fashion his own ending. He missed Seattle’s 2016 MLS Cup triumph with the heart issue and had an eventful 2017, winning the league’s Comeback Player of the Year award, then enjoying a strong playoff run with the Sounders before a poor showing in the final. His national team year featured a Gold Cup triumph and four qualifying goals, but concluded with that stunning setback in Couva. This year, age and injury limited him to nine starts and one goal. He knew it was time.“After a lot of thought, my family and I have decided that this is the right time for me to step away from the game,” Dempsey said in his Wednesday statement. “I’d like to thank all of the teammates, coaches and support staff that I’ve worked with throughout my career. It has always been my dream to make it as a pro. I’m grateful to have been on this ride. I would like to thank all of the fans who have supported me throughout my career with the New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham, Seattle Sounders and the U.S. men’s national team. Y’all have always made me feel at home, and it is something that I will always remember.”nd he will always be remembered. Speaking to SI.com on Wednesday, U.S. coach Dave Sarachan said, “If you take the categories of a player—speed, power, agility, endurance—Clint wouldn’t win a lot of those categories. But it didn’t matter, because at the end of the day, he was so clinical in his approach to the game and his finishing ability.“He was his own guy as a striker, as a player, and he offered such a unique skill set. From day one, back when we were looking at him as a prospect for the draft and all the way through his career, the thing you’d always say—and our good friend and former [USA] assistant Mooch Myernick would always say—‘He just tries s-*-*-t.’ He can pull off plays in such a unique way, and his record speaks for itself, whether he’s playing in MLS or overseas. He’ll go down really as one of the best in U.S. soccer history.”Dempsey would remind you of his resume, but his career and charisma clearly added up to a whole lot more than that. He is American soccer’s foremost ambassador of confidence and clutch, skill and swagger, and for the foreseeable future, he’ll be its most compelling story.

One Clint Dempsey goal changed the way I thought about American soccer players

When Dempsey announced his retirement, the first thing I thought about was THAT GOAL against Juventus.

By Nate Scott @aNateScott Aug 29, 2018, 4:20pm EDT

It was the second leg of a Europa League competition between Fulham and Juventus, and American star Clint Dempsey — who retired from soccer on Wednesday with a simple Instagram post — had subbed into the game with less than 20 minutes remaining.Fulham and Juventus were miraculously tied on aggregate after a huge Fulham comeback, and with less than 10 minutes remaining, midfielder Dickson Etuhu played a bouncing ball up to the American. Dempsey, who had just substituted in for Fulham, took it out of the air well enough. One touch to settle away from the defense, then one touch on the right edge of the box. He snuck a glance at the net, saw that Juventus keeper Antonio Chimenti had drifted off his line. Then Dempsey chopped down with his right foot, and the ball sailed into the air, toward the back post.Craven Cottage, as one, held its breath. Was he? Could he be?Chimenti looked up and knew there was nothing to be done. The ball touched the post, then fell into the net. The stadium exploded. He had done it.

It feels wildly reductive to try and sum up a career as spectacular as Dempsey’s into one moment, but I promise it is done in good faith. There will be countless words written this week about his upbringing in Texas, the tragic death of his sister — a nationally ranked tennis player — at the age of 16, and how her death both allowed Dempsey to pursue his soccer dream and fueled him to achieve what no other American had ever achieved in the game before.There will be thoughts on his college career at Furman, his breakthrough in MLS with the New England Revolution, his amazing run late in his career with Seattle Sounders, his tenure with Tottenham Hotspur as well as Fulham in the Premier League. There should be books written about what he meant to the USMNT over the years, how he was quietly their most creative player and an important leader for the better part of a decade.But I want to talk about that goal. Let’s talk about that goal.

First, you need to understand the context. It was 2010. Clint Dempsey’s Fulham was playing Juventus in the Europa League. The tournament, the Champions League’s little brother, was a slight step down for a giant Juventus side in a rut and a cosmic leap forward for tiny Fulham, who were playing in their first European competition ever after sneaking into the Europa League thanks to a better-than-average Premier League season the year prior.Juventus were a world class club, and in the first match of the two-leg tie looked like it, winning 3-1 at home. The following game looked like a formality for the Italian side, and when David Trezeguet scored for Juventus in the second minute, it looked over. They had a 4-1 aggregate lead and an away goal. It was done.Then, in the 26th minute, Juventus star defender Fabio Cannavaro was issued a red card for a hard foul on Zoltan Gera. Playing up a man, Fulham scored. Then they scored again. And again. It was 3-1, and Juventus looked lost. Craven Cottage, Fulham’s small, old stadium by the Thames River, was rocking. Then, in the 71st minute, Clint Dempsey subbed on. And 11 minutes later he decided to chip a shot to the back post.

It’s tempting to just remember the goal for how important it was. The fact that it gave Fulham a win and catapulted them on a Europa League run that ended in a 2-1 loss in the final to Atletico Madrid.But we should also just appreciate the goal for what it was. Forget the context. Just watch it. There’s that first touch. Then the audacity. The chip is impressive, yes. But it’s the fact that he tried it, that he even thought to try it, that makes the goal so special.Some say it was an accident. A cross gone awry. To those people I say: Get the hell out of my article. Go on. Git. It wasn’t a cross. It was never a cross. He meant to do that.He meant to do that because that is what Clint Dempsey was. That shot is exactly what made him special, what separated him from so many Americans who came before him.Bruce Arena once said, lovingly, that Clint Dempsey was the type of player who “tries shit.” It sounds silly, but in the soccer world, I promise you it’s high praise. It meant that Dempsey was unafraid. He had vision. He had creativity. He was willing to make a fool of himself, something true of most great artists. He wasn’t content to make the right play. He wanted to make something beautiful.There are precious few American soccer players in our history who have been guys who were unafraid to try shit. Claudio Reyna tried shit. Nowadays, Christian Pulisic will try shit. Darlington Nagbe sometimes will. It’s a short list, something special and rare in this country. Soccer games are often rote affairs, players making the right decision over and over again, or trying to make the right decision and failing to.Sometimes, to break open a game, or to beat a team like Juventus, you need to make the wrong decision. You need to try some shit.

I’ve made the argument before that this goal was a tipping point in how Europeans viewed American soccer players. I’m not so sure that’s true now. Dempsey had been doing good work for Fulham for awhile when he scored that goal. Before him at the club, Brian McBride was a club hero. Americans had succeeded in the Premier League, even outside the goalkeeper position, and plenty of knowledgeable fans knew that.Dempsey’s goal didn’t convince Europeans that Americans could play soccer. Rather, I think it convinced a lot of Americans that Americans could play soccer. Here was one of our own, playing against Italian giants, and he had produced that. It was a moment of validation, of inspiration.Dempsey wasn’t some cliche of a soccer player, either. He was a kid from Texas who liked rap music and fishing and, in this game at least, had a black eye, and he had created a moment of beauty we never thought possible. For me, at least — an American soccer fan and Fulham nut who had grown up watching and playing in thousands of games — it’s the single most memorable and important goal in my life. It re-defined, for me, what I thought an American could do on a soccer field.

If you will indulge me, and go back to play the video a second time, I implore you not to watch, but rather to listen to the crowd as Dempsey shoots the ball. The murmur of the crowd goes dead as he puts his right foot through it. Pure silence. It lasts maybe a quarter of a second. Seriously, go listen. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. No one makes a sound.As it sails to the back post, you can hear as part of the crowd begins to understand what is happening. There’s a sharp inhalation. Had he? He couldn’t have … Then the ball hits the post. Another half moment, as a stadium processes it in real time, then the release.Four thousand miles away, in a dingy living room in New Orleans, the replay of the goal was playing on a loop on my laptop, fed from a grainy, illegal stream. There was no one around to watch it, though. I was already a half block away, running down the middle of street, surely freaking out my neighbors as I raised my fists to the sky and screamed the man’s name.

Sigi Schmid reflects on Clint Dempsey’s career: “He was iconic”

August 30, 20186:58PM EDTScott FrenchContributorCARSON, Calif. – Sigi Schmid praised Clint Dempsey’s “phenomenal career” and said it was “a privilege” to coach the American soccer icon with Seattle Sounders FC.Schmid, in charge of the Sounders when Dempsey joined the club in 2013 following eight seasons in England, called Dempsey “a fantastic player” who “deserved all the accolades he’s getting” following the LA Galaxy’s training session Thursday morning at StubHub Center.Dempsey, 35, announced Wednesday he was retiring from the game following a career in which he starred for two MLS clubs, made a massive imprint with Fulham in the English Premier League, and equaled Landon Donovan’s US national team record 57 goals, in 141 caps over 13 years.“He was iconic in the sense of he was the one guy who had really broken through [in Europe],” Schmid said. “Claudio Reyna had sort of broken through, and there’s guys like [Carlos] Bocanegra, but he was the one forward, along with [Brian] McBride, who had sort of broken through in Europe.“I think that was important, because that helped establish that, hey, Americans can play. And I think that opened the door for some other players to get over there later. Fulham, obviously, added some Americans [such as] Eddie Johnson [and brought in] players that played in MLS, like a Simon Elliott.”Dempsey scored 60 goals in 232 games over seven seasons with Fulham, twice winning club MVP honors, and added 12 more in 43 games with Tottenham. He returned to MLS in 2013, and the next year teamed with Obafemi Martins to lead the Sounders to the Supporters’ Shield with the first 20-win MLS season – and just one of two in all – in the post-shootout era.“I think him and Obafemi Martins, the year that they played together, it was magical,” Schmid, who coached Dempsey in Seattle from 2013 until his dismissal during the 2016 season, said. “It was the best two-tandem forwards I had ever coached, because they were just instinctually … it was like watching kids on the playground.”Dempsey, MLS’s Comeback Player of the Year last season after returning from a heart condition that forced him to miss the Sounders’ run to the 2016 MLS Cup title, retires as joint regular-season goals leader for Seattle with Fredy Montero, with 47. He also tallied six times in the playoffs for the Sounders – three last year to lead them into their second successive MLS Cup final – and finishes with 72 regular-season MLS goals in 186 games.He’s the only American male to score in three World Cups and his four World Cup goals for the USMNT are bettered only by Donovan’s five. He also scored three goals to lead the US to the 2009 Confederations Cup final, one of them in the 2-0 semifinal upset of Spain.“When you look at the goals he scored in World Cups and Confederations Cups,” Schmid said, “sometimes we wouldn’t have achieved what we did as a country without his goals.”Dempsey commonly is pitted against Donovan in the debate for the greatest American soccer player, and Schmid said he tries to “avoid those debates.”“For me,” he said, “that’s why Mount Rushmore has more than one face on it.”

USMNT’s Yedlin giveth and taketh away in wild finish to Chelsea’s win over Newcastle

For about 75 minutes, Chelsea’s visit to Newcastle United was as dull as could be. Then things really heated up over the last quarter of an hour — especially for U.S. international DeAndre Yedlin.Yedlin provided the assist that tied the game in the 83rd minute, but his own goal in the 87th ultimately sunk Newcastle and allowed Chelsea to win 2-1, the Blues’ first win at St. James’ Park in nearly seven years.Newcastle set up in a defensive shell, hoping to limit the damage of the more talented visitors. Yedlin in particular had a steep challenge at right back trying to contain superstar Eden Hazard and fullback Marcos Alonso, who loves to bomb forward down the left flank.Alonso drew a penalty in the 76th minute when he blew past Fabian Schär, forcing the Newcastle defender to scissor-tackle him from behind in the box. Hazard buried the ensuing penalty to give Chelsea its breakthrough.It took the Magpies less than 10 minutes to equalize. Yedlin won a ball in the air down the right side and whipped in a cross that Newcastle striker Joselu buzzed off his head and into the back of the net:There was a shout of controversy from Chelsea, as it appeared Yedlin elbowed Olivier Giroud in the face in the process of winning the ball. But no call was given and the goal stood.

Yedlin and Newcastle’s happiness turned to heartbreak shortly after, when Alonso fired a shot across the penalty area that appeared to be going wide before Yedlin’s reflexes betrayed him and he nudged the ball into his own net:Newcastle has a solitary point through three Premier League fixtures so far this season, a scoreless draw at Cardiff City last weekend. The other two games have been against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, however, so the schedule has been tough. Yedlin himself escaped what could have been a serious injury in the opener against Spurs.Chelsea, meanwhile, now sits joint-top of the table with Liverpool and Watford, trailing Liverpool only on goal difference. The Blues have varied from impressive to simply resilient thus far under new manager Maurizio Sarri.On Sunday, luck played the determining factor — good luck for Chelsea, and bad luck for one of the USMNT’s best players.Joey Gulino is the editor of FC Yahoo and moonlights as a writer. Follow him on Twitter at @JGulinoYahoo.

All the stars: Brazil call strong squad to face USMNT at MetLife

August 17, 201812:41PM EDTTom BogertContributor

It will not be an easy start to the 2022 World Cup cycle for the US men’s national team. The US will face Brazil at MetLife Stadium on September 7 and after being knocked out in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup, Brazil is bringing all their stars to New Jersey.razil announced their squad and it includes the likes of Neymar, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Casemiro, Thiago Silva and more. Of the players selected, 13 were on Brazil’s World Cup roster.The match against Brazil is the first of the US’ Kickoff Series, intended to prepare the US for the next cycle of World Cup qualifiers. After Brazil, USA will play Mexico on Sept. 11, in Nashville, Tennessee. They then face Colombia on Thursday, Oct. 11, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa as well as another opponent during October that has yet to be determined. After that, it’s a match against England at Wembley Stadium in London on Thursday, Nov. 15. before visiting Italy on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at a venue still to be determined.The United States are yet to announce their roster for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Mexico. All friendlies will take place during FIFA international windows, meaning that the technical staff could call upon their first-choice group of players.

Luka Modric named UEFA Player of the Year ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah

1:38 PM ETESPN

Real Madrid’s Luka Modric has edged out Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah to win the 2017-18 UEFA Player of the Year award.Modric’s excellent season at the Bernabeu was recognised at the Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on hand to present the prize to the Croatia international.Thursday’s win caps off a stellar 12 months for the 32-year-old, who also won the Golden Ball for his performances in helping Croatia finish as runners-up at the World Cup in Russia.Modric’s was one of many for Real Madrid on a trophy-laden night, with Blancos custodian Keylor Navas named as UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season ahead of Gigi Buffon and Alisson, Sergio Ramos recognised as the Defender of the Season over teammates Marcelo and Raphael Varane, Modric winning Midfielder of the Season ahead of Kevin De Bruyne and Toni Kroos, and Ronaldo pipping Lionel Messi and Salah to the Forward of the Season award.UEFA also named the Women’s Player of the Year at the ceremony, with Wolfsburg’s Pernille Harder beating Lyon duo Ada Hegerberg and Amandine Henry to the top prize.David Beckham was also recognised on the night, receiving the 2018 UEFA President’s Award from Ceferin for his “outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities,” while San Jose Earthquakes defender Guram Kashia won the inaugural #EqualGame award for his support of the LGBTQ community last season.

What you need to know about the UEFA Champions League group stage draw

Cristiano Ronaldo gets to play Manchester United again, Liverpool got screwed, and Group A is a hipster paradise.

By Kim McCauley @lgbtqfc Aug 30, 2018, 1:29pm EDT

32 teams learned their fate in the UEFA Champions League group stage draw on Thursday, and some are happier with their path to the knockout stage than others. The likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid will be thrilled that they have simple paths to a top seed and a quarterfinal appearance. Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Juventus and Manchester United will be less thrilled.

Here’s how the draw shook out and what you need to know.

Must watch: Ronaldo vs. United

Cristiano Ronaldo has faced off against his former club just once in the UEFA Champions League, in the Round of 16 in 2013. He knocked them out of the competition too, scoring in both legs. It’ll be exciting to see him grace the Old Trafford pitch again, and just like in 2013, he’ll be expected to get the better of the club where he became a star. Juventus and United will play twice, with the exact dates still TBA.

Toughest: Group C

Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool might have both been strongly favored to win their groups in a different draw. 538 has both rated as top-7 teams in the world. They’ll not only have to deal with each other, but also with Napoli, who retained all of its key players after giving Juventus a run for its money in Serie A last season. Someone is going to be very bitter when they get knocked out, and will become the instant favorite to win the Europa League.

Runner up: Group B

While not as top-heavy as Group C, Group B does not have a weak link like Red Star. Instead, all three of the teams below Barcelona will feel like they can fight for second place. Tottenham Hotspur is the favorite, but Inter Milan added big names like Radja Nainggolan, Stefan de Vrij, Sime Vrsaljko and Keita Balde this summer. PSV held onto “Chucky” Hirving Lozano despite interest from bigger clubs, and he’s scoring at will in the Netherlands. No one will have an easy game in this group.

Hipster’s choice: Group A

If you’re more interested in up-and-coming stars and fun games than big names, Group A is where it’s at. Atlético Madrid might have its strongest squad ever, Christian Pulisic is still balling for Borussia Dortmund, and AS Monaco has reinvested the Kylian Mbappe money into a slew of entertaining young talents.

LOL: Group D

A couple years ago, UEFA changed the draw rules to give automatic Pot 1 placements to the champions of the top seven leagues. The seventh best league in Europe is the Russian Premier League, and its champion is Lokomotiv Moscow, who doesn’t have an impressive recent history in this competition. They got lucky in the draw too, so two of Lokomotiv, Porto, Schalke and Galatasaray are guaranteed to make the round of 16. If none of those teams makes the quarterfinals, expect increased calls for serious changes to the Champions League group stage.

UEFA Champions League groups

Group A

Atlético Madrid
Borussia Dortmund
AS Monaco
Club Brugge

Group B

Group C

Paris Saint-Germain
Napoli
Liverpool
Red Star Belgrade

Group D

Lokomotiv Moskow
FC Porto
Schalke 04
Galatasaray

Group E

Bayern Munich
Benfica
Ajax
AEK Athens

Group F

Manchester City
Shakhtar Donetsk
Olympique Lyonnais
Hoffenheim

Group G

Real Madrid
AS Roma
CSKA Moscow
Viktoria Plzen

Group H

Juventus
Manchester United
Valencia
Young Boys

Manchester United face difficult task; Liverpool may have to settle for second finds it tough to choose Man United to advance from Group H, noting the current negative climate of the club. (1:44)

3:15 PM ETMark OgdenSenior Writer, ESPN FC

The 2018-19 Champions League group stage, which begins next month, will more than a few several eye-catching games after Thursday’s draw pitted some of Europe’s biggest clubs against each other.Group H sees a reunion for Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba with Manchester United and Juventus respectively, while last season’s finalists Liverpool face a difficult task against Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade. Barcelona, meanwhile, have been drawn with Tottenham and Inter.ERTISEMENT

Elsewhere, holders Real Madrid — aiming for a fourth successive title — will be happy with their draw, as will English champions Manchester City and German title holders Bayern.With the group stage mapped out, who will make it through and keep alive their dream of lifting the European Cup in Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium next June?

Group A: Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, Brugge

Who will go through? 1. Atletico Madrid; 2. Borussia Dortmund

Europa League holders Atletico Madrid will be desperate to win this season’s Champions League due to the final being staged at their stadium in the Spanish capital, but Diego Simeone’s team have been handed a tough start.

Atletico, who have reached three finals and lost each time, won the UEFA Super Cup earlier this month and will be favourites to top the group and expect to leave the rest fighting for runners-up spot.

However, Borussia Dortmund have a strong European pedigree, while Monaco’s recent Champions League performances make them a dangerous opponent. Brugge’s best hope will be to snatch third and a place in the Europa League.

Group B: Barcelona, Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven, Inter

Who will go through? 1. Barcelona; 2. Tottenham

The group has serious pedigree, but beyond the names and history of the clubs involved, should ultimately see both Barcelona and Tottenham progress comfortably.

Barca will be favourites to qualify as winners — Ernesto Valverde’s team still possess awesome firepower in the form of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele — but Spurs showed last season, when topping their group ahead of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, that they can beat the best on the big stage.

Dutch champions PSV will do well to finish in the top two under new coach Mark van Bommel. Inter are some distance from repeating their 2010 Champions League success and are likely to find life tough under Despite Group C consisting of PSG, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade, Paul Mariner feels Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have enough to finish atop the group.

Group C: Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade

Who will go through? 1. Paris Saint-Germain; 2. Liverpool

Liverpool were fearful of a tough group after being placed in Pot Three and their nightmare became reality as Jurgen Klopp’s men were paired with PSG and Napoli.

PSG, with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Edinson Cavani in their ranks, will be favourites for first place and Napoli, under Carlo Ancelotti, have the ability to beat anyone. As such, while Liverpool’s run to the final last season will give them belief, it will be tough for the five-time European champions to make the knockout stages.

Red Star Belgrade, European Cup winners way back in 1991, have qualified for the Champions League group stage for the first time, but the Serbian champions can expect to be left behind in a three-way battle for qualification.

Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto, Schalke, Galatasaray

Who will go through? 1. Schalke; 2. Porto

This group might lack box-office glamour, but it gives each participant a clear route into the knockout stages.

Porto are the only former Champions League winners among the four teams, but their meek surrender against Liverpool in last season’s Round of 16 — Jurgen Klopp’s team won 5-0 at Estadio do Dragao — will give Lokomotiv, Schalke and Galatasaray confidence that they can overcome the Portuguese champions.

Schalke, runners-up to Bayern Munich in last season’s Bundesliga, will be favourites to top the group, but this one is wide open.

Group E: Bayern Munich, Benfica, Ajax, AEK Athens

Who will go through? 1. Bayern Munich; 2. AEK Athens

Bayern will expect to cruise into the Round of 16 and it will take a momentous shock for the German champions to miss out. They remain a formidable force under new coach Nico Kovac, but the battle for second ensures Group E will be one of the most unpredictable.

Benfica’s Champions League experience will count in their favour, but Ajax’s squad retains several of the players who were part of the club’s run to the 2017 Europa League final, so Erik ten Hag’s men cannot be discounted.

And AEK Athens, having won their domestic title for the first time last season since 1993-94, have displayed durability by overcoming Celtic and Videoton to reach the group stages; they go yet go further.

Group F: Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon, Hoffenheim

Who will go through? 1. Manchester City; 2. Shakhtar Donetsk

Manchester City’s ambition to win the Champions League will not have been dented by this draw, which has handed Pep Guardiola’s team a straightforward route through.

Although Shakhtar Donetsk inflicted City’s first defeat last season, the Premier League champions will not fear any of their opponents. Lyon and Hoffenheim, making their first appearance at this stage, will be difficult opponents, but City have the ability to finish top with a 100 percent record.

If you are looking for drama, the race for the runners-up spot is likely to be the only source of excitement, with Shakhtar’s recent pedigree giving them the edge.

Group G: Real Madrid, Roma, CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen

Who will go through? 1. Real Madrid; 2. Roma

With two of last season’s semifinalists — Real Madrid and Roma — the battle for top spot and the race for third are likely to be the tale of this group.

Real will be strong favourites to finish first, but Roma’s incredible quarterfinal elimination of Barcelona last term ensures that the Madrid giants will be wary of their trip to the Stadio Olimpico. However, neither club should fear elimination at this stage with CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen making up the numbers in the group.

The big question from the Real vs. Roma games will focus upon how much the reigning European champions will miss the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, following his summer sale to Juventus. Even without him, though, Real should cruise.

Group H: Juventus, Manchester United, Valencia, Young Boys

Who will go through? 1. Juventus; 2. Valencia

Cristiano Ronaldo facing Manchester United with Juventus, for whom United’s Paul Pogba used to play, will be the main draw, but the reality is that the two clubs and Valencia will be locked in a three-way fight for qualification.

Juventus, serial Italian champions and beaten finalists in two of the last four Champions League deciders, will be the team to beat, while United’s unpredictability under Jose Mourinho means the three-time European champions will be vulnerable vs. Valencia. United’s record against Spanish opposition is historically poor: Sevilla eliminated them in the Round of 16 last season.

Making up the numbers are Swiss outfit Young Boys, who have the ability to take points off their rivals and could take advantage of any complacency by snatching third spot. This, though, is a tough group to call.

Americans Abroad Weekend Rewind: Romain Gall, John Brooks, and more

By: Larry Henry Jr. | August 26, 2018 11:55 pm ET

American midfielder Romain Gall needed four matches to etch his name on Malmo’s scoresheet, as the 23-year-old bagged two goals on Sunday for the club.Gall helped Malmo to a 5-0 demolition against Sirius at Swedbank Stadion which propelled the team to fourth in the Allsvenskan. His first goal came in the 66th-minute as he slid home to double his side’s lead. Gall would double his tally on the afternoon, scoring from a tough angle in the 72nd-minute. Malmo would add a pair of late goals to ice the strong performance in front of their home fans. As for Gall, he will hope to put in similar shifts for his side, who are next in action this week in Europa League qualifying.Elsewhere, John Brooks registered a goal in his 100th Bundesliga appearance as Wolfsburg downed Schalke. Weston McKennie started and played 90 minutes on the other end of that match. Christian Pulisic started and helped Borussia Dortmund to a dominant opening day win at home.DeAndre Yedlin registered an assist for Newcastle, but saw an own-goal go off his leg in the Magpies loss to Chelsea. Mix Diskerud scored his first goal for South Korean side Ulsan Hyundai in their lopsided win over FC Seoul. Brendan Hines-Ike also registered his first point for Belgium outfit Kortrijk in their road success.Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:

France

LIGUE 1

Matt Miazga started and played 90 minutes in Nantes 1-1 draw with Caen on Saturday.

Timothy Weah did not dress in PSG 3-1 win over Angers on Saturday.

Theoson-Jordon Siebatcheu came off the bench and played 21 minutes in Rennes 2-2 draw with Marseille on Sunday.

England

PREMIER LEAGUE

Tim Ream did not dress in Fulham’s 4-2 win over Burnley on Sunday.

Danny Williams did not dress in Huddersfield Town’s 0-0 draw with Cardiff City on Saturday.

DeAndre Yedlin started, registered ONE assist, conceded ONE own goal, and played 90 minutes in Newcastle United’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Sunday.

EFL CHAMPIONSHIP

Antonee Robinson started and played 90 minutes in Wigan Athletic’s 1-0 loss to QPR on Saturday.

Gboly Ariyibi did not dress in Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham City on Saturday.

Eric Lichaj started and played 90 minutes in Hull City’s 2-0 loss to Stoke City on Saturday.

Geoff Cameron did not dress for Stoke City.

Duane Holmes did not dress in Derby County’s 2-0 win over Preston North End on Saturday.

EFL LEAGUE ONE

Lynden Gooch started, registered ONE assist, and played 90 minutes in Sunderland’s 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Germany

BUNDESLIGA

Chris Richards did not dress in Bayern Munich’s 3-1 win over Hoffenheim on Friday.

John Brooks started, scored ONE goal, and played 90 minutes in Wolfsburg’s 2-1 win over Schalke on Saturday.

Weston McKennie started and played 90 minutes for Schalke.

Aron Johannsson did not dress in Werder Bremen;s 1-1 draw with Hannover on Saturday.

Bobby Wood did not dress for Hannover.

Timmy Chandler did not dress in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2-0 win over Freiburg on Saturday.

Caleb Stanko did not dress for Freiburg.

Fabian Johnson started, scored ONE goal, and played 83 minutes in Borussia Monchengladbach’s 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Alfredo Morales started and played 90 minutes in Fortuna Dusseldorf’s 2-1 loss to Augsburg on Saturday.

Christian Pulisic started and played 77 minutes in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-1 win over RB Leipzig on Sunday.

2. BUNDESLIGA

Terrence Boyd dressed but did not play in Darmstadt’s 3-0 win over Duisburg on Friday.

McKinze Gaines did not dress for Darmstadt.

Joe Gyau came off the bench and played 21 minutes for Duisburg.

Andrew Wooten came off the bench and played 24 minutes in Sandhausen’s 1-0 loss to Bochum on Friday.

Brady Scott did not dress in Koln’s 3-1 win over Erzgebirge Aue on Saturday.

Julian Green started and played 88 minutes in Greuther Furth’s 2-2 draw with Paderborn on Saturday.

REGIONALIGA

Josh Sargent started, scored ONE goal, and played 90 minutes in Werder Bremen II’s 2-0 win over Drochtersen/Assel on Sunday.

Jonathan Klinsmann did not dress in Hertha Berlin II’s 4-2 win over Viktoria Berlin on Sunday.

Mexico

LIGA MX

Omar Gonzalez started and played 90 minutes in Atlas’ 1-0 loss to Guadalajara on Friday.

Jose Torres came off the bench and played 27 minutes in Puebla’s 2-0 loss to Pachuca on Saturday.

Alejandro Guido, Rubio Rubin dressed but did not play in Club Tijuana’s 1-0 loss to Veracruz on Saturday.

Ventura Alvarado started and played 90 minutes in Necaxa’s 1-1 draw with Tigres on Saturday.

Eduardo Fernandez did not dress for Tigres.

Joe Corona dressed but did not play in Club America’s 2-2 draw with Pumas on Saturday.

Michael Orozco started and played 90 minutes in Lobos’ 2-0 loss to Queretaro on Sunday.

William Yarborough dressed but did not play in Club Leon’s 2-1 win over Toluca on Sunday.

RECAP | INDY ELEVEN BREAK EVEN IN LATE DRAW AGAINST PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC, 2-2

By James Higdon, 08/30/18, 12:15AM EDT

The “Boys in Blue” extend unbeaten streak to seven

Indy Eleven extend its unbeaten streak to seven matches in a late draw versus a 10-man Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 2-2. A brace from “Boys in Blue” forward Jack McInerney brings his goal count to nine on the season and a 3W-0L-4D record in the last seven fixtures.

Indy captured the lead in the fourth minute of play. Eleven midfielder Matt Watson bullied the ball from Riverhouds defender Andrew Lubahn in Indy’s defensive half to lob the ball forward. McInerney masterfully brought down the high ball 20 yards out from goal and beat Riverhounds goalkeeper Michael Kirk off his line for a shot at the open goal. McInerney almost caught Kirk off his line again two minutes later with a shot near the center line, but the ball bounced wide of the far post for an opposition goal kick.

“I think one of the things we forget with Jack McInerney is that by the age of about 23, he had scored around 50 goals in the MLS, or Concacaf, or Open Cup,” said Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie. “He had a spell where he didn’t get to play too much. He was behind some fantastic player, not anything he was doing wrong. So when he came here it was a little bit of a rebuilding job for him and for us. Now, he’s doing what I think we all know he can do, which is score goals.”Riverhouds continued a highly possessive game in the midfield in an attempt to open up Indy’s backline, but it was a stoppage-time goal that brought the evening level for the first time. Riverhounds were awarded a free kick in the 47th minute at the edge of Indy’s 18-yard box following a heavy tackle by defender Karl Ouimette. A minute later, Pittsburgh midfielder Christiano Francois played an in-swinging ball for defender Joe Greenspan to head down past Eleven keeper Owain Fon Williams. The goal was Greenspan’s first of 2018.Riverhounds took the lead 14 minutes after the break. In similar fashion to Indy’s opening goal, Francois beat Fon Williams’ off his line almost 20 yards out from goal after gaining possession of the loose ball.The scoreline could’ve been vastly different for either team if not to impressive saves by both keepers. Kirk kept the ball from the back of his team’s net with saves in the 56th, 72nd and 77th minute. “Indiana’s Team’s” man between the post also recorded saves in the 67th and 77th minute to keep the scoring gap to a single goal.A night that could’ve easily been soured by a loss, McInerney managed to pull one more back for the “Boys in Blue” in the 96th minute. Eleven midfielder Ben Speas flicked a pass nearly 20 yards forward into Riverhounds’ penalty box. McInerney settled the ball around around Kirk as he charged out of goal and fired an angled shot on his second touch for the last-minute equalizer.The draw concludes game five of seven in 22 days for Indy Eleven, having yet to pick up a loss in that timespan.“I’m really, really happy with the ‘never say die’ attitude because we’re in a run of playing quite a bit of games at the moment but we’re now seven games unbeaten.” said Rennie. “In a game like that tonight when it’s kind of not going our way in the sense that we had good chances but the goalkeeper made great saves. Sometimes in those games you have to dig in and show your character and I thought we did that.”Indy Eleven are back at home this Saturday, September 1 for Public Safety Night. The “Boys in Blue” will kick off against Richmond Kickers at 7:00 p.m. Fans can get tickets to the upcoming match for as low as $15 by visiting IndyEleven.com/Tickets or by calling (317)685-1100.

Indy Eleven 2:2 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Wednesday, August 29, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

Scoring Summary:

IND – Jack McInerney (Matt Watson) 4′
PGH – Joe Greenspan (Christiano Francois) 45+3′
PGH – Christiano Francois – 59′
IND – Jack McInerney (Ben Speas) 90+4′

Indy Eleven lineup (4-3-3, L–>R): Owain Fôn Williams (GK); Reiner Ferreira, Ayoze, Carlyle Mitchell, Karl Ouimette; Dylan Mares, Nico Matern (Brad Ring 79′), Matt Watson (C) (Juan Guerra 79′), Eugene Starikov (Soony Saad 61′), Ben Speas, Jack McInerneyIndy Eleven bench: Ben Lundgaard (GK); Brad Rusin, Kevin Venegas, Brad Ring, Juan Guerra, Soony Saad, Nathan Lewis

Pittsburgh Riverhounds lineup (1-5-4-1, L–>R): Michael Kirk (GK); Andrew Lubahn (Ray Lee 71′), Hugh Roberts, Joe Greenspan, Todd Pratzner, Jordan Dover; Christiano Francois, Ben Zemanski, Mo Dabo, Noah Franke (Kenardo Forbes 45′); Neco Brett (Tobi Adewole 85′)Pittsburgh Riverhounds bench: Nate Ingham (GK); Tobi Adewole, Ray Lee, Kenardo Forbes, Ben Fitzpatrick, Kay Banjo, Romeo Parkes

ATP_Gen_350x250

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8/24 MLS Rivalry Weekend – El Traffico 10:30 tonight, German Bundesliga Starts Today, Top Ranked CHS Girls host Carmel Invite Sat, Carmel FC Champs & GK Training Resumes

August 24, 2018August 24, 2018 gatorbest

MLS Rivalry Week – El Traffico LA vs LA Tonight 10:30 pm ESPN

I know its Friday night – High School football night for some, Dinner and Movie for others? Tonight – Do yourself a favor and Find a TV and turn it to ESPN at 10:30 pm ET tonight for EL TRAFFICO! We were fortunate enough to be at the last one – a 2-2 thriller at LAFC as the Galaxy stole a tie in the 88^th minute 2-2. El Traffico III tonight at 10:30 pm on ESPN has the LA Galaxy facing LAFC in the Home Depot Center as the Galaxy look to end a streak of just 1 win in 6 games. Its truly a must win for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Galaxy as he mentions in this interview. El Traffico is part of a pair of double headers as Orlando will face Atlanta United at 8 pm tonight on ESPN, and Sunday night we get the East contending NY Red Bulls vs Wayne Rooney’s DC United at 7 pm followed by the Grand-Daddy of all the Derby’s in the US – the Portland Timbers hosting the Seattle Sounders at 9:30 pm on ESPN. Set those recorders, or buckle down and watch – it’s a huge weekend of soccer in MLS!

EPL Weekend #3

Not many big time games this weekend in the EPL as the best match features Man United hosting Tottenham on Monday afternoon at 3 pm on NBCSN. Liverpool does host Brighton at 12:30 pm on NBC Saturday while 0-2 Arsenal, with the toughest early schedule in the EPL, will host West Ham United at 10 am on NBCSN looking for their first victory in the Unai Emery era.

German Bundesliga Starts Friday

The German Bundesliga starts Friday with young American’s scattered on rosters far and near. Of course Dortmund and American budding superstar Christian Pulisic will look to make a push for the title under a new head coach, while Schalke and US youngster Aaron Mckinney look to enjoy Champions League for the first time in years.

Of course Bayern Munich will most certainly win the German league as they always do but I like Dortmund and Schalke to both make a push – though adding Champions League play to their schedule could be daunting this year. Bayern Leverkusen also looks good as does up and comer Hoffenheim. (See the League Previews Below). Of course games will be featured again this year on Fox Sports 1 and 2 mainly on Sat and Sun at 9:30 am with the occasional game on Fox Network and Fox Soccer. Bayern Munich starts things off at home vs Hoffenheim at 2:30 pm on FS1, while Sat gives us American McKinney and Schalke traveling to Wolfsburg at 9:30 am on FS1, followed by M’Gladbach and American mid Johnson hosting Bayer Leverkusen at 12:30 on FS1. Pulisic and Dortmund host RB Leipzig Sunday of Fox Soccer and Univision at 12 noon.

CHS Games

Huge Congrats to Carmel High School Coach Frank Dixon who recently won his 500^th game for the lady Greyhounds. Dixon has claimed 2 National Championships (2002 + 2011), 14 State Championships, 4 runner-ups and 22 Semi-State Championships in his years of coaching along with 23 Regional and 24 Sectional Titles in his 25+ years of coaching. The #1 Ranked Team in the COUNTRY, the CHS Ladies will host the Carmel Invitational this weekend at Murray Stadium as they face 2A #2 Ranked Cathedral at 10 am and 17^th Ranked Fishers at 7 pm. The JV team will play Fishers at 10:30 am and Avon at 5 pm on the football practice fields above the football stadium. Plenty of former Carmel FC girls on both rosters this season! In addition anyone eating at Noble Romans West Main on Saturday 8/25 and mentioning CHS Girls soccer will have a portion of their proceeds help fund the soccer program. The CHS boys return home Tuesday to face Brebeuf at 7 pm after suffering their first loss on the season to Center Grove 0-1. The boys take on traditional power Ft. Wayne Canterbury Fri 8/31 at Murray at 7:30 pm.

CFC_U14G — Congrats to Carmel FC 05 Girls Gold and coach Mark Stumpf as they won The Pikefest U15 Division last weekend with a bunch of 14 year olds. The girls finished 3-0-1 in the tourney.

Carmel FC Goalies don’t forget 2 Goalie trainings this Fall with GK coach Kristian Nicht, Juergan Sommer and Me – the ole ballcoach (man between us we have over 25 years of professional GK experience) has started back up. Join us Weds at Shelbourne & Thurs at Badger Field 6-7 pm U11-U12 7 to 8 pm U13 – U19.

Fri, Aug 24 German Bundesliga Starts

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim

8 pm ESPN Orlando City (Cam Lindley) vs Atlanta United

10:30 pm ESPN LA Galaxy vs LAFC (El Traffico 3)

Sat, Aug 25

7:30 am NBCSN Wolverhampton vs Man city

9:30 am FS 1 Wolfsburg vs Schalke (McKinney)

10 am NBCSN Arsenal vs West Ham United

11 am bEIN Sport PSG (Tim Weah) vs Angers SCO

12 noon ESPN2 Juventus vs Lazio

12:30 pm NBCSN Liverpool vs Brighton

12:30 pm FS 1 M’Gladbach (Johnson) vs Bayer Leverkusen

2 pm ESPN+ Napoli vs Milan

2pm GOLTV Benefica vs Sporting CP – Portugal

4 pm beIN Sport Real Valladolid vs Barcelona

7 pm ESPN+ Atlanta 2 vs Indy 11 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

8 pm ESPN News Washington Spirit vs Portland Thorns (Ladies)

10 pm FS2 Monterey vs Morillia (Mexico)

Sun, Aug 26

8 am NBCSN Watford vs Crystal Palace

9:30 am FS1 Mainz vs Stuttgart

11 am NBCSN New Castle United vs Chelsea

12n Fox Soccer/Univ Dortmund (Pulisic) vs RB Leipzig

2:15 pm beIN Sport Sevilla vs Villaarreal

4:15 pm beIN Sport Girona vs Real Madrid

7 pm Fox Sport1 NY Red Bulls vs DC United (Rooney)

9:30 pm FS1 Portland vs Seattle Sounders (Cascadia Cup)

Mon, Aug 27

3 pm NBCSN Manchester United vs Tottenham

Wed, Aug 29

10:30 pm ESPN+ Portland Timbers vs Toronto FC

Fri, Aug 31

11 pm ESPN2 US Ladies vs Chile (LA)

USA

US Skipper Sarachan says Bradley and others will have role for US moving Forward ESPNFC

US Boss Sarachan gives situation for USMNT Veterans

David Moyes New US Boss?

Michael Bradley Coy on US Call-up – Jeff Carlisle EPSNFC

US Rising Stars

Peter Vermes Deserves Chance as Next US Coach says Caleb Porter

Yanks Abroad – Stars and Stripes

US Ladies Name Training Camp Roster for 8/31 & 9/4 Friendlies

GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 16/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 32/0)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 22/0), Tierna Davidson (Stanford; 10/0), Hailie Mace (UCLA; 1/0), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC: 107/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 141/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 24/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 20/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars; 77/6), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 64/16),Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 54/6), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 11/3), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 257/100), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 37/7), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage; 5/0)

FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (NC Courage; 67/23), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 136/20),Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 145/90), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 103/44), Mallory Pugh(Washington Spirit; 35/11), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC; 140/38)

World Cup Ref Chief – Collina dishes on VAR impact on Russia World Cup

World Cup Memories – Grant Wahl

MLS Rivalry Week

How MLS Rivalry Week compares with Europes Biggest Derbies – eSPNFC

El Trafico’s immediate intensity has put it in the spotlight in Los Angeles, MLS

LA, Seattle, NY Derby Hi-Light Rivalry Week in MLS – Jason Davis ESPNFC

Rivalry Week Viewing Guide – MLS.com

Zlattan Questions – Anything Can happen in El Traffico –

How Mexican Fans decide who to root for in LA

Austin Texas Group Releases MLS Name and Badge and Colors – ESPNFC Jeff Carlisle

NYCFC 9 Man Group Draws NY Red Bulls Late in bitterly fought Derby

MLS Scoring Record Broken by Martinez of Atlanta

#s Behind Atlanta United’s Martinez Goal Record with 9 games left

Ibrahimovic: I’ll only play on turf in MLS playoffs

Labron’s Kids Choose a Side in LA Derby – LAFC

EPL

Same ole Arsenal – Pretty futbal but No Defense loses at Chelsea 3-2

WORLD

German Bundisliga Can’t compete with EPL at the Top for Competition

How Should Allegri use Juve’s new Star Ronaldo

Renaldo Fills the visitors Stands but not the Goal mouth in Juve 2-1 debut

Goalies

EPL Saves of the Week 2 Cech was spectacular, Schmiekel, Jordan Pickford, Lloris,

Save of the Week – National Womens SL –

Buffon Was Spectacular for PSG in First Game

MLS Save

Indy 11

Indy 11 topple Toronto 3-2

Dramatic Goal in the 90^th Minute Lifts Indy 11 over NC 3-2

Football Lines will be Visible at Games with New Indy Colts Turf Installed

Indy 11 Sends United Way Donor to MLS All-Star Game

Indy 11 Discount Tickets for Wednesday’s Game! (Code 2018Indy)

Soccer Saturday – Radio Show 9-10 am on 1070 the Fan

Parking passes at Gate10 Events is $11 with advance purchase. $15 day of. Save $$$ by buying early.

INDY 11 GAMES

Sat 8/25 7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Atlanta United FC 2 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

Wed 8/29 7 pm myIndy23 Indy 11 vs Pittsburg Riverhounds SC

Sat Sept 1 7 pm Wish TV 8 Indy 11 vs Richmond Kickers

Wed Sept 5 7 pm Wish TV 8 Indy 11 vs NY Red Bulls II

GAMES ON TV

Fri, Aug 24 German Bundesliga Starts

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim

8 pm ESPN Orlando City (Cam Lindley) vs Atlanta United

10:30 pm ESPN LA Galaxy vs LAFC (El Traffico 3)

Sat, Aug 25

7:30 am NBCSN Wolverhampton vs Man city

9:30 am FS 1 Wolfsburg vs Schalke (McKinney)

10 am NBCSN Arsenal vs West Ham United

11 am bEIN Sport PSG (Tim Weah) vs Angers SCO

12 noon ESPN2 Juventus vs Lazio

12:30 pm NBCSN Liverpool vs Brighton

12:30 pm FS 1 M’Gladbach (Johnson) vs Bayer Leverkusen

2 pm ESPN+ Napoli vs Milan

2pm GOLTV Benefica vs Sporting CP – Portugal

4 pm beIN Sport Real Valladolid vs Barcelona

7 pm ESPN+ Atlanta 2 vs Indy 11 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

8 pm ESPN News Washington Spirit vs Portland Thorns (Ladies)

10 pm FS2 Monterey vs Morillia (Mexico)

Sun, Aug 26

8 am NBCSN Watford vs Crystal Palace

9:30 am FS1 Mainz vs Stuttgart

11 am NBCSN New Castle United vs Chelsea

12n Fox Soccer/Univ Dortmund (Pulisic) vs RB Leipzig

2:15 pm beIN Sport Sevilla vs Villaarreal

2:30 pm FS2 Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich Super Cup

4:15 pm beIN Sport Girona vs Real Madrid

7 pm Fox Sport1 NY Red Bulls vs DC United (Rooney)

9:30 pm FS1 Portland vs Seattle Sounders (Cascadia Cup)

Mon, Aug 27

3 pm NBCSN Manchester United vs Tottenham

Wed, Aug 29

10:30 pm ESPN+ Portland Timbers vs Toronto FC

Fri, Aug 31

11 pm ESPN2 US Ladies vs Chile (LA)

Sat, Sept 1

7:30 am NBCSN Leicester City vs Liverpool

9:30 am FS 1 Wolfsburg vs Bayern Leverkusen

9:30 am FS2 Frankfurt vs Werder Bremen ( )

10 am NBCSN Chelsea vs Bournemouth

11 am bEIN Sport Nimes vs PSG (Tim Weah)

12:30 pm NBCSN Man City vs New Castle United (Yedlin)

12:30 pm FS 2 Stutgart vs Bayern Munich

2:30 ESPN+? Parma vs Juventus

2:45 pm beIN Sport Real Madrid vs Leganes

7 pm Wish TV8 Indy 11 vs Richmond Kickers

Tues, Sept 4

10 pm ESPN2 US Ladies vs Chile (San Fran)

Fri, Sept 7

7:30 pm FS1 USAMNT vs Brazil (Metlife)

Tues, Sept 11

8:30 pm ESPN USA vs Mexico in Nashville (anyone want to go?)

Thurs, Oct 11

7:30 pm FSI USA vs Colombia (Tampa)

Thurs, Nov 15

3 pm ESPN2 England vs USA (Wembley)

Sat, Nov 20

3 pm ESPN2 Italy vs USMNT

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

El Trafico’s immediate intensity has put it in the spotlight in Los Angeles, MLS

Hoodzpah Design

8:40 AM ETJeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

Most rivalries have a few common ingredients. Proximity is one, although it isn’t mandatory. Games involving the highest of stakes are another, but those can come and go. Time, however, is usually non-negotiable. Most derbies start from nothing, and with each passing match, a few more doses of color and venom are added.Yet El Trafico, the nascent derby between the LA Galaxy and LAFC, is bending — if not outright breaking — the rules of what constitutes a rivalry. The two sides have met just twice so far, but what games they have been. There was the inaugural clash back on March 31, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s two goals in his MLS debut capped a stunning comeback from three goals down to give the Galaxy a 4-3 win. Last month’s second installment didn’t lack for drama either, as two late goals from the Galaxy allowed them to salvage a 2-2 tie at LAFC’s Banc of California Stadium. So it’s okay to call El Trafico a full-fledged rivalry, right? Right?”It’s taking hold, but it also has the feel of being manufactured,” said David Carter, the executive director of the Sports Business Institute at USC’s Marshall School of Business. “In any town, in any sport, you can’t have a just-add-water rivalry. It takes time. The Celtics and the Lakers have hated each other for a really long time; the [same with the] Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. You can try to launch a rivalry from day one, but the ones that truly matter or are organic have passed the test of time in terms of hatred and disdain, not a couple of months. It may grow to be one.”And lest anyone think Carter is simply being a buzz-kill, LAFC minority owner Nomar Garciaparra, who during his baseball career experienced some of the sport’s biggest rivalries, is of similar thinking.”I think it’s starting. I don’t think it’s totally there,” he said of El Trafico. “I just still think time needs to come into play, but I think it’s a very good start to one.”At the least, El Trafico‘s ability to burrow its way into the sports consciousness of Los Angeles in such a short amount of time is impressive, as was the atmosphere generated in the first two matches.”I think it all caught us by surprise,” said Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget of the emotion and attention of the first two matches. “I think we all knew it was going to be huge but I think it’s kind of created its own storm in a way. It’s definitely been bigger than what we all anticipated, but it’s been positive, man.”The world’s entertainment hub is notoriously fickle when it comes to its sports teams, and when LAFC was being forged there were doubts about how it could possibly get any traction in an area with now 11 professional sides across five sports, plus the collegiate heft of USC and UCLA, not to mention the glitz of Hollywood. There were also concerns that the Galaxy might suffer from LAFC’s presence, given the latter’s closer location to the city center.Yet LAFC’s arrival appears to have helped both teams. Friday’s match is sold out, the seventh capacity crowd this season out of 13 games for the Galaxy. Two of those have now come against LAFC.Without question, L.A.’s other intra-city matchups draw interest, be it baseball’s Freeway Series between the Dodgers and Angels, the NHL’s Kings-Ducks and even the NBA’s Lakers and Clippers. And while rivalries such as Lakers-Celtics and Dodgers-Giants still have the most cachet, El Trafico, rather than getting swallowed up, has carved out its own niche.”I think this thing has a different energy to it,” said Lletget about the matchup. “If you come to an LAFC-Galaxy game, I think everybody wants to be here now. I think if you’re not here you’re missing out in a way. So it’s, I think after the first one everybody felt ‘Oh my god, I’ve gotta go to the next one, gotta go to the next one,’ so it’s positive. It’s positive for our sport, it’s positive for our city, it’s positive for our clubs.”LAFC midfielder Benny Feilhaber explains the important role fans have in the El Trafico rivalry and why his side still have a lot to prove on Friday night.

LAFC counterpart Benny Feilhaber spent many of his formative years in the L.A. area, and played collegiately at UCLA. And while he doesn’t claim to be a fan of any L.A. teams, he knows how big those games can be.”For us to try and match that and be a part of it as well in the city is pretty special,” he said. “It’s just fun to be a part of sports in this city and to have two good teams to compete three times a year at the minimum, and maybe another time in the playoffs.”The energy of the respective fan bases has added to the buzz. Emotions did boil over to a degree during the July match, with video footage showing Galaxy fans being hassled outside the stadium, while inside Galaxy fans did damage to 79 seats. Both organizations and their respective fan bases have taken steps to make sure the passion is generated in the right direction. If it is, the rivalry can become even greater.”I think rivalries have history, but I think what also comes with it — from the rivalries that I’ve been a part of — is the passion of the fans, the way they feel when the two teams play,” said Garciaparra. “I think from the very first game in Carson, you felt that. It continued when they came to LAFC and I expect it again on Friday. That definitely sets the tone for it to be a very good rivalry going forward.”

LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic talks MLS: ‘Anything can happen’

9:17 AM ETESPN

LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played in some of the biggest rivalries in football. Now he is getting ready to play in the “El Trafico” local derby vs. LAFC. The Swedish striker joined Taylor Twellman in the Heineken ESPN FC Boot Room to chat about how he has taken to MLS. The following is an edited transcript of the chat.

Friday night will be the third time LAFC and LA Galaxy have met this season. The first two games were filled with a ton of drama, what do you expect to happen?
I think the same atmosphere, fantastic atmosphere. This time it’s our home field [advantage] and I expect good football. They are playing good, we are playing good, and [we are] two good teams. We are the rivals in L.A., but I think the rivalry is fresh because it’s the third game and they are new. The Galaxy has been there for many years.
You’ve played in some of the biggest rivalries around the world. Are you surprised how quickly this one got going?
It’s a new team, LAFC, and it came this year. It is the year I came also, so a lot of things are happening in MLS and the football is growing and the competition is growing — you just have to see the cities where it’s popping up and I’m not surprised. I think it’s good for the football, good for the fans, and good for the competition because it gives you more competitive games and more heated games where there’s a lot of emotions involved.
You’ve played LAFC twice. Where do you think their biggest weaknesses are going into this game?
I think they’re good in general. They don’t have one that’s better than the other one. I think it’s a good team. Everything is hyped for them, because it’s new. They have a big boost — new stadium, new players, new club, new coach — so everything is new … but they’re doing good things. There’s nothing negative to say about them or to complain about.play

Zlatan Ibrahimovic talks his continued love for video games, which all started at Ajax with his first ever game Pro Evolution Soccer.

With only one win in your last six games, is it a must-win game for the Galaxy?
I think the remaining games we have are all important games. There is no game more important than the other one. Of course, this one is two teams from L.A. — you win to say who is the boss in the town — but at the end of the day it’s the three points that are important and [reaching] the playoffs. That is what counts in the end. If you win this one and lose the rest, this win doesn’t matter.
What’s been the biggest struggle, from your point of view, for the Galaxy?
It’s been a lot of up and down. Some games we’ve been doing very good; some games less good. Basic mistakes we make that we pay for, cost us a lot. Like conceding goals and then we have to chase the goals. And we haven’t been on top — I mean, our level hasn’t been up where normally it should be. And the consequences are we are losing the games and paying for it.
Are you surprised?
I think every team is working the same. You have a period where you do good, then you have a period where you do less good. For example, you take Wayne Rooney’s team, DC United. They were doing bad, suddenly he comes and they’re doing good and they’re in the picture. So it’s very up and down.

There is no [like Europe] feeling where you have two or three teams that are very stable and are dominating the league. I don’t see anyone — maybe Atlanta is doing better than the other ones — but that is the same thing like LAFC: a new team, everything is a boost, everything is “wow” for the moment.

Do you think the Galaxy can right the ship and make the playoffs?
I think so. We have a very good team. The opponents who play against us, they respect the team. We give them a hard time, and I think when we lose a game it’s not like we’re outplayed, except for the last game where the result speaks for itself. It’s only about the small details: organization, small, basic mistakes, small details that make a big difference.
You’ve played 19 games in MLS. What’s your biggest takeaway about the league?
I find it very exciting, in the way that anything can happen. Crazy results. I see the atmosphere is nice, at least the games I’ve been playing. I cannot judge the other games. And I like the way the game is played — not always, but as a striker it’s very good because you get a lot of chances and it’s all about focusing and scoring your goals. And the chances will come, whatever happens, wherever you play, the chances will come.

Report: David Moyes could become new USMNT boss

Joe Prince-WrightNBC Sports•Aug 19, 2018, 8:59 AM

David Moyes is reportedly a frontrunner to be named as the new head coach of the U.S. men’s national team.The Times is one of a few outlets in the UK who claim that Moyes is interesting U.S. Soccer officials, with Dave Sarachan still in charge on an interim basis after he took up that role last November following Bruce Arena stepping down.Here’s more from The Times on Moyes potentially heading to the U.S.“It is understood that United States Soccer Federation officials have been alerted that the former Everton, Manchester United and West Ham manager would be interested in becoming the permanent replacement for Bruce Arena. Former Chicago Fire coach David Sarachan was put in interim charge after Arena was fired last October for failing to qualify for the World Cup in Russia. Moyes, 55, increased his stock last season in a short-term deal with West Ham when he led them to safety, finishing in 13th place in the Premier League.”Pro Soccer Talk has contacted U.S. Soccer for a comment on this report but is yet to receive a response.Moyes, 55, has restored his reputation somewhat after keeping West Ham in the Premier League last season after inheriting a precarious situation mid-season. But is he really the right man to turn the USMNT’s fortunes around?The former Everton, Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland boss has endured mixed fortunes since taking charge of United in 2013. He was fired by United less than a year into the job after being hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson and he was then fired by Sociedad and left Sunderland after they were relegated from the Premier League in 2016-17.From his time at Everton, we know that Moyes can organize teams and make them better defensively and that’s something the USMNT need moving forward. However, with no experience of Major League Soccer or the CONCACAF environment it is tough to see the new hierarchy in charge of U.S. Soccer appointing someone like Moyes.Would new USMNT General Manager Earnie Stewart look to someone like Moyes to revive the fortune of the U.S. national team? It seems like a coach with experience of MLS or someone with a better track record of developing youngsters would suit the current needs of U.S. Soccer better.Moyes is currently out of a job and cynics amongst us would suggest these reports could be about getting his name back out there and in the frame for another position. There is a lot of negativity around Moyes after he struggled at United five years ago, but we must not forget his penchant for setting up teams with a solid foundation. That’s not the most desirable skill for a manager to have these days but it would be a valuable asset as the USMNT aim to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after the debacle of not reaching the tournament in 2018.With a young squad set for a gruelling schedule of friendlies over the next few months, Sarachan could still be handed the reins for the U.S. on a permanent basis. It’s more likely that the USMNT will appoint a new permanent boss after the friendlies against Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, England and Italy over the next few months.Until then the likes of Juan Carlos Osorio, Gregg Berhalter, Tata Martino, Caleb Porter and Peter Vermes will continue to be linked with the role. You can add Moyes to that list too.

Michael Bradley, USMNT veterans will still have role in team – Dave Sarachan

5:59 PM ETAssociated Press

United States coach Dave Sarachan is not committing to when or how veterans such as Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore will be brought in to the national team again.The coach said on Wednesday that he spoke recently with Bradley, one of two Americans to play every minute of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups for the U.S.Sarachan said he’s made it clear in the months he’s been in charge that the focus is to look at younger players for a team that missed this year’s World Cup, but that the older players will still have a role to play.”We’re not discounting the value of veteran leadership, and Michael falls into that category,” said Sarachan, whose contract was extended in June through the rest of this year. “There will be a time, I’m sure, when we’re going to count on those players like Michael to be a part of this. We had a good conversation, and I think he understands where we are.”Bradley will be 35 when the U.S. hopes to be back in the 2022 World Cup. Altidore was among the veterans not invited to a January training camp despite his 41 goals in 110 appearances with the national team.Fabian Johnson is another veteran not likely to be brought in. John Brooks, 25, probably will be brought in at some point.”If he’s healthy, that’s been an issue, [Brooks] would have a little bit more of an opportunity in the near future to be a part of some rosters,” Sarachan said.The U.S. will play its next competitive match in June in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Americans have six friendlies line up, starting Sept. 7 against Brazil in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and the Brazilians are bringing veterans like Neymar and Robert Firmino.Sarachan said Christian Pulisic will be in the U.S. squad on Sept. 11 when the Americans play Mexico in a friendly in Nashville, Tennessee. Pulisic last played for the U.S. in May.The Americans also play Colombia on Oct. 11 at Tampa, Florida; England on Nov. 15 at London; and Italy on Nov. 20 at a site to be determined.For now, the focus is on youth with 18 players having made their debuts in the U.S.’s last six matches, including 10 age-eligible for the 2020 Olympics.The squad for the September games also should feature Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Matt Miazga. Sarachan said defender DeAndre Yedlin also should be available if he gets through this week after sustaining a right knee injury earlier this month playing for Newcastle in the Premier League.Sarachan, who took over as interim coach when Bruce Arena quit last October after the Americans failed to qualify for the World Cup, has led the U.S. to two wins (Paraguay and Bolivia), one loss (Ireland) and three ties (Portugal, Bosnia-Herzogovina and France ).A search for a full-time coach will be lead by former U.S. midfielder Earnie Stewart, who started as general manager officially Aug. 1.For now, Sarachan said the roster is a work in progress.”I would say that the roster, if you followed our team over the last six friendlies, will be composed pretty similarly to what we’ve done in the past,” Sarachan said. “But I feel very confident that the group we’re going to bring will be very competitive.”

Yanks Abroad: Goals, Assists, & Injuries

While it feels like everyone is injured or absent for some reason, there was still plenty of action to follow.

By Cody Bradley@ThatCodyTho Aug 20, 2018, 2:45pm PDT

The injury list is piling up with our Yanks Abroad missing action due to various issues. Everyone in the Premier League is sidelined as well as Chandler in Germany in Saief in Belgium. But we have plenty of positives to talk about, including a real life contribution from Bobby Wood!

Andrija Novakovich
The Fortuna Sittard forward scored a very nice goal in a 2-1 loss to PSV Eindoven. More on him right here.

Lynden Gooch
The Sunderland man picked up an assist and played all 90 minutes of a 3-0 win over Scunthorpe in England’s third tier. (VIDEO)

Bobby Wood
Wood came off the bench in the 65th minute for Hannover and got an assist in the 6-0 Cup win over 3rd tier Karlsruher.

Kevin Lankford
Lankford got this first professional goal on Sunday after coming off the bench for Heidenheim in a 5-2 German Cup win.

Jonathan Amon
Entered at the half to score in stoppage time of Nordsjaelland’s 2-0 win over Vejle. More on him in Youth Update.

Christian Pulisic
He got the start and subbed out in the 80th minute of Dortmund’s extra-time, German Cup win over Julian Green’s Greuther Fürth side on Monday. BvB needed a stoppage time equalizer to extend to extra time, and then finally scored the winner in the 120th minute.

Weston McKennie
The 19 year old went 90 minutes for Schalke as they eliminated Schweinfurt (4th tier) from the German Cup by a final of 2-0.

Tim Weah
He was given the start up top in between Neymar and Angel Di Maria. But he was only able to make it the first 45 minutes before being subbed out in favor of Kylian Mbappe, who promptly scored two goals to get the 3-1 win. Weah got just 9 touches the whole half, and completed 3/6 passes. He committed two fouls and lost 3 duels. He did contribute one key pass, though.

Matt Miazga
Miazga made his debut for Nantes over the weekend in a 2-0 loss at Dijon. The Chelsea loanee, like the rest of his team, did not play very well. He finished with 88% passing, but wasn’t able to contribute much.

John Brooks
Wolfsburg got a 1-0 Cup win over 4th tier Elversberg on Saturday. Brooks played all 90 minutes at CB.

Eric Lichaj
Lichaj was actually one of the better players for Hull City on Saturday. The right-back played the full 90 minutes winning 11 duels and four clearances in a 1-0 loss to Blackburn.

Antonee Robinson
The left-back for Wigan Athletic turned in pretty solid numbers in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest. Robinson did well on both sides of the ball, contributing a key pass and was successful with all four take-ons he attempted.

Brendan Hines-Ike
Over in Belgium, Brendan played 90 minutes for Kortrijk in a 2-0 loss to Oostende.

Julian Green
Green played the full match, including extra time as Greuther Fürth lost a German Cup heartbreaker to Borussia Dortmund on Monday.

Emerson Hyndman
He started was subbed out in the 64th minute of Hibernian’s 3-2 Scottish League Cup win over Ross Country.

Omar Gonzalez
The Atlas man went the distance in a 1-0 loss to Morelia in Mexico.

DeAndre Yedlin
His injury wasn’t as serious as it looked, but his knee kept Yedlin out of Newcastle’s 0-0 draw with Cardiff. He reassured fans on social media that he will be back soon. Newcastle will want him back in the lineup immediately after the disappointing point at home vs Cardiff.

Tim Ream
Ream has missed the first two matches of the Premier League season as he works his way back from a thigh injury. He is a key piece of the puzzle for Fulham and his absence has been noticeable in two losses (especially the 2-0 loss at home to Palace).

Danny Williams
Good news here on the injury front. Williams made his return to the lineup for the first time since last season. Thankfully, he didn’t actually appear in the 6-1 pounding Huddersfield Town took at the hands of the champs, Manchester City.

Kenny Saief
He left USMNT camp with a injury to his right leg back in June and has not made an appearance since. He missed Anderlecht’s 2-0 win over Mouscron on Friday.

Timmy Chandler
Timmy underwent surgery on Friday and will be out for six months.

Geoff Cameron
Just a quick reminder about Cameron. He hasn’t been on the roster for any of Stoke’s first three matches in the 2nd tier, and he’s rumored to be leaving the club before the end of the month.

How MLS Rivalry Week compares with Europe’s biggest derbies

11:50 AM ETJeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent hen it comes to to rivalries, Major League Soccer is at a major disadvantage in comparison to its counterparts in Europe and South America. With a few exceptions, most clubs in the North American league are drawing upon no more than 22 years’ worth of animosity to define their most despised adversaries, while those in the sport’s traditional hotbeds can call on a century or more.Some do have another decade or two of bad blood to heat up their meetings, and those with even less history are still finding ways to amp up the antipathy.There is the gnarled oak that is the Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders match-up, a rivalry that dates back to 1975 if you include its matches in NASL. The young offshoot that is the Hudson River Derby has emerged between the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. The mere sapling that is El Trafico, the rivalry between the LA Galaxy and LAFC, is growing as if it had consumed a few boxes of Miracle-Gro, if the first two epic matches are anything to go by.

Of course, the roots in MLS don’t run as deep as they do elsewhere. The league has even seen fit to cannibalize a few of its better rivalries, with matchups such as the Red Bulls and D.C. United or the California Clasico between the Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes shunted aside in favor of promoting sexier pairings in New York and Los Angeles.Yet for some of the league’s most notable imported players, the new rivalries have been embraced, even as its stars acknowledge that there is still room for them to grow.That growth process is being accelerated by the advent of Rivalry Week, the league’s annual promotion the hostility that exists between its clubs. It’s on this sort of stage that players can make a name for themselves.Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro knows as well as anyone how an epic derby performance can change a career. He remembers scoring as a 20-year-old for his beloved Nacional against bitter rivals Penarol in a 3-0 victory back in Uruguay. Six years later, he scored the lone goal for Argentine side Boca Juniors to win 1-0 at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental.”There were no fans for Boca, only River, and after the goal the entire stadium was silent,” Lodeiro told ESPN FC with the help of a translator.Lodeiro notes that Saturday’s match at Providence Park against the Timbers will be “like any Clasico, it’s very difficult.” Yet there are differences to what he has experienced elsewhere.”In South America, the Clasicos, it’s more than just the game,” he said. “It continues with your life outside of the field, with your family, and with the people every day. There’s a lot of things in play than just the game in South America. Here there is a lot of passion, a lot of rivalry, but it’s only on the field.”Even on the field, the differences can be stark. Galaxy defender Ashley Cole recalled that the craziest derby he ever took part in came in November 2001, when he was playing for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur. The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, marked the first time that Sol Campbell played at White Hart Lane for the Gunners after moving the previous summer from their bitter London rivals Spurs, where he had spent nine seasons.”Already the hatred was there, and it was always an amazing atmosphere at White Hart Lane,” said Cole. “[Campbell] going back there for the first time, it was amazing, but it was scary in a bad way. Poor Sol Campbell got abused. It was electric, you had goose bumps, the hair was standing up on my arms and my legs. It was scary at times, but what a game to play in.”Of course, El Trafico can’t rely on the 109-year history of the North London Derby, but Cole will be among those taking part in Friday’s edition at StubHub Center (10:30 ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes). With LAFC still in the midst of its debut season, the match will be just the third meeting between the intra-city rivals. But thanks in part to the jaw-dropping performances of Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and goals galore on both sides, the matches have been filled to the brim with drama.Cole admits he’s been impressed at how quickly the intensity between the two teams has been ratcheted up.”For LAFC to have the big fan base and the passion, they have surprised me,” he said. “And yeah, when they came here the first time the atmosphere was electric. Without having any [previous] incidents, the rivalry is still big.”All that’s needed is more time to add memories, controversy and generally feed the rivalry beast.”A few years down the line, there’s going to be more reason to dislike each other,” said Cole. “We’re so close to them, but we need some incidents to spice it up even more, to make it better. Hopefully in years to come this game can become that.”Another of the league’s young derbies has precisely that spice, and the added element of more on the line than mere bragging rights.That’s the case with Wednesday’s Hudson River Derby at Yankee Stadium. Both teams are in contention for the Supporters’ Shield, with NYCFC sitting in third place in the overall standings, one point behind the Red Bulls, as both teams try to chase down first-place Atlanta United.So, even as important as a victory is, it is that trophy that is on the mind of NYCFC captain David Villa, who has experienced arguably some the world’s biggest rivalries, including El Clasico of Real Madrid and Barcelona.The most difficult derby that you play is Barcelona and Real Madrid,” he told ESPN FC via telephone. “To be on the roster of one of those teams is really difficult for any player, but the other derbies I played were very intense as well.”The rivalry is good for soccer here, but for me it’s one game. I know that for the fans, for everyone in the club and around the team it’s really good, and it’s a different game. But finally for us it’s against one of our big rivals, not only for the city but for the [Supporters’ Shield] as well and we need to beat them in this way.”My focus when I started in the league wasn’t to beat the New York Red Bulls. It’s to beat the Red Bulls, to beat Philadelphia, Atlanta, everyone playing in the league because we want to take the silverware, and to take the silverware you need to beat everyone.”

Portland-Seattle, New York Derby and LA Galaxy-LAFC headline MLS Rivalry Week

Aug 20, 2018Jason Davis

Rivalry Week is upon us, which means it’s a good time to review the history of some of Major League Soccer’s most intense battles. Not all rivalries are equal, but each has its own unique origin story, big moments and players who command the spotlight.

New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls

How it started

When NYCFC entered Major League Soccer in 2015, the possibility of an intense rivalry with the New York Red Bulls had plenty of people excited. Two teams separated by just a few miles in the country’s biggest metropolitan area had all the makings of a regular battle for New York soccer supremacy.It wasn’t until the NYCFC’s inaugural win against the Red Bulls that the heat increased to “derby” levels. The New Jersey-based club owned the first three meetings in 2015 and started the 2016 series with a 7-0 destruction of NYCFC at Yankee Stadium.In the next meeting, NYCFC scored a 2-0 July win in front of more than 33,000 at Yankee Stadium, with Jack Harrison scoring. Since, the rivalry has been an even split with each team winning three games and the teams playing to a draw once.

Best moment

Last year’s August match at Yankee Stadium produced an epic battle between two of the greatest goal scorers in MLS history. David Villa scored the first hat trick in Hudson River Derby history, while Bradley Wright-Phillips bagged two goals in a 3-2 NYCFC victory.Villa contributed on the defensive end as well, making a brilliant play to block Wright-Phillips from close range when the Red Bulls striker had a chance to give his team the lead.There’s only one choice for the most influential man in the Hudson River Derby, and it’s Wright-Phillips.The Englishman scored the first goal in the history of the rivalry (inside of five minutes, no less) and has scored an additional 10 since. His total of 11 goals in 12 games in all competitions outpaces the total of the second-leading scorer on the list, Villa, by seven goals.

The quote

“I was brought up to not like Man United. I would hope my children do not like NYCFC.” — Bradley Wright-Phillips

LA Galaxy vs. LAFC

How it started

It’s still just Year 1 of the L.A. rivalry creatively dubbed “El Trafico” by the fans, but the seeds of something special have been planted. Friday’s edition will be the third and final meeting of the season (barring a playoff clash) and will need a heavy dose of drama to match the first two games in the series.Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s arrival in MLS and L.A. coincided with the first-ever El Trafico game on March 31. The Swedish superstar entered the match at the StubHub Center with his new team down two goals, scored twice in 15 minutes, and led the Galaxy to victory.

The best moment

The best moment the L.A. derby has offered so far can only be Ibrahimovic’s midfield strike to level the inaugural edition. In front of a full house at the StubHub Center, Ibrahimovic lived up to every expectation with an absolute wondergoal. LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller will want to forget the moment, but for MLS fans in North America and soccer fans around the globe, the goal and that moment sparked an interest in a crosstown matchup that will carry over to each new edition.Through two games, it’s actually LAFC’s Mexican star Carlos Vela who has the most goals in the rivalry with three. But the choice for the most influential player has to go to Ibrahimovic, the man who stole the show back in March and helped lead another comeback in a draw at Banc of California Stadium on July 26.Ibrahimovic’s dramatic arrival on the scene and influence in the 2-2 draw at Banc of California Stadium put him at the center of the evolving contretemps, but it’s the Swede’s personality and penchant for cutting and audacious statements that will draw the most attention.

The quote

“This is still fresh, this derby. LAFC is a new team. We cannot talk historically about previous games, only about the game we had [in March], but in time [there will be] more talks about it, what happened before, and you get new moments from that derby.” — Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Seattle vs. Portland

How it started

There are older rivalries between teams born in the MLS era, but no American soccer clash has more history than the Cascadia Derby between the Sounders and Timbers. The first match between the clubs took place back in 1975; that same year, the Timbers knocked the Sounders out of the NASL playoffs.Both clubs played in the old North American Soccer League, then when that league ended, revived the derby in the loer divisions. After a few seasons of meeting only in the U.S. Open Cup, the rivalry moved to MLS in 2011 when the Timbers joined Seattle in the top division.The easiest way to explain the origins of the Sounders-Timbers rivalry is simply that when it comes to everything — soccer included — Seattle and Portland just don’t get along.

The best moment

The biggest stakes for any Cascadia Derby came in the MLS Cup playoffs back in 2013. A conference semifinal series between top-seeded Portland and fourth-seeded Seattle started at CenturyLink Field, where the Timbers had never led, much less won.On the back of goals from Ryan Johnson and Darlington Nagbe, with a big hand from goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, Portland won the match 2-1. The Timbers would go on to win the second leg 3-2 and take the first — and thus far, only — MLS playoff meeting between the two teams.

The key man

Clint Dempsey has a penchant for scoring goals in the rivalry and he doesn’t hesitate to let Timbers fans know about it when he does. In 14 games against Portland, Dempsey has scored nine goals. The co-all-time-leading scorer in Sounders history has scored more against the Timbers than any other team.Dempsey is filling a substitute role for the Sounders at this point in the season, but it would be folly to write off the possibility of him playing a big role in any game where Seattle takes on the Timbers.

The quote

“All I got to say is, now that we won one, Portland can’t say s—!” — Clint Dempsey after Seattle’s 2016 MLS Cup title

Austin group releases Major League Soccer franchise name, badge, colors

9:56 PM ETJeff CarlisleU.S. soccer correspondent

The latest sign that the Columbus Crew are moving to Austin, Texas, was revealed on Wednesday, as the proposed team’s name, colors and crest were released by Precourt Sports Ventures, the current owners of the Crew.The name of the presumptive MLS team will be Austin FC, and the crest features a pair of bright green, intertwined oak trees on a black background with the name “Austin” at the top. The tag line “Grow The Legend” accompanied the announcement.According to the Austin American-Statesman, the reveal was attended by approximately 300 people, including PSV owner Anthony Precourt, at a downtown Austin establishment. At the event, the team left open the possibility for a team mascot and nickname and said it would welcome community input. “Given the historical and ongoing market challenges, Precourt Sports Ventures must prepare for every potential scenario for the Club in 2019 and beyond,” said Precourt in a prepared statement. “Should Austin be granted the requisite approvals ahead of the 2019 season, it will be imperative to launch with momentum and a presence to ensure the long-term sustainability and viability of the Club. Normal business operations shall continue in Columbus for the balance of the 2018 season where winning an MLS Cup remains the objective.”The Austin City Council recently approved a term sheet negotiated with PSV to build a $200 million, 20,000-seat stadium on a 24-acre site in north Austin. The vote authorizes the negotiation and execution of agreements with PSV for construction, lease, and occupancy of the venue with the goal of completing construction in time for the 2021 MLS season.There are still additional obstacles to overcome. The office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine in conjunction with the city of Columbus is suing PSV under the so called Modell law that requires sports teams that have received state funding to provide six months notice of any intention to relocate and allow local investors the option of acquiring the team. A hearing is set for Sept. 4.

PAthetic Manchester United prove Jose Mourinho warning true in Brighton embarrassment

1:00 PM ETRob DawsonManchester United correspondent

BRIGHTON, England — Three points on Brighton 3-2 Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Jose Mourinho warning appears true

Jose Mourinho said this season would be tough for Manchester United, but he probably did not expect to be proved right quite so quickly.Through the summer and during the first week of the new Premier League season, he has painted a bleak picture of United’s prospects. Even a 2-1 win over Leicester on opening night did little to improve his mood.”I think it’s going to be a very hard season,” he said in an interview on Friday. And judging by the performance against Brighton at the AMEX on Sunday afternoon, it looks like he is right on the money.In the space of two minutes and 23 seconds during the first half, United went from control to calamity. After 24 minutes, Solly March crossed from the left and Glenn Murray nipped in front of Victor Lindelof to cleverly clip his finish over David De Gea. Then from the re-start, Eric Bailly gave away a needless corner and some penalty box pinball ended with Shane Duffy scoring a second after expertly controlling Anthony Knockaert’s miscued shot.United came back from two goals down to win twice last season, and when Romelu Lukaku headed in his first goal of the season from close range it looked like it might be on again. But just as it looked like Mourinho’s team were thinking about settling down, De Gea clipped a sloppy pass towards Fred in the centre of midfield, Dale Stephens slipped in Pascal Gross and Bailly brought him down. Gross got up to beat De Gea from the spot and the Brighton players trooped off at half-time with the fans singing “we want four.”It didn’t come, but it didn’t matter. Neither did Paul Pogba’s late penalty after Duffy had brought down substitute Marouane Fellaini in stoppage time.By the end the home supporters had changed their tune to: “Can we play you every week?” and “you’re going down with the Palace.”It’s not quite that bad for Mourinho but his preseason prediction is already coming true.

United’s centre-backs a shambles

Mourinho wanted a central defender in the final weeks of the transfer window, and despite interest in Harry Maguire, Toby Alderweireld, Jerome Boateng and a host of others, nothing happened.If the United manager wanted to make his point to Ed Woodward, he need only post of video of the first half here to the chief executive’s office at Old Trafford.He picked Lindelof and Bailly against Brighton, and after 45 minutes they had helped cost United three goals.Lindelof was at fault for the first, letting Murray steal in to score. Bailly, not to be outdone, gave away a corner in the buildup to the second and then chopped down Gross in the box for Brighton’s penalty just before half-time.Both signed by Mourinho for a combined fee of £60 million, they have started the season as first choice, but it would be no surprise if they were both sat in the stands when Tottenham turn up at Old Trafford on Aug. 27.For now, Mourinho will have to make do with what he has got. Chris Smalling, trusted to play nearly 50 games last season, was on the bench while Phil Jones, who started the FA Cup final in May, was not in the squad at all. Marcos Rojo is another option, but the Argentina defender is still nursing an injury picked up at the World Cup.There are problems at the other end, too, and United managed just three shots on target while Lukaku was limited to just 24 touches all game.

Brighton off to a flyer, home form key

Brighton had the eighth best home record in the Premier League last season with seven of their nine wins coming at the AMEX. Their form on their own pitch will be key again is they are going to survive again, and Chris Hughton could not have asked for a better start. It was a 1-0 win over United here in May that secured their top-flight status last season, and this could turn out to be just as significant.After the demoralising defeat at Watford on the opening weekend, it was vital that Brighton got up and running as quickly as possible. The Premier League can be an unforgiving place when you get stuck in a run of poor form, but Brighton can head to Liverpool on Saturday with confidence that they can upset Jurgen Klopp’s side.Only four teams managed to win at Brighton last season and it will be a difficult place to play this season, too. In a tight, compact arena, the fans can get on top of opposing teams, and Brighton gave them enough encouragement in the opening exchanges against United to get them into the game early.If they can do that more often than not this season, they should win enough home games to stay in the league for a third successive campaign.

Cristiano Ronaldo conundrum: How should Max Allegri use Juventus’ star?

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After Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus debut, the FC crew ponder what his best position is in Max Allegri’s squad: the No. 9, false 9 or a winger. (2:51)

11:19 AM ETGabriele MarcottiSenior Writer, ESPN FC

Let’s get the disclaimer out of the way first: Juventus were a very good team without Cristiano Ronaldo, and they will almost certainly be an even better one with him. They are overwhelming favourites to win Serie A, and while the Champions League — like all knockout competitions — is tricky to predict, they have to be among the favourites to win that too.The question, though, is how much better they will be and, crucially, what manager Massimiliano Allegri — with the collaboration of Ronaldo and others — can do to get them to maximise potential. In other words, you got yourself a CR7 unit (or, more accurately the CR7 unit.), now what do you do with it?It is not quite as simple as it sounds. Ronaldo, at this stage of his career, is not an orthodox player like, say, a Robert Lewandowski or a Kevin De Bruyne. You don’t simply drop him into a predefined role that already exists because what he does is nearly unique and in any case, did not exist at Juve.For nearly all of the nine seasons he spent at Real Madrid, he lined up on the left wing, wide of a mobile centre-forward (for a while it was a Gonzalo Higuain/Karim Benzema platoon, later the Frenchman took over full time). Ronaldo’s style — and his body — evolved over the years, but his level of production remained high.His first five years in Madrid were “peak Cristiano.” He was a fixture as a wide forward, often picking the ball up deep, taking on opponents — he averaged more than six dribbles a game — and relying on his athleticism to get into shooting positions. Heat maps from that era show that he spent some 60 percent of the time in the left-side third of the pitch.However, things changed after 2014. After suffering patellar tendinitis in his knee, he slimmed down, sacrificing muscle to maintain quickness even as he moved into his thirties. Moreover, his positioning changed: Heat maps have him at 44 percent on the left, 37 percent centrally and 21 percent on the right. In some ways, that increased movement enabled him to find more mismatches. He could — and still can — overpower most full-backs and outrun most central defenders.The first issue for Allegri is whether to let his new No. 7 play the way he did in Madrid — adjusting around him as a result — or to find him a new role. Many projected Juventus lineups opted for the latter, as did the first hour or so of Ronaldo’s Serie A debut vs. Chievo last Saturday. He lined up as a lone front man, with fast wingers either side in Juan Cuadrado and Douglas Costa, plus Paulo Dybala in the hole as part of a 4-2-3-1 formation.You can see the logic: Plenty of service from the wings to exploit his aerial prowess and Dybala creating behind. It may yet work, though whether a two-man midfield of Miralem Pjanic and Sami Khedira (or Emre Can) provides enough defensive cover, particularly with attacking full-backs like Alex Sandro and Joao Cancelo, remains to be seen.Make no mistake about it. Ronaldo has the trappings of a centre-forward. He is devastating in the air, his movement in the box is exceptional and his finishing is outstanding. The funny thing about him is that while his critics question the number of bad shots he takes — during a lean spell in La Liga early last season, for example — the numbers are pretty telling.His expected goals per shot over the past five years is .143, which is comparable to Higuain, the guy he replaced and a prototypical penalty-box poacher. And that’s with all the long-distance/bad-angle/low-percentage shots. In other words, Ronaldo does not just score a ton of goals because he is firing away all the time, he generally takes very good shots from very good positions. But the issue is whether you want a player who turns 34 in February taking lumps on his own up front from nasty centre-backs and especially in a hyper-tactical league like Serie A, where even the smaller sides can be hugely annoying to play against.It’s not that he can’t do it — he can do most things on a football pitch better than most footballers — but that the risk, in terms of injury, bookings and frustration, may not be worthwhile as Juventus look to protect and maximize their $100 million-plus investment.Then there is the issue of what Ronaldo prefers. There is a reason why Real Madrid so rarely played him as a lone centre-forward and it’s not because Benzema was the second coming of Marco van Basten. Plenty close to Ronaldo suggest that he simply did not see himself up front on a regular basis, except perhaps in a front two.The obvious alternative is a 4-3-3, plug and play, replicating what he had at Madrid. Allegri can then add Blaise Matuidi and his driving runs to the middle of the park (or Can or Rodrigo Bentancur or whomever), put Ronaldo left and deploy Mario Mandzukic through the middle.It makes a ton of sense given that Mandzukic has the physical presence, work rate and tactical awareness to complement Ronaldo the way Benzema did in Madrid. Alas, though, every rose has its thorn. Mandzukic is 32, has started more than 28 league games in a season just once and had his preseason cut short due to Croatia’s run to the World Cup final.

As such, it is a big ask to for him to lead the line and do the grunt work week in, week out. Yes, you can have him in that role for big games, but that means finding someone else to do the job the rest of the time. There are no other centre-forwards with Serie A experience on Juve’s books apart from Moise Kean, but he is 18 and could go on loan. That means there is no Plan B, other than a wholly different formation.The other issue with 4-3-3 is the third slot up front. If your benchmark is talent, Dybala goes there, but it remains to be seen whether such a move gets the best out of him. Or you alternate one of the three remaining wingers — Cuadrado, Federico Bernardeschi and Douglas Costa — which means there is a challenge to keep everyone happy in terms of minutes.Too negative? There is some good news. Allegri is one of the most pragmatic and tactically creative managers out there. He is not wed to a system, he has played them all, and more than most, he is not afraid to experiment. As for keeping everyone happy, while he bristles at being called a “man-manager” because he wants folks to appreciate his tactical nous, he is as good as they come in that regard.There might be other solutions, which seem far-fetched right now, but that Allegri could pull out of his hat. Dybala as a “false nine,” for example, or Ronaldo playing in a front two with a winger recycled as a second striker.If the real benchmark for Juventus this season is the Champions League, then the club’s manager has six five months or so — until the knockout phase begins — to figure it out. Whether it is a different formation or simply building the chemistry required to accomodate Ronaldo, who tends to move around the pitch wherever his instinct takes him, albeit usually starting from the left wing, there is time to work on things.And if all else fails and Allegri feels that only a 4-3-3 with Ronaldo wide works best, there is always the option of going into the transfer window in January. Juventus do not need a world-class striker, just a willing, hard-working, blue-collar body who can give Mandzukic days off.

Peter Vermes deserves chance to be next USMNT coach – Caleb Porter

Aug 16, 2018ESPN

Sporting Kansas City’s Peter Vermes “deserves the shot” to be the next coach of the United States men’s national team, his contemporary Caleb Porter told The Athletic.

Porter, who stepped down as coach of the Portland Timbers last November, also said he believes he’s a candidate for the position, which has been filled by Dave Sarachan on an interim basis since the resignation of Bruce Arena last year.But Porter said Vermes, who serves as both the coach and technical director of Sporting KC, should be the top choice among domestic candidates.”If you’re going American, Peter Vermes, for me, he is the guy that deserves the shot,” Porter said. “I believe that. That guy deserves to carry the torch of our national team. Peter Vermes, in my opinion, based on what he’s done in our league, he’s proven it as an American coach.”If you don’t go with Peter Vermes, I think, based on what I’ve proven, I’m in the mix with another two or three guys who deserve consideration and I’d be open to talking.”In addition to coaching his MLS team from the sideline, Vermes’ duties include managing the club’s roster as well as scouting and overseeing the academy.Despite holding discussions with U.S. Soccer earlier this year, Vermes in May signed a new contract with SKC that ties him to the club until 2023. He said at the time he would lean toward remaining with SKC over working for the national team.Vermes helped SKC win MLS Cup in 2013 and has also won the U.S. Open Cup three times. He also won MLS Cup as a player in 2000, when he was named the league Defender of the Year. He earned 66 caps with the U.S. national team and played at the 1990 World Cup.Porter said he was re-energized after taking a “mid-career sabbatical,” and said he had to leave Portland because he “didn’t have anything left to give.””I just kept feeling like I’ve done what I could do in the club and I’ve given what I can give to the club and I’ve accomplished what I can accomplish in the club,” Porter said. “As a young coach, I would have never admitted this, but an experienced coach that is comfortable in their skin realizes when maybe it’s time for a new coach and it’s the right thing for the club.”

World Cup 2018 Never Stopped Captivating En Route to Crowning Champion

By Grant Wahl July 16, 2018 SI

MOSCOW — There has been a tendency in soccer circles in recent years to look down on the international game—and, by extension, the World Cup—as an inferior brand to the European club game. The reasons are straightforward. Players are together more often with their clubs, the coaching is better, and the rhythms are more regular. The club game is the spouse we see every day. The international game is our best friend from college who visits once a year and knows how to have a great time (but is a little flaky on the fundamentals). Debbie Downers who have maligned soccer involving national teams. Was the level of play as high as the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds? Probably not, but it was plenty high—thanks largely to the quality of the world’s finest players, from the old standbys (Croatia’s Luka Modric, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina’s Lionel Messi) to the newly-emergent A-listers (the French 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé, Belgium’s Eden Hazard) to the tournament’s one-man telenovela (Brazil’s Neymar, when he wasn’t writhing on the ground like a Pentecostal parishioner speaking in tongues).

What made this the most entertaining World Cup of modern times—and the best since at least 1986—was the relentless drama, surprises and emotions of it all. It was a World Cup of Overflowing Feelings, which closed any gap in technical quality with the club game. We’ll never see a player crying tears of joy after a Champions League group stage win, but that’s exactly what Neymar and Mexico’s Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández did after World Cup group stage victories. Germany became the fourth of the last five defending champions to go out in the group stage, making you wonder if it might be more than a coincidence. Heavyweights Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Portugal were all gone by the quarterfinals. Croatia, the little checkerboard engine that could, was the best team during the group stage and erased deficits in all four of its knockout-round games, from the round of 16 to the final.Goals may not have been at a record high, but late game-winners were. Buoyed by set-piece goals (another trend), England went all the way to the semifinals, won a penalty shootout (!) and was (gasp) totally likeable as a team.

Then there was Russia. On the field, home-fan expectations of a national embarrassment gave way to deserved pride among ordinary Russians, as their team advanced from the group stage (predicted by some), eliminated Spain on penalties in the round of 16 (predicted by almost nobody) and played some terrific attacking soccer in a quarterfinal exit on penalties against Croatia.Off the field, the World Cup organization was solid. There were no significant instances of hooliganism. And the visiting fans from around the world—most of them from Latin American countries, not from Europe—appeared to have just as big an impact on the host Russians as Russia did on its visitors. Moscow’s Nikolskaya Street, a pedestrian-only thoroughfare near Red Square that was lit up at night like a winter wonderland, became a festive gathering place where fans and locals chanted and sang until the early-rising sun was already high in the sky by 6 a.m.For someone who might have questioned whether they should come to Russia—that included me, a first-time Russia visitor, at one point ahead of the tournament—the answer, ultimately, was yes. Travel is, as ever, human connection, understanding, barriers broken. Ordinary Russians were terrific: Warm, welcoming and genuinely curious. Yet it was hard not to be made uncomfortable by FIFA president Gianni Infantino cozying up to Vladimir Putin, acting as though this World Cup had changed everyone’s opinions about the Russian dictator, which couldn’t be further from the truth.In historic terms, World Cup 2018 will be remembered for the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee. After fears before the tournament that VAR—we like saying vahr, not the less efficient vee-aye-ar—would be an unmitigated disaster, it turned out to be a net-positive. Nearly all the big calls were done right. Even if you disagree with referee Néstor Pitana’s handball penalty call on Ivan Perisic in the final(and reasonable people could be found on both sides of the debate), at least Pitana had the chance to use all the available evidence to make his decision. Video review is not perfect. Referees were reluctant to use it to call wrestling-move penalties in the box. And with the prevalence of set-piece goals, we were left frustrated that VAR is not allowed to review plays that lead to dangerous restarts—such as the nonexistent foul on Antoine Griezmann that gave France the free kick that resulted in its first goal in the final. Whenever a goal is scored, every moment on the play leading to the goal is reviewed by VAR; that should be the case for moments that lead to goals scored on set pieces, too. Getting VAR right is an ongoing process, though, and there’s no denying that it’s here to stay.At least France, the champion, did enough in the rest of the final to show that its victory was owed to its play and not to the decision of a referee. France was not the most entertaining team at this World Cup—that would be Belgium, the third-place finisher, which was undone by a French corner kick in the semifinals—but how often does the most entertaining team ever win the World Cup? The pragmatism of French coach Didier Deschamps meant this would be a balanced team, one that often relied on the counterattack and willfully chose not to maximize its overflowing attacking talents.The French collective was what mattered most. Paul Pogba bought into what Deschamps was selling and became a rock, the leader. N’Golo Kanté had a forgettable final, but his overall contribution was immense. And there were some sublime moments of speed, vision and skill from Mbappé—particularly against Argentina and Croatia—that signaled this teenager might really be the heir to Messi and Ronaldo.France was the second-youngest team at the World Cup (behind Nigeria), and Les Bleus will now have the chance to create their own era, much as Spain did from 2008 to 2012 and France itself did from 1998 to 2000. The talent pipeline in France is established, almost industrialized at this point. But there are no guarantees. One of the greatest things about this World Cup, and about soccer itself, is its constant ability to surprise, to show that nothing is inevitable or preordained.That’s why we watch.

RECAP | INDY ELEVEN TOPPLE TORONTO FC II, 3-2

By James Higdon, 08/23/18, 12:30AM EDThare”Boys in Blue” hand Toronto FC II second series defeat of the season

Indy Eleven come away with three points at home after defeating Toronto FC II 3-2, for the second time this season. The win marks “Indiana’s Team’s” third consecutive win at home, two of which came after a four-match stint on the road.The new turf seems to be the key difference in Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie’s side. Six goals have been scored over the last two matches. Last Wednesday was the first time Indy Eleven played on the new turf following the team’s previous 2-1 win over Charlotte Independence on July 7.“I think since the surface has changed you’ve seen a difference in our play,” Rennie said. “You’ve seen a difference in the chances created, goals we’ve scored. You’ve seen a lot more from people like Ben Speas and Jack [McInerney], as well.”Toronto started seeking out chances in the early minutes, but it was Indy forward Ben Speas who found the first goal of the match. Speas sank his shot from the center of Toronto’s 18-yard box with his first touch in the 18th minute. The goal was assisted by service from Eleven midfielder Nico Matern with a 36-yard pass from Indy’s own half. The goal was Speas’ third of the season, scoring all three in the last three home matches.Five minutes, later Eleven forward Jack McInerney delivered the “Boys in Blue’s” second goal. Striking partner Soony Saad played a square pass to the middle of Toronto’s penalty area. TFCII defenders Tim Kubel and Lars Eckenrode both attempted to settle, but a poor giveaway rolled in place for McInerney to hammer in the lower left corner of the net. The 26-year-old currently sits atop Indy’s goal scoring chart for 2018 with seven to his name, tallying four in the last month.Toronto continued to test Eleven goalkeeper Owain Fon Willaims. Their efforts proved fruitful with two goals to level the score before the end of the first half. Toronto’s first goal occurred in the 29th minute with a free kick at the top of the 18-yard box by midfielder Tsubasa Endoh. The Tokyo, Japan native placed his shot over Indy’s defensive wall with pinpoint accuracy into top left corner of the goal. The goal was Endoh’s first since signing for Toronto on August 2.Toronto’s equalizer was struck by Jordan Hamilton 30 yards out from goal in the 34th minute. Hamilton’s opportunity came after miscommunication between Speas and Eleven midfielder Matt Watson resulted in a loose ball. The distant strike was Hamilton’s fourth of the season and his 12 with Toronto FC II since 2015.Indy original and returning midfielder Dylan Mares reopened his account with the game-winning goal in the 58th minute. Saad’s pass in the midfielder split through Toronto defenders to a backtracking Mares. A lengthy, unopposed run by Mares led to his shot at the top of Toronto’s penalty box. The strike flew by TFCII keeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell as he dove for the save in the right side of the goal.“Ben [Speas] was on my left side and he drew some people away and so did Soony [Saad],” Mares said. “Soony stretched them and they just kept moving back and back and it allowed me to open up and pick out the side net. It was well done by everyone else. They gave me the space to create an opportunity.”“Indiana’s Team” has 3W-2D record in its last five matches, collecting 11 out of 15 possible points. The win sees Indy remain in sixth places in the Eastern Conference standings as they continue to push for playoff contention.The “Boys in Blue” hits the road again this Saturday, August 25, to face Atlanta United FC 2. Indy will return home on Wednesday, August 29th against Pittsburgh Riverhounds to kick off a three-home game stretch in a seven days. Fans can get tickets to the upcoming home fixtures by visiting IndyEleven.com/Tickets or by calling (317)685-1100.

USL Regular Season
Indy Eleven 3:2 Toronto FC II
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 – 7:00 p.m.Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

PREVIEW | #ATLVIND

By IndyEleven.com, 08/23/18, 7:30PM EDT Indiana’s Team” looks to extend winning streak in rematch against Atlanta United 2

Indy Eleven Gameday & Match Preview Indy Eleven at Atlanta United 2 – #ATLvIND Saturday, August 25, 2018 – 7:00 P.M. EST
Coolray Field, Lawrenceville, Georgia Watch/Listen Live: * Local/National TV: N/A * Streaming Video: ESPN+ ($)

WEEK 24 | THROUGH THICK AND THIN

Indy Eleven face Atlanta United 2 for the second time in 2018 on the road this Saturday, August 25. The match is set to kickoff at 7:00 p.m. at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The previous meeting took place in Week 13, where “Indiana’s Team” registered a 2-0 victory at home.Indy Eleven (11W-7L-6D) remain at sixth in the Eastern Conference with 39 points after defeating Toronto FC II, 3-2. The victory against Toronto marks the third straight home win for the “Boys in Blue” and the first goal of the season for midfielder Dylan Mares, who re-signed with Indy on August 20. Midfielder Ben Speas opened the scoring and netted his third goal of 2018, all of which came in the last three home games. Forward Jack McInerney netted the second of the game and his seventh of the season. He remains the team’s leading goal scorer by three goals. The victory brings “Indiana’s Team” record to 3W-1L-1D in the last five home games. Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie’s offense continues to fire on all cylinders after last night’s tally brings Indy Eleven’s goal scoring total to nine in the last five outings.Atlanta United 2 (3W-13L-7D) are currently one spot above Indy Elevens most recent opponent, last-place Toronto FC II, in 15th place with 16 points. Atlanta suffered a 5-1 drubbing in their first Week 24 fixture against Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati Wednesday evening. Atlanta defender Shawn Nicklaw scored Atlanta’s only goal, and his first goal of the season, in stunning fashion. Forward Jon Gallagher played a back pass to Nicklaw, who then unleashed a nearly 40-yard shot into the top right corner of the net. The loss moves Atlanta United 2’s record in the last five matches to 4L-1D. The team’s last win came on July 11, in a 2-1 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC at home.Coach Martin Rennie will aim to improve his team’s recent away record of 3L-2D in the last five road fixtures. Atlanta United 2 will be a tough task at home, as all three of their wins have come when playing at Colray Field. The MLS2 team has netted 15 goals and conceded 18 in 12 matches at home.

INDY ELEVEN PLAYER TO WATCH | MF DYLAN MARES

Indy Eleven midfielder Dylan Mares surely didn’t have the worst debut in the world in the Week 24 clash versus Toronto FC II. Mares laced up for “Indiana’s Team” for the first time since 2016, and netted a goal in the 58th minute that would win the match.The 26-year-old picked up the ball near half field and began a run down the left flank. After carrying the ball 25-yards, Mares cut in on his right foot and struck a clean, powerful shot that found its way into the right corner of the net returning the lead to Indy Eleven. Mares added firepower in front of net and his technicality on the ball injected some creativity back in head coach Martin Rennie’s lineup.

ATLANTA UNITED 2 PLAYER TO WATCH | FW JON GALLAGHER

An unfamiliar face found the back of the net in Atlanta United 2’s 5-1 defeat against FC Cincinnati in their first Week 24 fixture. Defender Shawn Nicklaw tucked home a wonder strike. Yet, the goal wouldn’t have happened if not for the visual awareness of forward Jon Gallagher.Gallagher, who leads the team in scoring with six goals in 2018, received the ball at the top of FC Cincinnati’s 18-yard box. With nowhere to go in front of him, the 22-year-old Irishman played a release pass to Nicklaw which freed him for his strike. The assist is Gallagher’s second on the year, showing the young forward can both score and find space for teammates in front of net.

MATCHUP TO MARK | INDY FW MCINERNEY VS. ATLANTA 2 DF COCHRAN

Indy Eleven’s offense has been finding the back of the net fairly regularly as of late. Nine goals in the last five games is a fairly stellar scoring track. In Week 24, the “Boys in Blue” will face Atlanta United 2 on the road, where Atlanta 2 has given up 18 goals in nine home games.Indy Eleven forward Jack McInerney will look to exploit a defense that has allowed two goals conceded per home game. After some forward rotation by Coach Rennie and a fixture loaded schedule, McInerney is seeing playing time regularly and finding the back of the net consistently. He’s found the back of the net four times in August and recorded an assist to go along with it. His recent form has brought him as sole owner of Indy Eleven’s leading goal scorer for the season.Averaging two goals conceded per home fixture can be tough on a team. Especially when some of the goals conceded feel like they shouldn’t have happened. For example, FC Cincinnati’s first goal in the previous game against Atlanta 2 was a deflection that found its way in the net. Defender A.J. Cochran has done his best to lead the backline despite defensive struggles. The 25-year-old leads his team in every defensive category this season. His ability to read passing lanes and intercept attempts to play players in stands out most for Cochran, as he recorded five interceptions against FC Cincinnati.In order for McInerney to break through the backline of the Atlanta 2 defense, he’ll have to be fed in well as Cochran will be waiting to intercept lazy passes. Midfielders playing precise passes and freeing up McInerney will depend on his runs off the ball.

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8/17/18 Indy 11 win & host home games next 2 Weds, La Liga, Serie A Start, What Leagues are on Which Networks, Full TV Game Schedule

August 17, 2018 gatorbest

INDY 11

So my buddy Paul and I made it out for the Huge come from behind win for the Indy 11 over North Carolina last night 3-2 with the winner scored in the 90^th minute! But there is one thing I don’t understand? Fans why aren’t you going to Indy 11 games anymore? Really I want to know – sure it was a solid crowd for a Wed night – but if Cincinnati can put 25K in an outdoor university stadium downtown why can’t we do 10K PLUS in 1 of the nicest NFL stadiums around? Ticket pricing is reasonable (cheapest seats $15 or cheaper with specials), the stadium is fantastic –with great concessions, easy parking, great bathrooms and what is truly one of the nicest stadiums around. The BYB supporters section behind the goal provides a solid atmosphere – and the team is in playoff contention and playing pretty good soccer. So why don’t you go?? I can’t help but think if we don’t start filling at least ¾ of the lower bowl – our Eleven may not play here again – and man this is a big time stadium with great big replay screens, and lots of things to do inside the stadium. Indy 11 casual fans, rec players, travel players, parents of soccer players – you need to get to a game while we still have a competitive team playing in a fantastic venue – or we might just not have them anymore.

The Eleven are about to embark on a run of 6 games in 21 days that will probably determine if the team makes the playoffs. Two of the games are on Wednesday nights and special pricing is in play to see those games for as low at $10 per ticket. Our Boys in Blue return home the next 2 Wed Aug 15 + 22 + 29, + Sat Aug 25 + Sept 1 and of course discount tickets below $15 are available Click here for Discount Tickets for the Game and enter 2018 INDY as the promo code.

Sat 8/18 2 pm ESPN+ Ottawa vs Indy 11 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

Wed 8/22 7 pm MyIndy23 Indy 11 vs Toronto FC II

Sat 8/25 7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Atlanta United FC 2 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

Wed 8/29 7 pm myIndy23 Indy 11 vs Pittsburg Riverhounds SC

Sat Sept 1 7 pm Wish TV 8 Indy 11 vs Richmond Kickers

Wed Sept 5 7 pm Wish TV 8 Indy 11 vs NY Red Bulls II

World Leagues Where Can You Watch Them?

The European Leagues are all starting their seasons either last week, this weekend or next weekend – now the question is where are the games Televised? Of course American soccer MLS and USL (the league the INDY 11 is in now), and NWSL (women’s league), and of course the US National teams continue to be featured on US TV on ESPN, Fox Sports 1, Yes TV and Lifetime (NWSL) along with ESPN and Fox Sports online. The new ESPN+ carries some MLS and all the USL games including the away Indy 11 games and costs $5 a month for online coverage. (Yes I broke down and signed up to watch our Indy 11 and some MLS games especially Columbus and Chicago.)

NBCSN and NBC continue to show the English Premier League EPL- with just a few American’s playing with the occasional game on CNBC and MSNBC now and again with games on Sat and Sunday mornings starting as early at 7:30 am and continuing thru the 12:30 kickoff often on NBC. They also often have games on a Monday afternoon (Monday night football) and the occasional Friday afternoon (Friday night football) at 2:45 pm. NBCSN have good show’s before and after the games along with the Goal Zone which reviews the goals each day. Now if the game is not being featured on TV you have to order the NBC Gold Package ($50) which does allow you to watch the games not shown along with replays of all the games each club (4 each) will have games on NBC Gold only unfortunately. Also online is TalkSport – where you can listen to the Radio version of the EPL games as broadcast in England. (You will often see me on Saturday’s plugged in to my cell listening to a game). American’ players Deandre Yedlin starts at right back for New Castle United, Danny Williams plays Dmid for Huddersfield (the coach is also a former US National Team player David Wagner), and Fulham has American defender Tim Ream and MF Luca de la Torre. Sitting the bench are Arsenal’s MF Gideon Zelalem, Cardiff City’s GK Chris Konopka and Man United’s defender Matthew Olosunde. See full season previews below but I like Man City and Liverpool to battle for the top slot in the EPL while Tottenham and either Man United or Chelsea will finish top 4. I think Arsenal plays better overall in their first season after Wenger but will be on the outside looking in at the end of the season.

The Bundesliga continues to be on Fox Sports 1 & 2 & Fox Soccer with the most American’s in any league being featured starting next weekend. The Bundesliga is perhaps the most underrated of Europe’s top three leagues, providing exciting, attacking football, albeit with a predictable champion. Fox doesn’t do a great job with its Bundesliga rights, but it does an adequate job and it actually shows them on TV and gives you the ability to watch online via your cable login. Fox typically broadcasts Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund matches along with other teams at 9:30 am and 12:30 pm on weekends outside of the 2:45 pm Friday and Monday matches. Now Fox Sports losing their buts on the World Cup without the US – seems to have resulted in Fox giving up on soccer. They lose the Champions League, Europa League, and the FA Cup.

Serie A Kicks off Season on ESPN+ this Weekend

The big move of the summer was of course multi-time player of the Year and the leading scorer in Champions League Christiano Renaldo from Real Madrid to the Italian League Serie A’s Juventus. The move has lead to ESPN signing a contract to show Serie A games on ESPN+ starting with the game on Saturday at noon between Juve and Chevio, Lazio follows at 2:30 pm. Sunday gives us Torino vs Roma at Noon on ESPN News with all the other games at 2:30 on ESPN+. I like Juventus of course to win the League with the addition of scoring machine Renaldo- I look for Napoli to finish 2^nd if they can find a good goalkeeper while Roma and Inter Milan will battle for that 3^rd Champions League spot.

Spain’s La Liga Kicks off Friday on beIN Sport

beIN Sport continues to carry La Liga Spanish and Ligue 1 French soccer this season (LA LIGA Starts Friday) – they also have one of the best Review shows on TV The Extra at 7 pm and various other times EVERY day. Most Spanish and French games are in the afternoon in the US on Sat and Sundays and some Fridays. beIN sports has my favorite announcing team in Phil Schoen and Rocky Ray Hudson. Most of the time, beIN will broadcast the Real Madrid and Barcelona matches each weekend with a smattering of some of the other top few teams like Atlético Madrid, Villarreal and Valencia. LaLiga will continue a schedule that includes a 3 p.m. EST game on Friday, Saturday matches at 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Sunday matches at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and a Monday match at 2:30 p.m., with occasional midweek matches. I think my Atletico Madrid– will finally break thru and win the Spanish League this season – as the full team returns including French World Cup winner Antoine Greizmann and backstop Oblak, with some added firepower for the Man in Black Diego Simeone –Now is the time for the people’s team to make the breakthrough and unseat the traditional champions with much bigger payrolls – Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their 4-2 win over Real Madrid in the EUFA Supercup was impressive Wed!

Gol TV carries live Portegues soccer and the occasional German game. All of the main channels have apps that allow you to watch online – so download those apps today and catch a game on the phone if you like. (Email me if you want to borrow my login – I have them all). (see more Season previews below on http://theoleballcoach.com-

EPL Weekend #2

We have some big games in Week 2 of the EPL as teams battling for a top 4 spot – each with new coaches will face off as Chelsea will host Arsenal at 12:30 pm on NBC, after my ole favorite – FULHAM America – faces Tottenham at Wembley at 10 am on NBCSN. US defender Tim Ream will have his hands full with Harry Kane and the Spur stars. Not sure if US defender Deandre Yedlin will be back from his knee knock for New Castle as they travel to Cardiff City at 7:25 again on NBCSN. ESPN gives us Seattle the hottest team in MLS hosting the LA Galaxy (Zlatan) at 4 pm. While Sunday we get top ranked East teams Atlanta hosting Columbus on ESPN+ at 4 pm and DC United and Wayne Rooney hosting NE. Monday Liverpool will feature at 3 pm vs Crystal Palace. (Bill we watching at pub?)

Carmel FC Goalies don’t forget 2 Goalie trainings this Fall with GK coach Kristian Nicht and Me – the ole ballcoach starts back up – Weds at Shelbourne & Thurs at Badger Field 6-7 pm U11-U12 7 to 8 pm U13 – U19. Also some teams are still looking for players for the Travel season reach-out to the ole ballcoach if interested.

Finally as both Recreation and Travel Soccer Games are starting in full scale this weekend – I thought it good timing to include some links reminding us all as coaches, parents, and players what really matters in sports.

Great Link for Parents about Coaches and Refs – Frank Martin USC Basketball Coach

Game Day Nutrition for Youth Soccer Players

6 Simple Values Learned Thru Playing Sports – from Indiana Soccer Director of Education – Steve Franklin

GAMES ON TV This Week

Fri, Aug 17

2:45 pm ESPN3 Schweinfurt vs Schalke (Mckinney)

2:45 pm beIN Sport Stade Reims vs Olympique Lyonnais (French)

4:15 pm beIN Sport Real Betis vs Levante (Spain)

7 pm SEC Network Florida vs Washington

Sat, Aug 18

7:30 am NBCSN Newcastle United (Yedlin) vs Cardiff

10 am NBCSN Tottenham vs Fulham (Tim Ream)

10:50 am beIN Sport EA Guingamp vs PSG (Tim Weah)

12 noon ESPN+ Juventus (Renaldo) vs Chievo (La Liga)

12:30 pm NBCSN Chelsea vs Arsenal

1:55 pm beIN Sport Monaco vs Lille (French)

2 pm ESPN+ Ottawa vs Indy 11 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

2:30 pm ESPN+ Lazio vs Napoli (Serie A)

4 pm ESPN Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy (Zlatan)

4:05 pm beIN Sport Barcelona vs Alaves (SP)

7 pm Yes Network Philly Union vs NYCFC

10 pm FS2 Monterey vs Pumas (Mexican)

Sun, Aug 19

8 am NBCSN Man City vs Huddersfield Town (Danny Williams)

11 am NBCSN Brighton vs Man United

12 noon ESPN News Torino vs Roma (Serie A)

4 pm beIN Sport Real Madrid vs Getafe

4 pm ESPN+ Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew

7:30 pmFS1 DC United (Rooney) vs New England

7 pm SEC Network+ Florida vs Fla Atlantic

Mon, Aug 20

10 am FS2 U20 Womens WC Semi-Final

1:30 pm FS2 U20 France vs Spain WC Semi-Final

2 pm beIN Sport Valencia vs Atletico Madrid

3 pm NBCSN Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

Wed, Aug 22

7 pm FS 1 NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls – NY Darby

7 pm myindytv/espn+ Indy 11 vs Toronto 2

Thurs, Aug 23

7 pm ESPN+ Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew

10 pm FS2 Tijuana vs Santos Laguna (Mex)

Fri, Aug 24 German Bundesliga Starts

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim

7 pm ESPN Orlando City (Cam Lindley) vs Atlanta United

10:30 pm ESPN LA Galaxy vs LAFC (El Traffico 3)

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US Players in Europe

These Are the Oversea’s US Players to Watch – Brian Straus SI

Yanks Abroad: Goals around the globe

Tim Weah scores in PSG’s season opener

USA 2-2 tie with Spain not enough to advance out of group at U20 Women’s World Cup

USMNT Weekly Youth Update: Emmanuel Sabbi hot streak continues

Emmanuel Sabbi should be the next young attacker to get a USMNT chance

S. Soccer doesn’t need to hire a USMNT U-23 coach

U.S. Soccer Development Academy Must Expand

EPL

DeAndre Yedlin Knee Injury not Serious – New Castle Confirms – ESPN

5 Things we Learned this Weekend in th EPL – yahoo soccer

Pogba’s Powerplay at United?

Sessegnon – Fulham were taught Premier League lesson by Crystal Palace

EPL Season Predictor – 538

EPL Preview – the Ringer Audio

WORLD

Where to Watch the European Games this Season

Where to watch UEFA Champions League and Europa League on US TV and streaming-World Soccer Talk

Turner TV Hi-Jacks Champions League and Europa League Games from Fox

ICC Cup Folks to Partner with La Liga to Bring a Regular Season Game to the US

Costa and Atletico Madrid deliver Statement Win in Supercup over Real Madrid 4-2

LA LIGA PREVIEW – Is It Finally Atletico’s Year to Topple Real Madrid and Barcelona? – ESPNFC Graham Hunter

La Liga Preview SI

Who had Better Signings in La Liga Race?

Coutinho Will Never Replace Iniesta at Barca – and that’s just Fine

Messi Captures Record 33^rd Title with Barca in Spanish Supercup win as Captain

Allegri Eyes Champions League as Renaldo Scores in 8 min of first game for Juventus

Renaldo’s Move to Juve could be a Boost to Serie A

Goalies

EPL Saves of the Week 1

Best Saves of the World Cup

Save of the Week – National Womens SL –

Golden Glove Winner Courtois Moved from Chelsea to Real Madrid for Family Reasons

MLS Save

Mattia Perin out to Prove Worthy Heir to Gigi Buffon for Juve and Italy

Bilbao GK Kepa Arrizabalaga becomes most Expensive GK with $71 Million Dollar move to Chelsea

Former Roma GK Allisson a Steal for Liverpool at $66 Million

Top Fantasy GK Picks for the EPL

Top Save totals at World Cup by GK

MLS

Jose Altidore draws interest of Serie A and Ligue 1 Teams – Jeff Carlisle ESPNFC

Would you rather have Zlatan or Rooney?

Anthony Precourt Gets 1 Step Closer to Pimping out the Columbus Crew to Austin Tx dead spin Bill Haisley

Seattle Hosts LA Galaxy and Zlatan Sat Aug 14 4 pm on ESPN riding a Winning Streak

Can Martinez break the MLS scoring record Sunday?

Discuss: Revs or D.C. a more likely playoff team?

Another late run? Seattle swear it’s not by design

2019 CONCACAF Champions League Qualifying Process is Qualified

Power Rankings: NY teams put the heat on ATL

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Indy 11

Dramatic Goal in the 90^th Minute Lifts Indy 11 over NC 3-2

Football Lines will be Visible at Games with New Indy Colts Turf Installed

KEYS TO THE MATCH | #LOUVIND

Indy 11 Add New Players from MLS

Indy 11 Sends United Way Donor to MLS All-Star Game

Indy 11 Discount Tickets for Wednesday’s Game! (Code 2018Indy)

Soccer Saturday – Radio Show 9-10 am on 1070 the Fan

Parking passes at Gate10 Events is $11 with advance purchase. $15 day of. Save $$$ by buying early.

INDY 11 GAMES

Sat 8/18 2 pm ESPN+ Ottawa vs Indy 11 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

Wed 8/22 7 pm MyIndy23 Indy 11 vs Toronto FC II

Sat 8/25 7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Atlanta United FC 2 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

Wed 8/29 7 pm myIndy23 Indy 11 vs Pittsburg Riverhounds SC

Sat Sept 1 7 pm Wish TV 8 Indy 11 vs Richmond Kickers

Wed Sept 5 7 pm Wish TV 8 Indy 11 vs NY Red Bulls II

GAMES ON TV

Fri, Aug 17

2:45 pm ESPN3 Schweinfurt vs Schalke (Mckinney)

2:45 pm beIN Sport Stade Reims vs Olympique Lyonnais (French)

4:15 pm beIN Sport Real Betis vs Levante (Spain)

7 pm SEC Network Florida vs Washington

Sat, Aug 18

7:30 am NBCSN Newcastle United (Yedlin) vs Cardiff

10 am NBCSN Tottenham vs Fulham (Tim Ream)

10:50 am beIN Sport EA Guingamp vs PSG (Tim Weah)

12 noon ESPN+ Juventus (Renaldo) vs Chievo (La Liga)

12:30 pm NBCSN Chelsea vs Arsenal

1:55 pm beIN Sport Monaco vs Lille (French)

2 pm ESPN+ Ottawa vs Indy 11 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

2:30 pm ESPN+ Lazio vs Napoli (Serie A)

4 pm ESPN Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy (Zlatan)

4:05 pm beIN Sport Barcelona vs Alaves (SP)

7 pm Yes Network Philly Union vs NYCFC

10 pm FS2 Monterey vs Pumas (Mexican)

Sun, Aug 19

8 am NBCSN Man City vs Huddersfield Town (Danny Williams)

11 am NBCSN Brighton vs Man United

12 noon ESPN News Torino vs Roma (Serie A)

2:30 pm FS2 Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich Super Cup

4 pm beIN Sport Real Madrid vs Getafe

4 pm ESPN+ Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew

7:30 pmFS1 DC United (Rooney) vs New England

7 pm SEC Network+ Florida vs Fla Atlantic

Mon, Aug 20

10 am FS2 U20 Womens WC Semi-Final

1:30 pm FS2 U20 France vs Spain WC Semi-Final

2 pm beIN Sport Valencia vs Atletico Madrid

3 pm NBCSN Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

Wed, Aug 22

7 pm FS 1 NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls – NY Darby

7 pm myindytv/espn+ Indy 11 vs Toronto 2

Thurs, Aug 23

7 pm ESPN+ Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew

10 pm FS2 Tijuana vs Santos Laguna (Mex)

Fri, Aug 24 German Bundesliga Starts

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim

7 pm ESPN Orlando City (Cam Lindley) vs Atlanta United

10:30 pm ESPN LA Galaxy vs LAFC (El Traffico 3)

Sat, Aug 25

7:30 am NBCSN Wolverhampton vs Man city

9:30 am FS 1 Wolfsburg vs Schalke (McKinney)

10 am NBCSN Arsenal vs West Ham United

12 noon beIN Sport Juventus vs Lazio

12:30 pm NBCSN Liverpool vs Brighton

12:30 pm FS 1 M’Gladbach (Johnson) vs Bayer Leverkusen

7 pm ESPN+ Atlanta 2 vs Indy 11 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

8 pm ESPN News Washington Spirit vs Portland Thorns (Ladies)

Sun, Aug 26

8 am NBCSN Watford vs Crystal Palace

9:30 am FS1 Mainz vs Stuttgart

11 am NBCSN New Castle United vs Chelsea

12 noon Fox Soccer Dortmund (Pulisic) vs RB Leipzig

2:30 pm FS2 Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich Super Cup

4 pm beIN Sport Girona vs Real Madrid

7:30 pmFS1 DC United (Rooney) vs New England

7 pm Fox Sport1 NY Red Bulls vs DC United (Rooney)

9:30 pm FS1 Portland vs Seattle Sounders (Cascadia Cup)

Mon, Aug 27

3 pm NBCSN Manchester United vs Tottenham

Fri, Sept 7

7:30 pm FS1 USA vs Brazil (Metlife)

Tues, Sept 11

8:30 pm ESPN USA vs Mexico in Nashville (anyone want to go?)

Thurs, Oct 11

7:30 pm FSI USA vs Colombia (Tampa)

Thurs, Nov 15

3 pm ESPN2 England vs USA (Wembley)

Sat, Nov 20

3 pm ESPN2 Italy vs USMNT

By Donald Wine II @blazindw Aug 10, 2018, 8:00am PDT

RECAP | INDY ELEVEN CLINCH THREE POINTS AGAINST NORTH CAROLINA FC, 3-2

By James Higdon, 08/15/18, 11:45PM EDT

Dramatic ending sees “Indiana’s Team” march away with a homecoming win

Indy Eleven claim three points in a homecoming fixture against North Carolina FC, 3-2. Goals from forwards Eugene Starikov and Ben Speas, and a dramatic late goal from midfielder Juan Guerra, sees the “Boys in Blue” jump to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.“Indiana’s Team” gained the upper hand early in the evening. A well-placed cross from Eleven forward Jack McInerney from the right edge of the pitch found Starikov at the top of Carolina’s six-yard box in the seventh minute. The Ukrainian forward scored his third goal of the season after his sliding shot edged around NCFC defender DJ Taylor. McInerney nearly got the first a minute prior after service from defender Kevin Venegas found him in front of NCFC’s goal, but a misplaced touch sent the attempt just wide of the post.

“He [Starikov] was out for two and a half months. You didn’t get to see him and we didn’t really get to use him.” said Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie. “Now we’re seeing the benefit of having him on the field and he’s scoring.”After a number of offensive pushes, NCFC came close to leveling the one-goal lead in the 21st minute. NCFC midfielder Kyle Bekker linked up with unmarked midfielder Marcel Kandziora inside Indy’s 18-yard box. Attempting to catch Eleven keeper Owain Fon Williams off his line, Kandziora chipped his shot high towards the net. The Welshman managed to get a touch, but it wasn’t enough to divert the ball from goal. The score looked to be even before a miraculous goal line clearance from Eleven defender Carlyle Mitchell kept the ball from crossing over. Kandziora came knocking again in the 28th minute with a shot 19 yards out, but ended wide of Indy’s frame.Indy responded to NCFC’s onslaught of chances by doubling its lead. In the 31st minute, Venegas bodied the ball away from Kandziora in Carolina’s defensive half. Speas waited nearby to receive the turnover. With three quick touches, Speas registered the match’s second goal, and his third in 2018, from 27 yards out.“It was a spectacular goal and he’s capable of that and we just want to see him on the ball more,” said Rennie. “He defended a lot too.”Refusing to end the first half scoreless, North Carolina narrowed the gap with a stoppage time free kick. The free kick opportunity came after a yellow card offense from Mitchell outside Indy’s 18-yard box. The linesman blew his whistle as defender Aaron Guillen and Bekker stood over the dead ball. Guillen charged past the ball as Bekker curled his shot into the lower left corner of Indy’s net.Both teams found and left chances in front of goal throughout the second half until NCFC hit its equalizer in the 77th minute. Carolina substitute defender Wullito Fernandes’ square pass bounced into Indy’s six-yard box where substitute forward Marios Lomis nodded the ball between the posts.In dramatic fashion, Indy managed to net one final goal, and the winner, in the 90th minute when Juan Guerra made the most of a deflected shot inside NCFC’s 18-yard box. The goal was Guerra’s first since joining the “Boys in Blue” earlier this year.Coach Rennie partially credited the new turf in Lucas Oil Stadium to tonight’s victory.
“It was a much better game tonight and there was much more passing and interchanging,” Rennie said. “The surface does play a lot better so that’s one big plus. The players made the most of it and I thought they did a good job.”Indy hit the road three days from now to take on Ottaway Fury FC for the second time in 2018. Shortly after, the “Boys in Blue” return to home turf once again to face Toronto FC II on Wednesday, August 22, at 7:00 p.m.. Fans can get tickets to the midweek fixture by visiting IndyEleven.com/Tickets or by calling (37)685-1100.

USL Regular Season -Indy Eleven 3:2 North Carolina FC
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana

Scoring Summary:

IND – Eugene Starikov (Jack McInerney) 7′
IND – Ben Speas (Kevin Venegas) 31′
NC – Kyle Bekker 45+1′
NC – Marios Lomis (Wullito Fernandes) 77′
IND – Juan Guerra 90′

Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2, L–>R): Owain Fôn Williams (GK); Reiner Ferreira, Carlyle Mitchell, Ayoze, Kevin Venegas; Nico Matern, Matt Watson (C), Ben Speas (Seth Moses 62′), Juan Guerra; Eugene Starikov (Elliot Collier 84′), Jack McInerney (Soony Saad 74′) Indy Eleven bench: Ben Lundgaard (GK); Brad Ring, Karl Ouimette, Seth Moses, Zach Steinberger, Soony Saad, Elliot Collier

North Carolina FC lineup (4-5-1, L–>R): Alex Tambakis (GK); DJ Taylor, Tobin Connor, Michael Harrison, Aaron Guillen; Austin da Luz, Kyle Bekker, Steve Miller (Marios Lomis 45′), Marcel Kandziora (Wullito Fernandes 74′), Andre Fortune; Donovan Ewolo (Daniel Rios 87′)

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As the USMNT Turns Toward the Future, These Are the Overseas Players to Watch

By BRIAN STRAUS August 13, 2018

If a new global soccer cycle wasn’t set in motion the moment Hugo Lloris lifted the World Cup four weeks ago in Moscow, then it certainly began this weekendThe Premier League, Ligue 1, Eredivisie and Argentine Superliga campaigns kicked off. Germany and Spain staged their super cup games (UEFA’s version is Wednesday). Bayern Munich won by five goals, Cristiano Ronaldo found the net for Juventus (yes, it was an intra-club exhibition, but all of CR7’s bianconeri firsts will be momentous) and Arsenal’s title hopes were dashed. So it’s official. The page has turned and the new quadrennium is upon us.For U.S. national team watchers, that dawn should bring a slight sigh of relief. The pain caused by missing the World Cup was real, but the grinding-your-teeth-as-Panama-plays-Belgium portion is in the past. The World Cup cycle is over for everybody, and all but France—that leaves 210 nations—move forward with questions or concerns. So the USA is no longer an outlier, and it may even have had a slight head start thanks to last fall’s qualifying failure. A bunch of new American internationals made their senior debuts in the ensuing friendlies. Meanwhile, the U.S. Soccer Federation, under a new president, appointed its first national team GM. Earnie Stewart is on the job and has been charged with identifying the next full-time coach.

That search continues as the European and Latin American seasons begin, and the U.S. national team’s impending overhaul—not to mention the increasing spending power of many MLS clubs—ensures they’ll be seasons like no other. The days of following key U.S. veterans in Europe are over. That’s in part because many returned to MLS, and in part because now, there aren’t really that many key U.S. veterans. With a new coach coming, four years to go before the next World Cup and 10 months before the next official competition, there’s not much sense in relying on older players at this point. In fact, you’d probably need only one hand to count the men over 25 who should play a key role over the next 18 months.The U.S. national team is young. So is its foreign contingent. European clubs with the resources to invest in (or gamble on) American talent, not to mention their incentive to develop it and the logistical ease of giving young players a taste of first-team action, have become attractive options—especially as more MLS teams seem to rely on imports. While there’s been a drop in the number of established U.S. players abroad, there are more potential stars overseas than ever. Watching Americans in foreign leagues now is as much about keeping track of the national side’s future as its present.“We all that sense that there’s a small nucleus of veterans, and it’s probably one of the first times in a long time—if not the first time—we’re starting with a bunch of fresh faces,” Schalke 04 midfielder Weston McKennie, 19, told SI.com this spring. “[There are] a bunch of fresh faces at once. It’s kind of like building an actual new foundation of a house that’s been broken down.”McKennie, an FC Dallas product who’s impressed in his four appearances with the senior U.S. side, said there’s no definitive right or wrong when it comes to choosing Europe or MLS at the start of a career. It depends on the player. But he was clear when asked why Germany has been right for him and his good friend and Revierderby rival, Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmund.“You see that Dortmund sees a future in the player, sees the development [possibility] and does everything they can to develop that person. If they think he’s ready, they’ll move him up,” McKennie said. “Over here [in the USA], it’s a little bit harder. You have college. You have eligibility rights. That’s one of the differences in Europe. If a player is 15 years old and you have an injured player on the first team in Europe, you can move that 15-year-old onto the roster for that weekend. In America, you can’t do that because he can’t go to college then, and doesn’t want to risk that future at 15.”McKennie and Pulisic are among the more than two dozen U.S.-eligible players now in Germany, where clubs spend more time and money on development than just about anywhere in the world. The pair has compatriots in England, France and several other significant European leagues, and there are a couple up-and-coming players to watch in Mexico as well.As the season begins, here’s a look at the present and future national teamers with big years ahead for foreign clubs.

FRANCE

We’ll start with the country that won the World Cup, and a player with sensational pedigree who’s already starting to make his own name—forward Timothy Weah. The New York City-born son of former FIFA World Player of the Year George Weah, 18-year-old Tim plays with enough skill and confidence to stick around at a loaded Paris Saint-Germain side that’s gunning for a Champions League title. Once the season is in full swing, he’ll likely have to settle for spot duty behind the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Edinson Cavani. But Weah has made the most of his opportunities so far, scoring in PSG’s Trophée des Champions defeat of Monaco and then Sunday’s Ligue 1 opener, landing himself a spot on the cover of L’Equipe.

At some point, Weah may go up against U.S. defender Matt Miazga, whose loans away from parent club Chelsea took him to the Netherlands and now to Nantes. The 23-year-old has seven U.S. caps and is one of several center backs 25 or younger competing to anchor the American back four. Miazga won the KNVB Cup with Vitesse Arnhem and even captained the team, but Ligue 1 will represent a step up. Miazga was in the 18 but didn’t play in Saturday’s 3–1 loss to Monaco.

ENGLAND

The number of U.S. players in the Premier League is low, and may drop further temporarily as we wait to hear how much time Newcastle United’s DeAndre Yedlin will miss after suffering a knee injury on Saturday. The right back is 25 but has 52 caps already—experience that would be valuable to an incoming U.S. manager.

Yedlin is the only established EPL American who has an obvious national team future. Fulham’s Tim Ream, 30, and Huddersfield Town’s Danny Williams, 29, may be too old to play a part in the U.S. rebuild. Instead, it’s worth paying attention to how Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, Manchester United defender Matthew Olosunde and Fulham midfielder Luca de la Torre—each is 20 years old—progress with their clubs. Carter-Vickers spent time last season at Sheffield United and Ipswich Town and could be headed back out on loan.

In the lower tiers, Wigan Athletic left back Antonee Robinson, an Everton loanee, and skillful Sunderland midfielder Lynden Gooch have international potential and will be getting minutes. That’ll keep them on the U.S. radar, and Gooch’s strong start in League One may attract interest from above.

GERMANY

Steady speculation about a Premier League move for Pulisic didn’t pan out, which means the attacker will remain in Dortmund until at least the winter. But the pressure isn’t any lighter at the Westfalenstadion, where BVB has struggled to keep with up Bayern and where Pulisic didn’t make much obvious progress in his second full pro season. That’s not a slight against him. He’ll turn 20 next month. But now entering his third Bundesliga campaign, and with the USA’s future clearly tied to his growth and performance, he’ll have to take another step forward—whether it’s to spark the attack for Dortmund or entice offers from even bigger clubs.

McKennie is a midfield dynamo who scored in a friendly win over Fiorentina this weekend. His development seems inexorable, and he’ll be worth watching as a likely starter during Schalke’s Champions League campaign.

Among younger U.S. vets in Germany, both Wolfsburg defender John Brooks and Hannover 96 forward Bobby Wood, each 25, will be looking to bounce back from difficult 2017–18 seasons. They’ll both almost surely remain part of the national team picture, assuming Brooks’s health and Wood’s production rebound. On the younger side, striker Josh Sargent, 18, already has three U.S. caps and one goal even though he’s yet to make his official debut with Werder Bremen. He’s played and scored for the club’s U-23 side, but it’s unclear how or if he’ll be used when Bundesliga play begins at the end of the month.Nürnberg’s Timothy Tillman, Bayern’s Chris Richards and Schalke’s U.S. pair of Haji Wright and Nick Taitague are among the other new names to file away. In the 2. Bundesliga, Julian Green (Greuther Fürth) and Joe Gyau (MSV Duisburg) remain active.

ELSEWHERE

Right back Shaquell Moore made his senior U.S. debut in June and will spend 2018–19 on loan from Levante to Reus Deportiu in Spain’s Segunda División. Moore’s league season begins Sunday at Las Palmas.

In the Netherlands, center back Erik Palmer-Brown is on loan from Manchester City to NAC Breda. He didn’t play in a 5–0 loss to AZ Alkmaar to open the Eredivisie season, which may be a good thing. Forward Andrija Novakovich, who got his first U.S. minutes in March, tallied an impressive 22 goals last season for Telstar in the Dutch second tier. He’s now moved up a level with newly-promoted Fortuna Sittard, going 90 minutes in their 1–1 draw at Excelsior on Saturday.

In Belgium, winger Kenny Saief, 24, remains an intriguing player who’ll spend his first full season at powerhouse Anderlecht. His introduction to the U.S. setup has been limited by injuries. Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, who has been beaten to the national team No. 1 shirt by the Columbus Crew’s Zack Steffen, remains at Club Brugge.

Where in Europe will you find American players?

The continent has a lot of soccer, and everywhere you turn, there will be an American to watch

The opening of the 2018-2019 European club seasons are starting all across the continent, and several fans in the United States are ready to see more soccer hit their TVs on weekend mornings. Many people have their favorite teams, whether they happen to be in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, or another league in the world. Others are happy playing the role of neutral when watching the major European clubs battle for trophies and international glory.

Still, when you’re watching these matches, you probably gravitate in some way towards matches that feature an American player, whether it’s a star like Christian Pulisic or a young emerging talent like Timothy Weah. So, while it’s by no means an exhaustive list, consider this your go-to list of American players in leagues all across Europe. Some of these players may feature primarily for their club’s reserve or youth team, but they are all listed under the main club they are currently with or play on loan:

Champions League Coverage Set To Get Screwy The Same Way EPL Coverage Has

Billy Haisley 8/17/17 11:31am

In their infinite wisdom, NBC recently saw fit to take a good and beloved Premier League broadcast strategy and make it bad and hated by cleaving its once-unified televised and streaming services into two smaller and less satisfying parts, and charging for each separately. Turner, which recently bought Champions League broadcast rights starting with the 2018-19 season, has a similar money-grubbing plan, which will neuter Champions League coverage in the U.S. even more than NBC’s decision has done to the Premier League.For all the problems with NBC’s new, crippled Premier League coverage, at least their televised product is still more than acceptable. On any given weekend, most of the matches that the majority of EPL fans would be most interested in watching will be found somewhere on TV. Only about one-third of the league season’s matches will be stuck behind the streaming paywall, which means for many cable-subscribing fans of the Prem, the over-the-top streaming service is a luxury rather than a necessity they need to pay for in order to follow the league.This is not the case with Turner’s plans for the Champions League. Here’s some goober at the New York Times explaining Turner’s scheme:

Turner Broadcasting was a surprise winner earlier this year in the bidding for rights to the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s top club soccer competition. But what the company plans do with the rights may be even more surprising: Launch a stand-alone sports streaming service next year that will broadcast the vast majority of the games. Many of the most important Champions League games, including the semifinals and final, will still be broadcast on cable television. But starting next summer, more than 80 percent of the matches will only be available to fans who pay for the new subscription service — the latest move by a media organization to monetize unused parts of a multimillion-dollar sports rights deal.

That’s right: Fox Sports’ eminently accessible strategy of consistently televising at least two Champions League matches every matchday, and allowing you to stream every other UCL match online just by logging into their website with your cable info if neither of the televised games tickle your fancy, has now been sliced all to hell.

That cable subscribers will only be able to watch 20 percent of the applicable Champions League matches on TV isn’t really the problem, since that was more or less the case with Fox’s coverage, too. The problem is that if you want to watch one of those other games, you’ll now have to pay a fee to stream them when before streaming came free—as it should—with your cable subscription. Not only does this make the cable-only option untenable as a way of following the UCL season, the over-the-top service by itself isn’t a satisfactory substitute, either.Turner, like NBC, will not let its over-the-top subscribers stream the matches they televise. During the group stages and early knockout rounds, then, subscribers will often miss out on the big, juicy matchups Turner deigns to televise unless they subscribe to yet another service like Sling, which will allow them to watch games on Turner TV stations on their desktops at work. Nor will they be able to stream the later rounds of the knockout stages like the semifinals and the final. Thus, the over-the-top service has the appearance of being a good way for cord cutters to get the soccer they crave, but in reality is just another way to charge extra by compelling any serious fan to stump up for multiple services.

The specifics of Turner’s plans are even worse:

Of the 340 annual Champions League and Europa League matches that Turner acquired — games that have become a midweek afternoon staple for American fans — only about 60 will appear on television, mostly on truTV. The semifinals and finals of the Champions League will air on either TNT or TBS, as will the Europa League final.

Through the Champions League group stage in the fall, Turner will televise four matches a week — two each on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern time. Beginning with the knockout stage in February, Turner will televise two matches a week, one each on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Look at this horseshit! Group stage matches and even the semifinals and the final will be shown only on channels like truTV and TNT, which means that those hoping to go the stream-only route won’t be able to catch the biggest games of the season without ponying up twice one way or another. And for the TV-only crowd, Turner’s decision to only show a single game each matchday during the knockout rounds practically guarantees that they will miss out on some critical, competitive Round of 16 and quarterfinals matches and instead will have settle for whatever Turner’s bean-counters think will get the most ratings and thus will decide to televise.

That’s probably the biggest problem here—the matches Turner will and will not choose to air. It’s safe to predict that Turner’s match selection hierarchy will look something like this: 1) show the game that involves an English team; 2) pick the one in which Barcelona or Real Madrid play; 3) choose the one with another big-name club like Juventus or Bayern Munich; and 4) air whichever match looks to be the most competitive on paper. By constraining access to all their matches so stringently, Turner is sure to fail to cater to the desires of a huge number of fans.

If you’re a fan of a team outside England, even if it’s a big club like Bayern, you can be sure you’ll miss out on at least a couple of your squad’s games as Turner favors ones involving big British and Spanish teams. If you root for an even smaller club that nonetheless usually finds its way pretty deep into the competition—Benfica, say—then you might as well start saving up for the streaming service now, because your boys definitely won’t be getting on TV very often. And if you don’t have a particular horse in the race and would prefer to just watch the best match on offer, you’re going to find yourself shaking your head in disgust as some boring Manchester United vs. Ludogorets match bumps the Atlético Madrid vs. Napoli game that will obviously be the better spectacle. Viewer choice is critical in the Champions League, and starting next season Turner will have nearly eliminated it entirely unless you pay their ransom.Just like with NBC’s restrictive EPL coverage, it’s unclear whether Turner is making the right call here even in terms of their own bottom line. It might be economically prudent to squeeze all the juice out of the limited number of soccer super-fans who will have to pay the company twice in order to get all the soccer they want, but maybe it’s smarter to flood the growing market of diehard and casual soccer fans with as much product as possible so as to build a broader consumer base. All we know is that this is definitely a trend, and for fans, it’s a trend that really stinks.

Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid deliver statement of intent in Super Cup vs. Ronaldo-less Real Madrid

Aug 15, 2018Dermot CorriganMadrid correspondent

TALLINN, Estonia — Three thoughts on Europa League winners Atletico Madrid’s 4-2 win over Champions League holders Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.

Atletico finally get one over their local rivals

Atletico Madrid finally won a European “derbi,” with extra-time goals from homegrown midfielders Saul Niguez and Koke sealing a 4-2 UEFA Super Cup win over Real Madrid. Wednesday night’s thriller at Tallinn’s A. Le Coq Arena swung back and forth and into extra time, with Diego Costa netting twice for Atletico before Europa League holders Atletico finally got on top of triple-Champions League winners Madrid to take an extra sweet victory given all the history and local rivalry involved.It took just 49 seconds for Costa to rampage his way through the entire Madrid defence and hammer Atletico in front, with the equaliser near the half-hour mark coming when Gareth Bale’s superb curling right-footed cross was deftly headed home by Karim Benzema.The game continued to ebb and flow after the break, with the energy and skill levels surprisingly high given how the World Cup had affected both sides’ preseason preparation. Although Atletico’s new midfielders Rodri and Thomas Lemar were impressing, veteran defender Juanfran’s handball from a corner led to a penalty that Blancos skipper Sergio Ramos coolly converted for 2-1.That should really have been that, especially given Atletico’s history of five losses from five previous competitive European “derbis.” But Simeone’s side continued to battle on. With just over 10 minutes remaining Costa equalised, finishing from close range after excellent work from Juanfran and substitute Angel Correa.Early in extra time, Ramos was at fault as Atletico won the ball at the edge of the Madrid box, and substitute Thomas Partey crossed for Saul to flash home a superb volley. Another replacement, Vitolo, then swept a pass to Koke who arrowed a low shot past Navas for 4-2.In the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals, Atletico came up just short, with Madrid’s greater strength in depth and experience being key. That the last three Rojiblanco goals Wednesday night were all laid on by substitutes was a sign that, even though this was “just” the Super Cup, Diego Simeone’s side can now claim to be top dogs in the Spanish capital.

Bale and Benzema stand up, but need help

Losing the first big game of the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era is a big problem for Madrid’s new coach Julen Lopegetui, even if both Benzema and Bale showed they can deliver more now that they are out of the Portuguese’s shadow.The understanding between the two remaining members of the “BBC” trio was clear for Madrid’s equaliser, with a fully primed Bale sprinting away from Atletico’s World Cup-winning left-back Lucas Hernandez, and Benzema peeling away intelligently from marker Stefan Savic to find the space he needed to nod cleverly home. That was far from the only time the pair combined well.Benzema was also on the scene in forcing Juanfran into the spot kick early in the second period (although skipper Ramos showed he now tops the Bernabeu’s pecking order by grabbing the ball to convert). At 2-1 up, Bale worried Atletico with a driving run past five defenders before his shot was blocked, while in the very last move of normal time the Welshman almost set up a dramatic winner only for Marcelo to miskick his attempted volley.Emerging star Marco Asensio did not do badly in Ronaldo’s spot in attack, but Lopetegui sending on unproven youngster Borja Mayoral in extra time showed that Madrid have not yet fully covered the loss of the reigning Ballon d’Or winner. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez may still be persuaded to get his chequebook out before La Liga’s transfer window closes on Aug 31.

Real can’t stop Costa

The game began with a bang with Costa bouncing away from both Ramos and the equally sluggish Raphael Varane before lashing a shot high past Keylor Navas, who had left a glimmer of a gap at his near post. It was the quickest goal ever scored in a UEFA competition final, and set the tone for the night.Costa also soon got involved in a running battle with regular sparring partner Ramos, who with his arm caught his international teammate in the face. Actual strike partner Antoine Griezmann was less influential, and withdrawn early, clearly not match fit after only recently returning from a holiday after winning the World Cup.Atletico continued to press at 2-1 down, and Griezmann’s replacement Correa laid on an equaliser for Costa, who again showed hunger and aggression to be on the spot to fire home. The Brazilian-born forward also won the ball back for Atletico’s clinching fourth goal, in what was a man-of-the-match performance.Last season’s return from Chelsea did not go exactly to plan for Costa, not helped by six months on the sidelines due to Atletico’s FIFA transfer ban. Wednesday night’s display showed he is ready to roar in 2018-19 — and after Atleti’s summer he has plenty of teammates around him to help out too.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival will show the world that Serie A is full of drama

Aug 14, 2018James Horncastle

The impatience for Serie A to start is palpable in Italy. This country has always been football crazy, but the sense of anticipation is heightened this year. For a start, last season felt like the best in a long time.It was the most compelling of Europe’s top five leagues. More or less everybody had something to play for right until the end. The title race was alive going into May, and you didn’t know who had qualified for the Champions League or Europa League, not to mention who had stayed up until the final day. The tifosireturned to Italy’s stadiums in droves, boosting attendance figures and recreating the atmosphere that makes watching football in the bel paese such a special experience.When it was over, withdrawal symptoms immediately kicked in, partly because Italy’s football lovers anticipated that this would be a long summer. Mediaset’s coverage of the World Cup in Russia received higher-than-expected viewing figures, but Italy’s absence from the tournament for the first time in 60 years left fans bereft of a team to be emotionally invested in.The longing for Serie A to return only intensified once Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Juventus. That he chose the Old Lady and Italy was a huge compliment, a gesture that encouraged the optimists to think this is the most significant step yet in restoring Serie A to its former glory. The same could be said for the return of Carlo Ancelotti, who ended his nine-year tour of Europe’s blue-chip clubs and replaced Maurizio Sarri at Napoli.Still, not everyone saw it that way. In fact, some pushed back against the notion that the league — not just Juventus — would benefit as a whole from Ronaldo’s presence. Everyone would have gotten a better deal had the transfer gone through before the domestic TV rights were sorted out. But it wasn’t to be.La Repubblica columnist Angelo Carotenuto compared Juventus’ move for Ronaldo to Christopher Nolan’s film Interstellar: the clearest sign yet of the Bianconeri‘s intention to leave the crop plights and dust storms of Serie A behind for a new planet, where one day all of Europe’s elite teams will play in a Super League.Until then, debate is raging in Italy’s piazzas and bars about the treatment Ronaldo will get in Serie A. How many goals will he score in a country in which there is a tradition of world-class defending and shut-down tactics? In Spain they associate the triumvirate of Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema with all-star attacking play. In Italy, it’s legion-of-boom style defence featuring Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini.

While there are grains of truth in stereotypes, they don’t tell the whole story. Serie A has experienced a shift in emphasis in recent seasons. There were 2.68 goals per game in the supposedly faster, looser Premier League last season. It might surprise you to learn that in Serie A the ratio was exactly the same.Graduates of Italy’s Coverciano coaching school aren’t rejecting tradition, but a new generation of managers is taking its cues from the legacy of Arrigo Sacchi and the times in which we live. The world has become smaller, and exposure to other leagues is greater than ever, which has helped turn the tide from the “keep it tight”, counter-attacking methods of yore to prioritising expansive, proactive, attacking football.Antonio Cassano is probably right, rather than just plain provocative, when he says, “Ronaldo will score 40 goals.” But the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Mauro Icardi, Edin Dzeko, Dries Mertens, Andrea Belotti and Ciro Immobile will have something to say about the bookies making the five-time Ballon d’Or favourite to top the scoring charts. It’s up to them and the teams they spearhead to rise to the challenge.

Of course, seven consecutive Scudetti give the league a one-sided appearance, and it never helps when a season ends as predicted. But the last campionatowas delightfully competitive. After Liverpool, it’s fair to say that the most memorable performances in Europe last season came from Juventus and Roma, who made the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 34 years. Inter and Milan finally look to be in good hands, with wealthy backers delegating key decisions to the right people. The top six all have talented coaches. No one looks out of their depth.

Inter seem to have done the most to close the gap, luring Stefan de Vrij and Radja Nainggolan from the Eternal City, while also beating some of Europe’s biggest clubs to the signing of potential breakout star Lautaro Martinez. A lot is expected of Luciano Spalletti in his second season at San Siro. In Higuain, Milan have finally found an heir worthy of Pippo Inzaghi’s No. 9 shirt. Roma have assembled a team full of potential with a very high upside indeed. As for Napoli, it’s up to Ancelotti to stop a team that was so much greater than the sum of its parts under Sarri from regressing to the mean.The fascination doesn’t end with the upper class. The Inzaghi brothers, Pippo and Simone, will face off against each other in the ultimate sibling rivalry when Bologna play Lazio on Boxing Day. Justin Kluivert joins the father-and-son club of which Giovanni Simeone and Federico Chiesa are already part. Which reminds us: For all the attention garnered by the signing of a 33-year-old, Serie A feels like a young league, and not just because the only foreign manager in the top flight, Udinese boss Julio Velazquez, is only 36. Fiorentina’s team should probably still be in school it’s so fresh-faced. Encouragingly for Italy coach Roberto Mancini, talent is coming through. The under-19s finished runners-up at the Euros this summer, a year after Italy’s U20s reached the semis of the World Cup. Chiesa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nicolo Barella, Moise Kean and Alex Meret are the faces of a promising new generation.Romantics will be thrilled to see Parma back just three years after going bust and having to start over in Serie D. Emanuele Calaio’s WhatsApp messages almost threw their promotion into doubt, a reminder that chaos and controversy are never far away in Serie A and act as major protagonists in the drama it generates. Chievo feared relegation amid the suspicion aroused by the vast amounts of money they have made from trading unknown youth team players in recent years. Milan were thrown out of Europe and reinstated only after the repossession of the club by the Elliott hedge fund. Teams up and down the country, most notably Bari and Vicenza, keep going bust.The spotlight turned on Serie A by Ronaldo will illuminate the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s a weird and wonderful league. Now all that’s left to do is get the season started.

Ronaldo-Less Real Madrid, Atletico Seek to Dethrone Barcelona in La Liga

By LUIS MIGUEL ECHEGARAY August 14, 2018

For a second straight summer, La Liga is dealing with the aftermath of losing one of its most talented and marketable superstars, but its teams aren’t coming close to standing pat.A year after Neymar bolted Barcelona for PSG and weeks after Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus, it’s been a busy offseason for teams in Spain’s top division, with La Liga clubs investing nearly €700 million, including transfer fees and annual contracts, on players. The number will almost certainly rise, given that the transfer window doesn’t close until Aug. 31, and given that Real Madrid has yet to replace the Ronaldo with an attacking superstar.While the usual suspects (Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid) make up for almost half of the league’s spending, having brought in players such as Malcom (Barcelona), Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid) and Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Sevilla, Valencia, Villarreal and Real Betis look to crash the top-three party with ransfers of their own. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, newly promoted Huesca prepares for its first campaign in La Liga.Here are the major talking points ahead of the 2018-2019 season in Spain’s top flight.

BARCELONA STAYS THE FAVORITE

Despite losing legendary midfielder Andres Iniesta, Ernesto Valverde’s side starts the campaign as favorite to retain the league title. This summer, Barça conducted plenty of business by reconfiguring the squad and trimming its underperformers. Players such as Yerry Mina, Lucas Digne, Andre Gomes, Gerard Deulofeu and Aleix Vidal added depth at Camp Nou, but didn’t really give anything extra when needed, especially during busy periods when the club was forced to play in league, cup and UEFA tournaments. It could be argued that Mina, who arrived last summer, wasn’t given the proper time to prove his worth, but he’s already been replaced with the signing of Clement Lenglet from Sevilla. Paulinho, who moved back to China, was a key piece in his one season at Barcelona, but his replacement, Arturo Vidal, is arguably a more complete midfielder. It all depends on the veteran’s fitness, but if he stays healthy, then Vidal should deliver.Elsewhere, Malcom and Rafinha provide more clout in the middle and wide areas, but the biggest talking point is Arthur, the ex-Gremio star who has been given the No. 8 shirt this season–a symbol of confidence from his manager. There are comparisons being made to Iniesta, as the 21-year-old Brazilian captivated fans this preseason with his vision and ability to move the ball with simplicity. Time will tell if he can make it count in Europe, but as far as Valverde is concerned, Arthur is ready.

As Lionel Messi takes over as club captain, it seems as if the Blaugrana–who nearly went the whole 2017-18 domestic campaign undefeated and already have the Spanish Super Cup in tow–will retain the title, but, just like with Manchester City, the chief goal is to win the Champions League.

THE BATTLE FOR MADRID (AND THE LEAGUE)

Real Madrid begins life in the league without Ronaldo and with a new manager, Julen Lopetegui, hoping to adjust to a new philosophy and not only retain the Champions League title, but also deliver a league trophy for its fans. Despite the change in personnel, however, Lucas Vazquez believes the team’s objectives never change.”I think Real Madrid’s identity stays the same. In the end, our goals are to fight and give it our all,” he told SI.com. “While it’s true some things may change when you have a new manager, we still want to do our best and win as many titles as possible.”The obvious focus is now on Gareth Bale, who has had a tremendous preseason. After his sensational bicycle kick goal in the Champions League final, Bale has the opportunity to command the spotlight left behind by the Juventus-bound Ronaldo.”It’s been very good so far with the new manager,” Bale told SI.com. “Obviously we’ve been working very hard, but training has been very enjoyable and we’ve had some good results. It’s been very good with the new boss. Just anxiously waiting to start the season.”If we can take anything from the summer, we should see Lopetegui starting Bale on the right wing of a three-headed attacking midfield that also includes Marco Asensio and Isco, but with a lot of freedom to run and alter his movement. It will be interesting to see how much 18-year-old Vinicius Junior plays. His talent is undeniable, but the team has to be careful and not overwhelm the attacker with the pressures of playing for Madrid too soon. Though, judging by his summer performance, he seems more than ready. Courtois’s arrival will take undoubtedly take headlines as well, as Keylor Navas will fight for his place with the Belgian star. Lopetegui faces a dilemma on who to start in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, but more importantly, how will the manager deal with the rotation if Navas stays with Los Blancos?

Across town, you’d be wise not to sleep on Atletico Madrid. Once the Antoine Griezmann drama was settled earlier this summer with “La Decisión,” Diego Simeone’s squad went to work in the transfer market. If we were to judge the season on paper alone, it seems as if Atleti could give Barcelona a bigger headache than Real this season.Gelson Martins, who arrived on a free transfer from Sporting in Portugal, is a dangerous winger who in many ways fits Simeone’s counterattacking system. Rodri, Antonio Adán and Nehuen Perez also joined the team, but it’s Thomas Lemar who can really help this season. The 22-year-old French attacking star, who was part of Didier Deschamps’ World Cup-winning squad, joined the Spanish club from Monaco for a reported €60 million and will replace the production of Yannick Carrasco, who alongside Nicolas Gaitan, left the club for China. Lemar is extremely veratile, able to play anywhere across the midfield and will fit nicely inside Simeone’s 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 preferred formations. Nikola Kalinic, the Croatian striker who moved from AC Milan, is also a good addition. The question remains: Can Real or Atleti dethrone Barcelona?

THE PARTY CRASHERS

Valencia, Villarreal, Sevilla and Real Betis have aspirations of crashing the elite’s party, and judging by the moves made this summer, it seems as if Marcelino’s Valencia is the likeliest of the bunch to do so. Having finished fourth and only three points behind Real Madrid in 2017-2018, Valencia is poised to make noise. The addition of Michy Batshuayi on loan is an astute one, while the signings of Kevin Gameiro and Russia World Cup hero Denis Cheryshev (who returns on loan after a previous stint with the club) and potential signing of Goncalo Guedes–who starred on loan at Valencia last season–adds even more firepower into the mix.Aside from being part of the greatest unveiling of a player signing ever, it will be interesting to see how Santi Cazorla’s return fits with Villarreal.

Meanwhile, Real Betis, which was one of six teams that defeated Real Madrid last season but conceded the most goals out of any team that wasn’t relegated, used the window to bring in more defensive players such as Portugal midfielder William Carvalho and Sidnei, who moved from Deportivo la Coruña after being relegated. Sevilla suffered similar problems as Betis, conceding too many goals and losing 14 matches last season. This will be an interesting time for the team, as its new manager, Pablo Machín, led Girona to La Liga promotion in 2016-2017 and guided the club to an impressive 10th-place finish last season, the best performance by a promoted club in the last 23 years. Losing midfield stalwart and World Cup winner Steven N’Zonzi to Roma won’t help, though.

VAR

After making its debut during last Sunday’s Supercopa de España between Barcelona and Sevilla in Tangier, La Liga will implement video assistant referees for the first time.According to Spain’s football federation (RFEF), league referees have taken on intense training in order to prepare for VAR, hoping to learn from the failures and successes from this summer’s World Cup in Russia.Some of La Liga’s stars were heavily involved in VAR decisions at the World Cup, and now they’ll compete on a weekly basis with the added technology.

INTRIGUE AT THE BOTTOM

At risk of not falling behind before the season even gets going, the newly promoted teams (Rayo Vallecano, Huesca, Real Valladolid) have been active in the transfer window, mainly taking advantage of loan signings as they get ready for the top flight. Peruvians now have to reasons to love Vallecano. First, the team’s kit is almost identical to that of the national team, and second, Luis Advincula, who had an impressive World Cup with Peru, joins Vallecano on loan from Tigres. Labeled as one of the fastest–if not, the fastest–player in the world, Advincula’s unveiling brought a frenzy of Peruvian players in Madrid.

Who’s The Favorite And Who’s A Sleeper In The English Premier League?

If you’re not rooting for Manchester City, this probably isn’t your year.By Terrence Doyle

The Premier League, which kicks off Friday afternoon, is often regarded as the most competitive league in the world, if not the best. In fact, both of those assumptions might be false: While the Premier League boasts four of the top 10 and six of the top 15 teams in the world according to our Soccer Power Index rankings, only one other team cracks the top 50.¹

This imbalance shouldn’t come as a shock: Aside from Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95 and Leicester City in 2015-16, only four teams have won the Premier League since its inception in 1992-93. And if you look at the table for every Premier League season — especially for the past decade — the top six spots are more likely than not occupied by some or all of the same six teams currently ranked in the world top 15.

If you’re hoping that the upcoming season will offer some vicissitude at the top of the table, don’t hold your breath: According to our Premier League predictions, Manchester City is a good bet to repeat as champions. And the five spaces below the Citizens will likely be occupied by — you guessed it! — Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United. After we ran 20,000 simulated seasons, the closest any team got to the top six was Crystal Palace — still 16 points off the pace.

The top six teams in the Premier League are among the richest sports franchises on earth. All that money means they can afford to pay often ludicrous fees to attract the world’s best players. Money turns into results in major competitions, and results in major competitions turn into more money. And that new money turns into the buying of yet more of the world’s best players, and the top six feedback loop endures. Let’s look at how each of the top six teams — and a few others — spent this summer, and what it means for their chances at winning the Premier League title.

Who got better?

Liverpool paid a then-record fee for 25-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who led the Italian Serie A in save percentage per 90 minutes during his first year as Roma’s No. 1. He wasn’t at his best during the World Cup, but Liverpool is hoping that if given the chance in a big situation, Alisson will perform better than Loris Karius did. Liverpool also added Guinean midfielder Naby Keita, Brazilian midfielder Fabinho and Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri, making its total spend the largest in England. Adding a defensive-minded midfielder like Fabinho and a world-class keeper like Alisson should help bolster a Liverpool defense that, at times, left something to be desired during the 2017-18 campaign — and it should give the Reds a real shot at challenging for the title.

It seems impossible, but defending champion Manchester City also got better, finally landing longtime target Riyad Mahrez. It’s not clear where the former Leicester City maestro will play — Leroy Sané, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva did a pretty good job patrolling the wings last season, after all — but it never hurts to have a winger on your squad who’s proven he can score 15 goals and assist on 10 more. Not a bad pickup for a team that broke the all-time Premier League goal record a season ago.

Despite the departure of longterm manager Arsene Wenger, hopes must be high in Highbury: Arsenal found a potential replacement for the aging Petr Cech in German keeper Bernd Leno, and the addition of Uruguayan holding midfielder Lucas Torreira should help shore up its defense, which conceded the most goals of any of the top six squads last season. Fan favorite Jack Wilshere departed for West Ham United, but injury issues have long relegated him to “could have been” status anyway.

Everton hasn’t finished inside the top six since 2013-14, but Toffee fans will be pleased with their team’s transfer window successes. The club paid Watford a lot of money for the swift and tricky Brazilian winger Richarlison,²and also added French wingback Lucas Digne. If Evertonians were displeased with the park-the-bus soccer employed by Big Sam Allardyce, they should be happy that this year’s squad will feature some players who like to go forward. Signing Colombian center back and World Cup standout Yerry Mina means they won’t suffer at the back, either. Everton will probably still finish between seventh and 10th, but it should look better doing so.

Who stayed mostly the same?

Manchester United is hoping to unseat rivals Manchester City and win its first title since 2013,³ but it faces one problem: The Red Devils didn’t do much during the transfer window. Portuguese right back Diogo Dalot might be the eventual heir apparent to captain Antonio Valencia, but at the tender age of 19 years old — and with just six first-team starts for Portuguese club Porto — he doesn’t transform United into champions from also-rans. Former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder and Seleção member Fred should help in the center of the pitch — he is equally capable of going forward and dropping back behind his midfield partners to help in defense, and he can play with both feet — but his high price tag carries an intense weight of expectation. Ask Paul Pogba⁴ how that plays in Manchester.

Who stayed mostly the same but feels worse?

The boys from White Hart Lane spent zero dollars during the transfer window. Tottenham wanted midfielder Jack Grealish but ultimately couldn’t come to terms with Aston Villa. Spurs don’t really need Grealish — they had the second best possession rate per 90 minutes in the middle third in 2017-18 — but their depth may be a problem, particularly at the start of the season.

Meanwhile, Chelsea experienced one of the most tumultuous summers in recent memory — which is saying a lot, given owner Roman Abramovich’s apparent penchant for drama. Manager Antonio Conte got the sack despite delivering a championship in 2016-17, and truant goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois forced a sale to Real Madrid. The Blues better hope that Kepa Arrizabalaga, for whom they paid a now-record fee for a keeper, is ready for the Premier League grind. Otherwise they may be forced to rely on this guy.

Who got significantly worse?

This will be the first season since 2012-13⁵ that Leicester City will be without Mahrez, which means that the Foxes probaby stand little chance to repeat their unlikely 2015-16 run to the Premier League title. While Leicester still has goal poacher Jamie Vardy, it failed to re-sign Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa (who, by the way, had a very good World Cup). James Maddison is a nice signing and should make up for some of the offense lost with Mahrez’s departure, but don’t expect another Cinderella run from the Foxes.

The woes of Newcastle United start and end with its agreement to a permanent deal that sent its best option at forward, Aleksandar Mitrovic, to newly promoted Fulham. The Magpies must be hoping that the strike trio of Matt Ritchie, Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez — who scored 18 goals combined last season — is enough to account for the potential production lost from the young Serbian hitman.

Who could play Cinderella?

Fulham can find the net — it scored 1.57 goals per 90 minutes last season, the second most in the English League Championship, exceeding its expected goals rate of 1.47. Teenage phenom Ryan Sessegnon scored on 37 percent of the shots he took last season and outperformed his expected goals tally by 5.5, while Mitrovic — who impressed at the World Cup — contributed 12 goals of his own. Adding Andre Schurrle on a two-season loan will only increase Fulham’s firepower. The club also went all in on midfielder Jean Michael Seri, a player who has been linked to seemingly every big club in Europe over the past few seasons.

And let’s not forget about Crystal Palace, the world’s 48th best team according to our SPI rankings. The Eagles got off to a historically atrocious start last season before righting the ship and finishing in the middle of the table. Additions Max Meyer and Cheikhou Kouyaté should help stabilize a midfield that had the eighth worst possession rate per 90 minutes last season, while Manchester United castoff Wilfried Zaha’s return to Selhurst Park continues to bear fruit. Zaha has scored 22 goals from the wing in the past four seasons, and at 25 years old, he is entering the prime of his career. The Eagles will likely go as far as Zaha can take them.

U.S. Soccer doesn’t need to hire a USMNT U-23 coach

The best candidate is already employed.By Rob Usry@RobUsry Aug 10, 2018, 7:00am PDT

The U.S. Soccer men’s coaching landscape is a total mess right now. While the senior team has an interim manager and a search for a permanent name is nderway, thanks to a recently revealed hiring freeze, several youth teams are without leaders as well. The U-23 team will soon need someone to begin reparations for Olympic qualifying and the federation may not have to look very far for the best candidate for the job.Qualifying for the Olympic games has been a well-documented nightmare for the U.S. men’s program, having failed to do so in the last two times of trying. If for nothing more than pride, you can bet that a lot of attention and resources will be spent on making sure it doesn’t happen for a third straight tournament.Current USMNT interim manager Dave Sarachan took over the position from Bruce Arena with very little fanfare and plenty of cynicism. However, the veteran of American soccer has quietly done a very good job transitioning the U.S. player pool from repetitive and tired veterans to new and exciting young prospects.Tim Weah, one of those new up-and-coming talents, went on record this summer in praise of Sarachan. The PSG forward even went as far as saying that the interim tag should be lifted from his coach’s title.While it’s highly doubtful that the USSF would ever make the 64-year-old the permanent senior team manager, strictly based on public perception after a bitterly disappointing World Cupqualifying failure, it makes perfect sense to reward him for his good work in the last year.The hiring freeze has hurt any chance of the U-23 crop getting together early and getting familiar with each other. But what if you didn’t have to hire anyone at all? Sarachan is the best and most logical candidate for the job. And it just so happens that most of the players he’s incorporated to the senior team are eligible for the U-23 team as well, thus solving the issue of familiarity.Sarachan’s time as interim USMNT manager have brought encouraging results, both on the scoreboard and in figurative terms. A young and hungry crop of prospects are fighting to prove themselves every time they are called upon. In his six friendlies in charge, the inexperienced sides he’s thrown out there have all looked organized and competitive. They’ve only lost once in those matches and even managed a draw against the World Cup champions. Of course it’s irresponsible to put too much credence into friendly results, but that’s all we have to go on at this point. Beyond the scorelines, each team Sarachan has assembled appeared to have a good understanding of tactics and responsibilities.When peering out into the coaching landscape, there are no obvious candidates to take on this important job. Tab Ramos himself has plenty of Youth National Team coaching experience (with mixed results) but it seems he has plenty on his plate already, including coaching the U-20 team. Georgetown’s Brian Wiese is a logical option if you want to go the college route, although that didn’t go too swimmingly the last time with Caleb Porter. Someone like John Wolyniec of New York Red Bulls II has a reputation for developing young players, but has little experience coaching at this type of level.Sarachan has a desire to stay on as USMNT manager, but realistically he has slim to no chance of that happening. He’s also shown a willingness to work with young players. This proposition seems like the best compromise for all involved. The players get a coach who they’ll accept as a leader won’t need to adapt quickly to. Sarachan gets a reward for his good work in a difficult time. And U.S. Soccer gets a coach who gives the program a realistic chance of qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in 12 years.

Five things we learned in the Premier League

AFPAug 12, 2018, 1:42 PM

London (AFP) – The Premier League is back, with the opening weekend producing impressive displays from title contenders Liverpool and champions Manchester City, while Manchester United and Chelsea also made winning starts.Here are five things we learned from the first weekend of the new top-flight campaign:

Silva service lifts City

“Right now, it’s Bernardo and 10 others,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said when asked about Bernardo Silva’s sublime display in the champions’ Community Shield win over Chelsea last weekend. Portugal midfielder Silva didn’t always start last term but he was a blur of energy and efficient passing in City’s engine room against Chelsea and Guardiola rewarded him with a place in Sunday’s 2-0 victory in their Premier League opener at Arsenal. Guardiola’s faith wasn’t misplaced as the 23-year-old once again produced a tireless performance and rarely misplaced a pass. The influential effort was capped in the 64th minute when Silva cleverly peeled away from his Arsenal marker to meet Benjamin Mendy’s cross with a fine finish that flashed past Gunners goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Still not so United

Despite getting off to a winning start against Leicester on Friday, all is still not well at Manchester United between star midfielder Paul Pogba, manager Jose Mourinho and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. Mourinho named Pogba captain and hailed a “monster” performance after he took responsibility to open the scoring from the penalty spot. French World Cup winner Pogba, though, wasn’t so effusive in his praise for his boss, claiming “if you’re not happy, you cannot give your best” and that if he voiced his true feelings he would be fined. Meanwhile, Mourinho again let his frustration at not being backed by Woodward in the transfer market be known. Woodward is adamant Pogba is not for sale despite rumoured interest from Barcelona. But at the moment all three seem locked in an unhappy marriage ahead of a season that Mourinho himself has predicted will be a “difficult” one.

Keita’s new kingdom

Liverpool have had to wait a year to get Naby Keita after sealing the deal to bring him from RB Leipzig 12 months ago, but on the evidence of a storming display from the Guinean in Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing of West Ham it’ll be worth the wait. Keita started the move for Liverpool’s opener and possessed the pace and skill to consistently drove through the heart of West Ham’s pedestrian midfield. Jurgen Klopp now has new found wealth of midfield options with Fabinho also joining from Monaco, Adam Lallana returning from injury and captain Jordan Henderson getting back to fitness after his exertions at the World Cup with England. Keita, though, could be the real difference maker in turning a 25-point deficit to champions Manchester City last season into a title challenge.

Sarri’s Hazard warning

Maurizio Sarri admits Eden Hazard needs more time to get back to his very best despite an impressive 15-minute cameo as a substitute in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Huddersfield. Hazard has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and only returned to training with Chelsea a week ago after helping Belgium finish third at the World Cup. The midfielder’s future may not be sorted out until August 31, when the transfer window closes in Spain. But his quality was there for all to see during his brief appearance on Saturday, with a fine run from midfield taking out several Huddersfield players before he slotted in Pedro to score Chelsea’s third goal. “I think that Eden in this moment cannot play for 90 minutes. He has to improve, to have training,” Sarri said. “I think the best thing is for him to play 15-20 minutes when the opponents probably are tired.”

Spurs show steel

Tottenham may not have spent anything in the transfer market and had to play several of their stars who have just returned from well-earned breaks post the World Cup. But they coped easily enough with Newcastle in their 2-1 win at St James’ Park. Spurs are the only top tier team not to have made a signing since the end of last season and manager Mauricio Pochettino will need a tougher test than this to assess whether fatigue will be a telling factor for his squad this term.

World Cup ref chief Pierluigi Collina dishes on VAR impact at Russia 2018

2:00 AM ETGabriele MarcottiSenior Writer, ESPN FCEmail

A month has passed since the end of the World Cup in Russia, hailed by many as one of the best ever. Gab Marcotti caught up with Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s referees committee and the man in the middle for the 2002 final between Brazil and Germany, to talk about officiating, video assistant referees (VAR) and the future.

When you look back at 2018 and the fact that relative to previous World Cups, it had perhaps the least amount of refereeing controversy, to what do you attribute it? Could it be chance? Was it VAR?

First off, I can’t believe it’s already over. But no, I think 64 games is a good sample size. And I’m delighted that the good feedback we received came from those who follow the game professionally. I’ll get to VAR, but there are a number of things we did which, I think, helped us tremendously.

For a start, referees are athletes, just like footballers. So we had a dedicated medical staff and physiotherapists supporting them throughout the tournament, particularly in recovering quickly from minor injuries.

In the same way that too much time off can make a player rusty in terms of match rhythm, we had a problem since there was a five-week gap between the end of the club season and Russia 2018 during which referees couldn’t officiate, since a World Cup referee can’t take charge of a friendly involving a World Cup-bound team.

So we organized a tournament at Lokomotiv’s ground in Moscow involving local teams, just so the referees could work and stay sharp. This was key too.

We also studied the teams differently. We brought a couple of licensed coaches into our staff and some professional match analysts. Their job was to scout the teams ahead of time.

How did that help you?

The idea was to give our guys a chance to understand how a game was likely to be played tactically and, therefore, how play was likely to unfold. That’s a big advantage for a referee, because it means he can anticipate situations.

It’s especially true on set pieces. The match analysts studied them and prepared reports for referees, so that they had a better sense of how corners and free kicks were likely to be approached. They knew what to focus on, what was most likely, what certain teams and players’ tendencies were going to be. This was an important change.

Remember, at a World Cup you have referees from six different continents, all with different experiences and backgrounds who work with different styles of football. It’s important to give them all the support they need.

Let’s get to VAR. I get the impression that old-school referees, like the Collina of 20 years ago, might not have been in favor.

After a VAR referral, Nestor Pitana awarded France a penalty in the World Cup final that Antoine Griezmann converted. David Ramos/FIFA via Getty Images

I want to be honest here: When you have a background like mine, as a referee who came of age in a certain period and enjoyed making decisions on the pitch on his own, [VAR] might not be easy to accept.

But, equally, if the ability of a referee to officiate a game is going to be judged after the fact based on video replays from multiple angles, then referees should have those replays from multiple angles too. … I said that a long time ago, and I still believe it.

I know some people are philosophically opposed to VAR because they don’t think technology has a place in football. I can respect that. But we must be open-minded and ready to implement what can be really useful and helpful.

Before VAR, you were involved in another key officiating change, that of additional assistant referees (AARs) at UEFA.

As I said before, because of my own background as a referee, I liked making decisions on my own. But then [UEFA president Michel] Platini asked me to help shape the change. A bit like VAR, it was an answer to a need: To reduce mistakes on the pitch.

And the idea was that with two extra officials who watched the game from a different angle we could reduce — not eliminate, but reduce — mistakes on the pitch. It’s still in use in UEFA competitions.

Yet in many ways, it has been supplanted by VAR.

Obviously, over the years things change. AARs improved things, but clearly it’s not comparable to what VAR can offer today. Two extra sets of eyes can’t match dozens of cameras with the possibility of freeze-framing, watching over again … there’s a substantial difference. Believe me, VAR is like a parachute, and it’s better to have it when [you] need it.

For the past 18 months, you were doing double-duty: You were at FIFA and, at the same time, you were, until last month, UEFA’s chief refereeing officer. It seemed weird to some that, while FIFA was pushing VAR, UEFA was opposed.

Some said I was schizophrenic for that very reason … the reality is that they were two different contexts. Introducing VAR across UEFA competitions presents a different set of challenges compared to a World Cup.

My successor at UEFA is Roberto Rosetti, who I brought in to drive the VAR implementation at the World Cup, and I think we’re getting to the stage where the conditions are right for VAR in the Champions League and Europa League, too. … Obviously, the decision will be made by UEFA, but if they choose to do it, they’ll be ready.

You were on the International Football Association Board (IFAB) committee that helped lay down the VAR protocol. What were the early discussions like?

I remember at the very first meeting, I emphasized that the final say for any subjective decision that required interpretation had to be down to the referee on the pitch and not the VAR. I felt strongly about this, given my background. I didn’t want the referee to be a mere executor, controlled by a joystick by someone outside the field of play.

Back to the World Cup. One of the frustrations with VAR is that sometimes it is not clear why it intervenes or does not intervene and, when it does, what is actually going on.

First of all, I want to emphasize that VAR is always watching. You only need to look at the number of “silent checks” [when VAR evaluates an incident and does not deem it worthy of an on-field review].

Beyond that, communication is important, and I think we took an important step in Russia with on-screen announcements, both in the stadium and for [TV] viewers. It’s only right that people understand what is going on.

Often, however, they don’t. I think back to the World Cup final and the penalty that was awarded to France after Ivan Perisic handled the ball. The penalty was awarded by the referee, Nestor Pitana, only after VAR called for an on-field review. I understand that it’s down to interpretation, but it certainly did not look like a clear error.

I think those who watched it closely knew the referee could not have seen it since there were bodies in the way. And because he did not see it, VAR gave him the opportunity to review it. Then his interpretation was to give a penalty.

What other benefits do you think VAR brought at the World Cup? We saw fewer protests from players.

That’s one, and I think it offsets those who say reviews delay the game. Players have been very accepting of VAR. But one other important aspect is deterrence. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we had more set piece goals and fewer off-the-ball incidents. Knowing you are watched at all times means your attitude is going to be different.

When you were still an official, FIFA’s referee committee was made up mostly by football administrators and there were only a few former referees involved. Now you’re virtually all ex-referees.

That was one of things I asked when I took the FIFA job. The referees’ committee should be made up only of specialists; it’s a technical role that shouldn’t belong to those in the politics of football. Today the head of referees from each confederation sits on the committee and that’s a big step forward.

You talk about the importance of quality; if quality is most important, will we ever see, say, a Spanish referee taking charge of Spain vs. Germany? Or will we always be fixated on nationality and neutrality?

I think that’s a utopia. No matter how professional or talented a referee is, he’d have difficulty. Imagine an official making a mistake that hurts his own country.

But we’re already taking steps forward. I’ll give you an example. Japan qualified ahead of Senegal for the knockout phase and it was very close. For Japan’s next match, against Belgium, we appointed a Senegalese referee, Malang Diedhiou, because we thought he was best for the job.

In the past, that might not have happened, people might have talked about him feeling pressure to avenge his country. Which, of course, when you think about it, is absurd.

Similarly, as far as “confederation neutrality” is concerned, we had South American referees appointed to officiate South American teams [against teams from other confederations, which previously had only been the case with European referees].

Players make mistakes and referees make mistakes. But I guess there are some big differences. One is that people don’t pay to watch referees, they pay to watch players. The other is that it’s easier for a player to redeem himself for a mistake.

Well, some of us watch referees more than players, but, yes, it’s a key difference. A player can miss a sitter and then score a hat trick. A referee who incorrectly awards a penalty and then is flawless the rest of the game will still be remembered and criticized for the mistake … That’s why we’re trying, every which way, to help limit errors.

MLS Power Rankings: New York teams challenge Atlanta United’s dominance

August 14, 20189:45AM EDTAlicia RodriguezContributorOnly MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff; words by Alicia Rodriguez.

BIGGEST MOVERS: PHI +3; HOU, NE -3

1ATL

LAST WEEK: 1 HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7

10 more games…can Atlanta United maintain their lead on top and clinch the Supporters’ Shield? They’re technically behind the Red Bulls in points per game, so it probably won’t be easy, but the Five Stripes need at least one trophy to really commemorate this initial spell for the club.

Previous: Idle | Next: vs. CLB on 8/19

2 NY Red Bulls

LAST WEEK: 3

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7

But the Red Bulls don’t look like they’ll be going quietly in order to pave the way for Atlanta. They’re 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, so if they keep up that stellar pace they could be lifting their third Shield in late October. A grueling road game in Vancouver will be a good test this week.

Previous: Won 1-0 at CHI | Next: at VAN on 8/18

3 NYCFC

LAST WEEK: 4

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 6

NYCFC post a good win in Toronto, which, yes, did include a very early red card to Jozy Altidore. But credit to the front office for picking up the likes of Ismael Tajouri-Shradi – he may not have the name recognition of previous signings, but he’s on a scoring pace of a tick under a goal every other game.

Previous: Won 3-2 at TOR | Next: at PHI on 8/18

4 Portland

LAST WEEK: 2

HIGH: 2 | LOW: 18

The streak had to end at some point, and Vancouver’s battling performance (and a wayward penalty by the usually reliable Diego Valeri) snapped Portland’s unbeaten run at 15. With a big two-game week here, it could be a pivotal juncture in the Timbers’ campaign.

Previous: Lost 2-1 vs. VAN | Next: at DC on 8/15; vs. SKC on 8/18

5 KC

LAST WEEK: 7

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15

If at first you don’t succeed, go back on the road? Sporting have won their last two away from home, on conference opponents, and an efficient victory against a rotated LAFC lineup shows Peter Vermes’ group may be out of their summer slump for good.

Previous: Won 2-0 at LAFC | Next: at POR on 8/18

6 FC Dallas (Matt Hedges)

LAST WEEK: 5

HIGH: 4 | LOW: 18

Two losses in a row, although the latest, on the road against a surging Sounders team, isn’t a huge upset. But Dallas’ cushion at the top of the Western Conference is down to three points, so they can’t afford to keep dropping points.

Previous: Lost 2-1 at SEA | Next: vs. MIN on 8/18

7 Columbus Crew

LAST WEEK: 9

HIGH: 2 | LOW: 12

The week off seemed to do Columbus good, as they returned to action and defeated the Dynamo, albeit by the skin of their teeth. Questions persist about whether this team is truly a contender, but might their game in Atlanta at the weekend be a preview for another playoff clash between the teams?

Previous: Won 1-0 vs. HOU | Next: at ATL on 8/19

8 LAFC

LAST WEEK: 6

HIGH: 3 | LOW: 17

LAFC are only three points out of second place in their conference, but five games winless in league play leaves them drifting just above the playoff line. Once thought to be a sure thing for the playoffs in their first year, if they stumble in a double-game week, that certainty may vanish.

Previous: Lost 2-0 vs. SKC | Next: vs. RSL on 8/15; vs. COL on 8/19

9 Seattle Sounders

LAST WEEK: 10

HIGH: 4 | LOW: 21

The Sounders’ rally isn’t quite done, but unbeaten in eight, with five wins in a row, they’re just three points out of the playoff spots now. A home game against the Galaxy remains a marquee match-up, and a win there could move them above the playoff line.

Previous: Won 2-1 vs. DAL | Next: vs. LA on 8/18

10 LA Galaxy

LAST WEEK: 8

HIGH: 6 | LOW: 14

The Galaxy posted a home draw against Minnesota that feels like a loss, and yet more injury concerns for key players could set them back again. The voters still believe LA are a top 10 team, but they may not find a way to climb much higher as their inconsistency continues.

Previous: Drew 2-2 vs. MIN | Next: vs. COL on 8/14; at SEA on 8/18

Football lines will be visible on turf in Lucas Oil Stadium for next seven matches

For the rest of 2018, National Football League lines and configuration will be visible on-field during Indy Eleven home matches. The change comes after new turf was installed in Lucas Oil Stadium last month. “We’re thankful for the opportunity to play our home games on the new turf,” said Indy Eleven president Jeff Belskus. “Unfortunately, painting over the football lines was not acceptable for all parties. As a result, we’ll be playing with football lines visible for the rest of the year.”
This is the first year Indy Eleven has played in Lucas Oil Stadium after moving to the United Soccer League in January of this year. “Indiana’s Team” agreement is with the Capital Improvement Board to play in the 70,000 seat stadium. The CIB was formed in 1965 by the Indiana General Assembly and empowered to finance and manage capital improvements throughout the city of Indianapolis. Indy Eleven have seven more home matches in 2018; August 15 against North Carolina FC, August 22 against Toronto FC II, August 29 against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, September 1 against Richmond Kickers, September 5 against New York Red Bulls II, September 26 against Tampa Bay Rowdies and October 6 against Bethlehem Steel FC

INDY 11 — Four matches in the next eighteen days!

Our Indy Eleven currently occupy the 8th and final playoff spot, however, have many games in hand on the teams ahead of us in the standings currently. These home games could ultimately decide our playoff fate over the coming weeks.Get your BYBTIX for the next four home games HERE! Don’t forget that you save $8 per ticket off the online and box office price by buying from us!

Wed, August 22 7PM kick off v. Toronto FC II

Wed, August 15 7PM kick off v. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Wed, Sept 1 7PM kick off v. Richmond Kickers

Parking passes at Gate10Events is $11 with advance purchase. $15 day of. Save $$$ by buying early.

A letter to our former President and the all of the BYB

I’ve put this off for far too long at this point, but I wanted to publicly thank Josh Mason for all of the work he has done for the Brickyard Battalion over the past seven-odd years. As we recently have celebrated our seventh year in existence on August 3rd, one does not have the time to list all of the wonderful things Josh had championed for the BYB during his tenure as a board member. He leaves a legacy that includes two Brickyard Battalion-inspired beers, Full 90 by Flat 12 and our current partnership with People’s Brewing with our Battalion Ale. As you can imagine, getting a brewing company to brew a beer specifically for a lower division soccer supporters group and team is few and far between. The connections Josh has made over the years, both professionally and personally, led to the success of this venture. This only touches the surface of many of the projects owned and countless hours Josh has spent to enable our ability to support our club. His professionalism will be something that will be difficult to emulate.Thankfully, he made the career choice to move to the front office of our Indy Eleven. We know the energy and passion he has for our club will lead to many great things off the pitch and certainly his dedication will contribute to results on the pitch as well. I do, however, feel sorry for him as now he gets to feel the wrath of our own Peter Evans who pulls no punches when it comes to ensuring our support culture is treated like a top priority for the team, off the pitch. Just ask Tom Dunmore or Andy Piggush, those calls and texts will come at any hour of the day or night. Good luck! All jokes aside, we couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with between the BYB and front office, and we look forward to an even stronger relationship with the front office going forward.We will have a few board seats open in the coming months, including Josh’s vacancy. Please be on the lookout for future BYB meetings that will include an invite to any and all Indy Eleven supporters. We will need your help! If you’ve ever wanted to become more active in our supporters group and help us provide the best atmosphere for our club to thrive, keep an eye out on future emails/social media posts with more details to come.Until then, the best thing you can do is continue to buy tickets through our BYBTix initiative. Interest has waned slowly since our incredible success with our first home match against Cincinnati. We have 39 tickets to sell per match to break even and with the majority of our remaining home games on Wednesdays, it’s a tough sell. Please pass along the link to co-workers, friends and family.

All the best,
Andrew Retz
New President, Brickyard Battalion

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8/10/18 EPL Season Starts, Indy 11 at home Wed Eve 7 pm, MLS features Indy players on TV Sun

August 11, 2018August 13, 2018 gatorbest

INDY 11

The Indy 11 tied defending Champs Louisville 2-2 at their place last weekend as a vocal crowd of BYB fans were on hand!! Congrats to GK Fon Williams as his steady play in the win at Bethlehem led to his making the USL team of the week. Our Boys in Blue return home this Wed Aug 15 and of course discount tickets below $15 are available Click here for Discount Tickets for the Game and enter 2018 INDY as the promo code.

EPL KICK OFF WEEKEND

The full season kicks off this weekend with Man United facing Leicester City Friday 3 pm on NBCSN, Newcastle hosting Tottenham Sat at 7:30 am and Everton hosting Wolverhampton Saturday at 12:30 on NBC followed by Goalzone (a 30 minute gameday wrap up show). Sunday we get the meat of the best games with Liverpool vs West Ham at 8 am on NBCSN, and Arsenal facing Man City to follow at 11 am all on NBCSN. While it is great to see EPL soccer on TV in the US and NBCSN has done a fine job and NBC – I am still disappointed that on opening weekend we have 4 of the 5 games at 10 am on pay per view – NBCsportsgold only. As a longtime Fulham America fan – I am sad I can not see their return to the EPL today. (see Season previews below – I will make my picks after weekend 1 like normal)

MLS HomeGrown TV

The MLS TV slate this weekend features a trio of homegrown Indy players as Sunday’s tripleheader starts at 4 pm on ESPN with Westfield star Eriq Zavaleta (yes son of the owner Carlos Zavaleta of Indiana Soccer Academy) the 6^th year pro who won a NC at Indiana University has settled in as a starting Center Back for the defending MLS Champion Toronto. Toronto hosts NYCFC riding a 6 game unbeaten streak as the oft injured Jose Altidore has returned to the line-up. At 8 pm DC United with new signing Wayne Rooney at the brand new Audi Field will host Orlando City and Carmel native and Guerin star Cam Lindley on Fox Sport 1. The 2 bottom of the East Teams are headed in opposite directions as DC United is in better form with a Draw and Win while Orlando has lost 4 of their last 6 matches. Finally former Carmel High State Champion and starting Centerback Matt Hedges will travel with his league leading FC Dallas squad to face Seattle at 10 pm on FS1. Seattle the hottest team in MLS with 4 straight wins and no losses in their last 8 games is a powerhouse at home at Century Link Field in front of their Gang Green home supporters – a must see for the what is arguably still the best home setting in US soccer.

4 pm ESPN Toronto (Eriq Zavaleta) vs NYCFC

8 pm Fox Sport1 DC United (Rooney) vs Orlando City (Cam Lindley)

10 pm FS1 Seattle Sounders vs Dallas (Matt Hedges)

EPL – Starts this Weekend

EPL Season Predictions EPSN

Liverpool Still has Holes to fill

Chelsea Fans Happy to See Courtois exit

Arsenal Will Never Be the Same – if Takeover happens

The Luck Index: The findings and methodology
– Man United luckiest, Liverpool unluckiest
– Index proves luck doesn’t even out over time

MLS

Power Rankings After Week 23 MLS

Cincy Approaches 25K for Season Tix Sales for 2019

MLS Power Rankings

Doyle: Complete guide to the Week 24 MLS slate

Kick Off: What you need to know today

Hot Sounders look to keep rolling vs. FC Dallas

Sounders, Loons talk after Seattle’s last-gasp win

Whose stock rose and whose fell in Week 23?

FCD’s Pareja backs Gonzalez despite howlers

Bono: Sleeping on Toronto FC “is ridiculous”

Transfer window winners/losers + Acosta interview

Get deep inside the All-Star Game action

Indy 11

Indy 11 Gets Draw on Road at Louisville 2-2

Indy 11 Sends United Way Donor to MLS All-Star Game

Indy 11 GK named to USL Team of the Week 20

Indy 11 beat Bethehem

Indy 11 Discount Tickets for Wednesday’s Game! (Code 2018Indy)

Soccer Saturday – Radio Show 9-10 am on 1070 the Fan

WORLD

SUPERCUP 8/15 Wed 3 pm -Real Madrid vs Atletico Notes

GAMES ON TV This Week

Fri, Aug 9 EPL Starts

3 pm NBCSN Manchester United vs Leicester City

Sat, Aug 11 EPL Starts

7:30 am NBCSN Newcastle United vs Tottenham

10 am NBCSN Huddersfield Town vs Chelsea

12:30 pm NBCSN Wolverhampton vs Everton

Sun, Aug 12 EPL Starts

8 am NBCSN Liverpool vs West Ham United

11 am NBCSN Arsenal vs Man City

2:30 pm FS2 Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich Super Cup

3 pm bein Sport PSG vs Caen

4 pm ESPN Des/+ Barcelona vs Seville – SUPER CUP

4 pm ESPN Toronto (Eriq Zavaleta) vs NYCFC

8 pm Fox Sport1 DC United (Rooney) vs Orlando City (Cam Lindley)

10 pm FS1 Seattle Sounders vs Dallas (Matt Hedges)

Mon, Aug 13

7:30 am Fox Sport 2 USA U20 Ladies vs Spain U20

7:30 am Fox Soccer Japan U20 Ladies vs Uraguay U20

10:30 am FS 2 Germany vs Haiti

Wed, Aug 15

3 pm TNT? Real Madrid vs Athletico Madrid UEFA Super Cup

7 pm myindytv Indy 11 vs North Carolina

10 pm ESPN2 LAFC vs Real Salt Lake

Thurs, Aug 16

10 am FS2 U20 Womens WC QF

1:30 pm FS2 U20 Womens WC QF

Fri, Aug 17

10 am FS2 U20 Womens WC QF

1:30 pm FS2 U20 Womens WC QF

2:45 pm FS2? Schweinfurt vs Schalke (Mckinney)

7 pm SEC Network Florida vs Washington

Sat, Aug 18

7:30 am NBCSN Newcastle United (Yedlin) vs Cardiff

10 am NBCSN Tottenham vs Fulham (Tim)

12 noon beIN Sport Cheivo vs Juventus

12:30 pm NBCSN Chelsea vs Arsenal

2 pm ESPN+ Ottawa vs Indy 11 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

4 pm ESPN Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy (Zlatan)

7 pm Yes Network Philly Union vs NYCFC

10 pm FS2 Monterey vs Pumas (Mexican)

Sun, Aug 19

8 am NBCSN Man City vs Huddersfield Town (Danny Williams)

11 am NBCSN Brighton vs Man United

2:30 pm FS2 Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich Super Cup

4 pm beIN Sport Real Madrid vs Getafe

7:30 pmFS1 DC United (Rooney) vs New England

7 pm SEC Network+ Florida vs Fla Atlantic

Mon, Aug 20

10 am FS2 U20 Womens WC Semi-Final

1:30 pm FS2 U20 Womens WC Semi-Final

2 pm beIN Sport Valencia vs Athletico Madrid

3 pm NBCSN Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

Wed, Aug 22

7 pm FS 1 NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls – NY Darby

7 pm myindytv/espn+ Indy 11 vs Toronto 2

Thurs, Aug 23

7 pm ESPN+ Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew

10 pm FS2 Tijuana vs Santos Laguna (Mex)

Fri, Aug 24 German Bundesliga Starts

2:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim

7 pm ESPN Orlando City (Cam Lindley) vs Atlanta United

10:30 pm ESPN LA Galaxy vs LAFC (El Traffico 3)

Sat, Aug 25

7:30 am NBCSN Wolverhampton vs Man city

9:30 am FS 1 Wolfsburg vs Schalke (McKinney)

10 am NBCSN Arsenal vs West Ham United

12 noon beIN Sport Juventus vs Lazio

12:30 pm NBCSN Liverpool vs Brighton

12:30 pm FS 1 M’Gladbach (Johnson) vs Bayer Leverkusen

7 pm ESPN+ Atlanta 2 vs Indy 11 (watch w/BYB @ Union Jack)

8 pm ESPN News Washington Spirit vs Portland Thorns (Ladies)

Sun, Aug 26

8 am NBCSN Watford vs Crystal Palace

9:30 am FS1 Mainz vs Stuttgart

11 am NBCSN New Castle United vs Chelsea

12 noon Fox Soccer Dortmund (Pulisic) vs RB Leipzig

2:30 pm FS2 Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich Super Cup

4 pm beIN Sport Girona vs Real Madrid

7 pm Fox Sport1 NY Red Bulls vs DC United (Rooney)

9:30 pm FS1 Portland vs Seattle Sounders (Cascadia Cup)

Mon, Aug 27

3 pm NBCSN Manchester United vs Tottenham

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

“DEAR INDY ELEVEN FANS…”

By Martin Rennie, 08/08/18, 12:30PM EDT An open letter to the fans from Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie

Dear Indy Eleven Fans,

I hope you’re having a great summer and I trust you are looking forward to the rest of our 2018 USL season. We have just passed the midway point in our schedule so I wanted to take the chance to thank you all for the tremendous support you have given to me, my staff, my players and our families. Indianapolis truly is a great city and the Indy Eleven family is something that we are all very proud to be a part of. For most of us, this is our first season with Indy Eleven, so thank you for making us feel welcome.When most USL teams were beginning their training camps for the 2018 season, Indy Eleven had just appointed me as Head Coach following a turbulent offseason for the club where there was a phenomenal amount of work to be done. We have had to contend with a new stadium, league, coaching staff, players and all the uncertainty that the previous offseason delivered. For our club to be where it is at this point in the 2018 season is an incredible feat, and it shows the passion and commitment that we all have for this club.Before Indy Eleven kicked a ball in the 2018 USL season, I had heard great things about the unwavering support the Indy Eleven fans were well known for. Now that I have personally experienced this support, I can only say that our fans have delivered way beyond my expectations. From the ‘You Better Run’ tifo in our home opener to the roar that greeted our winning goal in our most recent home game, our fans have been with us every step of the way. You have inspired us to do more than at times seemed possible.We have built a strong foundation with the team so far this season and we have adapted to our new surroundings. We have set a new franchise record for road wins this season and it is now our goal to make sure we set that bar as high as we possibly can for the future. We also recognize that we have to make our home stadium a fortress that becomes far more difficult for opponents to play in. As a team, we need to be in the face of the opposition from the first whistle playing with confidence and passion that matches what we see from our fans in the stands.

Off the field, there is also much work to be done to take Indy Eleven Soccer operations to a much higher level. We want to be able to support the Indiana soccer community in a more meaningful way. Our vision is focused on partnering with local clubs and coaches to support them in developing young soccer players all across Indiana. As I have coached around the world, I have seen the power that the game of soccer has to unite communities, teach valuable life lessons and deliver joy to its participants. We plan to have our players and coaches pass on their knowledge and experience to any players, teams, administrators or coaches who have an interest in partnering with us.

I really believe that this is an exciting time for Indy Eleven and for soccer in our community. We are part of a stable league in the USL that has been around for more than 30 years. Our club has established itself in this market despite many obstacles and has become stronger than ever. The future is bright for Indy Eleven. I am very happy to be a part of it and I am very thankful that you are a part of the team too. Together, we are building a soccer organization that many communities around the country could only dream of. As we stick together and help one another there is no doubt in my mind that the best days for Indy Eleven are in front of us.

Eleven Forever, Martin Rennie Head Coach, Indy Eleven

Premier League preview: ESPN FC’s writer predictions for 2018-19

lay

The Exploding Heads are back for another Premier League season and share their rather hilarious outtakes of what to expect this season. (2:34)

5:47 PM ETESPN

The Premier League is back! Which club do our writers think will win the title in 2018-19? Who will finish in the coveted Champions League spots? Which three clubs will go down? And who will finish as top scorer and player of the year? We asked our writers, here are their answers.

Gab Marcotti

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Man United 3. Liverpool 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Bournemouth
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku, Man United
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Mark Ogden

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Bournemouth, Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool

Graham Hunter

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Watford
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Shaka Hislop

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Arsenal 4. Man United
Relegated: Cardiff City, Crystal Palace, Watford
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Tony Evans

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Brighton, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku, Man United
Player of the Year: Raheem Sterling, Man City

Steve Nicol

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Fulham
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Michael Cox

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Brighton
Top scorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Craig Burley

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Watford
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Nick Miller

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Tottenham 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Newcastle, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Man City surpassed 100 goals and reached 100 points while running away with the 2017-18 title. Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Paul Mariner

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Brighton, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Nick Ames

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Tottenham 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Bournemouth, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Ian Darke

Top four: 1. Liverpool 2. Man City 3. Man United 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Southampton
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Richard Jolly

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Brighton
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Adam Hurrey

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Newcastle
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Julien Laurens

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Fulham, Brighton, Huddersfield Town
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Stewart Robson

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Newcastle
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Harry Kane, Tottenham

Raf Honigstein

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Arsenal 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Bournemouth
Top scorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

James Horncastle:

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Tottenham 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Southampton, Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Paolo Bandini

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Tottenham 4. Man United
Relegated: Southampton, Watford, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Roberto Firmino, Liverpool

Mattias Karen

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Arsenal 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Brighton, Cardiff City, Wolves
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Jonathan Smith

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Newcastle, Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Rob Dawson

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Man United 3. Liverpool 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Watford
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Dan Thomas

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Tottenham 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Cardiff City, Southampton, Brighton
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Glenn Price

Top four: 1. Liverpool 2. Man City 3. Man United 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Cardiff City, Newcastle. Brighton
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Sadio Mane, Liverpool

Liam Twomey

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Tottenham 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Newcastle, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Scott Patterson

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Man United 3. Liverpool 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Cardiff City, Watford, Huddersfield Town
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku, Man United
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Janusz Michallik

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Watford
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Simon Curtis

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Bournemouth, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: John Stones, Man City

Kevin De Bruyne lost out to Mo Salah for PFA Player of the Year in 2017-18. Will he win it in 2018-19? Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Brian McBride

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Brighton, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Mark Worrall

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Arsenal 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Newcastle, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Luke O’Farrell

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Chelsea 4. Man United
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Fulham
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Steven Kelly

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Tottenham 3. Liverpool 4. Man United
Relegated: Cardiff City, Southampton, Huddersfield Town
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

James McNicholas

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace
Top scorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal
Player of the Year: Leroy Sane, Man City

Alexis Nunes

Musa Okwonga

Top four: 1. Liverpool 2. Man City 3. Man United 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Southampton
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

David Mooney

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Chelsea 4. Man United
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Brighton
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

David Wagner and Huddersfield impressively survived Year 1 but could they be in relegation trouble in 2018-19? Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images

John Crace

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Man United 3. Tottenham 4. Liverpool
Relegated: Cardiff City, Bournemouth, Huddersfield
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Sebastian Salazar

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Tottenham 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Cardiff City, Watford, Brighton
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: David Silva, Man City

Phil Lythell

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Chelsea
Relegated: Cardiff City, Brighton, Huddersfield Town
Top scorer: Sergio Aguero, Man City
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Tom Adams

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Tottenham 4. Arsenal
Relegated: Watford, Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Herculez Gomez

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Chelsea 4. Man United
Relegated: Cardiff City, Watford, Brighton
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Ben Pearce

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man United 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Brighton
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Adrian Healey

Top four: 1. Liverpool 2. Arsenal 3. Man City 4. Man United
Relegated: Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Crystal Palace
Top scorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal
Player of the Year: Sadio Mane, Liverpool

Andy Mitten

Top four: 1. Man City 2. Man United 3. Liverpool 4. Tottenham
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City, Southampton
Top scorer: Harry Kane, Tottenham
Player of the Year: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City

Agree? Disagree? Have your say in the comments section below and join the debate on ESPN FC.

Jurgen Klopp spending puts Liverpool in title contention but squad still has holes

Aug 8, 2018 Steven KellyLiverpool blogger

After an active transfer window and a successful preseason, optimism at Liverpool is higher than for many years. That has translated into giddiness in some quarters. Some fans are even predicting a title win, never mind a challenge.That may just indicate a desire to meet outsiders’ estimates of Liverpool’s chances head on. If the Reds should slip below inflated expectations this season, mockery would be unavoidable anyway — so why worry about it?Be as realistic as you like, point out the 90 points needed to even threaten a challenge has never been achieved by any Liverpool team. It still wouldn’t dampen the positivity, and nor should it.The first choice side is clearly going to be very good. Were that the deciding factor in a title battle, Liverpool could stand their ground with anyone. Yes, even Manchester City who’ve already lost three times to the Reds in 2018.Bill Shankly once said the league was a marathon not a sprint. Factors other than ability will be decisive during a long, arduous campaign.Luck and fitness will certainly play a part. With Jurgen Klopp’s high-octane style there’s bound to be more than the odd casualty. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is already sidelined for the season.Modern football long since moved into the squad era, never to return to a simpler time when Liverpool won the 1965-66 title with just 14 players while also reaching a European final.To be successful you need an entire second XI that’s talented enough to perform well in the Premier League if it were a separate entity.Do Liverpool have that? By buying quality players in the summer they’ve certainly strengthened but will it be enough to justify the hype?They could improve in certain areas. Fans will pray Alisson stays fit, reducing the need to see if Loris Karius can maintain sufficient focus during what will probably be a largely inactive year.Klopp might have been indulging his unique sense of humour by making Alberto Moreno captain for the last preseason friendly, a 3-1 home win against Torino.The Spaniard seemed to have fallen from grace after a strong first season showing from Andrew Robertson. When rarely called upon, Moreno didn’t cover himself in glory. Should the Scot suffer a difficult second season, there would be little faith in the alternative.At centre-half there are continued physical doubts over Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, hence the earlier than usual appearance of upcoming youngster Nathaniel Phillips. During the Torino game Marko Grujic and Fabinho also filled in at centre half — grim reminders of Lucas Leiva’s sticking-plaster attempts to play that role.Central midfield looks like being a strong area, but finding the right three players and the appropriate blend may be tricky for Klopp. Choice is good, but you can be spoilt for it sometimes.Liverpool’s magical forward line appears to have no problem whatsoever, but they’re such a unique combination that any deviation from the usual three stars may cause confusion and weakness.Xherdan Shaqiri and Daniel Sturridge have both looked good during the summer matches, perhaps solving another problem from last season when few changes from the substitutes’ bench filled supporters with hope.Sturridge’s long run of fitness difficulties may create scepticism on that score, unless there’s finally been an acceptance of a peripheral role by a footballer who can be one of England’s deadliest strikers on his best day.Squad rotation is never easy. To compete for the title, Klopp would need to get at least 90 percent of his changes absolutely spot on.So many factors come into play. It isn’t just about ability. Fitness is often considered the main reason for change, but you also depend on the character of certain players to accept they won’t play a lot but must perform to their utmost whenever selected.There is also the manager’s assessment of the opponent, whether change can be risked against certain teams which “shouldn’t” present much of an obstacle. Over the years, those have been the games that numerous Liverpool managers have had most difficulty with.Klopp’s early transfer business was clearly planned, to try and get his team to hit the ground running while the World Cup messes around with everybody’s normal summer preparations.Liverpool’s spending has captured the imagination and catapulted them forward as main contenders, despite coming a fairly distant fourth last time.The colossal burden of intricacies involved in winning 80 percent of the available points is frightening, but even that might end up not being enough.Preseason confidence is justified however and a little luck with injuries would go a long way towards making the Reds true contenders.The size of the task and the number of things that need to go the club’s way to succeed should never be underestimated or ignored, however.

Thibaut Courtois tarnishes Chelsea legacy as fans rejoice at Madrid move

Aug 9, 2018Mark WorrallChelsea blogger

Thibaut Courtois was Chelsea’s problem child, but thankfully for the club’s supporters he’s not their issue anymore. Finally, after what feels like an eternity of his whinging and whining, the goalkeeper has realised his “dream” of being transferred to Real Madrid.

There was always a chance that the drawn out saga centred around Courtois’ desire to return to the Spanish capital would become bitter and twisted. No other player in the Chelsea history has polarised fan opinion in the way the Belgium international has. Indeed, no other Blues player has seen the vestiges of support for his cause evaporate into nothing in such spectacular fashion as it did when the news broke on Monday that Courtois had failed to report back to Chelsea for preseason training.

Having spurned the opportunity to talk with new Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri, a further no-show by Courtois on Tuesday brought about a social media meltdown as supporters unified to denounce the keeper for the ultimate cardinal sin in their eyes — disrespecting the club.

It had all started out sweetly enough in 2011 when Courtois was signed from Genk for a fee of £7.9 million. Viewed as the long-term successor to Petr Cech, who was still at the peak of his powers, a loan deal with Atletico Madrid was agreed. The young keeper, 19 at the time, would end up spending three seasons with the Rojiblancos — a hugely successful period for the club who won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Europa League and were runners-up in the Champions League final.

So far so good, but when Jose Mourinho called Courtois back to Chelsea in the summer of 2014, that’s when the tribulations started. The keeper had been stand-offish about coming to Stamford Bridge and refused to sign a new contract unless he was given assurances by Mourinho he would be first choice between the posts. The arrogance of youth held sway, the Special One buckled, and Cech — then just 32 and still viewed by many Chelsea supporters as the best keeper in the world — was marginalised and would eventually be sold to rivals Arsenal.Courtois signed a new five-year deal, but the circumstances didn’t sit easy with fans and as a consequence many questioned whether or not playing for Chelsea meant anything to him.Of course he was shown plenty of welcoming love by the fans, the chant “Thibaut, Thibaut!” would echo around Stamford Bridge, but that didn’t stop Courtois at every given opportunity, particularly when away on international duty with Belgium, talking about his love of Madrid.Yes, there was sympathy for his domestic situation, as he had a Spanish girlfriend and two children back home, but there was no need for Courtois to constantly repeat himself. Chelsea had bent over backwards to accommodate his wishes, even shunting aside goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon — brought in originally to work with Cech — so the apparent lack of loyalty rankled.Real Madrid making no secret of their ambition to sign Courtois didn’t help matters and once again the Belgian stood off signing an improved contract with Chelsea, making a series of “wait and see” non-committal comments.Although he played a major part in winning two Premier League titles, many fans wondered if he’d actually improved as a goalkeeper. As it transpired, his Achilles’ heel was exposed earlier this year during a Champions League tie with Barcelona in the Camp Nou when Lionel Messi beat him twice by putting the ball through his legs. The keeper’s disclosure this was his area of weakness drew ridicule and scorn from fans, but he seemed unfazed by it. By the end of the season it was a case of enough-is-enough

Sarri hit the nail squarely on the head when he said he only wanted players “with a very high level of motivation”. That was never going to be Courtois, and his inability to meet the new boss face-to-face bore all the hallmarks of cowardice.When the news broke on Tuesday that Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was set to sign for Chelsea, the sense of joy among fans was palpable even if the fee was an astronomical £71.6m.Finally, closure over Courtois was in sight. In the end it mattered little to them that the deal agreed with Real for the Belgian to get his move to the Bernabeu amounted to just £35m, sweetened with a one-year loan of Croatia international midfielder Mateo Kovacic.Football is a simple business. Supporters need to feel an affinity for a player, and that’s a two-way street. When a bond is established, it can override all manner of problems.Unfortunately, Courtois never really got to grips with this concept at Chelsea because deep down his heart never looked in it at the Bridge. It didn’t have to end this way, but it has and the manner of Courtois’ departure has all but ensured his legacy will remain tarnished.

Arsenal takeover by Stan Kroenke kills part of club’s soul

Aug 8, 2018Tom AdamsArsenal blogger

What is a football club? Is it the bricks and mortar that provide its physical structure? The players and coaches who are responsible for shaping its fate and pursuing its ambitions on the pitch? Or the supporters, who through their collective expression of identity and deep emotional attachment supply a club with its soul?If you lean towards the third option, it’s hard not to feel that a part of Arsenal’s soul died this week.Arsenal, which with its marble halls and conception of doing things the “Arsenal way” has always had a fond sense of its own history, will never quite be the same again after the news emerged that majority shareholder Stan Kroenke had toppled the last remaining barrier to sole ownership by convincing Alisher Usmanov to sell his 30.05 percent stake in the club for around £600 million. With 97 percent of the club now in his possession, Kroenke can and will force the remaining shareholders to sell up.

For the first time since a group of workers at the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory joined together to form a football club in 1886, Arsenal will be the sole private interest of one individual. Supporters who were proud to be shareholders and act on behalf of their contemporaries in a custodial role will have their investment forcibly removed from them. A Rubicon has been crossed.In practical terms, it will essentially be business as usual — at least for now. Arsenal’s refusal to allow Usmanov onto the board means that Kroenke has effectively been running the club as he likes in any case. This is no leap into the unknown under a new owner; indeed, Arsenal fans are only too aware of Kroenke’s hands-off approach. His desire to run Arsenal as a self-sufficient entity without needing to dip into his own pockets is well established.But if it carries minimal practical weight, the emotional toll exacted by this week’s announcement is nevertheless substantial. The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust described it as a “dreadful” development for the club. Leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn has voiced his regret that “this sale will bring to an end the longstanding official role of Arsenal supporters in the running of the club.”Even if supporter oversight and investment in Arsenal had waned in the face of Kroenke’s expanding ownership and stony-faced silence, it still existed in a very real sense. Minor shareholders could still attend Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and voice their concerns, asking probing questions of the Arsenal hierarchy. They feel they had some say, however small, in the direction of the club.Even if their questions were sometimes met with an arrogant response from various chairmen, the AGMs maintained an important link between the club and its supporters: a reminder that Arsenal was at heart a collective enterprise still beholden to its community. Mirroring the wider trend in football, that link will now be severed entirely. Arsenal, a whole club with a verdant history and millions of supporters around the globe, will be the sole property of one man. Frankly, it’s unthinkable.When Kroenke made his first investment in Arsenal, purchasing 9.9 percent of the club in 2007, then-chairman Peter Hill-Wood, bristling with indignation, said the other shareholders would be “horrified to see the club go across the Atlantic.” Hill-Wood’s suspicion of Kroenke mellowed pretty quickly as the American began working alongside him on the board and started buying up his shareholding, but today his words ring true in a very real sense.

Divorced from any oversight from supporters at home, and with no requirement to open up the financials in public fashion, Kroenke can effectively decide the future of the club from his base in Delaware. Arsenal can now be officially registered in America. In an administrative sense, they can become every bit as American as the other assets in his portfolio: the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Rapids.The days when football clubs were run as benevolent social institutions, of and for the local community, are long gone. Full supporter ownership of a sports behemoth valued at £1.8 billion by the Kroenke takeover is a utopian dream rendered impossible by the financial realities of an engorged industry. But before this week, Arsenal at least paid lip service to the notion that supporters could match emotional investment with financial investment and have some sense of ownership over their club. Now, those supporters are utterly powerless.Of course, Arsenal will carry on. Games will be won, lost and drawn, players will be moved in and out, matchday tickets will be purchased and message boards and social media sites will be a constantly flickering hive of debate, impassioned argument and general ridiculousness. If Arsenal are wildly successful under Unai Emery, then most people probably won’t even care. But underneath it all the fabric of Arsenal, and that fundamental relationship between a club and its supporters, has changed forever.

Armchair Analyst: Your complete guide to the Week 24 MLS slate

August 10, 201810:38AM EDTMatthew DoyleSenior Writer

Just a bit of housecleaning before we dive in: I’ll be on vacation next week, so talk to Wiebe and Warshaw about Week 25. On a scale of Nigel De Jong to Mauro Diaz, how much will you miss me?Let’s take a look at what’s coming up in Week 24:

Saturday Slate

Columbus Crew SC vs. Houston Dynamo
7:30 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

There are a couple of other X-factors kicking around, one being the lack of a healthy No. 10 for Crew SC, and the other being Houston’s weary legs after a long and successful Wednesday night of U.S. Open Cup action. The first might mean that Meram plays centrally as a 10, and the other should mean three points for Columbus regardless.

New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union
7:30 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

As with Houston, we should all expect the Union to come into this game with weary legs after serious midweek action. Philly did have a bit of a stroll – it was a 3-0 USOC win over a Fire team that was inferior for the full 90 – but those minutes add up, especially when heading out on the road for a game that is, frankly, ginormous.Philly need to bottle what it was they had against Chicago and somehow take it with them to Foxborough. They utterly dominated central midfield on Wednesday night, knocking the ball around a ton and generating chance after chance both into and out of Zone 14.Obviously that’s harder to do against a Revs team whose whole gameplan is build upon disruption. Rule No. 1 under Brad Friedel thus far has been “get pressure to the ball,” and his team has bought in.The problem is that when they’re not able to get pressure to the ball, they’re not able to keep it out of their own net. I’m not sure how close Michael Mancienne is to full fitness, and I’m sure they signed him for a lot of reasons, but here’s the big one: They have to defend better in the 18. If he can help with that, he’ll play.If he can’t help with that, and the Revs don’t get three points here, it’s very, very difficult to figure out their path to the playoffs. I’m not going to call this “do or die time,” but rather “don’t and probably die.”

Chicago Fire vs. New York Red Bulls
8:30 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

Chicago lost on Wednesday, and then on Thursday outright waived two rotation players: right back Kevin Ellis (who’s started 19 games), and center mid Tony Tchani (who was mostly disappointing after a solid 2017 season in Vancouver). They sit in 10th place in the East, have won once in the last two months, and it seems safe to say that things are broken for them.To put it gently: There’s not a single thing they seem to do particularly well. This team was so dynamic building through the middle, so lethal up top last year, but age, injury and attrition caught up to them and smothered them. Philly was able to do that on Wednesday:nd that’s what the Red Bulls will attempt to do on Saturday. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Chris Armas experiment, at least a little bit, with a two-striker look since Chicago have so much trouble tracking runners in their defensive third.

Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes
9 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

Did anyone look at this game coming up and think it would feature two teams attempting to build a winning streak? The Rapids and Quakes have both been, let’s say, “not good” for a long while, but both were “quite good” last weekend.There’s nothing much I can add to my colleague Bobby Warshaw’s take on how Kellyn Acosta and the 4-4-2 diamond have transformed Colorado over the last couple of weeks. I will just say that 1) watch out for El Homie on the overlap – if you take that away, I think the Rapids won’t be able to invent any sort of creative thrust no matter what formation they play, and 2) I still want to see Acosta get on the ball more. My biggest complaint about his game is that for a player so gifted, he spends far too much time as a passenger.I’m still solidly in “continue to wait, continue to see” mode about the Quakes. The defense definitely does seem better organized since Guram Kashia arrived, and after a month of nothing the attack finally took advantage of some gifts in Frisco. That was all very nice, and something to build upon, but I’m not rushing out to buy stock just yet.

Real Salt Lake vs. Montreal Impact
10 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

I’m kind of wracking my brain trying to come up with what, exactly, to say about this one that I haven’t said before a million times. There are obvious things that need to go right for RSL: the central midfield has to stay together defensively, and Corey Baird has to drag the opposing center backs all over to create unexpected angles for the wingers, and the fullbacks have to push into the attack and add a bit of variation to things.When all that happens, and they play at home, they win. It’s straightforward at this point.The same is mostly true for Montreal, who’ve sunk back to earth over the last five weeks (1-2-2 record) after a very nice June. They’re still defending deep, absorbing pressure and hitting on the break. Push too high and let Saphir Taider hit one of his heat-seeking outlets, and they will get out and get after you.At the same time, you’ve got to force them to really, really defend in their own 18 because they’re not particularly good at it. They especially struggle tracking outside-in runs from opposing wingers, which should play to RSL’s strengths.

LAFC vs. Sporting KC
10:30 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

One of the big questions all year for LAFC has been “can they do it without a true defensive midfielder?” Mark-Anthony Kaye was the closest they had – he was more of a pure central midfielder, though one with more defensive responsibilities than the other guys in Black-and-Gold – but now that he’s done for the year it’s the likes of Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen and Eduard Atuesta trying to keep things tight through the middle.None of those guys is a ball-winner, and that matters. First, because it means they have to defend by having the ball. Second, because it means they are starting to look more and more vulnerable when they don’t:Those are Houston’s key passes (yellow arrows) and assists (blue) from Wednesday night’s 3-3 USOC semifinal thriller (which the Dynamo won in penalties). And that’s a ton of chances to give up out of Zone 14.SKC haven’t been great lately, but they just brought Krisztian Nemeth back, Johnny Russell‘s expected to play this weekend, and Gianluca Busio is clearly an upgrade over Yohan Croizet at attacking midfield. They are built to punish the type of loose defensive play LAFC showed on Wednesday in Texas.

LA Galaxy vs. Minnesota United
10:30 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs. the Minnesota United backline. Darwin Quintero against the LA Galaxybackline.No real need to overthink this one. Just make sure you adjust your fantasy teams accordingly.

Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
11 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

Portland’s approach under Gio Savarese so far: First do no harm.Portland never, ever beat themselves by giving you extra possesssions, and they still usually have plenty going forward they can use to beat you. That now includes Jorge Villafaña, who should provide an attacking dimension from left back that Zarek Valentin has mostly lacked, and Lucas Melano, a pure speed option in the attack.The ‘Caps are weary and wounded after a heartbreaking draw-that-felt-like-a-loss against TFC in the first leg of the Canadian Championship on Wednesday. They also have, by the numbers, one of the very worst defenses in the league.They are also a potentially tricky matchup for the Timbers, who are 21st in MLS in possession and generally have not wanted to have a ton of the ball. Vancouver are 22nd in MLS in possession and seems to want absolutely, positively nothing to do with having the ball or carrying play. There is every chance they will park the bus to the best of their abilities, hope that holds, and then try to get into space on the counter.

Sunday Tripleheader

Toronto FC vs. NYCFC
4 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

TFC should be happy enough with Wednesday’s result, but they didn’t look great – sluggish all over the field, still a little unbalanced in midfield, and generally just looser defensively than you’d want to see from a team that desperately needs to keep picking up wins if they’re going to make the playoffs.For as much as the narrative has shifted over the past three weeks, the Chicago Fire are the only MLS team Toronto have beaten in the last two months. Last weekend’s result at Atlanta was great, and the last 10 minutes were legitimately impressive, but they’re not there yet. And now they have to fly back across the country on short rest to prove, against another of the league’s very best teams, that I’m being needlessly skeptical.We shall see.And the way we shall see is via what happens in central midfield. Yes, David Villa‘s likely back for this one (I doubt he starts), but that’s almost an afterthought compared to what’s happening in the middle of the park for NYCFC. Ebenezer Ofori didn’t even make the 18 last week, and Domé Torrent’s tactical switch (detailed HERE) paid no dividends.

To be clear: Give the Reds that much time, space and running room, and NYCFC will lose 4-3.

D.C. United vs. Orlando City
8 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

D.C. should press as high and hard and viciously as possible. The Orlando City defense is a mess – they’re on track to break Minnesota United’s mark for worst single-season defense in league history – in just about every facet of the game. If I’m Ben Olsen, I’m taking the risk of letting them run in behind because the payoff (multiple chances against a scrambling, disjointed backline) is worth it.

Seattle Sounders vs. FC Dallas
10 pm ET | Match Preview | TV & streaming info

Lest anyone missed, it, here’s how Seattle have flipped the game the past couple of weeks:

I’d expect them to once again selectively use the 4-4-2 this weekend. And I expect Dallas to try to absorb and counter for the entire 90 minutes here.One thing to keep an eye on: How aggressive will Jesse Gonzalez be in coming off his line? He got burned twice last week as he tries to evolve into a more modern goalkeeper, and games like that can damage anyone’s confidence.It may not be that big a deal since, as I said, I suspect the Dallas backline will be defending in his lap. But it’s worth thinking about at least a little bit.

MLS Power Rankings for the week of August 7, 2018

Portland Timbers players celebrate Dairon Asprilla’s second-half goal in a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Union in an MLS soccer match at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. By Kevin Lindstrom , Special Contributor Contact Kevin Lindstromon Twitter:@Kevin3rdD

You can really see which teams are hitting their stride going into the last stretch and those who … well, lose to the last place team in the league. Sorry, FC Dallas, but that was really bad, and it was not the first time they had laid an egg like that. Just the first time they did it to a team in the bottom tier. FC Dallas is not alone, though. A number of teams, including some good ones, had poor showings. And some teams with very poor records showed that they have some life in them yet. Specifically, as we have noted the past few weeks, watch Seattle and Toronto closely. They may or may not make the playoffs, but they are clearly not the dumpster fires they had been for much of the season.

Top Shelf

1 – Atlanta United (Previously 1). While they may not be hitting as many highs as they were earlier in the year, their lows are home ties to teams with good rosters. Especially after this weekend, we feel confident our Shield pick will make it stick.

2 – Portland Timbers (3). Philadelphia may not be a top tier team, and they had to travel cross country, but a 3-0 win is still pretty convincing.

3 – New York Red Bulls (4). LAFC may be in the top end of the next tier rather than a top team, but that does not mean a win over them is not of note. It seems the Red Bulls have transitioned away from Jesse Marsh rather well.

4 – NYCFC (5). A home tie to a middling Vancouver makes it hard to move them up. Well, except for over the team that lost to the last place team in the league. (Sorry to the FCD faithful, but it really was that bad of a loss).

Quality

5 – FC Dallas (2). Those lingering questions. They are going to keep this team from doing something special unless they can find answers. Yes, they deserve credit for making good moves in the summer, but the jury is still out on whether those new pieces can integrate successfully this season, and whether this team can overcome what appears to be a significant lack of composure under a variety of circumstances.

6 – Los Angeles Football Club (6). It is hard to really criticize an expansion team for not doing more when they are doing so well in the standings, except that LAFC started so well. How much of this is players transitioning back from summer play, and how much of it is the league figuring out how to beat Bradley’s boys?

7 – Sporting Kansas City (9). How much of this was Houston sliding and how much of this was Sporting stepping up? Remains to be seen. But a road win might be what gives Kansas City some mojo back.

8 – Columbus Crew (8). In other circumstances, not playing can lead to moving up or down. Not this week.

9 – LA Galaxy (7). The Galaxy need to send a thank you basket to Frisco. Even with a rejuvenated Rapids team, that just isn’t a loss a good MLS side should take.

10 – New England Revolution (10). A tie against Orlando. Really tough to gauge what that means, other than the Revs are what they have been consistently all year – inconsistent.

11 – Real Salt Lake (12). It was Chicago, so let’s not get too excited folks. And it was at home, where RSL has been very effective, but it was still a positive result.

12 – Houston Dynamo (11). “A home loss to Philadelphia? Not good, Kemosabe. Then they lose at Portland? This team is running out of opportunities to get it going.” And then they lose to Sporting. Danger, Will Robinson.

Middling

13 – Seattle Sounders (15). Speaking of danger, MLS had better take note of the Sounders. They are gaining momentum by the week. If they can beat FC Dallas this weekend, it would be hard to argue against them being the hottest team in the West.

14 – Toronto FC (18). See Seattle Sounders. With all the quality at the top of the East, it is hard to say they would be the hottest team in their conference, but with a few more results, they can be back to being something dangerous.

15 – Montreal Impact (13). “The Impact are very much not a top half team.” A 1-1 tie with D.C. certainly seems like a closing argument for the prosecution.

16 – Vancouver Whitecaps (16). Very much like the Revs, Vancouver has been an up and down team this year. This week? A 2-2 tie with a resurgent NYCFC.

17 – Philadelphia Union (14). And reality sets in for the young team. They are clearly better than they were to start the year, but they are not good enough to hang with the really good teams.

18 – Minnesota United (17). It has to be disheartening to see a team you were ahead of for much of the season road past you at home…

Dregs

19 – Orlando City SC (20). I am not sure a 3-3 home tie is better than a 2-1 road loss in all circumstances, but we are seeing signs of life from Orlando that we just aren’t seeing from the Fire.

20 – Chicago Fire (19). We moved you down into this bracket last week, Chicago, and all you did was confirm the decision.

21 – D.C. United (21). If they continue to battle, they could pass Chicago.

22 – Colorado Rapids (22). The gap between the Rapids and D.C. was wider before this weekend. It is much tighter now.

23 – San Jose Earthquakes (23). How much of that was San Jose and how much of that was FC Dallas remains to be seen. But since that was the Earthquakes first win since MAY, we hesitate to put much stock in it. Credit for the win – we certainly noticed. But it is going to take more than that to move out of the bottom rung.

Toronto FC vs. New York City FC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 24
BMO Field — Toronto August 12 — 4 pm ET WATCH: ESPN, TSN4

Fresh off putting themselves in the driver’s seat to win another Canadian Championship title, Toronto FC return home to meet a New York City FC squad aiming to make up ground in their Supporters’ Shield pursuit Sunday at BMO Field.

TFC rallied to draw Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the opening leg of the CanChamp final at BC Place on Wednesday, while NYCFC also drew the ‘Caps in league play last Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

New York City have lost just once in regular season action to Toronto (3W-4D), though that lone win came in the most recent game in Toronto (July 2017).

Toronto FC

Toronto (6-11-5) are now unbeaten in six games across all competitions following a wild 2-2 draw in the opening leg of the Canadian Championship final at BC Place Wednesday night.

After Kei Kamara put the ‘Caps in front on a 24th-minute penalty kick, Jonathan Osorio leveled two minutes later. It appeared Erik Hurtado scored the late winner to put Vancouver in front, 2-1, in the 84th minute, but a Doneil Henry own goal deep in second-half stoppage time gave the Reds a much-welcome second away goal.

“The scoreline is in our favor with two road goals,” Greg Vanney said. “That’s a decent road result. We go home now with a need to try and win the game or keep the game in a good position for ourselves. The vision of the game wasn’t necessarily what we anticipated, but it’s the result that matters when you go home.”

Suspended: D – Chris Mavinga
Suspended after next caution: F – Sebastian Giovinco
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D – Drew Moor (quadricep strain)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Alex Bono — Gregory van der Wiel, Eriq Zavaleta, Nick Hagglund — Michael Bradley — Auro, Victor Vazquez, Jonathan Osorio, Justin Morrow — Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore

Notes: Toronto FC are 3W-2L-1D in MLS play when Jozy Altidore has started this year. They have won as many matches in the 16 games he has missed (3W-9L-4D). … TFC have not tasted defeat in their last three MLS games (2W-1D), tied for their longest stretch this season without a defeat.

New York City FC

NYCFC (13-5-5) squandered a chance to move within two points of Atlanta United when they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against the Whitecaps last Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.

After falling behind on a Nicolas Mezquida goal, Jesus Medina leveled in first-half stoppage time and Valentin Castellanos put NYCFC in front just after halftime before Hurtado leveled late for the Whitecaps.

“They can play in different ways. Toronto for now is the champions of MLS, never forget it,” Dome Torrent said. “I respect a lot this team and their coach because he was the best manager last year. That means, it’s a top team for me. It’s not easy to play the Concacaf [Champions League] and after that the MLS. But maybe right now they are in the best moment because they improved a lot. They changed some players and I think right now they are much better than, I don’t know, two weeks ago.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M – Tommy McNamara
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M – Yangel Herrera (ankle injury), D – Cedric Hountondji (hamstring avulsion); QUESTIONABLE: GK – Sean Johnson (shoulder injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Brad Stuver — Anton Tinnerholm, Maxime Chanot, Alex Callens, Ben Sweat — Jesus Medina, Alex Ring, Maxi Moralez — Valentin Castellanos, David Villa, Jo Inge Berget

Notes: Maxi Moralez created seven chances last weekend against Vancouver, his third game this season with 7+ chances created in a match. Only two other players have done so twice. … New York City FC have won just one of their last eight MLS road games (5L-2D), conceding 2+ goals in all but one of the eight matches.

All-Time Series

Overall: Toronto FC 1 win, 14 goals … New York City FC 3 wins, 15 goals … 4 draws
At Toronto: Toronto FC 1 win, 5 goals … NYCFC 1 win, 3 goals … 1 draw
Last meeting at Toronto: Toronto FC 4, New York City FC 0 (July 30, 2017)

CHICAGO FIRE FORWARD ELLIOT COLLIER AND MIDFIELDER DIEGO CAMPOS JOIN INDY ELEVEN ON LOAN

By IndyEleven.com, “Indiana’s Team” adds MLS talent to its lineup

Indy Eleven Professional Soccer acquires forward Elliot Collier and midfielder Diego Campos on loan from Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire. Collier joins the “Boys in Blue” pending league and federation approval, while Campos joins pending league, federation and visa approval.“We’re excited to have Elliot and Diego be available for us,” said Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie. “They’ve both done very well in their rookie year so far with Chicago. They’re exciting attacking players who have good quickness and good ability to beat people moving forward. They’re a threat in the box, as well.”Collier, 23, was drafted in the third round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft as the 49th overall pick. The forward played four seasons at Loyola University, making 69 appearances, registering 15 goals and 11 assists in that time. In his junior and senior seasons, Collier was named to the First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference and to the United Soccer Coaches’ (USC) First Team All-West Region in 2016. Prior to Loyola, Collier played for New Zealand side Hamilton Wanders AFC in 2012, where he tallied eight goals and ten assists.Campos, 22, was selected in the second round (38th overall) of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft from Clemson University where he scored 23 goals and added 22 assists in 81 games for the Tigers. native of San Jose, Costa Rica, Campos has one goal and two assists in 21 league appearances and one goal in three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches this season.Per club policy, terms of player contracts with Indy Eleven will not be released.

ATP_Gen_350x250

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8/3/18 MLS Heats Up, Indy 11 on TV Sun 5 pm, EPL Community Shield, WORLD CUP WRAP-UP

August 4, 2018August 4, 2018 gatorbest

So we had an absolute blast at EL TRAFFICO – LAFA vs the LA Galaxy in the new LAFC home next to USC’s Coliseum. The crowd was electric as we stood in the supporters section for LAFC. LAFC got off to a tremendous start with a goal off a header in the 5^th minute then another just 30 minutes in. But the Galaxy behind my man Ibra came to life late as he assisted one goal, nearly scored twice and nearly set up another down the stretch before the Galaxy tied it in the 90^th minute. Talk about drama!! It was up and down football – both teams attacking at breakneck speed in the last 30 minutes. A great comeback for the Galaxy and a disappointment for the home fans but man what an atmosphere – I was repping my Indy 11 – as you can see in the pics below. Great times at EL Traffico in LA! Check out some of these videos from the stands – like I was in Europe!

lafc

So with the world Cup wrapped up its time to turn our attention to MLS, here are the midseason grades as the MLS Allstar Game is just wrapped up. Some surprising teams on top of the divisions as defending champs Toronto and Seattle sit near the bottom in each division and teams like the NY Red Bulls and Philly Union battle amongst the top teams. Of course as surprising as anyone is new expansion team LAFC lead by former US boss Bob Bradley and the guy who I still think is the best soccer coach the US has produced. His LAFC is battling for first along with Dallas (Carmel High Matt Hedges) and Sporting Kansas City. In the east its last season’s expansion surprise Atlanta United – at the top with NYCF and the Columbus Crew. This weekend we get Atlanta United vs Toronto Sat on ESPN at 4 pm, while Sunday gives us New York Red Bulls vs LAFC Sun at 6 pm on Fox Sports 1 and both coaches Bob Bradley and Chris Armas appreciate each other.

INDY 11

The Indy 11 will travel to Louisville FC on Sunday at 5 pm on MyIndy TV 23 in 1 of their rare road game coverages and of course on ESPN+ or join the BYB in Broad Ripple at Union Jack. Congrats to GK Fon Williams as his steady play in the win at Bethlehem led to his making the USL team of the week. Our Boys in Blue return home Wed Aug 15 and of course discount tickets below $15 are available Click here for Discount Tickets for the Game and enter 2018 INDY as the promo code.

USA

Huge Congrats to the US Ladies who bring home the Tournament of Nations Cup with their huge win over Brazil 4-1 Thursday in Chicago. The ladies finished 2-0-1 overall and outscored Australia in overall goals to win the trophy. Next up on the ladies side – the U20 Girls are in the U20 World Cup starting next week on Fox Sports 2. (see schedule below on the OBC). Speaking of US Soccer – the US Men are playing Mexico in Nashville on Sept 11 Tues 7:30 pm – anyone interested in going down that night – I have access to American Outlaw Tickets behind the Goal.

ICC – on ESPN

Ah with about a month until the European Season’s kick-off its time for the International Champions Cup here in the states on ESPN. This is always a fun way to see the best teams in the world as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Liverpool, Man United, Man City, Dortmund (with US star Christian Pulisic), Bayern Munich, PSG and more all come to the states on the ESPN networks. (See the full TV schedule below on the oleballcoach). Of course with the World Cup break for many players – not sure how many starters will get 1^st half minutes –but still fun to tune in and see your favorite European team. ICC Notes

WORLD CUP

So Croatia ran out of both luck and energy in the final as France showed their young but true class in a 4-2 win. The final had it all – a VAR call, a PK, goals off set pieces and more, but in the end France and that midfield held steady in limiting Luka Modric and company. Of coure Modric still rightful won the Best Player award, while Mbappe took home the Silver Ball for young player of the tourney. Cortouis (SP) won the golden glove in a close one over the finals GKs. That dribbling gaff may have cost Loris the Golden Gloves – fortunately for him it didn’t cost him the game. In the 3^rd place game – Belgium’s Golden Generation of course overpowered a VASTLY OVERATED English team that could only score on set pieces and PKs. Congrats to Harry Kane for winning the Golden Boot for scoring no goals with his feet in the run of play. In fact 3 of his tourney leading 6 goals were PKs. I was all about the feel good of England but lets be real they backed into the Semi-Finals and got beaten by the only 2 decent teams they played there. Still it was a young team and Southgate did a fine job coaching up the set pieces. Let’s see if they get out of the group stage of the Euro’s in 2 years before we crown this team just yet however. Man the Euro’s should be good in 2 years by the way – a pissed Italy, Dutch, Germany, Spain along with England, Croatia, France, and Belgium WOW!

I meant to include this last week – this was my favorite World Cup Song-One World the one with RedOne, Adelina & Now United – BeIN Sports has been using it all month – much better than the official 1 I think than the Official Live It Up with Will Smith and Era Istrefi. Overall I thought Fox did a fine job of covering the World Cup in this first go round. Too bad of course the US was not in it which cost them ratings for sure – but the coverage with 1 hour pre-games, often 30 minute post games, a 1 hour late night show each night along with a highlights show and multiple replays on Fox Sports 1, 2 and Fox Soccer. The US watched in droves – especially the final 8 on. Of course having exciting soccer with goals scored in Extra time and shootout, no nil-nil ties, and a 4-2 Final don’t hurt.

So how about the official announcement that World Cup 2022 in Qatar will be from Nov 21 – Dec 18 – or right in the middle of football season. Interesting how that will do in the US – one of the great things about the World Cup is it takes place during the DEAD Sports Summer Time – no football, no hoops, just boring baseball and WORLD CUP. Also how will that affect the major European Leagues – they can’t be happy about this – as that will shut down the leagues from early Nov – till the end of December. Should be interesting. Start saving up now for the US games in 2026 – tickets are expected to cost between $400-$600 each.

EPL KICKS OFF NEXT WEEK

Wait it seems like just yesterday that the EPL Season ended but its back- with the Community Shield Kicking things off this Sunday at 10 am on ESPN+ maybe? I can’t believe this isn’t on cable TV somewhere? Of course the full season kicks off next weekend with Man United facing Leicester City next Friday 3 pm on NBCSN, Newcastle hosting Tottenham next Sat at 7:30 am, Liverpool vs West Ham on Sun 8 am, and Arsenal facing Man City to follow at 11 am all on NBCSN. (see some previews below – full preview next week)

CONGRATS HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS

Finally congrats to all those making their respective high school teams across the area – Carmel FC is proud to be so well represented on High School rosters across town including the 11 boys who made the Freshman boys team, 2 on JV and 1 on Varsity at Carmel High and the many who made the CHS Ladies teams, Guerin High, University and more. For those who did not make it – please don’t give up on soccer – its soooo hard to make the Carmel teams with so very many students trying out. Carmel FC with Travel and Select Teams – and of course Carmel Dad’s Club with Rec Soccer is still here to help you play the game you grew up loving!!

Indy 11

Indy 11 GK named to USL Team of the Week 20

Indy 11 beat Bethehem

Indy 11 Discount Tickets for Wednesday’s Game! (Code 2018Indy)

Soccer Saturday – Radio Show 9-10 am on 1070 the Fan

USA

US Ladies Defeat Brazil 4-1 in Chicago to Win Tournament of Champions!

The USMNT will play Colombia in October

US Youngsters You Haven’t Heard of

The World Cup is Coming to America – Indy 11

UPDATE: Matt Miazga goes on loan with French Team -Nantes

US Players to Watch on TV this Weekend

MLS

Juve Wins MLS Allstar Game in Penalty’s

Garber “hopeful” Crew will stay in Columbus

Stejskal: Cincy lay out ambitious vision for 2019

Long Term Plans for US Soccer Leagues MLS/USL/USL 3 ? Nick Mendola –NBC

Atlanta United vs Toronto Sat ESPN 4 pm Preview

New York Red Bulls vs LAFC Sun 6 pm FS1 Preview

Parkhurst: “Goal is definitely Supporters’ Shield”

Rooney gives DC United hope with first win at home

Toronto to Face Tigres in UANL Campeones Cup

Atlanta Uniteds DP Approach is Changing the Game in MLS – Fast Company

Zlatan Does it All – Including Sales Calls

EPL + World

Can Arsenal Return to Top 4 – NBC

Can Liverpool Win the League? – NBC

Way Too Early EPL Predictions

Bonucci back to Juve, Higuaine to AC Milan in Swap

Chelsea Looks at Pulisic from Dortmund

Legue 1 Season Info

Goalies

Alison’s Tough Road to Liverpool as a #1

World Cup GK Ratings

Best Saves Rounds 1 & 2 World Cup

Englands World Cup Run, Southgate represent More for a Nation in Political Upheaval SI

WORLD CUP

World Cup Tourney Top 11?

Ogden: Belgium ease past England to claim third
Ogden: Hazard’s value, reputation have never been higher

Vickery: Questions for South American nations

Project Russia: Has VAR been a success at the World Cup?
Photos: How the World Cup is made

The World Cup of Set Pieces: How Teams Are Living Off Dead-Ball Plays

GAMES ON TV This Week

Saturday, Aug 4

8 am beIN Sport PSG (Tim Weah) vs Monaco – Legue 1 Super Cup

International Champions Cup
	2:05pm	Internazionale vs Olympique Lyonnais	ESPN, ESPN Deportes,
	6:05pm	Real Madrid vs Juventus	ESPN2, ESPN Deportes,
	8:05pm	Milan vs Barcelona	ESPN News/Deportes,

4 pm ESPN Atlanta United vs Toronto FC

8pm Yes Network NYFC vs Vancouver Whitecaps

Sun, Aug 5^th

10 am ESPN +?? Chelsea vs Manchester City

5 pm MyIndy TV Indy ll @ Louisville FC

6pm FS1 NY Red Bulls vs LAFC

Mon, Aug 6

7:30 am Fox Sport2 Nigeria U20 Ladies vs Germany U20

10:30 am FS2 Paraguay U20 ladies vs Spain U20

1:30 pm Fox Sport 2 USA U20 Ladies vs Japan U20

Wed, Aug 7

7 pm Ussoccer.com Philly Union vs Chicago Fire – US Open Cup

9:30pmUssoccer.com Houston Dynamo vs LAFC– US Open

Thur, Aug 8

7:30 am Fox Sport2 China U20 Ladies vs Germany U20

10:30 am FS2 Japan U20 Ladies vs Spain U20

1:30 pm Fox Sport 2 USA U20 Ladies vs Uraguay U20

Fri, Aug 9 EPL Starts

3 pm NBCSN Manchester United vs Leicester City

Sat, Aug 10 EPL Starts

7:30 am NBCSN Newcastle United vs Tottenham

10 am NBCSN Huddersfield Town vs Chelsea

12:30 pm NBCSN Wolverhampton vs Everton

Sun, Aug 11 EPL Starts

8 am NBCSN Liverpool vs West Ham United

11 am NBCSN Arsenal vs Man City

2:30 pm FS2 Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich Super Cup

3 pm bein Sport PSG vs Caen

4 pm ESPN Des/+ Barcelona vs Seville – SUPER CUP

4 pm ESPN Toronto vs NYCFC

8 pm Fox Sport1 DC United (Rooney) vs Orlando City (Cam Lindley)

10 pm FS1 Seattle Sounders vs Dallas (Matt Hedges)

Mon, Aug 13

7:30 am Fox Sport 2 USA U20 WC Ladies vs Spain U20

7:30 am Fox Soccer Japan U20 Ladies vs Uraguay U20

10:30 am FS 2 Germany vs Haiti

Wed, Aug 15

3 pm TNT? Real Madrid vs Athletico Madrid UEFA Super Cup

7 pm myindytv Indy 11 vs North Carolina

10 pm ESPN2 LAFC vs Real Salt Lake

Thurs, Aug 16

10 am U20 Womens WC

1:30 pm U20 Womens WC

Associated Press Aug 3, 2018, 7:30 AM EDT

The “Boys in Blue” head south to take on the 2017 USL Champions

WEEK 21: BEST OUT OF 3 – GAME TWO AGAINST LOUISVILLE CITY FC

Indy Eleven face Louisville City FC for the second time in the 2018 USL campaign on August 5. The first meeting between the two rivals took place in Week 8 when the “Boys in Blue” defeated Louisville 1-0, at Lucas Oil Stadium.Indy Eleven (9W-7L-4D) are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference with 31 points. The “Boys in Blue” downed Bethlehem Steel FC in their previous outing on the road, 1-0. The match seemed destined for a draw until Zach Steinberger’s 86th minute corner kick found an unmarked Jack McInerney who headed the ball home. The goal is McInerney’s fourth of the season, placing him in a three way tie for top scorer with defender Ayoze and forward Soony Saad. Indy goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams also recorded his eighth clean sheet in 2018, earning him a spot in the USL Team of Week in Week 20. The victory marks Indy Eleven’s second win in their last five matches, three of which have been on the road.Louisville City FC (10W-4L-5D) is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference with 35 points, just four points in front of sixth placed Indy. Louisville defeated struggling Ottawa Fury FC, 3-0, in their last fixture. Louisville captain and midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo opened the scoring in the 13th minute after he finished a corner played into the box with a diving header. Defender Paco Craig scored the second in the 47th minute and midfielder Devon Williams scored the third of the match and his first of the season 10 minutes later. Louisville goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh recorded his sixth clean sheet of the season in the shutout. Louisville defender Alexis Souahy will be unavailable for the fixture against Indy Eleven as a result of a red card received in the 77th minute.The “Boys in Blue’s” match at Louisville will be the last of a stretch of four games on the road. Indy head coach Martin Rennie will hope to return to Indy with at least half of the available points from the four-game stint away from home.

INDY ELEVEN PLAYER TO WATCH: MF MATT WATSON

Indy Eleven midfielder and captain Matt Watson influenced the match against Bethlehem Steel FC for a full 90 minutes, arguably having his best performance of the season despite not directly influencing the scoreline. The Englishman’s dominance in the midfield can easily be accredited as a key reason “Indiana’s Team” brought back three points from Pennsylvania.Watson completed over 90 percent of his passes throughout the game and created two opportunities for teammates. The 33-year old veteran midfielder displayed his defensive abilities, netting four interceptions and a tackle. Indy will need another dominant midfield performance from Watson in order to hand Louisville only their second loss at home.

LOUISVILLE CITY FC PLAYER TO WATCH: MF OSCAR JIMENEZ

Louisville City FC midfielder Oscar Jimenez currently leads the team in assists with six. Two of those assists came in the previous fixture against Ottawa Fury FC. The 28-year old has only averaged a 72 percent passing accuracy so far in 2018, which lived up to the billing against Ottawa as he averaged 71 percent, but what makes Jimenez dangerous is his set piece ability.Jimenez’s assists against Ottawa both came from dead ball situations. The first was an in-swinging corner kick played right into the edge of the six yard box that left the goalkeeper stranded in no man’s land. The second was an in-swinging free kick from near half field that found the feet of defender Paco Craig near the penalty marker. Indy defenders will need to be weary of Jimenez’s perfectly weighted passes from set pieces in order to defeat Louisville.

MATCHUP TO MARK: INDY GK OWAIN FON WILLIAMS VS. LOUISVILLE FW CAMERON LANCASTER

The “Boys in Blue” shut out Louisville City FC the first time the two teams played in Indianapolis. Now, Indy travels to Kentucky to face a LCFC side that has scored the fourth most goals and possesses the third best goal scorer in the Eastern Conference. Indy goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams kept another clean sheet in Indy’s previous match against Bethlehem Steel FC. The 31-year-old recorded four saves on his way to shutting out the third highest scoring team in the Eastern Conference with a stellar record at home. Now in Week 21, Fon Williams faces Louisville City FC, another team with an incredible home record and high powered offense. The Welshman tallied two saves and a punch against the Kentucky based team the first time around. He’ll need to repeat his Team of the Week performance from Bethlehem against a Louisville side that has scored 20 goals at home this season.In order to add his ninth clean sheet to his 2018 USL season total, Fon Williams will have to stop the power house that leads the Louisville City offense, forward Cameron Lancaster, from finding the back of the net. Lancaster wasn’t able to net against Indy in Week 8 or against Ottawa Fury FC last time out, but has tallied 10 on the season so far. That tally sees him as joint owner of third most goals scored in the Eastern Conference and sole owner of most goals scored on Louisville City FC. Lancaster came on as a sub in the fixture against Ottawa, but expect the 25-year-old Englishman to play the full 90 minutes as he did in Week 8 against Indy Eleven.

2018 MLS All-Star Game breaks ASG attendance record with 72,000

August 1, 20189:25PM EDTMLSsoccer staff

UPDATE: The official announced attendance was 72,317, breaking the record for the highest attendance at a standalone MLS All-Star Game and becoming the second-largest attendance of any All-Star Game across North American sport leagues.Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday afternoon that the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target is sold out. Some standing-only tickets were still available through Ticketmasterat the time of the announcement for the Mercedes-Benz Stadium-hosted event, pitting the squad representing MLS against defending Serie A champions Juventus. This means that the 2018 edition of the annual match is expected to surpass the prior attendance record, set in 2010, for a standalone MLS All-Star Game. The 2010 match in Houston, which pitted the MLS All-Stars against Manchester United, drew 70,728 fans. The record for MLS All-Star Game attendance remains 78,416, set at the inaugural edition of the match in 1996 — part of a doubleheader that also featured Brazil’s national team vs. the FIFA World Stars. Atlanta United already has hosted the top five single-game crowds in regular season MLS history, most-recently breaking their own record for largest such crowd when 72,243 watched their 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders on July 15.

MLS All-Stars leave Juventus impressed with physical, technical quality

August 2, 201812:06AM EDTNick RosanoSenior Editor

ATLANTA – Wednesday evening’s 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target left a strong impression on the visiting Juventus players and coaching staff, and not just because of the atmosphere created by the 70,000-plus fans packed into Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but also because of the quality of opposition they faced.The MLS All-Stars held their own against Juventus, the seven-time defending Serie A champions and one of Europe’s most successful clubs, playing them to a 1-1 draw in regulation before falling, 5-3, in a penalty shootout. The All-Stars created plenty of quality scoring chances, forcing Juventus starting golakeeper Wojciech Szczesny into a couple of quality saves in the first half and forcing a clearance off the line of a Diego Valeri shot in the second. Afterwards, the Juventus players asked were very complimentary of their opposition.“I think there’s quite a lot of good players,” said Juventus midfielder Emre Can after the game. “As a team they were just good and you could see in the game that they are in good shape. It was a good game.”Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri also came away impressed with the quality of his team’s opponents, even with the constantly rotating substitutions providing him only a brief glimpse of the opposition players.“It’s hard to say, only seeing most of them for 30 minutes, but I’ve seen some very good players, some very fast ones, very technically well prepared,” Allegri told reporters when asked which players had impressed him. “I think that they can have a future in Europe.”All-Star goalscorer and MVP Josef Martinez, formerly of Juve’s city rivals Torino, left a lasting impression despite playing just under a half-hour in the game, showing off the tenacity and hunger to score that has made him the runaway Golden Boot leader and left him poised to shatter MLS single-season scoring records.“He played 20 minutes, but within 20 minutes he showed that he is very good, Martinez,” said Juve’s Dutch youth international Leandro Fernandes. “I think [Alphonso] Davies is a good player. All are good, but especially those two for me.”

USA wins the Tournament of Nations: four things we learned

After a long time in the wilderness, the US is finally starting to play like the best team in the world

By Charles Olney@olneyce Aug 3, 2018, 1:00pm PDT

The United States concluding the Tournament of Nations last night in resounding fashion with a 4-1 victory over Brazil that secured a first place finish in the event. Here are four things we learned from these matches.

Jill Ellis is finally playing to her strengths, and it’s producing much better results

The US spent some time in the weeds over the past couple years, in a period of ‘experimentation’ that often felt ill-considered and poorly executed. During that period, the players often appeared lost, playing well below their intrinsic ability, and struggling to impose themselves on games. The offense in particular was far more stagnant than it had any right to be considering the personnel available. And whatever stability was occasionally found was quickly disrupted as key players fell to injuries or loss of form. The results weren’t terrible, but the performances were far below what US fans have come to expect. Despite endless promises of a new, silkier, more possession-oriented style of play, success always seemed to be just beyond the horizon, with old habits dying hard: play getting shuttled around the midfield, and offensive buildup remaining stagnant. In the last year, however, they’ve generally settled into a system—a relatively straightforward 4-3-3, with a defensively-minded holding player at the pivot of the midfield, and with attacks generally being led by quick movement down the wings. This system is hardly the most innovative, but when you have the best players in the world, innovation can be less important than simple effectiveness. That’s particularly true when your head coach is a good player manager, and tolerable when it comes to broad themes, but not particularly strong on intricate design.Moreover, by settling the style of play, this new approach finally seems to have created some space for the creativity of the players to shine through. The US is still relying on speed and athleticism, but it’s also increasingly giving its more technical players opportunities to shine. This is still not Guardiola’s Man City or Sasaki’s Japan, but the US is now dominating not just by force by also sometimes by style. They’re controlling possession, creating channels with off-the-ball movement, and moving the ball quickly through tight spaces. Witness the interplay between Heath and Lavelle against Brazil or the emerging relationship between Dunn and Rapinoe on the left.This is still very much a Jill Ellis team, which means intense focus on racing up and down the wings and a midfield that’s more focused on disruption than possession. But it’s far more successful iteration of the model.

The defense is shakier, but they’re more than making up for it

Through eleven games in 2018, the US has only managed to keep three clean sheets. But it’s hard to get too upset about this new defensive frailty, given the accompanying offensive explosion. After all, conceding one but scoring four creates a greater margin for error than those narrow 1-0s results they spent so many years eking out.This is not to say that there is no reason for concern. The US was shockingly exposed on a number of counterattacks during the tournament, in games they were otherwise dominating. That is a real problem, and certainly something that the team will be working on in future training camps. But to a certain extent, this is simply a feature of their high-pressing, aggressive tactics, which push the game heavily into their opponent’s half and create those spaces that can occasionally be exploited.It’s a tradeoff worth accepting, but they’ll need to get better at executing if they want to protect those leads they plan to acquire. That means:

Dropping to shield space rather than attack the ball when their opponents are coming at them, at least until you reach the vicinity of the goal (see the Brazil goal)
Greater willingness to give away tactical fouls where necessary to break up plays before they become truly dangerous (see the Australiagoal)
Getting better at setting up the counterpress for when possession is lost. Too often the team overcommits to the attack, leaving holes exposed which opponents can quickly punch through

Each of these is achievable. And while they won’t prevent this sort of attack entirely, they’ll do a bit more to manage the risk.

The midfield is alright, mostly

Many followers of this team (including your truly) have spent years fixated on the broken midfield. Those problems persist, but finally seem to at least be under control. In this 4-3-3, Ellis generally designates one player to serve as the pivot, in more of a traditional holding role, asking the others to move more horizontaly to link with the wide attack. At times, this can make building through the middle quite difficult. But Ellis has never cared much about that sort of development, and at least this system grants its midfielders more options to shield possession where needed, and then link with their wide support further upfield.That means that while the midfield remains a weak point, it’s only weak in relative terms. The structure enables more fluidity than the old double-pivot that so often stagnated in previous years. By sacrificing a bit of defensive solidity, the US has gained quite a bit more flexibility.It also helps that the midfield options have expanded significantly. Installing Julie Ertz as the #6 at this tournament last year made a huge difference, and she continues to be a critical contributor. Meanwhile, Lindsey Horan is in the midst of a breakout season—very impressive considering the quality of performance she was already offering before this year—and offers more physicality and insightful movement to the midfield. Absent significant developments, Ertz and Horan seem like locks for the World Cup next summer.But the US is blessed with a wealth of other options, who provide different skills, giving Ellis tools to tweak her team’s play without fundamentally shifting the structure.There’s Rose Lavelle, finally finding her way back into form after a year spent on injury walkabout, reminding us of just how exciting she was last spring. She made an immediate impact against Japan when she entered as a sub, but her true potential was made clear in the Brazil game, where her combinations with Tobin Heath on the right were wonderful—the sort of intricate play the US has so long been missing.Then consider McCall Zerboni, who is busy proving that her 2017 performance was anything but a fluke. She picked right back up in 2018, and showed over the course of several appearances here that she can be a valuable contributor: offering bite, aggression, and flexibility to the US midfield. Against Brazil, Zerboni allowed Ertz to push further upfield, to excellent results. Against Japan, she offered vertical movement that put the defense under serious pressure Morgan Brian also seems to have finally turned a corner in her recovery. She’s still a step or two off her peak, but is far closer than she’s been over the past 24 months. The acceleration still isn’t quite there, and the touch still seems a little rusty. But the vision and awareness remains off the charts. In the past couple years, she’s been in and out of national team camps based primarily on talent and potential, rather than on form. At this point, the performances are good enough to say that she deserves a spot in the rotation even if there’s no further improvement. And if she canmake that next step back, she could return to being one of the world’s elite midfielders.Finally, remember that the US barely used Sam Mewis in this tournament—arguably their best player in 2017. When she completes her recovery, it will be hard to argue against her inclusion.For a team that spent so long struggling to build a coherent and sustainable midfield, the US suddenly finds itself with a wealth of options. There are still plenty of question marks here (will Lavelle and Brian be able to return to their absolute peak? Will Zerboni be able to maintain her form? Will Mewis get healthy enough to play a full consistent 90?) but the future seems a lot rosier here than it did even a few months ago.The competition is fierce, but the US should be considered favorites to retain the World Cup next summer

After a difficult season in 2017, the US women were teetering on the edge. The gap between them and the rest of the world seemed to have closed entirely, or maybe even shifted to the other side. They had sputtered in She Believes and the Tournament of Nations and seen some of their key rivals expose their frailty in the process. The mystique of the US was gone.One year later, things seem to have settle back into familiar patterns. At this point, it would be exceptionally hard to argue for anyone besides the US as the world’s top team—after a year in which they have gone undefeated while running a gauntlet of matches against virtually every serious competitor.The performances haven’t always been pretty, but the results have been good. And increasingly the style seems to be filling in behind the results. The US decisively outplayed their opposition this week, exposing Brazil and Japan as far weaker teams than one might have guessed from their rankings, and putting Australia under serious pressure as well.The level of parity in women’s soccer has never been higher, and it would be foolish to treat success as a foregone conclusion, especially in a single-elimination tournament. After all, the US nearly lost to Australia this week, in a game that they actually played quite well. But all things considered, the US remains the team to beat.

USWNT defeats Brazil 4-1 to clinch Tournament of Nations title

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (AP) Julie Ertz, Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan scored second-half goals and the United States took control to beat Brazil 4-1 on Thursday night for the Tournament of Nations title.Heath’s curling goal in the 62nd minute put the United States up 3-1 and gave the team the margin it needed to edge defending tournament champion Australia. The Matildas edged Japan 2-0 earlier in the day at Toyota Park, putting pressure on the Americans to beat Brazil by two goals to finish atop the table.Morgan helped secure the title with her 90th international goal in the 77th minute and the Americans extended their undefeated streak to 19 matches. The United States has not dropped a match since losing 1-0 to Australia in the Tournament of Nations last year.There was concern in the final moments when Morgan was stretched off with an apparent injury, but she was on her feet for the trophy ceremony following the game. Morgan had four goals in the tournament.“Brazil’s so technical, so we knew that they were going to bring it. There’s a lot of things that we can learn as well,” Ertz said. “This tournament was huge for use in terms of progress, obviously with qualifying coming up. We’re got to tweak a few things but I’m just so proud of this team and how hard we work for each other.”The United States, ranked No. 1 in the world, is gearing up for World Cup qualifying in October. The Americans hope to defend their title next summer at the World Cup in France.Brazil, ranked No. 7 in the world and led by five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta, has already qualified for France.The Brazilians struck first with an own goal that hit Tierna Davidson in the 16th minute. But Lavelle tied it with her third international goal in the 33rd minute.“I think we knew we couldn’t take our foot off the pedal, even though they got that goal. We knew we still had to keep being aggressive and be on our front foot and attacking and not let it get to us,” said Lavelle, who started. “Thankfully it worked.”Ertz pulled the United States in front with a sliding goal off Heath’s cross to the far post in the 53rd minute before Heath added her own goal.Alanna Kennedy and Sam Kerr each scored for Australia in the opening game at Toyota Park. The eight-ranked Matildas have a secured a spot in the World Cup.Japan, ranked sixth, has also qualified from France.

Watch US youngster Tim Weah for – Paris Saint-Germain v Monaco – 8a on bein Deportes

The French Super Cup pits the Ligue 1 winners against the Coupe de France winners. Because PSG won both competitions last year they will face off with Monaco, who finished 2nd in League 1, for the Super Cup trophy Saturday morning.With several PSG players, including Angel Di Maria returning for availability in their last International Champions Cup match Timothy Weah did not get the start on Monday but he did come off the bench in the 45th minute as PSG held on to defeat Atletico Madrid for their first win in the tournament.Weah has made a good impression on manager Thomas Tuchel this preseason:

“The build-up to Timothy’s goal against Bayern was remarkable. Now he must use this quality not just for himself, but also for the team in order to become a dangerous, confident and professional player: these are the next steps for Timothy to take. ”He is intelligent and wants to learn, so Timothy holds all of the cards here.”However, with a number of stars, including Neymar and Kylian Mbappe still making their way back to the team Weah will have his work cut out for him if he’s going to see the field for PSG this season. He may have another opportunity to impress on Saturday with Neymar’s status unknown and Mbappe still away from the team.

Liverpool confident of challenging for title

By Joe Prince-Wright Aug 2, 2018, 9:31 AM EDT

Adam Lallana believes “the signs are really good” for Liverpool to “get to the next step” and win a trophy under Jurgen Klopp.Liverpool have reached three major finals since Klopp took charge in October 2015 and although they’ve lost all three they’ve made major strides forward over the past 12 months with back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League and finishing runners up in the UEFA Champions League in 2017/18.So what’s the goal for this season? Lallana was asked if Liverpool are the biggest contenders to reigning champs Manchester City for the PL crown in 2018/19.That’s not for us to say, that’s for other people to speculate. But, of course, we are going to be in the pack who want to chase down City,” Lallana said. “Hopefully, Liverpool and three or four of the other top teams can squeeze a few more points out of City this year. That would make it more interesting.”Lallana’s optimism is certainly shared by neutrals, pundits and supporters of the Anfield club, with Liverpool’s impressive summer spending set to give them a whole new dimension this season.With Alisson arriving in goal, Fabinho in holding midfield, Naby Keita in central midfield and Xherdan Shaqiri as a back-up attacking midfielder, Klopp has upgraded in key areas and added plenty of strength in-depth.Sure, it’s cost him $325 million over the past 12 months (if you count Virgil Van Dijk‘s $100 million arrival in January) but Liverpool now look like genuine title contenders and they certainly gave Man City plenty of problems in their record-breaking title campaign last season.The pressing and pace of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino totally threw off City in a 4-3 defeat at Anfield in the league, while Liverpool beat them 5-1 on aggregate over two legs in the UCL quarterfinals to assert their dominance.Although Lallana is correct to hope for help from the other title contenders in taking points off City, Liverpool must take care of business against bottom feeders in the PL. Last season they lost against Swansea and drew with fellow-relegated teams West Brom (twice) and Stoke.For all of their high-pressing and speedy forward play, Liverpool must develop a Plan B this season if they’re going to chase down City. With Keita, Shaqiri and Fabinho on board, their options in midfield have been bolstered and with Alisson (the most expensive goalkeeper in history) in goal they should eradicate costly errors.

Season Preview: Arsenal to return to top-4?

By Daniel Karell Aug 3, 2018, 9:00 AM EDT

Arsenal at a Glance:

Premier League (and old First Division) titles: 13 – last in 2003/2004 season.

FA Cups: 13 times, last in 2016/2017.

League Cups: 2

FA Community Shield: 15 (last in 2017).

Top Four Finishes: 20-in-a-row between 1997 and 2017.

It’s a new era at Arsenal.

After 20 years at the club, Arsene Wenger stepped down at the end of last season, in which Arsenal failed to break into the top four for a second consecutive season, allowing for a fresh set of eyes to come in and manage the side. In comes veteran Spaniard Unai Emery, who perhaps couldn’t live up to expectations in France but certainly beat the odds over and over again with Sevilla and Valencia in Spain.

Emery’s attention to detail and defensive focus could pair well with Arsenal’s wonderful abundance of creative, playmaking midfielders. But based on Arsenal’s preseason performances, there’s still plenty of work to be done at both ends of the pitch.

Arsenal will finish top four because….the new signings gel and add strength in depth to what is an already very strong squad. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hits the ground running in his first full-season at the club with 20 or more goals, partnering at times with Alexandre Lacazette or trading spots with him between the heavy workload of matches. More importantly, the summer signings of Sokratis, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouziand Stephan Lichtsteiner help shore up Arsenal’s leaky defense after a few months of struggles to start the season. Torreira, affectionately called “pac-man” for his ability to eat up attackers all over the field, morphs into the best defensive midfielder Arsenal has seen since the days of Patrick Vieira.

Arsenal will miss out on the UEFA Champions League because….defensive problems remain. While the team is beautiful in its attack, Emery is left pulling all the hairs out of his head wondering why Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis can’t figure out how to play together and defend as a unit. With Laurent Koscielny set to miss a large chunk of the season coming back from his torn Achilles injury, Arsenal miss his defensive leadership. In addition, both Lacazette and Aubameyang struggle to score in the big games, making Arsenal fans continue to suffer as the team fails to live up to expectations.

Best possible XI: List the team’s strongest lineup for this season when everyone is fit

———————Leno———————-

—-Bellerin—-Mustafi—Sokratis——Kolasinac

—————Torreira——-Xhaka——————

——-Mkhitaryan——Ramsey———-Ozil——

———————Aubameyang———————

Transfers In: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Matteo Guendouzi (Lorient, $9.1 million), Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria, $34.4 million), Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen, $25 million), Sokratis (Borussia Dortmund, $23 million)

Transfers Out: Per Mertesacker (retired), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal, free), Jack Wilshere(West Ham, free), Jeff Reine-Adelaide (Angers, undisclosed)

Ranking their offseason: A-

Arsenal found itself outside the Champions League for the second straight season, and with a new manager entering, the club could have been in for a rough summer. Instead, it’s been very good so far by all accounts. Arsenal spent strategically and already, Guendouzi looks like a strong signing, having performed well as a holding midfielder in multiple preseason matches. Leno looks like the future goalkeeper the Gunners have been wanting with Torreira and Sokratis shore up a creaky defense. In addition, the Gunners were able to hold on to Aubameyang, Lacazette, and though his future is still up in the air, Aaron Ramsey so far. Through preseason, it’s clear that Arsenal needs to work more defensively, but in terms of the attacking side they’re looking good enough to start the season.

Star player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: The French-born Gabon International was a star both domestically and in Europe for Borussia Dortmund. If he can produce at his old level, Arsenal will be just fine.

Coaches’ Corner: Unai Emery: The 48-year-old manager comes from Paris Saint-Germain, where he gained valuable experience coaching some of the biggest names in world football. But the majority of his coaching success has come in Spain. With Valencia and Sevilla, Emery constantly beat expectations and helped his side play better than the sum of its parts. If he can pull that off for Arsenal, he will quickly win over fans.

PST predicts: After a strong offseason, Arsenal look set to return to the club’s old glory as a regular top-four team. The spine of the squad was improved, which should give players like Mesut Ozil, Henrik Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi the freedom to attack down the wings and through the heart of the opponent’s defense. The new manager should refresh the player’s attitudes and deliver a fitter, more defensively-sound squad, which will help in terms of getting back in the Champions League. Arsenal may still be a bit away from challenging for a league title, but they’re not that far off.

Alisson a boost for Liverpool but Premier League title talk is premature

7:29 AM ET blogger

Liverpool’s move for Alisson Becker triggered a massive reaction among supporters. This was the clearest indication to them that Liverpool meant business at last, perhaps even enough to end a 28-year league title drought.That seems presumptuous, though, completely ignoring the reigning champions and their 100 points. And Manchester City haven’t stood still either, signing Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez. They’ve sold nobody and can look forward to a full season from Benjamin Mendy this time around. Liverpool already have a fair amount of ground to make up.The Reds’ latest big move will add around £60 million to what was already a significant increase in Jurgen Klopp’s spending at the club. It’s almost like he’s served his apprenticeship. Even his success at Borussia Dortmund and two cup finals for Liverpool in his first eight months weren’t enough to prise open each club’s coffers.Having significantly improved Liverpool since the cup final, it’s now been deemed time to cut loose and spend whatever it takes so Klopp can make the crucial next step forward. Before Alisson, the ambition might still have been consolidation. It was unlikely they’d get to the Champions League final again but reaching another knockout stage would’ve been acceptable. Remaining in the top four of the Premier League would have been the priority, assuming Chelsea and Arsenal would make serious attempts to clamber above the Reds.Without challenging for the title yet, Klopp has moved Liverpool into a similar position to Gerard Houllier in 2002, Rafa Benitez in 2009 and Brendan Rodgers in 2014; runners-up who were spoken of as future title winners. That’s why some supporters will hold fire on the supercharged optimism, for now at least.Liverpool’s spending indicates a seismic shift in ambition, but it’s wiser to reflect on what they also lost in 2018. As team carried on performing well for the second half of last season, it’s almost forgotten they sold Philippe Coutinho in January. As the squad looked tired and depleted by May, his absence was felt more. There were also times Liverpool found themselves deadlocked in matches and looked around in vain for some Brazilian magic from outside the area.They’ve also lost Klopp’s trusted assistant Zeljko Buvac, and no-one knows how much that will influence the team in the future. Emre Can left for Juventus and there’s been sad news about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who’s now expected to miss virtually all of the coming season because of injury. Adam Lallana had a poor, injury-ravaged campaign in 2017-18 and it wasn’t a given he would return to his previous excellent form under Klopp.Loris Karius’ mistakes against Real Madrid in the Champions League final pretty much demanded a change of goalkeeper anyway. If it hadn’t been Alisson, it must surely would be somebody else.Given all these departures, absences and failures Liverpool couldn’t afford to do nothing. Football is unforgiving and you need to keep spending just to remain at par. Progress requires much more.There is also the theory that their amazing forwards dragged Liverpool beyond their true level last season. A huge 91 goals were scored collectively by Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. It’s so rare that people were bound to speculate on whether the Reds could count upon it again. Salah may re-join the ranks of the mortals next season, although that was often predicted throughout his miracle debut year and he was only eventually stopped by Sergio Ramos’ wrestling hold.It’s great to see fans bumptious and optimistic, but a calmer more clinical analysis on what’s happened in 2018 may avoid disappointment further down the line. Of course, if Liverpool aren’t done spending yet and Lyon’s Nabil Fekir also came, forget trying to stifle optimism. It would gain express-train momentum by then and probably couldn’t be stopped anyway.Liverpool’s ability to keep opponents from scoring was the biggest headache last year. Record fees for a centre-back and goalkeeper are real statements of intent. Is simple expenditure enough? Last season, Klopp needed to affect minor change in game management, where Liverpool were a few goals ahead but still clung desperately to victory before the final whistle — not always successfully. Meddling with a working formula has its dangers. Klopp may just opt out, claiming superior footballers in positions once considered weak improves matters anyway.But whether you’re preaching caution or telling Liverpool to make more space in their trophy cabinet, you can’t deny how exciting the new season looks. The manager has been backed properly and few can complain about lack of spending now. It’s not Manchester City levels certainly, but there was never a chance of that happening.Gradual improvement, the sale of Coutinho and a lucrative Champions League run brought all this about and Klopp deserves this belated acknowledgement of his excellent efforts.

If he does not have another good season, it will come as a major shock. In fact, much more than “good” will be expected.

Liverpool’s Alisson travelled a hard road to world’s most expensive goalkeeper

With Alisson’s move from Roma to Liverpool now official, the ESPN FC guys discuss where the club will finish with the Brazil goalkeeper on board. (2:37)

Jul 20, 2018

Marcelo Gomes, Rafael Valente and Vladimir Bianchini, ESPN Brazil

There were plenty of obstacles that almost took Alisson, starting goalkeeper for Brazil, off the pitch. Now 25, he has dealt with issues regarding his weight, height and his family’s finances, while also challenging his initial choice as a player, in order to become the player he is today. This is his story, as told by those who saw him as a child, rising in the football world.Alisson was born in Novo Hamburgo, in the Porto Alegre metropolitan region. Alisson Becker carries German genes in his DNA. His grandparents even live on a street named after his great grandfather: Gustavo Becker.That last name, which actually means “Baker” in Portuguese, became a symbol for the family, which proudly took on the tradition of producing (and tasting) lots of baked goods. And that’s where Alisson’s first big challenge started.”Alisson was a glutton,” Antonia, Alisson’s grandmother, says with a laugh. “As soon as he went home, he was headed straight to the kitchen. He asked me to bake some sweet bread for him. I prepared those with cinnamon, sweet herbs and the like. It was so delicious, and he loved it all.”Alisson had a sweet tooth and all of his grandmother’s recipes became a real temptation.”He loved to taste homemade dough, and he asked me to do it for him,” Antonia continued. “However, he loved to eat everything fried; whether it was dough, cheese, rice, everything. He also loved candy. During his vacations, I used to take him and [his brother] Muriel to the market. I bought chocolate and I told him: ‘Alisson, that’s not for you to eat!’ To which he said: ‘Oh, Grandma, please let me have a taste here, since mom’s not around!'”The problem was that the eating habit he developed as a small kid was also present when he started to play football. He already had an issue with his height; despite the fact he was actually taller than other kids defending the posts on the field, he was shorter than the rest of the keepers. Considering he was also struggling with the scale, it was logical that he would end up being relegated when he started to play at Internacional.

Let’s forget for a second about that calm and composed Alisson we are used to seeing between the posts nowadays. In front of his family, especially in those days, he showed an emotional side that he kept away from the public. He used to cry a lot.”During those days, he used to cry a lot because of his weight problem. We used to tell him that he needed to lose some pounds. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t play football ever again. Sometimes, he would return from practice in tears,” said Leandro Becker, the newly minted Liverpool keeper’s uncle.Becker saw up close how Alisson was born to play football. However, his initial stints on the pitch were away from the goalkeeping position.”He tried out to be a winger with Internacional,” Leandro says. “However, it was a matter of a few matches. Let’s say that, during the first or second week, I can’t recall exactly, his coaches asked him to play as a keeper since he was taller than the rest of the goalies there.”Alisson’s inspiration to become a goalie was already at home. His father used to play the position in pick-up matches with friends. His brother, Muriel, five years his senior, was already a strong presence in the Internacional system. Alisson’s first taste of the red was when he saw his brother train at the pitches then located next to the Beira-Rio Stadium.”I had the chance of meeting Alisson before he started to play,” recalls Daniel Pavan, goalkeeper coach at Internacional and credited by Alisson himself as the person who discovered his talents. “He used to join Muriel at his practices. Then, someone used to hand him a football, so he could play and have some fun. Then, he started to show a lot of interest in his brother’s position. The inspiration for Alisson to become a keeper was seeing his brother training.From the age of 10, he became a part of the Inter system. He already started to show technical skills which put him apart the rest of kids his age.” Pavan, who also attempted to become a keeper when he was younger, joined Internacional in 1995, when he was just a student. He did not train Alisson during his first two years at Internacional; however, he was there alongside him since he turned 13 and was there with him at a crucial time in his surging career.”He was quite chubby,” Pavan recalls. “It was a matter of genetics, combined with the fact he loved to eat. He loved to have a soft drink and a cookie. As soon as the training session was over, he already had one of each in his hands.”At the same time, his development was a bit slower than usual. He was a bit shorter and chubbier. He wasn’t a starter or a first substitution, either. However, people could see he had technical abilities which made him stand out from the rest. Thanks to our department’s studies on him, we knew he was going to grow up and gain some height and, with that, he would become leaner.”However, since his parents started to see that he did not play in the matches, they wanted to take him away from football. They thought he did not have a future as a player. They thought it was just a waste of time. Sometimes, in order to join some tournaments, he had to lose school time. That happened back when he was 12 years old and about to turn 13. They went and had a chat with me. They thought Alisson should dedicate himself to his academics, since they saw Alisson in here every day and they thought he was not having any benefits from it.”To make things even worse, Alisson’s dad, Jose, was unemployed.Jose worked at a shoe company, which went out of business. Since he was making a considerable financial effort in order to have his two children training in Porto Alegre every day, his money constraints reinforced the idea that maybe it was better to have his youngest son removed from football.”Despite all that, I managed to convince [his parents] that things would get better, that Alisson would mature as a player and that he had a huge technical upside and potential,” Pavan says. “Thank god, they listened to me.”Suddenly, it all came together. A year-and-a-half, about two years later, Alisson stretched out. He gained 16 centimetres in height and won his battle against the scale. He went on to become a starter at the base team, and then he joined the Brazilian national side at his age category. It was the start of a successful career.”Because of Pavan’s involvement in such an important moment in Alisson’s life and in his role in the national team, both remain friends to this day. They exchange text messages and words of encouragement and root for each other’s success.Nowadays, Pavan, Antonia and Leandro are all proud to see that the short, chubby kid from Novo Hamburgo, who used to cry a lot, is now the first name mentioned whenever the Selecao play. They hope that, one day, he will return with a World Cup for Brazil in his hands.

What’s the long-term plan for MLS, USL, and USL D-III?

By Nicholas Mendola Jul 31, 2018, 7:45 PM EDT

The Premier League previews have yet to begin, Major League Soccer is on its All-Star break, and international soccer is gone for a spell, so allow this writer to take you on a tangent.For about as long as the promotion and relegation war cry has methodically danced around social media, I’ve had a difficult time believing Major League Soccer expansion would stop anywhere short of a similar system to the one employed by the rest of the world.

[ MORE: Phoenix, SD get Garber bump ]

As MLS partnered with the USL raised its maximum number of teams to its present stated goal of 28, it became clear that one of two things would happen:

The number of teams would grow
The league would eventually employ a system of pro/rel

Whether that’s years or decades away, it’s hard to say. What’s easy is that MLS knows it can capture the interest of two markets that are currently keeping it arm’s length at best by switching up its system: Soccer fanatics ignoring the growing quality of MLS play because pro/rel is their priority, and casual sports fans curious about an experiment.I’d put myself at about 90 percent confident of that before something clicked following this article on SocTakes which lays out the growth of the USL and the challenges still facing its individual owners.The strength of any group of teams lies within its league, and I’m not talking about the chemistry between its group of owners. The people who control and work for the actual league have to possess power, with a reservoir of funds, and avoid the arrogance that comes with the first two.Make no guarantees on the third part, especially given that the second part of the famous “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” line is “Great men are almost always bad men.” That’s not a shot at anyone specifically, just a judgment on the nature of business here.The only option outside of the pro/rel model that includes league growth eliminates plenty of draw for the top flight: Either clubs begin playing each other once a year, with no return date until the next season, or they expand the conferences with limited interplay and another unbalanced schedule

Nuh-uh.Clearly the USL is building up power and reserves, as MLS has done that already. Most of its top-end teams aren’t amongst the MLS B-sides and have the look of top-tier sides (FC Cincinnati, Sacramento Republic, Phoenix Rising).At some point, the MLS-B sides are going to disappear or head to USL D-III (or IV). The bottom half of USL average attendance is littered with those squads, even with high-performing on-the-field sides Real Monarchs and Red Bulls 2. Neutral fans don’t want that. Shoot, I wouldn’t want to market that my local team is facing a must-win match against some MLS club’s guys 25-40. [ MORE: Garber “hopeful” Crew will stay in Columbus ]

So MLS “stops” at 28 teams. There’s 20-26 in USL, who will announce promotion and relegation between it and D-III. USL D-III will have another 20, and the way out of that place will be promotion.That’s where the experiment begins, with USL teams and the American soccer landscape seeing if pro/rel really is something that drives crowds.

This happens out-of-the-way of MLS, as owners continue to build up reserves to eventually serve as parachute payments for relegated teams. That money becomes available because MLS lifts its cap and entire salary structure. Teams like the LA Galaxy, Red Bulls, and NYCFC can spend and sell as much as they like and are buttressed by their academies.This lifts parity, once considered the jewel of the league, and makes the race to avoid the bottom a real thing. The MLS teams are still superior in salary and talent to the USL teams, so instead of Bottom 3 down, Top 3 up, MLS deploys some sort of promotion/relegation playoff similar to Germany.Naturally, the teams toward the bottom of MLS are going to be the ones who refuse to spend. So, yeah, it could be a San Jose having to deal with upstart FC Cincinnati for the right to get a top flight spot? Something tells me the spending will increase. Fight or flight (back to the bottom).Can it all be so simple? I really do think so. Maybe MLS can continue to expand, a couple of markets at a time, for 10 years. It can add to the schedule, maybe 40 games, but there’s a finite number of games it can add and have each team play home-and-away.

And wait til you tell a team owner from the East that it might not see Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the two or three seasons he’s here because of an unbalanced schedule. I don’t want to be in the room for that.MLS is growing in renown, and will continue to do so for some time, but it’s not going to reach its potential without building legitimate powers via letting big spenders spend. The Supporters’ Shield will become a bit less interesting for some clubs, but the final playoff spots and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will become even more prestigious. As for the pro/rel part, it’s one of the things keeping nascent leagues alive with hope, and clubs/fans outside its system refusing to play ball. It makes too much sense and, over time, we’ll find out it was the plan all along. And the arguments from the peanut gallery, including this King Peanut, will keep things buzzing while it waits for its roll out. The longer the league waits, the better chance a competitor tries and it gets some momentum. With the NASL lawsuits on the stove now and NISA without a leader, there’s no competition. That’s not to say an upstart rival league couldn’t be squashed by MLS, but why risk it?It’s going to happen, really. Otherwise, why would Alexi Lalas say things like this to his boss?

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7/13/18 World Cup Finals Set France vs Croatia 11 am Sun on Fox, 3rd Place England vs Belgium Sat 9 am, CHS Soccer Camps next Week !!

July 13, 2018July 13, 2018 gatorbest

Wow what about Croatia. They become the 2^ndsmallest country to ever make a World Cup Final – with just 4 million people. (that’s 2.5 million fewer than Indiana). Oh and Croatia has qualified for every World Cup since they became a independent country. This team barely qualified for this World Cup as their new coach Zlatko Dalic who took over with 3 games left in qualifications – steered them from the brink of what the US did (not qualifying) to the Finals of the World Cup. Don’t tell me that coaching doesn’t make a difference! This golden generation for Croatia led by the World’s Best midfielder Luka Modric’ (said Mo-Dridge) of Real Madrid, another fantastic midfielder in Ivan Rakitic and a Juve Forward Mario Mandzukic who found a way to score the final goal in the 115^th minute. The fact that they had to go to Extra Time in 3 straight games – winning 2 in PKs and this one in the final 5 minutes is just amazing. Of course France will be favored on Sunday in the Final – but I am not going to pick against this seemingly team of destiny in Croatia – DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? – It might just happen Sunday 11 am on Fox! Saturday we’ll see which team England or Belgium can recover from the disappointment to try to claim 3^rd place – at 10 am on Fox. My pick for Golden Ball if France wins is N’Golo Kante – especially if he can shut down Modric. If Croatia wins its got to be Luka Modric of course. Kane will win the Golden Boot unless Mbappe can score 3 goals in the final (even though 3 of Kane’s 6 goals were PKs. Golden Glove this is a 4 maybe 5 horse race in my mind between the winner between England/Belgium (Pickford vs Courtios) or France vs Croatia (Loris vs Subasic). I also thought the Great Wall of Ochoa for Mexico and Denmark’s Schmeichel covered themselves with glory – however I think assuming Belgium win’s the 3^rd place game its Courtois’ to lose. Oh and after the World Cup – next week – we’ll review my favorite commercials of this World Cup!

Renaldo to Juventus

So I am not sure how I feel about my favorite Goalkeeper Italy’s Gigi Buffon leaving for PSG right before the Old Lady Juve –sign freaking Renaldo. Are you kidding me – all those years of Juve losing in the finals, the final 4, the final 8 – often to their nemises Real Madrid and now Renaldo flips to Juve (Perhaps putting them over the edge just as GIGI LEAVES?? AARGGG!!! Now I completely understand Renaldo leaving – listen I have been in the Bernabau and seen and heard first hand the “PRECIOUS” Madradistas – In my mind the WORSE FANS in Sports — whistle at Renaldo because he didn’t score in the first half of a game. Let me see – 3 Champ League Titles, 2 LA Ligas, an Absurd 1 goal per game tally in all games played with Madrid and they aren’t happy with arguably the GOAT – Greatest of all time? Now I don’t pretend Renaldo is perfect – but dude I would never boo him at my own stadium. Boo the coach yes – but not Renaldo. Not in Madrid. Now he has the chance to prove he’s better than anyone – if he can help take Juve to the Finals of Champions League and Win – there will be no more Renaldo or Messi question?? It will be Renaldo doing it at 3 different clubs. NEVER BEFORE DONE. We’ll see. Oh and I am sure Madrid will spend a ton of money to bring in someone else but with the mastermind Zidane and Renaldo GONE — they will not repeat. Heard it here first!! The inside story of Ronaldo’s transfer I will say I am sorry to see Conte leaving Chelsea – but honestly it just wasn’t working there despite the title win in the first year. He’ll land somewhere and win wherever he goes.

INDY 11

Indy recovered Sat on a comfortable night at Lucas Oil and came from behind to win 2-1 over Charlotte. Huge late goal by subbing forward Ben Speas. At 8-4-5 and ranked 5^th in the East with 28 pts, the Indy 11 will travel to my old neck of the Woods Tampa Bay – or actually beautiful Al Lang Stadium on the Waterfront in St. Petersburg to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies next Saturday night at 7:30 pm and the game will be on MyIndy TV 23 in 1 of their rare road game coverages and of course on ESPN+. Our Boys in Blue return home Wed Aug 15 and of course discount tickets below $15 are available Click here for Discount Tickets for the Game and enter 2018 INDY as the promo code.

neymar alphabet

Staying on the Neymar Bashing – how’s this Alphabet of Neymar antics ??

WORLD CUP

Tale of the Tape in the Final

Euro 2016 Failure Shapes France’s World Cup Approach, Final Motivation

France missed an opportunity to lift a major trophy on home soil when it fell to Portugal in extra time two years ago. Les Bleus haven’t forgotten that feeling.by Brian Straus si

Luka Modric’s Croatia Success Story is a Complex One si — by Jonathan Wilson

Laurens: France determined to go all the way this time
Project Russia: Which fans are left at the World Cup?
Predictions: Belgium vs. England, France vs. Croatia
Duerden: Dalic’s untraditional path to the World Cup
Vickery: Questions for South American nations

Marcotti: Pogba’s keep-it-simple but effective World Cup

Ogden: Mbappe makes French the firm favourites in World Cup final
FiveThirtyEight: How Croatia and France made it to the final
Marcotti: France aren’t broken, so Deschamps won’t change
Laurens: Pamela Anderson and a water fight – how France celebrated

England No Longer a Laughing Stock – Ian Darke EPSN

Gareth Southgate got subsitutions, tactics wrong in World Cup defeat ESPNFC

Inter Milan and Bayern Munich dominate World Cup final

Marcotti: Croatia’s unbreakable resolve denies England
ESPN FC TV: How England lost their way vs. Croatia
Project Russia: Three Lions bow out of the World Cup
ESPN FC TV: Do Croatia have enough left to face France?
Ogden: England must ensure their Russia run leads to more
England Players Take to Twitter

Ames: France edge past disappointing Belgium
Project Russia: France go from strength to strength
ESPN FC TV: Yet again, Belgium cannot deliver

Project Russia: The best on-scene video

French Firemen use Neymar in Agony to plug First Aid Course

Cristiano Ronaldo on the move

Ronaldo to join Juventus: The latest news and reaction
Marcotti: The inside story of Ronaldo’s transfer
ESPN FC TV: Transfer changes European football landscape
ESPN FC TV: Will Ronaldo keep scoring goals in Serie A?
How the social media world reacted
What are the most expensive transfers of all time?

Source: Real Madrid Targets Neymar, Mbappe, Hazard as Ronaldo Replacements Grant Wahl si

Buffon signs with PSG

Indy 11

Indy 11 Fall to Charleston 2-1

Indy 11 Fade in Heat at Charleston 1-2 Bloody Shambles- James Cormack

Indy 11 Discount Tickets for Saturday’s Game! (Code 2018Indy)

Soccer Saturday – Radio Show 9-10 am on 1070 the Fan

USA

Why the Biggest Countries in the World – Like the US Fail with the World Cup USA Today Martin Rogers

If Only the US wasn’t so America – We might win this thing – Parker Cleveland Stars and Stripes

Why Sampaoli would be a Disaster for USMNT

Jesse Marsch Hopes to be Manager of USMNT Someday – as he heads off the Europe to Coach RB Leipzig

Goalies

England’s Pickford Wants to Start and Win Golden Glove vs Courtois and Belgium

Goalies Battling for the Golden Glove

Best Saves Rounds 1 & 2 World Cup

England’s Pickford One of the Top Saves of the World Cup

Pickford’s Path to World Cup Hero

9 Saves by Belgium’s Courtois Sit Down Brazil

Painting Success On and Off the Field – Indy GK

SUMMER CAMPS

Carmel High Boys Soccer Skills Camp Ages 8-14 July 16-19 at Murray 8:30-10:30 am $85

Carmel High Boys Soccer Tactical Camp Ages 8-14 July 16-19 at Murray 11 am till 1 pm $85

Carmel High Girls Middle School Soccer Camp Ages middle schoolers – July 16, 17, 18, 19 at Murray 3-5 pm $85

GAMES ON TV This Week

Sat, July 14

10 am Fox England vs Belgium WC 3^rd place

7 pm Yes NYCFC vs Columbus Crew

7 pm ESPNNews Utah Royals vs Orlando Pride (NWSL)

8 pm ESPN+ Dallas (Matt Hedges) vs Chicago Fire

Sun, July 15

11 am Fox Croatia vs France – WC Final

2 pm FOX Atlanta vs Seattle

6 pm ESPN LAFC vs Portland

Wed, July 18 – US Open Cup

8:30 pm ??? Chicago Fire vs Louisville City FC

Fri, July 20 ICC – International Champions Cup Starts

9 pm ESPN2 Sevilla vs Benfica

9 pm ESPN2 Man City vs Borussia Dortmund (Pulisic)

Sat, July 21

7:30 pm TV 23/espn+ Charleston vs Indy 11

Sun, July 22 ICC – International Champions Cup

4 pm ESPN Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund (Pulisic)

Wed, July 25 ICC – International Champions Cup

7 pm ESPNU Juventus vs Bayern Munich

8 pm ESPN+ Borussia Dortmund (Pulisic) vs Benfica

8 pm ESPN 2 Man City vs Liverpool

10 pm ESPN 2 Roma vs Tottenham

11 pm ESPN Milan vs Man United

Thur, July 26

8 pm ESPN Orlando City vs NYCFC

10:30 pm ESPN LAFC vs LA Galaxy (we should be at the game !)

Twitter Ads info and privacy

Indiana Soccer League Discounted Offer for Chicago Fire Games
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club would like to invite all families and members involved with ISL out for a Chicago Fire MLS match this Summer and Fall.
On-field experiences for children age 5-17 before every match! This offer includes discounted group ticket pricing for anyone interested.
Please email Stew with the Chicago Fire – Sgreen@chicago-fire.com – for more information about on-field experiences for kids for specific game days, or any other questions!
Saturday, July 21st at 6:00pm vs Toronto FC
Sunday, September 16th at 4:00pm vs Orlando City SC

France vs. Croatia: Mbappe makes French the firm favourites in World Cup final

Jul 12, 2018Mark Ogden, Senior Writer ESPN FC

MOSCOW — It is a World Cup final that few would have predicted at the start of Russia 2018, but France will face Croatia in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday with the chance to become world champions at stake for both sides.Didier Deschamps, who captained France to World Cup glory in 1998, has seen his all-star team build momentum throughout the tournament, and they go into the final as strong favourites to win.But Croatia have displayed resolve, perseverance and quality to overcome Denmark, Russia and England (all after extra time) to get to their first ever final, and led by Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, they will believe they can take the World Cup back to the Balkans for the first time.So which team has the edge going into Sunday’s final?

World Cup 2018 must-reads

– Make your daily ESPN FC Match Predictor picks!
– World Cup fixtures, results and coverage
– England can’t let this be another false dawn
– Croatia tell themselves to get up yet again
– FC TV: England lost their way vs. Croatia
– France, Deschamps won’t change approach now
– No sleep ’till Moscow: Fan travels through Russia

Goalkeeper

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has produced a few world-class saves — from Martin Caceres in the quarterfinal vs. Uruguay, and Toby Alderweireld against Belgium — to remind us all of his ability, but the Tottenham No. 1 went into the World Cup on the back of an unconvincing season for club and country.

Lloris can be unsettled when he has the ball at his feet, so Croatia will look to target this weakness and hope that their goalkeeper, Danijel Subasic, can maintain his remarkable form in Russia.

Subasic has been a hero of two penalty shootouts and played in the semifinal win against England despite having injured his hamstring in the quarterfinal against Russia. The Monaco keeper will pose a determined barrier against the French, but Lloris has grown into this tournament, and he is the best keeper in the final.

Edge: France

Defence

Between them, France and Croatia have conceded just nine goals so far at this World Cup, and three of those shipped by the French came in the remarkable 4-3 win against Argentina in the round of 16.

Croatia have not kept a clean sheet during the knockout stages and, against England, were troubled by the pace and movement of Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli, with Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida enduring a tough opening hour against Gareth Southgate’s team before nerves set in.

France, with the blistering pace of Kylian Mbappe, will exploit Croatia’s weaknesses at the back and trust their own back line, marshalled by Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane, to win their battles.

Defensively, France have a strong advantage.

Edge: France

Midfield

Croatia are a match for any team in the world with their midfield triangle of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Marcelo Brozovic, but they are up against a formidable unit in N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi.

This battle could boil down to Croatia’s streetwise experience against the energy, tenacity and power of the French.

Kante has been one of the stars of the tournament, while Pogba has quietly — unusually for him — gone about his business impressively.

Modric and Rakitic are world-class performers for club and country, though, so this will be the key tactical clash of the game.

Edge: Even

Forwards

France are blessed with some of the hottest attacking talent in the world right now and arguably possess the best options of any team in Russia.

Mbappe has already displayed his incredible ability at this World Cup, with Antoine Griezmann also impressing. The power and strength of Olivier Giroud has given France a crucial attacking dimension, while Deschamps can also call on Ousmane Dembele’s youthful talent and speed down the wing.

Croatia are at the other end of the scale, with battle-hardened veteran Mario Mandzukic leading the line. Wingers Ivan Perisic and Ante Rebic are dangers — Perisic was outstanding in the semifinal win against England — and they will need to be on top of their game if Croatia are to have any hope.

Edge: France

Managers

Deschamps has all the pedigree you could wish for: a World Cup-winning captain in 1998 and a player who also won the Champions League twice, with Marseille and Juventus.On the other side, Zlatko Dalic was a journeyman midfielder who never represented his country and a man who only took charge of Croatia, following spells coaching in Albania, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, last October.Dalic has allowed his Croatia team to play to its strengths, however, and given senior figures such as Modric, Rakitic and Mandzukic a voice on and off the pitch.He has hugely overperformed to get Croatia to the final, so all the pressure on Sunday will be on Deschamps, whose last final saw France lose to Portugal in Paris at Euro 2016.

Edge: France

Intangibles

There are two big question marks hanging over this game: how tired are Croatia and can France hold their nerve to win the World Cup?Croatia have played extra time three times to get to the final, and their senior players looked to be out of steam during the semifinal win against England. Somehow they dredged up incredible reserves of energy to win the game, but how punishing will those extra periods prove?As for France, they should win comfortably due to their extra freshness and depth, but they failed to deliver on home turf in the Euro 2016 final, so will they choke again?

Edge: France

Prediction

France 3-1 Croatia

N’Golo Kante deserves the Golden Ball

France’s midfielder has been the best player at the tournament, and a big reason they’re going to a World Cup Final.

By Nate Scott@aNateScott Jul 12, 2018, 9:50am EDT

The best player at the 2018 World Cup has not scored a goal. He does not have an assist. He’s made no saves, had no moments that made SportsCenter’s top 10. He’s picked up one yellow card, but other than that, you won’t find him on the score sheet.His name is N’Golo Kante, he plays for France, and he deserves the Golden Ball.Kante will never win it, unfortunately, unless there’s some wild groundswell in the next half week. Defensive-oriented players don’t really win the Golden Ball, unless it’s Italy in ‘06 and we give it to Fabio Cannavaro because we didn’t know what else to do with that tournament.It will most likely go to Luka Modric, another wonderful player who has been the engine for Croatia en route to a surprise World Cup final appearance. If anyone aside from Kante is going to win it, I’m glad it’s Modric, one of the world’s more under-appreciated and brilliant players over the last decade or so, and playing his best soccer at age 33.But still, in my heart, this award belongs to Kante.Kante seems out of place, doesn’t he, in this France side? There’s the attacking brilliance and youthful flair of Kylian Mbappé, just 19 and ready to take over the world. There’s Paul Pogba, playing next to Kante, he of the perfect hair and long strides and gorgeous passes that only he could make.And then there’s Kante. He stands 5’6. He weighs maybe 150 pounds. If you aren’t looking for him, you might not notice him, and will just hear his name called every once in a while as he intercepts a ball and then passes it along to a teammate.Kante is the type of player one needs time to appreciate. This was true of him professionally — it took time for scouts and the world’s top clubs to realize just what a special player he was. A few years ago, Kante was playing in the French second division for Caen. He got spotted by Leicester City, they plugged him into the midfield, and then they went and pulled off modern soccer’s greatest miracle by winning the Premier League.Chelsea bought Kante, and then he went and became arguably their most important player. At every level he’s only seemed to improve. His vision, his understanding of the game, keeps getting better. He was always brilliant (one of my few prophetic moments in this dumb sport is when I said Kante could play for any team in the world when he was at Leicester, and I got laughed at), but he’s become even more so. And now he’s doing it at the World Cup.His position doesn’t help him get attention. It’s a thankless job, defensive midfielder, and one that fans need to watch for a long time to understand just how much one contributes to a team. It’s a common trope among club team fanbases that, at the end of a long season, they won’t vote the 20-goal scorer as their Fan Player of the Season … but rather give the honor to the defensive center midfielder, tried and true, never doing too much but bailing out their team time and time again.For most soccer players, the defensive center midfielder is usually their favorite teammate, because he allows everyone else to do what they want to do. He’s the garbage man, dealing with the other team’s best player, making the simple passes, letting you go and do all the fun stuff.But Kante goes beyond the standard defensive center midfielder role. He isn’t just tidy with the ball, isn’t just a decent tackler. Well, he is those things, but it takes watching him closely to understand just how much he influences a game.For one, he covers so much ground that other players are given the freedom to do basically whatever they want. One of the favorite games for people who watch Kante play a lot, especially in his time with Leicester City and Chelsea in the Premier League, is to just keep a half-eye on him when watching the action, then crack yourself up when he shows up in the play, completely unexpectedly, often like 70 yards away from where you last saw him.

A typical thing you might see: Watching the ball, watching the ball … Oh look, Kante just showed up on the right edge of the opponent’s box, to collect a rebound and make a smart pass off a cleared corner kick … Watching the ball, watching the ball … Ha! Ha! Hah! WAIT, KANTE IS NOW 85 YARDS AWAY AND JUST SNUFFED OUT A COUNTER ATTACK FOR THE OPPONENT. THAT WAS LIKE SIX SECONDS. HOW DID … IS HE NIGHTCRAWLER? WHAT THE HELL? AHAHA!

But what separates Kante isn’t just his ability to run, though God can he run, but rather his seemingly preternatural understanding of where a soccer ball is going to go. If you watch him play, you can see him reading passes two or three ahead of time, and adjusting his positioning to deal with it.You can see this in the stats. Here, from earlier in the tournament, on teams that had allowed attackers to bypass defenders. Look at France:

View image on Twitter

Nine. NINE. That’s Kante. Well, it’s Didier Deschamps’ organization, sure, but it’s also Kante. Teams don’t bypass him because they don’t even dare at this oint. He closes everything out. Passing angles disappear. They don’t even think of dribbling at him because that never ends well.

The best thing about Kante isn’t what he makes happen, though, but rather what he doesn’t allow to happen. Yes, he can seemingly see passes before they come and can intercept them. But he also possesses the ability to see entire attacks taking form before they begin, and then snuff them out.

There was one moment in the first half of the semifinal between France and Belgium where I caught myself watching Kante. The ball was with Belgium’s defender Jan Vertonghen on the left side of the field, and Belgium were on a mini break. Vertonghen saw a pass ahead to his center midfielder, Mousa Dembélé. Kante, realizing his responsibility wasn’t Dembélé, started shifting to the opposite side of the field, and he did so before Vertonghen even made the pass. Why? He understood not only that Vertonghen was going to make that pass, but that Dembele would receive the ball, turn, then pass it out to the other side to the waiting Nacer Chadli, who was on the entire other side of the field, with space and time.It happened exactly as Kante saw it. Kante was already on his way to Chadli when the pass came in. Blaise Matuidi, France’s left wing, who moments earlier was a bit stranded, could now step hard on Chadli, because Kante, understanding the way the game is played, had come over to support him. Chadli was put under pressure by Matuidi, saw Kante coming with the double team, so he was forced to turn backwards and cycle the ball back to the defense. The threat was over.It was a nothing moment, one that will never be on a highlight tape. Kante didn’t score a goal. He didn’t even make a tackle. But Kante’s ability to understand what was happening that second early, and to cover that 8-10 yards of space before he needed to, meant that he was there to provide support to his teammate when Chadli received the ball. An imbalanced situation for Belgium suddenly became them passing it backwards, and France was able to get organized defensively.That’s what Kante does, over and over again, throughout the course of a match. He reads and senses. He makes the right decisions over and over again. He allows the other France players to take chances, and make deep runs, and fly into attack when they see fit, because he is soccer’s greatest security blanket.

He’s tidy with the ball, sure. He’s underrated going forward, too. But that’s not what separates him from the rest of the World Cup. His greatness makes France great. He’s the most important player on the World Cup’s best team. For that, he deserves the Golden Ball.

Jordan Pickford wants to start against Belgium and win the golden glove ahead of Thibaut Courtois

chief football writer2 JULY 2018 • 10:30PM

Jordan Pickford says that he wants to play for England against Belgium in Saturday’s third and fourth-place play-off in St Petersburg and hopes to be selected as the goalkeeper of the tournament.The Everton goalkeeper made a fine save late on from Mario Mandzukic before the Croatia striker eventually scored the winner in extra-time in Thursday’s semi-final but it has been a good tournament for Pickford, now firmly established as the No 1. His ability to play with his feet from the back has seen him promoted ahead of Jack Butland by Gareth Southgate, and his save from Mateus Uribe of Colombia in the second round is arguably the best of the tournament.Pickford said: “Hopefully I will get the nod against Belgium. I’d love to get the goalkeeper of the tournament. But we came to win this tournament. We can’t do that now but we want to finish third. It will be a tough test against Belgium again.

“Of course it will be hard to get ourselves up for it. That’s where character comes in. It’s another chance to show our togetherness. We want to finish a great tournament on a high.We can’t finish the best team in the world but we can still be the third best.”He added: “My overriding thoughts right now is that we did ourselves proud. The country believes in us again. Beforehand, I don’t think they were expecting too much from us. Now they have seen the character there is in this squad. They can see we are capable of progressing.“It was really moving. At 12.45am the fans are still out there chanting. That got to me. It shows how far we’ve come.”The Fifa golden glove award for the tournament’s best goalkeeper is not decided on clean sheets but by the Fifa technical study group. He will be up against Thibaut Courtois who said Pickford should have saved Adnan Januzaj’s group stage winner against England. Pickford said his greatest moment was the save from Carlos Bacca in the shoot-out that set up the victory on Eric Dier’s penalty. “It felt big at the time and it still feels big now. We won a shoot-out. And we won a knockout game.“The other memory is that I know I have played well in the tournament. But above all this World Cup is about a group of lads embracing every moment, enjoying ourselves and doing ourselves justice.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s need for love, respect helped push him to Juventus

Jul 11, 2018Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

Cristiano Ronaldo loves to be loved. Forget the trophies, the Ballons d’Or and the goals: when you peel back all of the superficial players, he is simply a guy who wants love and respect and, therefore, his move to Juventus ticks those boxes.When Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in 2013 for the first (and so far only) time to face Manchester United with Real Madrid in the Champions League, Sir Alex Ferguson instructed the club’s PA announcer to break with tradition and read out the Real team second, with Ronaldo left as the last player to have his name read out. Alan Keegan, United’s PA man, followed Ferguson’s instructions and the reception Ronaldo was granted made hairs stand up on the back of 70,000 necks. Just as Ferguson anticipated, Ronaldo was so taken by the standing ovation that his focus was clearly distracted in the opening stages.Ronaldo is so often projected as the pantomime villain in his battle for supremacy with Lionel Messi that any kind of affection is soaked up, so it is perhaps no surprise that he has traded Real for Juventus having already been given the respect he so craves by the supporters of the Italian giants.Back in April, after Ronaldo’s stunning overhead-kick goal against Juve was greeted with a standing ovation in Turin, nobody could possibly have envisaged the 33-year-old signing for the Old Lady just three months later.

Cristiano Ronaldo on the move

Unless he knew differently, Ronaldo himself is unlikely to have had the Italian champions as his first-choice destination should he leave Real, but the gesture from the supporters that night will have left its mark on the Portuguese forward. Juventus showed him respect when he was an opponent; just imagine how much he will be indulged as one of their own.The Ronaldo narrative always suggested that he would only ever leave Real for a return to Man United. After all, his former club made enough attempts to bring him back to Old Trafford, but on one occasion at least, Man United’s interest was used merely to get a better deal from Real. Memories of being used by Ronaldo left scars at Man United — they still tried again once more, without success — but at 33, maybe even the richest club in the world believed that the sums just did not add up to bring him back this time.Paris Saint-Germain have also flirted with Ronaldo, but their lavish investment in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe forced them out of the running. It meant Juventus suddenly presented itself as a much better move than Ronaldo could possibly have expected.The serial Italian champions are a huge club with a global fan base. They may not be Real or Man United, but they are not far behind, and Juve can offer Ronaldo another lorry-load of trophies over the course of his contract. Any move from Real is a step down, but Juventus is one step rather than several.At 33, Ronaldo may have had to consider a move to China or even the MLS if Juventus had not come along. Remaining at Real would have been another option, but it seems that neither Ronaldo nor the Spanish giants were amenable to that.Juventus is a storied club with iconic former players and Ronaldo will relish the opportunity to add his name to their roll of honour. Paolo Rossi, Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Pavel Nedved, Roberto Baggio, Alessandro del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon all have their images plastered on the walls of Juve’s Allianz Stadium, and you can bet that Ronaldo will do something to earn his place alongside them. He may be 33, but he is still such a consummate, dedicated professional that Juventus can expect plenty of return on their investment.Ronaldo was the Champions League’s top scorer last season and he hit four goals at the World Cup, so he is still a goal scorer to be feared. And with Juventus desperate to win the Champions League after so many years of dominance in Italy, he will be given the stage to help inspire them to their long-awaited third European Cup.Maybe it is all about Ronaldo’s ego and the chance to win more trophies in Serie A, but it is not the one-team league that it has been for most of the seven consecutive seasons Juve have won the title. Napoli are a threat, with Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival as coach this summer highlighting their ambition, while Roma’s run to the Champions League semifinal last season underlined their determination to challenge Juve’s supremacy. Inter Milan are back in the Champions League, and AC Milan, subject to takeover talk, will always expect to be the best in Italy.So, Ronaldo has signed up for a challenge as well as a change of scenery. But he still has it in him to take another league by storm, and that is why Juventus have made such a bold move by signing him.

Why Jorge Sampaoli would be a disaster for the USMNT

Rumors are coming hard and fast, but this one would be trouble.By Donald Wine II@blazindw Jul 8, 2018, 1:06pm PDT

The rumors about who could possibly become the next United States Men’s National Team coach are starting to come in bunches. Today, a report by Mundo Albiceleste, citing a TYC Sportsreport, claims that Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli has received offers from U.S. Soccer, Mexico and Costa Rica to take over their head coaching positions.

Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli has reportedly received offers to coach the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica. Now, we can easily dismiss this as a rumor, one that carries no legs for several reasons. Sampaoli is still the Argentina coach and while people expect him and Argentina to part ways, it hasn’t happened yet. Mexico still has their coach as well, with Juan Carlos Osorio also expected to leave but still holds the coaching position. New USMNT general manager Earnie Stewart doesn’t officially assume the role full-time until August 1st, and he is supposed to be responsible for all MNT coaching hires. But really, the main reason we should dismiss this rumor is simple: Jorge Sampaoli would be a disaster for the USMNT.For one, the baggage he carries is immense. Since he won the 2015 Copa America with Chile, he flamed out at Sevilla and took over an Argentine squad that was struggling in World Cupqualifying. While they eventually qualified thanks to some Lionel Messi heroics, they underperformed throughout his tenure. When they arrived at the 2018 World Cup, they did so as heavy favorites despite a pre-World Cup tour that saw them get smoked by Spain and have a friendly against Israel canceled over political protests.Then, there was the actual performance at the World Cup. Their 1-1 draw to Iceland and a 3-0 loss to Croatia in the group stage had his team on the verge of mutiny ahead of its final group stage match against Nigeria. His tactics were erratic, his substitutions were puzzling, and his decision-making was frustrating. Still, they somehow made it out of the group by the skin of their teeth.Argentina eventually met their end in the Round of 16 against France, a 4-3 defeat that was probably more lopsided than the final score. With the exception of just a few minutes of luck and brilliance on the part of the players, Argentina was no match for a French squad that dazzled from start to finish. La Albiceleste were out, a disappointing finish for the team who were the 2014 World Cup runners-up and runners-up in the 2015 Copa America and 2016 Copa America Centenario and were expected to at least return to the semifinals in this World Cup.Those don’t fare well for a stint with the USMNT. He’d also have to figure out a way to continue the development of the younger guys in the player pool, something he wasn’t the best at with Argentina. There, he took a golden generation of sorts and rode them until the wheels fell off…and fall off they did. The Argentine federation is in disarray, and many important players are now considering retirement. Sound familiar?When it comes to Jorge Sampaoli, of course he may have a decent resume coaching some big-time South American teams. But, the baggage he carries and his tendencies to have tenures built around turmoil rather than teamwork is something that should not be brought into a situation with the USMNT. There are other qualified candidates out there without the baggage, but as agents try to jockey their clients into prominent positions, know that these rumors will get people talking. But, for the USMNT’s sake, let’s hope Jorge Sampaoli becomes some other team’s problem and Earnie Stewart and U.S. Soccer say to his candidacy: NO WAY!!

USMNT July 13-15 viewing guide and open thread

One last chance for a World Cup bump

By jcksnftsn Jul 13, 2018, 9:00am PDT

MLS and their television partners will try one last time this weekend to carry over audience from the World Cup into MLS action with two games on Sunday, the first starting on Fox immediately following their World Cup coverage. There are no Friday or Saturday network games this weekend so we’ll jump right into Sunday.

Sunday

Atlanta United v Seattle Sounders – 2:00p on Fox

Immediately following the conclusion of the World Cup coverage on Sunday Fox will roll into coverage of the MLS with a game featuring the Supporters Shield leaders, Atlanta United facing off against a disappointing Seattle Sounders side.Atlanta are 12-4-4 with identical home and road splits of 6-2-2 and coming off a road win against the Philadelphia Union with Josef Martinez scoring his league leading 18th goal 7 more than a trio tied for second place including American hero Gyasi Zardes! With Andrew Carleton remaining glued to the bench and Greg Garza and Darlington Nagbe both out with long term injuries the USMNT presence on this side of the ball is limited to Brad Guzan.Seattle’s season has been a disappointing one, having picked up only 16 points half way through their schedule after finishing last year with 53 points. Their results this season have them in 10th place in the Western Conference, 10 points back of the final playoff spot. At 35 Clint Dempseylooks to be regressing to a substitute role and has managed just one goal this season. Cristian Roldan has been a consistent presence in the lineup for the Sounders while younger brother Alex has appeared in 13 games including 7 starts.

Los Angeles Football Club v Portland Timbers – 5:00p on ESPN

Following the Atlanta v Seattle match you can flip over to ESPN to catch some West Coast action as this years “how can expansion teams be so good so fast when DC United is… that” team, LAFC, takes on the Portland Timbers.LAFC are coming off a 4-1 shellacking of Orlando City and sit in second place in the Western Conference just one point behind FC Dallas. Walker Zimmerman is the youngest of the LAFC Americans and most likely to be involved moving forward though the center back may not be more than an off-cycle / Gold Cup option if the young center backs playing abroad (Brooks, Miazga, EPB, etc.) continue to progress and be available as expected.

The Portland Timbers are also coming in off a win, over hapless San Jose, and are undefeated in their last 11 games. Unfortunately, their success cannot be attributed to any American development as the young Americans, Eryk Williamson and Marco Farfan, have failed to make an impact. Former U-20 member Zarek Valentin has started 15 games this season but at 26 years of age seems unlikely to break into the Senior team at this point.

Indy’s Battery Runs Low In Charleston – Charleston Battery V Indy Eleven REVIEW

By: James Cormack – Bloody Shambles Soccer

Indy headed southeast to Charleston to play their 5th match in 16 days with a chance of moving up another spot in the USL East standings if they could clinch a road win in South Carolina. The two teams locked horns in Indy’s last home match of May in a thrilling 3-3 tieAs expected with such a hectic period in the 2018 schedule we again saw some rotation to the starting lineup and as we saw against Charlotte it was backed up by a very strong bench. Even with injuries and knocks recently Martin Rennie has called on his depth to step up.Indy Eleven’s weekend game against Charlotte saw early departures for Justin Braun and Kevin Venegas and their replacements Ben Speas and Eugene Starikov started against Charlotte. Brad Ring who left the last game late with calf cramp took the bench.Seth Moses continued where he left off on Saturday at right back alongside Ouimette, Mitchell, and Ayoze. Pasher, Guerra, Matern, Watson and Starikov covered the midfield with Ben Speas playing forward and as usual Owain Fôn Williams in goal. I am not sure why and maybe I am mad, but the team and USL always display us as a 4-4-2 when we clearly are not. Is the starting lineup just based on D’s, M’s and F’s? No idea.As in the previous match the players starting are good enough to bring about a result, a mixture or starters, and some fresh leg rotation. With multiple games in a short period of time, it’s a sensible tactic to begin with when you have a bench stacked with outfield talent like Soony Saad, Jack McInerney, Zach Steinberger, Brad Rusin, Nathan Lewis, and Brad Ring. Again it was a hot one around 90 degrees, and the first half saw both teams probing and feeling each other out patiently. There was no urgent attempt by either side to hit hard and early. Indy played and looked comfortable for most of the first half, perhaps becoming flat and static in the last ten minutes or so.After 22 minutes of give and take it was Charleston who found the first opening through Gordon Wild. Working inside Charleston’s right and untracked he received a pass from the wing, turned inside and struck a clean left footed shot into the far left corner of Indy’s net from about 24 yards out. Not much you can do about the clinical finish but the time and space he found deep in Indy’s half could have been limited and pressed by our midfield.Indy had a great chance to equalize with 30 minutes gone when Carlyle Mitchell connected with a corner delivered by Ayoze. His bullet header from a few yards out was denied by a great reaction save from Cuban stopper Odisnel Cooper.fter falling behind Indy Eleven continued a methodical and patient approach to the game but with around 10 minutes to go before the half the pass and move changed to a little pass and stand still, the team seemed tired and weary and waiting for the whistle.Whatever Martin Rennie had to say to galvanize his team at halftime worked as Indy Eleven started the second half with more urgency and aggression. Five minutes in Seth Moses made a drive into the left side of Charleston’s box and chipped a cross to the back post for Speas but Ben couldn’t get his bicycle high enough of the ground and his attempted shot found the topside of the net. Within ten minutes Indy Eleven did put the score level. From a central position ben Speas put a short pass through to split the Charleston defense, Eugene Starikov beat the offside trap and went one on one with Cooper. The keeper spread himself at Starikov’s feet but Indy’s number 9 calmly dinked a chip shot up and over to tie the game up. Starikov’s first competitive goal makes him the 12th Indy player to score in 2018.Indy continued to press and within moments could have taken the lead through substitute Soony Saad. A Carlyle Mitchell pass that went almost from the edge of one 18 yard box to the other was controlled by Saad and he pushed towards the Charleston goal. His first shot was saved by the sprawling Cooper which returned to his feet and his second attempt was cleared off the line by Taylor Mueller.It was by far a better half for Indy Eleven, but one man made the evening and the points his own. Gordon Wild again punished Indy, with a goal in each half he made the difference. His second perhaps not as spectacular as his first but it ended any hopes of Indy returning home with a point.ild was again in good space on Indy’s right this time, untracked and unmarked he received a pass from the middle of the field and managed to put a low shot with the left foot on the outside of Seth Moses and past Owain Fôn Williams into the far bottom corner of the net. 2-1 was enough to keep the three points in Charleston. Indy rallied in the second 45 and almost grabbed a point but again I feel a little bit of midfield being unable to regain their shape and press attackers allowed for a second individual goal in open play from Charleston’s number 15.Its been a difficult spell for Indy with an intensive June and July schedule, Charleston is a difficult side, so it is hard to criticize the result too much, they deserved it, we made mistakes. We drew 3-3 with them at a time where we knew we needed to change our effort to change our results and they were in second place. The win for the home side lifts them above Indy into fourth, the Eleven hold fifth place after Nashville fell 1-0 to Charlotte yesterday eveningThe game marked the first match past the halfway point for Indy, and the report card for the midpoint is most certainly not terrible. After 17 matches of the season we sat in the top half of the playoff positions, there have been some disappointing results against poor teams and great results against difficult teams such as Louisville and Nashville. As captain Watson has said previously you have to make those points yourself and make them as soon as you can and not rely on the results of others. We started the second half of the season with an away defeat against a difficult side, I am still confident enough in this squad to pick up the results they need going forward, and we can win away from home.Indy Eleven can take relief in having 10 days of much-needed rest before their next game, the first matchup of the season with old rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies in St.Petersburg. That match will be the first in a series of three away games before our Boys In Blue return to Lucas Oil Stadium on August 15th. After the Rowdies, Indy will play return matches against Bethlehem Steel and Louisville City FC.

Current USL Eastern Conference Standings as of July 12th, 2018 (uslsoccer.com)

If you are planning to attend the August 5th Match in Louisville keep your eyes out for travel and ticket information from the Brickyard Battalion and don’t forget to pick up tickets for Indy Eleven’s next home match against North Carolina FC at BYBTix.com. And don’t forget to check out the World Cup FInal Watch Party with the BYB, SH19 and Indy Eleven at Union Jack Pub in Broad Ripple on July 15th.

PAINTING SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE FIELD

By Drew Kamaski, 07/11/18, 12:00PM EDT “Boys in Blue” Owain Fon Williams isn’t just a skilled goalkeeper, but a talented painter, too

Owain Fon Williams grasped his palette in one hand. In the other hand, he gripped his paint brush as he stroked the canvas gently. As the assortment of colors blended together, grey mountains covered in white moonlight filled the frame. In the middle stood a quarryman, modeled after his grandfather, who inspired a series of Fon Williams’ paintings.Fon Williams has painted as long as he can remember. He began painting as a child in the town of Penygroes, Wales, a small Welsh village with a total population of 1,793 people.“My mom and dad would just give me paper and some paint and I used to paint away,” said the Welsh keeper. “I’ve done it since I was a kid.”Fon Williams didn’t play FIFA and Fortnite during his adolescent years, instead he painted the majestic landscapes that surrounded his home in the Gwynned region of Wales.“Growing up I didn’t have console games,” the Indy Eleven starting goalkeeper said. “I’ve been lucky enough to grow up in a loely area with mountains and seascapes. Whether I painted whatever I was into or just goalkeeper gloves, I always wanted to paint something.”As he grew older, Fon Williams became more involved with the pitch, and less involved with the canvas. Now, 12 years into an illustrious football career, Fon Williams finds himself stateside with Indy Eleven. Despite the rigorous life that comes with being a professional footballer, he never forgot his love for painting.His first serious painting was of a Highland bull. He took the painting to a local framing shop in Nantlle Valley, Wales. There he discovered the focus of the first half of his next collection of paintings – quarrymen.“My grand-dad was one many years ago,” said Fon Williams. “The industry has died now but if anyone was to go to Wales, especially North Wales, you wouldn’t be able to walk two steps without seeing the blue slate and the work these men did many years ago.”The other half of his works depict the goalkeeper’s time with the Wales National Team in one of Europe’s most renowned contests, the UEFA European Championship.Wales made its first ever appearance in the tournament in 2016. The Dragons pushed on to the semi-finals of the 2016 Euros, defeating the tournament favorite, Belgium, in the quarterfinal.“It was like a dream, to be honest,” the understudy to Wales International goalkeeper Wayne Hennesey said. “To beat Belgium in the quarter finals 3-1 showed the character and spirit we had in the team to fight back from down 0-1.”Fon Williams’ and Wales’ Euro 2016 run came to end in the semi-finals. A strong Portuguese side ended the Cinderella run for Wales. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, who Fon Williams labled“The Master”, and Nani defeated the small country from Southwest Great Britain.If not for injuries to Welsh teammates Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davis, Fon Williams believes the outcome would’ve been different.Despite the loss, Fon Williams focuses on the positive experiences of the Euros. He stays in touch with teammates from Wales’ 2016 Euros squad through WhatsApp.“I’ve grown up with Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Gareth Bale,” Fon Williams said. “We still keep in touch. That’s down to the bond we had with that kind of brotherhood. That gang-like mentality was kind of bred into us and made it so special.”Fon Williams discovered more than a bond with his teammates at the Euros; he discovered a wealth of knowledge.Wales head coach Chris Coleman nagged the team about little details according to Fon Williams.Coleman emphasized little goals that were set in place to help the team succeed. The Wales gaffer challenged the team to concede less free kicks, corner kicks, and crosses into the box if they were to advance.Now on loan from Scottish Championship club Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the Welsh goalkeeper is bringing those little goals and that bond to Indy Eleven.“When I joined here at Indy Eleven, we had a team gathering and the coaches spoke of the little goals Indy Eleven has,” Fon Williams said. “I know how something works with the little goals. Hopefully we can reach some of those goals.”Completing game-to-game goals is a short term task for Indy Eleven, a team comprised of mostly new faces. What will take time for Fon Williams and the “Boys in Blue” is developing the chemistry the Wales National Team possessed in France.“It’s not something you can buy that will happen overnight,” Fon Williams said. “We’re a new team. We’ve only been together a month or two. Some of us have never met each other let alone played with each other.”Fon Williams believes responsibility and accountability on the pitch will help the team develop a strong core as Indy Eleven seek in their first ever USL campaign.“That’s how that bond, that unity kind of starts,” Fon Williams said.Five games into the season, the bond has grown stronger after every game as the new squad adjusts to life in Indianapolis.For some players, coming to the Circle City was the benefactor of needing a place to play. For Fon Williams, a long-term stay in the States was a part of the plan for quite some time.“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said the Welsh International. “I’ve been coming here on holiday for about 10 years or more because I love the states, I love the people.”Fon Williams attributes his move to the generous hospitality he’s experienced and the growth of the game. He planned to surround himself with good people and feels he has done that here in Indianapolis with Indy Eleven.“The hardest part of the transition from life in Great Britain to life stateside has been the time difference,” Fon Williams said.A change in his biological clock isn’t going to keep Fon Williams from taking Indy Eleven as far as he can.“It’s a phenomenal team on the up that’s actually going to go somewhere,” Indy Eleven’s man between the sticks said. “I want to be as successful as I possibly can and I feel that Indy Eleven, as a team, have that fight in their belly.”Fon Williams has performed well with “Boys in Blue” in five games. He’s kept a clean sheet in three of the five matches while only conceding two goals on the season.After the final whistle blows and Fon Williams takes off his gloves, he goes back to the canvas. ne of his goals as an Indy Eleven player is to paint a mosaic of Indy Eleven’s crest.“If the supporters can fancy doing something with me, I’d like to do a mosaic of our crest, the Indy Eleven crest.”It is a massive undertaking that will require extreme amounts of supplies, time, and effort, but a goal Fon Williams is determined to achieve.“With something like art you can bring a lot of people together. If I can bring those people in and get them on board then happy day,” Fon Williams said.The professional goalkeeper finds solace in painting. Rest and relaxation is the most important part of his recovery.For Fon Williams, this is located in front of a canvas with a palette and brush in hand.“I find it very therapeutic for me,” said Fon Williams. “Even if it’s only an hour or two that I can pick up my brushes, knives, or whatever and start painting, I can switch off and I’m fresh back into my work.”

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

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7/10/18 World Cup Semi-Finals Eng vs Croatia Wed, Belgium vs France Tues 2 pm on FOX, Indy 11 Win on road Wed Night

July 10, 2018July 10, 2018 gatorbest

So we are down to the Semi-Finals of a World Cup that most experts agree has been the most exciting EVER! How about shootouts deciding 2 of the 4 Semi-Finalist — wow!! Anyone feel like joining us at the Stacked Pickle off of Old Meridian across from Meyers Wed 2 pm for the England game? England advances and the cry of is it Coming Home? (Remember England invented the game and the cry of bring it home as been there since their 1966 World Cup Win). Russia who many considered to be one of the weakest host countries ever took heavily favored Croatia to penalty’s (both team’s 2^nd straight penalty shootout) in an epic battle to the death with both team’s players utterly exhausted after the game. The most compelling games of the Quarterfinals Brazil vs Belgium (2-1) and England vs Sweden 2-0 both somewhat surprising but not shocking. I like Belgium to squeeze by France perhaps in penalty’s as both teams are fantastic, while Saturday England will survive a tired Croatia 2-0. Man has fantastic Goalkeeping make a difference this world cup or is it me?? Wow – I have a solid group of Saves from the World Cup – check out to see them all – http://theoleballcoach.com. Oh and I love the continued dogging of Neymar with the Neymar Challenge taking off Worldwide and this which includes this KFC Ad in South Africa. Speaking of Commercials what are your favorites? For me the new Coke Commercial, the Holyfield Bite Comercial and this new Wish One featuring Buffon are near the top. Here are some of the older ones Top World Cup Commercials so far.

Tues, July 10

2 pm Fox Belgium vs France (WC Semis)

Wed, July 11

2pm Fox Croatia vs England (WC Semis)

INDY 11

Indy recovered Sat on a comfortable night at Lucas Oil and came from behind to win 2-1 over Charlotte. Huge late goal by subbing forward Ben Speas. At 8-4-4 and ranked 4^th in the East with 28 pts, the team is on the road Wednesday night on ESPN+ as they travel to Charleston for their 6^th game in 15 days. Join the BYB for the Watch party in Broad Ripple at Union Jack Pub or Union Brewing Company in Carmel if over 21. The Indy 11 return home Wed Aug 15 and of course discount tickets below $15 are available Click here for Discount Tickets for the Game and enter 2018 INDY as the promo code.

Buffon to PSG

So I am not sure how I feel about my favorite Goalkeeper Italy’s Gigi Buffon coming out of pre-retirement to sign with Paris St. Germaine. In one sense – PSG was seriously a great goalkeeper away from advancing a few times in the past. Their inability to get to the Quarterfinals a huge issue for one of the highest payrolls in the world. But is Buffon at 40 years old – (still unquestionably a top 10 keeper) really good enough to help get PSG into the Final 4 of Champions League? I am not sure but I will certainly be rooting him on!

World Cup Cool Stuff

Coke Commercial

Holyfield Bite Comercial

Top World Cup Commercials so far

Neymar Challenge Takes Over the World

Neymar Challenge Commercial and More

World Cup

Facts – Belgium and France

Why France Will Win – Yahoo Soccer

Let’s just go straight to penalty kicks

Don’t get too cocky yet, England fans

After so much humiliation, England a source of pride, unity

England inspire nation as Premier League stars shine

England Star Players as kids

Croatia defender ruffles Russia with political comment after World Cup win

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez exclusive interview
Why former France Star Henry’s allegiance is with Belgium

Ogden: Who will reach the World Cup final?
Kuper: Why it is folly to buy players who starred at a World Cup
Project Russia: Host nation’s Cinderella run to remember
Photos: No sleep til Moscow — fans’ travels through Russia

Ogden: Southgate’s new-look England have changed perceptions
Marcotti: Croatia’s resilience propels them into the semifinals
Project Russia: The England dream continues
#FCExtraTime: Penalties, Subasic, Martinez and ‘Three Lions’
England fans balance weddings and World Cup
Strini: Brazil leave Russia with bittersweet emotions
Laurens: France acting like a team that believes

Ames: Belgium’s Martinez got the better on Tite and Brazil
Project Russia: Brazil ousted, all access at their hotel
Marcotti: France go through but have room for improvement

World Cup breakout star XI

Belgium’s Golden Generation Shines Brightest in Ousting Brazil From World Cup SI by Jonathan Wilson

The Factors and Figures Behind Europe’s World Cup Dominance Trend

England Coasts, Croatia Perseveres as Both End World Cup Semifinal Droughts – Grant Wahl SI

Cratia Win Over Russia Explodes World Cup Viewership; Best Since 1990 – Update

Belgium’s Win Over Brazil Breaks Ratings & Streaming Records For Fox Sports

Why Soccer Players Flop – and why they aren’t the only ones to Blame – FC Yahoo Henry Bushnell

Indy 11

Indy 11 beats Charlotte 2-1

Come From Behind Victory Thrills the Crowd – Bloodyshambles – Rebecca Townsend

USA

Pulisic Shows CBS What he Can do on the Pitch

Why the Biggest Countries in the World – Like the US Fail with the World Cup USA Today Martin Rogers

Goalies

England’s Pickford One of the Top Saves of the World Cup

Pickford’s Path to World Cup Hero

9 Saves by Belgium’s Courtois Sit Down Brazil

Oldest World Cup Player Ever Saves PK for Egypt

Best Saves Round 1 World Cup

Best Saves Round 2 World Cup –

Carmel High Girls Middle School Soccer Camp Ages middle schoolers – July 16, 17, 18, 19 at Murray 3-5 pm $85

SUMMER CAMPS

Carmel High Boys Soccer Skills Camp Ages 8-14 July 16-19 at Murray 8:30-10:30 am $85

Carmel High Boys Soccer Tactical Camp Ages 8-14 July 16-19 at Murray 11 am till 1 pm $85

By Joe Prince-Wright Jul 9, 2018, 12:39 PM EDT

GAMES ON TV This Week

Tues, July 10

2 pm Fox Belgium vs France (WC Semis)

Wed, July 11

2pm Fox Croatia vs England (WC Semis)

7 pm ESPN+/Utube Charleston vs Indy 11

8:30 pm ESPN+ Chicago vs Philly Union

Sat, July 14

10 am Fox World Cup 3^rd Place Game

7 pm Yes NYCFC vs Columbus Crew

7 pm ESPNNews Utah Royals vs Orlando Pride (NWSL)

8 pm ESPN+ Dallas (Matt Hedges) vs Chicago Fire

Sun, July 15

11 am Fox World Cup Final

2 pm FOX Atlanta vs Seattle

6 pm ESPN LAFC vs Portland

Wed, July 18 – US Open Cup

8:30 pm ??? Chicago Fire vs Louisville City FC

Fri, July 20 ICC – International Champions Cup Starts

9 pm ESPN2 Sevilla vs Benfica

9 pm ESPN2 Man City vs Borussia Dortmund (Pulisic)

Sun, July 22 ICC – International Champions Cup

4 pm ESPN Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund (Pulisic)

Wed, July 25 ICC – International Champions Cup

7 pm ESPNU Juventus vs Bayern Munich

8 pm ESPN+ Borussia Dortmund (Pulisic) vs Benfica

8 pm ESPN 2 Man City vs Liverpool

10 pm ESPN 2 Roma vs Tottenham

11 pm ESPN Milan vs Man United

Thur, July 26

8 pm ESPN Orlando City vs NYCFC

10:30 pm ESPN LAFC vs LA Galaxy (we should be at the game !)

Indiana Soccer League Discounted Offer for Chicago Fire Games
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club would like to invite all families and members involved with ISL out for a Chicago Fire MLS match this Summer and Fall. On-field experiences for children age 5-17 before every match! This offer includes discounted group ticket pricing for anyone interested. Please email Stew with the Chicago Fire – Sgreen@chicago-fire.com – for more information about on-field experiences for kids for specific game days, or any other questions!
Wed, July 11 at 7:30 pm vs Philly Union

Saturday, July 21st at 6:00pm vs Toronto FC
Sunday, September 16th at 4:00pm vs Orlando City SC

World Cup semifinals: Pressure on Belgium’s golden generation, England can outlast Croatia

Mark Ogden, Senior Football Writer

With the quarterfinals done and dusted, there are just four teams left standing at the 2018 World Cup.Out of Belgium, France, England and Croatia, who will book a place in the final on July 15?

Belgium vs. France, Saint Petersburg

It’s a game between two European neighbours and arguably the two teams that have produced the most outstanding performances so far.Belgium’s so-called golden generation have fallen short in recent tournaments, failing to deliver at the past two European Championships and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but their destruction of the Brazilians in the quarterfinal was the performance of a team that believes it can become world champions.France, who laboured through their group with only three goals in three games against Australia, Peru and Denmark, showcased their incredible depth of talent when teenager Kylian Mbappe led their second-round dismantling of Argentina in Kazan.

France are perhaps peaking ahead of their time, with Didier Deschamps’ young team viewed by many as not likely to mature into potential World Cup winners until Qatar 2022.Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann will almost certainly all be around in four years’ time, but for Belgium, this World Cup has to be their moment. With so many players in or approaching their 30s, Roberto Martinez’s men have to grasp this opportunity or risk seeing it evaporate forever.But Belgium — led by outstanding efforts from Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku — were so hot against Brazil, they go into this game against their big-brother neighbour as favourites.France have the greater pedigree — winners in 1998 and finalists in 2006 — but Belgium are the team that seems to have come together at just the right time in Russia.The Belgians, having kept Neymar quiet against Brazil, must find a way to do the same with Mbappe, but Vincent Kompany’s return to fitness ensures that Martinez can rely on the Manchester City captain’s experience to marshal the defence.

France, in turn, have to find a way to nullify De Bruyne and Hazard, but the Belgians possess more match winners.Do they have the mentality to beat France in a huge game? That is the only real question.

Winners: Belgium

Croatia vs. England, Moscow

An unlikely semifinal matchup at the start of the tournament, Croatia and England now stand on the verge of the World Cup final after negotiating a favourable route to reach this stage of the competition.England have eliminated Colombia and Sweden, while Croatia, so impressive having won their group with three victories, have been taken to penalties by Denmark and Russia in the knockout rounds. But having twice endured the draining yet ultimately successful ordeal of extra time and penalties, the big question over Croatia going into Wednesday’s semifinal will be how much they have left in the tank.Will goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, the shootout hero against Denmark and Russia, be fully fit after appearing to injure his hamstring late in Saturday’s game against Russia?

England have no such fitness concerns after coasting to a 2-0 quarterfinal win against Sweden in normal time in Samara, but manager Gareth Southgate does have tactical questions to answer before the Croatia clash. Should he break up the attacking midfield trio of Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli to accommodate an extra holding midfielder (Eric Dier) to help snuff out the threat of Luka Modric, or did their combined performance against Sweden make a change a gamble? If it boils down to a football contest in Moscow, Croatia’s ability on the ball will be a huge test for England. The two countries have a colourful history, having met seven times since Croatia earned its independence in the early 1990s. England won 4-2 at Euro 2004 in the only meeting at a major tournament, but the most famous encounter was in November 2007, when Croatia’s 3-2 win at Wembley denied England a place at Euro 2008 and earned manager Steve McClaren the nickname of the “Wally with the Brolly” after he forlornly patrolled the touchline under an umbrella.The past two meetings have ended in big wins — 4-1 and 5-1 — for England, so Southgate’s men will have no fear on Wednesday, and their extra energy could be decisive.

Winners: England

Key battles in World Cup semifinals

With the 2018 World Cup semifinals taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday, the focus is switching to where each of the games will be won and lost.Below we focus on France vs. Belgium and Croatia vs. England, as some pivotal battles will take place across the pitch to decide who makes the final on Sunday in Moscow.Take a look below as we break down the big battles to watch. My goodness, this will be epic.

France vs. Belgium (Tuesday, 2 p.m. ET in Saint Petersburg)

N’Golo Kante vs. Kevin De Bruyne
With KDB deployed further forward against Brazil for Belgium, the battle between the Man City playmaker and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante will be intriguing in front of France’s back four. De Bruyne may play a little deeper against France but that still lines up a collision course with the most destructive holding midfielder on the planet in Kante. His main job will be to stop Belgium from launching their blistering counters and keeping De Bruyne locked down is key to halting those attacks. What a battle this will be.

Raphael Varane vs. Romelu Lukaku
The power of Lukaku against the finesse of Varane. Lukaku has scored four times for Belgium at this World Cup but you can argue that his hold-up play and the timing of his runs has been even more impressive. Varane scored in France’s quarterfinal win over Uruguay and the Real Madrid center back has looked as calm and composed as always at the heart of the Les Bleus defense. Lukaku will try and bully Varane who loves to step high and intercept balls into a targetman.

Kylian Mbappe vs. Vincent Kompany
In all honesty we could have picked any one of Belgium’s back three with Jan Vertonghenand Toby Alderweireld expected to start alongside Kompany, but there’s no doubting that Mbappe will try to target Belgium’s veteran leader in Kompany. Mbappe, just 19 years old, has searing pace and with Belgium eager to attack he may get plenty of chances to rip their defense open on the break, just like he did against Argentina. Kompany has proven his fitness but the Man City skipper has shown a few shaky moments so far. His nous and supreme reading of the game is undoubted and he will need all of it to shut down Mbappe.

Croatia vs. England (Wednesday, 2 p.m. ET in Moscow (Luzhniki)

Luka Modric vs. Jordan Henderson
This may be the biggest challenge of Henderson’s career. The Liverpool skipper has been a rock in front of England’s fluid three-man defense but he will have the unenviable task of stopping Modric from dictating the tempo of the game. Real Madrid’s magician has won the Man of the Match award in three of his five games at the World Cup and is a serious contender for the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2018 tournament. If Henderson can’t stop Modric linking up with his central midfield partner Ivan Rakitic then England is in big trouble. Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard won’t offer Henderson much defensive help in midfield, so maybe Eric Dier will come in to help shore things up. Modric is the man of the moment.

Dejan Lovren vs. Harry Kane
This particular battle hasn’t gone well for Lovren in recent times with Kane bullying him at Wembley Stadium last season en-route to a 4-1 win for Tottenham against Liverpool. Kane leads the World Cup with six goals but what has been more impressive is the way he has lad the line, held up the ball and taken a battering for his team. Lovren played superbly for Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final and has played well for Croatia in this tournament, despite the occasional slip-up. Lovren will have to play a near perfect game to stop Kane given his current form. This battle will perhaps be the key to determining who reaches the final.

Ivan Perisic vs. Kieran Trippier
An intriguing battle this will be down England’s right flank. Trippier has been a revelation at right-wing back but Perisic will be a huge test for the Tottenham full back. The Inter Milan star not only has the ability to score and create goals at key moments but his work rate sees him buzz down the left channel tirelessly and Trippier will not be able to switch off for a minute. That channel between Trippier and Kyle Walker has been a slight problem for England at times as Walker pushes forward from center back and Croatia may look to thread balls to Perisic as soon as they can when launching counter attacks.

Why they’ll win the World Cup: France

Nicholas MendolaNBC Sports•Jul 7, 2018, 1:15 PM

First of all, relax — This is part of a four-post series making the case for each of four World Cup semifinalists in their respective bids to win the 2018 edition of the tournament.

That said, let’s talk about why France will be lifting the World Cup trophy on July 15 in Moscow.

Why France will win the tournament: Following a 2-0 defeat of Uruguay in Friday’s quarterfinal, manager Didier Deschamps noted that Les Bleus relative inexperience peeks out at times.That might be helping France, who has built its tournament acumen back up following the embarrassment of 2010 in South Africa. France lost to eventual champions Spain at EURO 2012, then again fell to a champion when Germany knocked the French out at the quarterfinal stage of the 2014 World Cup.The French then (mostly) bossed the home EURO 2016 and the final despite losing to Eder‘s extra time tally in setting the stage for this summer in Russia.France has survived legacy-desperate Lionel Messi and Argentina (just, really) and a feisty Uruguay despite still waiting to get consistent star turns from Samuel Umtiti and Hugo Lloris (though the backstop made a magnificent save late in the first half Friday versus the South American side.Olivier Giroud, a man known for big goals, also is still waiting to break onto the score sheet. France has thrived through a kid (Kylian Mbappe), a dominating should-be Ballon d’Or candidate (N’Golo Kante), and two stars attackers doing it loudly (Antoine Griezmann) and quietly (Paul Pogba).Throw in Raphael Varane, and France has been steady up the middle. If they can get past Belgium, which this post assumes they do thanks to the title, find us a team on the other side of the bracket equipped to punish the French. England? Sweden? Russia?No, it would come down to Croatia. And right now we’d sign up for that feast of football… and expect Les Bleus to emerge victorious.

Factbox: Belgium and France World Cup semi-final history

Reuters•July 9, 2018

ST PETERSBURG (Reuters) – Belgium and France meet in the World Cup semi-final at the Saint Petersburg Stadium on Tuesday.

It will be only the second semi-final appearance for Belgium, but for France it is a sixth:

BELGIUM

– Belgium’s only previous semi-final appearance came at the 1986 finals, where Diego Maradona turned on the second half magic and ensured for Argentina a place in the final with both goals in a 2-0 victory.

– In that tournament, Belgium squeezed through the first round in third place in their group after losing to hosts Mexico, before needing extra time to beat the Soviet Union in the last 16 and penalties to overcome Spain in the quarter-finals.

– Defender Eric Gerets rated the class of 2018 as more talented footballers than his 1986 team mates but said he did not believe they had the same fighting spirit until he saw their 2-1 win over Brazil in Friday’s quarter-final.

– After losing in the 1986 semi-final, Belgium faced France in Puebla for the bronze medal in the third place playoff and were beaten 4-2 after extra time despite taking an early lead.

– Belgium made it to the last eight at the last World Cup in Brazil but their hopes of a semi-final spot were snuffed out by one early Gonzalo Higuain goal for Argentina.

– There are 15 players from the 2014 Belgian squad who have returned for the tournament in Russia, having picked up considerable experience in the meantime.

FRANCE

– Just Fontaine’s record of 13 goals in a single tournament from the 1958 finals still stands as he helped propel the French to their first-ever semi-final, where they lost 5-2 to Brazil in Stockholm, with teenager Pele scoring a hat-trick.

– France lost on post-match penalties to West Germany in Seville in the 1982 semi-final, best remembered for an unpunished kung-fu style challenge by goalkeeper Harold Schumacher on France’s Patrick Battison that saw the Frenchman stretchered off 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute with a cracked vertebra and damaged teeth.

– Four years later in Mexico, France were again semi-finalists but once more thwarted by the Germans, losing 2-0 in Guadalajara.

– France won the World Cup when they hosted the 1998 finals, beating Croatia in the semi-final 2-1 with both goals from defender Lilian Thuram, but they had big defender Laurent Blanc sent off, meaning he missed the final win over Brazil.

– Current coach Didier Deschamps captained France that year as they lifted the trophy for the first time. He is now seeking to return to the final as he chases the double of winning the World Cup as both a player and a coach.

– France’s fifth semi-final appearance came in 2006, when Zinedine Zidane’s penalty was enough to beat Portugal 1-0.

England inspire nation as Premier League stars shine

Getty Images

By Joe Prince-Wright Jul 9, 2018, 10:58 AM EDT

England have reached their first World Cup semifinal since 1990 and in doing so they’ve inspired an entire nation to once again believe in their national team.After plenty of heartbreak over the past five decades since their only major trophy, the World Cup in 1966, England is united behind the Three Lions.Ahead of the 2018 World Cup tournament, nobody either at home or abroad gave Gareth Southgate‘s young side much hope of advancing to the latter stages.But with the Three Lions, the youngest team left in the competition, facing Croatia in Moscow on Wednesday for a place in the final, an entire nation is behind their likable, hard-working squad.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ]

“Football’s Coming Home” is the new mantra for every English man and woman, even if many started signing it ironically as they didn’t believe this would be the case at all. The song, originally released to help England win on home soil at EURO ’96, has now surged back to the top of the charts in the UK amid the patriotic euphoria surrounding captain Harry Kane and Co.“It’s amazing to meet any heroes from ’66 and it gives you so much inspiration, obviously it’s been a long time since England have done well in a major tournament,” Kane said. “As a player and as a professional I know that I have a job, on and off the pitch, to inspire people and inspire kids watching this tournament. It’s amazing because I was one of those kids growing up who wanted to play for England. So to be here now, leading this team out, I’m so proud.”Pride. Unity. Respect. All three have been forthcoming in recent weeks as England’s youngster have eased into the semifinals in Russia. Most of their fans have looked on delighted, yet slightly bemused, as all they’ve known is heartache and disappoint as the “golden generation” of David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard came and went without a trip past the last eight of a major tournament.On the streets of England the words “it’s coming home” is being muttered, yelled and sung by millions as the Three Lions, for once, have inspired a nation with huge watch parties up and down the land leading to pints of beer flying into the sky in celebration time and time again.Even Southgate, who got the England job after being promoted from the U-21 boss following Sam Allardyce’s disgraceful sacking, has become a symbol of hope as his kind, courteous demeanour has been a breath of fresh air. He looks, and acts, like your favorite uncle as his waistcoats have become legendary and #GarethSouthgateWould sums up his character perfectly.With England, and the rest of the UK, currently embroiled in political turmoil regarding Brexit and a deteriorating relationship with Russia, the national team have brought the nation together at least for a few weeks.Southgate hit the nail on the head when he spoke about England fans from different backgrounds now feeling that this is their team with his players representative of the multi-cultural British society.“We are a team with our diversity and with our youth that represents modern England,” Southgate said. “In England we’ve spent a bit of time being a bit lost as to what our modern identity is and I think as a team we represent that modern identity, and hopefully people can connect with us.”And it’s not just the English national team who have benefited from fielding youngsters used to playing in the hustle and bustle of the Premier League.Both Belgium and France, who face off in the other semifinal in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday, have been led by young squads, many of whom flourish week in, week out in England’s top-flight.In total there are 40 Premier League players remaining at the World Cup out of a total of 92 players. That’s quite remarkable.England have 23 PL players. Belgium have 11. France five. Croatia one.

When you look at the Europe’s other top leagues, 12 players from La Liga remain, plus nine from the Bundesliga, 12 from Ligue 1 and eight from Serie A. The Premier League has been one of the biggest winners from this World Cup, as stars such as Harry Kane, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Hugo Lloris have shone.

Tottenham Hotspur has more players remaining at the World Cup than any other club on the planet with nine and you can point to the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino mangaging in the Premier League in having a huge impact on how England have fared due to their faith in giving young English players a chance to shine.The financial muscle of the Premier League makes it tough for young Englishman to break through, but we are starting to see that the ones who do make it are not only worthy of their spot on the national stage but also the global one.England have given their nation reason to dream and the Premier League stars who litter the final four will make sure those dreams continue to be met in stadiums across the country for the 2018/19 campaign and beyond.Even if football isn’t coming home, the state of the English national team and the Premier League is very healthy indeed.

England Coasts, Croatia Perseveres as Both End World Cup Semifinal Droughts

By GRANT WAHL July 07, 2018

MOSCOW — England and Croatia set up a World Cup semifinal showdown on Wednesday after England beat Sweden 2-0 and Croatia eliminated Russia on penalties after a crazy 2-2 tie that included two goals in extra time.The World Cup hosts needed a 115th-minute goal from Mario Fernandes to stay alive, but it couldn’t conjure a second straight PK triumph in a row. Croatia, however, could. Fernandes missed everything on his spot kick, tilting the balance Croatia’s way, and Ivan Rakitic scored on the clinching kick for a second consecutive match, allowing Croatia to go through on a 4-3 edge. It marks Croatia’s second trip to the semifinals–the other came 20 years ago–and is the culmination of another talented side having its golden generation meet its potential after Belgium secured its last-four berth on Friday.

England, Croatia, Belgium and France make up an all-European semifinal, with the latter two kicking off the last four on Tuesday in Saint Petersburg.But before then, here are my three thoughts on the day:

• THIS ENGLAND TEAM HAS A FRESH KIND OF APPEAL

England is in the men’s World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1990, but the appeal of this particular England team lies in much more than just the length of its tournament run. This is a refreshing, young team. It’s one that has a clear identity, one that has put in the time to build chemistry on and off the field and one that has worked on combination plays that you can see on set pieces and during the run of play. That was the case against Sweden on England’s first goal, yet another set-piece strike off a corner kick, and it was the case on the second goal, which scorer Dele Alli said was a combination with passer Jesse Lingard that they had worked on in practice sessions.Another aspect of England’s appeal is its likeability. Most of that comes from the players. The captain, Harry Kane, is leading the Golden Boot race with six goals, and his youth, his normal-guy-ness and his ability to handle pressure-packed situations have won him even more fans globally during this World Cup. Across the board, players like Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Kieran Trippier, Ashley Young, John Stones and Jordan Pickford just seem like team-first personalities instead of what we have seen at times in the past from England players at World Cups.Then there’s the coach, Gareth Southgate, who has pushed so many of the right buttons during the tournament, preparing his to take advantage of set pieces better than any team in the World Cup and defusing situations off the field—the Sterling tattoo story, the leaked lineup story—that would have caused bigger problems in previous World Cups.England may not be the best team in this World Cup, but it has a real chance to win the World Cup, and that’s a credit to the selfless work of the coach and his players.

WILL ENGLAND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE ON REST IN THE SEMIFINALS?

You can be certain that it will be a talking point heading into the semifinal: England played only 90 minutes on Saturday, and it will face a team that has played 120 minutes in each of the last two games. But my sense is that while it will be a talking point, it’s not that big a deal when it comes down to it.Consider that England also played 120 minutes against Colombia and went to penalties in the round of 16, and having a full three days off between the quarterfinals and semifinals should be enough time for players to recover. The questions for Croatia will surround starting right back Sime Vrsaljko, who was forced off with an injury in extra time, and goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, who appeared to tweak his hamstring at the end of regulation before toughing it out through the shootout.

LUKA MODRIC IS STRANGELY UNDERRATED

It’s crazy to write that about a player so vital to Real Madrid, but it’s true. Modric hasn’t gotten enough credit for his role in his club’s three straight Champions League titles, and now he’s not getting enough credit for being the best player of this World Cup (so far).In a wild victory on penalty kicks against Russia, the fantastic Modric took over the game in the latter stages, and his energy output and surpassing skill were evident at a time when other players were struggling to move. He had some good fortune in the penalty shootout, when Igor Akinfeev got a hand to his kick only to put it off the post and in, but his leadership and control were vital for Croatia to see out the result.Croatia is now in its second World Cup semifinal in the country’s history, the last time coming in 1998, and it will be fascinating to see how England tries to contain Modric in the midfield. It could well determine which of the two sides advances for a final berth that few saw as a real possibility before the tournament began.Grant Wahl has covered soccer for 22 years at Sports Illustrated. His new book, Masters of Modern Soccer, details the craft of soccer position by position. You can order it here.

The Factors and Figures Behind Europe’s World Cup Dominance Trend

By BRIAN STRAUS July 08, 2018

PETERSBURG — For Uruguayan coach and soccer sage Óscar Tabárez, this story really isn’t much of a story.“Don’t ask me something that is self-evident. I think there are other things that are worth commenting on,” he said following La Celeste’s round-of-16 loss to France.The question, from a Bolivian journalist, was about what had gone wrong with South American soccer. Why was the continent that had produced Pelé and Messi, Uruguay’s garra charrúa and Brazil’s joga bonito—and which as recently as 2002 had won more World Cups than Europe—now struggling to contend at the very highest level? Why were European teams on the verge of an unprecedented fourth straight title?Tabárez correctly pointed out that Brazil remained alive at the time, and insisted, “We can’t take this match today as a point of reference.”A few hours later, however, Brazil was out—defeated by Belgium, a small European nation whose best World Cup was a fourth-place finish back in 1986.The big picture, for those looking for one, was best summed up by the well-known Spanish daily, Diario AS. A few days after its front page lamented “El Fin De Una Generación”—the end of a generation—AStrumpeted sustained hegemony. La Furia Roja were out. But Europe remained dominant.“EUROMUNDIAL” was the one-word headline superimposed over a picture of dejected Brazilian players.The World Cup is European. Again.

In part, this is a story about sample size. When does a pattern emerge? Tabárez certainly was correct when he suggested that the 2-0 win by that specific French squad over that specific Uruguayan squad was emblematic only of the fact that France was better that day in Nizhny Novgorod. After all, La Celeste already had eliminated the reigning European champion, Portugal, in this World Cup’s second round. One game, team or tournament isn’t sufficient to create a trend. And if one of Brazil’s numerous second-half chances goes in against Belgium, perhaps we’re not even having this conversation.But they didn’t, and so European rule has become one of the themes of the 21st World Cup here in Russia. When Brazil secured its fifth star in 2002, no continent (meaning, Europe or South America) had won more than two in a row. And Europe hadn’t claimed consecutive titles since Italy went back-to-back in the grainy, black-and-white days of 1934 and 1938.But now, with France and Belgium (Wednesday in St. Petersburg) and Croatia and England (Thursday in Moscow) set for the semis, a UEFA country will be crowned world champion for the fourth straight time. And the fact that four nations will have built that streak is a testament to the continent’s depth. Since Brazil’s fifth title, European sides will have taken seven of the eight available spots in the World Cup final (Lionel Messi’s Argentina claimed the eighth after defeating the Netherlands on penalties four years ago), 13 of the past 16 semifinalists and 11 of 12 medals.Yes, Europe gets more teams than each of the other five confederations. But its rate of advancement and success is higher than the 43.75% of the field it occupies. A continent’s World Cup allotment should be evaluated in part by the performance of the bottom teams, not the top, because any increase will come from there. And there’s no depth of talent and potential like the depth in UEFA. Among those 13 recent European semifinalists are nine nations. Over the past four tournaments, 16 European countries have advanced past the group stage. Some that aren’t good enough to qualify in one cycle may be primed for a deep run only four years later.That ’02 World Cup won by Brazil looked like it might represent the turning of the page, staged as it was in the new football frontier of Japan and South Korea. France’s title defense began with a loss to Senegal, an African debutant. Seven non-UEFA nations qualified for the round of 16. And thequarterfinalists included Korea, Senegal and the USA. It appeared the olde world order was on the verge of subversion.Instead, in hindsight, 2002 looks like an outlier, or maybe even a last hurrah. Europe has assumed control, with only the occasional foray by Brazil or Argentina threatening its dominance. It could be luck. It could mean nothing. It could be a temporary, self-sustaining trend sparked by internal competitive combustion that’ll inevitably wane or reverse, kind of like the NFC’s 13-year Super Bowl streak over the AFC that ended in the late ‘90s.Or, it could be the result of a genuine evolution in the sport, a quasi-permanent seizure of the continental balance of power resulting from factors as diverse as player recruitment and movement, youth development and sport science, finance and marketing, or even coaching and tactics. The best clubs, leagues and players are in Europe, whether they were born there or not. And now the best national teams are as well.When Tabárez brushed off the Bolivian reporter’s question, it wasn’t because it had no merit. It was because the answer was “self-evident.”Said Tabárez, “You have said European football is stronger … and saying that, means ignoring football reality, from a financial point of view [and] from a historical point of view.”Recent history certainly suggests that the global game has been reshaped by the money and power flowing to a narrowing number of leagues and clubs. At its apex, soccer is more elite than ever, even as the sport’s base expands. The global demand to watch these top teams on TV fuels massive rights and sponsorship fees. In the 2016-17 season alone, the 20 clubs in England’s Premier League produced revenue of around $6 billion. Money from continental competition pours in as well. UEFA estimated that next season’s Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup would generate around $3.8 billion. According to Deloitte, the sport’s top 20 clubs—all European—earned revenue in excess of $9 billion in 2016-17.The last time a club from outside Europe finished in the top 30 of Deloitte’s revenue ranking was 2014 (No. 24 Corinthians).

A lot of that money is spent on stuff that improves domestic soccer, from coaching education and facilities to technology and nutrition. It’s all significant, and you’d have to think that eventually the investment shows on the field. Fans in North and South America, Africa and Asia want to watch Barcelona play Manchester City, and the money flows from their TV networks and corporate partners—essentially their own pockets—into European soccer, likely making the players developed by its clubs even better.Wealth in general probably is a factor as well. Of the planet’s top 30 countries in GDP, 14 are European. Latin America, the only region that currently can challenge Europe’s footballing obsession and depth of talent, is home to three. On a per-capita basis, the highest-ranking Latin American country in 2017 was Chile, at 56.Meanwhile, the top talent from outside Europe, especially from Latin America and Africa, is scouted, recruited and signed at increasingly younger ages. This obviously is a generalization, but perhaps there are enough players leaving non-European homes, and at an earlier age, to impact chemistry or tactical cohesion back with their senior national sides, which gather and play only intermittently. Even though European nations make up less than half the World Cup field, around 74% of the tournament’s rostered players are on the books at European clubs.For example, Brazil’s 2002 winners featured 13 players from its domestic Serie A. This summer’s quarterfinalist had three. Tite’s Brazil was good enough to win it all, and three also is the number of domestic players on the Argentina team that came so close in 2014. That’s a reminder that none of these issues, on its own, comes close to a potential explanation. But maybe in combination, they paint an impressionist picture. It’s worth noting that African countries like Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast have been loaded with players starring for clubs in quality European leagues, but there’s been next to no World Cup dividend. For some reason, talent flowing into Europe seems to benefit mostly Europe. Perhaps it raises the bar for domestic development as much as it helps those incoming foreigners, all while weakening imports’ connection with home ever so slightly.None of these are definitive reasons. But to whatever extent Europe’s four straight World Cup titles constitute a trend, it seems that it may be partially fueled by these dynamics.Another potential influence is tactics and style of play, which at a World Cup may shade toward the things at which more European sides stereotypically embrace. In short, defensive structure, set pieces and vigor are probably easier to implement in a few short weeks of national team training time than complex attacking patterns or individual game-breaking skill and flair. The fact that this has been the World Cup of the set piece, penalty kick and own goal is illustrative. There certainly have been South American sides with grit (see, Dunga), and tiki-taka powered Spain to a star in 2010 (although one could argue that pressing and possession are as much about defense as attacking). But we’re talking about a small shift in what works at the World Cup that might benefit European teams just enough to offer another slight nudge toward a title.Possession hasn’t necessarily been helpful here in Russia. According to TruMedia Networks, the top six teams in average possession at this World Cup already have gone home. Interestingly, Croatia, England, France and Belgium rank 7th through 10th, respectively. Uruguay, the CONMEBOL side that held the ball the least, still stands 19th overall. Four years ago, Germany finished second in the possession standings at 60%, but none of the other semifinalists were in the top eight.South American teams have more of the ball than European teams on average (53% to 50%) since Brazil won in 1994. And European sides appear to be more comfortable without it. Across the past nine tournaments, 10 UEFA teams have gotten out of their group with less than 45% possession. South American sides have managed that just twice. In short, apart from Spain’s legendary 2010 side, it’s going to be tough to “Olé” your way to the World Cup trophy. This tournament is just as likely to reward bare-bones soccer.All of which may mean little when so many games are decided by such miniscule margins. Or, perhaps all of it, in concert, moves those margins just enough. Four straight is four straight, and 13 of 16 is 13 of 16. And so for some, like Tabárez, the definition of World Cup success may have shifted slightly as well.“Today we have lost,” he said after falling to France. “But it seems the four games we won before this one are worth nothing. That’s not true. Today we played against opponents that were stronger than we were. We have to admit it and we have to congratulate them. That’s all we can do.“And I think the world has seen what we have achieved,” he continued. “The world knows what we were able to do and they also know what kind of country we are. We’re a small country, and of course certain things are more difficult for us than for other countries like France or Germany or England.”

Why the world’s biggest countries fail with the World Cup

Martin Rogers, USA TODAYPublished 3:30 p.m. ET July 8, 2018 | Updated 6:01 p.m. ET July 8, 2018

SportsPulse: Fox Sports’ Cobi James breaks down Belgium’s win against Brazil and France’s triumph over Uruguay.USA TODAY Sports

MOSCOW — Nowhere does the idea that “size matters” feel more out of place than in soccer.Lionel Messi, all five feet and seven inches of him, is one of the sport’s all-time greats. Even seemingly towering goalkeepers stand no taller than your typical NBA point guard.Yet size seems to be even less of an advantage when it comes to factors of national population. Indeed, in relation to the World Cup the bigger a country is, the more likely it will be sitting at home watching on television.Compared to their lofty standing in tables detailing the sheer scale of humanity, the planet’s largest countries punch well below their weight in the global game. And yes, count the United States squarely among the underachievers – this year at least.The four most populated nations on earth make up nearly 44 percent of all the humans in existence. However, not one of those countries is present at the World Cup, and most of them didn’t even get a sniff of it.So why is it that the likes of the U.S., China, India and Indonesia are bad enough to be excluded from a field of 32 that included Iceland, Uruguay, Panama and Croatia, whose numbers combine for slightly more than the state of North Carolina?“They share large populations which would make you think that they’d all be capable of producing highly talented players (from that) big pool,” Stefan Szymanski, co-author of the book Soccernomics, told USA TODAY Sports. “The reasons are all different.”

India, the biggest country on earth, has never truly prioritized soccer. While India got through a playoff against Nepal, it placed bottom of its first qualifying group for this World Cup behind Guam, population 162,000 and not even an official country.

Indonesia took part once, as the Dutch East Indies, back in 1938. It played one game, got hammered 6-0, and has been nowhere near since. In 2014, it lost all six games in its qualification group, conceding 26 goals in the process. It was likely spared further embarrassment this time by being suspended by FIFA for government interference in its soccer federation.

China has played once at the World Cup, back in 2002, losing all three games without even scoring a goal. This time it got a qualifying win over South Korea, but still finished fifth out of six teams in its Asian pool.

As for the United States, you know what happened there and we don’t need to talk about it. We do? Okay, well, needing only a tie against Trinidad and Tobago (population 1.3 million and having lost eight in a row), the Americans stumbled to defeat and missed out. Panama (population of 4.1 million) qualified from the CONCACAF region instead.“Not that soccer’s not played (in the U.S.), but it’s not an important activity,” Szymanski added. “It hasn’t been. The potential is there because it has a wealthy economy, but schools, colleges, people…have mainly been interested in other big sports rather than soccer. That may change in the future, but that’s been the way it has been.”All of the populous nations mentioned also occupy huge areas. Smaller geographic nations can benefit from elite players being able to collect in close proximity.The four semifinalists come from the 78th (Belgium), 128th (Croatia), 21st (France) and 22nd (England – though stated population is for the United Kingdom) most populated nations on the planet. Brazil (5th) is the most populous country at the World Cup and got bumped by Belgium in the quarters.“Our team are like brothers,” Icelandic soccer agent Magnus Magnusson said. “One of the disadvantages of being so small is obvious – you have less players. But the big advantage is these guys have played together since they were young.”Being an underdog can also foster spirit.

“We have big hearts and we fight for our people back home,” Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic said.In many countries soccer is not just the national sport, but the only one that truly has a serious following. In India, the same can be said instead for cricket – at the expense of all else. India did qualify for the World Cup once, in 1950. It promptly withdrew – for reasons that are still entirely unclear – and didn’t participate in the tournament. Indonesia finds things tough due to factors both economic and geographical. It is spread out over several islands, making it hard to pull together strong and cohesive national teams at all age group levels.Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Bangladesh all have more people than any of the semifinalists. None of them have ever played in a World Cup.The U.S. qualified for the seven World Cups before this one and is unlikely to miss out again in four years’ time. The Americans aside, China is the most viable high-population nation to do something about its soccer struggles. President Xi Jinping has taken up the soccer cause as a personal pet project, ordering that it be made part of the national school curriculum and encouraging major businesses to invest as a way of currying favor.After years of being a corrupt joke, the Chinese league has gotten serious by investing huge sums in signing elite international players. Xi’s blueprint is to qualify for a World Cup, host a World Cup and eventually, one day, win one.Given China’s economic clout and ability to rally behind a cause, at least two of those outcomes seem plausible.Yet ultimately, the impact population has on soccer success boils down to a simple reality. However many people might live in a country, only 11 of them can be on the field at any one time.Contributing: Jack White

RECAP | INDY ELEVEN CLAIM THREE POINTS AGAINST CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE, 2-1

By Trey Higdon, 07/08/18, 12:00AM EDT

“Indiana’s Team” ends third home match in seven-day span with a win

Indy Eleven close out their third home game in a seven day span with three points after downing a 10-man Charlotte Independence squad, 2-1. The “Boys in Blue” came back from a one goal deficit with strikes from forward Ben Speas and defender Carlyle Mitchell.“We had a lot of adversity in that game,” said Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie. “We had two players go off in the first fifteen minutes, we lost a goal and were down, but we managed to keep fighting and get the win. We showed a lot of character and confidence and we’re really happy with that.”The night started in favor of the visitors after “Indiana’s Team” was forced to make two early substitutions within the first 20 minutes of play. The first of the two subs occurred in the 10th minute when Indy forward Justin Braun hobbled out of play while tracking the ball into Charlotte’s 18-yard box. The speedy forward was immediately opted out of the game upon inspection from the team’s medical staff. The second occurred seven minutes later when forward Eugene Starikov came on in place of defender Kevin Venegas.Both sides had solid looks at goal in the first half, but neither side could find the back of the net.Charlotte’s first attempt came in the 15th minute. Independence midfielder Cordell Cato managed to settle a falling ball inside Indy’s keeper’s box. A slight nudge from Cato created an opportunity at goal for Charlotte forward and former Eleven frontman Eamon Zayed. The Irishman tried to catch Eleven goaltender Owain Fon Williams off his line but the the Wales international did well to deflect the strike up field.Charlotte managed to find their lead in the 50th minute. A pass from Charlotte defender Sam Vines found forward Jorge Herrera’s legs in the center of Indy’s 18-yard box. The 37-year-old’s right-footed strike from the top of the box split between Mitchell and defender Karl Ouimette and in goal near the right post. The goal placed Herrera as Charlotte’s leading goal scorer with nine goals in 2018.Charlotte’s lead lasted 12 minutes before Indy’s pressing resulted in a response from Speas. In the 62nd minute, Speas volleyed a shot past Charlotte goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra from a midair chain between defender Ayoze and Starikov. The goal marked Speas’ first of 2018 and his first since August 26, 2017 against former rivals Jacksonville Armada FC.The level scoreline turned into a lead for Indy in the 70th minute. A corner kick from Ayoze squared the pass to the top of the six-yard box where Mitchell headed the airborne ball into the upper left corner of the goal. The goal makes for Mitchell’s second of the season, nearly mirroring his first against Atlanta United 2 in Week 13.Charlotte made a last ditch effort to equalize in the 90th minute when Cato struck from the corner of the six-yard box. Fon Williams denied Cato’s shot with a sprawling save, securing three points for the home team.Right now we’ll enjoy this game. Then, we’ll start thinking about Wednesday’s game,” Rennie said. “There is a little break after that which will be well deserved and well-earned but before that break we have to make sure we do well in the next game against Charleston.”The “Boys in Blue” hit the road for the remainder of July. “Indiana’s Team” will return to Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, August 15 to take on North Carolina FC for Networking Night. Fans can get tickets by visiting IndyEleven.com/Tickets or by calling (317)685-1100.
USL Regular Season Indy Eleven 2:1 Charlotte Independence
Saturday, July 7, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana
Scoring Summary:

CLT – Jorge Herrera (Sam Vines) 50′

IND – Ben Speas (Eugene Starikov) 62′

IND – Carlyle Mitchell (Ayoze) 70′
Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2, L–>R): Owain Fôn Williams (GK); Ayoze, Carlyle Mitchell, Karl Ouimette, Kevin Venegas (Eugene Starikov 17′); Brad Ring (Juan Guerra 90′), Matt Watson (C), Nico Matern, Seth Moses, Soony Saad, Justin Braun (Ben Speas 10′)Indy Eleven bench: Lundgaard (GK); Brad Rusin,Tyler Pasher, Ben Speas, Juan Guerra, Eugene Starikov, Jack McInerney

Charlotte Independence lineup (4-3-3, L–>R): Andrew Dykstra (GK); Bilal Duckett, Lee Jung-Soo (Greg Jordan 73′), Joel Johnson, Sam Vines (Mutaya Mwape 86′); Kay Voser (Jake Areman 82′), Kevan George, Cordell Cato, Alex Martinez; Eamon Zayed, Jorge HerreraCharlotte Independence bench: Brandon Miller (GK); Jake Areman, Greg Jordan, Mutaya Mwape, Ricardo Perez

Buffon: Champions League not an obsession for me or PSG

Associated Press•July 9, 2018

PARIS (AP) — Despite it being the only trophy missing from a glittering collection, veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says the Champions League is not “an obsession” for him after joining Paris Saint-Germain.The 40-year-old Buffon completed his free-agent move last week after 17 years with Juventus, during which he became established as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.Buffon won his ninth Serie A title this season, leading the Bianconeri to a fourth successive league and cup double.He also won the World Cup with Italy in 2006 and the UEFA Cup with Parma in 1999, but has never lifted the Champions League, losing three finals with Juventus.”I don’t think it’s an obsession for me and neither for Paris Saint Germain,” said Buffon at his first PSG press conference on Monday. “I accepted this offer because I think there are the conditions here for me to grow as a player and a person.”I think I can also help PSG to grow a bit on the pitch and then we can aim for even more important goals. But when the season begins you can’t think of enveloping all this in the aim for the Champions League because that would be complete craziness and we’re not crazy here.”French champion PSG has spent more than 1 billion euros ($1.175 billion) on players since Qatar Sports Investments took over in 2011 with the aim of turning it into a world-class team.The club has so far failed to transfer its domestic dominance onto the international stage. It was eliminated from the Champions League at the round of 16 this season, having reached the quarterfinals the previous four years.Buffon will miss PSG’s first three matches in the 2018-19 Champions League, after being suspended for his red card in this season’s quarterfinal defeat against Real Madrid and for comments about the referee.Buffon, who made 656 appearances for Juve, was expected to retire at the end of the season and had said he was “planning a different future” until PSG made contact in May.He has penned a one-year deal, with the option for an additional season, and has no idea when he will hang up his boots.”I’ve stopped making these calculations because when I was 30 I thought I had two or three more years, then when I got to 34 I thought I had one or two years maximum, then I got to 37, 38 and now I’m 40,” said Buffon.”Until this year I played in the national team too and when someone plays in the national team it means they’re at the top level. I don’t want to ask myself this question again because I think it’s wrong and I think it creates a negative situation for myself that I don’t need.”Buffon, former captain of Juve and Italy, retired from the international stage in November after the Azzurri lost a World Cup playoff to Sweden, although he returned for a couple of friendlies.He made 176 appearances for Italy — a European record — and was voted Serie A’s goalkeeper of the year 12 times.Buffon has never played for a club outside Italy. He even stayed with Juve when it was demoted to the second division in 2006 following the Calciopoli refereeing scandal, which also saw the Bianconeri stripped of two Serie A titles.

Indiana Soccer League Discounted Offer for Chicago Fire Games
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club would like to invite all families and members involved with ISL out for a Chicago Fire MLS match this Summer and Fall.
On-field experiences for children age 5-17 before every match! This offer includes discounted group ticket pricing for anyone interested.
Please email Stew with the Chicago Fire – Sgreen@chicago-fire.com – for more information about on-field experiences for kids for specific game days, or any other questions!
Wed, July 11 at 7:30 pm vs Philly Union

Saturday, July 21st at 6:00pm vs Toronto FC
Sunday, September 16th at 4:00pm vs Orlando City SC

ATP_Gen_350x250

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

Proud Member of Indy’s Brick Yard Battalion – http://www.brickyardbattalion.com – CLICK HERE FOR BYBTIX

Sam’s Army- http://www.sams-army.com , American Outlaws http://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite

7/5/18 World Cup Round of 8 – TV Game Schedule, Indy 11 unbeaten streak end at 5 games-discount tix for Sat 7 pm game

July 5, 2018July 6, 2018 gatorbest

So we are down to the Round of 8 the Quarterfinal of the World Cup and wow!! 3 Games go to Shootouts and England actually wins a shootout? Imagine that. Russia who many considered to be one of the weakest host countries ever – is alive and looking strong off their shootout win over Spain. The most compelling games in Quarterfinals are Brazil vs Belgium in a showdown between Top 3 ranked teams, and England vs Sweden. Interesting that Fox is taking the Quarterfinals to Fox Sports 1 on Friday they do return to Fox on Saturday however. I like France to squeeze by Uruguay and Belgium to upset Brazil Friday, while Saturday England will survive Sweden and Croatia should beat Russia. Goalies I have a solid group of Saves from the World Cup – check out to see them all – http://theoleballcoach.com. Oh and I love the practicing the Neymar Video. (thanks Tom!) Check out this KFC Ad in South Africa.

Fri, July 6

10 am Fox Sport1 Uruguay vs France (WC Round of 8)

2 pm Fox Sport1 Belgium vs Brazil (WC Round of 8)

Sat, July 7

10 am Fox Sweden vs England (WC Round of 8)

2 pm Fox Russia vs Croatia (WC Round of 8)

INDY 11

Indy falls to Ottawa 0-1 in heartbreaker as its 5 game unbeaten streak is broken Wed night at Lucas Oil. The 11 face Charlotte Sat at home at 7 pm. Of course discount tickets below $15 are available Click here for Discount Tickets for the Game and enter 2018 INDY as the promo code. The Sat Night game on July 7^th will be Indiana Youth Soccer Night, as all teams across the state are invited to participate in a post-game photo on the field. Reach out to Youth Club Coordinator Shawn Burcham at shawn@indyeleven.com. So I hope to be there again Sat night – hoping for a little AC – this time as the game we attended on the 30^th was mighty hot. That being said – folks if you haven’t been to an Indy 11 game since the move to Lucas Oil – you gotta get out and see a game. Lucas Oil is fantastic – the food, the bathrooms, heck the stadium is truly spectacular and the viewing experience is solid – we just need to get more fans into the games. I can’t imagine just how awesome it would be with 25,000 fans on hand like Cincy does.

MLS

Here’s the MLS rankings as we ready for some Saturday games including LAFC at Orlando City on FS1 before the big Hudsen River Showdown between the New York Red Bulls and NYCFC Sunday at 7 pm on Fox Sports 1. Interesting news that the LA Galaxy are hoping to sign US and Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron soon – also will we see DC United’s Rooney this weekend? Oh and Don’t believe the Pulisic to Tottenham rumors coming out today!

cfcJuly4 — Carmel FC players take part in July 4th Celebration at Carmel Fest !

World Cup

Fox Sets Streaming Record During the World Cup on Monday’s Brazil vs Mexico Game

US World Cup Ratings Down 42 Percent without American Team –NBC

Belgium Must Bench a Star to Beat Brazil in the Quarters – yahoo

Comparing the Quaterfinalist

WC Final 8 – Matchups and Predictions Yahoosports

England Finally Breaks the Curse

GK Pickford Saves England in Foul Infested win over Colombia

Maradona Takes Aim at US Ref Gieger as he Claims Colombia were Robbed by Ref

Key #s in England Shootout Win

Ogden: England through after finally winning a penalty shootout
ESPN FC TV: England break their penalty curse
Project Russia: Is football coming home to England?
Marcotti: Sweden move on by doing things the “Janne Way”
Vickery: Neymar a selfish brat or misunderstood genius?
Ames: Neymar delivered the good and bad as Brazil cruised past Mexico
Miller: Belgium’s dramatic win over Japan could spell trouble for Brazil
Postcard from Russia: A different kind of sporting experience in Moscow
ESPN FC TV: What’s the deal with Neymar?
Wayne Rooney talks to ESPN: England must play with freedom

Borden: Russia defy expectations vs. Spain as fairy-tale run continues
Hornby: England to bring the World Cup home?
Marcotti: Modric vanquishes ghosts of penalties past
Laurens: France in dreamland after unforgettable World Cup win
Vickery: Argentina at a crossroads after World Cup demise
Dana: Sampaoli’s Argentina tenure spluttering to an inevitable conclusion

Ogden: Ronaldo’s ambition means he could play at Qatar 2022
Marcotti: Should Messi’s failure to win a World Cup affect his GOAT claim?
Ames: Mbappe announces himself with Ronaldo-like performance
In pictures: Maradona watches as Argentina crash out
Ogden: Cavani outshines Ronaldo but injury could dampen Uruguay’s long-term hopes Japan leaves Locker Room Spotless after World Cup Loss

US

US Has Regret for the Past and Hope for the Future – Noah Davis – ESPNFC

Don’t Believe the Pulisic to Tottenham rumors coming out today! – Stars and Stripes

Indy 11

Indy 11 Fall to Ottowa

Indy 11 Ayoze Named USL Team of the Week

Indy 11 Tie 1 to 1

Indy 11 – kiss their Sister with A Tie – BloodyShambles.com

Indy 11 Discount Tickets for Saturday’s Game! (Code 2018Indy)

Soccer Saturday – Radio Show 9-10 am on 1070 the Fan

MLS

Questions That will Define Each MLS Team in 2^nd half of 2018 ESPNFC

5 Years In What is Duece – Clint Dempsey’s MLS Legacy?

MLS Power Rankings

Goalies

Best Saves – Round 3 World Cup

Best 50 Saves of the World Cup so Far

Best Saves Round 1 World Cup

Best Saves Round 2 World Cup –

Carmel High Girls Middle School Soccer Camp Ages middle schoolers – July 16, 17, 18, 19 at Murray 3-5 pm $85

SUMMER CAMPS

CDC Carmel FC Camp – Shelborne Field July 23^rd – 26^th – Click here to Register

Carmel High Boys Soccer Skills Camp Ages 8-14 July 16-19 at Murray 8:30-10:30 am $85

Carmel High Boys Soccer Tactical Camp Ages 8-14 July 16-19 at Murray 11 am till 1 pm $85

World Cup on Fox TV Schedule

GAMES ON TV This Week

Weds, July 4

7 pm ESPN+, TV23 Indy 11 vs Ottawa Fury

Fri, July 6

10 am Fox Sport1 Uraguay vs France (WC Round of 8)

2 pm Fox Sport1 Belgium vs Brazil (WC Round of 8)

Sat, July 7

10 am Fox Sweden vs England (WC Round of 8)

2 pm Fox Russia vs Croatia (WC Round of 8)

4:30 pm FS1 LAFC vs Orlando City

7pm Fox Sport South Philly Union vs Atlanta United

7 pm ESPN+, TV23 Indy 11 vs Charlotte

7:30 pm ESPN News Orlando Pride vs Washington Spirit (NWSL)

10:30 ESPN+ Vancouver vs Chicago Fire

Sun, July 8

7 pm FS1 NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls –(Hudson River Darby)

Tues, July 10

2 pm Fox World Cup Semi’s

Weds, July 11

2 pm Fox World Cup Semi’s

7 pm ESPN+/Utube Charleston vs Indy 11

8:30 pm ESPN+ Chicago vs Philly Union

Sat, July 14

10 am Fox World Cup 3^rd Place Game

7 pm Yes NYCFC vs Columbus Crew

7 pm ESPNNews Utah Royals vs Orlando Pride (NWSL)

8 pm ESPN+ Dallas (Matt Hedges) vs Chicago Fire

Sun, July 15

11 am Fox World Cup Final

2 pm FOX Atlanta vs Seattle

6 pm ESPN LAFC vs Portland

Wed, July 18 – US Open Cup

8:30 pm ??? Chicago Fire vs Louisville City FC

Fri, July 20 ICC – International Champions Cup Starts

9 pm ESPN2 Sevilla vs Benfica

9 pm ESPN2 Man City vs Borussia Dortmund (Pulisic)

Sun, July 22 ICC – International Champions Cup

4 pm ESPN Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund (Pulisic)

Wed, July 25 ICC – International Champions Cup

7 pm ESPNU Juventus vs Bayern Munich

8 pm ESPN+ Borussia Dortmund (Pulisic) vs Benfica

8 pm ESPN 2 Man City vs Liverpool

10 pm ESPN 2 Roma vs Tottenham

11 pm ESPN Milan vs Man United

Thur, July 26

8 pm ESPN Orlando City vs NYCFC

10:30 pm ESPN LAFC vs LA Galaxy (we should be at the game !)

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

Indiana Youth Soccer Night Post-Game Photo On The Field

In celebration of Indy Eleven’s official Indiana Youth Soccer Night all youth soccer teams across the state are invited to participate in a post-game photo on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium at the completion of our game. All participants need a game ticket and all teams must register to be eligible for the post-game photo. To register, please sign up here. The deadline to register is Thursday, July 5th. Only one (1) member from each team is required to register for the entire team. For questions, please contact Youth Club Coordinator, Shawn Burcham, at 317-685-1100 or shawn@indyeleven.com.

INDY FALLS IN INDEPENDENCE DAY CLASH TO OTTAWA FURY FC, 0-1

By Trey Higdon, 07/04/18, 11:15PM EDT

“Indiana’s Team’s” undefeated streak halts at five

Indy Eleven’s undefeated streak is halted at five after falling to Ottawa Fury FC, 0-1. A critical error saw Ottawa pick up its fourth win on the season.“We had a lot of chances, a lot of possession, a lot of balls in the box, but we couldn’t manage to score,” said Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie. “Unfortunately, that’s the way soccer goes some time. You don’t always get what you deserve, but credit to Ottawa. They came in and got what they wanted out of the game and we have to improve.”It was an aggressive start to the evening after three yellow cards were issued between both teams within the first 30 minutes; Two to Ottawa and one to Indy. Fury forward Chris Haworth was issued the first caution after a hard challenge on defender Ayoze saw the Spaniard tumble out of bounds. The second was issued to Ottawa forward Adonijah Reid and third to Eleven midfielder Juan Guerra for bad fouls.The “Boys in Blue” found their first opportunity in the 17th minute with a strike outside the six-yard box from Ayoze. The angled shot flew towards center net, but Fury goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was far enough off his line for a close-quarters deflection away from goal.Aside from a close run at goal from Indy, the visitors found the lead 11 minutes later. In the 28th minute, Ottawa midfielder Kevin Oliveira stepped up to a free kick from outside the 18-yard box. The ball flew high towards the far post before taking a poor deflection off the outside of defender Carlyle Mitchell’s left boot and into the net for an own goal.Indy forward Jack McInerney came looking for another equalizer to match his previous from last Saturday against Penn FC. Ayoze fed a direct line near the left edge of the pitch in towards forward Eugene Starikov. The ball popped up off the head of Fury defender Thomas Meilleur, followed by Eleven midfielder Matt Watson before McInerney found space for a bicycle kick. McInerney’s foot made solid contact outside the six-yard box towards goal, but Crepeau quickly threw his hands down or a last-second save.Ottawa nearly doubled their lead in the 66th minute after a header from Fury forward Tony Taylor that ended wide right. The shot was setup by Oliveira.Two crosses from returning midfielder Tyler Pasher almost found their marks in the final minutes of second half stoppage time, but a strong defensive effort from Ottawa’s backline nullified “Indiana’s Team’s” attack.It was ‘one of those nights’ for Coach Rennie and his squad. Though Indy didn’t manage to collect any points, the Circle City squad is on the cusp of finding its ideal pace.“I think that obviously we’re right on the balance of what we want to do and being not quite where we want to be,” said Rennie. “I think the last two games are examples of that. It’s like we go to Nashville and get a great victory and we come back and in two games we pick up one point. So that to me is the balance of how close we are to being exactly where we want to be and exactly how close we are to not being where we want to be.”The “Boys in Blue” return home for the final of a three home game week this Saturday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m., to take on the Charlotte Independence for the second time in 2018. Fans can get tickets to weekend clash by visiting IndyEleven.com/Tickets or by calling (317)685-1100.
USL Regular Season Indy Eleven 0:1 Ottawa Fury FC
Wednesday, July 4, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana
Scoring Summary:

OTT – Carlyle Mitchell (IND OG) 28′

Discipline Summary:

OTT – Carl Haworth (Yellow) 9′

OTT – Adonijah Reid (Yellow) 20′

IND – Juan Guerra (Yellow) 26′

OTT – Eddie Edward (Yellow) 69′

OTT – Onua Obasi (Yellow)79′

Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2, L–>R): Owain Fôn Williams (GK); Ayoze, Carlyle Mitchell, Brad Rusin, Kevin Venegas; Nico Matern, Matt Watson (C) (Soony Saad 59′),Juan Guerra, Jack McInerney; Eugene Starikov (Tyler Pasher 73′), Ben Speas (Justin Braun 73′)Indy Eleven bench: Jordan Farr (GK); Brad Ring, Seth Moses, Tyler Pasher, Zach Steinberger, Soony Saad, Justin Braun

Ottawa Fury FC lineup (4-3-3, L–>R): Maxime Crepeau (GK); Eddie Edward, Colin Falvey, Thomas Meilleur, Onua Obasi (Sergio Mansio 90+1′); Chris Mannella, Jamal Dixon, Kevin Oliveira; Carl Haworth (C ) (Jimmy Sanon 68′), Adonijah Reid (Kyle Porter 70′), Tony TaylorOttawa Fury Fc bench bench: David Monsalve (GK); Sergio Manesio, Kyle Porter, Christian Portilla, Nana Attakora, Jimmy Sanon, Gaberial Balbinotti

INDY ELEVEN REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN 1-1 DRAW AGAINST PENN FC

By Trey Higdon, 06/30/18, 11:45PM EDT A late equalizer from forward Jack McInerney earns Indy a level result

Indy Eleven make a comeback in the final minutes of the night to end level against Penn FC, 1-1. A goal in the 80th minute from forward Jack McInerney sees the “Boys in Blue” extend their undefeated streak to five matches.Much of the action in the first half was found in the midfield as both sides traded possession. Both teams were able to make deep runs into each other’s 18-yard boxes that resulted in easy clearances or pickups by both Indy Eleven goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams or Penn FC man between the posts, Romuald Peiser.Indy came close to securing a first-half lead in the 27th minute. Eleven forward Justin Braun was on the receiving end of a passing play between midfielders Seth Moses and Matt Watson deep in Penn FC’s defensive half. Braun jolted into the right edge of Penn’s 18-yard box, followed by a quick pass inward. McInerney maneuvered quickly around Penn defender Kyle Venter to meet the ball with with a falling shot, but both players made contact with the ball to force it over the crossbar.Chippy play saw several players issued yellow card throughout the evening, which included Indy Eleven’s Watson, substitute defender Brad Rusin and Penn FC midfielder Dan Metzger. Additionally, Eleven defender Karl Ouimette accumulated two yellow cards, which saw the Canadian international exit the match with a red card in the 76th minute.Ouimette’s first yellow card in the 50th minute saw Penn awarded a controversial penalty kick. Ouimette and Penn forward Aaron Dennis locked legs near the top of Indy’s 18-yard box. As both fell forward into the box, the match official blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. In the 51st minute, Penn forward Lucky Mkosana stepped up and buried his shot into the upper right corner of the goal as Fon Williams dove to the left.As the match edged into the final 10 minutes playing down a man, Indy found the equalizer that salvaged a point. In the 79h minute, “Indiana’s Team” was awarded a free kick nearly 30 yards from Penn’s goal. McInerney took a right-footed shot, which sent the dead ball arching over Penn’s defensive wall and into the lower left edge of the goal, just out of Peiser’s reach. McInerney’s goal brings Indy Eleven’s total for the season to 20.Although Indy Eleven didn’t walk away with three points, Indy Eleven head coach Martin Rennie remains positive about remaining undefeated.“We didn’t give up hardly any chances so I think we did that well,” said Rennie. “Obviously we scored a good goal and had a couple chances to score another but there’s always room for improvement. I think it’s positive for us to stay on an unbeaten run now for five games and look forward to the next one.”
USL Regular Season Indy Eleven 1:1 Penn FC
Saturday, June 30, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana
Scoring Summary:

PEN – Lucky Mkosana (PK) 51′

IND – Jack McInerney 80′

Indy Eleven lineup (4-4-2, L–>R): Owain Fôn Williams (GK); Ayoze, Carlyle Mitchell, Karl Ouimette, Kevin Venegas; Nico Matern (Brad Rusin 81′), Matt Watson (C), Juan Guerra, Seth Moses (Eugene Starikov 58′); Jack McInerney, Justin Braun (Ben Speas 63′)Indy Eleven bench: Jordan Farr (GK); Brad Ring, Brad Rusin, Ben Speas, Eugene Starikov, Zach Steinberger, Nathan Lewis

Penn FC lineup (4-4-2, L–>R): Romuald Peiser (GK); Marco Franco, Kyle Venter, Ken Tribbett (C),Pedro Galvao; Richard Menjivar, Dan Metzger (Saalih Muhammad 79′), Paulo Junior (Issac Osae 55′), Fredrick Opoku; Lucky Mkosana, Aaron Dennis (Prince Baffoe 83′) Penn FC bench bench: Sean Lewis (GK); Harri Hawkins, Jake Bond, Saalih Muhammad, Calvin Rezende, Prince Baffoe, Issac Osae

Fox set a streaming record during the World Cup on Monday

Fox Sports has done a lot of work to deliver live streaming coverage of the

Fox Sports has done a lot of work to deliver live streaming coverage of the World Cup in Russia, but it seems to be paying off. The network announced that the Brazil-Mexico match was its top authenticated streaming event ever with 1.4 million unique visitors, and that Monday was its best all-time streaming day with 2 million viewers. That trumps its previous all-time high of 1.8 million unique visitors set just a week ago on June 27th.On regular TV, 4,181,000 Fox viewers, peaking at 5,373,000, saw Mexico play Brazil, according to Nielsen — numbers that are pretty great for not-exactly-soccer-mad America (though half of what Telemundo did). Soccer also drove more than half (55 percent) of Fox’s 632 million streaming views for all sports in June. That means, despite a lot of hand-wringing when the US was eliminated from World Cup qualifying, the $200 Fox spent to get the 2018 World Cup rights now seems like a wise bet.

US World Cup Ratings Down 42 Percent Without American Team

The 48 group stage broadcasts on Fox and FS1 averaged 2,069,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media ResearchPublished at 12:22 PM EDT on Jul 4, 2018

In games involving the U.S. team in previous World Cups, the average declined 28 percent from the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Ratings include only television viewers and not those who viewed digital streams.Most group-stage kickoff times this year were morning EDT, starting as early as 6 a.m.

The lack of a U.S. team caused a big viewership drop for World Cup telecasts.

The 48 group stage broadcasts on Fox and FS1 averaged 2,069,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. That is down 42 percent from the 3.54 million average on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC four years ago and down 15 percent from the 2,429,000 average on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC eight years ago.

Excluding games involving the U.S. team in previous World Cups, the average declined 28 percent from the 2014 tournament in Brazil and was up 1 percent from the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Most group-stage kickoff times this year were morning EDT, starting as early as 6 a.m., and the latest matches began at 2 p.m. Games in 2014 started mostly from noon to 4 p.m. EDT, while in 2010 games there were many matches at 10 a.m. and some as early as 7:30 a.m. nste Together After Stunning Upset Over Germany

Twenty-six group-stage matches were aired on Fox, up from six on ABC in 2014 and four on ABC in 2010.Ratings include only television viewers and not those who viewed digital streams.Spanish-language coverage for Telemundo and Universo, both part of Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal Inc., averaged 1.96 million viewers, including digital streaming. That was down 26 percent from the 2.64 million average on Univision and Unimas four years ago and up 7 percent from the 1.84 million average for Univision’s networks in 2010.

World Cup quarterfinals: What to watch and predictions for each matchup

After three weeks and 56 matches, the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup are set. A tournament that began with 32 teams is now down to just eight. Defending champion Germany is out, along with perennial favorites Argentina and Spain. Of the eight sides remaining in Russia, only two were among the pre-tournament favorites and several have already exceeded expectations to make it this far. Here’s what to watch for in the upcoming quarterfinals, when to watch, and our predictions for who makes it through to the semis.

Uruguay vs. France – Friday, July 6, 10:00 a.m. EST

In Friday’s first quarterfinal matchup, two of the three remaining sides in the tournament to have previously lifted the World Cup face off against each other. Unlike Uruguay, France came into this tournament among the favorites. After a slow start that saw Les Bleus labor to victories over Australia and Peru, and play out a boring stalemate with Denmark, Didier Deschamps’ team finally caught fire in a seven-goal Round of 16 thriller that saw it knock Lionel Messi’s Argentina out of the World Cup.Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe was the star of that show, bursting down the field with belief-defying speed to win the penalty that opened the scoring and netting two second-half goals to effectively end Messi’s hopes of ever winning a World Cup. With the likes of Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Blaise Matuidi and Olivier Giroud, France boast one of the most formidable attacks left in Russia.But if France is an unstoppable force, Uruguay might be the closest thing to an immovable object we’ve seen in this World Cup. The South American nation, which last won the World Cup in 1950, has a lockdown defense anchored by the Atletico Madrid centerback pairing of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez. In four matches at the World Cup, Uruguay has given up just one goal. With Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani spearheading the attack, it also boasts what could be the deadliest strike partnership in the tournament.The worry for Uruguay is whether Cavani will be able to recover from the injury that saw him limp off against Portugal. Even if Cavani is fit, this France team has quality in every area of the pitch and seems to be hitting its stride at just the right time.

Prediction: France over Uruguay, 2-1

Brazil vs. Belgium – Friday, July 6, 2:00 p.m. EST

After not entirely convincing in the group stage, Brazil looked comfortable in the Round of 16 as it brushed aside the same Mexico side that opened its tournament by beating Germany. Having seen the team largely being carried by Philippe Coutinho in the early going, the match against Mexico gave us a glimpse of what a fully fit and motivated Neymar is capable of. With players like Coutinho, Neymar, Willian and Gabriel Jesus, Brazil’s attack is second to none. But its defense is equally formidable, with just one goal given up so far at this World Cup.But Belgium has been almost as impressive, coming through the group stage unscathed and fighting back from two goals down to win its knockout tie with Japan. Striker Romelu Lukaku is two goals behind England’s Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot and the 12 goals Belgium has scored have come from seven different players.The concern for Belgium is that we’ve seen it leak goals against far lesser teams than Brazil. Fighting your way back from two down to Japan is one thing, doing it against Brazil is entirely different. If Brazil scores first, Belgium could find itself exposed as it presses for an equalizer. Belgium is also a team that enjoys possession, and as we saw against Mexico, this is a Brazil team that looks very comfortable letting the opposition possess, soaking up pressure and then choosing its moment to strike.

Prediction: Brazil over Belgium, 3-2

Sweden vs. England – Saturday, July 7, 10:00 a.m. EST

If there is a team in this World Cup that’s passed every test it’s been faced with, it’s Sweden. Playing in its first major tournament since the international retirement of talisman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden came through a difficult qualifying campaign and topped its group convincingly. The Swedes may not be spectacular to watch, but coach Janne Andersson’s players have bought into his gameplan and stuck to it. Despite benefiting from a lucky deflection in getting past an arguably superior Switzerland team, Sweden is here in the quarterfinals and has no reason to fear anyone, least of all England.That’s not to take anything away from Gareth Southgate’s likable team, which has made a good account of itself in this tournament, perhaps without being entirely convincing. Yes, England made easy work of lowly Panama, but it struggled to beat Tunisia, lost to Belgium’s reserves and required penalties to get past a Colombia team sans James Rodriguez. Although the fact that it did emerge from the shootout victorious could put wind in the sails of an England team that’s not short on talent but historically suffers from fragile confidence. The England we know gets easily rattled, this Sweden team seemingly does not. If things don’t go their way early on, it could be tough going for Southgate’s team of Premier League stars. Unless this truly is the “new England” team we’ve been assured it is.

Prediction: Sweden over England, 1-0

Russia vs. Croatia – Saturday, July 7, 2:00 p.m. EST

These are two teams no one really expected to still be around at this stage of the tournament, Russia in particular. But having already exceeded expectations by getting out of its group and knocking Spain out in the Round of 16, the host nation can play with a certain freedom, and perhaps a certain confidence. But just how far that confidence will get Russia against the team with the best midfield in the World Cup remains to be seen.Luka Modric has been an absolute orchestra conductor at the center of the park for Croatia. His tandem with Ivan Rakitic was instrumental in the 3-0 destruction of Argentina in the group stage. Disregarding Russia having squeaked past a Spain team that was clearly not itself on penalties, the one time we saw Russia go up against a truly quality team in this World Cup was when it got swept aside with relative ease by Uruguay in the group stage. Croatia, like Russia, may have required penalties to reach this stage, but the quality of Modric, Rakitic, and Co. should be too much for a Russian side that’s overly dependent on athleticism and has essentially ridden its luck so far.

Prediction: Croatia over Russia, 3-0

How do the World Cup quarter-finalists compare?

Kieran CANNINGAFPJul 3, 2018, 6:48 PMSaint Petersburg (AFP) – Just eight teams remain from the 32 who started the World Cup in Russia.AFP Sport looks how each side are placed ahead of the quarter-finals on Friday and Saturday.

Uruguay v France (Friday 1400 GMT, Nizhny Novgorod)

Uruguay

One of only two teams to win all four games so far, Uruguay boast one of the meanest defences in Russia marshalled by talismanic captain Diego Godin, and a lethal strikeforce in Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez.Cavani’s fitness is the big concern ahead of Friday’s meeting. The Paris Saint-Germain striker limped off with a calf injury after scoring twice to end Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal’s World Cup dreams in the last 16.

France

After cruising through the group stage in underwhelming fashion, France kicked through the gears thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s blistering pace to blow Argentina away in a 4-3 World Cup classic in the last 16.A very different task awaits in breaking through Uruguay’s brick wall of a defence that will not allow Mbappe the same space to exploit. But as legs start to tire in the latter stages, France’s strength in depth could start to make the difference.

Brazil v Belgium (Friday 1800 GMT, Kazan)

Brazil

Along with Uruguay, Brazil share the best defensive record, having conceded just once in four games so far and are slowly starting to hit their stride at the other end of the field too as Neymar struck his second goal of the tournament in the last 16.After a disappointing 1-1 draw against Switzerland, 2-0 wins over Costa Rica, Serbia and Mexico have taken Brazil into a seventh straight quarter-final and they remain the favourites to erase the scars of a humiliating 7-1 semi-final thrashing at the hands of Germany four years ago.

Belgium

Belgium will be the true test of how good the Brazilian back line is in Kazan on Friday, but coach Roberto Martinez has some big decisions to make after a stunning comeback from 2-0 down in the final 21 minutes avoided a shock exit to Japan in the last 16.Japan picked the holes in Martinez’s attack-minded 3-4-2-1 system and the Red Devils had to rely on their superior physical power in the latter stages with Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini heading home before Nacer Chadli completing the comeback at the end of a stunning counter-attack.Martinez must now find the right balance to harness the best from Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku without leaving Belgium exposed.

Sweden v England (Saturday 1400 GMT, Samara)

Sweden

They are not the prettiest side, but Sweden are extremely effective and happy to play the role of underdog, having seen off the Netherlands and Italy in qualifying and Germany in the group stages.Their run to the last eight for the first time since 1994 has been built on three clean sheets in four games, but while hard to break down, they lack a potent force up front.

England

Freed from the curse of the penalty shootout after they beat Colombia from the spot, England will be favourites to reach a first World Cup semi-final since 1990.For 92 minutes in Moscow, the Three Lions kept their cool as Colombia lost theirs and played with a patience in possession rarely seen by England sides in recent years.Yerry Mina’s stoppage-time header threatened to change all that, but a first World Cup win on penalties in four attempts gives Gareth Southgate’s men reason to believe this time really will be different.

Russia v Croatia (Saturday 1800 GMT, Sochi)

Russia

The hosts have delighted their public by surpassing all expectations to make it to the last eight thanks to a stunning penalty shootout elimination of 2010 winners Spain.Russian players were on their knees in exhaustion after defending for 120 minutes in Moscow with just 26 percent possession and they must now summon another huge physical effort, with Croatia expected to dominate the ball once more.

Croatia

Arguably the outstanding performers of the group stage, Croatia were made to suffer to make it past Denmark on penalties.Luck often has not accompanied Croatia in the knockout stages after bright tournament starts, but having bounced back from the blow of Luka Modric’s missed penalty four minutes before the end of extra-time in the last 16, the time for a highly talented generation may have come.

Jordan Pickford saves England, John Stones impresses, Dele Alli struggles

5:27 PM ET -= Liam TwomeyChelsea Correspondent

Jordan Pickford was the hero as England overcame Colombia in a dramatic penalty shootout in Moscow to earn their first victory in a knockout match for 12 years and book their place in the World Cup quarterfinals.Harry Kane’s second-half penalty opened the scoring in the 57th minute after he was hauled down by Carlos Sanchez at a corner kick, but Yerry Mina’s towering header in injury time sent the match all the way to penalties.Jordan Henderson missed for England, but Mateus Uribe struck the crossbar before Pickford saved from Carlos Bacca, giving Dier the chance to send England their first tournament shootout triumph since Euro 96.

Positives

This team proved it can emerge victorious — eventually — in the heated cauldron of knockout football, after what was as much a test of emotional control as technical quality. Colombia tried to turn this game into a petulant scrap and then threatened to break England hearts, but they gathered themselves and managed to banish a torrid history of shootout misery.

Negatives

Much of England’s best moves from open play come to nothing — David Ospina was tested almost as rarely as Pickford — and they will need more than set pieces to get past Sweden. They also wilted badly, if understandably, in the wake of Mina’s goal.

Manager rating out of 10

7 — Southgate’s game plan was borne out by 92 minutes of control and undone by one set piece. His players’ resistance to Colombian provocation also spoke well of their manager, but England still do not create enough. But Dier and Marcus Rashford, two of his substitutes, were key to a shootout victory for which he promised his team were ready.

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

GK Jordan Pickford, 8 — So well protected by his back three for most of the night that his workload consisted of long-range shots from Juan Quintero. He made a brilliant late save to keep out Uribe’s long-range screamer, but could do nothing to deny Mina’s towering header. Made himself a hero in the shootout.

DF Kieran Trippier, 7 — Less of a factor going forward than in the group games, but his brilliant set-piece deliveries again represented his team’s biggest attacking threat and led to Kane’s penalty. Just too short to stop Mina’s header going in off the crossbar, but scored a fantastic penalty.

DF Kyle Walker, 6 — Generally more solid with his positioning and decision making than previously in this tournament, but was very fortunate not to bring about a Colombia equaliser when he gifted the ball to Bacca in his own half, only for Juan Cuadrado to bail him out by blazing over.

DF John Stones, 8 — Produced one of the most convincing performances of his career at the heart of the England defence, snuffing out danger early and winning the majority of his duels in the air and on the floor. Also resisted the wilder impulses in possession that have led people to doubt him.

DF Harry Maguire, 8 — Excellent in possession and calm with his decisions even when pressed. Did more than his bit to keep Radamel Falcao and later Bacca in check and was also a big threat to Colombia from attacking set pieces. Needs to work on his diving, though.

DF Ashley Young, 6 — Never gave an inch to Cuadrado and picked the right moments to dash forward into crossing positions, though none of his forays yielded significant chances. Was perhaps lucky not to be sent off when his studs caught Wilmar Barrios on the ankle in extra time.

MF Jordan Henderson, 6 — Passed reliably when he got the ball, but Colombia largely took him out of the game. His attempts at more ambitious distribution often went astray. Allowed himself to be drawn into a running battle with Barrios, with both fortunate to avoid red cards. Also telegraphed his penalty, which Ospina saved.

MF Jesse Lingard, 6 — A willing and intelligent runner as ever, but made all the wrong decisions on the ball and his touch failed him at key moments. Made up for a bad attacking night somewhat by relentlessly tracking back to help his defence.

MF Dele Alli, 5 — Protected against Belgium with this game in mind, but still doesn’t look right. He was a step slower than everyone else on the pitch and his passing was disappointingly sloppy. Replaced by Dier on 81 minutes as part of Southgate’s vain attempt to see the game out.

FW Raheem Sterling, 6 — Consistently made himself available to receive the ball and protected it under serious physical pressure. Also kept his head in the face of relentless provocation from Colombian players and staff. It was not his night in terms of end product, though, and he was rarely on the same wavelength as Lingard.

FW Harry Kane, 7 — The coolest head on the pitch, nervelessly winning and converting his penalty after a monumental delay. Provided a good focal point, but it is hard not to conclude that his tendency to drop deep to aid England’s possession game contributed to their toothlessness from open play. But did anyone ever doubt he would score in the shootout?

Substitutes

MF Eric Dier, 6 — Brought on for Alli with 10 minutes left to shore up the midfield alongside Henderson but offered little. Repeatedly gave the ball away, was slow in the tackle and missed a clear header from an excellent Trippier corner in extra time… only to redeem himself with the winning penalty.

FW Jamie Vardy, 6 — Brought on for Sterling with two minutes of the 90 minutes to go, he didn’t get much opportunity to make an impact beyond one volley straight at Ospina from an offside position.

DF Danny Rose 6 — Occasionally drifted too far upfield to be a realistic outlet for the back three as Colombia pressed, but his fresh legs were dangerous going forward and one low shot from a tight angle went just wide.

FW Marcus Rashford, 6 — Brought on in extra time to take a penalty, he dispatched his brilliantly.

England penalties: 11/11 in open play, 11/19 in shootouts

Jul 3, 2018Debayan SenSenior Assistant Editor

England are in the World Cup quarterfinals, and they did it – believe it or not – by winning a penalty shootout. ESPN brings you all the key numbers.

1

England won a penalty shootout at the World Cup for the first time in their history, on their fourth attempt. Interestingly, they have converted all of their 11 penalties in regular play, the most in World Cup history by a team that has never missed. Their 100 percent accuracy in open play drops to a little over 50 percent in shootouts, where they have converted just 11 of their 19 kicks.

6

Harry Kane has gone up to second among all scorers at World Cups for England, with his sixth goal in just his third match of the 2018 campaign. He has gone past Geoff Hurst, and now only trails Gary Lineker (10) among England scorers. He is also just the second England player with six goals in one World Cup after Lineker, who won the Golden Boot for his six goals in 1986.

12

England have advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 12 years, following a round of 16 win over Ecuador in 2006. They were then eliminated on penalties by Portugal in the quarterfinals, and they lost 4-1 to Germany in the round of 16 four years later. Matthew Upson’s 37th-minute strike in that match in Bloemfontein was the last knockout goal scored by England, before Kane’s penalty conversion.

2

Yerry Mina is just the second Colombian after James Rodriguez to have scored in three successive matches at the World Cup for Colombia. Rodriguez went on to score in five consecutive games of the 2014 World Cup, and finished as the Golden Boot winner with his six goals.

24

Sweden have made the quarterfinals after 24 years, having finished in third place in 1994. Emil Forsberg’s winner also marks the first time since 1994 that they have scored more than five goals in a World Cup — the 15 they scored in United States is still their record. It is also the first time since the 1958 edition that they hosted, that Sweden have won consecutive games in one World Cup.

3

Harry Kane is now the first Englishman to have converted three penalties — not counting kicks taken in a shootout — and the first to have done so in one World Cup since Bulgaria’s Hristo Stoichkov in 1994. Johan Neeskens of Netherlands also converted three in 1974, whereas both Rob Rensenbrink of Netherlands (1978) and Eusebio (1966) converted four in one tournament. Gabriel Batistuta of Argentina also has four converted penalties overall in World Cups.

9

England’s nine goals scored at the 2018 World Cup are now the second best they have ever achieved in one World Cup, going past the eight goals they scored in both 1954 and 1990. Their record for most goals in one campaign remains 11 in 1966, the only year they have won the World Cup.

8

The England-Colombia match saw eight players (six for Colombia and two for England) being shown the yellow card, the joint most in this tournament. Both France-Argentina (round of 16) and Belgium-Panama (group stages) saw eight yellow cards shown to the two teams, while Argentina’s clash with Croatia in the group stages saw seven cards produced.

50

Sweden have become the 11th team to have played their 50th World Cup game, though they are one of only three teams to have played 50 or more matches without winning a single tournament — Mexico (57) and Netherlands (50) are the other two teams to have that record.

Don’t believe the Christian Pulisic to Tottenham transfer rumors

Silly season is really silly.By Donald Wine II@blazindw Jul 5, 2018, 11:46am PDT

News reports have swirled over the past 36 hours regarding a $58 million bid that Tottenham Hotspur has offered to Borussia Dortmund for United States phenom Christian Pulisic. The reports were everywhere, from here to Europe.But, each of these reports is claiming the German outlet Kicker was the source of the report without a link to the article that referenced the proposed bid. Indeed, a quick search on Kicker yields nothing on a possible Pulisic-to-Spurs bid. Still, online media is going along with the rumor, even with nothing to source the information. So, how did a rumor with no foundation grow legs so quickly?It’s because it’s silly season, that time of year when transfer rumors and news come fast and in numbers. It’s almost like some outlets have a dart board that have star players, big clubs, and huge numbers, and they throw darts until a story comes up that they can run with. How many rumors have you seen today about Real Madrid or Barcelona or PSG or Chelsea or Juventus? Plenty. Nothing really set in stone until these clubs issue official statements.And for American fans, Pulisic is a name that brings attention. Rumors of his transfer to Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham have been swirling for months, and each time it brings fans to a frenzy about where is best for Pulisic to play soccer. Back in May, Christian Pulisic’s father labeled the rumors of his son moving from Dortmund to Liverpool, Arsenal or Tottenham as “hogwash,” adding: “[T}here’s nothing concrete. Right now, Christian plays for Dortmund and that’s where he is planning on playing again next year.” Nothing has changed, and until there is something with more substance, the current transfer rumors surrounding Pulisic should be disregarded.So, that’s where we are. Christian Pulisic is still a Borussia Dortmund player. He will remain there until a day that Dortmund and Pulisic decide that it’s best that he continue his career with another club. The rumors are going to continue to come with reckless abandon over the coming weeks until the transfer window closes at the end of August. Until then, listen to the words of Jay-Z:“So don’t believe everythin’ your earlobe captures, it’s mostly backwards, Unless it happens to be as accurate as me, And everythin’ said in song you happen to see, Then actually, believe half of what you see, None of what you hear, even if it’s spat by me”

Four years after Howard’s saves and Wondo’s miss, U.S. has regret about the past, hope for the future

Dan Thoymas, Kasey Keller and Kate Markgraf discuss Bruce Arena’s latest comments and how the USMNT should feel watching the World Cup from home. (8:19)

Jun 30, 2018Noah Davis, ESPN.com freelance columnist

On July 1, four years ago, Belgium bulldozed the United States men’s national team in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup. The final scoreline, 2-1, did not reflect the match that millions watched; Jurgen Klinsmann’s side was outshot 38-15 with Tim Howard forced into 15 saves, the highest number in a single game since at least 1966 when FIFA started keeping track of the statistic.The U.S., thanks to its goalkeeper’s heroics, miraculously hung on through regulation before conceding to Kevin De Bruyne in the 93rd minute and substitute Romelu Lukaku 12 minutes later. While Julian Green’s volley provided a bit of solace near the death, it was a comprehensive beatdown.

Yet the red, white, and blue nearly won the thing in regulation, when Chris Wondolowski’s half-volley in the third minute of second-half stoppage time skied over Thibaut Courtois’ crossbar and into the Salvador night. The U.S. was inches from the quarterfinals.While the Americans were clearly second best — despite that miss — the tournament as a whole gave reason for optimism. Klinsmann led his team out of a brutal group after the squad defeated Ghana in dramatic fashion and dominated Portugal for long stretches before finishing with a 2-2 draw against the soon-to-be European champions, then lost 1-0 to eventual champion Germany.And it wasn’t merely the results that were exciting; so too was the fact that young talent played key roles. Twenty-one year old John Brooks scored the game-winner vs. Ghana and looked poised to establish himself in one of the starting center-back roles. DeAndre Yedlin, 20, offered tantalizing speed on the right wing, and Fabian Johnson, Jozy Altidore, Omar Gonzalez, and Michael Bradley provided a solid spine in the 24-to-26-year-old range. Green was the youngest goal scorer at the World Cup.Although they were not in Brazil, players such as Cameron Carter-Vickers, Matt Miazga, Kellyn Acosta, Rubio Rubin, Paul Arriola, and Gedion Zelalem were close to breaking through and led the U.S. to a quarterfinal finish at the 2015 Under-20 World Cup. There was hope and excitement.Then, well, we all know what happened: Four years of fits and starts, featuring some highlights — the emergence of Christian Pulisic, the 2016 Copa America Centenario — and many more low points — 4-0 in Costa Rica, “Couva” entering the U.S. fan lexicon — that resulted in the squandering of almost half a decade.In retrospect, the signs were there in Brazil. According to WhoScored.com, the Americans played 34 percent of the tournament in their own third, more than any other team. Klinsmann’s side spent just 22 percent in their opposition’s third, tied for fourth worst behind Algeria, Iran, and Italy, a trio that went out in the group stage.The U.S. conceded 23.5 shots per game, five more than the two teams tied for the second most: Ecuador and Switzerland. FIFA.com’s statistics credited 27 saves, 21 tackles won and 19 blocks, a World Cup high of 67 attempts some 50 percent more than the tournament average of just under 45. Being the best defensive team is hardly the proactive soccer Klinsmann promised.But while optimism about prospects following 2014 was misplaced, so too is any pessimism four years later. In Pulisic, the Americans have a talent more accomplished at an international level than any young player in the history of the program.Meanwhile, 19-year-old Weston McKennie, a vital cog in the midfield of Bundesliga runner-up Schalke, is not far behind his close friend. Tyler Adams covers enough ground for two players, and Tim Weah shows tantalizing flashes of game-breaking creativity, and Josh Sargent could break out in Germany next season. The teens can ball.As can the slightly older generation. Miazga, still just 22, dominated while on loan to Vitesse in the Eredivisie and possesses the line-breaking passing that has required from an elite center back. Brooks, Carter-Vickers, and Erik Palmer-Brown will challenge for spots. Major League Soccer continues to produce young player with potential while Yedlin’s development continues in Europe, as does that of Benfica’s Keaton Parks, Andrija Novakovich at Fortuna Sittard, Anderlecht’s Kenny Saief and more.Even Green is back in the mix after a couple of years wandering the soccer wilderness. There is plenty of work to be done, questions to be answered, leaders to be found, but these are good places to start. They are building blocks that make a far stronger base than the Americans had following the 2014 World Cup.But, while all that is true, the fact remains that a so-far excellent and exciting tournament is going on in Russia without the U.S.; that’s tougher to take than Wondo missing that sitter.

Questions that will define each MLS club in the second half of 2018

Jul 3, 2018Matt PentzESPN FC

With some teams having already played more than half their games, and with Major League Soccer having come out the other side of its World Cup break, this feels like an appropriate juncture to take a hard look at where everybody stands. At the halfway point, which burning question is likely to define the rest of each club’s season?

Atlanta United: Can offense win championships? The Supporters’ Shield leaders boast an explosive attack which is a sight to behold. Can they lock things down at the other end of the field come playoff time, or might they pour in enough goals that it doesn’t even matter?

Chicago Fire: What happened to last year’s hot start? Around this time a year ago, the Fire’s turnaround story was the toast of the league. Then they lost six of seven, were routed by the New York Red Bulls on home turf in the playoffs and have since struggled to replicate those heights.

Colorado Rapids: How on earth did the Rapids make the conference finals in 2016? That’s about all I’ve got on this one.

Columbus Crew SC: Which city will the club call home next season: Columbus or Austin? Until that is resolved, all on-field concerns are secondary.

D.C. United: Can United make the most of its fresh start at its new stadium? Even with Wayne Rooney in the fold, there are ominous signs that D.C. is not entirely ready for its close-up.

FC Dallas: Are the chemistry issues resolved? Last season’s summertime swoon is even more inexplicable now that FCD has recovered its mojo. Are the underlying issues truly a thing of a past, or might Dallas again start to splinter?

Houston Dynamo: Can the Dynamo take the next step? Western Conference finalists in 2017, the Dynamo again look like a playoff dark horse. Can they find another gear and join the ranks of legitimate title contenders?

LAFC: Is this the Western Conference front-runner? Expansion team or not, a strong case can be made that this group has a higher ceiling than anybody else on their side of the bracket.

LA Galaxy: Are the wheels going to fall off? They’re certainly wobbling on their axles.

Minnesota United: How long will Loons fans remain patient? The club’s slow-and-steady team-building approach asks a lot of supporters to stay engaged with this second-year franchise.

Montreal Impact: How bad can it get? One of the league’s worst goal differentials (-9) hint that the Impact haven’t yet scraped rock bottom.

New England Revolution: Do the Revs have enough talent to sneak into the playoffs? So far, first-year coach Brad Friedel has done a remarkable job.

New York City FC: What is this club’s identity post-Patrick Vieira? For a coach who spent only two and a half years in the Big Apple, Vieira certainly left his fingerprints all over NYCFC’s vision of itself.

New York Red Bulls: What is this team’s ceiling? Jesse Marsch touts this as the best team he’s ever had. For a franchise crying out for some positive history, does that equal some long-overdue silverware?

Orlando City SC: What now? Having now fired coaches midseason in two of their four MLS campaigns, I’m not even sure the Lions’ ownership group could give much of an answer to that question.

Seattle 2-3 Portland: Mabiala lifts Timbers – Via MLS

Diego Valeri pulled the strings and Larrys Mabiala popped up with two goals to see Portland walk away from Seattle with a 3-2 victory.

Portland Timbers: Is this hot streak sustainable? The Timbers come out of the World Cup break unbeaten in 10 across all competitions, which catapulted them up the standings following a slow start.

Real Salt Lake: Move forward or blow it up? Despite sitting in fifth in the West coming out of the break, RSL seems to be going back and forth with that question.

San Jose Earthquakes: Does North America’s longest outdoor bar serve hard alcohol? That’s about the only way Quakes fans are making it through October.

Seattle Sounders: How much of a difference can one player make? Raul Ruidiaz is exactly the type of player the Sounders need, but his midseason signing might come too late to save a team sitting 11 points out of a playoff place.

Sporting Kansas City: Why should anyone believe this year is different? The first-place team in the West has started hot before, but seems to always falter down the stretch. Until Sporting keep the good vibes going into October, a degree of skepticism is necessary.

Toronto FC: When is TFC finally going to turn it on? If the defending champs wait too long, the gulf with the East’s playoff contenders will be too wide to bridge.

Vancouver Whitecaps: What are the limits to the Whitecaps’ approach? Carl Robinson has wrung a lot out of a bare-bones roster, but there’s a sense that the natives are getting restless with ownership’s lack of financial commitment.

Kick Off: MLS today

July 4, 201810:38AM EDT Greg SeltzerContributor

Here is everything you need to know about MLS and North American soccer this morning:

Dynamo storm back late for draw

Houston’s goose surely looked cooked midway through stoppage time of their Tuesday game against LAFC, but the hosts rallied in just two minutes to rescue a 2-2 tie. Adama Diomande turned provider with assists on each of the goals that had the away side up two, only for Mauro Manotas and Philippe Senderos to author the unlikely comeback. RECAP

Conference leaders make tricky trips

Supporters Shield table-toppers Atlanta United will put their seven-game road unbeaten run on the line in Wednesday’s tilt at FC Dallas (8 pm ET | TV & streaming info). It should be an emotional night for the hosts, who have just completed the sale of playmaker Mauro Diaz to UAE club Shabab Al-Ahli.

Galaxy aiming for playoff zone, Cameron

The LA Galaxy welcome D.C. United for a July 4 kickabout at the StubHub with a chance to rise above the playoff line with a win (10:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info). According to Yahoo’s Doug McIntyre, the Galaxy are proving dogged in their pursuit of Stoke City’s US defender Geoff Cameron. READ MORE | PREVIEW

Atlanta back atop Power Rankings

After a one-week absence, Atlanta United reclaimed the penthouse in our MLSsoccer.com Power Rankings. Chicago and Montreal each rose four spots, while Toronto’s three-rung drop was the biggest of the week. READ MORE

World Cup: Svensson, Sweden to final eight

Seattle midfielder Gustav Svensson stepped into Sweden’s lineup on Tuesday, helping his country clinch a World Cup quarterfinal date against England with a 1-0 win over Switzerland in St. Petersburg. The Sounders man ably deputized for suspended teammate Sebastian Larsson to help oust the world’s sixth-ranked side. READ MORE

Warshaw: My midseason award favorites

Now that we’ve reached the midway point of the season, Bobby Warshaw has offered up his picks for MLS award front-runners to date. He also chooses a midseason Best XI, which unsurprisingly includes three Atlanta United stars. READ MORE

If you can’t get enough midseason analysis, Warshaw and Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle also ran the rule over all 23 teams, finding one positive and one negative for each team, no matter their record. READ MORE

MLSsoccer.com Must-Watch Top 5 MLS goals scored by Americans in 2018 pres. by Target REDcard

Wiebe: Five years on, a look at Clint Dempsey’s legacy in Seattle

June 29, 20184:43PM EDTClint Dempsey seems perfectly comfortable with his place in history.When you’ve scored in three World Cups, blazed a trail the size of Texas through the English Premier League, sit (tied) atop your national team’s all-time scoring chart and made a successful comeback from a potentially career-ending heart issue, you don’t need someone else’s perspective.“I’m at peace with what I’ve been able to accomplish,” Dempsey said last December, in the days before the Seattle Sounders lost MLS Cup 2017, and I believe him.He scored his first MLS goal since that interview on Saturday, a sliding finish at CenturyLink Field that gave Seattle a hum-drum draw against Chicago in the midst of a season that’s tested the patience of the Rave Green faithful. It was the 35-year-old’s 47th regular-season goal for the Sounders, tying Fredy Montero for the club record, one Dempsey will surely own outright soon enough.It’s been almost five years since Dempsey arrived in Seattle. Five years is a long time. Long enough to win a few trophies. Long enough to play in and miss a World Cup. Long enough to become the second-longest tenured Sounder behind MLS original Ozzie Alonso.Long enough for us to wonder how will he be remembered in the Pacific Northwest once the time feels right, perhaps as soon as this offseason, to trade the daily grind of professional soccer for family time and fishing.I’m no Sounders fan. And I’m damn sure not Clint Dempsey. I won’t claim to know or understand how either feels. But with a Cascadia derby on deck for Saturday afternoon (4:30 pm ET | FOX – Full TV & streaming) – and Deuce often one to step toward rivalry-ruling opportunity – I do know which moments I remember most vividly from Dempsey’s time in Seattle.#DempseyWatch

Years before #BarcoWatch took over Soccer Twitter™, #DempseyWatch helped coin the genre.

MLS is a much different league now than it was in Summer 2013, when word started trickling out that the US national team star’s time with Tottenham could be coming to an end, a return stateside with the Sounders the likely next destination. It was by far the biggest story in American soccer that summer.As the rumors heated up, photos of Dempsey at various airports trickled into the social media conversation. Sounders sleuths tracked his movement from Heathrow Airport in London to the West Coast. By the time Dempsey removed his hoodie to reveal a Seattle jersey at halftime of a blowout victory against FC Dallas on August 3 of that year, the club had inked their new star to a deal that made him the highest paid player and biggest incoming transfer in MLS history.There was elation, from Sounders fans in particular, but there was also serious blowback, from the internet trolls all the way up to Jurgen Klinsmann. A top-tier player, arguably the country’s most accomplished in Europe, returning to MLS in his prime? One year before the World Cup no less?That decision, just as much as the goals he’d go on to score, is part of Dempsey’s legacy. When he signed that contract, the trajectory and perception of the league changed.For MLS, Dempsey was the personification of the “league of choice” mantra. If he could do it, why couldn’t others like him? His signing provided precedent for the moves that followed, bringing the biggest USMNT stars – Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Jermaine Jones, Tim Howard, Alejandro Bedoya – to MLS from Europe.For Seattle, Dempsey represented raw ambition. Along with Obafemi Martins, signed earlier that year, the more than $30 million outlay, according to reports, showed a desire not just be among MLS’s biggest spenders in but at the very top of the hierarchy. That the Sounders were the club to pull it off only reinforced the growing sentiment that there was an MLS super club in the Pacific Northwest, a giant both on the field and off.I remember being thrilled by the transfer coup, and a bit gob-smacked as well. No more setting alarms to watch Deuce do his thing in England. American soccer fans could watch the national team’s biggest star every week in person.

Oba-Deuce

Trust me, you should watch this goal. And this one. And this one. For sure this one, too.These are among the many masterpieces of Oba-Deuce, the sort of attacking partnership that left spectators and opposing defenders slack jawed just about every time they took the field.These goals are everything Dempsey came to represent in Seattle during his first two full seasons. Every time he took the field, there was buzz. There was anticipation. There was the possibility that, with or without Martins’ assistance, he’d do something we’d never seen before.There was plenty of success, too. That fourth goal I told you to watch? It was the game-winner in extra time of the 2014 U.S. Open Cup. That same year, the Sounders lifted the Supporters’ Shield, a fitting tribute to the folks who packed CenturyLink and made it all possible.Above all, there was swagger, a brash confidence unique to Dempsey. Don’t drag me, he seemed to be saying to those who doubted him or his decision to return. I make the big bucks, and I’m worth every penny.Then he brought that same swagger to the 2014 World Cup while repping the Sounders and Seattle.

Tear it all down

We remember the goals, but we also remember the outbursts. Dempsey has a knack for delivering spectacularly on both fronts.The only three red cards of his MLS career have come, one per season, over the last three years. Before that, however, is the moment that will stick with me forever.There’s not much I can say about this one. You’ll just have to watch it. It will almost certainly be the first and only time you’ll see a referee’s notebook ripped to shreds on the field.

Can’t Tell Me Nothing

Dempsey did not play in MLS Cup 2016, his heart condition forcing him to watch from the stands as Seattle put together a historic run to the playoffs and then eked out the only domestic championship to elude them.Never one to go missing in the big moment, Dempsey made his mark during the club’s victory parade a few days later. “Now that we’ve won one,” Dempsey said, “Portland can’t say [drawn out expletive].”The Cascadia rivalry matters to Sounders supporters, and it matters to Dempsey. He’s saved his best for the rivalry games, scoring nine goals (three game-winners) in 11 games.I’ll leave you with this, Dempsey’s three-goal outburst in April 2014 to snatch a sure victory from the Timbers’ grasp. Perhaps there’s more like this left to come. Rui-Deuce anyone?

Indiana Youth Soccer Night

Post-Game Photo On The Field

ATP_Gen_350x250

Proud Member of Indy’s Brick Yard Battalion – http://www.brickyardbattalion.com – CLICK HERE FOR BYBTIX

Sam’s Army- http://www.sams-army.com , American Outlaws http://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite

6/28/18 World Cup Sweet 16 – TV Game Schedule, Indy 11 win 3rd in a row 3 Game Home Stand Starts Sat 7 pm, Summer Soccer Camps

June 28, 2018June 30, 2018 gatorbest

Wow both Renaldo and Messi are out in the first games of the knock-out stages – fantastic and exciting games to watch with plenty of goals !! I imagine the Seattle vs Portland MLS game – the oldest rivalry in US soccer would have been good too. But the IDIOTS at FOX 59 here in Indy don’t give a SHIT about soccer – so they elected to show some bullshit Raw Travel BS Show instead???? SERIOUSLY so the Rest of the US gets to watch the game on Fox and Indy gets crapped on again ??? Well I am done promoting FOX 59 — no more Fox 59 References until our local terdheads at Fox 59 decide they give a crap about soccer. If you would like to complain join me in leaving nasty messages at 317-632-5900. I am working on finding a more direct line so our voices will be heard — otherwise they won’t show any of the MLS world cup lead in games scheduled over the next 2 weeks.

Very disappointing FOX 59 !!!!!!

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So the Group Stages have Wrapped up and wow we have some interesting results. First GERMANY – the Defending Champions are going home at the earliest stage in 80 years – their 2 goals in 3 games their lowest total ever, their exit makes them the 4^th reigning champion in 5 World Cups to go home during the group stages joining France (2002), Italy (2010), and Spain (2014). Of course Mexico will look to break the streak and get to Game #5 by winning a knock-out stage game for the first time since 1994 vs Brazil on Monday at 10 am on Fox after they backed into the Sweet 16 thanks to South Korea blanking Germany 2-0. The strangest might have been Japan going thru over Senagal based on Fair play — which was only introduced as a tiebreaker at this year’s World Cup — was then used to split the pair, with Japan’s four yellow cards beating Senegal’s six. Japan, therefore, reached the round of 16 along with Colombia, with England or Belgium lying in wait. So it came down to sportsmanship -Seriously??? That needs to be revisited to overall corner kicks or something? Oh and England sitting their starters when they needed to win to be on the easier side of the group and the #1 team was just stupid !! Colombia takes them out!! Otherwise – VAR – Video Review is still getting either Lauded or trashed – for me I think its great. Yes they have missed 1 or 2 but overall they have been getting the calls right and fairly quickly. (hey NFL. NBA you watching??) Man this Saturday are you kidding me!

10 am Fox France vs Argentina (WC Sweet 16)

2 pm Fox Uruguay vs Portugal (WC Sweet 16)

US Failure to make it to the World Cup was made even worse with the pathetic showings of Panama and Costa Rica as they each flamed out with 3 losses. (Interesting column in the OBC) I still stick by my statement that the Best for US Soccer is to come. We need to get the head coach right – but I truly believe this New Hope Group of under 20 US Players is going to get us to the Semi-Finals in the World Cup here in 2026. The first good step has been taken with hiring of new GM and former national team player Earnie Stewart – next the hiring of one of the stronger American MLS coaches I think will come sometime in late August maybe. I feel like good times are coming US fans – for now enjoy the no pressure watching of a World Cup without the US – we won’t see that again for a long time! Either way enjoy those World Cup Commercials – here are my favorites so far – Gieco the Slide, Pirlo McDonalds, and all of the Volkswagon ones. Also loved James Corden’s England Team recruits American Fans. Full World Cup Bracket Here

INDY 11

Our Indy 11 – silenced the Nashville Crowd on the road for a huge 2-0 win at previously unbeaten at home Nashville Tuesday night moving them to 4^th place overall with 24 points on 7 wins/3 ties/4 losses. Our Indy 11 coming off a 3 game winning streak return home this weekend for a Sat night match-up with Penn FC (Pride Night) at 7 pm and July 4^th at 7 pm vs Ottawa at Lucas Oil. Of course discount tickets below $15 are available

Click here for Discount Tickets for the Game and enter 2018 INDY as the promo code. July 4^th will be military night with ½ priced tickets for military personnel and of course Indy’s Downtown Spectacular Fireworks Show after the game. The Sat Night game on July 7^th will be Indiana Youth Soccer Night, as all teams across the state are invited to participate in a post-game photo on the field. Reach out to Youth Club Coordinator Shawn Burcham at shawn@indyeleven.com. I plan to be there for the next 2 Saturday nights – hoping for an open roof. (I will try to post some pics next week)

Local

Congrats to the 2 Indiana Teams (Indy Premier U16 Girls and St Francis U19 Boys) advancing to the Finals of the US Youth Soccer National President’s Cup July 11-15 at Grand Park.

After the ultra successful first camp in early June – Carmel FC has added another camp headed up by Director Juergen Sommer at Shelbourne from July 23^rd thru 26^th . Also some Carmel FC teams are still looking for players like the U17 (02) Boys team -email shanebestsoccer@gmail.com if interested.

MLS

Here’s the MLS rankings as we continue the powerhouse World Cup Lead-ins to MLS Games on Fox over the next few weekends. This Saturday we get one of the best venues and rivalries in US soccer as Seattle hosts Portland at 4:30 pm on Fox 59. Sunday as we get a showdown of the defending Champs Toronto FC vs one of the top teams in the East the New York Red Bulls at 4:30 pm after the World Cup game on Fox 59. Will be interesting to see if Rooney plays in the new home opener next weekend after finalizing the deal with DC United.

Indy 11

Indy 11 Beats Nashville on Road for 3^rd Straight Win

Indy 11 Beats Nashville 2-0 – Blood Shambles Review – Rebecca Townsend

Indy 11 Discount Tickets for Saturday’s Game! (Code 2018Indy)

Soccer Saturday – Radio Show 9-10 am on 1070 the Fan

militaryindy11

Indy 11 MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT

Join us in honoring our military during Military Appreciation Night on July 4th. Come to watch the Boys in Blue take on the Ottawa Fury and stay for the fireworks downtown. In honor of our military, we will offering tickets at a 50% discount. Use the promo-code “military18” and save today

WORLD CUP

My Favorite World Cup Commercilal

World Cup Geico Commercial – the Slide

VAR is Working – Gab Marcotti

Germany Disastrous World Cup Bottom of Group – fewest goals and 80 year low for Germany

We panicked and Went Wild in Search of Winning Goal – Germany’s Hummels

Messi Goal Sets off Celebration for Argentina

Maradona Requires Medical Assistance after Emotional Night and dropping the Middle Finger to Everyone

Argentina Call of Game Winner

Gary Lineker brands Diego Maradona a ‘laughing stock’ after middle finger celebration

Marcotti: Are you not entertained? The World Cup has delivered
Ogden: The Good, Bad and Ugly of the groups
Barnwell: Who has the toughest bracket?
ESPN FC TV: Who will surprise in the round of 16?
Laurens: How France relax behind the scenes

Ochoa big Saves Keeps Mexico loss respectable – ESPNFC – Player Ratings

France looks Good Enough to Win this Thing – SI Brian Straus

Africa with Worse Showing Ever at World Cup?

VAR Controversy with Renaldo – World Cup shows system needs Tweeking – Sam Borden ESPNFC

What Do Players Get when They Win the World Cup

US

Roger Bennett Discusses American Fiasco

Ameriicans at Home – Even Worse Failures than WC Flameouts Panama and Costa Rica – Stars and Stripes

Arena Says Pulisic is in a Great Place at Dortmund

Why would Tom Ricketts buy AC Milan? Men in Blazers’ Roger Bennett weighs in »

Landon Donovan Clarifies his Vamos Mexico World Cup Ads after criticism

US Ladies Hit Their Stride – USA Today

Hope Solo calls US Soccer a Rich White Kid Sport – Fox

US to Play England, Brazil, Mexico and Italy in Friendlies this Fall

MLS

MLS Power Rankings

Rooney to Sign with DC United this Weekend?

Rooney Signs with DC United !

Seattle vs Portland Preview

Zlattan in ESPN Body Issue

Zlatan the Fortune Teller – James Corden

FC Cincy Lays out Plans for Training Facility

Goalies

Oldest World Cup Player Ever Saves PK for Egypt

Best Saves Round 1 World Cup

Best Saves Round 2 World Cup –

Carmel High Girls Middle School Soccer Camp Ages middle schoolers – July 16, 17, 18, 19 at Murray 3-5 pm $85

SUMMER CAMPS

CDC Carmel FC Camp – Shelborne Field July 23^rd – 26^th –

Carmel High Boys Soccer Skills Camp Ages 8-14 July 16-19 at Murray 8:30-10:30 am $85

Carmel High Boys Soccer Tactical Camp Ages 8-14 July 16-19 at Murray 11 am till 1 pm $85

World Cup on Fox TV Schedule

GAMES ON TV This Week

Sat, June 30

10 am Fox 59 France vs Argentina (WC Sweet 16)

2 pm Fox 59 Uruguay vs Portugal (WC Sweet 16)

3:30 pm Lifetime Orlando Pride vs North Carolina Courage (Women’s Soccer League)

4:30 pm FOX 59 Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers

7 pm ESPN+, TV23 Indy 11 vs Penn

8 pm Yes Chicago vs NY City FC

8 pm ESPN+ LAFC vs Philly Union

10 pm Univ SJ Earthquakes vs LA Galaxy

10 pm g090 Seattle Reign vs Portland Thorns

10 pm Fox Sport 1 World Cup Tonight

Sun, July 1

10 am Fox Spain vs Russia (WC Sweet 16)

2 pm Fox Croatia vs Denmark (WC Sweet 16)

4:30 pm FOX Toronto FC vs NY Red Bulls

10 pm Fox Sport 1 World Cup Tonight

Mon, July 2

10 am Fox Brazil vs Mexico (WC Sweet 16)

2 pm Fox Belgium vs Japan (WC Sweet 16)

Tues, July 3

10 am Fox Sweden vs Swiss (WC Sweet 16)

2 pm Fox Colombia vs England (WC Sweet 16)

Weds, July 4

7 pm ESPN+, TV23 Indy 11 vs Ottawa Fury

Fri, July 6

10 am FS1 World Cup Quarter Final W49 vs W50

2 pm FS1 World Cup Quarter Final W53 vs W54

Sat, July 7

10 am World Cup Quarter Final W55 vs W56

2 pm World Cup Quarter Final W51 vs W52

4:30 pm FS1 LAFC vs Orlando City

7 pm ESPN+, TV23 Indy 11 vs Charlotte

10:30 ESPN+ Vancouver vs Chicago Fire

Sun, July 8

7 pm FS1 NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls –(Hudsen River Darby)

Tues, July 10

2 pm Fox World Cup Semi’s

Weds, July 11

2 pm Fox World Cup Semi’s

Sat, July 14

10 am Fox World Cup 3^rd Place Game

7 pm Yes NYCFC vs Columbus Crew

8 pm ESPN+ Dallas (Matt Hedges) vs Houston Dynamo

Sun, July 15

11 am Fox World Cup Final

2 pm FOX Atlanta vs Seattle

6 pm ESPN LAFC vs Portland