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USMNT’s Copa América prep ends with a step in the right direction

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent ESPN Jun 13, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

ORLANDO, Florida — As United States men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Turner prepared to answer questions in the postmatch mixed zone Wednesday, he found himself face-to-face with United States legend Kasey Keller. The former USMNT keeper offered up his congratulations to Turner for the latter’s heroics in the 1-1 draw against Brazil.After Keller had departed, Turner remarked, “That was cool. What a guy.”It was fitting that the two should exchange a quick word, as they now share the rare distinction of avoiding defeat against Brazil. It was Keller’s stellar performance against the Seleção back in the semifinals of the 1998 Gold Cup that almost single-handedly led the U.S. to a 1-0 win. The stunned look on the face of Brazilian World Cup winner Romario, as Keller made save after save, remains etched in the memory.

On Wednesday, it was Turner’s opportunity to shine. To be clear, it wasn’t perfect. Turner’s wayward pass in the 17th minute helped set the table for Rodrygo to put Brazil in the lead. But Turner righted himself, delivering 10 saves, including a blast from Rodrygo in the 74th minute. The fact that the U.S.’s record against Brazil now stands at 1-18-1 reveals just how uncommon such a result is.Contrast this performance with that of last Saturday against Colombia, one in which the U.S. were shellacked 5-1. Turner seemed overwhelmed at times, and given the way that he has struggled for minutes and form while at Nottingham Forest this season, concern was starting to mount that he might not be the man to start in goal for the U.S. For the moment, he has quieted those doubts.

“It’s been a tough couple of months for me personally on the pitch,” he said. “So to have the opportunity to be out here again and feel the trust that my teammates have in me and my coaches have in me here, it’s huge. It speaks volumes to me. So I was grateful to be able to perform well tonight. It won’t always be like that, but I think you are only as good as the guys around you.”Turner’s performance in large part mirrored that of the team; there were blemishes, but it was a huge improvement on last Saturday, one replete with increased resolve and execution. Christian Pulisic delivered the equalizer with a powerful free kick in the 26th minute, and he came agonizingly close to winning the match in the 68th minute only to be thwarted by Brazil keeper Alisson. Brenden Aaronson suffered the same fate after being set up by Pulisic 15 minutes later. The defense, much maligned after the Colombia debacle, bent plenty in the face of attackers like Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha, but it held firm.The teamwide eagerness to do the dirty work provided the backbone to earn a most unlikely result.

“I think it was just a willingness to defend, get numbers behind the ball in transition, getting numbers back much [quicker], just a lot smarter and not losing balls in the wrong areas and just giving them easy opportunities,” Pulisic said. “And yeah, just a team spirit of willingness to also suffer at times and then find our chances. So, definitely a big step in the right direction.”

Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)The U.S. also used its collective brain as well. The team, as well as manager Gregg Berhalter, has been criticized for at times wanting to play the ball out of the back at all costs, and that predictability — or stubbornness — worked against it in the Colombia match. On Wednesday, there was more of a willingness to hit long passes and fight for second balls, especially from goal kicks.”I think our biggest takeaway from the game on the weekend was that sometimes you switch up from the game plan. You can’t just be robots out there,” defender Chris Richards said. “You have to have a feel for the game. And so I think that’s what we did tonight, with mixing it up and rather than just playing out the whole time. Sometimes you had to go direct and it’s OK to reset.”International tournaments, and the friendlies that precede them, are invitations to become a prisoner of the moment. The U.S. isn’t quite as terrible as it was against Colombia. It’s also dangerous to think that a draw against Brazil means everything is sweetness and light. The U.S. midfield remains a work in progress.One should also consider the U.S. team’s rather curious history under Berhalter where it has delivered some dreadful performances ahead of major tournaments. In 2019, prior to that year’s Gold Cup, the U.S. lost preparation games to Jamaica and Venezuela, the latter by a 3-0 scoreline. Prior to the 2022 World Cup, there was a heavy 3-0 defeat to Japan, which was followed by a dour 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia. In both cases the U.S. went on to have successful tournaments. Granted, it’s not a guarantee of anything, which might explain Berhalter’s muted reaction to this match, even as he lauded his side’s teamwork and intensity. “We feel like we made a little step. It’s not a huge step, but it’s a little step to be able to play against an amazingly talented Brazil team and bend but not break,” he said.

It would be a stretch to say the U.S. is operating at its peak, but there is certainly a sense of increased momentum about the group that wasn’t there following the Colombia result. And the manner of the result against Brazil provides some hope. There was a time when the U.S. was notoriously difficult to play against. That trait hasn’t shown itself with the same level of consistency in the last decade or so. That it did so on this evening counts as a positive development. It will be needed in the coming weeks.Now the Copa America awaits. Group C, in which the U.S. will face Bolívia, Panama and Uruguay, ought to be navigable. But the U.S. isn’t in the kind of position where it can just turn up and expect to get results. That does seem to be one of the primary takeaways from these last two friendlies. It’s a lesson that shouldn’t need reinforcing given this team’s level of experience, but better for it to happen now than in the actual Copa itself. For now, the U.S. can enjoy a rare result against one of the world’s best.As Berhalter said, “It’s a good end to preparation camp. We’re ready for Copa America.”

USMNT 2024 Copa America squad: Every player on the roster analyzed

Jeff Rueterv Jun 14, 2024

You’re tired of hearing this by now, but it’s still true: this is a young and relatively inexperienced United States men’s national team. Of the 26 players Gregg Berhalter called in for the Copa América, only three have appeared in at least 50 senior international matches. Another trio has crested the 40 cap mark, while 12 players enter the tournament with fewer than 20 caps.

However, this isn’t the byproduct of a youth movement like Mexico’s. The program is saving plenty of promising players 23 years old or younger for the Olympics in Paris, including Kevin Paredes, Bryan Reynolds and Gianluca Busio. The U.S. also enters Copa América in relatively good health, though its one major absence, Sergiño Dest, will force Berhalter into some tough decisions.

Gregg Berhalter names USMNT 26-man roster for Copa America

The tune-up friendlies showed two different sides of this team: being played off the field in the opener against Colombia, then staying resolute to play Brazil to an evenly matched draw days later. We don’t quite know what to expect from this team, but that’s the beauty of a major international competition: the element of unpredictability. Playing on home soil can’t hurt, either.

Here are the 26 players who will represent the United States as they look to match or exceed their semifinal finish in the 2016 Copa América Centenario.

Players are listed in alphabetical order by position. Ages and cap totals as of June 13, 2024

Goalkeepers

Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City) — 9 caps, 29 years old

A positional logjam kept Nottingham Forest from registering Horvath for the Premier League, leaving him without a place to play until a January move to Cardiff City. He immediately became the Bluebirds’ starter, performing commensurate to league average as Cardiff finished 12th in the Championship.

Although his club career has become fairly nomadic, Horvath has been steady when called upon by his national team. Among his nine appearances was a crucial shift from the bench in the 2021 Nations League final, when a handful of saves (including a stifled penalty kick in extra time) allowed the United States to win the competition’s inaugural installment. A capable deputy, Horvath won’t be daunted if called upon for a big moment this summer.

Sean Johnson (Toronto FC) — 13 caps, 35 years old

For decades, the nation’s goalkeeper pool was among its strongest. A litany of Premier League starters stole the headlines. Still, another proud tradition is that of the veteran third-stringer — an experienced netminder who provides additional wisdom even if their number is seldom called.

Like Marcus Hahnemann and Nick Rimando before him, Johnson has been Berhalter’s trusted man; this summer, he’ll reprise his role from the 2022 World Cup. It’s a spot he had to earn, fighting off the emergence of Drake Callender. Amidst a bounce-back second season with Toronto FC, the 35-year-old remains a vital part of the locker room’s leadership corps.

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Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest) — 41 caps, 29 years old

What seemed like a dream move last summer for Matt Turner quickly devolved into a nightmare. Signed from Arsenal to be Forest’s starter, the club kept Turner busy early and often. The club’s frenetic nature in the transfer market took over. They signed yet another international goalkeeper, Matz Sels, following previous moves for Turner, Odysseas Vlachodimos and Keylor Navas in successive windows. By March, Forest had dropped Turner to the bench.

Turner has had some questionable missed saves, particularly a few low-likelihood shots through his legs, but he remains the USMNT’s best shot-stopper by some margin. Questions about his distribution persist, but he’s organized the defense better than anyone in the role since Tim Howard.

Defenders

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) — 17 caps, 26 years old

It can be tough to assess players on Celtic and Rangers given their dueling dominance in Scotland. Since joining Celtic in 2021, Carter-Vickers has actualized the promise that made him a hot prospect early in his career. Still, it hasn’t made him a regular starter for the USMNT. He looks good in defense and possession, but nearly everyone does with a perennial champion.

Under Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou, Celtic has been as possession-dominant as any team in Europe. Carter-Vickers plays plenty of short passes that pad his completion rate, but his line-breakers and diagonals give the attack a jolt. Those will be vital for the U.S. to progress upfield this summer, while his defending in the sky (70.6% aerial win rate) and on the ground (13% dribble-past rate, among Scotland’s best) could position him to retain a starting role for years to come.

Kristoffer Lund (Palermo) — 3 caps, 22 years old

After struggling to develop international-caliber left backs for decades, the U.S. is in a relative golden age at the spot. Having represented Denmark in youth international ranks, Lund’s 2023 commitment to the U.S. provides another option that regularly plays in a major European nation.

Lund was initially hyped as a progressive option down the flank, a threat to find space out wide, collect the ball and take off on the dribble. His first season with Serie B side Palermo saw him refine his defensive chops, too, when disrupting opponents’ progress on the ground and winning aerial duels. His future looks bright — and he could be ready for some late minutes to stretch a game this summer.

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Mark McKenzie (Genk) — 13 caps, 25 years old

Historically, a central defender is primarily assessed for their ability to stifle progress. The job description is in the name, after all. While McKenzie isn’t exactly a slouch at defending, he’s on this squad predominantly for his work with the ball at his feet.

McKenzie is among the best ball-progressing defenders in Europe beyond the continent’s top five leagues. He averages 6.3 progressive passes per 90 minutes, ranking in the 96th percentile of fbref’s “Men’s Next 14” leagues. He averaged 5.8 passes into the final third per 90 as Genk finished 5th in Belgium’s Pro League, helping bypass a midfield block. He may not project to start often at the tournament, but if he comes on, expect some scintillating long distribution.

Shaq Moore (Nashville SC) — 19 caps, 27 years old

Even on a struggling Nashville side, Moore’s defensive work kept him in contention for this squad. Moore is a proactive tackler, averaging 6.24 “true” tackles per 1,000 opposing touches since the start of 2023. Still, he’s most likely third in this position’s depth chart, behind Scally and an out-of-position attacking alternative like Tim Weah or Weston McKennie.

One aspect of Moore’s game does lend itself well to late-match game states. He offers a dangerous long throw, with the 19th most heaves into the box of any MLS player since the start of 2023. If the U.S. needs a goal late in a game, he could be the man for the moment.

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 3: Tim Ream #13 of the United States before a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USMNT at Khalifa International Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images) Tim Ream has become a crucial veteran presence in the USMNT’s backline. (Photo by Brad Smith, Getty Images)

Tim Ream (Fulham) — 58 caps, 36 years old

In a few years, discussing Ream’s international career will be laden with “what if?” scenarios. The center back didn’t find consistency with the USMNT until 2019, having been frozen out by Jürgen Klinsmann during the 2014 World Cup cycle. In 2022, he anchored the backline at the World Cup, with his defending and passing acumen garnering praise from his teammates and Pep Guardiola alike.

Father Time remains undefeated, however, and Ream played just once after mid-February. That felt like a ceremonial sendoff in Fulham’s season finale at Craven Cottage against relegated Luton Town. The lack of recent involvement adds rust to the squad’s most senior member, though starts in both tune-up friendlies suggest he’ll be relied upon again this summer. Whatever transpires, his leadership will be vital for a youthful USMNT at this tournament, whether he’s a regular in Berhalter’s lineups or not.

Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) — 18 caps, 24 years old

Last season was a breakout year for Chris Richards, the first time he logged over 2,000 minutes for a club’s senior team. A rash of injuries and a relegation scare forced Crystal Palace to deploy Richards in midfield, only playing at his primary position for 1,266 of his 2,091 Premier League minutes. However, the time he did spend along the backline showed that he’s coming into his own as a defender.

In the 1,266 minutes, Richards was among the Premier League’s most active aerial duelists and one of the division’s most effective tacklers. Although his rate of winning aerial duels was pedestrian, he capably kept opponents from beating him on the dribble. After missing the 2022 World Cup due to injury, Richards is on track to establish himself as the program’s best defender.

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Antonee Robinson (Fulham) — 43 caps, 26 years old

There’s a case to be made that Robinson is already this program’s greatest left back. Granted, that speaks volumes about the lack of options in the role for decades, where the team’s starter was often playing out of position (see: Eddie Lewis, Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley and Fabian Johnson). It’s also a distinction that’s deserved on his own merit. This season, “Jedi” put forth a season that has him in the upper echelon of Premier League left backs.

Robinson is a capable one-on-one defender, leading all Premier League fullbacks, averaging 5.16 interceptions and blocked passes per 1,000 opponent touches. He also created 1.27 chances per 100 touches of the ball, 17th among the league’s 46 full-backs and wing backs who played at least 900 minutes in 2023-24. That creativity and progressive play may be even more vital this summer given Dest’s absence from the opposite flank.

Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) — 29 caps, 27 years old

Robinson was in line to start at the 2022 World Cup before a torn Achilles tendon ruled him out for the tournament. He’s worked hard to recover to his previous form, including the spring that makes him a threat in the air on both ends of the pitch.

The data suggests he isn’t quite the same defender as before that injury. He’s less likely to attempt a tackle or interception than before, and his current aerial duel win rate of 66% is his lowest since becoming a regular starter in 2019. He’s also completing fewer long passes than he had before his injury (45.3% this season). He is, however, still acclimating after switching clubs this winter. Nevertheless, he’s a favored figure of Berhalter’s and a program veteran with a point to prove.

Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach) — 11 caps, 21 years old

The projected “next man up” following Dest’s injury, Scally has been a fixture in Mönchengladbach’s lineup for three seasons. He has logged over 6,000 Bundesliga minutes before turning 22, and Scally figures to have a long career ahead of him. The question is if he’s ready to be the top option in a major international tournament — and how closely he’ll be able to replicate Dest’s role. In the USMNT’s tune-up games against Colombia and Brazil, he faced world-class challenges lining up opposite Luis Díaz and Vinicius Jr.

Scally doesn’t carry the same upfield compass that guides Dest’s every decision. Instead, he’s a more traditional full back, prone to slinging effective short passes and prioritizing his defensive responsibilities over the attacking ones. If he isn’t the first-choice option as the tournament progresses, he’s capable of playing all three defensive roles.

Midfielders

Tyler Adams (Bournemouth) — 39 caps, 25 years old

When healthy, Tyler Adams can impact a game like nobody else in the USMNT pool. His recovery defending is tireless, and he expertly reads an opponent’s build-up sequence to stymy it before danger strikes. The problem has been that requisite availability, as 2023-24 saw him log the fewest minutes in any season (just 121 in the league) since his professional debut in 2015.

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The good news: Adams is well-versed in Berhalter’s system, easing his reassimilation. While some in the pool are better at breaking lines with their passes and others enter in better form, none can match Adams’ all-around defensive midfield skill set. For the USMNT to be at its best this summer, they’ll need him to be on the field more often than not.

Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis) — 13 caps, 22 years old

While a slew of promising young Americans developed in MLS and Europe, Johnny Cardoso honed his craft in Brazil. The midfielder emerged with Internacional and was a starter in 2022 and 2023, catching eyes with impressive facilitation that fed his team’s forward line. It also drew the attention of Real Betis, who signed him in January 2024 and promptly thrust him into their starting lineup.

The trick will be combining his passing acumen with the more defensive-minded role he adopted at Betis. His defensive work rate stood out and forced ample turnovers, even as he’s adjusting to greater involvement in that phase of the game. If everything comes together, he’ll be the worthy alternative to Adams this team has long needed.

Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo) — 21 caps, 26 years old

He isn’t the pool’s most athletic midfielder, nor does he rack up highlight reel actions on a regular basis. Sometimes, the greatest compliment a player can be paid is that they are easy to overlook; simply, De la Torre makes midfield work look neat and tidy with the ball at his feet.

The midfielder was a regular fixture in the Celta Vigo lineup thanks to his usefulness in build-up play. Few midfielders in all of Europe boasted a greater volume of carries and dribbles. He also improved his ability to collect the ball in the box rather than staying at the heart of the park. He’s often overlooked due to buzzier alternatives in the role, but fans shouldn’t stress if he enters a match.

Weston McKennie (Juventus) — 53 caps, 25 years old

Being versatile is a blessing and a curse. Sure, it helps keep a player in contention for playing time throughout their career. As McKennie has learned over the years, however, the frequent role changes can come at the cost of refining one’s skills as a club plugs holes. McKennie finally stayed in a consistent role for a full season in 2023-24 — to the delight of Juventus and his career alike.

McKennie is an infectious personality, a camera operator’s best friend with his every reaction. He’ll likely stay in the lens’ sight this summer with his proactive defensive work and his improved game in possession, more comfortable playing distributor on top of his established off-ball work. Tack on his prowess in dead-ball situations, and McKennie is among this team’s most important members.

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Yunus Musah (AC Milan) — 37 caps, 21 years old

Here’s a good example of how a typical club season for a 21-year-old player can have an outsized impact on such a young national team. Musah made a big leap when he left Valencia for AC Milan last summer, going from being a starter for a relegation-zone club to a rotational figure for a top-tier side. His minutes regressed and he played a myriad of roles.

It sets him up for a possible breakout in 2024-25, but doubles as a setback for a player who was among the USMNT’s most important from a young age. Musah’s transition year comes at a time when it’s clear that Gio Reyna needs to start for this team to generate consistent chances, and he projects to be the odd man out to accommodate. He may not be as involved as he was when he turned heads with his tidy and effective play at the 2022 World Cup, but fear not: Musah’s career is still decidedly on the rise.

A strong showing in Copa América could help Reyna overshadow the drama of the 2022 World Cup. (Photo by Shaun Clark, Getty Images)

Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) — 28 caps, 21 years old

Perhaps a move to Nottingham Forest isn’t in a player’s best interest as the club cycles through options like a video gamer overhauling a roster in record time. Injuries kept Reyna from featuring regularly for Dortmund, and a lack of alternatives sent him to the City Ground late in the January window. The club seldom played with an attacking midfielder, however, and 2023-24 was a lost season for a player who has already suffered a few of those since emerging in 2020-21.

Gio Reyna exclusive: ‘I’ve used these tough times to build myself up and get stronger’

Still, Reyna has an eye for creating chances that few USMNT players have had since Landon Donovan’s heyday. He’s dangerous whether his team is exploiting a transition moment or in a sustained phase of possession, and he’s made himself undroppable for his nation even as his club career has stagnated. His frustration with a lack of involvement at the 2022 World Cup will forever be part of his legacy, but a strong Copa América could help overshadow that.

Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven) — 11 caps, 22 years old

In most eras, Tillman would have a clear role in attacking midfield. It’s the role he occupied as PSV dominated the Eredivisie in 2023-24, scoring nine goals and assisting 10 more en route to a title-winning season. With that act following the 10 goals he scored on loan with Rangers in 2022-23, he should be a certain starter this summer, right?

Unfortunately for Tillman, he hasn’t found a clear role for the U.S. Berhalter often opts for three central midfielders, too withdrawn a spot for Tillman’s skill set — and, historically, a role that would be Reyna’s or Musah’s to occupy. His central channel preference makes him a cumbersome option on the wing. He’s an undeniable talent and an impactful player on his day; maybe this summer will see him find a home in Berhalter’s setup.

Forwards

Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) — 41 caps, 23 years old

A firm Berhalter favorite, Aaronson has struggled since leaving RB Salzburg for Leeds in 2022. Following their relegation, he spent last year on loan with Union Berlin. Some late heroics helped the club avoid relegation from the Bundesliga, but he’ll return to Elland Road with a point to prove to the English club’s fanbase.

Brenden Aaronson exclusive: ‘All I care about is getting Leeds United promoted’

Even in the most difficult stretch of his career, his tireless work rate remains unimpeachable. Aaronson is more of a spark plug for this team as constructed than a starter, able to change a game by sheer force of will whether it’s in midfield or on the wing. Even in a rotational role, Aaronson could kick off a comeback this summer.

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Folarin Balogun (Monaco) — 12 caps, 22 years old

When Balogun committed to the United States instead of England or Nigeria, it seemed like a massive coup. Seldom has the USMNT enjoyed dependable output from a center forward, with Brian McBride and Jozy Altidore being rare exceptions in this century. Coming off of a strong season with Reims, a $43 million move to AS Monaco seemed like evidence that the USMNT finally had a top-tier striker.

At this stage, Balogun is more of a volume scorer than a pinpoint finisher. He has woefully underperformed his expected goal output since the start of 2023, and was dropped from the Monaco lineup midway through the season. His assimilation with the USMNT hasn’t been seamless either, with three goals from a dozen caps. Still, a striker’s legacy is determined by tournament performances more than friendlies. His first major competition since committing will be a timely test of his mettle.

Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven) — 25 caps, 21 years old

Alongside Malik Tillman and Dest, Pepi had some fine moments as PSV dominated the Eredivisie, scoring seven goals and adding two assists. Unfortunately, those moments largely came from the bench, limiting Pepi to just 572 minutes in league action. It’s an understandable plight for a young striker, especially when veteran Luuk de Jong scored 29 goals as the team’s starter. Still, it wasn’t the “leap” many have hoped to see since Pepi left FC Dallas in 2021.

That super-sub season may actually give the USMNT a boost entering this tournament, though. Pepi was a hard omission from Berhalter’s World Cup squad, but enters the Copa América already equipped to impact a game from the bench. Pepi’s time in the spotlight may not be far away, but he could be vital in brief spurts this summer.

Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) — 68 caps, 25 years old

It feels odd given his age and the fact that he only finally enjoyed a full season as a major European club’s starter, but Pulisic is the most capped member of this squad. The resurgence of the program has been carried on his shoulders, and he finally has a supporting cast of a similar standard. It eases the pressure on him to do it all, which could bring even more of his best to the international level.

Pulisic has proven to be more of a finisher than a creator — more of a Clint Dempsey than a Landon Donovan. He flourished playing on the right at AC Milan after years out left (and left out) with Chelsea… although Berhalter favors him on the left. When Pulisic plays with freedom, he can take over a game like nobody else on this roster.

Josh Sargent (Norwich City) — 23 caps, 24 years old

Even as 2023-24 saw Balogun struggle and Pepi toil on the bench, it wasn’t a complete dud for USMNT strikers. Following Teemu Pukki’s move to Minnesota United, Sargent finally enjoyed a full season as Norwich’s starting striker. He rewarded them handsomely, bagging 16 goals on 11.2 non-penalty xG as the club returned to the promotion playoffs.

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In a perfect world, he would be neck-and-neck with Balogun for starts at this tournament. However, Sargent was a question to make the roster due to a nagging foot injury suffered late in the Canaries’ campaign. Strikers, like all soccer players, are famously dependent on their feet, and his ability to impact this tournament is an open question. The fact he made the squad does give some confidence that he could be ready.

Tim Weah (Juventus) — 39 caps, 24 years old

Weah is another versatile player in the pool whose club role changes on an annual basis. Once a striker and often still a winger, Juventus found him to be a capable wing back this past season — a revelation that could come in handy given Dest’s injury.

As a wing back, Weah’s dribbling prowess and skill at executing a give-and-go helped Juventus qualify for the Champions League and win the Coppa Italia. He was also adept at making an impact in defensive phases, a credit to his reading of a game. If he’s a winger this summer, he’ll be among the USMNT’s most important attackers. If he shifts to Dest’s role, however, he could be an X-factor for which few opponents are adequately prepared to contain.

Haji Wright (Coventry City) — 10 caps, 26 years old

When Haji Wright broke into the pool in 2022, conventional wisdom was that he was a target forward — the role that saw the 6’3” striker flourish in Turkey. One of just three United States players to score at the World Cup in Qatar, the fit up top looked suspect. As Balogun committed to the program and Pepi and Josh Sargent continued to develop, it seemed certain that Wright would be a peripheral figure in the coming years.

Credit to Coventry City for unlocking a new side of Wright’s game in his English soccer debut. Playing out wide for the first time, he managed to score 16 goals and add six assists in the league, proving his end product would translate to playing along the touchline. That revelation unlocks greater tactical flexibility and should help Wright see the field often throughout the tournament.(Photo: John Todd, Stephen Nadler/Getty; Design: John Bradford)

Euro 2024 predictions: Best player, dark horses, biggest disappointment? Our writers’ picks

By Oliver Kay, James Horncastle and more Jun 13, 2024

Follow live coverage of Germany vs Scotland at Euro 2024 today

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We are just a day away from Euro 2024, with hosts Germany taking on Scotland in Munich on Friday night.

What can we expect? An outsider victory? A Kylian Mbappe-inspired French romp? England out in the group stages? Whatever we get, there will be drama (we hope). Let us know in the comments section what you expect to happen.

Here, six of The Athletic’s writers give their predictions…

How to follow Euro 2024 on The Athletic…

Who will win the tournament and why?

Oliver Kay: France, because they have the strongest squad — not just in terms of talent and depth in all positions but also know-how and a proven ability to perform when the stakes are high.

Liam Tharme: France. Tournaments are won over decades of youth talent and nobody does it like Ligue 1. Didier Deschamps has found the perfect balance between system and superstars.

James Horncastle: I like how Roberto Martinez has carved out a niche as custodian of international ‘Golden Generations’. First, Belgium, and now Portugal. The balance Portugal have in midfield is encouraging and I’m waiting for Rafael Leao to deliver on his potential at this level.

Mbappe, Deschamps Mbappe and Deschamps will be hopeful (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

Nancy Froston: France have been such a force in recent years and they do not look any weaker.

Carl Anka: Germany. Host nation, favourable side of the draw, and decent players under a clever tactical mind in Julian Nagelsmann.

Nick Miller: France are the correct answer, but Deschamps has been there so long, aren’t they due a meltdown? What about the Netherlands? They have loads of good defenders, as well as Jeremie Frimpong and Xavi Simons, while Memphis Depay seems quite cross about leaving Atletico Madrid, so he’ll have some fire in his belly.

Jeremie Frimpong interview: ‘When I first came to the Bundesliga, I struggled’

Who will win the Golden Boot?

Tharme: Mbappe.

Horncastle: Gianluca Scamacca.

Froston: Mbappe.

Kay: Harry Kane.

Anka: Niclas Fullkrug.

Miller: Kane.

Who will be the best player?

Kay: Mbappe. If France are going deep, then he will play a big part.

Tharme: Kevin De Bruyne will carry a young generation of Belgium midfielders deep into the tournament and provide plenty of assists for Romelu Lukaku.

Belgium Euro 2024 squad guide: Talisman Lukaku, Bakayoko one to watch – but Courtois left out

Horncastle: It’s on home soil. These are the final games of his career. Imagine ending your career by winning the Champions League and the Euros. It’s going to be Toni Kroos.

Froston: Jude Bellingham. You build everything around players as good as him. If England can manage a good run, it’ll be thanks to him.

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Anka: It’s Kroos. This sport doesn’t often grant happy endings, but Kroos is about to have a superb swansong.

Miller: Kroos. Are we all blinded by the sheer wattage of the narrative? Perhaps, but that doesn’t make us wrong.

We all want it for Kroos, don’t we? (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Who will be the best young player (under 23 on June 14)?

Kay: There are a few English candidates, but I’ll say Jamal Musiala. He looks ready to make a big impact at Euro 2024.

Tharme: Between Musiala and Florian Wirtz. Both should rise to the occasion on home soil.

Horncastle: Arda Guler or Kenan Yildiz. Yildiz’s dribbling has generated crazy hype and Guler scored six times for Real Madrid in 377 La Liga minutes. The kid is shy but special.

Froston: Benjamin Sesko. A ‘burns bright in the group stage’ candidate feels about right.

Oldest squad? Most caps? Player call-ups per club? Here’s your ultimate Euro 2024 data guide

Anka: Lamine Yamal. The 16-year-old (16!) has all the tools to be a game-breaking forward.

Miller: Xavi Simons. If I’m sticking with my ‘the Dutch are good’ theory, he’ll be at the centre of it.

How many penalties will fail to find the back of the net — in normal time and shootouts?

Tharme: There were four shootouts in 2020, the most since Euro 1996 (also four). Let’s take an assumed average of three missed from another four shootouts, that’s twelve. Let’s go for 15 total with only three not scored in regulation time.

Horncastle: Italians would say all of Jorginho’s — which is harsh given how cool he was from the spot in the semi-final against Spain three years ago.

Froston: This is the era of the water-bottle cheat sheet, so I fancy four penalties missed in regulation time and 13 in shootouts.

How England ended their penalty curse – and the unsung hero who spent 18 months planning it

Kay: Unlike Liam, I haven’t given this the slightest thought and I’m struggling to get a handle on the numbers. One? A 100? I’ll say 10.

Anka: It’s still mostly a gamble. Three misses in the groups. Two in knockout games. 12 across collected shootouts.

Miller: Well, I’ll pick a number out of the air and say 14.

Who will ‘do an Enzo Fernandez’ and get a big transfer off the back of a tournament?

Kay: These days, so many of the best young talents are already at big clubs. Maybe it’s the perfect shop window for someone like Albania’s Armando Broja, who is surplus to requirements at Chelsea.

Tharme: Ukraine and Shakhtar Donetsk’s Heorhii Sudakov. A pure No 10, two-footed, with plenty of Champions League experience at Shakhtar Donetsk, even at 21.

Ukraine Euro 2024 guide: A strong squad and La Liga’s top scorer – but the war weighs heavy

Horncastle: Define ‘big’. What if Albania winger Jasir Asani was good enough to earn a move back to Europe after a year in South Korea’s K League with Gwangju?

Froston: Nico Williams. It seems likely that clubs will be tempted by his €50million (£42m; $54m) release clause at Athletic Bilbao.

Anka: Belgium and PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko is a dribble-heavy, left-footed winger who likes to cut inside and shoot from the right wing. That’s the sort of forward Premier League clubs like spending dough on.

Johan Bakayoko exclusive: ‘In the next five years I want to be close to winning the Ballon d’Or’

Miller: Bakayoko, Sudakov and Williams all get another couple of thumbs up, but people love a tempo-setting central midfielder, so I’ll say that Benfica will have someone’s pants down for Turkey’s Orkun Kokcu.

Tell us one thing you really want to see happen…

Kay: I would love to see England win it. But that’s such a boring answer. Failing that, I’d really like one of the smaller nations to win it. Denmark, Croatia, even Belgium. It would be nice, wouldn’t it?

Tharme: Josip Ilicic to score for Slovenia. He’s back in the national team for the first time since November 2021.

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Horncastle: One of the five Italian coaches to win the thing.

Froston: Limited minutes for Cristiano Ronaldo. With every embarrassing tantrum, it gets harder to remember why he is one of the best ever.

Will he be smiling in July? (Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images)

Anka: Wingers get chalk on their boots before driving at defenders. Loads of long-range efforts after the ball spills out from a corner.

Miller: Kroos strolling off into retirement having joined your Zidanes, your Xavis, your Iniestas in the ‘winning absolutely everything there is to win’ club.

Tell us one thing you really don’t want to see happen…

Kay: I really hope the tournament is trouble-free. I also hope I can walk through a market square on the day of an England game without cringing in embarrassment at fans singing dismal songs about “10 German bombers”.

Tharme: Germany out in the groups (again).

Horncastle: Please don’t judge Luciano Spalletti as if he’s been in the job for two years when he only stepped into the breach last August.

Froston: Opening ceremonies/pre-game performances from peppy Europop singers or ageing rockers that completely sap the atmosphere.

Anka: Manchester United, could you behave yourself and avoid any news announcements and massive dramas for the foreseeable future? Thanks.

Miller: I think I’m getting soft in my old age, but I used to love penalty shootouts… now I find them incredibly stressful. So as few of them as possible, please.

Which nation are the dark horses?

Kay: We’ve been calling Croatia and Denmark dark horses for so long, I don’t feel I can do it again. I’ll say Serbia.

Tharme: Hungary. They had an excellent Nations League in 2022 against some European big-hitters and have evolved tactically under Marco Rossi.

Hungary Euro 2024 team guide: Solid foundations and Szoboszlai magic cause for hope

Horncastle: Austria. I do wonder: what if Ralf Rangnick hadn’t taken the caretaker job at United when he did? I think his “open heart surgery” approach would appeal to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford.

Froston: Can Croatia be dark horses? Nobody is saying otherwise, so I’m choosing glory for Luka Modric.

With 175 appearances, Modric is Croatia’s most-capped player (MB Media/Getty Images)

Anka: Hi, hello, it’s me, one of the people who said Turkey would be a dark horse at Euro 2020. I am warning you that Serbia will bloody England’s noses and reach the quarters.

Miller: Ukraine. They won’t win it, but they’ve got a great collection of young, exciting players and, well, the country could do with a good news story.

Which player/team will be the biggest disappointment?

Kay: It could be England. This tournament, amid heightened expectations, feels like it could be boom or bust.

Tharme: Portugal. They have underwhelmed since scrapping their way to the Euro 2016 trophy and have a ridiculous squad, with backups better than most teams’ first choices.

Horncastle: England. Three years ago was as good an opportunity to win a tournament as any. England didn’t seize the moment.

Southgate’s England future: What he’s said – and where it leaves the FA

Froston: Adam Wharton. But not the player himself. I just do not think we will see much of him in the tournament, which has the potential to be disappointing after his impressive debut.

Anka: Portugal have the pieces to make a deep run, but a lot depends on how Ronaldo is catered for.

Miller: I fear for England, but I can see Italy doing a rather lacklustre job of being defending champions.

How far will England go and predict the manner of their final match in the competition…

Kay: A semi-final defeat by France is probably the most likely outcome, but I can see it falling short of that.

Tharme: At least to the semi-finals, likely against France. Southgate’s record against teams that have previously knocked England out is good but this would be the ultimate test. Harry Kane has scored all 15 penalties since missing against France in the World Cup quarter-finals, so I’d back him to score.

Horncastle: Tharme has allowed himself to get carried away. His penance will be a tactical breakdown of England’s defeat to hosts Germany in the last 16.

Where/how will it all end? (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)

Froston: Quarter-finals. Shirts pulled up over teary eyes, dejected players lying prostrate on the pitch after a plucky defeat.

Anka: Quarter-finals. I struggle to articulate how grateful I am to Southgate and his team for creating an England side for so many to believe in, but July 11 2021 was the chance to win silverware.

Miller: 1-1 draw with Serbia, 1-1 draw with Denmark, 3-0 win over Slovenia, finish second in the group, play Germany in the knockouts. There, England will take the lead but ultimately lose in extra time.

Give us your most outrageous prediction…

Kay: The format gives teams a safety net, where even third place in the group might get you a place in the knockout stage. But Group B is horrible. Reigning champions Italy knocked out in the first round.

Tharme: No 0-0 draws.

Horncastle: Georgia ride Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s wings out of the group stages. If Kvara recaptures the form he showed in Napoli’s title-winning season, anything is possible.

Georgia at Euro 2024 – ‘We won’t be in Germany for shopping or tourism. We go with ambition’

Froston: Redemption for Rangnick with a decent run for Austria.

Anka: Mbappe scores the goal to knock Spain out.

Miller: France out in the group stage. No logic to it, but you never said we had to back any of this up.

What might make you get emotional?

Kay: Seeing one of the less-fancied teams perform the way Morocco did at the last World Cup.

Tharme: A Pascal Gross goal. A stalwart of Brighton, an everything midfielder who has got better with age and finally made his senior Germany debut aged 32 last September.

Horncastle: Croatia taking back-to-back knockout games to extra time and penalties.

Froston: Any underdog who takes a big team all the way only to lose at the death.

Anka: The first rest day.

Miller: I’m a sucker for parents in the crowd watching their kids succeed, so anything close to Mario Balotelli hugging his mum in 2012.

Euro 2024: How are England, France, Germany, Spain and the other favourites shaping up?

By Oliver Kay, Jacob Whitehead and more un 13, 2024

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The European Championship begins on Friday and managers across the teams considered potential champions have had plenty of last-minute issues to deal with.

The final pre-tournament friendlies are complete and in some instances have provided more questions than answers, while injuries have led to some late rejigging.

So how are each of the eight teams considered most likely to win the competition shaping up and are they ready to hit the ground running?

How to follow Euro 2024 and Copa America on The Athletic…

England

What has their build-up been like?

Not great, really: one win, one draw and two defeats in the warm-up games and — something we haven’t been used to under Gareth Southgate — a few murmurs from within the camp about the omissions of Harry Maguire, Jordan Henderson, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Marcus Rashford from the final squad.

From a distance, this was felt to be England’s best chance of success for a long time but the closer the tournament has got, the more doubts have begun to resurface about the strength of the squad in certain areas (defence, midfield) and the balance of the team.

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What are the main outstanding issues to resolve?

Central defence, left-back, midfield. John Stones is expected to be fit to face Serbia despite a couple of injury scares, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi likely to start alongside him in central defence. Luke Shaw is still on his way back from a hamstring injury, so Kieran Trippier, a right-back, is likely to deputise at left-back on Sunday — not ideal.

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The question in midfield is balance and whether that means one of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kobbie Mainoo or Conor Gallagher plays alongside Declan Rice. Alexander-Arnold looks like the favourite at this stage to start against Serbia. Southgate has experimented with him there previously, but not in a game of this magnitude.

The Radar – The Athletic’s 50 players to watch at Euro 2024

What can we expect from them when the tournament begins?

Under Southgate, they have started tournaments well. They have enough quality in attacking areas to trouble any team — Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in support of Harry Kane —but they just need to make sure they have the balance right to get off to a positive start and build momentum.

If everything goes to plan, England could be on course for a semi-final with France. But that entails winning the group — with Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia, that’s not a formality — and then winning two knockout games. Do all of that and expectations would be high going into a semi-final, even against France. But… one step at a time.

England Euro 2024 squad guide: More justifiable tournament favourites than ever before

Oliver Kay

France

What has their build-up been like?

In their two pre-tournament friendlies, France beat Luxembourg (ranked 87th in FIFA’s world rankings) 3-0 and drew 0-0 with Canada, ranked 49th.

Manager Didier Deschamps saw these games as dress rehearsals, an opportunity for his team to play together and get minutes under their belts.

The performance against Luxembourg was promising and their forward line showed glimpses of flair. Kylian Mbappe was involved in all three goals, but Luxembourg did not test them defensively.

France were underwhelming against Canada, who matched Les Bleus. They struggled to dictate the midfield and allowed Canada to have goalscoring opportunities.

Oldest squad? Most caps? Player call-ups per club? Here’s your ultimate Euro 2024 data guide

What are the main outstanding issues to resolve?

Some niggling injuries are affecting the starting XI. France seem too top-heavy, with an array of attacking talent, but there are concerns about their back line.

Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano were the first-choice centre-back pairing against Luxembourg, but Konate started less than half of Liverpool’s league games last season, while Upamecano started just over half of Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga matches. There are calls for William Saliba, who had an impressive season for Arsenal, to start.

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The two-man midfield of N’Golo Kante, now playing in Saudi Arabia and an unexpected starter, and Eduardo Camavinga did not function well against Canada. Midfielders Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni have been struggling with calf and foot injuries respectively, but are expected to be back this week. Meanwhile, Deschamps has used Antoine Griezmann further up the pitch, which makes him less available in the build-up area.

How prepared are the Saudi Pro League-based players for Euro 2024 and the Copa America?

Mbappe also only played 15 minutes against Canada after he sustained bruising to his knee in the first friendly. Deschamps explained that no risks were to be taken.

What can we expect from them when the tournament begins?

France are still among the favourites to win the tournament. On the way to the 2022 World Cup final, they conceded one goal in every game bar one. Deschamps will want to make sure France’s defence is as efficient as their attack, which boasts some of the best individual quality on offer.

Captain Mbappe has described the Euros as “more complicated than a World Cup” given the teams’ familiarity with one another. They do not have an easy group stage, with fixtures against Austria, the Netherlands and Poland. It may be a slow burner as they ease themselves in, but equally don’t be surprised if they are the first to light up the European stage.

France Euro 2024 squad guide: A collection of stars. Proven winners. All other teams, beware

Charlotte Harpur

Germany

What has their build-up been like?

Two mediocre performances. One, a disappointing draw with Ukraine. The other, a come-from-behind win over Greece. That second game, in Gladbach last Friday, was really a successful failure. Germany played well in the second half, but in a way that emphasised the candidacy of the players assumed to start in reserve.

Julian Nagelsmann has built a system around a particular group and their respective abilities. While he was no doubt delighted by the impact of Leroy Sane, David Raum and Niclas Fullkrug against the Greeks, accommodating those players in the starting line-up would involve a major tactical rethink on the eve of the tournament.

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What are the main outstanding issues to resolve?

Less outstanding issues, more unanswered questions. Is the midfield of Toni Kroos, Robert Andrich, Ilkay Gundogan really balanced enough? Does a team without any real width have enough precision through the middle? Should Manuel Neuer still be starting?

The Neuer issue is likely to drag. He made a bad error against Greece — among some very good saves — and there are polls running on German tabloids about whether fans would prefer Marc-Andre ter Stegen to start. Nagelsmann is already knocking back questions about Neuer’s place in the team during press conferences, so goalkeeper and head coach will need a nice, uneventful start against Scotland if that conversation is to go quiet.

What can we expect from them when the tournament begins?

They could be anything at all. Germany are much better than they were under Hansi Flick and have certainly evolved under Nagelsmann. They have a shape and a clear way of playing. However, they are still a team in recovery and all of their systems, which govern the sharp, precise football that Nagelsmann wants them to play, have only been a few months in development.

It should not be forgotten, either, that while those two wins over France and the Netherlands were enough to fire the public’s enthusiasm, Germany were hardly perfect in either and exhibited flaws (defensive vulnerability, exposure to transitions) that were tolerated in light of the bigger picture.

They could win this tournament. They have the quality and the players to do it. But it could also go badly wrong. It does also feel as if a good result is really important if they are to have the public on their side. It has been a difficult decade since the 2014 World Cup, full of failure and scandal, and while Germans do seem newly interested in their national team, it might not take too much for them to disassociate themselves again.

Germany Euro 2024 team guide: Wirtz and Musiala provide spark but defence is a concern

Seb Stafford-Bloor

Italy

What has their build-up been like?

Initially rocked by injury. Italy lost their most experienced centre-back, Francesco Acerbi, then their most precocious one in Giorgio Scalvini. These casualties haven’t stopped coach Luciano Spalletti from continuing the experiments he made with a back three in March. Agonisingly, Nicolo Barella hasn’t featured in the warm-up games against Turkey and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The all-action Inter Milan midfielder is a doubt for this weekend’s opener against Albania in Dortmund, but at least Davide Frattesi, his Inter team-mate, has carried on his prolific form for the national team. The box-to-box midfielder has scored four goals in nine appearances under Spalletti and could be one of the revelations of the tournament.

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What are the main outstanding issues to resolve?

The team is still learning to play together. Partnerships are new all over the pitch. The Nazionale finds itself in the midst of a generational transition. Spalletti hasn’t been in the job a year. He is introducing alternative systems. Italy played 4-3-3 against Turkey then 3-4-2-1 against Bosnia. Nicolo Fagioli has been thrust into the team on the back of 98 minutes for Juventus following the end of his seven-month ban for betting on football. Federico Chiesa hasn’t been able to snap out of his funk and it remains to be seen if Gianluca Scamacca, dropped from the squad in March, can be as good for his country as he has been for his club (27 goals and assists) this season.

What can we expect from them when the tournament begins?

Encouragingly, Italy began to look like a team against an admittedly depleted Bosnia. Whether it’s Federico Dimarco or Andrea Cambiaso, the left flank has creative instincts. The Fagioli and Jorginho pairing in midfield has potential and was neat and tidy in Empoli at the weekend. Scamacca and Frattesi bounce off each other well from their days in Roma’s academy and their time at Sassuolo. However, the Azzurri still look a little glitchy at the back without Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. As such, it will fall on the two Alessandros, Bastoni and Buongiorno, to keep everyone on their toes and lead the defence. If Chiesa continues to struggle, Spalletti’s first big decision could be to drop him for Giacomo Raspadori, another player, like Frattesi, who is used to playing with Scamacca.

Italy Euro 2024 squad guide: Trepidation for a team yet to be moulded in Luciano Spalletti’s image

James Horncastle

Spain

What has their build-up been like?

Spain have achieved some on-pitch stability under coach Luis de la Fuente after recent scandals involving the federation’s former president, Luis Rubiales.

Two resounding wins in their most recent friendlies have raised hopes about this side. Barcelona midfielder Pedri scored twice in a 5-1 rout of Northern Ireland on Saturday — his first goals for the national team after several spells out through injury — after a Mikel Oyarzabal hat-trick helped them to a 5-0 victory against Andorra. There will be tougher tests to come, but the signs are promising for La Roja.

De la Fuente has returned to a 4-3-3 system after experimenting with a 4-2-3-1 in friendlies three months ago against Brazil and Colombia. Unai Simon is their undisputed No 1 after a fine season with Athletic Bilbao, while Dani Carvajal will start at right-back following his role in Real Madrid’s record-extending 15th European Cup/Champions League triumph.

There are doubts over the centre-back partnership: naturalised Frenchmen Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand have tended to start for De la Fuente but Nacho could replace Laporte. Bayer Leverkusen’s impressive left-back Alejandro Grimaldo looks set to start after Valencia’s Jose Gaya was ruled out of the tournament with injury.

Rodri, Pedri and Mikel Merino are fairly established in midfield, while exciting youngsters Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal will flank captain Alvaro Morata up front. Yamal, 16, will become the youngest player in Euros history if, as expected, he plays against Croatia on Saturday.

What are the main outstanding issues to resolve?

De la Fuente’s contract has been renewed until the 2026 World Cup, but fans still have their doubts about him and some of his decisions have been questioned.

Choosing to leave out the veteran defender Sergio Ramos and Madrid’s promising winger Brahim Diaz were seen as two controversial decisions — the latter chose to represent Morocco earlier this year after making just one senior appearance for Spain. Cutting Barca’s 17-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsi from his final list for the Euros was also a decision that raised eyebrows after a fine breakout season for the Blaugrana.

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The team’s leadership qualities will be tested in Germany. And while their style of play is still based on dominating possession, they will need to be more direct than in previous tournaments. Yamal and Williams could be key to that.

What can we expect from them when the tournament begins?

Spain are joint-record holders of this competition with three trophies and De la Fuente led them to last year’s Nations League title — their first trophy since the all-conquering generation of 2008-2012 — so they are expected to be very competitive. The players see themselves as one of the favourites and will hope to reach the latter stages after they lost in the semi-finals of Euro 2020.

But the lack of established stars in their line-up is a contrast to countries such as France, England and Germany and could count against them. They will need to find a consistent source of goals if they are to have any hope of emulating Iker Casillas, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and co.

Spain Euro 2024 squad guide: A teenage record-breaker and Rodri in the middle, but the scandal lingers

Guillermo Rai

Portugal

What has their build-up been like?

Busy. Most nations have played two pre-tournament warm-ups, but manager Roberto Martinez wanted three for Portugal, reflecting his desire/need to fine-tune not only the starting XI but also the formation.

Results and performances have been mixed – they beat Finland 4-2 with goals from Premier League players Diogo Jota, Ruben Dias and Bruno Fernandes (two), then they lost 2-1 to Croatia (Jota again on the scoresheet) before breezing past the Republic of Ireland 3-0 on Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo, who like Ruben Neves joined up with the group a bit later because the Saudi Pro League season ran until May 31, got his first minutes back with the team and scored twice (Joao Felix netted the other).

The results followed a slightly worrying trend since the qualifiers – Portugal sauntered through their group with 10 wins from 10 but against pretty feeble opposition (other than Slovakia, their opponents were ranked 72nd to 202nd in the world) and in the five friendlies since, they have beaten three teams who are not at Euro 2024 (Sweden, Finland, Ireland) and lost to two teams who are (Slovenia and Croatia).

Injury-wise, they lost midfielder Otavio before the friendlies started, replacing him with Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes. Pepe, who will become the oldest player to feature at a Euros aged 41 if he gets on the pitch in Germany, hadn’t played since April but got 45 minutes against Ireland.

What are the main outstanding issues to resolve?

Martinez wanted to fine-tune and, while he may know his preferred XI/system in his head, it hasn’t been seen on the pitch yet. He made seven changes for the second friendly and then another six for the third, also switching between 4-3-3 and 3-4-1-2.

Portugal have possibly the most talented squad at the whole tournament, with an abundance of options in each position. That’s no bad thing, obviously, but only if Martinez can fashion a coherent and settled side.

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The left side of attack hasn’t been nailed down because Jota often plays in the middle, Felix’s form is inconsistent and Rafael Leao looks more effective as a substitute. Issues over Pepe’s fitness don’t help either and probably dictate the formation (a three with him, a four without him).

After the Croatia defeat, Dias said the players needed to put their egos to one side and focus on a collective effort. Blimey.

What can we expect from them when the tournament begins?

More fine-tuning, but given the group they have been handed (Czech Republic, Turkey and Georgia), Portugal and Martinez can probably afford to keep calculating that formula and still have more than enough to get through.

And no one wants to peak too soon, right?

Portugal Euro 2024 squad guide: The complete package, if the balance is right

Tim Spiers

Belgium

What has their build-up been like?

Low-key, but they have quietly gone 15 games unbeaten since the traumatic defeat by Morocco at the last World Cup, which effectively signalled the end of the Belgian “golden generation”.

They still have the experience of Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne (502 caps between them), but this is a younger, fresher squad, free from some of the baggage and internal tensions that have dogged Belgium in the past.

The only real talking point surrounds the absence of Thibaut Courtois, who recovered from injury in time to play in the Champions League final but still hasn’t forgiven coach Domenico Tedesco for preferring Lukaku as captain for a qualifier against Austria last June.

What are the main outstanding issues to resolve?

Thomas Meunier limped out of their final warm-up game against Luxembourg on Saturday and stayed in Belgium for further medical treatment when his team-mates left for Germany on Wednesday. For the opening game against Slovakia at the very least, Fulham’s Timothy Castagne is set to revert to right-back. Maxim De Cuyper, of Club Bruges, could fill in at left-back.

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In the absence of Courtois, Belgium’s first-choice goalkeeper for the tournament will be Koen Casteels, who has just signed a deal to join Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah on a free transfer from Wolfsburg.

What can we expect from them when the tournament begins?

Even if they are less formidable than during the peak years of their “golden generation”, Belgium have a range of creative and goalscoring options between De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku and Lukaku, with Yannick Carrasco, Lois Openda and Johan Bakayoko in reserve. Lukaku approaches the tournament looking far sharper than he did at the last World Cup.

They are in one of the gentler-looking groups along with Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. Win the group and they will face a third-placed team in the round of 16. Progression to the quarter-finals looks like a realistic goal. Getting any further would be a cause for celebration.

Belgium Euro 2024 squad guide: Talisman Lukaku, Bakayoko one to watch – but Courtois left out

Oliver Kay

Netherlands

What has their build-up been like?

Oof. Well, if you go only by results, everything looks rosy. The Netherlands have won six of their past seven matches, the only exception being a late 2-1 loss to Germany in March. On Monday, Ronald Koeman’s side completed their preparations with a 4-0 win over Iceland and looked as stylish as they ever have under the former Barcelona manager.

But the Iceland game brought terrible news. Midfield lynchpin Frenkie de Jong, who had been racing to recover from an ankle injury, was declared unfit for the tournament. The Barcelona pivot is key to the Netherlands’ build-up play and is one of their two truly world-class players, alongside Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.

What are the main outstanding issues to resolve?

Exactly that, who replaces De Jong in midfield? Less than 12 hours after De Jong was ruled out, one potential replacement, Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners, was himself removed from the Euros squad after suffering an injury during the previous night’s warm-up.

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Full-back Ian Maatsen has been called up in their stead, but Koeman is expected to name PSV Eindhoven pairing Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman in midfield. The pair are excellent technicians but lack De Jong’s explosiveness and ability to shine in wide as well as narrow spaces.

The other question mark is left-back. Koeman wanted to play with wing-backs, but an injury to Feyenoord’s Quilindschy Hartman meant he had to abandon that plan. This is now a problem position. Options include Manchester City’s Nathan Ake, Girona veteran Daley Blind, and now Maatsen — Ake will likely start and create a back three when in possession, with right-back Denzel Dumfries pushing higher to play as an auxiliary winger.

What can we expect from them when the tournament begins?

Teams who win the Euros tend to excel in defence rather than attack and the Netherlands have some outstanding centre-backs in the shape of Van Dijk, Ake, Matthijs de Ligt and Micky van de Ven.

However, everything in front of them is relatively untested. Xavi Simons will be this side’s main creator in attack and has been in good form in recent months, although he does his best work with structure around him. The Netherlands’ inexperienced midfield and relative paucity of top-class goalscoring options means expectations at home are relatively low.

Netherlands Euro 2024 squad guide: Big names like Van Dijk, but De Jong is out and they lack firepower

Oldest squad? Most caps? Player call-ups per club? Here’s your ultimate Euro 2024 data guide

Mark Carey Jun 12, 2024 Follow live coverage of Germany vs Scotland at Euro 2024 today

One player arrives at Euro 2024 with the best goals-per-cap rate, and it’s not Cristiano Ronaldo.One player will break the record as the oldest men’s player in European Championship history, and it’s… not Cristiano Ronaldo.Nearly one in five players competing in Germany play their club football in one country, but which one?

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Allow The Athletic to sprinkle some data-led seasoning on top of your tactical insights before the summer’s tournament, breaking down the make-up of each squad and providing some curious tidbits to fuel your excitement before the games begin.

This is your definitive data guide to the squads at Euro 2024…

How to follow Euro 2024 and Copa America on The Athletic…

Player call-ups per club

A total of 218 clubs have players representing their country in Germany this summer, but some are providing plenty more than others.

Among the clubs with the most players selected for Euro 2024, it is unsurprising to see Europe’s elite leading the way. Champions League winners Real Madrid have 12 players represented in the tournament — spanned across seven countries — but it is the 2023 finalists, Manchester City and Inter Milan, who have the strongest footprint in Germany with 13 players apiece.

That is before you consider each club’s representation in the Copa America in the United States this summer, with many club managers carefully managing their pre-season plans in a summer packed with international football.

From a European perspective, Pep Guardiola and Simone Inzaghi will be the busiest men keeping a close eye on their players’ fitness across the next four weeks.

Player call-ups per league

Like many recent major tournaments, the Premier League again leads the way as the league that provides the most players — slightly ahead of Italy’s Serie A.

Unsurprisingly, the top five leagues represented are made up of… well, the so-called ‘top five European leagues’. Ligue 1 has fallen a little behind its peers, with a comparatively low 29 players playing in France’s top division.

The Premier League’s 96 players span 21 of the 24 countries at the Euros, the widest coverage of any league in the world. The English skew is unsurprising but the range of representatives — from Portugal (10) down to Turkey and Romania (both one) — underpins the global brand of the Premier League.

Across the tournament, 114 players play their football in England, with 18 in leagues below the Premier League. That 114 figure accounts for 18 per cent of the tournament’s total — nearly one in five players, for those requiring the quick maths.

Italy are just behind (17 per cent), with 104 players — 91 of them from their top division, Serie A. Similar to the Premier League, Serie A provides players for a wide selection of nations — 19 in total, the second-most of any league.

At the manager level, the representation from Italy is highly impressive, with five — Luciano Spalletti (Italy), Francesco Calzona (Slovakia), Vincenzo Montella (Turkey), Domenico Tedesco (Belgium), Marco Rossi (Hungary) — comfortably more than any other nation.

Spain (Luis de la Fuente and Roberto Martinez), France (Didier Deschamps and Willy Sagnol), and Germany (Julian Nagelsmann and Ralf Rangnick) are the only other nations with more than one manager represented, further highlighting the hotbed of elite coaches currently coming out of Italy.

As a final fun fact, the two German managers bookend delightfully as the oldest (Ralf Rangnick, 65) and the youngest (Julian Nagelsmann, 36 years) in the tournament.

The Radar – The Athletic’s 50 players to watch at Euro 2024

Who has the oldest squad?

Among the 24 nations, Steve Clarke’s Scotland have the oldest squad, with an average age of 28.3 years old.

Clarke has led his country to back-to-back Euros, maintaining a level of experience and consistency of selection during qualifying that has allowed his side to develop together. Within the squad, Billy Gilmour (23) and Tommy Conway (21) are the only players aged 23 or below heading into the tournament (and Conway was a late call-up) — only Romania (one) have fewer players in that age bracket.

As The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell reported in his nation guide, Scotland’s 26-man squad named for Euro 2020 had a combined caps total of 448 — of which veteran goalkeepers Marshall and Craig Gordon accounted for 99. The total is now 757, with 14 players over the quarter-century mark.

That experience will give them a fighting chance to improve upon their previous, winless campaign three years ago.

Scotland Euro 2024 team guide: Greater than the sum of their parts and aiming high

Behind Scotland are fellow Group A side — and their opening-day opponents — Germany, whose average squad age of 28.2 years old is the second-oldest in the tournament.

The experience of Manuel Neuer (38), Thomas Muller (34) and the soon-to-be-retiring Toni Kroos (34) will be crucial for the hosts this summer, but the fact a lot of their players are at their peak age suggests that they have a squad that is ready to win now.

Ironically, their creative spark is catalysed by two of their youngest players, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz (both 21) — who will play as dual No 10s and be given the freedom to find pockets of space to inflict maximum damage to their opponents.

Germany Euro 2024 team guide: Wirtz and Musiala provide spark but defence is a concern

At the individual level, Portugal’s 41-year-old centre-back Pepe arrives at the tournament as the oldest player.

If he takes to the field in Germany, Pepe will break the record as the oldest player in European Championship history, currently held by Hungary’s Gabor Kiraly (40 years, 86 days).

Behind Pepe is compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo. You may have heard of him.

With a higher likelihood of scoring than Pepe, Ronaldo could become the oldest player to score a goal in Euros history, surpassing Austria’s Ivica Vastic (38 years, 257 days).

Ronaldo holds the record for the most European Championship games (25), and is the only male player to have represented his country across five editions of the tournament. Barring a disaster, the 39-year-old will extend that record to six this summer.

Who has the youngest squad?

The Czech Republic come into the tournament with the youngest average squad age, at 25.3 years old.

Manager Ivan Hasek will hope strong club connections can generate cohesive performances — 15 of the 26-man squad play for either Slavia Prague, Sparta Prague or Viktoria Plzen.

It is a young squad, too, with only two players aged 30 or over — the fewest of any nation in the tournament.

Turkey (25.8 years old) and England (26.1 years old) are not far behind as the youngest squads in the tournament, and will be hoping to blend youth and experience to go far in the competition.

Individually, England have three of the youngest players to be named in Euro 2024 squads — Kobbie Mainoo (19), Jude Bellingham (20) and Adam Wharton (20) — and no national team provides more in a table of the top 20 youngest players.

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There is one player who does stand out, though. Spain’s Lamine Yamal has taken European football by storm for Barcelona this season, and if he takes to the field in Germany, he will become the youngest player in the history of the European Championship — just shy of 17 years old. His 17th birthday is the day before the final on July 14.

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Who has the most experienced squad?

Having an older squad does not necessarily mean you are the most experienced on the international stage, so which nation has the most caps per player?

Croatia edge out Portugal here, but we must acknowledge the outliers dragging up the average.

No national team at this Euros has more players with 100-plus caps than Croatia, with Luka Modric (175), Ivan Perisic (131), Domagoj Vida (105) and Mateo Kovacic (101) boosting their average quite significantly.

A word must also go to Switzerland, whose average caps figure of 42.7 is the third-highest on the list. Rather than specific individuals, Switzerland have spread the experience across the squad, with 10 players aged 30 or above — the most of any nation and the only side with double figures in that age bracket.

Yes, we know what you are thinking — how is Xherdan Shaqiri still only 32?

Between Switzerland and Croatia, Portugal’s average caps are dragged up by Ronaldo (207), Pepe (137) and Rui Patricio (108) in particular.

At the individual level, Ronaldo’s 207 international caps are more than any other player at the Euros. It feels like this will be the last time we see him — and Modric — in a major international tournament, but we have said that before.

What we do know is that this will be Olivier Giroud’s final tournament for France, having recently announced his impending retirement from international football.

Giroud will almost certainly bow out as France’s all-time top goalscorer as he looks to extend his record of 57 goals.

Looking at the goalscoring trajectory of Kylian Mbappe — who will captain France in a major tournament for the first time in his career — it is hard to argue against that record being broken soon.

Who has the best goals-per-cap rate?

Sticking with the theme of goals, it is difficult to look beyond Ronaldo once again, with the 39-year-old holding the record for the most goals (14) of any player in European Championship history.

However, the all-time top goalscorer in men’s international football does not boast the best goals-per-cap rate among all players heading into the tournament. That honour belongs to Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who arrives in Germany with a rate of 0.74 goals per cap — 85 goals in 115 appearances.

After bagging two more goals against Luxembourg last week, Lukaku is now the second-highest European men’s international goalscorer behind Ronaldo — and the joint-sixth highest of all time.

Lukaku has been finding things more difficult at club level, but he looks at ease when representing his country. His 14 goals in eight games during qualifying was more than any other player and set a record as the most within a single qualification period. Impressively, only one of those goals came from the penalty spot.

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Ronaldo will be coming into the tournament off the back of a prolific club season, but his 35-goal return needs to be asterisked due to the quality of the Saudi Pro League.Harry Kane (36 league goals in the 2023-24 season), Mbappe (27) and Robert Lewandowski (19) come into the tournament with strong goalscoring outputs but keep an eye on Ukraine’s Artem Dovbyk, whose 24 goals for Girona were the joint-fifth-highest of any player in the top five European leagues.Ultimately, we want the biggest names in Europe to do what they do best in an international shirt.Friday cannot come soon enough.(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)

Christen Press’ long journey back from injury: ‘The last six months have been the best of my life’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Christen Press of Angel City FC poses for a portrait on February 08, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

By Meg Linehan Jun 11, 2024

On Tuesday, Christen Press returned to team training with Angel City FC, exactly two years to the day from when she tore her ACL in a 2022 match against Racing Louisville. While her involvement in training is still limited, with her only taking part in the warm-ups and a passing drill to start, it’s one of the many milestones Press can celebrate on the arduous journey she’s undertaken for a full return to the sport.

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As she noted in a call with The Athletic, most of those milestones have been reached in private. At first, she wanted this moment to be private too — well, as private as it could be with a full team and staff around, but in a closed practice where she could evaluate how she felt. With further thought, she changed her mind: this milestone was one that could be celebrated, and with so much uncertainty still left about what milestones remain, she might as well embrace this one.

“If this is something we can all celebrate, let’s just go for it, because this journey has been really, really long,” Press said on Monday, a little more than 24 hours out from the return to training. “When you don’t play, you do have a different relationship with the fanbase, and it’s nice to see this as the re-entry point. People are going to get videos of me in team training, and I’m just going to be around.”https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8FPTUapSHV/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com&rp=%2Fathletic%2F5556789%2F2024%2F06%2F11%2Fchristen-press-angel-city-uswnt-interview%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2460.5%2C%22ls%22%3A1449.4000000059605%2C%22le%22%3A1715.5%7D

Back in February, Press referenced her “relentless optimism” that has helped her on this wildly unpredictable recovery process, which required four surgeries and resulted in her missing out entirely for competing for a 2023 World Cup roster spot. Her fourth surgery was timed right around when the USWNT was heading to New Zealand, which released her from being tied to a recovery timeline and feeling the pressure to return.

“When I found out I had to have the fourth surgery, I was like, well, I’m not going to the World Cup because I’ll be in surgery during the World Cup,” she said in February. “So that was the moment I actually exhaled. I had to grieve that.”

The release from external timelines has extended to another tournament, the Olympics, which Press said on Monday she’s never really focused on in terms of a potential return. Despite the standard recovery timelines lining up from her fourth and final ACL surgery, last summer’s World Cup experience wasn’t something she wanted to repeat.

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“There’s no way your mind can’t start doing the math, right?” Press said this week, saying she’d catch herself counting down the weeks to this summer’s tournament. She doesn’t want to turn off the part of herself still dreaming and striving for a roster spot or any accomplishment on the field, but it’s all a balance.

There’s also a delicate emotional balance in other ways through the recovery process. She’s been in with the team at their training facility, watching the rest of the players train; she’s been at games supporting Angel City, too. Injuries can be isolating, but there’s a weight to being around the team, unable to participate.

“Some of the hardest days of my week are game days when I watch my team play, and there’s a lot of nuance to that. I do feel part of the team. I’m very loyal and dedicated to my teammates and to the club, but it’s actually really hard and painful to watch,” she said.

Having her own space at her physical therapy clinic provided a healing environment. One that lives outside the specific pressures and stresses of the week-to-week grind of the NWSL season, one where the coaches turn from a Friday night result to the new outlook of Monday morning.

“It was a huge blessing to be able to be outside of that, and then the re-entry has been just so great because I have been in a bubble. I’ve been saying, I’ve been bubble-wrapped for so long and now to get in and experience the shift in moods, the shift in energy that comes with preparing for a game and dealing with the results is really important,” she said, now having been more integrated with the team over the past three months.

She’s adjusted now, but shifting from the PT clinic, where she saw the same three people every day, to the full Angel City experience was a bit of a shock.

“It was so social,” she said, laughing a little, recalling just how many people were suddenly talking to her on a daily basis. “Oh my god, I am so introverted. I can’t be around 23 people that are asking me about my life. This is wild! I kept being like, I want to wear a shirt that says, ‘Please don’t ask me about my knee today.’”

Press during her return to training on Tuesday. (Photo: Angel City)

With the integration underway and the public milestone achieved, Press has also been busy with the return of The RE-CAP Show, which she hosts with Tobin Heath. Now into their third season, they’ve already recorded with guests like former USWNT player Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle (who both are in the Angel City investment group, too).

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Press and Heath were among the first players to balance active careers with stepping into the media realm, a path shared by the likes of Sam Mewis, Becky Sauerbrunn, Lynn Williams, Midge Purce and others. But still the far more common path is for a player to retire, then start talking about soccer for a living. Press and Heath embrace the tension and perspective this provides.

“Neither Tobin nor I are retired, and neither Tobin nor I have put that chapter behind us,” she said. “We always say it’s a very unique insider/outsider perspective with the USWNT.” As she noted on Monday’s call, you can’t get cut from the national team — a player can always get left off a roster, but they’re also always in contention for the next one. “With the national team, we’re both like, ‘You never know.’ If we can play, we’re going for it right?”

Press noted that discussing the NWSL felt different to her on the show — she’s actively contracted to a team, after all. But either way, her and Heath approach the show with an “active eye” rather than two players who are looking back. But they’ve also focused on building a community along with their foray into the media space. Press has been providing videos with an intimate look into her recovery process for paying members of RE-INC, something that she didn’t think she’d want to create in a more public forum.

“We’ve been able to stay inside the women’s soccer community, having a relationship with our community and our fan base through it all,” Press said.

“We’re simply having the same conversation that we have on our living room couch. I carry a weight of being thoughtful and careful and intentional all the time, inside my own home, so it’s easy for me to translate that. So when we have our banter back and forth, we can stand in a place where we’re challenging each other, and that makes the show more of a provocation than an answer,” she continued. “It’s a question. It’s not an answer.”

Press’ reputation is built in many ways around that thoughtfulness, but it’s not an act either. And sometimes, the way she approaches the world in her “cerebral” fashion means that she wants things to make sense, like her ACL injury and all four surgeries. “I want this fairy tale story where I come back, I’m delightful — that’s actually what I want. ‘I went through all of this, and now you all find me delightful.’”

Press is also all too aware of another reputation, one earned because she’s not afraid to ask for what she wants. She’s fought for everything she wanted. She knows her value.

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“Before, you called me a diva, and now I’m delightful. It’s not going to be like that; that’s not what life is. But I will say, the last year of my life — maybe even shorter, the last six months — have been the best of my life because of the space that my ACL created for me to heal as a human. I’m still on that journey, and I intend to stay on that journey.”

Press strikes the ball during training on Tuesday. (Photo: Angel City)

Press said this time has allowed her to process and work through all the things she wanted to work through when she actively took a break from the national team, following the previous Olympics. That was the last time she put on a USWNT jersey, after all, and it was and still is a big part of her identity. There have been chapters of her life since then though, and through the recovery process she has asked herself time and time again not when she wants to come back, but how.

She acknowledged there will be fear and pressure with this milestone and the ones yet to come, but the simple goal is for her to be delightful as a human being, for others to be around. Someone that can mentor or be good on the field, laugh at themselves and tease a little too. That doesn’t feel like too much to ask.

“Getting that role in the team where I can be happy and joyful and chasing excellence, really appreciating what I’m doing and what I’m able to do.” That’s what’s important, after a stretch when she did not enjoy the sport itself. “Because if I go back, and I go back and feel the same way that I did about soccer and winning and scoring, then that will feel like a bigger failure than not making it back at all.”

“The competitor in me and the perfectionist in me and the Capricorn in me and the Enneagram three in me just wants to be this delightful, great soccer player that has so much fun and scores all these goals and can totally deal with stress and is always laughing,” she said.

That’s the dream part. The real answer is simple. “With delight.” (Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

#INDvSA Preview

Indy Eleven vs San Antonio FC
Saturday, June 15, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. ET 
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis
Dino Night

Follow Live
WISH-TV
TelevisaUnivision
Stream: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
Spanish Radio: Exitos Radio 94.3 FM & exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #INDvSA MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com

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SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to The Mike on Saturday to host San Antonio FC. This serves as the lone meeting between the two sides in USL Championship action this season, but the pair met up in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 (5.8) with Indy coming away with a 2-0 victory.

Indy is coming off a 1-0 win over Birmingham Legion FC and sits at 8-4-2 in third place in the Eastern Conference. San Antonio fell to Tulsa, 2-1, its last time out, and is 4-5-5 in the Western Conference.

IND		SA
14	Games	14
26	Goals	18
21	Goals Conceded	17
15	Assists	15
68	SOT	51
61	Shots Faced	57
2	Clean Sheets	3

SERIES VS. SAN ANTONIO
Sunday marks only the third meeting all-time in USL Championship competition between the teams, but fourth meeting overall.

Indy Leads 1-0-1 | GF 4, GA 3

Recent Meetings
May 8, 2024 ^ | W, 2-0 | Home
Oct. 14, 2023 | D, 3-3 | Away
Aug. 27, 2022 | W, 1-0 | Home
^denotes U.S. Open Cup match

GOALS
The Boys in Blue have scored in 14 straight USLC matches to open the 2024 season, bringing their total to 26 goals (3rd USL). The streak is the longest to open a USLC campaign and is the longest run overall within the same season for the club. In total, Indy has scored in 17 straight regular season matches dating back to Sept. 30, 2023.

The Boys in Blue have 15 first-half goals this season, the second highest total in league play (Charleston, 16).

TOTW REGULARS
Jack Blake has been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week five times in 2024, the most for any player in the league, while Aedan Stanley has three nods and a Player of the Week accolade to his name. Additionally, four players have had at least one selection in Younes Boudadi, Adrian Diz Pe, Benjamin Ofeimu and Augi Williams.

In total, six players have earned team of the week nods, while seven total have received either team or bench honors.

LAST TIME OUT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sunday, June 9, 2024) – Indy Eleven went on the road and defeated Birmingham Legion FC, 1-0, on Sunday.

Indy’s leading goal scorer Jack Blake got things started for the visiting team in the 34th minute, converting on his fifth penalty kick of the season. In addition to being a perfect 5-for-5 from the spot in 2024, Blake now has eight goals this campaign (T3 USLC) and 11 total over two seasons with the Boys in Blue. His five successful PKs are also the third most all-time for an Indy player in USL Championship action.

Indy is 6-for-6 from the spot this season (Williams).

The Boys in Blue outshot Birmingham 21-14 in the match, including a 9-1 advantage in shots on target. Blake posted a season-high eight shots and four on target.

Defensively, Callum Chapman-Page won a game-high three tackles and led the match with four clearances. Hunter Sulte was forced to make one save and picked up his second clean sheet in seven matches.

Scoring Summary
IND – Jack Blake (penalty) 34’

Discipline Summary
IND – Bench (caution) 90+3’

STREAKING
The Boys in Blue are now unbeaten in 11 straight matches across all competitions, including a club-best seven straight wins in USL Championship matches. The last loss for Indy came on April 13 against Charleston Battery, who sits just three points ahead of third-place Indy in the Eastern Conference standings entering the weekend. Indy is now only one of 12 teams in USL Championship history to make it seven straight wins.

The Boys in Blue have outscored their opponents 22-6 in those matches, while posting five clean sheets and never conceding more than one goal.

4.17 Chicago Fire FC II^ W, 1-0
4.20 at Colorado Springs Switchbacks SC D, 1-1
4.27 North Carolina FC W, 2-1
5.4 at Monterey Bay F.C. W, 1-0
5.8 San Antonio FC^ W, 2-0
5.12 at Miami FC W, 3-1
5.18 Hartford Athletic W, 4-1
5.22 Detroit City FC^ W, 3-0
5.25 Phoenix Rising FC W, 2-1
6.1 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC W, 2-1
6.9 at Birmingham Legion FC W, 1-0
^denotes U.S. Open Cup match

THIS IS MAY
Indy Eleven finished off the month of May going 4-0-0 in USL Championship action and 6-0-0 across all competitions. The four wins for the Boys in Blue are the most so far this season for a side in the USLC to take maximum points in a month.

TOP-10 TEAMMATES
Sebastian Guenzatti (6th, 73) and Augi Williams (9th, 71) serve as the only pair of active teammates in the USL Championship’s top 10 for all-time regular season goals. Williams currently sits at five goals in 2024, while Guenzatti has three. Williams also has a pair in U.S. Open Cup action this season to lead Indy.

ALLOW ME TO ASSIST YOU
Aedan Stanley has a league-best seven assists, which includes his first career multi-assist game, a two-helper performance against his old club Miami FC on May 12. He also has a team-high two in Open Cup games. Stanley has 15 career USL Championship assists, posting no more that three in a season before 2024.

2024: 7 | 2023: 3 | 2022: 3 | 2020: 2

THE [NEW] GAFFER
2024 is Indy’s first season under head coach Sean McAuley, who previously served as interim head coach/assistant at MLS-side Minnesota United FC. McAuley helped Minnesota to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. In 2015, he hoisted the MLS Cup with Portland Timbers. McAuley opened his playing career with Manchester United and played for Portland Timbers and the U-21 Scottish National Team, among others.

McAuley got his first career win in the USL Championship on March 16, 2024, a 2-1 defeat of Memphis 901 FC.

USLC : 8-4-2 | USOC: 3-0-0 | OVERALL: 11-4-2

IN THE WIN COLUMN
The Boys in Blue had 13 regular-season wins in 2023 tied for the second most during a USL Championship season (2018) and behind the 19 victories from the 2019 season. Indy currently has eight in 2024, a total not reached until August 12 a season ago.

6/11/24 US play Brazil Wed night 7 pm TNT, Indy bring 11 game unbeaten streak home Sat, Euros start Fri, Preview

June 12, 2024June 12, 2024 gatorbest copa-america, european-championships, euros, football, indy-11, soccer, us-men-soccer, usa, usmnt

US Men lose 5-1 to Colombia play Brazil Wednesday night at 7 pm on TNT

Ok so I watched again before writing this. On the bright side we were down 2-1 with 75 minutes to go to a team that is unbeaten in 22 straight games in South American qualifying which included wins over Brazil, England, Germany and more. The bad news – we subbed in Cameron Carter Vickers at center back and immediately gave up 3 goals. The Celtic Man Vickers should not see the field again this summer – Miles Robinson is 5 times better than him – MLS player be damned. (Heck I would prefer Miles & Zimmerman at the centerback spots there right now – at least they will fight!) Each were dumb give-aways, but 5-1 is hard to explain when 2-1 or even 2-2 looked to be the result coming with 15 minutes left. Also on the bad side – our starting keeper Matt Turner was HORRIFIC – of the 5 goals I would say 3 of them were definitely save-able balls. I am not sure Tim Howard gives up more than 1 on the night. It’s time to give Ethan Horvath a game – Turner is proving his 4 months with no games at Nottingham Forest have cost him.

On the good side right back Joe Scally was amazing – basically keeping the electric Liverpool man Luis Diaz in check – while in for Dest. Dmid Johnny Cardosa was fantastic until the 75^th minute mark when his giveaway gave up the deciding 3^rd goal, he’s no Adams – but he proved the #6 should be his spot when Adams is not healthy. I thought Weah was good on the right wing, (not so good at right back) and substitute Haji Wright was electric when he checked in for Pulisic. I think Haji deserves a shot up top as the #9 – Balogen seemed disconnected like he has been for months now. Of course everyone is calling for Berhalter’s head again – and while I am not pleased with the result – GB did not give-away 3 balls inside his own half leading to 3 stupid easy goals. Now – he needs to regroup this team – get them ready for Brazil and NOT lose by more than 1 goal to Brazil. We had 0ver 60% possession on the night – which is nice but Colombia outshot us 17-5. I have always thought the US should be a counter attacking team rather than trying to control the tempo – with Pulisic and Weah on the wings – Mckinney in the midfield – and Reyna quarterbacking the middle – I just love the idea of counter attacking with a vengeance. Maybe we’ll see that vs Brazil and into the Copa America. Listen lost to Brazil by 3 goals or more – not advance past the group stages of Copa and Berhalter should be fired. We’ll finish 2^nd in the group on Copa but my excitement for this team going to the Semi’s is basically dead at this point. I am hoping for a 3-2 or 2-1 loss on the night? Wouldn’t a 2-2 be nice? Listen Mexico righted the ship vs Brazil why not the US?

Here’s my starters for Wed night 7 pm on TNT vs Brazil:

Indy 11 Bring 11 game unbeaten streak home vs San Antonio this Sat Night at the Mike.

Euro’s Start Friday

The European Championships start Friday — I have included some preview stories below – I will have my full preview and predictions Friday. Copa America of course starts the following weekend as the summer of soccer 2024 on Fox gets underway.

Carmel High Girls Soccer Camp July 22-25

2-4:30 pm @ Murray Stadium Register Here contact fdixon@ccs.k1.in.us for more info

GAMES ON TV to WATCH

Wed, June 12

7 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Brazil

Fri, June 14 Euro 2024 Begins

3 pm Fox Germany vs Scotland

8 pm Amazon Prime KC Current vs Chicago Red Stars NWSL

Sat, June 15

9 am Hungary vs Switzerland

12 pm Fox Spain vs Croatia

3 pm Fox Italy vs Albania

7 pm TV 8 Indy 11 vs San Antonio @ the Mike

Sun, June 16

9 am FS1 Poland vs Netherlands Euro

12 noon FS1 Slovenia vs Denmark

3 pm Fox Serbia vs England Euro

Thur, June 20 COPA America Starts

12 noon FS1 Denmark vs England

3 pm Fox Spain vs Italy

8 pm Fox Argentina vs Canada COPA

Sat, June 22

6 pm Fox Ecuador vs Venezuela COPA

7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs OC @ the Mike Pride Night

9 pm Fox Mexico vs Jamaica COPA

Sun, June 23

6 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Bolivia COPA America

9 pm FS1 Uruguay vs Panama COPA

Thur, June 27

6 pm Fox USMNT vs Panama COPA

Mon, July 1

9 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Uraguay

Sat July 13

3 pm TNT, Tele US Women vs Mexico

Tues, July 16

7:30 pm TNT, Universo US Women vs Costa Rica

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

U.S. lopsided loss to Colombia down to more than Turner’s 3/10 performance ESPN Cesar Hernandez
Adams ‘ready to play role’ for USMNT vs. Brazil ESPN Jeff Carlisle
USMNT player ratings vs Colombia: Which US players made an impression?
Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT seat is preheating
Thumped by Colombia, the USMNT gets a ‘wake-up call’ that shouldn’t be necessary
USMNT 1-5 Colombia: Mistake-happy Yanks punished by impressive Cafeteros
Report: Weston McKennie to Aston Villa – Is this a good move for USMNT star?

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USA vs. Brazil, 2024 Friendly: What to watch for Stars & Stripes By Donald Wine II

Indy 11

#INDvKHR Preview

RECAP – BHM 0:1 IND

6.7 POSTGAME: Paul Dolinsky

Cam Lindley: Coming Home

Indy Eleven Coaches Show | Episode 4

White Named to USL W League Team of the Month

European Championships

Southgate: I’ll ‘probably’ quit if England lose Euros
Is it now or never for England manager Southgate at Euro 2024? ESPN James Olley

Gordon: Huge competition for England Euro places

Sources: Saka fit for England’s Euro 2024 opener

Why Spain can win Euro 2024 despite tough group with Italy, Croatia Luis de la Fuente says Pedri is hitting best form

USMNT 1, Colombia 5: U.S. gets ‘wake-up call’ after second-half defensive collapse

By Paul Tenorio Jun 8, 2024 THe Athletic

The U.S. men’s national team’s game against Colombia was always meant to be a tune-up for Copa América this summer. A pair of games, ending Wednesday in Orlando against Brazil, was the last chance for the U.S. to test options before the tournament. On Saturday in Landover, Maryland, the U.S. had plenty to take away on what not to do.They were sloppy in the back and gave Colombia several chances, and Los Cafeteros did not waste them.The result was an ugly 5-1 scoreline that leaves the U.S. knowing they have plenty of work to do before the Copa América starts — especially considering Colombia is a potential knockout round opponent if the U.S. advances from the group stage.“We’re nowhere near the level we need to play at if we want to win games coming into Copa América,” U.S. winger Christian Pulisic said. “It’s better that it happened now, but we can’t be anywhere near playing like that and expect to win games.”The concern about this U.S. team was whether they could beat big opponents on big stages. This game only enhanced those questions.“We’re not framing it as a lesson learned,” U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter said. “We’re actually framing it as a wake-up call. Really poor performance against a top team and I think if you give, or I know if you give a team like that the opportunities that we gave them, you’re going to have no chance to win. It’s never going to happen. And that’s what’s really disappointing about the game.”

Should fans worry about the U.S. defense?

Simply put, it was one of the worst performances in recent memory we’ve seen from the U.S. backline.

Part of that might be chalked up to the level of the opponent, but there were also far too many mistakes from players who are considered some of the most reliable in this U.S. pool. The U.S. made errors that gave too many chances to Colombia, and Colombia finished those looks easily and gratefully.

The issues weren’t isolated to one or two players. Center back Tim Ream wasn’t as clean as we have come to expect in a U.S. uniform. Part of that might be because he played just one Premier League game for Fulham since February 17. If Ream is going to be the starter in Copa, getting these minutes in the friendlies is vital, but the hiccups probably aren’t unexpected.

Antonee Robinson, who has been one of the highest-floor players for the U.S. in the last three years, had an off day. Cameron Carter-Vickers had a poor giveaway that led directly to a goal in the second half. Johnny Cardoso struggled in midfield starting at the No. 6 in his biggest opportunity so far in a U.S. jersey. Even goalkeeper Matt Turner, who didn’t play much this year for Nottingham Forest, looked shaky in net, giving up a couple of goals at the near post.

Colombia’s third goal saw seven U.S. defenders in the box, yet none picked up the late Colombian runners for an easy finish. It was the start of a final 15 minutes that was as ugly as you’ll see.

“From the 75th minute on, it was, I think, a lack of respect for our opponent, the game of soccer, what we were doing,” Berhalter said. “And the sad thing is it overshadows how we got back into the game, how we were aggressive, how we had them on their heels, and they were struggling for a moment when it was 2-1, and we weren’t able to capitalize that on it and then the game went to pieces late in the match.”

The attacking side for the U.S. has typically been the area we’ve spent most of our time analyzing. What can the U.S. do better to find more goals? Against Colombia, however, there were just too many bad moments that gave Los Cafeteros easy looks at goal in transition and it led to a blowout loss.

The U.S. is going to have to be much better against Brazil on Wednesday, and in the Copa after that.

Did the U.S. get a necessary ‘wake-up call’?

Multiple times during the press conference, Berhalter called the performance a “wake-up call.” It better be for the U.S.There has never been this much hype around a U.S. men’s national team. The starting lineup consisted completely of players who play overseas. There were starters from AC Milan, Juventus, Monaco, Crystal Palace and Fulham, among others, on the field. The expectations going into the Copa América are to contend for a trophy. What we saw on Saturday night was far short of that.This performance puts everyone on notice. No doubt that means Berhalter, too, as he has been entrusted with taking this team from young upstarts into a group that should be peaking when the World Cup comes to these shores in two years’ time.“We take responsibility as a coaching staff, for sure,” Berhalter said. “We can’t put this all on the players. It’s our job to prepare them with a game plan, and then it’s about execution. And I think that this game will help us understand that when we don’t do things we’re supposed to do, we’ll get hurt really quickly.”

The Copa is about playing big games against big opponents. That’s what these friendlies were supposed to be, too.“It’s about understanding what it takes to beat teams like this,” Berhalter said. “And when I said a wake up call, there’s some glaring things that you have to address if you’re going to compete at this level. And so we just go back to work. Our mindset the whole time is we want to improve. We want to get better. We want to use every opportunity, every game we play to keep improving. And we’ll certainly keep the same theme in this one.”It will be difficult to know where to start. As noted above, the U.S. was sloppy and disjointed defensively, even before things got truly ugly late. The bright moments in the game were never connected enough to truly threaten Colombia for extended periods.

What were the USMNT’s early errors?

The frustration for the U.S. wasn’t just about the hole they found themselves in 20 minutes into Saturday’s game against Colombia. It was how they found themselves there.

Robinson went to the ground to prevent a ball from sliding in behind him, but there was no run coming. That led to an easy first goal. Then, Tim Ream’s mistake playing out of the back eventually led to a corner kick that wasn’t cleared and was finished by Borre at the back post. Again, a preventable goal.The U.S. was lucky to avoid a third when Antonee Robinson turned it over in the 61st minute inside his own half and the counter led to Luis Diaz’s shot hitting off the inside of the post, rolling across the face of goal and out.

The U.S. is very much still the underdog against teams like Colombia and, on Wednesday in Orlando, Brazil. The U.S. was 3-13-5 all-time vs. Colombia going into the game, their second-worst record against any opponent. The worst? Brazil. The USMNT is 1-18-0 against the Seleção all-time. Considering the records, considering the opponents, the U.S. has to play a clean game. They can’t give away easy half-chances. If they do, the result is what we saw against Colombia: Two mistakes from the back line, and two goals for Colombia.he final 15 minutes was a true lesson in the level needed to compete against good teams. There was a lot of bad and a lot of blame to go around.“You can go back and check the goals,” Berhalter said, of spreading the issues around beyond one or two individuals. “It’s midfielders not recovering, it’s guys losing the ball in positions when our fullbacks are high, they got hung out to dry a number of occasions. It’s a second phase from a set piece. It’s a miscue on a ball that’s going out of bounds in the first six minutes of the game. So, it’s a collective thing and the reason why I’m so disappointed is because guys just didn’t do their job.”

Weah was a rare bright spot for the U.S. against Colombia. (Photo by Greg Fiume/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Tim Weah’s goal a lone bright spot

When we talk about core players for the U.S. men’s national team, so often the same names come up: Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. Weah, though, has been one of the most consistent starters and performers for the U.S., putting in quietly dangerous outings in qualifiers, Qatar, where he scored the first goal of the tournament for the U.S., and Nations League.

So much of the damage Weah has caused for the U.S. has been through his verticality on the wing. He takes defenders on, can beat you to the end line and is also dangerous arriving in the box to finish. On Saturday, he showed a bit more of what he can do.

Weah dropped centrally to get on the ball, turned after receiving a pass from Gio Reyna and curled a pass wide to Folarin Balogun. Weah then sprinted into the box, signaling to Balogun where he wanted to get it back, then blistered a shot to the far post when Balogun laid it out to him.

With the right back spot somewhat open, there has been talk about playing Weah there considering he has played right wingback for Juventus. His goal against Colombia showed some of the attacking edge you might lose by dropping Weah deeper on the field.

Pulisic left the game at halftime due to managing his minutes. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

How did Christian Pulisic look in 45 minutes?

Pulisic played just 45 minutes for the U.S. on Saturday, as he was pulled at halftime in a planned substitution to manage his minutes ahead of the Copa América tournament, but there were a few important takeaways from the 45 minutes .First, Pulisic wore the armband. We’ve seen Pulisic take on more of a leadership role with this U.S. team beyond just his on-field performances. He seems willing to embrace other aspects of leadership, and though this is not the first time seeing him wearing the captain’s armband, I think it’s taking on more significance for the team’s biggest star. Secondly, Pulisic was the most dangerous player for the U.S. in the first half, and that is what the USMNT is going to need to see from the winger if they want to be successful in the Copa. Pulisic was the best-attacking player for the U.S. in Qatar and tends to step up on the biggest stages. Coming off of a career club season, the U.S. will need him to carry it over. Against Colombia, he hit the post on a header and also served in a dangerous cross in the 42nd minute. One thing we didn’t see that I wonder if we will during the Copa: Pulisic and Weah switching sides during the game to unbalance opponents, especially considering Pulisic’s success playing on the right for AC Milan.

What next for USMNT?

Wednesday, June 12: Brazil (Camping World Stadium, Orlando), friendly, 7 pm ET

USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner apologises to fans after 5-1 defeat to Colombia

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - JUNE 08: Matt Turner #1 of the United States salutes the fans after playing Colombia at Commanders Field on June 08, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Colin Millar Jun 9, 2024

United States goalkeeper Matt Turner apologised to the national team fans after their 5-1 defeat against Colombia on Saturday.Gregg Berhalter’s side suffered a heavy defeat in Maryland in their penultimate warm-up match for this summer’s Copa America, which the U.S. is hosting.Jhon Arias, Rafael Borre, Richard Rios, Jorge Carrascal and Luis Sinisterra were all on target for Colombia, with Timothy Weah’s goal just before the hour mark proving to be just a consolation for the U.S.“We didn’t have any answers for the way Colombia changed themselves, changed the way they pressed,” Turner said after the match. “They had a different intensity about them that we didn’t have for the game. “So it’s really, really disappointing in front of such a great crowd to perform like that, so I want to apologise to the fans as well, because that’s not what we’re about and we need to bounce back in a big way.”

Weah was a rare bright spot for the U.S. against Colombia. (Greg Fiume/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper said he was “obviously disappointed” with his personal performance and added that he and his team-mates “need to look in the mirror” after the result. The U.S. play Brazil on June 12 to conclude their preparation for the Copa America. They get their campaign underway against Bolivia on June 23, before taking on Panama four days later and finalising their group stage campaign against Uruguay on July 1. (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USMNT international Brenden Aaronson to stay at Leeds United

By Tom Bogert and Nancy Froston Jun 10, 2024

U.S. international midfielder Brenden Aaronson will stay at Leeds United this season after a positive conversation with head coach Daniel Farke, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.Aaronson still had an active release clause in which he could have left on a free loan again and had interest in Germany, but opted to return to Leeds. Aaronson spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Union Berlin. The player feels he has unfinished business in England and Farke plans for the American to play a key role in their promotion push, sources say.Leeds lost in the Championship playoff final against Southampton after finishing third in the table.

Aaronson, 23, had a difficult start to life in Germany, but finished strong. He appeared in 30 of the club’s 34 league games and all six Champions League games.The Yorkshire Evening Post first reported Aaronson was likely to stay at Leeds this summer.The Athletic first revealed the relegation release clause in Aaronson’s contract last summer, which meant interested clubs needed only to cover his full salary as part of the deal. That clause remains active.Aaronson appeared in 36 of the club’s 38 Premier League games in 2022-23 as they suffered relegation. He was criticized by fans for lack of goal contributions, particularly with his hefty price tag. Leeds initially signed Aaronson in the summer of 2022 for £25million ($30m) from RB Salzburg. The U.S. international is preparing for the Copa America and already has 40 caps with the national team.

Euro 2024 Group A guide: Germany’s narrow No 10s, resolute Hungary and Scotland’s set pieces

Liam Tharme Jun 11, 2024 The Athletic

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Six groups, with 24 teams in total, playing 51 games in 31 days — Euro 2024 is going to be relentless.

To help you navigate and prepare, The Athletic has compiled guides to each of the groups. They detail each team’s tactics, key players, weaknesses, stats and quirks.

Expect screengrabs to show team shapes and tactics-board GIFs demonstrating attacking rotations and pressing structures. There will be podcast clips and videos embedded for further reading/listening.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2mPj8kruh6LLUygl33wPt0?utm_source=generator

First up, it’s… Group A, where the host nation Germany are joined by Hungary, Scotland and Switzerland. All four were at the previous European Championship three years ago, though none of them went beyond the quarter-finals. It is a group of back threes, No 10s and set pieces. Let’s go.

Germany

Manager: Julian Nagelsmann
Captain: Ilkay Gundogan
Qualifying record: Qualified automatically as hosts
Euros debut: 1972 (winners — as West Germany)
Euro 2020: Round of 16
Average age of squad in qualifying: N/A
Most caps in squad: Thomas Muller (129)
Top scorer in squad: Thomas Muller (45)

How they play (tactics and formations)

Had they not qualified by virtue of being the hosts, Germany might not have been at this tournament. By their standards, 2023 was disastrous — six defeats from their 11 games, including three consecutive losses for the first time since 1985.

It was their most defeats in a calendar year since 2018 and also their most goals conceded (22) since 2012. Bad records to break at any time, especially in a year without a major tournament and with evidence that the problems we saw during their 2022 World Cup group-stage exit had not been solved.

https://32dbad1b1c8bc293f72c450aaf057eb7.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Nagelsmann became the second-youngest men’s national-team head coach in Germany’s history, replacing Hansi Flick — who was sacked after just 25 games. When asked the classic football-philosophy question in his first press conference, Nagelsmann described it as “healthy aggression towards the opponent’s goal, which doesn’t only apply when in possession. We want to cause problems for our opponents.” He alluded to principles rather than patterns in attacking, saying that “it won’t be as complex as it can be in club football. It’s about giving the players something to identify with.”

Despite the limited time he’s had in the job, Nagelsmann has trialled various systems and personnel — 31 players featured in his first six games. He started with a narrow 4-4-2, followed by a 4-2-3-1 with a pure No 9, switched to a back three with Kai Havertz at wing-back, and settled on a 4-2-3-1 with Havertz as a false nine. The Arsenal forward frequently drops in to overload midfield, while central midfielder Toni Kroos rotates out to the left frequently. This pushes the left-back, Maximilian Mittelstadt, upfield.

Boldly, the attack is structured around two 21-year-olds in Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz — narrow No 10s who play either side of captain Ilkay Gundogan. This trio have freedom to roam and rotate.

Build-up is patient, packed with short passes trying to shift opponents so that lanes into the No 10s are opened. Expect up-back-through patterns, centre-backs trying ambitious balls into the forwards and occasional passes in behind if the opposition play a high defensive line and do not put pressure on the ball. With three (arguably four) No 10s, Germany have plenty of midfield runners to attack that space — see their second goal away against France in a March friendly.

They press aggressively, locking on man-for-man out wide. The 4-2-3-1 tends to shift to a 4-4-2, allowing them to mark and cover opposition central midfielders before stepping out, though they take risks by pushing full-backs high to press opposition full-backs. Considering Nagelsmann hasn’t been in charge for long, it is well co-ordinated.

Germany showed against France and the Netherlands, their other opponents in March, that they can disrupt the build-up of Europe’s best sides. Equally, when played through, their back line is exposed, centre-backs are pulled wide and opposition midfielders can exploit space in behind the Germany full-backs.

High risk, high reward.

Key player(s)

Kroos came out of international retirement in February at the age of 34, after nearly three years away, and says he will hang up his boots for good whenever Germany’s tournament ends.

He is ninth on Germany’s caps list, and made his return in the impressive wins at home to the Netherlands and away to France in March. He provided assists in both games — a precise chip into midfield for Wirtz’s kick-off goal away to the French, and an inswinging corner for Niclas Fullkrug’s winner against the Dutch.

Kroos joins Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lothar Matthaus and Lukas Podolski as Germans to play in four European Championships. Nagelsmann’s play-style suits, and needs, Kroos’ distribution and line-breaking abilities.

Kroos’ sublime return suggests Nagelsmann’s decision might be a masterstroke

What’s their weakness?

Finishing. They were the most wasteful team at the World Cup 18 months ago, scoring six goals from chances worth over 10 expected goals. In their 25 games under Flick, no player reached double digits for goals. So this problem predates Nagelsmann, and there is no straightforward solution.

Havertz suits the passing style but has been a wasteful finisher in recent seasons, whereas Nagelsmann’s goalscoring options have box forwards and target man profiles. Borussia Dortmund’s Fullkrug is the standout, with 11 goals in 16 caps — including five in 10 substitute appearances. He came off the bench in all three World Cup games, scoring twice.

Fullkrug (12 league goals), along with Deniz Undav (18) and Maximilian Beier (16), were three of the top five German scorers in Europe’s top-five leagues in 2023-24. They all play in the Bundesliga.

German strikers currently fit one of three categories: stylistically suited (Havertz), experienced (see Thomas Muller) or goalscorers (the three above).

Kai Havertz (Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images)

One thing to watch out for

Germany must fight the form books to win. They reached four semi-finals and three finals in eight major tournaments between 2002 and 2016, winning the 2014 World Cup. Since a semi-final finish at Euro 2016, however, they have not won a knockout game.

Compounding that, none of the past 10 host nations have won the European Championship — France in 1984, Italy in 1968 and Spain in 1964 are the only three countries to win the competition when staging it. England (Euro 2020), France (2016) and Portugal (2004) have all lost the final on home soil more recently.

How to follow the European Championship on The Athletic…

Scotland

Manager: Steve Clarke
Captain: Andy Robertson
Qualifying record: P8 W5 D2 L1 GF17 GA8
Euros debut: 1992 (Group stage)
Euro 2020: Group stage
Average age of squad in qualifying: 27.7
Most caps in squad: Andy Robertson (71)
Top scorer in squad: John McGinn (17)

How they play (tactics and formations)

Steve Clarke’s contract was extended until 2026 in March. It was recognition for Scotland achieving Euros qualification, and how they did it. Clarke, Scotland’s longest-serving national team manager since Craig Brown between 1993 and 2001, has evolved a squad and implemented a clear style.

He coached Scotland to and in Euro 2020, their first major tournament in 23 years. No wins and only one goal from the three group matches made for a sobering tournament, despite an excellent defensive performance to draw 0-0 against England at Wembley.

Qualification suggests they are better this time around. Scotland won their first five group games, notably beating Spain 2-0. They play a 3-4-2-1 and defend in a 5-4-1.

It is a partial truth but really an oversimplification to see their system as a way to fit Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson, two top-level left-backs, into the same team. Tierney plays left centre-back, as Scotland’s best forward passer and with impressive range, and underlaps in attack. It allows Robertson to play a wing-back role, perfect for his athleticism and final ball.

‘There is no spite from me – Mikel Arteta was 100% right’ – Kieran Tierney interview

Clarke plays two narrow No 10s behind a target-man No 9. The first-choices for that pairing are John McGinn and Ryan Christie, who both play on the opposite side to their dominant foot. This sets them up to deliver back-post crosses and hit switches when they have their back to goal. The latter is important as they are often the out-ball when the back five win duels and launch counter-attacks.

https://32dbad1b1c8bc293f72c450aaf057eb7.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

“A few years ago, we played with that deep block against the teams seeded above us and made it difficult for them and looked to counter,” said Clarke after March’s friendly defeat against Northern Ireland. Scotland are evolving beyond just underdog football, and on their good days mix build-up between playing through the thirds and hitting the forwards directly.

They defend across the pitch more, sometimes sitting deep but pressing high specifically at opposition goal kicks. This is typically man-for-man, and they drop to a mid-block quickly if the press is broken.

Key player(s)

McGinn is Scotland’s top scorer (17) under Clarke, playing in all but three of his 55 games in charge. McGinn’s role varies, sometimes crashing the box, linking play in deeper positions, providing the final ball himself and offering a long shot.

Scotland will benefit from McGinn going into the tournament on the back of his best-ever top-flight season, one in which he helped Aston Villa to fourth place in the Premier League, and a return to the European Cup/Champions League after 42 years.

“The way we play, the way the team is structured, is for that striker to help the midfield to score goals,” said Clarke. This applies to Scott McTominay, too. The Manchester United midfielder plays deeper than McGinn in build-up but attacks the box as an auxiliary striker. He scored seven of Scotland’s 17 qualifying goals “I’d be lying if I said I’d expected it,” said Clarke. “I tweaked his position a little bit, I allowed him a little bit more freedom to get forward and suddenly he was scoring goals.”

What’s their weakness?

Scotland’s recent performances against Spain and England are exceptions to the rule. Under Clarke, they have only won once in 10 games against opponents who were in the top 20 of FIFA’s world rankings. Their starting XI, individually and collectively, is better than at the previous Euros, but Clarke partly picks a consistent team because of a lack of quality depth options — especially at right wing-back beyond Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey, who both miss this tournament through injury.

Scotland struggle vs top 20 FIFA sides

METRIC	TOP 20	OUTSIDE TOP 20
Games	10	45
Wins	1	24
Draws	2	11
Defeats	7	10
Goals/game	0.7	1.6
Goals conceded/game	2.5	1
Clean sheet %	20	40

Scotland were excellent for 70 minutes in March against the Netherlands, mixing their attacking and defensive approaches, but eventually faded and lost 4-0.

Before beating Gibraltar 2-0 last Monday, they had gone seven games without a win (19 goals conceded) for the first time since 1997-98. That run also included friendly defeats against England and France, and draws in the final two qualification matches after sealing their place in Germany, and quite crudely suggests a glass ceiling. Scotland are not a nation with great tournament history, with group-stage exits in all 11 appearances at World Cups and European Championships.

One thing to watch out for

Austin MacPhee is Scotland’s set-piece coach, working with both them and Villa at club level since the start of the 2021-22 season. Scotland have plenty of height and in playing a back three have aerial threats aplenty for both boxes — their success or not in defending crosses often determines their results against better teams.

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There were identical headed goals by Lyndon Dykes (who misses these Euros through injury) from inswinging corners in the 3-0 win against Ukraine in the 2022 Nations League. James Forrest’s deliveries to the corner of the box, at the near post, resembled typical Villa inswinging corners from the left.

McGinn, who works with MacPhee at Villa, delivers fantastic deep inswingers from the right. That delivery created goals against Austria, Denmark (both 2021), Armenia (2022) and, most significantly, the winner in their 3-2 victory at home against Israel in 2022 World Cup qualification.

(Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Switzerland

Manager: Murat Yakin
Captain: Granit Xhaka
Qualifying record: P10 W4 D5 L1 GF22 GA11
Euros debut: 1996 (Group stage)
Euro 2020: Quarter-finals
Average age of squad in qualifying: 29.0
Most caps in squad: Granit Xhaka (125)
Top scorer in squad: Xherdan Shaqiri (31)

How they play (tactics and formations)

Switzerland: perennially decent. They have qualified from the groups at four of the past five major tournaments but only won one knockout tie, beating France on penalties at Euro 2020.

Murat Yakin is tactically flexible but has issues to fix. Switzerland qualified for the 2022 World Cup with Europe’s strongest defence (only two goals conceded) and playing a 4-2-3-1 but they underwhelmed in the finals, dumped out 6-1 by Portugal in the round of 16.

Yakin had promised the “best World Cup ever” from “the best Switzerland national team that has ever existed”, and they fell well short. Euro 2024 qualifying then did little to vindicate him, with too many draws (five) meaning Switzerland finished second behind Romania in a favourable group. The Swiss FA have publicly backed Yakin, who said he would “try a few things” in the March internationals.

He has trialled a permanent 3-4-2-1 with and without the ball, though Switzerland have attacked in that shape previously. The team is structured around three key left-footers, who are all among the nation’s four most-capped players.

Ricardo Rodriguez plays on the left of the back three, as he does for his Italian club side Torino (who play the same shape). Central midfielder Granit Xhaka is often the deepest midfielder in build-up and sometimes a box-crashing threat. Right-winger Xherdan Shaqiri has a free role. He provides back-post inswinging crosses and picks apart defences with dribbles or long shots. Switzerland often hit big switches to him and Shaqiri is supported by an overlapping central midfielder.

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Against inferior opposition, their individual quality shines and they score stylish cutback goals — see Renato Steffen’s hat-trick in their 5-0 win over Belarus, where all three goals came from cutback moves from the left. When facing a superior side, expect early crosses, as Switzerland rarely get sustained possession upfield and struggle to play through a co-ordinated high press.

They had the second-highest possession average (71 per cent) in qualifying, but this is less a reflection of controlling matches and more that they faced weaker opposition. Yakin says Switzerland want to dominate the ball but they must shore up the defensive base — 11 goals conceded was the leakiest defence of any team to qualify for these Euros.

In the March internationals, they mixed between mid-block defending in a 5-4-1 or 5-2-3, and pressing man-for-man. It worked better, keeping clean sheets against Denmark and the Republic of Ireland (who also played back threes).

Key player(s)

Other players might play bigger roles in qualifying, but Shaqiri’s finals record speaks for itself. Switzerland have scored 28 goals across their past five appearances at World Cups and Euros, and 13 were either scored or assisted by Shaqiri, an ever-present at those tournaments. He is a triple threat of dribbler, passer and finisher, takes set pieces and can play as the false nine too, which he did in March’s game in Dublin.

At the other end, Switzerland will hope goalkeeper Yann Sommer can carry his club form into the Euros. He kept 19 clean sheets and only conceded 19 goals in 34 games last season as Inter Milan won the Serie A title — his international record is 34 clean sheets in 89 caps, conceding less than a goal per game (88 in total).

What’s their weakness?

Conceding late goals. Six of the 11 scored against Switzerland in qualifying came after the 80th minute and contributed greatly to them having so many draws. These goals had no repeatable pattern but a common theme of individual errors despite sound structures: the back five losing/not tracking runners in-behind (without enough pressure on the ball) in settled defence, losing first contacts at crosses and defending set pieces badly.

Such poor game-management belies their individual experience — Sommer, 35, was in goal for all six of those concessions — and is atypical for a team defending in a back five. It needs resolving.

One thing to watch out for

Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni. Vincent Kompany, his manager last season who is now in charge at Bayern Munich, has called the 23-year-old a “natural goalscorer”. He was Switzerland’s top scorer in qualifying (six), averaging a goal every 83 minutes. He is a flexible forward, equally threatening against set defences as in transition, with the ball at his feet or attacking crosses/passes in behind. He may not start, but could prove an excellent substitute.

Hungary

Manager: Marco Rossi
Captain: Dominik Szoboszlai
Qualifying record: P8 W5 D3 L0 GF16 GA7
Euros debut: 1964 (third place)
Euro 2020: Group stage
Average age of squad in qualifying: 27.8
Most caps in squad: Adam Nagy (81)
Top scorer in squad: Roland Sallai (13)

How they play (tactics and formations)

Hungary have grown exponentially as a footballing force in the past two years.

Questions were asked of Marco Rossi after a group-stage exit at Euro 2020 and their failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

The Italian, in charge since June 2018, is their longest-serving national-team boss since Lajos Baroti in the 1950s and 1960s. Hungary’s 2022-23 Nations League performance set a marker, finishing second in a group that included Euro 2020 winners Italy and runners-up England, plus Germany.

Those games showed Hungary at their best under Rossi: defensively strong, dropping into a typically-Italian 5-4-1 in their own half. They conceded just seven big chances across the six Nations League games, half as many as they created (14). Successful and sustainable.

Rossi’s favourite game of that Nations League run was not Hungary’s first win in Germany (1-0) since 2004 or in England (4-0) since 1954, but rather the 1-1 draw at home to the Germans. His explanation: because they “could only get behind us twice or three times, it was an almost perfect 90 minutes from a professional perspective”. Germany had 67 per cent possession that day but were outshot 11-6, and only managed one big chance and one shot on target (Hungary had four big chances and seven efforts on target).

The Nations League success proved no fluke, as Hungary qualified for these Euros without losing. They only conceded seven goals in their eight matches and 2023 became their first calendar year without a defeat since 1976. Hungary defend with more aggression now than at Euro 2020, where they had the least intense defensive approach based on opposition passes allowed per defensive action (25.9).

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The centre-backs, especially Adam Lang on the right side, defend touch-tight. Central midfielders mark aggressively and the No 10s stay high to press centre-backs. The No 9 drops onto either the midfield pivot or a centre-back who steps out.

Hungary often lock on man-for-man when opponents play wide. All these jumps, especially from centre-backs, can leave exploitable space in-behind if the timing is not perfect. Equally, when well co-ordinated, it forces turnovers from which they can counter.

No 9s rarely have good games against Hungary. Since Euro 2020, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Harry Kane and Timo Werner have started a combined nine games against them and only scored one goal. Three very different strikers, all of which Hungary can defend. They are adaptable.

Their biggest vulnerability in settled defending is direct balls and runs inside the wing-back, especially back-post crosses delivered from their right and targeting left wing-back Milos Kerkez. Hungary defend better than they attack, but their rotational build-up approach has caused problems when they play long.

On paper, it looks like a box midfield in a 3-4-2-1, though the left No 6 regularly rotates out to the left centre-back spot, pushing that side’s centre-back and wing-back upfield.

Here’s how that looked against Italy in September 2022, where another of their typical rotations can be seen — the wing-back and No 10 trading places (see Loic Nego out wide).

Similarly against Germany three months earlier, this time with Callum Styles, of Barnsley in League One, the third tier of English football, fulfilling Andras Schafer’s role and no wing-back/No 10 rotation on the right.

All this is designed to get more bodies on the last line, especially when they are up against a back four.

Their first pass typically is short, but under pressure Hungary’s back line play direct to the No 9 rather than through midfield. Expect wing-back to wing-back switches and runs in behind, while their build-up patterns of defender to No 9 to No 10 to release the wing-back are reminiscent of Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan.

Hungary are strong at seeing out leads: they are unbeaten in the last 28 games when scoring first, which includes going ahead against France (once), Germany (three times) and England (three times).

Key player(s)

Dominik Szoboszlai became captain after Adam Szalai’s international retirement in September 2022. The 3-4-2-1 structure frees the Liverpool midfielder to play No 10 and rotate, maximising his passing range. Sometimes he drops into the box at goal kicks, receives from the goalkeeper and hits long balls.

Szoboszlai is Hungary’s key man against low blocks and weaker opposition, though this owes to the No 6s too.

The first-choice pairing here are Adam Nagy and Schafer. Nagy has played 57 of Rossi’s 63 games, and is often the lone pivot when Schafer rotates to left centre-back. The pair are tough tacklers, Schafer is a comfortable dribbler from the back and Nagy likes a diagonal.

What’s their weakness?

Dominating games. After all, Hungary had the fewest open-play sequences of 10-plus passes at Euro 2020. In qualifying, their possession ranged between 36 and 72 per cent, and they only managed eight goals from open play. When they have played expansively, notably at home to Serbia in qualifying, they looked vulnerable to counter-attacks.

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“It could be harder against them (group opponents Montenegro, Bulgaria and Lithuania) than it was against the classy teams in the Nations League,” said Rossi before the start of qualifying. “It will almost be a completely new situation for us to have the burden of being favourites on our shoulders.”

Rossi emphasises they are a “young, developing team,” but in the group matches against Switzerland and Scotland — both likely to go with back fives themselves — Hungary will have to play more than just underdog football if they are to qualify for the knockout phase.

One thing to watch for

Set pieces. No team bettered Hungary’s six set-piece goals in qualifying. Szoboszlai takes most of these, and is also 17 out of 18 from the penalty spot in his senior career (94 per cent).

Like Scotland, playing three centre-backs and a tall No 9 means Hungary have aerial threats aplenty, and they defend corners almost exclusively man-to-man. Here’s their national-team analyst, Istvan Beregi, examining set pieces.

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The Radar – The Athletic’s 50 players to watch at Euro 2024

Fixtures

Round 1:

14/06/2024 — Germany vs Scotland (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)
15/06/2024 — Hungary vs Switzerland (3pm CEST, 2pm BST, 9am EDT)

Round 2:

19/06/2024 — Germany vs Hungary (6pm CEST, 5pm BST, 12pm EDT)
19/06/2024 — Scotland vs Switzerland (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)

Round 3:

23/06/2024 — Switzerland vs Germany (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)
23/06/2024 — Scotland vs Hungary (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)

(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)

Euro 2024 Group B guide: Spain’s wide rotations, Italy’s flexibility and Albania’s long shots

Ahmed Walid Jun 11, 2024 The Athletic

How will Italy set up under Luciano Spalletti? What’s the Spanish quirk we should look out for? What can we expect from Albania?

Euro 2024 is nearly upon us and The Athletic will be running in-depth tactical group guides so you know what to expect from every nation competing in Germany.

We’ll look at each team’s playing style, strengths, weaknesses and key players, and highlight things to keep an eye on during the tournament.

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Expect to see screengrabs analysing tactical moments in games, embedded videos of key clips to watch, the occasional podcast clip and data visualisation to highlight patterns and trends — think of yourself as a national team head coach and this a mini opposition dossier for you to read pre-match.

This time we’re looking at Group B, which features Spain, Italy, Croatia and Albania.

The Radar – The Athletic’s 50 players to watch at Euro 2024

Spain

Manager: Luis de la Fuente
Captain: Alvaro Morata
Qualifying record: P8, W7, D0, L1, GF25, GA5
Euro 2020: Semi-finals
Most caps in squad: Alvaro Morata (73)
Top scorer in squad: Alvaro Morata (35)

How do they play?

If you haven’t watched Spain for a while and have only a basic idea about how they might play, you are still probably on the right track.

Under head coach Luis de la Fuente, Spain are still looking to dominate possession in a 4-3-3 shape on the ball with a focus on combinations down the flanks between the winger, the full-back and the No 8.

The prominence of Spain’s wingers, such as Lamine Yamal, has also led to more crosses into the penalty area. In Euro 2024 qualifying matches, De la Fuente’s side had the fourth-most crosses per game (26.3) of the 53 nations competing for a place in the final tournament.

This approach tallies well with the head coach’s choices for the striker position. Morata is strong in the air and Joselu has been making a positive impact off the bench, too, scoring four goals from his nine substitute appearances.

On top of that, Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz or whoever is playing as a No 8 constantly makes off-ball runs into the box to provide the winger or the full-back with multiple options.

Another feature of Spain’s game in possession is Morata’s tendency to drop and offer himself as a passing option in the middle of the pitch, which makes him a viable option as a false nine if he is needed to play that role.

Off the ball, Spain defend in a 4-4-2 — like the majority of the top football teams in the world — with one of the central midfielders moving up next to Morata or Joselu. When they lose possession, they focus on winning the ball back quickly to limit the opponent’s transitions.

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Their key player(s)

The level Rodri has maintained in the last couple of years positions him as one of the best midfielders in the world, if not the best. He is vital to Manchester City and Spain.

Rodri’s ability to dictate the tempo, receive the ball under pressure and split the opponent’s line is only matched by his off-ball prowess. He is always in the right position when his team have the ball, which allows him to win the ball back quickly once it is lost, and his defensive presence is complemented by his smart positioning when Spain are out of possession, too.

Great players might drop a level or two on the international stage, but Rodri elevates Spain to another dimension.

(Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Pedri has only featured twice for Spain since the 2022 World Cup, and the recurring muscle injuries meant that he only started 21 matches for Barcelona in the 2023-24 season.

His match fitness is a concern, but he is Spain’s best No 8 and his performance against Northern Ireland on Saturday should bring back some hope regarding the levels he could reach in the tournament.

What is their weakness?

Not necessarily a weakness in their playing style, but missing Gavi, one of their best midfielders, is Spain’s biggest problem entering this tournament. Gavi was the only player to feature in all of De la Fuente’s games until his injury against Georgia. His off-ball movement and intensity were crucial in Spain’s qualifiers and those qualities will be missed.

One thing to watch out for…

If Spain’s passing combinations down one side of the pitch are halted by the opponent’s defence, they look to switch the ball quickly to the other side to try to put their winger in a one-versus-one situation or create an overload using the full-back.

Looking at the number of attempted switches of play — which is defined by Opta as any pass that travels at least 60 per cent of the width of the pitch — Spain’s 7.5 per game was the second-most of all teams competing in the Euro qualifiers after Georgia (8.1). In terms of successful switches of play, their 6.5 per game topped the charts.

These switches of play are often played by Rodri, who is instrumental to a similar attacking move at City.

One example is Ferran Torres’ goal in the 3-1 victory against Georgia last November. Here, Fabian Ruiz roams towards the right wing and combines with Oihan Sancet to find Rodri…

… who switches the play to Nico Williams and Jose Gaya before Georgia’s defensive block can shift across…

… leaving their right wing-back, Otar Kakabadze, in a one-versus-two situation. Williams finds Gaya’s overlap, while on the other side, Torres starts his run to attack the back post…

… and Spain’s left-back plays the ball towards that area, for Torres to head the ball into the net.

Italy

Manager: Luciano Spalletti
Captain: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Qualifying record: P8, W4, D2, L2, GF16, GA9
Euro 2020: Winners
Most caps in squad: Gianluigi Donnarumma (62)
Top scorer in squad: Nicolo Barella (Nine)

How do they play?

Until last March, Luciano Spalletti looked set on playing with a back four. However, the Italy manager said that he wanted to do “something modern” before the friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador in March.

“There is an openness now to being footballers who know how to interpret multiple systems within the same match,” said Spalletti. “Before we had little time and we only focused on one system. Even when we lost, I said we would stay in that system, but now there is more time to do something different.”

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The difference was moving to a back three instead of the back four Italy implemented in Spalletti’s games in the Euro qualifiers. In his first six games, Italy’s 4-3-3 in possession depended on wing play with flexible rotations between the full-back, No 8 and the winger to break down teams in the wide areas.

In this example, against Ukraine last September, Barella’s movement drags Taras Stepanenko and creates space in midfield, which is attacked by Italy’s full-back, Federico Dimarco, after combining with Mattia Zaccagni. Complementing that movement was Giacomo Raspadori dropping from a centre-forward position to provide a passing option, but the interesting role in Italy’s wide combinations is the opposite full-back — Giovanni Di Lorenzo in this sequence.

After Dimarco plays the ball to Raspadori, and the Napoli forward combines with Davide Frattesi (Italy’s No 8 above), he finds Di Lorenzo unmarked in a narrow position after Ukraine’s left-winger Viktor Tsygankov has dropped to protect his left-back.

The time Di Lorenzo has on the ball allows him to pick his pass, but despite the move not ending in a goal, it’s an attacking sequence that Spalletti’s team has been using regularly when Italy have played in a 4-3-3.

That move resulted in their only goal against England the following month. Here, Barella’s rotation to the left-back space forces Kalvin Phillips to press Destiny Udogie as Phil Foden focuses on the Inter Milan midfielder. Italy’s left-back then combines with Stephan El Shaarawy to exploit the space in England’s midfield, before carrying the ball forward…

… and playing it wide to the left-winger. Meanwhile, Italy’s right-back, Di Lorenzo, advances on the other side…

… and is in a position to receive the switch of play, with Marcus Rashford late to the action. El Shaarawy spots Di Lorenzo, but his pass is intercepted by Declan Rice and the ball falls to Domenico Berardi (out of shot) on the right wing.

Di Lorenzo’s narrow positioning allows him to make an underlapping run behind Kieran Trippier, which is found by Berardi, before the right-back’s low cross into the penalty box is attacked by Gianluca Scamacca to give Italy the lead.

As for the back-three scenario, Italy have used different formations in possession while maintaining a solid 5-4-1 shape without the ball. Against Venezuela, Federico Chiesa’s participation meant that Spalletti’s 3-5-2 on the ball was lopsided because the Juventus forward excels in space and one-versus-one situations down the wing rather than central areas.

The 3-2-4-1 shape used against Ecuador was more fluid, and Raspadori’s link-up play helped Italy’s passing combinations in central areas.

Despite attacking in a different shape, Spalletti’s side focused on combinations between the No 10, wing-back and No 6, allowing the wide centre-backs to exchange positions with the wing-backs.

The common theme in Italy’s attacking game is their dependence on passing combinations in wide areas and rotations between the players in those spaces, regardless of the shape.

Their key player(s)

After an impressive season with Inter, Barella is entering Euro 2024 as his country’s shining light. The midfielder’s ability to win back the ball in midfield and help the team defensively strengthens Spalletti’s side without the ball, but it’s his technical ability and the options he provides in possession that make him crucial to this side.

Barella constantly drops to help Italy build up the attacks, while also supporting the passing combinations out wide with his precise passing and off-ball movement. The latter is another feature of his game that allows him to be an offensive threat in the opposition penalty area with late runs from midfield.

(Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

What is their weakness?

Once Italy lose possession, they look vulnerable on defensive transitions. They leave large spaces between their defensive line and the rest of the team. Rashford’s goal in the 3-1 loss against England last October is a scene that Spalletti would preferably avoid in the upcoming tournament.

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The back-three formation has provided more central cover when Italy are transitioning from attack to defence, but it’s still an area that opponents can exploit.

One thing to watch out for…

Italy’s corner threat.

Throughout the qualifying matches and in their recent friendlies, Italy’s attacking corners have been one of their main offensive solutions. In terms of expected goals (xG) per 100 corners — which allows us to level the playing field when comparing across teams — their rate of 5.7 was the sixth-best of the 53 nations that competed for a place in this summer’s tournament.

Croatia

Manager: Zlatko Dalic
Captain: Luka Modric
Qualifying record: P8, W5, D1, L2, GF13, GA4
Euro 2020: Round of 16
Most caps in squad: Luka Modric (175)
Top scorer in squad: Ivan Perisic (33)

How do they play?

There’s not much deviation from how Croatia have been playing under Dalic in previous tournaments.

They still set up in a 4-3-3 formation, and they are still built around the midfield trio of Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric, with flying full-backs as prominent as ever down the wings. However, matches against Armenia and Latvia showed they can mix it up by playing Andrej Kramaric as a No 10 in a 4-2-3-1.

Croatia’s possession game is mainly built on the technical abilities of Brozovic, Kovacic and Modric. The experienced trio drop deep to control the game with the ball.

Their fluid movement, passing combinations and interchanging of positions allow them to play through opponents and progress the ball into the final third. In front of them, the front three usually occupy narrow positions to present themselves as passing options to the midfielders…

… and create space for the full-backs to attack. In this example, from the 2-0 victory away to Turkey in March 2023, Borna Barisic and Josip Stanisic are high up the pitch, flanking a narrow front three of Ivan Perisic, Kramaric and Mario Pasalic.

Earlier in that game, Josip Sutalo’s long pass into the advanced right-back Stanisic had led to the opener.

Here, Pasalic’s narrow positioning occupies Turkey’s left-back, and Sutalo finds Stanisic’s run behind the defence, before the right-back plays the ball into Pasalic. Meanwhile, Kovacic is making a late run into the box and the ball falls into his path after Perisic and Pasilic fail to find a shooting angle. The City midfielder doesn’t hesitate and scores to make it 1-0.

The profiles of the players playing in Croatia’s front line complement their tactical approach. When Kramaric starts as the side’s centre-forward, his movement and link-up play allow him to drop and overload the midfield.

In addition, choosing Lovro Majer or Pasalic to play as the team’s right-sided option rather than an out-and-out winger means Croatia can overload the central areas and use Majer or Pasalic to play through their opponents.

Their key player(s)

Croatia’s midfield of Kovacic, Brozovic and Modric is a trio that most nations dream of, even if they are into their thirties. Together, they provide a balance of technical ability, press resistance, ball carrying, athleticism and defensive quality.

On top of that, their experience at the international stage will be needed. Brozovic (96 caps) and Kovacic (101) are among the wiliest players at the tournament, while Modric (175) is the country’s most-capped player of all time. After guiding their team to third and second place in the two most recent World Cups, they will be hoping to emulate that success in a European Championship.

What is their weakness?

The four goals Croatia conceded in their eight qualifying matches could had been more — their non-penalty xG conceded was 6.4. At times, their back line has been porous — defenders made mistakes and Dominik Livakovic’s saves were important.

The Fenerbahce goalkeeper registered a ‘goals prevented’ figure of 2.3 in Croatia’s qualifying campaign. There are ways past this side’s defence, but the hard part is beating Livakovic.

One thing to watch out for…

In their last six penalty shootouts, Croatia lost only once (in the 2023 Nations League final against Spain). Their shootout victories helped them progress at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, beating Denmark and Japan in the last 16 and Russia and Brazil in the quarter-finals of the two tournaments respectively.

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In the last World Cup, Livakovic saved three penalties against Japan’s Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida, before stopping Brazil’s Rodrygo in the following round. If Croatia advance to the knockout stage in Euro 2024, their continuing record in the shootouts is something to keep an eye on.

Albania

Manager: Sylvinho
Captain: Berat Djimsiti
Qualifying record: P8, W4, D3, L1, GF12, GA4
Euro 2020: Did not qualify
Most caps in squad: Elseid Hysaj (84)
Top scorer in squad: Rey Manaj (Eight)

How do they play?

Unlike the rest of Group B, Albania favour a more direct approach on the ball. Playing out of a 4-2-3-1 shape, Sylvinho’s team play to their centre-forward with long passes to flick on to one of the wingers and fight for second balls.

Their other option for moving the ball up the pitch are direct passes to their wide players, Jasir Asani and Taulant Seferi, which come in the form of quick deliveries from the full-backs, or diagonals from the centre-backs and midfielders.

Off the ball, Albania drop into a medium-low block in their own half, with the experience of Djimsiti and Hysaj essential to their defensive organisation. However, they are a proactive side in this situation — always on the front foot and looking to win the ball back as quickly as possible in their own half to start the counter.

Once they win possession, the pace of the wide players, Nedim Bajrami’s ball-carrying ability, and the accurate passing of Kristjan Asllani and Ylber Ramadani make Albania a threat on attacking transitions.

Asllani and Ramadani’s vision and passing ability empower the forwards’ runs behind the defence, which is a feature of how this Albania side attacks the opponents.

Their key player(s)

Ramadani and Asllani, Albania’s double pivot in midfield, are the complete package. The duo’s defensive positioning supports the defensive line and allows Sylvinho’s side to retrieve possession in the middle of the pitch. Their defensive awareness is complemented by their smart positioning when Albania are in possession of the ball — constantly adjusting their positions to provide passing options for their defensive line — and their ability to receive the ball with their back to the goal. Asllani, in particular, knows how to use his body to shield the ball, which makes him harder to dispossess.Down the right wing, 29-year-old Asani, who was called up to the national team for the first time in March 2023, was one of Albania’s most impressive players in the Euro qualifiers. The winger’s dribbling ability gives him an advantage in one-versus-one situations to use his best asset, which is ball striking. Asani finds team-mates with inch-perfect passes, and his trademark finish is cutting inside before finding the far corner.is goal against Poland last September is a glimpse of what he can do when he is allowed to shoot.Normally, players of this profile are a burden on the defensive side of things, but Asani regularly tracks back to support his right-back, Hysaj. In the two games against Czech Republic last autumn, Sylvinho used Asani as a situational wing-back when Albania were in the defensive phase to prevent Czech Republic from overloading their back four.

What is their weakness?

Despite the experience of their defensive line, Albania’s front-footed defending in their own half could be vulnerable against three sides who excel on passing combinations and off-ball movement.

Albania’s 0.78 non-penalty xG conceded per game in the Euro qualifiers will be tested against stronger opponents who have the collective and individual tools to break down defences and score from difficult situations.

One thing to watch out for…

Long-range shots.

Five of Albania’s 12 goals in the Euro qualifiers came from outside the penalty area, which partly explains their xG overperformance.

In addition to Asani’s three strikes against Moldova, Poland and Czech Republic, Asllani and Bajrami also scored important goals from distance on Albania’s road to Euro 2024.

Sylvinho’s team isn’t the most complicated attacking unit, and goals from individual moments of brilliance could get Albania in the lead and let them play a favourable game state, where they can drop deeper and attack on transitions.

Fixtures

Round 1:

15/06/2024 — Spain vs Croatia (6pm CEST, 5pm BST, 12pm EDT)
15/06/2024 — Italy vs Albania (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)

Round 2:

19/06/2024 — Croatia vs Albania (3pm CEST, 2pm BST, 9am EDT)
20/06/2024 — Spain vs Italy (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)

Round 3:

24/06/2024 — Albania vs Spain (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)
24/06/2024 — Croatia vs Italy (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)

(Header design: Eamonn Dalton, photos: Getty Images)

Euro 2024 Group C guide: England’s evolution, Denmark’s diagonals and Slovenia’s strict 4-4-2

Liam Tharme

Jun 11, 2024

Sign up for The Athletic today with our limited-time Tournament Sale offer

Welcome to your third Euro 2024 group guide: Group C.

To help you navigate and prepare for the tournament, The Athletic have compiled group guides, containing each team’s tactics, key players, weaknesses, stats and quirks.

Expect screengrabs to show team shapes and tactics board gifs demonstrating attacking rotations and pressing structures. There will be podcast clips and videos embedded for further reading/listening.

Group C features Gareth Southgate’s England, alongside Serbia, Slovenia and Denmark — England beat Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-final. It is a group of back fives, build-up rotations and high-scoring No 9s.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2mPj8kruh6LLUygl33wPt0?utm_source=generator

Serbia

Manager: Dragan Stojkovic
Captain: Dusan Tadic
Qualifying record: P8 W4 D2 L2 GF15 GA9
Euros debut: 1960 (Runners-up, as Yugoslavia)
Euro 2020: Failed to qualify
Average age of squad in qualifying: 28.4
Most caps in squad: Dusan Tadic (108)
Top scorer in squad: Aleksandar Mitrovic (58)

How they play (tactics and formations)

Serbia (formerly part of Yugoslavia) are at their first Euros as a nation-state, after gaining independence in 2006. Head coach Dragan Stojkovic, whose contract ends after the tournament, has said qualifying from the group “would be a success”.

Those who watched them at the 2022 World Cup can expect the same setup: a back five, wing-backs and two defensive midfielders, but either two No 10s and a lone No 9 or one No 10 behind a front two.

Their attacking style is mixed, with a 62 per cent possession average in qualifying — about the same as England and Italy. Against better opposition, though, their strengths are playing direct. Aleksandar Mitrovic is the main focal point but likes to drop in, and is paired with off-the-shoulder Dusan Vlahovic or Luka Jovic.

Serbia’s strikers

PAIRING	MINUTES TOGETHER	COMBINED GOALS
Mitrovic & Vlahovic	912	23
Mitrovic & Jovic	560	16
Vlahovic & Jovic	341	12

Serbia, strikers and scouting: Under the skin of one of Europe’s talent hotbeds

Crosses are Serbia’s main route to goal, especially down the left and particularly from the wing-backs. They had the most headed shots in Euros qualifying, while only Spain and Portugal (seven each) had more headed goals than Serbia’s five. Look out for up-back-through attacking combinations to find the No 10 by playing into the No 9, and then releasing the wing-back.

Against a mid-block, Serbia pull one of the defensive midfielders out to create a makeshift back four, pushing the outside centre-back to the touchline and the wing-back upfield — this allows them to overload the last line.

In attack, they can be devastating. Serbia have scored in 33 out of 39 Stojkovic’s games and have scored three or more on 13 occasions. They won their 2022 Nations League group featuring Norway, Slovenia (also in this Euros group) and Sweden, with the best attack of any League B team (13 goals in six games). No wonder Stojkovic has labelled his team a “golden generation”.

Key player(s)

Mitrovic and Dusan Tadic, even with the pair moving to relatively lower-quality leagues last summer — Mitrovic from Fulham to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, and Tadic from Ajax in the Netherlands to Turkey’s Fenerbahce.

Mitrovic’s international record speaks for itself: 58 goals in 91 caps, with 12 braces and three hat-tricks. When he is on it, Mitrovic is hard to stop, especially for opponents who struggle to defend aerial balls into the box.

Tadic, now 35, still puts up outstanding creative numbers. Only four players bettered his four assists in qualifying, and Serbia’s attack — particularly from central spaces — gains another gear entirely when the No 10 is on the field. He has every final pass in the book: through balls to lock-pick defences, crosses from either side for the No 9s, cutbacks and one-twos to connect with the wing-backs.

Dusan Tadic is still a key player — even at 35 (Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

What’s their weakness?

Conceding goals. Serbia have only kept four clean sheets in 15 games since the World Cup, particularly problematic as Serbia have only played two teams ranked in FIFA’s top 20 (USA and Belgium) in that time. Impressively, Serbia have only had three losses by two or more goals under Stojkovic, but this owes more to their attack than a watertight defence.

Behind Costa Rica, Serbia had the second-worst 2022 World Cup group-stage defence. They faced 50 shots worth 7.6 expected goals and conceded eight times. It cost them qualification, drawing against Cameroon and losing against Switzerland despite leading in both matches. “At this level there are no excuses. We had the talent to score goals, but it’s often not just about talent, but about organisation,” said Tadic.

Their porousness owes to build-up errors against a high press (see their friendly against Belgium in March) but mainly aggressive use of wing-backs defensively. Rather than keeping a flat back five, Serbia jump their wing-backs to opposition No 8s/No 10s, vacating space in behind and pulling centre-backs wide to cover against wingers.

When Serbia press, they push the wing-backs up to press from a 3-4-3. It often leaves them three-v-three on halfway, reliant on their defenders to win duels.

One thing to watch for

The Tadic-Mitrovic combination. One has assisted the other 21 times (unsurprisingly, 19 have been Tadic to Mitrovic) in 76 caps together. This included three goals in Euros qualification and one against Switzerland at the World Cup. No prizes for guessing the goal method — an early, near-post cross for a glancing header.

England

Manager: Gareth Southgate
Captain: Harry Kane
Qualifying record: P8 W6 D2 L0 GF22 GA4
Euros debut: 1968 (Third-place)
Euro 2020: Runners-up
Average age of squad in qualifying: 27.9
Most caps in squad: Harry Kane (91)
Top scorer in squad: Harry Kane (63)

How they play (tactics and formations)

Three major tournaments for England under Gareth Southgate: one quarter-final finish (World Cup 2022), one semi-final (World Cup 2018) and one final (Euro 2020). They have gone incredibly close and vanquished certain national demons but do not yet have silverware to show for it.

Southgate has evolved England into a style more like 2008-2012 Spain than the England teams of the same era. “We’ve been more dominant in the games we’ve played. We have had complete control in pretty much every match,” said Southgate at the end of 2023.

England showed at World Cup 2022 that they no longer needed to system switch against bigger nations. They continued with the 4-3-3 in the quarter-finals against France, rather than going to the 3-4-3. Jude Bellingham’s exceptional development means a 4-2-3-1, with him the No 10, ought to be plan A in Germany.

Though a back four on paper, right-back Kyle Walker tucked round in build-up in knockout games in Qatar. This provided cover against the pacy Ismaila Sarr and, more importantly, Kylian Mbappe, when England played Senegal and France.

England turning their 4-3-3 into a 3-2-5 attacking shape is synonymous with how most top Premier League sides attack. Southgate has said they are “looking at creative solutions”, having trialled Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield and Rico Lewis in a hybrid full-back/midfield role. Expect to see short buildup with central midfield rotations to push a full-back upfield.

Southgate and England have not got the credit they deserve for such a composed qualification campaign. They were unbeaten in their first 10 games post-World Cup, with a first win in Italy since 1961, before they lost 1-0 to Brazil at Wembley in March. It meant they went unbeaten in 2023, their first calendar year without defeat since 2011.

Southgate has stressed the importance of “adaptability”, individually and collectively. England can expect back fives and mid/low-blocks in the groups, but will need to win midfield battles and show their defensive side against better teams in the knockout stages.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7jv4Pps8NcjKSaA8yp42R5?utm_source=generator

While the discussion will no doubt fixate on England’s attacking options, their defensive record has been excellent up to now. At the past two tournaments, England kept more clean sheets (eight) than goals conceded (six) in 12 games, and only allowed four goals against in eight Euros qualifying matches. Only Argentina (39) bettered England’s final-third regains at the World Cup (34). Even so, the absence of Harry Maguire through injury, and the lack of clarity about when Luke Shaw will be fit, means England head into Euro 2024 with more defensive questions than many expected.

Key player(s)

Harry Kane. Responsible for 12 goals and three assists at the last three major tournaments, he has been directly involved in over 40 per cent of England’s goals. Italy’s then head coach Roberto Mancini described Kane as the “complete striker” when England won in Naples in March 2023.

His creative side has grown internationally, suited to supplying England’s plethora of dribblers out wide (Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen) or as No 10s (Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden). Kane (eight goals) was fourth top scorer in qualifying and is on his best penalty streak of his career — since missing in the quarter-finals against France, he has scored all 15, including four for England. Oh, and 2023-24 was his best-ever scoring season (36, including five penalties).

What’s their weakness?

Positionally, left-back. Shaw, “physically vulnerable” in Southgate’s words, is the only natural left-back and enters the tournament injured. England’s results with a right-footer (Kieran Trippier) at left-back are better than one might expect, but they do lose an attacking dimension and might need to shuffle their right side to compensate creatively.

Collectively, defending counter-attacks. England’s ambition to dominate games against even the best means their counter-press has to be spot on. Southgate said it was “exceptional” in the 3-1 win away to Scotland, but it was not in the Wembley defeat against Brazil. England’s high line gave too much space for Brazil’s front three to run in behind, and they duly conceded their most big chances (seven) in any game under Southgate.

One thing to watch for

Goals in the final 15 minutes before half-time. England have shown remarkable consistency in wearing teams down with possession. They scored five without conceding between 30 and 45 minutes at the World Cup, the joint-most with Argentina. It was also England’s best 15-minute period of the game in qualification for that World Cup (nine/39 goals) and this Euros (eight/22 goals).

Denmark

Manager: Kasper Hjulmand
Captain: Christian Eriksen
Qualifying record: P10 W7 D1 L2 GF19 GA10
Euros debut: 1964 (Fourth-place)
Euro 2020: Semi-finals
Average age of squad in qualifying: 28.5
Most caps in squad: Simon Kjaer (132)
Top scorer in squad: Christian Eriksen (41)

How they play (tactics and formations)

Euro 2022 and World Cup 2022 went entirely differently for Denmark. At the last Euros, they made the semi-finals for the first time since they won the tournament in 1992. Their cross-heavy 3-4-3 was awkward to defend against, especially right-footed left wing-back Joachim Maehle.

But they flattered to deceive in Qatar. Head coach Kasper Hjulmand was consistent in his pre-tournament message, wanting to evolve beyond “underdog” football to “be proactive, dominate as much as possible, go for goals”. Tunisia cancelled out their shape in the first game (0-0) and, after losing to France (2-1) on matchday two, they switched to a 4-3-3 for the final match versus Australia.

Denmark lacked incision. Their switches to Maehle were as predictable as defendable. Australia won 1-0 with a counter-attack goal. We “haven’t played with the tempo and the rhythm,” said Hjulmand afterwards, adding that “the structures just go out of the match”. It was the only time in Hjulmand’s tenure (50 games) that Denmark have gone three games without a win.

The numbers made for stark reading: No wins and only one goal scored, from a set piece; the only team to not complete a through ball; the most switches of play per game; the lowest dribble success rate.

Denmark’s disaster: How the World Cup dark horses fell flat

Against inferior teams in Euros qualification, Denmark stuck with the 4-3-3, but played a 3-4-3 in both games against Slovenia, their strongest opposition. It gives a stronger defensive base, settling into a 5-4-1 or 5-3-2, and gets midfielders closer to support Maehle, who has played off the right too.

Christian Eriksen and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are the first-choice midfield partnership, balancing a passer with a ball-winner. This means Hjulmand can be creative with his front three, mixing between playing a front two with one No 10, or a lone striker and two No 10s.

Expect switches of play, especially to Maehle, from Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen (one of five Palace players in Group C), who plays right centre-back. There will be penetrative runs from No 8s against a low block and plenty of early crosses and cutbacks — the wing-back and midfielders like to crash the box.

Key player(s)

The quality of Eriksen and Maehle is known, with Hjulmand saying Eriksen is the “best player in Denmark”. Their success at this Euros will depend on the performances of and service to Rasmus Hojlund.

Denmark’s recent issue with No 9s has been a wild variety of profiles (Jonas Wind, Martin Braithwaite, Yussuf Poulsen) and the lack of a consistent scorer. Maehle is the only player with 10+ goals under Hjulmand, and he used a different striker in each World Cup game.

Pressure, then, on Hojlund, who only made his senior debut in late 2022 and was not part of the World Cup squad. He has settled into senior international football fantastically, with seven goals in 14 caps. All of those were in qualifying and, while he has not scored in four friendly appearances since, Hojlund’s goal-scoring variety is promising: a mix of one-touch finishes from crosses/cutbacks — which Hojlund throws himself at — and angled finishes, similar to his penalty-box-based debut season at Manchester United.

What’s their weakness?

Denmark are not a strong team from losing positions, which speaks to a lack of a plan B — they might change shape but their tactics remain the same. They have lost five of their last six when conceding first, not coming from behind since they won 2-1 in France in March 2022.

Aside from Hojlund (who is likely to start), they lack a goalscorer from the bench and Denmark have not had many tactical acid tests. They were the only top 50-ranked FIFA team in their qualifying group and Hjulmand’s side have only played one team ranked higher than them (Switzerland in a 0-0 friendly draw in March) since the 2022 World Cup.

One thing to watch for

Straight corners. They played eight of these at the World Cup (from a total of 21) and nine at Euro 2020 (of 39), the most of any team at either tournament. With Eriksen’s delivery, Hojlund’s height plus three centre-backs, Denmark are stacked with set-piece quality.

Slovenia

Manager: Matjaz Kek
Captain: Jan Oblak
Qualifying record: P10 W7 D1 L2 GF20 GA9
Euros debut: 2000 (Group stage)
Euro 2020: Failed to qualify
Average age of squad in qualifying: 27.1
Most caps in squad: Jasmin Kurtic (91)
Top scorer in squad: Josip Ilicic (17)

How they play (tactics and formations)

Slovenia are back, at their first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup. At a glance, not a lot looks to have changed. Matjaz Kek managed them in South Africa in 2010 and is in his second stint as national team boss, having returned in November 2018. They play a 4-4-2, as they did then, though none of the 2010 squad remain.

It is a team built on structure: “I like to give players freedom, but I demand their full responsibility,” said Kek ahead of the March friendly win (2-0) at home to Portugal. “We must be able to suffer defensively, but we must also think about when we have the ball. We cannot just wait in a block,” he added.

The switch to 4-4-2 came at the end of the 2022 Nations League, when they finished third in a group featuring Sweden, Serbia and Norway, having initially played a back three. In the 19 games since the system switch, Slovenia have 13 wins, four draws and only two defeats, outscoring opponents 34-16 and keeping seven clean sheets. That form meant 2023 was their best calendar year ever for wins (seven, from 10 games) and goals-per-game (two).

The 4-4-2 lives on as a key defensive setup – this is how it works

Their style is devoutly risk-averse. They set up to press high at opposition goal-kicks but quickly retreat to a 4-4-2 mid-block.

When building up, expect to see the first pass or two short, but under pressure they play long to the front two, looking for flick-ons and second balls. They like wide combinations, especially one-twos, but rotations are minimal. A central midfielder occasionally plays between the centre-backs, though a common tactic is rolling the ball-side winger infield to act as an auxiliary No 8 in support of the No 9.

Slovenia are stubborn to build up against, pressing aggressively when teams pass into midfield. Of teams to make the finals, only Georgia (109) made more tackles in qualifying (Slovenia made 91).

They force teams round and into crossing. Despite Slovenia playing a back four and theoretically being vulnerable to a front-five overload against wing-back systems, they make aggressive winger and full-back pressing jumps against a back-five. This forces the outside centre-back to pass long and pins the wing-back.

Slovenia are dangerous on counter-attacks, especially as they leave their front two up when defending deep. Expect to see launched passes or dribbles from midfielders. They have repeatedly scored from opposition goal kicks too, when they punt upfield and Slovenia win the aerial duel, then quickly play in behind the high line.

Their opener at home to Portugal was a classic counter-attack, going end-to-end in 13 seconds and five passes. Second-best was Benjamin Sesko’s second goal in the 2-0 qualifying win at home to Finland. Fittingly, they sealed their place in Germany by beating Kazakhstan at home, with the winning goal coming from a counter-attack.

Slovenia might be the weakest team in the group but they keep games tight. Sixteen of their 26 wins under Kek have been by one goal, with eight of 12 losses by a single goal. In many ways, they play an ideal, disciplined tournament style — they only received 10 yellow cards in 10 qualifying games, the fewest of any nation going to Germany, and qualified automatically for the first time ever.

Key player(s)

Goalkeeper and national team captain Jan Oblak gets his “fulfilment of a childhood dream”. He made his international debut back in late 2012 but will finally represent Slovenia in a major tournament. The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper’s shot-stopping has dipped in recent years, admittedly from one of the world’s best to closer to average, but his international record is solid: Oblak has 30 clean sheets and only 53 goals conceded in 64 caps.

At the other end, Slovenia have another match-winner in Sesko. He has just turned 21, but at 6ft 4in (193cm) provides a phenomenal profile and has had an excellent debut season at RB Leipzig. “He is physically strong, technically gifted and mature,” said Kek on Sesko in 2023. “There aren’t many strikers like this in the world. I think he has steadily improved, becoming more concrete in his decisions.”

Sesko brings a lot in build-up, able to take aerial balls and bring midfielders into play, as well as chase channels. Most importantly, though, he scores goals — every type you can imagine, and at an excellent rate.

Sesko, Slovenia’s youngest player and youngest goalscorer, has 11 goals in 29 caps. There is every chance he wins the goal of the tournament, with an eye for an outrageous finish — check his volleys against Sweden and Norway in the 2022 Nations League, one scored with either foot.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6MEsiixXjtT9DtAY83rIuK?utm_source=generator

What’s their weakness?

Individually, a lack of major tournament experience — none of these players have featured at a Euros or World Cup before. There is a lack of depth, with only four players in Europe’s top five leagues. Slovenia need their individuals at both ends to shine. “They have the privilege to rotate, we do not,” said Kek ahead of the Portugal friendly in March. “We must take advantage of everything we have.“

One thing to watch for

Josip Ilicic, now 36, has been recalled by Kek for the tournament despite not playing international football since November 2021. He is the joint-fifth-most capped player in Slovenia’s history (91), with Samir Handanovic, and third top-scorer. Ilicic scored Slovenia’s winner in a friendly against Armenia in early June, his first international goal since November 2021.

Ilicic was released by Atalanta at the end of 2021-22, after five seasons there, now playing for NK Maribor in Slovenia’s top flight. A versatile forward, most likely to play a wide midfield role, given the established front two of Sesko and Andraz Sporar (they started six out of 10 qualifiers together). Atalanta head coach Gianpiero Gasperini once said that Ilicic was “worthy of the Ballon d’Or”. He has a chance for a fairytale career ending.

Fixtures

Round 1:

16/06/2024 — Slovenia vs Denmark (5pm BST, 6pm CEST, 12pm EDT)
16/06/2024 — Serbia vs England (8pm BST, 9pm CEST, 3pm EDT)

Round 2:

20/06/2024 — Slovenia vs Serbia (2pm BST, 3pm CEST, 9am EDT)
20/06/2024 — Denmark vs England (5pm BST, 6pm CEST, 12pm EDT)

Round 3:

25/06/2024 — England vs Slovenia (8pm BST, 9pm CEST, 3pm EDT)
25/06/2024 — Denmark vs Slovenia (8pm BST, 9pm CEST, 3pm EDT)

(Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)

Euro 2024 Group D guide: France’s Mbappe plan, Netherlands’ shape-shifting and Austria’s energy

Ahmed Walid

Jun 11, 2024

Sign up for The Athletic today with our limited-time Tournament Sale offer.

What tactics do the Netherlands employ? What should we look out for from France? And what can we expect from Ralf Rangnick’s Austria?

The 2024 European Championship finals start on Friday and The Athletic is running in-depth tactical group guides, so you know what to expect from every nation competing in Germany over the next month or so. We will examine each team’s playing style, strengths, weaknesses and key players, and highlight things to keep an eye on during the tournament.

https://5f11f16bbc26557e5cf6858f0c7bfd8d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Expect to see screengrabs analysing tactical moments in games, embedded videos of key clips to watch, the occasional podcast clip and data visualisation to highlight patterns and trends — think of yourself as a national-team head coach and this a mini opposition dossier for you to read pre-match.

Here’s Group D, which features France, the Netherlands, Austria and Poland.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2mPj8kruh6LLUygl33wPt0?utm_source=generator

France

Manager: Didier Deschamps
Captain: Kylian Mbappe
Qualifying record: P8, W7, D1, L0, GF29, GA3
Euro 2020: Round of 16
Most caps in squad: Olivier Giroud (133)
Top scorer in squad: Olivier Giroud (57)

How do they play?

Logically, France haven’t moved away from the approach that guided them to the final of the 2022 World Cup, where they lost to Argentina on penalties.

After shifting his reigning world champions to a back four on the eve of that tournament 18 months ago, Didier Deschamps has continued with that shape since then, with Antoine Griezmann playing in a midfield three after he impressed in that role at the World Cup.

France’s main attacking threat comes from the wide areas, where the focus is on finding Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in one-v-one situations.

Mbappe and Dembele have the upper hand over most full-backs in the game because of their quick acceleration and dribbling ability in isolated situations, but the French wingers also look to combine with advancing full-backs, especially the left-sided Theo Hernandez, who regularly occupies a higher position than Jules Kounde, the right-back. When Deschamps wants more attacking power from his full-backs, Jonathan Clauss usually starts rather than Kounde.

To balance Hernandez’s forward surges down the left, Adrien Rabiot maintains a deeper position in midfield, alongside Aurelien Tchouameni and in front of the remaining defenders.

The left-back’s advanced position on that side allows France to attack multiple lanes and support captain Mbappe in wide areas, either by allowing him to move inside, combining with him or simply creating space for him to go to work.

The biggest question entering this tournament is who will lead France’s attack.

Olivier Giroud, Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani have all started as the team’s centre-forward since the World Cup. Giroud’s link-up play has been vital to Deschamps’ team for many years, but Kolo Muani’s off-ball movement and runs in behind provide a different profile, while Thuram offers a balance between both.

Off the ball, France’s defensive shape moves to a lopsided 4-4-2 with the right-winger dropping next to the flattened midfield line. This way, Deschamps frees Mbappe of any defensive responsibilities and keeps him in an advanced position to be a threat on the transition.

France’s defensive organisation is empowered by the individual quality of their defenders. From their duelling ability to their pace, the French defensive line isn’t easy to beat, and if bypassed they are usually able to recover their positions.

Their key player(s)

There is no doubting Mbappe’s star qualities or Tchouameni’s all-round skill set, but the key player for this France side is surely Griezmann. The Atletico Madrid forward has played across the front line throughout his international career, scoring 44 goals for France since his debut 10 years ago.

That switch to a No 8 role in 2022 enhanced his importance to this side. From a deeper position, Griezmann can make late runs into the box to attack crosses, or find team-mates with accurate passes in the final third.

In addition, Griezmann is aware of his positioning when France are defending in a 4-4-2 mid-block, while having a defensive impact across the pitch with his well-timed sliding tackles.

(Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

What is their weakness?

The risk-reward of giving Mbappe a free hand.

On one hand, its attacking benefits have been clear in possession and on attacking transitions for the last couple of years, but France’s narrow 2-1 quarter-final victory against England in the 2022 World Cup illustrated that their left side can be exploited when facing strong opposition.

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Before that game, Gareth Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland hinted at the idea of attacking France down Mbappe’s side. “There is always a plus and a minus to everyone,” Holland said. “It’s that cat-and-mouse of, ‘Yes, we have still got to try to deal with him’ but we also have to try to exploit the weakness that his super-strength delivers. Trying to adapt your team to cover for that while still trying to create your own problems is the challenge.”

Despite losing by the odd goal that day, England’s approach worked and only small details cost them.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7DatrDOAU5tZ8N2JzqhO4i?utm_source=generator

How to follow the European Championship on The Athletic…

One thing to watch out for…

Cutbacks to Mbappe.

More often than not, the now Real Madrid winger occupies a central position rather than attacking the back post when the team is attacking the wide areas. From there, Mbappe constantly offers himself as a cutback option while the centre-forward is dragging the defensive line deeper.

In this example from a Euros qualifier last October against the Netherlands, also group opponents this summer, Mbappe is ready to attack the penalty area while Kingsley Coman finds Clauss’ overlapping run down the other side.

As the right-back approaches the ball, Mbappe adjusts his movement to present himself as a cutback option with Kolo Muani’s movement forcing defenders Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake deeper. Clauss spots him and plays the correct pass, but Lutsharel Geertruida manages to intercept.

In the 14-0 victory against minnows Gibraltar the following month, Mbappe managed to score from a cutback from the other side.

Here, he is in a narrow position with Theo Hernandez down the left wing. The left-back makes a run behind the defence, which is found by Youssouf Fofana’s pass, before Hernandez plays the cutback into Mbappe, who holds his run to keep a distance from the defenders and finishes into the bottom corner.

Netherlands

Manager: Ronald Koeman
Captain: Virgil van Dijk
Qualifying record: P8, W6, D0, L2, GF17, GA7
Euro 2020: Round of 16
Most caps in squad: Daley Blind (107)
Top scorer in squad: Memphis Depay (45)

How do they play?

Alternating between a back three and four, Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands continuously change their shape from game to game, or within the same match — as in this example from the 1-0 away victory against Greece last October.

Despite that, the differences between the 3-2-4-1 and 4-2-3-1 on the ball are minimal. Apart from having one centre-back fewer and a more attacking profile in the front line, the Dutch still look to find their No 10s between the lines and combine to create an advantage for their widest players — whether these are wing-backs, a wide forward or an overlapping full-back.

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When attacking from a back three, Koeman’s side either try to find the wing-backs directly or play through the opposition to force them into a narrow shape, before using the wide players. In this example from last September, also against Greece, Frenkie de Jong finds Cody Gakpo in between the lines, which forces Manolis Siopis to react…

… leaving Xavi Simons in a bigger space in midfield. Once Gakpo dribbles by the Greece midfielder, the positions of Simons and right wing-back Denzel Dumfries give Kostas Tsimikas a dilemma: moving inside to limit the space for Simons provides Dumfries with an advantage, and vice versa.

Tsimikas decides to hold his position to prevent Gakpo playing the ball to Simons in a dangerous situation, but in turn it creates room out wide for Dumfries to attack and the Liverpool forward finds him with a pass through the defence…

… before Dumfries crosses the ball towards Wout Weghorst, who scores to make it 3-0.

On the other hand, the 4-2-3-1 provides a different profile in the front line; rather than having two wing-backs, it’s an overlapping full-back and a winger. Often, one of the wingers would roam inside the pitch to create space for the advancing full-back.

Here against the Republic of Ireland, also last September, Donyell Malen’s movement drags James McClean inside and creates space for Dumfries to attack. The right-back’s run is found by De Jong with a chipped pass over the defence, and Dumfries heads the ball across goal for Weghorst to score the winner.

Out of possession is where the difference between their shapes is most stark, with an additional centre-back making it a back five instead of a back four.

In addition, the Netherlands are able to press higher up the pitch if needed, with their centre-backs accustomed to aggressively marking opponents in advanced positions.

Their key player(s)

Netherlands’ spine coming into the tournament was composed of Van Dijk, De Jong and Simons — and they will be weakened significantly by De Jong’s absence because of the ankle injury that has troubled him for months.

His presence in the Netherlands’ midfield has been vital to the team, on and off the ball. His ball-carrying ability helps the team evade the press, while moving them up the thirds where his precise passes are crucial. Complementing that is his superb tackling and defensive positioning when his team is out of possession.

With De Jong ruled out of the tournament on Monday, Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman are the likely pairing for the Netherlands’ first group stage game against Poland on Sunday. Schouten was always expected to partner De Jong, but Veerman’s promotion does at least come at a moment of career-best form, with the 25-year-old impressing during the Netherlands’ 4-0 warm-up win over Iceland on Monday evening, creating Xavi Simons’ opener beautifully. Other options in midfield include Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners and ex-Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum.

They have strength elsewhere. Captain Van Dijk’s defensive prowess and ability to cover space are essential to this side’s defensive phases and on transitions. Meanwhile, his diagonals to the wide players and progressive passes through the lines are the base of Koeman’s attacking ideas. The Liverpool centre-back also empowers their defensive and offensive set pieces with his aerial ability.

Koeman relies on Van Dijk’s trademark diagonals (ANP via Getty Images)

Much will be expected of Simons at this tournament.

Whether as a No 10, narrow forward or a winger, he is able to receive the ball in the tightest of spaces and dribble past opponents to create chances for his team-mates. Simons’ creativity and technical ability on the ball are the catalyst to Netherlands’ passing combinations through the centre and out wide. In 2023-24, he managed double figures for both goals (10) and assists (13) at RB Leipzig, where he was on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

What is their weakness?

The Dutch defence was solid in most of their qualifying campaign, managing five clean sheets in six games against Greece, Gibraltar (twice each) and the Republic of Ireland. But against stronger opposition, their back line has suffered. In their two group matches against France, they conceded six times.

On top of that, they let in four against Croatia and three against Italy in the 2022-23 Nations League finals last June, and two against Germany in March.

One thing to watch out for…

As the Netherlands’ wide forwards combine with their wing-backs in the final third, one feature of this attack is the wing-backs rotating positions with the forwards to be a threat inside the penalty area.

In this example, in a 2-1 loss against France last October, left wing-back Quilindschy Hartman plays a one-two with Steven Bergwijn, which allows them to cut through the French defence, as Hartman attacks the vacant space and curls the ball into the near corner.

On other occasions, the narrow positioning of the wing-backs creates space for the Dutch forwards in wide areas.

Here, Dumfries and Simons combine down the right side, but it is Daley Blind’s movement from a narrow position that is the catalyst to the goal. The left wing-back’s positioning attracts Greece’s right-back, Lazaros Rota, and frees Gakpo towards the back post. Dumfries then finds the unmarked Gakpo, who scores to double Netherlands’ lead.

Austria

Manager: Ralf Rangnick
Captain: Marko Arnautovic
Qualifying record: P8, W6, D1, L1, GF17, GA7
Euro 2020: Round of 16
Most caps in squad: Marko Arnautovic (112)
Top scorer in squad: Marko Arnautovic (36)

How do they play?

Austria’s cautious and reactive football under their previous manager, Franco Foda, is a thing of the past.

Ralf Rangnick’s arrival in summer 2022 after their failure to qualify for the World Cup has transformed the team’s playing style to an energetic and proactive one, which the players have warmed to. “Maybe we’re fed up with playing a certain kind of football, like we’ve always had in previous years,” said their currently injured captain, David Alaba, after a 1-1 draw with France two years ago.

Under Rangnick, Austria operate in a 4-2-2-2 in possession with narrow No 10s behind two forwards. One of their main attacking ideas is to find this front four with direct passes on the ground, so they can combine with each other.

They access the front four through their full-backs or directly from the centre-backs, who usually position themselves wider in the build-up phase with one member of the midfield double pivot dropping to support.

In this example, against Turkey in March, Maximilian Wober and Kevin Danso split up, with Xaver Schlager dropping in between them to provide those centre-backs with better passing angles in to the No 10s or the front men.

In another example, in the 2-0 win against Slovakia three days earlier, Wober’s wider position in the build-up phase allows him to find Marcel Sabitzer between the lines, before he passes to Romano Schmid behind the defence, and the latter plays a ball across the goal for Andreas Weimann to double the lead.

When they aren’t able to play through their opponents, Austria go direct with long passes towards Michael Gregoritsch or Marko Arnautovic and look to win the second ball, which is helped by the close proximity of their front four players when in possession.

Off the ball, the team’s high-intensity approach suits their players, with many having either played within the Red Bull club network, of which Rangnick was the tactical architect, or worked with coaches influenced by him.

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This high-octane style creates numerous transitional situations, which fit the profiles of their midfielders and forwards, who are adept at winning the ball back quickly and attacking space.

In terms of the high press, Rangnick’s side start with a 4-4-2 shape…

… but then adjust by dropping a midfielder to provide a safety net or mark players moving in between the lines, and one of the wide forwards moving inside.

In this example, against Germany last November, Sabitzer moves inside to mark Ilkay Gundogan as Xaver Schlager drops deeper to protect the midfield with Nicolas Seiwald pushing forward to press Leon Goretzka. Germany’s decision to start the move down their left side means that it’s Austria’s far midfielder, Sabitzer, who moves inside the pitch, with his team-mates Konrad Laimer and Christoph Baumgartner pressing down the other side.

In case Germany build their attack down the right side, the movement of the Austria players mirrors them: Gregoritsch and Sabitzer press Mats Hummels and Jonathan Tah, Schlager marks Gundogan and Laimer moves inside to keep an eye on Goretzka, with Seiwald (out of shot) dropping deeper to zonally defend the midfield.

In that March friendly against Turkey, it only took two minutes for this pressing scheme to give Austria the lead.

Kaan Ayhan playing the ball to his left-back, Cenk Ozkacar, triggers the press, with Laimer moving towards Ozkacar, Schlager marking Hakan Calhanoglu, Seiwald (again out of shot. Nothing personal, Nicolas!) defends against Turkey’s No 10, and Schmid moves inside to press Salih Ozcan.

Under pressure, and with no passing options, Turkey’s left-back returns the ball to Ayhan…

… who tries to play through the press to Ozcan, but Schmid is in the correct position to pressure the midfielder with Austria’s forwards close by.

Baumgartner manages to win the loose ball, and though his shot is saved, Schlager scores from the rebound.

Their key player(s)

Gregoritsch has scored eight times in his past 12 matches for Austria, including a hat-trick against Turkey, but it’s not only about the goals.

The tall Freiburg centre-forward is an aerial outlet to Rangnick’s side when they can’t build up the attack, and a link-up player when they are passing through the thirds. Meanwhile, his well-timed runs behind defences provide Austria with a threat on the transition.

(Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

What is their weakness?

Two major injuries will hinder Austria’s chances this summer, because missing Alaba and Xaver Schlager is more than just playing without your best players — both of them are necessary for this style to succeed.

Real Madrid defender Alaba is the captain of this side, and Austria will miss his leadership of the back line, proactive work off the ball and prowess in terms of defending the penalty area — when they play deeper, Austria’s low block isn’t as strong as their high press.

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Schlager’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury playing for RB Leipzig just over a month means that Austria’s midfield will be without one of their best ball winners, who has also been essential to their build-up and switch of play from one side of the pitch to the other.

To make things worse, their first-choice goalkeeper Alexander Schlager is also out of the tournament with a knee injury.

One thing to watch out for…

Due to Austria’s approach on the ball, their full-backs have space to attack down the wings and the No 10s complement that by positioning themselves in the half-spaces. The passing combination to look out for is the out-to-in pattern, where one of the double pivot or centre-backs plays the ball to the advancing full-back…

… who then finds the No 10 between the lines or behind the defence.

In this example, Patrick Wimmer’s narrow position allows him to attack the space behind Turkey’s right-back, who moves up to face Alexander Prass, Austria’s left-back. Prass finds Wimmer’s run…

… and he goes on to set up Maximilian Entrup to score.

Poland

Manager: Michal Probierz
Captain: Robert Lewandowski
Qualifying record: P10, W4, D3, L3, GF15, GA11 (qualified through play-offs)
Euro 2020: Group stage
Most caps in squad: Robert Lewandowski (150)
Top scorer in squad: Robert Lewandowski (82)

How do they play?

After sacking Fernando Santos, Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning coach, last September following defeats to the Czech Republic, Moldova and Albania in three of his six matches during eight months in charge, Poland decided to promote their under-21s coach, Michal Probierz, to the top job.

Under Probierz, the senior side have maintained a back-three shape which moves to a 5-3-2 when they are defending in the middle third or deeper. Aerially, it’s hard to get the better of towering centre-backs, Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior, who have featured regularly alongside a third defender in the heart of the defence.

Poland’s attacking strength lies with wing-backs Nicola Zalewski and Przemyslaw Frankowski. Probierz’s team focuses exclusively on attacking wide areas by finding their wing-backs high up the pitch, or playing long passes into the channels towards their centre-forwards.

Crosses from Zalewski and Frankowski are Poland’s main threat in the final third, with left wing-back Zalewski able to cross with both feet. This ambidexterity is a useful tool, because he can dribble with his right foot and cross with the left before the opposing defender reacts.

In this example, against Latvia in November, Zalewski dribbles towards the byline with his right foot, while Frankowski moves into the penalty box to overload the back post…

… before connecting with the left wing-back’s left-footed cross to give Poland the lead.

Their key player(s)

If you are a country’s leading appearance holder and record goalscorer, it’s hard for you not to be their key player.

Lewandowski has scored for Poland in the World Cup, the European Championship, in qualifying for both, and in the Nations League. He is also able to score every type of goal: left foot, right foot, header.

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But going into the tournament there are concerns about his fitness, after the Barcelona striker had to be withdrawn after half an hour of Poland’s final warm-up match, against Turkey on Monday. It will be a massive blow to Poland if he is not fit to take part in the tournament.

Poland’s crossing-based playing style complements Lewandowski’s penalty-box presence and aerial finishing. Also, playing two strikers up front lessens the load on Lewandowski, who turns 36 in August, and allows him to drop deeper to link the attack or roam to the channel, while the other centre-forward provides a central threat.

Making plenty of the chances for Lewandowski is Zalewski, on the left wing. Since a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in November, Zalewski has solidified his status as this team’s main creator. The left wing-back’s dribbling ability provides him an advantage in one-v-one situations, and allows him to beat the defender in front of him before crossing into the penalty area.

(Visionhaus/Getty Images)

What is their weakness?

A lack of attacking diversity — which makes Lewandowski’s involvement so important.

Poland’s attacking approach is simple and effective. However, they are over-dependent on wing-backs Zalewski and Frankowski in terms of chance creation. Their two main options for ball progression are either long passes to the centre-forwards, or circulating the ball towards their wide areas.

Opponents analysing Poland’s games will deliver a clear plan before the match: stop the wing-backs.

One thing to watch out for…

Despite only making his international debut in October, Jakub Piotrowski’s attacking skill set perfectly fits Poland’s style of play. Featuring as a No 8 in midfield, Piotrowski’s off-ball movement complements the team’s wing play by providing passing options for the wing-backs and wide centre-backs, or making late runs into the penalty area.

Piotrowski’s runs from midfield helped him score 17 goals for Bulgarian champions Ludogorets last season. In this example, against Botev Plovdiv in March, he makes a late run into the penalty area, which is found by the right-back, Aslak Witry, before the Pole heads the ball home.

Moreover, Piotrowski’s long-range shots and threat on attacking set pieces offer Poland attacking solutions they are definitely in need of.

The Radar – The Athletic’s 50 players to watch at Euro 2024

Fixtures

Round 1:

16/06/2024 — Poland vs Netherlands (3pm CEST, 2pm BST, 9am EDT)
17/06/2024 — Austria vs France (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)

Round 2:

21/06/2024 — Poland vs Austria (6pm CEST, 5pm BST, 12pm EDT)
21/06/2024 — Netherlands vs France (9pm CEST, 8pm BST, 3pm EDT)

Round 3:

25/06/2024 — France vs Poland (6pm CEST, 5pm BST, 12pm EDT)
25/06/2024 — Netherlands vs Austria (6pm CEST, 5pm BST, 12pm EDT)

(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)

6/7 USMNT vs Colombia Sat 5 pm + Brazil Tues 8 pm, USWNT win-roster decisions soon, Euro’s Start Fri June 14

June 8, 2024 gatorbest

US Men take on Colombia Sat 8 pm & Wed 7 pm vs Brazil on TNT

The US men continue their Copa America prep with huge match-ups today in Maryland vs Colombia at 8 pm on TNT, before playing Brazil on Wed at 7 pm on TNT. The US will of course be hosting and should be looking at a Semi-Final birth at least if we want to continue progressing on our way to hosting the World Cup in 2026.

Indy 11 Win Again play Birmingham Sun 7 pm on ESPN+.

The Boys in Blue close out a two-match road trip Sunday night against Birmingham Legion FC looking to extend its 6 match USL unbeaten streak. Indy is coming off a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and sits at 7-4-2 in third place in the Eastern Conference. Birmingham defeated El Paso Locomotive FC, 3-1, last time out, and is 5-4-3 in the Eastern Conference. The 11 return home to host San Antonio FC on June 15. Single-game tickets are available for all matches via Ticketmaster. Great Story about Carmel Dad’s Club’s own Cam Lindley and his journey back to Indy 11.

US Ladies Olympic Warm Up Successful with 2 wins – now who goes to Olympics?

New coach Emma Hayes won her first 2 games in style over Korea last week – now comes the decision time on who is cut moving forward into the Olympics this July. I was hoping Alex Morgan would have a good showing – but honestly the trio of Swanson, Smith in Rodman are deadly fast up front and simply take this team to the next level. I do think there is room still for Rosie Lavelle (who earned her 100^th cap Wed) if she is healthy but the 16 year old Lily Yohannes, who was spectacular and scored this goal, may deserve the spot instead? The future looks bright for the US – the question is can Hayes put her stamp on this team with just 1 more 2 week camp to go before the Olympics start. Gonna be interesting.

Champions League Real Madrid Wins Again, Columbus falls to Pachuca 2-0.

The Madridistas did it again winning their 15th Champions League title over a game Dortmund in London last Saturday as the largest streaming audience on Paramount plus ever. CBS had decent #s as well with the largest viewership for a game with no EPL team involved of over 4 million people. The Yellow Wall of Dortmund was there and they had their chances in the first half with 4 open looks and 3 post balls in the first half. Honestly GK Courtoius kept Madrid in the game early before they finally scored in the 2^nd half putting them away.

US Men

What is the USMNT’s Best XI for Copa America?

USA vs. Colombia, 2024 Friendly: What to watch for By Donald Wine II S&S

2024 USMNT Friendly: Scouting Colombia Stars & Stripes By Brendan Joseph
Top 25 players in the USMNT player pool right now

USMNT’s Sargent (foot) could miss Copa América

Why Uruguay can be ‘trouble’ for USMNT in Copa America
How can the USMNT replace Sergiño Dest at Copa América? ESPN Jeff Carlisle

US Women

Hayes’ first big USWNT call: Olympic roster cuts
Emma Hayes’ first big USWNT conundrum: Olympic roster cuts

16-year-old scores quickly in USWNT debut
Lily Yohannes, 16, becomes 3rd-youngest goal scorer in USWNT history in win over South Korea

An Ode to USWNT under Emma Hayes Stars & Stripes By TrebTracy
The tao of USWNT coach Emma Hayes, who ‘picks winning over everything else’

US Starts with 4-0 win – the 18

Champions League

Real Madrid, Champions League king once again, has conquered the unconquerable
Real Madrid Champions League Final: Number of titles, finals appearances, record, UCL titles in a row
Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Real Madrid: An inevitable 15th Champions League, European title
Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid player ratings: Superstars shine, in the end
Which Premier League teams qualified for the 2024-25 Champions League, Europa, or Conference Leagues?

GAMES ON TV to WATCH

Sat, June 8

12:45 pm FS2 Portugal vs Croatia

5:30 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Colombia

6 pm Fox Desportes Argentina vs Ecuador

7:30 pm Ion TV Chicago vs San Fran NWSL @ Wrigley field

8:30 pm Univision, TUDN Mexico vs Brazil

Sun, June 9

12:45 pm FS2 for FS+? France vs Canada

7 pm ESPN+ Birmingham vs Indy 11

Mon, June 10

2:45 pm FS2 Netherlands vs Iceland

Tues, June 11

2:45 pm FS2 Portugal vs Ireland

8 pm ??? US Men U23 Olympic Team vs Japan

Wed, June 12

7 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Brazil

Fri, June 14 Euro 2024 Begins

3 pm Fox Germany vs Scotland

8 pm Amazon Prime KC Current vs Chicago Red Stars NWSL

Sat, June 15

9 am Hungary vs Switzerland

12 pm Fox Spain vs Croatia

3 pm Fox Italy vs Albania

7 pm TV 8 Indy 11 vs San Antonio @ the Mike

Sun, June 16

9 am FS1 Poland vs Netherlands Euro

12 noon FS1 Slovenia vs Denmark

3 pm Fox Serbia vs England Euro

Thur, June 20 COPA America Starts

12 noon FS1 Denmark vs England

3 pm Fox Spain vs Italy

8 pm Fox Argentina vs Canada COPA

Sat, June 22

6 pm Fox Ecuador vs Venezuela COPA

7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs OC @ the Mike Pride Night

9 pm Fox Mexico vs Jamaica COPA

Sun, June 23

6 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Bolivia COPA America

9 pm FS1 Uruguay vs Panama COPA

Thur, June 27

6 pm Fox USMNT vs Panama COPA

Mon, July 1

9 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Uraguay

Sat July 13

3 pm TNT, Tele US Women vs Mexico

Tues, July 16

7:30 pm TNT, Universo US Women vs Costa Rica

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

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Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic say USMNT aiming to win Copa America

ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 24: Christian Pulisic #10 and Weston McKennie #8 of the United States pose for a photo with the Concacaf Nations League Trophy during a game between Mexico and USMNT at AT&T Stadium on March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Pablo Maurer and Colin Millar Jun 7, 2024 The Athletic

Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic insist that USMNT are contenders to win this summer’s Copa America. Gregg Berhalter’s side hold home advantage for this year’s tournament — the U.S. reached the semi-final stage when they most recently hosted the tournament, in 2016.Defending champions Argentina and Brazil are the favourites to win this year’s Copa America, with Uruguay, Colombia and Mexico among the nations with hopes of advancing deep into the tournament.Despite having never lifted the trophy, Juventus midfielder McKennie, 25, and Milan winger Pulisic believe that the American team has the potential to win the final at Miami Gardens on July 14.“Our goal in any tournament is always to win,” McKennie said on Friday.“We want to come out with the trophy. We have players in big clubs and as a team, we are not far off the best in the tournament. We have a great opportunity to grow and develop as a group ahead of the World Cup.”

McKennie believes the U.S. are contenders for the Copa America title (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)U.S. captain Pulisic — who has scored 28 goals in 66 international caps — also believes the team are challengers for the title.“We want to win the tournament, that is why we are playing in it,” 25-year-old Pulisic said.“We want to go as far as we can, get out of the group, then go game by game from there and at the end of the day we want to win the tournament.“With the tournament being in the U.S., this is perfect for us to showcase our abilities in a big tournament. We want the big crowds against the big teams in the big stadiums. That is what you live for as a soccer player.”McKennie added that the U.S. enjoying home advantage was “important” and believes it can provide the momentum ahead of World Cup 2026, which the nation will co-host alongside Mexico and Canada.

“One of our goals from five years ago was to change how the world views American soccer, and now it is to change how soccer is viewed within America and how we can change it forever,” McKennie said.“Playing against these teams in our home stadiums is a good starting point to bring new fans and new types of people to the games, to experience these matches and become attached to the sport.”The U.S. play Colombia in a pre-tournament friendly on June 8 before playing Brazil five days later to conclude their preparation for the Copa America.They get their campaign underway against Bolivia on June 23, before taking on Panama four days later and finalising their group stage campaign against Uruguay on July 1.(John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Christian Pulisic connection grew at Milan this year – Yunus Musah

Lizzy Becherano ESPN – Jun 3, 2024, 05:21 PM

United States and AC Milan attacker Yunus Musah revealed the connection he established with teammate Christian Pulisic on and off the field throughout the Serie A season will serve them well as the team heads into a busy summer highlighted by the Copa América.”I’ve gotten to connect with Christian a lot over the past year, spending a lot of time with him this season on and off the field,” Musah said at the U.S. team’s availability on Monday. “It’s been great to connect, because I didn’t get the chance to do it much today at camp, so it’s been nice to do that the whole year.”Both Pulisic and Musah joined AC Milan last summer ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, playing integral parts in the team’s success at different points in a season that saw them finish a distant second in Serie A behind runaway champions Inter Milan.

The midfielder initially kicked off strong, before suffering an injury in December that forced him to be sidelined before gradually returning to the squad.”My season went really well in the beginning until December when I got a little injury,” Musah said. “I played a lot of games in the league and Champions League so that was really great, so that’s when you expect things will go like that for the whole season. But things happen and you have to adjust.”Towards the end of the season I started being involved in some important games again, Europa League and the derby. It’s been a good season, I was always there pushing and staying around the team. It’s been a good first season.”Meanwhile, Pulisic had a stellar first season with the Italian side, scoring 12 goals to shatter Kaka’s 18-year-old record of most goals scored by a midfielder — not including penalties.”On the field, he’s grown so much playing on the right-wing,” Musah added. “Being so effective this season in scoring goals and assists, he’s been the best attacker on our team. The manager has given him confidence and had faith in him, it was a mutual thing, and the confidence the manager gave him was reflected on the field.”The two will now come together as the U.S. prepares to face Colombia and Brazil in friendlies ahead of the 2024 Copa América. The American side is in Group C alongside Bolívia, Uruguay and Panama.”Colombia is a complicated rival. Every game they play with a lot of intensity,” Musah said. “They are very physical, especially their defense. I think they have a lot of talent in the attack also, like Luis Díaz, so this game will help us a lot in the preparations. We are facing a really good opponent and they will get the best version of us.”Testing ourselves against the best is something that is really important for us because we are only going to get better when playing against the best. Before Copa América it’s great to test ourselves and see what we need to work on. And also try to win these games and get momentum.”The international tournament kicks off on June 23 for the American team, starting with the match against Bolivia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

USWNT auditions are over; now Emma Hayes must pick her Olympic squad

Jeff Kassouf ESPN sun 5, 2024, 01:02 AM ET

ST. PAUL, Minnesota — United States women’s national soccer team coach Emma Hayes is still learning some of the American sports lingo in her first weeks on the job.On Tuesday, under a steady rain at Allianz Field that reminded the British coach of home, Hayes implored her team to finish off a South Korea team that rarely threatened the Americans but trailed by only one goal at that point.”‘I want you to put your pedal to the metal,'” Hayes recalled telling the team. “And [assistant coach Denise Reddy] said to me, ‘Don’t you ever say that again!'”As awkward as it might have been, it worked. The USWNT scored two more times — including a debut goal for 16-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes in her first cap — to win 3-0.Now comes crunch time for Hayes, to borrow another uniquely American sports phrase. After two games in charge and just over a week of training, she must select her 18-player Olympic roster in the coming weeks. Some players’ performances on Tuesday made the job that much harder.Yohannes shot up that list after making an immediate impact in her much-anticipated debut. Her late goal punctuated a solid 20 minutes of distribution in midfield, including a pass to Trinity Rodman moments earlier that led to Rodman ripping a shot off the crossbar.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Yohannes, 16, scores minutes into USWNT debut11hJeff Kassouf
The last hurrah? One final chance at honours for this Matildas generation15hMarissa Lordanic
The midfield, though, already was crowded even before Yohannes saw the field. The team’s starting trio of Korbin Albert, Rose Lavelle and captain Lindsey Horan helped control the game against a South Korea side that once again sat in a low block of five defenders. Hayes has praised Horan throughout this camp as a team leader. And Lavelle is a known entity who earned her 100th cap on Tuesday; she is arguably the team’s most creative player.Albert is much newer to the mix, but the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has quickly proved she can compete at this level.On Tuesday, Albert and Horan combined to dictate the pace of the game, patiently waiting for the right moments to pull South Korea out of its defensive shape. It wasn’t always perfect, but it was effective in the right moments. Above all, it was patient.”I think a big thing for us is just being more patient on both ends of the ball, not just going forward every single time,” Lavelle said. “I think it’s just [being] patient with our movement, patient with our shifting side to side with the ball, and finding different ways to beat their forwards, beat their midfield and break them down.”Hayes made nine changes from the lineup that defeated South Korea 4-0 three days earlier in Colorado. The goal, Hayes said on Monday, would be to give new players an opportunity to process the information “overload” that the staff had thrown at them all week and show that they can apply it in a game setting.Among those ostensibly on the bubble to make Hayes’ Olympic roster, Albert did that as well as anyone on Tuesday.There is context, however, to her on-field success. Albert’s prior social media activity — which surfaced in March — appeared to support anti-LGBTQIA+ content and make light of an injury to former U.S. winger Megan Rapinoe. Albert apologized, and the team held internal discussions in an April camp that were not shared publicly. Albert remained on that roster and was called up again for this camp.

Hayes made pointed comments on Saturday that she expects a tolerant environment in the locker room, and her words about players needing to feel supported when they take the field came in the aftermath of Albert being booed by the home crowd in Colorado on Saturday.

“I want everybody to be patient,” Hayes said Saturday. “There are a lot of younger players. On the pitch, they are learning, but they want to give everything for their shirt, and they want to give everything for their country. Off the pitch, some make mistakes. Some have to learn. My job as a coach is to help teach them and guide them.”In pure soccer terms — an oversimplification, no doubt — Hayes and her staff appear to rate the versatile Albert, and the midfielder’s performance on Tuesday will have reaffirmed that. How Albert, Yohannes and others potentially fit into the Olympic roster is the mental gymnastics that will occupy Hayes in the coming weeks. Horan and Lavelle are veterans with World Cup titles. Defensive midfielder Sam Coffey has become a regular, including alongside Albert in the team’s Concacaf W Gold Cup triumph earlier this year, and is the best pure defensive midfielder in the pool.Then there are the questions of where to play versatile attackers Catarina Macario and Jaedyn Shaw. Macario started as the USWNT’s No. 10 on Saturday, while Shaw started in a hybrid winger role on Tuesday. Shaw struggled to find the game in the first half before coming alive in the second half, including when she moved into the No. 10 role. That reiterated a trend: Shaw is clearly best suited to the No. 10 role, but the same can be said for several equally talented players.Defensively, Hayes got further affirmation on Tuesday that Jenna Nighswonger is the real deal as a left-footed, left full-back who can press high up onto the forward line. Nighswonger assisted on the opening goal — scored by Crystal Dunn, who started at forward for the team for the first time in nearly seven years. Nighswonger was magnetic on the ball and one of only two players, alongside Horan, to start both games against South Korea.Left-sided center-back Sam Staab earned her first international start. Staab’s steady play in the National Women’s Soccer League seemed to long warrant a call-up, but that did not come until the most recent camp. She stepped into the role seamlessly on Tuesday, nearly scoring on a set piece in the first half.”I think it was worth it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Staab said of the long wait for her first cap.Hayes is not short of talent to choose from. She has spoken frequently about the need for balance between this rising group of young stars and the veterans who got the team to where it is now.That includes forward Alex Morgan, who started in the No. 9 role on Tuesday and earned Hayes’ praise for working hard despite limited touches against South Korea’s low block. Morgan’s spin-turn sparked the transition play that led to Dunn’s early goal.A wave of USWNT substitutions at the hour mark opened up the game. The connection between Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson was easy to see, though they all came on with fresh legs against a tired South Korea An exhausted Hayes appeared to be losing her voice after Tuesday’s match. She has been going for 10 months straight, she said, referring to how she spent the entire European season with Chelsea before joining the USWNT a few days after that job ended in May. She said she will meet with her staff on Wednesday morning and that she then needs the rest of the week to rest before heading to U.S. Soccer’s headquarters in Chicago to plan the road to the Olympics.”[The group’s] not afraid of letting go of things we have to let go of,” Hayes said Tuesday, among a chorus of praises for players. “Bold enough, brave enough to want whatever it takes to improve. I’ve been so impressed with them as people.”Hayes must now choose which of those people she’ll invite along for the ride to the 2024 Olympics and press down on the gas pedal. The Paris Games begin next month.

Emma Hayes’ USWNT surgery has started well – but bigger tests await with an Olympic roster looming

COMMERCE CITY, CO - JUNE 1: Emma Hayes of the United States watches her team before a game between Korea Republic and USWNT at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on June 1, 2024 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Meg Linehan Jun 6, 2024 THe Athletic

By the time new U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes slid into her seat at Tuesday night’s press conference, following the 3-0 win over Korea Republic at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, a whirlwind first week with her players looked to have caught up with her.Hayes looked ready to be done for the day, but there was no sense of relief at her first camp, even after two victories. There is still far too much work to do for that.Twenty-four hours earlier, she sat in the same seat and said that she felt like “a heart surgeon in the middle of emergency surgery,” a simile that she had used already during the training environment. Hayes hastened to clarify that nothing was “drastically wrong,” but that she found it difficult to teach and do emergency surgery at the same time as her first major assignment, the Olympics, draws ever closer.

Hayes did not share any shocking discoveries about the state of the team this week — something which felt almost depressingly reassuring. The USWNT has been in a holding pattern since last summer’s early World Cup exit. Two key players, Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz, retired, and there were some consistent performances through the spring while awaiting Hayes’s arrival from Chelsea (with the one notable exception, the CONCACAF W Gold Cup loss to Mexico). But the wait for a paradigm shift under their new head coach has been a lengthy one.Hayes said before this camp that she wanted to assess the gap between the USWNT as it is now, and their potential. While she never shared that assessment with the media, there were glimpses of how that gap has clarified for Hayes, who is setting about her work of reframing expectations.

Emma Hayes knows the hard work has only just begun for the USWNT. (Photo by Brad Smith, Getty Images)“It’s a group that’s had a lot of learning since the last World Cup,” she said Monday. “I always like to look externally, these really fatal moments, from my perspective, I don’t believe they could grow without that. You need those setbacks sometimes — on the biggest stages it’s not ideal, but the team wasn’t ready. The expectation in this country is (to) win every game, every week, every tournament, every trophy. It just isn’t gonna work like that I’m afraid.”Maybe that point is more of a gut surgery for this team, one that has been driven by external pressure to win and win big, on and off the field. Hayes said she feels like the group is ready to move on. Can the USWNT keep its hunger to win following the brutal World Cup round of 16 exit last summer, while still evolving into something greater? Players have been saying they can for months, but now Hayes has joined the chorus on an official basis.

Based on everything Hayes said about the caring nature of the USWNT environment that she saw first hand over the past week, led especially by the team’s veterans, she doesn’t have too much to worry about in terms of its motivation. This is a group driven by legacy.

“You won’t believe how much these women value the history of the program and how important the shirt in that history means to them. It is so palpable in the environment here,” Hayes said. “I almost get a little bit teary sometimes listening to them when they talk about those things.”

https://9491d624886397a4e9325c8cbf057e51.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

The care and emotions were on full display on Tuesday night following 16-year-old Lily Yohannes’s first cap and goal for the USWNT, where her teammates swarmed her first on the field (with the bench running to get in on the celebrations) and then again at the final whistle, with center back Naomi Girma leading the charge for another round of massive hugs.

Teammates surround Lily Yohannes after her goal against Korea Republic (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

If heart is not a concern for this squad, then neither are their heads. Hayes had promised her players would have tired brains back in Colorado after trying to get across a massive amount of information on the field, in video sessions and meetings. But they have absorbed her messages quickly.“Exceptionally bright,” she called the players on Tuesday night. “They can articulate concepts and ideas in a way that really challenges me so I’m enjoying that. Real cerebral group, thoughtful, but really considerate of everyone. Not afraid of letting go of things we have to let go of; bold enough, brave enough to want whatever it takes to improve.”To be fair, the players were never the patient on the table in Hayes’s extended simile of herself as chief of cardio at a teaching hospital who is stuck in an ER room. (It’s impossible to not think of the players as a new crop of interns on a season of “Grey’s Anatomy”.) The final product on the field is that patient — and it’s hard not to be encouraged about the prognosis after the first two games.

Bigger, and far more meaningful, tests await in only a few weeks. For now, though, Hayes had achieved her priorities of introductions and methodology, the day one stuff she can’t afford to fast forward through even though she might like to. The core of her work over the past week, she said, was to teach as much as possible. Now the team simply has to go to the next level.“Between now and the next camp,” she said, “it’s about bringing everybody up to that level where everybody can do the surgery.”(Top photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images)

5/31 Champions League Sat 3 pm CBS, US Ladies vs Korea Sat 5 pm, CCC Columbus @ Pachuca Sat 9:15 pm, Challenge & State Cup @ Grand Park

May 30, 2024June 4, 2024 gatorbest copa-america, football, goalkeeping, indiana-soccer, olympic-soccer, reffing-soccer, soccer, usmnt, uswnt

Champions League Finals Sat 3 pm CBS & CCL Finals Sat 9 pm FS1

A little Hype Video – Don’t miss the Greatest Anthem in Sports when the teams walk out to this. Hopefully we’ll see a version of Dortmund’s famous Yellow Wall in London Sat. Excited to see if Dortmund can continue their amazing run in London in the finals of the Champion League Sat at 3 pm on CBS vs Real Madrid. Of course The Madridistas are the favorites but Dortmund has been giant killer all season as they continue to find a way. I sure would be excited if American Gio Reyna was actually playing. Either way I think Madrid just has too much firepower and will win this one 2-1. Coverage starts at 1 pm on Paramount plus before moving to CBS at 2 pm. The Concacaf Finals featuring the MLS Champion Columbus Crew traveling to Mexican Powerhouse Pachuca starts at 9:15 pm on FS1. Lots of stories below on both games.

Indy 11 Win Again

Jack Blake scored a pair of goals to lead Indy Eleven over reigning USL Champions Phoenix Rising FC, 2-1, on Saturday night at Carroll Stadium. Indy is riding a nine-match unbeaten streak including a record 7 straight wins across all competitions, including five straight in USL Championship action, and finishes the month of May 4-0-0 in league action. Indy improves to 6-4-2 on the season – good for 3^rd in the East. The Boys in Blue hit the road for at two-match road swing at Pittsburgh (June 1) and Birmingham (June 9) before returning home to host San Antonio FC on June 15. Single-game tickets are available for all matches via Ticketmaster.

US Ladies Olympic Warm Up Games – Sat 5 pm TBS, Tues 8 pm TNT

New coach Emma Hayes takes over and will coach her first games on the sidelines for the US ladies as they take on Korea in an Olympics warm up series starting Sat night. She has named a handful of youngsters and I really have no idea who will start where in this Saturday’s game. Will certainly be worth the watch. American Lindsay Horan and Olympic Lyonnaise fell just short in the UEFA Champions League final loss to Barcelona (highlights) as the largest TV audience ever looked on.

US 23 Pre-Olympic Roster is Released

Interesting that Walker Zimmerman in the only overaged player in the Olympic Pre-Camp – only 18 players can go – so this 27 man roster will have to reduce by 9 players – still surprised we aren’t bringing an over-aged forward or Pepi maybe, even Reyna is the right age – why not play both for he and Pepi? I will be very interested to see what the final roster is.

The U23 Pre-Olympic Camp Roster:

Goalkeepers: Patrick Schulte (Columbus), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea, England).

Defenders: Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy), Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo, Belgium), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich, England), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville).

Midfielders: Cole Bassett (Colorado), Gianluca Busio (Venezia, Italy), Benjamin Cremaschi (Miami), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia), Aidan Morris (Columbus), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia, Italy).

Forwards: Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England), Taylor Booth (Utrecht, Netherlands), Cade Cowell (Guadalajara, Mexico), Damion Downs (Cologne, Germany), Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig, Germany), Duncan McGuire (Orlando), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg, Germany), Griffin Yow (Westerlo, Belgium).

Good luck to all the teams playing in State/President’s & Challenge Cup finals this weekend especially our CARMEL FC Teams below at Grand Park! I will be out there reffing a few games Sat/Sun.

——————————————————————————————————————–

2024/2025 Tryout and Evaluation Information
Carmel FC will be hosting tryouts for new and existing players on the following dates:

Tuesday, June 4th @ Badger Soccer Complex (46033) @ 5:00PM – 7:00PM → Age groups: 8U, 9U & 10U (2018/2017, 2016, 2015)
Monday, June 10th @ Badger Soccer Complex (46033) @ 5:00PM – 7:00PM → Age groups: 11U and above (2014+)

For registration: https://system.gotsport.com/programs/1360T6715?reg_role=player

Carmel High Girls Soccer Camp July 22-25

2-4:30 pm @ Murray Stadium Register Here contact fdixon@ccs.k1.in.us for more info

Games on TV

Sat, June 1

3 pm CBS Champ League Final Real Madrid vs Dortmund

5 pm TBS US Women vs Korea

7 pm ESPN+ Pittsburgh (Eric Dick) vs Indy 11

10 pm ESPN+ Sacramento vs Tampa Bay Rowdies (Jordan Farr GK)

9 pm FS1 Concacaf CL Final – Columbus Crew @ Pachuca, Mex

Tues, June 4

2 pm FS2 England vs Bosnia/Herzegovina

8 pm Tru TV, Max, PC US Women vs Korea

Weds, June 5

2:30 pm FS2 Belgium vs Montenegro

9 pm TUDN, Univision Mexico vs Uruguay

Sat, June 8

12:45 pm FS2 Portugal vs Croatia

5:30 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Colombia

6 pm Fox Desportes Argentina vs Ecuador

8:30 pm Univision, TUDN Mexico vs Brazil

Sun, June 9

12:45 pm FS2 for FS+? France vs Canada

7 pm ESPN+ Birmingham vs Indy 11

Mon, June 10

2:45 pm FS2 Netherlands vs Iceland

Tues, June 11

2:45 pm FS2 Portugal vs Ireland

8 pm ??? US Men U23 Olympic Team vs Japan

Wed, June 12

7 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Brazil

Fri, June 14 Euro 2024 Begins

3 pm Fox Germany vs Scotland

8 pm Amazon Prime KC Current vs Chicago Red Stars NWSL

Sat, June 15

9 am Hungary vs Switzerland

12 pm Fox Spain vs Croatia

3 pm Fox Italy vs Albania

7 pm TV 8 Indy 11 vs San Antonio @ the Mike

Sun, June 16

9 am FS1 Poland vs Netherlands Euro

12 noon FS1 Slovenia vs Denmark

3 pm Fox Serbia vs England Euro

Thur, June 20 COPA America Starts

12 noon FS1 Denmark vs England

3 pm Fox Spain vs Italy

8 pm Fox Argentina vs Canada COPA

Sat, June 22

6 pm Fox Ecuador vs Venezuela COPA

7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs OC @ the Mike Pride Night

9 pm Fox Mexico vs Jamaica COPA

Sun, June 23

6 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Bolivia COPA America

9 pm FS1 Uruguay vs Panama COPA

Thur, June 27

6 pm Fox USMNT vs Panama COPA

Mon, July 1

9 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Uraguay

Sat July 13

3 pm TNT, Tele US Women vs Mexico

Tues, July 16

7:30 pm TNT, Universo US Women vs Costa Rica

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

Dortmund seized the moment for unlikely Champions League final
The transfer market problem that led Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final
Ancelotti’s ‘quiet leadership’ key to his Champions League success
From fan bus to team bus: Dortmund’s Terzic primed for Real Madrid

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(Photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF)

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Champions League Finals 3 pm CBS

Courtois ‘ready’ to start UCL final after ACL tear

Madrid’s Bellingham: UCL final a lifelong dream

Concacaf Champs League Finals @ Pachuca MX Sat 9:15 pm FS1

Cucho Hernandez expected to be available for Columbus Crew in Champions Cup final
Columbus Crew host team send-off for fans ahead of CONCACAF Champions Cup final Thoughts on the Crew’s big night in Monterrey to advance to the CONCACAF final Crew should be celebrated win or lose on Saturday What makes Nancy’s Crew so Special?

US Men

With Copa América near, Gregg Berhalter keeps focus on 2026 World Cup

Berhalter names 27 players for USMNT pre Copa Training camp

25-man men’s Olympic training roster named ahead of June friendly against Japan S&S By Donald Wine II

Analysis: Mitrovic names 25 to final pre-Olympic camp

US Women

Ahead of Olympics, can USWNT coach Emma Hayes avoid struggles in switch from club game? ESPN
Smith says ‘legend’ Hayes has ‘trust’ of USWNT

Horan: ‘Awesome’ that Hayes finally with USWNT ESPN Jeff Kassouf
From tactics to a wildly talented teenager: Emma Hayes’s USWNT in-

SSFC Spotlight: Hal Hershfelt vaults into the USWNT Stars & Stripes By Brendan Joseph

EPL & FA Cup Final

Manchester United beats Man City to win 2024 final Man Utd stun Man City to win FA Cup

Erik ten Hag defies odds, sees United win FA Cup
Sir Jim Ratcliffe demands end to reckless Man Utd spending
Manchester United staff given week to resign as Sir Jim Ratcliffe cracks down on working from home

Indy 11

Blake Named to USL Championship Team of the Week Recap – IND 2:1 PHX 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals to Stream on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Recap – IND 3:0 DET Indy 11 Park = Titanic Park

Former Indy 11 star Hal Heshfelt becomes first former USL Women’s player called to the USWNT

WORLD

At last! Bayern Munich hires Vincent Kompany
Barcelona hires Hansi Flick as manager to replace Xavi
Vincent Kompany named Bayern Munich manager
Bayern appoint Kompany to end long search for new coach
Celebrations in Greece as Olympiakos beats Fiorentina 1-0 for first European title
LA-bound Giroud’s leadership will be missed, says Milan captain Breaking down Ten Hag’s FA Cup triumph, Barca’s poor Xavi treatment, more: Marcotti recaps the weekend ESPN Gabriele Marcotti

Goalkeeping

Courtois ‘ready’ to start UCL final after ACL tear

Why Courtois, Lunin dilemma is Ancelotti’s biggest Champions League headache

Best Saves of the European Season

Best Saves of Last Champions League Season 2023

DeGea vs Onana Saves

Reffing

PK Hits the Post – You Make the Call
What is VAR, how does it work and what are the biggest problems

Shane with Susie and Brett Y at Grand Park Friday night – moved inside for Weather thank goodness

CYO Final under the lights at Guerin Catholic with Mike Xanders (left) and Joe Fistrovich.

Midfield questions abound as Hayes kicks off USWNT camp – US plays Sat 5 pm TBS

The USWNT officially entered training camp ahead of their June friendlies this week, with Emma Hayes making her first in-person appearance as head coach. The camp consists of a total of 27 players (23 fully rostered plus four training players), with the training players set to depart prior to the team’s first match on June 1st. Big picture: With the addition of the training players, the midfield is becoming a particularly crowded positional area for the team. Three of the four players invited into camp to train alongside the full roster are midfielders: Portland’s Olivia Moultrie, Washington rookie Croix Bethune, and Spirit defensive midfielder Andi Sullivan. Sullivan started for the USWNT at the 2023 World Cup, but was a late inclusion to Hayes’s training camp roster after player travel from European club play was taken into consideration. In her introduction to American media, Hayes spoke to ESPN about her initial approach to managing a congested USWNT midfield.”I’ve asked to see players that weren’t in the World Cup last year,” she said. “I’ve watched Korbin [Albert] play for PSG. I was hugely impressed by Sam Coffey when Chelsea played against the Thorns in a tournament in Portland.”The US has recently favored a system featuring two defensive midfielders, which likely means a combination of Coffey, Hal Hershfelt, and Emily Sonnett in June.”I haven’t made a decision about the Olympic roster yet, so there is time,” Hayes told ESPN.

Champions League Final 2024 predicted lineups: Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid starting XI, analysis

NBC Sports Thu, May 30, 2024, 11:36 AM EDT·3 min read

The UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid is set to be an intriguing tactical encounter at Wembley on Saturday.

[ MORE: Preview, how to watch Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid ]

Real are the heavy favorites but Dortmund have shown they can frustrate the big boys and in a head-to-head scrap there are so many individual battles to look forward to.

Below are the Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid predicted lineups for the final, with analysis on how Edin Terzic and Carlo Ancelotti could cause a few surprises with their team selections.

Borussia Dortmund predicted lineup, formation, analysis

——- Kobel ——-

—- Ryerson —- Hummels —- Schlotterbeck —- Maatsen —-

—— Can —— Sabitzer ——

—— Sancho —— Brandt —— Adeyemi ——

——- Fullkrug ——

The back four is very settled for Dortmund and the experience of Hummels has been key to holding firm in this unexpected run to the final, while goalkeeper Kobel has also been exceptional amid several defensive masterclasses. Maatsen’s pace and trickery at left back could be a huge factor in shutting down Real Madrid as he will be tasked with keeping Rodrygo quiet. In midfield the experience duo of Emre Can and Marcel Sabitzer have proved their doubters wrong and keep the ball extremely well. And that is key to getting Sancho, Brandt and Adeyemi involved as much as possible as they cut inside and interchange. Having the likes of Reus, Moukoko and Malen to come off the bench also gives Dortmund plenty of options in the attacking third, with Fullkrug a brilliant focal point to their attack and his hold-up play will allow them to ease some of the considerable pressure they will be under on Saturday. Dortmund will look to sit back and not allow Real space in-behind and then spring attacks of their own quickly by hitting Fullkrug early and getting Sancho and Adeyemi high and wide up the pitch.

Real Madrid predicted lineup, formation, analysis

——- Courtois ——-

—- Carvajal —- Rudiger —- Nacho —- Mendy —-

—— Valverde —— Kroos —— Camavinga ——

—— Bellingham ——

—— Rodrygo —— Vinicius Jr ——

Ancelotti has yet to make a decision in terms of his starting goalkeeper with Lunin standing in superbly to help get them to the final but now Thibaut Courtois is back fit and given his experience and penchant for delivering in the big finals, you’d expect the Belgian to get the nod. The back four picks itself with Nacho rolling back the years and he and Rudiger will relish the challenge of trying to keep Fullkrug quiet in a similar way to how they tamed Erling Haaland. Midfield is the big issue for Real Madrid. Aurelien Tchouameni is out injured so Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga are likely to start to give Real a solid defensive shield in front of their back four. But will Luka Modric start given all of his big-game experience? Jude Bellingham will start in attacking midfield, maybe drifting slightly to the left, and his driving runs forward will open up space for the duo of Rodrygo and Vinicius to peel off and cause havoc. Especially on the counter. That is how Real have been hurting teams all season long and they should have significant joy against Dortmund if they can engineer plenty of counter-attacking situations.

Paris 2024 Olympics: Messi? Pulisic? Mbappe? Could any major stars be playing at Games?

By Caoimhe O’Neill May 29, 2024

This summer will not be a quiet one. Not only is the men’s European Championship taking place in Germany but the Copa America is also happening in the United States at the same time.Both finals will be played on July 15. But the summer tournaments do not end there as, nine days later, the Olympic men’s football tournament will get underway in France. That does not leave a lot of time between tournaments and for those hoping to perform at two major competitions in a single summer.There are 16 nations who will do battle for Olympic gold, silver and bronze. Among them are France, Argentina and Egypt. But will we be seeing superstars Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah at the Olympic Games?Each team can name three players over the age of 23 to their 22-player squads — the rest have to be 23 or younger. So which household names will be going for gold?

France

Let’s start with host nation France. They begin their golden quest on home soil in Marseille against the United States. This will be the opening game of the tournament.The biggest question surrounding Kylian Mbappe is not about the club he will play for next season — which is surprising, given he has confirmed he is leaving Paris Saint-Germain but not his destination. However, Mbappe has long been tipped to join Real Madrid once his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires at the end of June. The more pertinent question is whether Mbappe will become an Olympian in the year his home city hosts the event.Speaking in 2021, Mbappe said every athlete wants to compete at the Olympics and referred to the tournament as the “Holy Grail”.

Giroud and Griezmann could be among the overage selections for France (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

Madrid, though, will not release their players to feature in the tournament. FIFA’s rulebook states clubs must release players for the European Championship but not the Olympics. Should Mbappe join Madrid before then, it will be interesting to see whether France’s poster boy is allowed to play.Talk earlier in the year was that Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud could be the two overage players in the squad alongside Mbappe. Griezmann in March said he will do everything to be there. Meanwhile, Giroud has told L’Equipe this summer’s Euros will be his last tournament with France in order to make way for the next generation — although it is unclear whether that included playing for manager Thierry Henry at the Olympics.

The brilliance of Kylian Mbappe

Argentina

From one World Cup-winning legend to another.Lionel Messi taking part in the Olympics in Paris, where he lived for two years while at PSG, would be box office. But can he do it?Messi, who turns 37 in June, will captain Argentina earlier in the summer as they pursue what would be a record 16th Copa America title. Should they go the distance, the turnaround time would be nine days until the start of the Olympics, when Argentina take on Morocco. And let’s face it — the magical, mystical Messi is not getting younger.The Inter Miami captain has already achieved Olympic glory at the 2008 games in Beijing alongside current under-23s head coach Javier Mascherano, who also won gold as a player in 2004. Mascherano will surely be keen on linking up with his former team-mate but Inter Miami will have a decision to make if a Messi request comes their way. Both the Copa and the Olympics are happening right in the middle of the Major League Soccer season.Mascherano recently said the door is open for Messi to play in the Olympics. And while we know it would be a huge deal for him to be there, no decision has yet been made on whether he will take up any potential invitation.Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was 23 at the start of the season, so can be selected by Mascherano as part of the under-23s side. Whether or not he has the green light to play from his club is not yet known. He is a key player for Chelsea. Will they really want him to hardly have a rest this summer?

Julian Alvarez could be on show, with Manchester City open to him playing.

How to follow Euro 2024 and Copa America on The Athletic…

Spain

The big debate in Spain is whether Barcelona’s teen sensations Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi could play at the Euros and Olympics or just one. Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has stated he does not approve of players being at both tournaments. This could therefore limit the opportunity not only for Yamal and Cubarsi but Gavi and Pedri too.Gavi will not return to full fitness from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered last year in time to play in Germany but should he be fit in time for the Olympics a month later. This will raise the question as to whether he may or may not be called up.

Yamal could be in the Spain squad (Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images)

Barcelona, though, are surely unlikely to make the same mistake as previous summers. In 2021 they allowed Pedri to play at the Olympics after he had featured six times for Spain as they reached the semi-finals of the Euros. Pedri then played every game as Spain reached the final in Tokyo, which they lost to Brazil. Shortly after, Pedri picked up a hamstring injury which kept him out of the majority of the 2021-22 season.

A fun name in the frame is Sergio Ramos. Could he captain Spain again and be the experienced figurehead in France? Now aged 38, Ramos was left out of both tournaments in 2021, and it is looking like history will repeat itself.

United States

It is looking unlikely Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams will represent the U.S. at the Olympics this summer. A home Copa America is the sole focus.Under-23s boss Marko Mitrovic named a provisional squad of 22 players for warm-up games in March. He named a young team and any overage players who do get the Olympic call are more likely to be among those senior players who missed the Copa cut.

Egypt

Mohamed Salah missed the Olympics three years ago. It has been non-stop over the last few years for the Liverpool winger. Salah has barely had a proper rest. Will his workload be upped in July by Olympic games selection or will he be on pre-season with Liverpool?It is currently unclear whether Salah will be among the Egyptian team travelling to Nantes for an opening game against the Dominican Republic.Head coach Rogerio Micale wants Salah to play at the Games. Egypt fans will surely want Salah there too. Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the U.S. will commence around the same time, though, and the club could block Salah’s participation — just as they did in 2021.This will be one of Arne Slot’s key decisions when he officially takes over from Jurgen Klopp in June. (Top photos: Getty Images)

Marko_mitrovic_-_asn_top_-_2023_-_us_soccer

Olympic analysis American Soccer Now

Analysis: Mitrovic names 25 to final pre-Olympic camp

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks down the U.S. Olympic team’s final camp before departing for Paris in July. ASN will be in France this summer for the Olympics and has been covering the team in detail all cycle. Here is our report.

BY BRIAN SCIARETTAPOSTED MAY 29, 202412:00 PM

ON WEDNESDAY, United States Olympic team manager Marko Mitrovic announced his roster for the June camp that will conclude with a friendly against Japan on June 11 in Kansas City. This is the team’s fourth and final camp before the start of Olympic preparations and is the last chance for Mitrovic to look at players before he names his final roster in July.

For this camp, Mitrovic named a big roster of 25 players. It also included the first overage call-up with Walker Zimmerman making the list, which is a huge indication he will make the final team.

But assuming two more overage players get named and the age-eligible players all come from this camp, that means up to nine players in this roster will be cut to make the final 18-player Olympic team. With a final roster that small, there are a lot of tough decisions and this camp will be very important in deciding who makes the final team.

Here is the roster along with some key thoughts.

The Roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; St. Charles, Mo.), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; Addison, Ill.)

DEFENDERS (7): Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; Oldsmar, Fla.), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; Lakewood, Calif.), Bryan Reynolds (KVC Westerlo/BEL; Fort Worth, Texas), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; Chatham, N.J.), Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich City/ENG; Plano, Texas), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; Lawrenceville, Ga.)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids; Littleton, Colo.), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; Greensboro, N.C.), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; Key Biscayne, Fla.), Jack McGlynn

(Philadelphia Union; Queens, N.Y.), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split/CRO; Stillwater, Okla.), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia/ITA; Birmingham, Ala.)

FORWARDS (9): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; Medford, N.J.), Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution; Appleton, Wisc.), Taylor Booth (Utrecht/NED; Eden, Utah), Cade Cowell (Guadalajara/MEX; Ceres, Calif.), Damion Downs (Köln/GER; Schwebenried, Germany), Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig/GER; Keller, Texas), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC; Omaha, Neb.), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Riding, Va.), Griffin Yow (KVC Westerlo/BEL; Clifton, Va.)

OVERAGE FOCUS

Walker Zimmerman is the first overage player to be involved with the team and his selection is obvious now that he has returned from injury. It was always obvious that Mitrovic was going to have to bolster the team’s central defense with overage picks. The age-eligible U-23 pool is very thin in central defense in MLS or first and second divisions in Europe.

When you exclude the five players who are currently in camp with the full USMNT, the options become even more limited. As most people know now, club releases for the Olympics are voluntary. Zimmerman is a player who has a lot of USMNT experience, is familiar with just about every player at this camp, and is in a situation where Nashville will let him go.

But why is Zimmerman the only overage player selected?

It wouldn’t be surprising if the remaining two options are currently with the USMNT. In Gregg Berhalter’s recent interview with the Washington Post, it was mentioned Miles Robinson and Auston Trusty as options. Zimmerman is almost certainly going after being named to this team. Robinson is probably a stronger candidate than Trusty right now given that he has chemistry with Zimmerman, and his release is more likely. If Trusty was a very strong Olympic candidate, his absence from this camp doesn’t make sense.

In terms of what is needed, look for another overage central defender and perhaps a versatile attacker.

4 OLYMPIC DEBUTS

Four age-eligible players were called up to their first camp with the Olympic team. The fact that these players are earning looks this late in the cycle probably reflects well on their part. It’s a tough barrier to break into any team this late and this is a legit opportunity for all four. If they play well at this camp, they could be Paris bound.

Here’s a look at how they got here.

Damion Downs: The FC Koln forward battled a concussion this season which saw him miss several months. But he also scored two game-winning goals during an intense Bundesliga relegation battle. In the end, Koln were relegated but Downs emerged as the team’s top forward off the bench. The 2.Bundesliga could give him a stage to contribute more, but will Koln trust him in a promotion race? He’s talented but raw. His strength is being big and physical, but his weakness is that he can drift out of games and struggles at times to get touches. Downs is a German-American and has been called up to one USYNT in the past.

For Downs, his main competition is Duncan McGuire who is well established in this team and who is looking for a summer transfer from Orlando City. Paperwork errors saw his January move to Blackburn fall through. But Downs also faces competition from Johan Gomez who plays for Eintracht Braunschweig of the 2.Bundesliga and has been involved in every camp. There is also a high likelihood of an overage forward is also named. Downs has a lot of competition, but still has an opportunity.

Jalen Neal: Neal has long been viewed as the best of an albeit weak generation of centerbacks. Last summer, the LA Galaxy refused to release him to the U-20 World Cup. Then in late July 2023, he was sidelined due to a sports hernia and suffered setbacks in his recovery. He is now back for the Galaxy and while he has shown some rust, he is on the path to getting back to his pre-injury level. While the chances are high Mitrovic takes two overage central defenders, he will need to take at least one age-eligible centerback. With Maximillian Dietz out with an injury, Neal compares very favorably to other options like Jonathan Tomkinson or George Campbell.

Rokas Pukstas: The Hajduk Split attacking midfielder finishes his second season as a regular starter for the Croatian club. This season he had seven goals and one assist. He’s well-liked by U.S. Soccer, enough to the point where they kept a roster spot open for him at the 2023 U-20 World Cup and allowed him to arrive after the group stages of the tournament.

He’s effective but still raw as a player and doesn’t get a lot of touches. He also scores a lot of goals from headers and is a good finisher, not necessarily a great creator aside from set pieces. He deserves a look but faces tough competition from players like Paxten Aaronson, Gianluca Busio, and maybe Diego Luna (who is not at this camp). He is also very young, at 19 years old.

Gaga Slonina: This is actually his first camp but he was called up to the March camp only to withdraw because of an injury. At this point, it seems very likely that Slonina and Patrick Schulte are the top two keepers for the Olympic team. Slonina had a tough season on loan from Chelsea to Eupen. The team’s relegation wasn’t his fault, but he was part of it. Watching his confidence at this camp will be key.

LUNA AMONG TOUGH OMISSIONS

With this team having only four camps and this being the team’s final camp, this is not a camp players want to miss if they have any hope of making the Olympic team. The player pool right now is mostly healthy. Greuther Furth defender Maximillian Dietz is injured, but Neal’s return and the use of overage players made him a bubble player.

Here is a look at some notable players who are out – not including U-23 players in camp with the senior USMNT.

Diego Luna: The Real Salt Lake attacking mid/winger is by far the most notable omission. While he started off the season slowly, he has been playing very well as of late as RSL has climbed the standings of the Western Conference. He is versatile, scrappy, and a creator, and his current form make his absence surprising.

Chris Brady: The Chicago Fire goalkeeper is frankly just behind Patrick Schulte and Gaga Slonina right now.

Brian Gutierrez: The Chicago Fire attacking mid/winger just hasn’t been in the mix for Mitrovic after the first camp. Mitrovic knows Gutierrez well from his days as a Fire assistant and Gutierrez just hasn’t been part of the team’s plans.

Quinn Sullivan: The versatile Philadelphia Union attacker/midfielder has had a good start to the 2024 season and he’s made some important strides in his game. But he hasn’t been with the team at all this cycle and it just seems like Mitrovic has him behind many others.

Obed Vargas: One of the players who is attempting to play up a cycle, Vargas has been playing well for Seattle lately but looks more like an option with the U.S. U-20 team, for now.

Bernard Kamungo: The FC Dallas winger ended 2023 in great form and had a very good start to the U.S. U-23 cycle. But his form has been off to start 2024 and the winger pool is competitive.

Dan Edelman: The 2023 U.S. U-20 World Cup captain made his U.S. U-23 debut in March but is not part of this camp. He’s competing with Aidan Morris and Tanner Tessmann, which is not easy.

Josh Atencio: Another defensive midfielder, but the Seattle Sounder has a lot of competition for a spot.

CREMASCHI & BAJRAKTAREVIC PLAYING UP

Two players are on this team who are attempting to play up a cycle. This means they are also eligible for the 2025 U-20 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. It’s a tough hurdle to make a U-23 team up a cycle, but Benja Cremaschi and Esmir Bajraktarevic have been there for most of this cycle. Unsurprisingly, Mitrovic knows both players very well from his previous job as the U.S. U-19 head coach.

Here is a look at both players:

Esmir Bajraktarevic: The crafty winger is one of the top American teenagers in MLS but is stuck on a Revolution team that is off to a disastrous start amid with reports of player unhappiness. It’s been hard for him to stand out with the Revs. To make the Olympic team, he will have to beat out most of a long list that includes Cremaschi, Pardes, Yow, Aaronson, Booth, and Luna.

Benja Cremaschi: The Inter Miami attacking midfielder missed time with his club and the Olympic team due to a sports hernia operation. But he was part of the Olympic team for the first two camps. Playing alongside Messi, Suarez, and Busquets will help any player but Cremaschi is coming off a solid performance in an away win over Vancouver where Miami didn’t have its older stars. He is going to have to beat out tough players to make the team, but it looks like Mitrovic rates Cremaschi as well.

BASSETT AND BOOTH RETURN

Two players who return from the team after a period away are Cole Bassett and Taylor Booth. Both players are in position to fight for a roster spot on the Olympic team.

Taylor Booth was part of the team’s first two camps but was not part of the team in March due to a knee injury he suffered in February. He has returned to Utrecht the past month. His form hasn’t been as strong as it was preinjury (where he had five goals in two games before the injury) but this camp will give him an opportunity to compete. He’s not a lock, but he is a strong candidate.

Meanwhile, Cole Bassett is a player who was part of the November camp but then left off the USMNT January camp and March Olympic camps. But his form for Colorado has been outstanding to start the season (5 goals, 3 assists, 1347 minutes). You can’t ignore a player who enters camp red hot. We’ve seen this with Griffin Yow on this Olympic team as he is now a favorite to go to Paris.

The rosters for major youth tournaments are often about who is in the best form in the months leading into a major tournament. Bassett might have a chance if he can translate his form with Colorado into this camp.

LOTS OF COMPETITION, FEW LOCKS

In terms of this roster, there is a lot of competition. There just aren’t many locks. Some players seem very likely to go.

Tanner Tessmann, Gianluca Busio, Patrick Schulte, Aidan Morris, Gaga Slonina, Kevin Paredes, and Paxten Aaronson are as close to locks as you might expect. Even then, there are strange things that can happen. For example, if Gio Reyna is allowed to play at the Olympics, then that could change things for Aaronson or Busio.

Bryan Reynolds has a very good chance of going given his consistent involvement and Nathan Harriel has been apart of every single camp – showing a useful versatility off the bench. Unless the roster gets expanded (and in 2021, the Olympic roster was increased from 18 to 22 just three weeks before the start of the tournament), then 18 players brings an entirely different dynamic. Coaches have their starting XI but then the backups must be versatile because there is not enough roster space to have a one-for-one backup at every position. There are 25 players on this roster. There are two more overage players who will join and there are a few other age eligible players on the USMNT who might be allowed to play in the Olympics. There seems to be a lot up for grabs right now. This camp is going to decide a lot.

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes brings unique personality back to the country that ‘made’ her

BOULDER, COLORADO - MAY 28: Emma Hayes of the United States talks to her team during USWNT training at Prentup Field on May 28, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Meg Linehan The Athletic

Emma Hayes won her fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title with Chelsea on Saturday. On Wednesday, she arrived in Newark off her flight from Heathrow, and by Thursday morning she was awaiting a whirlwind media tour introducing her to an American audience that she, in some form, already knew.But before the car picked her up from her hotel to begin that tour, she took a walk in the morning through Central Park, early as it was.New York City is a place where anonymity and fame can happen simultaneously, where the incoming head coach of the U.S. women’s national team can take a long, meandering walk through an often-bustling park and have that moment to herself before the pressure fully sets in.In a few months, after she takes charge of the U.S. women’s national team at the Paris Olympics, Hayes might not have the leisure of taking a walk anywhere without being recognized.At her first stop on Thursday at 30 Rock to appear on the Today Show, Hayes delivered the perfect line for those watching at home, unfamiliar with her journey as a coach — a winding two decades that ended with her in the highest profile coaching role in women’s soccer.“I’m lucky to be born in England, but made in America.”For Emma Hayes, who spent many years in her early career as a coach in New York, the paths of Central Park — and the city itself — already felt like home.

Hayes previously spent time coaching in New York. (Photo by USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Hours after her first national TV hit, and after an early summer thunderstorm blew through Manhattan, Hayes settled in at the head of a table in a conference room at the NWSL offices near Bryant Park. Behind her, a massive window showed the streets below, the sidewalks filled, sunlight filtering in between the skyscrapers.“Walking around New York, you can just imagine me getting off at Newark yesterday and thinking, ‘I remember those days,” Hayes told the small roundtable of reporters assembled for her first day on the job. Hayes lived in New York for seven years, and she remembered them well both for all of the challenges they presented a young coach, but also for the fulfillment they provide, and the lifetime friendships.She had first come to New York from England having coached a bit in some youth programs in Liverpool and London, with her playing career ended years before thanks to a skiing accident as a teenager.“(I was) fighting to stay in the country on different visas,” she recalled. “Wondering where I’m going to get enough to pay the rent in the next upcoming block. What am I going to do next?”

Those who knew Emma Hayes as a young coach in New York say she was ‘destined for greatness’

She coached teams in Syosset and Port Washington (both in suburban Long Island) and said she spent “many a time underneath the Throgs Neck” – referring to the Throgs Neck bridge that links the boroughs of Queens and the Bronx, which overlooks a soccer field at Little Bay Park.For a while, Hayes said, she had an apartment in Washington Heights, near the northern tip of Manhattan. She used to look out at the George Washington Bridge, take her walks then in Fort Tryon Park. It’s easy to imagine a 20-something Hayes wandering through that bucolic park’s numerous features: the heather garden, blooming with colors overlooking the Hudson River; the Cloisters, the Met’s medieval art collection housed in a castle; maybe through the Billings Arcade down below, a stone arch essentially created as a Gilded Age driveway.Hayes, in many ways, has contributed to the mythologizing of those early days.“I’ve got so many fond memories of turning up in Long Island with a backpack and a thousand dollars and working for clubs across the whole of Long Island and Westchester and New York City,” she said in her introductory Q&A with U.S. Soccer, published in November. “I’ve experienced everything from intramural soccer, recreational Sunday soccer, to the collegiate game, to USL, to the pro game, to state ODP, regionals.”On Thursday, she brought up many of those same organizations again, mentioning friends like Lisa Cole, a longtime coach and current technical advisor to the Zambia national team. Cole was visiting Hayes in London when she learned she got the USWNT job.“My journey has been bottom-up, so I have such an appreciation, not just of the landscape, but my journey,” Hayes said last week. “I’ve worked hard to get to this point. You can dream for something — we all have dreams — but it’s not often your dreams become reality.”It wasn’t a long leap from her own story to that of the American dream, but Hayes tied both to her future with the USWNT.“I always grew up with that notion of this whole American dream concept that you can come to the country, work in a certain way — and as a woman coming from England, trust me, I never felt more supported than I did when I worked in the U.S.,” she said. “To work my way up through the system, to now be the head coach for the USWNT, as far as I’m concerned, I will give it absolutely everything I’ve got to make sure I uphold the traditions of this team.”

Hayes won five consecutive WSL titles with Chelsea. (Photo by Clive Brunskill, Getty Images)

Hayes’s nostalgia-heavy trip to New York City only lasted about 48 hours before she was off to Denver for her first camp with the USWNT, but it provided a reminder of what’s changed in the time since.“As a parent, I know where the toy shops are now,” Hayes said, noting with a smile she had passed a few already on Thursday. The presence of her son, Harry, had played a role in her departure from Chelsea, as the long hours and grind of the club season proved incompatible with solo parenthood.“Everybody’s under pressure, everybody’s got to get headlines. Everybody’s got to grab content,” she said at the time earlier this year, after deleting her social media accounts following a loss to Liverpool that had put Chelsea’s title run into question. “For football managers, we’re in an impossible position. Because every day we’re in a place where, no matter what we say, it will be turned into something that gets you guys (the media) paid and at the same time puts us in a position where we’re just pieces of meat.”By Thursday, her accounts had been restored and she was posting a few behind-the-scenes looks of her arrival in the States, a photo with Chris Pratt while at the “Today Show” and a video the NWSL cooked up about watching games on their streaming platform.In an hour-long meeting with reporters that could have felt transactional, Hayes never shied away from being personal. She embraced it, just as she said she embraced the pressure of the role, despite going on record a few times about how she’d actually much prefer “a quiet life” out of the spotlight. She mentioned that she didn’t mind the long list of media appearances and interviews on Thursday, just as long as they didn’t happen every three days.The spotlight will shine much brighter with the USWNT, but Hayes seems ready for it. She danced around the question of what color medal the USWNT will bring back from Paris on the “Today Show,” instead providing an answer that focused on the process. She did the same later in the day when asked about how she wanted to approach external messaging on the goals of the team.

“I want to focus on the process and the performance,” she said. “For me, it’s absolutely essential.”

For a team that’s been at the sharp end of many bad-faith attacks following its early World Cup exit, “essential” feels too light a word. A focus on the process could mean that results won’t be tied to self-worth and that everyone can still claim their humanness at the end of the day.In one of the last questions she received, Hayes was asked what she’d bring to the USWNT as head coach that no one ever has before. She answered, fast as a New York minute, with a smile.“Oh, you’re never gonna get anybody with a personality like me!”(Top photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF)

For registration: https://system.gotsport.com/programs/1360T6715?reg_role=player

5/24/24 USMNT camp roster, Italy/Spain Final weekend, Indy 11 home Sat advances in US Open Cup, Full TV Game Schedule

May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 gatorbest carmel-fc, copa-america, indy-11, soccer, soccer-referees, state-cup, usmnt, uswnt

Indy 11 Advance in US Open Cup, Host Phoenix Sat @ Home

Indy Eleven is on to the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time in club history after a 3-0 defeat of USL Championship rival Detroit City FC on Wednesday night at Carroll Stadium they will travel to face Atlanta United July 9 or 10. The 11 return home this Sat at 7 pm @ the Mike vs Phoenix for Racing Indy Night. *Eleventh Anniversary Ticket Special Available While Supplies Last – Tickets Start At $5.25 (Offer valid online only.) or watch on CBS Sports Galazo Network.

Roster Set for US Men’s Friendlies

U.S. Soccer announced the 27-man roster for the United States Men’s National Team ahead of two friendlies to prepare for Copa América. The team will report to Washington, DC on May 28th. The roster will come together for friendlies against Colombia on June 8th in the DC area and on June 12th against Brazil in Orlando. For the most part, it will be the pool that USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter selects the final roster for Copa América, which is due June 15th. The final Copa América roster must be a minimum of 23 players but can have up to 26 players.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven), Timmy Tillman (LAFC)

Roster for US Women’s Friendlies

The United States Women’s National Team has a roster for Emma Hayes’ first matches in charge. Today, U.S. Soccer announced the 23-player roster for two friendlies against South Korea on June 1st in Colorado and June 4th in Minnesota.

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

DEFENDERS (7): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Sam Staab (Chicago Red Stars)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Lily Yohannes (Ajax)

FORWARDS (7): Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)

TRAINING ROSTER (3): Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Kate Wiesner (Washington Spirit)

Congrats to Bill Spencer’s Carmel FC U12 Gold Girls on their way to Challenge Cup Finals Weekend

Congrats to the 2009 Girls Blue Team headed to Challenge Cup Finals See More https://carmelfc.teamapp.com/articles?_list=v1

2024/2025 Tryout and Evaluation Information
Carmel FC will be hosting tryouts for new and existing players on the following dates:

Tuesday, June 4th @ Badger Soccer Complex (46033) @ 5:00PM – 7:00PM → Age groups: 8U, 9U & 10U (2018/2017, 2016, 2015)
Monday, June 10th @ Badger Soccer Complex (46033) @ 5:00PM – 7:00PM → Age groups: 11U and above (2014+)

For registration: https://system.gotsport.com/programs/1360T6715?reg_role=player

Games on TV

Fri 5/24

8 pm Amazon Prime Bay FC vs NY/NJ Gothem (Williams, Mewis) NWSL

Sat, May 25

10 am ESPN+ FA Cup Final Man City vs Man United

12 para+ Juventus (Mckinney, Weah) vs Monza

2 pm ESPNU Kaiserslautern vs Bayer Leverkusen German Cup

2:45 pm Para+ AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Salernitana

3 pm ESPN Des, ESPN+ Real Madrid vs Real Betis

7 pm CBS Galazo Indy 11 vs Phoenix Rising @ the Mike

8:30 pm ESPN+ Memphis 901 vs Pittsburgh (Eric Dick GK)

10 pm Ion Utah Royals vs KC Current NWSL

Sun, May 26 Final Day Spain/Italy

9 am ESPN+ Getafe vs Mallorca

12 Para+ Atalanta vs Torino

12 CBSSN Napoli vs Lecce

3 pm ESPN Des, + Sevilla vs Barcelona

1 pm CBS Houston Dash (Campbell) vs KC Current NWSL

Wed, 5/29

730 pm CBS Galazo Louisville City vs Detriot City USL

10:45 pm FS1 LAFC vs Minn United

Sat, June 1

3 pm CBS Champ League Final Real Madrid vs Dortmund

5 pm TBS US Women vs Korea

7 pm ESPN+ Pittsburgh (Eric Dick) vs Indy 11

10 pm ESPN+ Sacramento vs Tampa Bay Rowdies (Jordan Farr GK)

Sat, June 1

3 pm CBS Champ League Final Real Madrid vs Dortmund

5 pm TBS US Women vs Korea

Tues, June 4

8 pm Tru TV, Max, PC US Women vs Korea

Sat, June 8

5:30 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Colombia

Tues, June 11

8 pm ??? US Men U23 Olympic Team vs Japan

Wed, June 12

7 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Brazil

Fri, June 14 Euro 2024 Begins

3 pm Fox Germany vs Scotland

Sat, June 15

9 am Hungary vs Switzerland

12 pm Fox Spain vs Croatia

3 pm Fox Italy vs Alabania

Sun, June 16

9 am FS1 Poland vs Netherlands

12 noon FS1 Slovenia vs Denmark

3 pm Fox Serbia vs England

Thur, June 20 COPA America Starts

8 pm Fox Argentina vs Canada COPA

Sat, June 22

6 pm Fox Ecuador vs Venezuela

9 pm Fox Mexico vs Jamaica COPA

Sun, June 23

6 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Bolivia COPA America

9 pm FS1 Uruguay vs Panama COPA

Thur, June 27

6 pm Fox USMNT vs Panama COPA

Mon, July 1

9 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Uraguay

Sat July 13

3 pm TNT, Tele US Women vs Mexico

Tues, July 16

7:30 pm TNT, Universo US Women vs Costa Rica

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

Berhalter names 27 players for USMNT pre Copa Training camp

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(Photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF)

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US Men

Sargent returns for USMNT’s pre-Copa tuneups Jeff Kassouf

Jesse Marsch named Canada Men’s National Team head coach
Marsch: Wasn’t treated well in USMNT coach hunt ESPN

US Women

USWNT coach Emma Hayes arrives in America with her work cut out ahead of Paris Olympics
Emma Hayes aims to replicate her Chelsea success with U.S. women’s soccer

What USWNT fans can learn from Hayes’ final season at Chelsea

Exclusive with USWNT coach Emma Hayes: ‘I’m ready for the adventure of a lifetime’ David Hirshey & Roger Director, special to ESPN

Who is the best young player in the NWSL? Ranking every player 19 and younger Jeff Kassouf

US Woman’s Soccer Coach is literally Pepe Guardiola & Carlo Ancelotti combined trophy wise

Indy 11

2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals to Stream on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Recap – IND 3:0 DET

Stanley Named to USL Championship Team of the Week

USL W League Recap – IND 10:0 STC

USL W League Recap – IND 3:3 KHR

USL W League Recap LOU 1:3 IND

World

Leverkusen completes historic unbeaten season
Beaten Leverkusen hope to ‘find themselves’ in German Cup final
Three La Liga talking points ahead of final weekend

Pink slip: Copa coaches get 6th sub for concussion

EPL

How important is FA Cup final for Ten Hag’s future?
FA Cup final preview: Man City v. Man United

Pochettino’s Chelsea exit sealed over ‘last supper’

Why Pochettino left Chelsea, and what it reveals about the club
Source: Bayern close to Kompany agreement Rob Dawson
Why do Bayern Munich want Vincent Kompany? The relegated manager might make more sense than you think

Goalkeeping

A little rain means its diving practice – last week’s next to last workout with some of the Carmel FC Older Group.

Great Saves MLS

The Effort Every Goalkeeper would like in front of him

Reffing

PK Hits the Post – You Make the Call

Yellow / Red or nothing – You Make the Call
Lucas Paqueta: West Ham midfielder charged over four allegations he got deliberate yellow cards

Good Luck to Matt Antisdel as he moves on to Arizona – we’ll miss you Matt !

Boys in Blue move on to U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals against Atlanta United

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 22, 2024) – Indy Eleven is on to the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time in club history after a 3-0 defeat of USL Championship rival Detroit City FC on Wednesday night at Carroll Stadium.Indy Eleven opened the scoring by way of a Detroit City own goal off a Benjamin Ofeimu cross from the right side. The Boys in Blue have scored their first goal in the 14th minute or earlier in each of their three U.S. Open Cup matches this season (CHI 4’, SA 2’).
The home team would tack on two more in the first half with Douglas Martinez finding Augi Williams (33’) for the tally and Aedan Stanley connecting on a corner to Ofeimu (36’). Williams now has a pair of Open Cup goals for Indy this season, while Stanley has a team-best two assists.
Indy Eleven continues the streak and is unbeaten in its last eight matches, dating back to the Third Round win over Chicago Fire FC II on April 17. The Boys in Blue also become the second Indiana club in the history of the tournament to reach the Quarterfinals (Indianapolis Inferno 1992).
The Boys in Blue will play out of the East Division in the Quarterfinals on the road against Atlanta United (MLS) July 9 or 10.

Remaining U.S. Open Cup Schedule
Quarterfinal | Tuesday, July 9 – Wednesday, July 10
Semifinal | Tuesday, Aug. 27 – Wednesday, Aug. 28
Final | Wednesday, Sept. 25

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup | Round of 32
Indy Eleven 3:0 Detroit City FC
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 – 7 p.m. ET
Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis

Scoring Summary
IND – Own Goal 14’
IND – Augi Williams (Douglas Martinez) 33’
IND – Ben Ofeimu (Aedan Stanley) 36’

Discipline Summary
IND – Ben Ofeimu (caution) 7’
DET – Devon Amoo-Mensah (caution) 61’
IND – Jack Blake (caution) 65’
IND – Max Schneider (caution) 90+1’

Ian Darke’s Premier League team-by-team season grades

Ian Darke, ESPN.com writerMay 21, 2024, 01:00 PM ET

Manchester City and manager Pep Guardiola are insatiable. Six out of the last seven Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four in succession, and you know that by August, they will be hungry for more. How does Pep do it? Not even he can explain it.But City did not have things all their own way in what was a thrilling season featuring a record number of goals. So how did your team rate? Here are my end-of-season grades.

MANCHESTER CITY

First place, 91 points

Manchester City can lay claim to being the greatest Premier League team ever after winning four in a row.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Assessing Man City’s four-peat, Liverpool’s goodbye to Klopp, more: Marcotti recaps the weekend Gabriele Marcotti
Small margins: The story of Arsenal’s season, and where they can still improve4dJames Olley
Here’s how Liverpool arrived at Arne Slot as the choice to replace Jurgen Klopp4dRyan O’Hanlon

Erling Haaland won the Golden Boot again despite missing two months with injury, Phil Foden was Footballer of the Year, and Rodri has gone 50 league matches unbeaten. But the clincher in City’s faultless final stretch was the return to fitness of pass-master Kevin De Bruyne.

City are in line for more history on Saturday if they defeat Manchester United and complete a league and FA Cup double. However, the 115 financial charges issued to the club by the Premier League in February 2023 remain as the elephant in the room. GRADE: A

ARSENAL

Second place, 89 points

A magnificent effort to total 89 points — their best since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” 20 years ago. Declan Rice‘s signing from West Ham United was inspired, and Kai Havertz silenced his doubters. However, not even a run of six straight wins at the end of the season was quite enough. GRADE: A-

LIVERPOOL

Third place, 82 points

The bombshell news on Jan. 26 that Jurgen Klopp would be leaving at the end of the season came with Liverpool five points clear at the top of the table. But while winning the League Cup and always looking dangerous in attack, the Reds’ defending was often less convincing. Despite an initial boost in form following Klopp’s announcement, Liverpool seemed to run out of stream in costly defeats by Crystal Palace and Everton. GRADE: B+

How Slot can use Ten Hag’s struggles to adapt to the Premier League

Mario Melchiot shares his advice for Arne Slot ahead of his first season in the Premier League as Liverpool manager.

ASTON VILLA

Fourth place, 68 points

Aston Villa will be deliriously happy at a top-four finish and a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Unai Emery’s team was lethal at times at Villa Park, with Ollie Watkins developing into an elite striker with 19 goals and 13 assists. The Villans were less convincing on the road, however, and the 6-2 aggregate loss to Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League semifinals was a reality check. GRADE: A-

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Fifth place, 66 points

Fifth place in a first year without Harry Kane, the team’s talisman who left for Bayern Munich, was no calamity, but disappointing in the context of their early-season charge to the top with 26 points from the first 10 games. Manager Ange Postecoglou’s adventurous and attractive style of play made him an instant hit with supporters, but the apparent absence of a Plan B means the honeymoon is probably over. GRADE: B-

CHELSEA

Sixth place, 63 points

Assessing Man United’s worst-ever Premier League finish

The ESPN FC Live team grade a Premier League season to forget for Manchester United, who finish way outside a Champions League spot in eighth.

Mauricio Pochettino’s departure by “mutual consent” comes as a big surprise after the club’s excellent finish to the season. It looked like he had found a winning blend after months of erratic form, but his exit — apparently amicable — suggests either he and owner Todd Boehly see the future rather differently. Or Pochettino has other plans. GRADE: B-

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Seventh place, 60 points

Eddie Howe’s side finished strongly to claim seventh place, but they need Man City to win the FA Cup on Saturday in order to clinch a European place. A long injury list and a less-than-watertight defence away from home meant the Magpies could never hit last season’s heights despite 21 goals from Alexander Isak, third-top scorer in the league. GRADE: C+

MANCHESTER UNITED

Eighth place, 60 points

It was Manchester United’s worst finish of the Premier League era, and as a result, the Red Devils will need to beat Man City in the FA Cup Final to salvage a berth in continental competition next season. Injuries in defence certainly played a role in the team’s lackluster performances, but United lacked shape or identity with opponents storming through a vacant midfield. Head coach Erik ten Hag will do well to survive the winds of change sent blowing through Old Trafford by new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. GRADE: F

Pickford: Everton kept fighting as a team after the points deductions

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford explains how his team kept a positive attitude even after getting hit with a points deduction from the Premier League.

WEST HAM UNITED

Ninth place, 52 points

Eye-catching wins as at Arsenal and Spurs coupled with fearful beatings in four other London derbies meant this was a topsy-turvy season for West Ham. Manager David Moyes leaves memories of some great European nights and lofty finishes in the league. But despite the menace of Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta, the Hammers’ form was patchy, with no clean sheets since Jan. 2. GRADE: C+

CRYSTAL PALACE

10th place, 49 points

New boss Oliver Glasner inspired an electric finish to the season, guiding Palace to six wins in their final seven games to sneak into the top half of the table. The Eagles were a different side after gifted duo Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise finally got fit and firing, while Jean-Philippe Mateta was a revelation with 16 goals. Can they keep these stars together at Selhurst Park for another go next season? Given the interest from bigger clubs, it will be a challenge. GRADE: B+

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

11th place, 48 points

Roberto De Zerbi’s reign ended with one win in his final 10 games. Injuries did not help, but there is no hiding from the fact that a talented team regressed this season — having finished sixth in 2022-23 — and the restless De Zerbi tinkered too much with his starting XI, which ultimately cost them. GRADE: C-

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

12th place, 48 points

A triumph for Spanish tactician Andoni Iraola in his debut season, especially after a poor start that had observers wondering if the Cherries had made a mistake bringing him in to replace Gary O’Neil. Pleasing football, 48 points, a comfortable midtable finish and 19 goals for Dominic Solanke. GRADE: B+

FULHAM

13th place, 47 points

You feared for them after losing top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic to the Saudi Pro League but, despite fading into 13th place, Marco Silva’s team was never in trouble. The emergence of Rodrigo Muniz to fill the boots of Mitrovic was important. Some top displays included a 2-1 win at Arsenal.

Overall, there will be no complaints at Craven Cottage. GRADE: B

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

14th place, 46 points

One of the few teams to beat Manchester City, Wolves might have finished higher in the table if the speedy Pedro Neto played more often alongside Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha. Manager Gary O’Neil kept them well clear of the relegation zone, but one win from the last nine games rather spoiled the upbeat mood. GRADE: C+

EVERTON

15th place, 40 points

Three home wins in a week — including a terrific display in the Merseyside derby — clinched the Toffees’ survival in the Premier League. That was quite an achievement for Everton boss Sean Dyche in the face of a points deduction after an independent commission found the club had breached Profit and Sustainability Rules, a dearth of goals, and ongoing doubts about Everton’s alleged takeover. The blue half of Liverpool desperately needs some calmer times. GRADE: B-

BRENTFORD

16th place, 39 points

You know Brentford and their supporters are happy the club stayed up after a difficult season blighted by a long injury list and the suspension that ruled out top striker Ivan Toney until January. He will likely move to another club during the summer transfer window, giving likeable manager Thomas Frank a chance to refresh his squad. GRADE: C

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

17th place, 32 points

One stat above all others sums up Forest’s struggles: They kept only one clean sheet in the last six months of the season. But they kept their heads just above the relegation zone thanks to a trifecta of attacking talent, Chris Wood, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White. They were just enough to compensate for a bloated squad, VAR rows, and a change of manager from Steve Cooper to Nuno Espirito Santo. GRADE: C-

LUTON TOWN

18th place, 26 points

A fairytale with an unhappy ending as the Hatters return to the English Championship. Head coach Rob Edwards and his team won lots of friends, but not enough points, and ran out of road with only one win after January. GRADE: C

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BURNLEY

19th place, 24 points

Teams like to copy Pep Guardiola’s tactic of playing out of the defense, but it isn’t easy — unless you have City’s caliber of players — which is exactly what Burnley discovered this season. Indeed, it all looked a little naive from manager Vincent Kompany and his players. After winning the Championship at a canter in 2022-23, the Clarets were expected to do better but went straight back down. GRADE: D

SHEFFIELD UNITED

20th place, 16 points

A shadow of the team who were promoted, Sheffield United conceded a whopping 104 goals this season. One of the weakest teams in Premier League history, the Blades need a major reset. GRADE: F

USMNT roster questions: How to replace Dest and who will make Copa America cut?

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MARCH 24: Tyler Adams #4 of the United States celebrates with Tim Weah #21 and Gio Reyna #7 during the the Concacaf Nations League Final against Mexico at AT&T Stadium on March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Paul Tenorio and Tom Bogert

May 21, 2024

Yesterday, we took your questions right after the USMNT squad was announced for the training camp and friendlies that will precede the 2024 Copa America. The squad contains 27 players and the final group of 26 that will play in the Copa America will likely come from this list.Nturally, you all had questions. We tried our best to answer them based on what we’ve reported about this team over the years. Here are some of the bits from that session.

In case you missed it…

Quintin R. asked: What is the reasoning for calling 27 into camp? Expecting injury or someone not to be fully fit come June 23? Seems odd to leave one guy at home.

Paul Tenorio: My guess is that it’s about getting a closer look at Tillman considering the central midfield depth chart is stacked for the Olympics, too. Plus it provides some insurance as the U.S. evaluates the health and availability of Tyler Adams and Josh Sargent.

“Timmy made a good impression on us in January,” Berhalter told us earlier today. “When we’re looking at this roster versus the Olympic roster, there are some other guys that were in contention as well, but we felt like the balance of it would be better to keep them with the Olympic group and move Timmy to the senior team,”

Adam F. asked: Why is Shaq Moore on this roster?

Paul Tenorio: Bryan Reynolds is going to be on the Olympic squad and Berhalter said that of the right back options, he valued Moore’s ability to defend in one-on-one situations.

“We know he’s getting back to his form right now,” Berhalter said. “He has been out for a while, but he’s been able to get on the field now and get some more minutes and he’s a guy when we were looking at our matchups this summer, a lot of these wingers are very good one-v-one and we think that’s a strength of his, so there’s something we took into consideration.”

Berhalter also said they are looking at Weah, McKennie, Musah and center backs as potential right back depth options.

Who replaces Sergiño Dest for the USMNT?

Henry K asked: Could we potentially see Pulisic slide over to the right wing position and have Weah stand in as a right back to replace Dest?

Tom Bogert: It definitely feels like a possibility, right? It’ll probably depend on the matchup, but it seems like an option.

It’s worth noting that Christian Pulisic played the majority of his minutes on the right for AC Milan this year and was excellent. Obviously, he has different responsibilities with the national team (and he’ll be playing in a different system,) but he’d be plenty comfortable on that side.

The most ultra-attacking lineup from this roster has Weah at right back, Pulisic right wing, Gio Reyna at the No 10 and Wright at left wing.

Pulisic has played well at right wing for AC Milan this season (Getty Images)

Paul Tenorio: Berhalter said one of the main tasks of the training camp ahead of the Copa America is figuring out what they want to do at right back.

“Obviously with Sergiño going down, we have to figure out the right back situation and there’s a couple of different options we can look at,” Berhalter said. “We have like-for-like with Joe Scally and Shaq Moore. We have a winger that can play there with Timothy Weah, who’s played that for his club. We have center midfielders who can play there with Weston and Yunus, and then we have center backs that we’re looking at, can they play there? So, we just wanted the ability in this training camp to have options, to have flexibility. Some of it may revolve around a back three. But the first objective is to see how we’re going to fill that right back position because we know we’re going to be missing Sergiño.”

Austen B. asks: Out of attacking, midfield, and defense, where is the USMNT most likely to challenge the contenders and mostly likely to struggle? I know the USMNT has not had great success scoring against top competition (at least in the World Cup), yet to me their midfield and attacking was still a “strength” in that they have been able to keep possession and put pressure on opponents, whereas the defense seems to lack lock down defenders and at times show lapses against dangerous attacks.

Paul Tenorio: I think yours is a fair assessment. The area where the U.S. has been best against top opponents is in midfield. MMA was the clear winner at the World Cup in its ability to match up against England, especially. The U.S. was quite dangerous at times in transition, they got into the right spaces, but the final pass (and sometimes the pass before the pass) was lacking. I’m thinking of against Wales specifically and I wrote about it then.

Re-watching USMNT vs. Wales reveals a better performance than initially thought

Can the U.S. be more dangerous in the Copa America? Can they be more deadly with chances in the final third? We’ll see. And I definitely have concerns with defending on the right side of this lineup.

Seth R. asks: Does this roster give you any hints as to what overage players will be selected for the Olympics squad?

Paul Tenorio: I think it gives hints not just at overage players, but also some of the younger players who could play a role.

Berhalter mentioned Kevin Paredes, Aidan Morris and Bryan Reynolds as players who they see as getting more minutes at the Olympics than they would here. I think all three would have probably made this team if there was no Olympic tournament.

Overage players I think are under consideration: Zimmerman, Auston Trusty and Brandon Vazquez, among others.

Zendejas has played well for Club America but misses out on the USMNT roster (Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images)

Collin J. asks: With Alejandro Zendejas playing well for Club America, why is he off the roster while a struggling Brenden Aaronson is on it?

Tom Bogert: It’s definitely a tough omission for Zendejas and probably disheartening on a personal level — what more could he have done? Zendejas has 14 goals and eight assists in 3,176 minutes this season for Club America and will play in the Clausura final.

Unfortunately for him, the winger position is loaded and now has a new, versatile entrant in Haji Wright (who had spent his time with USMNT at the No 9 before excelling at left wing with Coventry this year).

It’s tough for Zendejas that, if he had stuck to his original international allegiance with Mexico, he might have been a starter at the Copa America for them rather than fighting to make the U.S. roster.

Jody R. asks: If both Adams and Sargent are unable to go, who do you think the next man up would be? Pefok?

Paul Tenorio: If Sargent can’t go, I doubt there’d be a like-for-like sub there. You’d probably just roll with Pepi-Balogun-Wright as your No 9 options and carry an extra midfielder or add a winger.

I think if Adams goes down, there is probably just a plan to keep Tillman on the squad as a midfielder who can provide depth at several spots.

Dest, Tillman and Pepi: The USMNT trio who became league champions at PSV

Adam T. asked: Why is Gregg Berhalter obsessed with MLS players?

Paul Tenorio: There are four MLS players on the 27-man roster, one of which I would expect not to make the Copa roster (Tillman), the other of which is an injury replacement for the injured Sergiño Dest (Shaq Moore) and probably would not have been on the squad if not for the Olympics taking a Euro-based right back (Bryan Reynolds), the third of which is the third goalkeeper.

Miles Robinson is basically the top MLS player on this squad and judging him off the league he plays in probably is more of a you problem than a Berhalter problem.

Harry P asks: Any insight into (reigning MLS MVP) Luciano Acosta potentially switching allegiances and joining the USMNT?

Tom Bogert: Acosta remains in the process of becoming a United States citizen (and thus eligible to represent the USMNT), but it’s taking a bit longer than they hoped because when Lucho left the D.C. United to sign with Atlas, he left the country and would not have qualified as a resident at that time. Acosta has argued he couldn’t come back because of COVID-19 (Lucho signed with Atlas in December 2019), but the government didn’t see it that way. TBD on timing, but this is definitely still in the works.

https://5ccf1e54c9d8dbe8cb874428102d28ba.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

One key reason Acosta is getting citizenship is the hope to play for the USMNT.

“Obviously (I would accept a USMNT call-up), if it came,” Acosta told us last year when we revealed he was in the citizenship process. “It’s one reason I started the process.”

(Top photo: Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes talks Olympic roster preparations and the role of NWSL

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 23: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image has been digitally altered.) United States Women's National Team head coach Emma Hayes poses for a portrait on May 23, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Meg Linehan7h ago

On Wednesday, U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes arrived at Newark airport just outside New York City following a fifth-consecutive successful title run with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League. She was only in New York — a place she considers home, previously spending seven years in the U.S. developing as a young coach — for a short time.“I’m lucky to be born in England, but made in America,” Hayes said on Thursday to the Today Show.On Tuesday, she named the roster for her first USWNT camp, causing some excitement by listing Crystal Dunn as a forward. She’ll have two chances to stand on the U.S. sideline next month with a set of friendlies against South Korea in Denver and Saint Paul.“I want to focus on the performance. I want to get to know the players. I want to make sure that, in the limited time we have together, we make the most of it,” she said from a tall stool inside Studio A at Rockefeller Center. “And for me, pressure is a huge privilege.”By Thursday morning, Hayes was making the rounds with American media, confident as she sat for half a dozen television interviews before settling in front of a round table of USWNT coverage regulars.Hayes spoke for nearly an hour with three things becoming clear: the transition process has been slowly happening since November, she sees NWSL and USL Super League as crucial parts of the USWNT’s development, and nothing is set in stone — especially not the Olympic roster.

Easing into the role

“Everything, to be honest,” Hayes said when detailing what U.S. interim head coach Twila Kilgore shared with her during the transition process. She rattled off a list of lessons from the 2023 World Cup, team personnel, and the collective bargaining agreement with the USWNT Players Association. “Culture, traditions, I want to maintain and uphold the right things.”Hayes’ conversation with Kilgore also touched on the games the USWNT has played so far this year and the finer details like the timeline of a roster selection process.“We’ve been on many long calls late at night,” she said, referencing the time difference between the U.S. and England. “Certainly been to bed quite late in the last few months, but she’s been a humongous help.“I feel like I’ve been able to quietly get to know the job without being in the job, and I think that’s really helped every little detail, whether it’s processes on game day to how they operate in the hotel to which kit they wear. When I go into camp, I know all of these things.”Her brief trip to the U.S. last November helped too, and most of the time between now and the Olympics has already been planned thanks to Kilgore’s information and what Hayes saw firsthand.“All the May camp preparation is done, all the sessions are planned,” she said. “All of the June schedule is planned out in terms of our meetings, our meeting points. July is planned. Everybody is clear on what’s going on — now it’s about getting the players.”

The American women’s soccer ecosystem

Before taking the USWNT gig, Hayes had provided an outside assessment of the team’s 2023 World Cup performance in a column, focusing primarily on player development and the fact that the team was “massively short of creative talent.” Asked if she would continue to be critical of the program, Hayes expressed that she, like any coach, wants more for the team and federation.

“That’s clear for everyone to see,” she said, gesturing widely. “I don’t always view that as a negative thing. Sometimes you need something like that in life to serve as a reminder if you don’t grow. I always say all the time, what got you here won’t get you there. It’s an opportunity now to evolve.”Hayes said the focus needs to be on improving day in and day out, which isn’t limited to U.S. Soccer.“We need our league, the NWSL, to be hugely competitive. We need the USL (Super League) for lots of reasons, a development pathway for players that don’t necessarily make the NWSL to come in and to be given a place to play,” she said. “That in itself will create competition. Competition is healthy.”That synergy was apparent Thursday as Hayes’ media availability took place at NWSL’s offices. (The league made sure she had access to NWSL+, the league’s streaming platform.) While she watches and will continue to games across the league, it’s a feat she admitted she can’t do on her own.“Across the breadth and depth of this country, that cannot be covered solely by me,” she said. “There will be a coaching and analytics team that will be scattered across the country.”Hayes added that she has seen a noticeable tactical improvement across the league this season.“We have to compete with what’s going on in Europe, and I see lots of good developments in the (NWSL). I’ve seen good international players come into the league. All of these things have to happen in order for the U.S. team to compete at the top level,” Hayes said. “My job is to make sure that I work together with all of those stakeholders so that together, we have got the experience of what’s been done in Europe to be able to say look, we have to drive to the next space.”

Assessing all options, including forward Crystal Dunn

Hayes spoke about the roster for her first camp but did not touch on too many individual players that did or did not make the cut. Crystal Dunn’s name came up a couple of times, however, thanks to the fact that Dunn is joining the forward pool in Colorado and Minnesota.

“I don’t publish the order,” Hayes said, smiling. “I had nothing to do that with.” She paused, holding the joke as long as she could before finishing, “I’m being cheeky.”

Hayes coached Dunn at Chelsea during the 2017-2018 season, but she said she’s seen the conversations about Dunn’s position over the years as well. Hayes knows how important it is for Dunn to “find a home” on the field.“For me, it’s less about, ‘Is she going to play in that position?’” Hayes said. “I would like to see her a little bit further forward this time around knowing I already know what she can do at left back.”

Dunn isn’t the only player Hayes is evaluating. She said the 18-player roster for the Olympics is not decided, and what she sees in camp will take her a step closer to knowing that final list. It’s part of why she didn’t want to comment on any individual player.

“I have to analyze players and analyze which players are closest to making that roster,” Hayes said. “I need to see it, feel it, be around it to get a sense of the tactical understanding of everyone — see where everybody is at.”

Hayes will focus on the process and the performance. She’s learned to focus on that over her years of coaching. She’s less worried about where a team is today; it’s where a team is at the end that counts.

“Are the USA at their best possible position today?” She rhetorically asked the group of reporters. “No, but it’s about where we finish when we need to that matters to me. So I want to focus on that instead of where we are in the world rankings, where we are in comparison to Spain”

Even though she’s been watching the team from a distance since she got the job in November, the time with players in June will show her how much of a gap between the team today and the team at the Olympics can be closed. She wants to be realistic about it.“I’ve come from a club level and what I have learned is the best development is done at club level,” she said addressing prospective USWNT players via the reporters in the room. “So go back to your clubs, play, compete, get healthy, and put yourself in the best possible place.(Photo: USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Emma Hayes, the long goodbye and the legacy

Katie Whyatt May 19, 2024

It was, after about half an hour, feeling like an office party at a karaoke bar. Chelsea’s travelling support were rolling through all the hits and by the end, Emma Hayes was taking requests. “We want five!” they said. Duly it arrived. “We want Fran!” came the calls, and on went Fran Kirby for her final game in a Chelsea shirt. When she scored Chelsea’s last goal, on 85 minutes, it felt like Chelsea were bending the world to their will. “What’s the score?” the fans asked Hayes repeatedly, and gladly she held up her fingers in immediate reply. It took her a little longer for goal six, probably from the extra effort of taking both hands from her pockets.

Emma Hayes’ side won 6-0 at Old Trafford on the final day of the season (Alex Livesey – The FA via Getty Images)

The only omission from their setlist was a chorus of oles. Had it been against a bigger rival, they might have whipped those out after the second goal arrived inside nine minutes but, as it was, Chelsea were too focused to break off for that kind of interlude.It helps when Manchester United barely showed up, let alone with the energy to gatecrash. Hayes’ leaving party was exactly that, and the force of it all was such that United’s decision to parade their FA Cup trophy at full time to fans unable to travel to last week’s Wembley final felt like witnessing a proposal at somebody else’s wedding. It had all the hallmarks of one: the Hayes kids flinging confetti at each other, Sam Kerr and Erin Cuthbert striking comedy poses in front of the trophy as if in a photo booth.Even Hayes seemed a touch delirious, at one point turning to her bench and mouthing: “Who scored?” and shrugging towards her players during one particularly rampant patch. Certainly, she was taken aback by the ludicrous nature of it all, the ease with which, on its final day, it all fell into place. To emerge from this season with a fifth successive league title is, to put it one way, a bit of a leap in plot terms, given where we were a month ago, and rich with irony given it was her nemesis, Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, who opened the door for her to write her ending with a 2-1 win over runners-up Manchester City this month, a match that tilted the title race in Chelsea’s favour.

Emma Hayes: Victorious, elated, tired

Still, a sunny stroll was a nice change for Hayes given the pace of the past few months, and how quickly it looked like her final season at Chelsea would fall apart. Hayes had been hoping for a quadruple until losing the Continental Cup to Arsenal in March — the game that ended with her shoving Eidevall at full time in response to the “male aggression” she said he had exhibited on the touchline — and her decision to recite a poem in lieu of an apology at her subsequent press conference seemed to precipitate a wider unravelling and betray a more muddled line of thinking.Within a fortnight, the quadruple had halved to a double after a defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup. To attend Hayes’ post-match press conference was to see a more guarded, circumspect figure, one visibly wary about saying the wrong thing. In the end, she did: her remarks that “nobody died” and that the goal for the end of the season was for everybody to get out alive did not play well with a fanbase anxious given recent events.These were rare missteps for Hayes, a manager who, if anything, has given the impression over the years of being frustrated by too much good press rather than the reverse (the title of her audiobook, To Kill the Unicorn, is about curing the delusion of the manager as a mythical being who has all the answers). So came the backlash. This season has been the most bruising of Hayes’ career from a PR perspective and the stakes have been so much higher given the number of eyeballs on her since it was announced in November she would take over as manager of the U.S. women’s national team this summer.“Sometimes I wish I was in the old, old days where maybe it was a small press pack,” Hayes said in her final press conference before playing United. “I actually did that early on. You could sit and have little off-the-record conversations, but also share good things. Now, it’s just an exercise of not tripping up. You say too much and get whacked for it. You don’t say enough then it’s just something dull, a repetitive function that we have to serve.”She continued the theme after the match. “If I wasn’t a football manager or had to do a press conference every three days, I’m that person in the social group who sits in the corner. I’m not front and centre in my life. I don’t live like that. So I find some of this job really, really hard because I just want a quiet life. That’s what I’m most looking forward to — being out of the British media, having a different life and being in a situation where I only have to do this and games every six weeks.”Hayes will know it has been a slog for the women’s game to reach this point in the public consciousness. The sport has exploded over the past two years in particular and with the publicity has come scrutiny that Hayes probably felt underprepared for.As the face of the WSL and the sport’s loudest advocate, she has felt it more than most managers. Opposition fans grow weary at the focus on Hayes and Chelsea and the woman at the centre finds being used as a rent-a-quote burdensome, for all she understands the need to keep pushing for more. There is, though, no obvious heir to her role as a mouthpiece for the sport as a whole. Aston Villa’s Carla Ward is taking a career break for similar reasons to Hayes’ desire for a break. City’s Gareth Taylor feels too guarded, United’s Marc Skinner too emotional and Eidevall too explosive on the field. Someone shaping a club to the extent Hayes has feels less likely in the era where women’s teams continue to move in-house. Maybe they won’t make them like her anymore.Not that Hayes could be persuaded to stay. “I categorically cannot carry on,” Hayes said on Saturday. “I don’t have another drop to give, whatever it is. When you deal with people, I have such high standards for myself that maintaining that has become impossible. I can’t keep up with the demands from players on a daily basis in terms of their emotional needs, in terms of everything. I found that to be gruelling this year.”

The moment Chelsea were confirmed as WSL champions (Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)

She detailed discussions with Chelsea’s sporting directors over improving player care and performance psychology. For those who want to find something deeper in Hayes’ departure, maybe there is a lesson here: after Chelsea’s 8-0 win over Bristol City on May 5, she had warned that female coaches would continue to leave the game if football did not appreciate their wellbeing. “If you’re a parent, forget about it,” she said. She would love to see a duo of two mothers or co-head coaches. “You have to give up a lot in this job,” she went on. “I don’t wish it on anyone.”In time, maybe the game will reflect that it failed one of its greatest managers; maybe this is just the reality of management, at this point in the WSL’s life. Maybe it just has to be that consuming. Maybe it’s different for women. In any case, the next generation will benefit from Hayes’ wisdom, even if Hayes has been burned out by it all.“Staying on top of emotion is something I’m really good at,” she said at her final press conference. “Sometimes, I really hate that. You have to do that a lot as a manager, which is probably one of the reasons I’m leaving this job. I miss Emma, and feeling like I don’t have to watch every word I say or worry about what my body language looks like in every situation because the camera’s on me.”Her final few weeks at Chelsea engendered a kind of ‘grieving’ among her family members who had taken the club to heart. Often, Hayes declined to talk about it with any finality “because I don’t want to cry because I have to do my job”. She had learned to “kick the emotions in the back of my head” but imagined “sobbing my heart out” at some point on Sunday, once it was all over and after she had hosted a barbeque for her son Harry’s birthday.

That has been the odd dichotomy of Hayes’ tenure: a winning machine but always with the disclaimers — maybe even anchors — that she is human, too. After exiting the Champions League at the hands of Barcelona in April, Hayes’ eyes brimmed with tears; her press officer mouthed: “You OK?” before they plunged into a short press conference where Hayes took only six questions. At the Football Writers’ Association dinner to honour Hayes, she teared up while thanking her late father, Sid, the one who had told her to go out and make the English game into what had been built in the United States. An underappreciated facet of this season is that Hayes has trundled through it all while grieving for her father. The menopause, Hayes has said on more than one occasion, has also presented unique challenges.

“Don’t think I’m not, like, feeling it,” she said after her final game at Kingsmeadow. “Today was really, really hard for me to coach. Really, really hard. There was a lot going on.”

Still, Chelsea did the job that night: fans ordered goals and Chelsea served them like they were waiting tables. Even when Guro Reiten managed a hat-trick on 77 minutes, Hayes was urging Chelsea back to the centre circle to rack up the goals that would put them in control on the final day. As the PA system reminded the crowd when the teams came back from the break that this would be the final 45 minutes at Kingsmeadow for Hayes, Kirby and Maren Mjelde, the evening bubbled with a sense of purpose, the mood music changed entirely after City’s 2-1 defeat by Arsenal in the earlier game.

The win put Chelsea in control of their own destiny, albeit not always convincingly, and half the time it was tricky to work out what Hayes was thinking. She conceded the title live on Sky, flanked by upcoming striker Aggie Beever-Jones, after a 4-3 defeat by Liverpool.

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She insisted later that the interview — which Sky pundit Karen Carney called “weird” — was not an attempt at a mind game. You half-believe Hayes, given the sincerity with which she later insisted she expected City to win, but initially, she conceded it was “the right tactic” for her to “take the pressure off” her own players before City played.

Over the past year, Hayes has pulled so many tricks that looking for the real meaning sometimes felt like untangling a cat’s cradle. At the least, she is adept at spinning situations to Chelsea’s advantage, and maybe all the strangeness served to take the spotlight from the players. She insisted it was her squad who spearheaded the title charge after City’s slip-up, but it’s hard to believe Hayes was truly willing to abandon all hope: “It all came from them. They never gave up that belief… I learned so much from them today. I really did. I learned a lot about the importance of belief.”

Hayes allowed herself some time to rest on Sunday, then will move to her new in-tray. She is exhausted, but the thought of going to an Olympics, she says, is “not tiring” and will re-energise her. She has USWNT player and staff calls on Monday, a call with U.S. leadership teams on Wednesday, a flight to New York and press obligations on Thursday in Denver, a meeting with staff on Friday, and a first meeting with the team on the following Monday.

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It is a full-circle moment given the call from Sid that started it all: when out in Atlanta and bowled over by the 1996 and 1999 U.S. teams, he told Hayes to get out there. When she finally does, it will be with the hope of a simpler life, and maybe a team already used to celebrity and fighting culture wars, with players who will be masters of the things that have most jaded Hayes in her final few years in England. Still, Hayes will likely prove unignorable: it is difficult to imagine how she will ever be less box office as long as she is herself.

It’s been equally difficult, over the past few weeks, to try to understand Hayes’ legacy. When she announced her departure, it was easy: an immeasurable impact on a sport and a club. May onwards made for a strange time to quantify it all given the events post-Continental Cup final, and the view among opposition fans that what happened there irreparably damaged her reputation. Hayes is no longer a universally-liked figure. Furthermore, she has never won the Champions League as a head coach, let alone built a European dynasty a la Lyon or Barcelona. To what extent those will exist as asterisks on her roll of honour might only become clear if an English team wins the Champions League in the coming years. Deeming a return to club management “unlikely”, Hayes seemed to pass up on ever doing so.

Emma Hayes: Victorious, elated, tired

You can’t believe it bothers her much. Knowing that she has nothing more to give is in itself closure. Hayes is simply too exhausted to summon regrets and what-ifs. Is she the greatest domestic manager the women’s game has known? Certainly in the WSL era; more broadly, her only rival is Vic Akers, Arsenal’s European Cup-winning manager for whom Hayes was assistant coach, and who pushed the game forward in a similarly visionary way. Hayes endured more scrutiny and greater competition at a more transformative time for the women’s game. It will take a while for anyone to catch up to seven league titles, five FA Cups and two League Cups.

Memory is a slippery thing. In five years, will anyone still read the footnotes at the bottom of title five? That they did it without Sam Kerr, that Arsenal and Stina Blackstenius half won the title for them, that the off-field sideshow threatened to consume it all?

More on Emma Hayes, the incoming USWNT head coach…

This has been a gruelling season for a club beset by injuries and it feels like they’ve made it over the line by constant reinvention and sheer force of will since losing Kerr and her replacement, Mia Fishel, to anterior cruciate ligament injuries at the start of the year. Had Chelsea won the FA Cup this year, it would have been their fourth in a row. That underlines the breadth of their dominance.

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The Manchester United manager, Skinner, mused afterwards that the days of clubs winning five titles in a row are “gone”. He said: “I’ve seen the growth from no teams, not professional, all the way to teams that have had the advantage because they professionalised quicker. In the era when it has been professional, Chelsea still managed to deliver that situation. It leaves a space and hopefully, we can fill that space going forward.”

His point was probably that Hayes’ departure and the relentlessness of her dominance leave the door open for others as Chelsea transition but it seemed muddied by his concession that even in the professional era Chelsea stayed ahead of the pack and found a new edge. That constant reinvention gave the illusion that Hayes and Chelsea could go on forever. Hayes has pulled back the curtain on it all to show a coach and players barely limping over the line, and one not always given to enjoyment.

Still, a video of Hayes and son Harry, in a hotel room, singing about winning five titles in a row did the rounds on Saturday night. As with Hayes, there is always a point, a message. That one: I will enjoy this, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks.

(Top photo: Naomi Baker – The FA via Getty Images)

5/17/24 EPL & Germany Final weekend, Indy 11 home Sat & Wed on winning streak, Full TV Game Schedule, EPL Scrapping VAR?, Brazil to host 27 World Cup

May 18, 2024 gatorbest bundesliga, epl, indy-11, premier-league, soccer, us-soccer, world-cup

The clear winner in MLS Soccer this week was Raccoon Messi at the Red Bulls vs Philly game see. Pulisic scores a Brace on Mom’s Day weekend and celebrates with his mom as he wear’s her maiden name on his back. Disappointing week as Tottenham blew their chances to knock off Man City at home when Son was smothered on this play by City’s backup goalie Ortega (love Pep’s response) – leaving the EPL race all but over to the Blues. Arsenal will fall just short again unless West Ham can upset Man City at City – fat chance. The only thing up for grabs is 6^th place and a Europa league place. The complete and utter lack of drama in the EPL final weekend proves once again why American sports are superior to Europe.

Man City has only beaten 2 of the top 10 teams this season – but have the best overall record by beating the crap teams. The US has playoffs. No offense but when a team wins the Super Bowl –they have to beat the best teams – same in the NBA, same in Hockey and at the end of the season when it counts – not some early or midseason – no one cares game. Championship games to win it all. While the European leagues have no one cares blasé games down the stretch except perhaps relegation – – imagine what even a top 4 playoff would look like in the EPL – the interest and excitement darn near challenging Champions League in popularity. But alas the Europeans know best. Enjoy this weekend’s games where the only real drama is will Germany’s Bayern Leverkusen extend Europe’s longest unbeaten streak EVER to 51 games by becoming the first German team to finish undefeated in a season?

Indy 11 host Hartford Sat & Detroit City Wed in US Open Cup

Indy Eleven won 3-1 at Miami FC Saturday night and is now unbeaten in six straight across all competitions, including four in USL Championship action. The four matches are the most since a stretch of six from August 9-Sept 2 last year. The win improves Indy to 4-4-2 in league action, and moves them up to 4th in the East. The Boys in Blue return to action Saturday when they host Hartford Athletic for Hometown Heroes Night. Action begins at 7 p.m. ET and will air locally on WNDY & ESPN+. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster. The 11 will host Detroit City Wed in US Open Cup Sweet 16 action at the Mike.

Games on TV

Sat, May 18 – Final Day Germany

9:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund vs Darmstadt

9:30 am EPSN+ Union Berlin (Aaronson, Pefok) vs Freiburg

9:30 pm ESPN+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Ausburg

9:30 am ESPN+ Stuttgart vs Mgladbach (Scalley)

12 noon CBSSN Lecce vs Atalanta ITALY

1:45 pm Fox Nashville SC vs Atlanta United

2:45 pm Para+ Torino vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)

7 pm ESPN+, TV8 Indy 11 vs Hartford @ the Mike

7:30 pm CBS Galazo Tampa Bay Rowdies (Jordan Farr GK) vs FC Tulsa

7:30 pm Ion Washington Spirit (Rodman, Hatch, Sullivan) vs Angel City FC NWSL

9:30 pm Ion TV KC Current vs Racing Louisville (Demelo) NWSL

9:30 pm Univision America vs Guardlajara

Sun, May 19 Final Day EPL

11 am USA Arsenal vs Everton

11 am NBC Man City vs West Ham

11 am CNBC Brighton vs Man United

11 am Golf Channel Chelsea vs Bournemouth

11 am Peacock Shefield United (Trusty) vs Nottingham Forest (Reyna)

11 am Peacock Fulham (Jedi, Ream) vs Luton Town

11 am Peacock Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Aston Villa

12 noon Para+ Inter Milan vs Lazio

1 pm ESPN+ Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano

5 pm Para+ NY Gothem (Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Chicago

6 pm Para+ Orlando Pride vs Seattle Reign (Lavelle, Huerta, Cook) NWSL

Wed, May 22 Europa League Finals

3 pm Para+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Atalanta

Sat, May 25

3 pm ESPN+ FA Cup Final Man City vs Man United

Sat, June 1

3 pm CBS Champ League Final Real Madrid vs Dortmund

5 pm TBS US Women vs Korea

Tues, June 4

8 pm Tru TV, Max, PC US Women vs Korea

Sat, June 8

5:30 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Colombia

Tues, June 11

8 pm ??? US Men U23 Olympic Team vs Japan

Wed, June 12

7 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Brazil

Fri, June 14 Euro 2024 Begins

3 pm Fox Germany vs Scotland

Sat, June 15

9 am Hungary vs Switzerland

12 pm Fox Spain vs Croatia

3 pm Fox Italy vs Alabania

Sun, June 16

9 am FS1 Poland vs Netherlands

12 noon FS1 Slovenia vs Denmark

3 pm Fox Serbia vs England

Thur, June 20 COPA America Starts

8 pm Fox Argentina vs Canada COPA

Sat, June 22

6 pm Fox Ecuador vs Venezuela

9 pm Fox Mexico vs Jamaica COPA

Sun, June 23

6 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Bolivia COPA America

9 pm FS1 Uruguay vs Panama COPA

Thur, June 27

6 pm Fox USMNT vs Panama COPA

Mon, July 1

9 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Uraguay

Sat July 13

3 pm TNT, Tele US Women vs Mexico

Tues, July 16

7:30 pm TNT, Universo US Women vs Costa Rica

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

USMNT Stock Watch: Christian Pulisic, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson cap career seasons

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US Men

Tim Howard inducted into U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame Field Level Media

The USMNT center of gravity is moving away from MLS. That’s fine — for now ESPN Noah Davis
PSV trigger permanent move for USMNT’s Tillman ESPN
What should Gio Reyna do next after failed Forest loan, and what’s the USMNT impact?

Sources: Dest back to Barca as PSV decline option Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

Pulisic Life in Italy is good – Fox 4/29

EPL Final Weekend

Arteta: Arsenal’s title ‘dream is still alive’

Guardiola warns Man City: Title not won yet

No matter who finishes higher, it will feel like Chelsea have had a better season than Tottenham

‘He put us back on our perch’ — What Klopp means to Liverpool

Ange: City game my worst experience as manager

Source: Tuchel open to stay, wary of Utd snub

Premier League 2023-24 awards: MVP, goal of the season, best signing and most disappointing team

World

Juventus sack Allegri days after cup final antics

Barca coach Xavi set for sack – reports
Brazil to host FIFA Women’s World Cup nearly 50 years after repealing ban on women’s sport
Brazil to host 2027 Women’s World Cup, wins FIFA vote after USA-Mexico joint bid withdrawn

WSL title race ‘all comes down to this’

helsea’s Emma Hayes and the life behind a winning machine

Leverkusen 5-0: Bundesliga run hits fifty in rout

Reffing

How VAR decisions have affected every Premier League club in 2023-24

Wolves won’t get VAR scrapped, but can the Premier League learn lessons?
Jurgen Klopp: I would vote to scrap VAR
Juventus fires coach Massimiliano Allegri for his outburst toward the refs in the Italian Cup final

GK

Newcastle make £15m move for Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale

MLS

USMNT weekend viewing guide: Avoiding the drop

Seasons come to a close and teams are facing the relegation axe.

By jcksnftsn May 17, 2024, 9:34am PDT

1. FC Köln v 1. FC Union Berlin - Bundesliga

The last matchday of the 2023-24 season in the Bundesliga means things get started with a fury on Saturday morning with all 18 clubs kicking off simultaneously at 9:30a. Then on Sunday morning the Eredivise completes there season with kickoffs at 8:30a, the EPL kicks off at 11a, and in France they will be kicking off at 3p. La Liga and Serie A still have one more weekend left so will have games scattered across this weekend before wrapping up their season next week Sunday. There’s quite a bit of action including some significant situations still to be settled so let’s get to it.

Saturday

Union Berlin v Freiburg – 8:30a on ESPN+

Brenden Aaronson started last weekend and Union Berlin were leading 2-1 against 17th place Koln but two late goals would see Berlin drop three points and fall into the relegation playoff spot. Now Berlin, who started the season in the Champions League need a win on Saturday against 8th place Freiburg (who are still within striking distance of Europa Conference League) and a loss by Mainz to Wolfsburg or they will finish no better than the relegation playoff spot. If Berlin were to lose and Koln can win again, this time against Wolfsburg, while making up a three goal differential it would be a straight and stunning drop for Berlin to the 2 Bundesliga. Berlin have lost five of their last six and have just one win since mid-February. Rumors this week suggest that Aaronson will not be back in Berlin next season regardless of the outcome on Saturday but also that Leeds do not plan to keep him for next season so it seems as though he will be on the move this summer.

Wolfsburg v Mainz – 9:30a on ESPN+

Kevin Paredes has started two straight for Wolfsburg and will finish the season just under 1,500 minutes across all competitions for his club who head into the final weekend in 12th place. It’s been a solid, if not spectacular, season for Paredes as he builds on the 500 minutes he saw in the 2022-23 campaign. Wolfsburg are comfortably middle of the table in 12th place but can play spoiler to Mainz who are holding on to hopes of safety.

Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich – 9:30a on ESPN+

John Brooks has not appeared in three straight matches and has not started a game since he picked up a red card in early March and served a two match suspension. Hoffenheim are in seventh place, one point ahead of Freiburg for Europa Conference League qualifying and three points (and a three goal differential) behind Eintracht Frankfurt for sixth place and Europa League qualification. Hoffenheim’s opponent this weekend are Bayern Munich who’s fate has been settled in an unusual way as they are currently in second place, fifteen points behind first place Bayer Leverkusen (who will look to complete their unbeaten run through the Bundesliga when they face Augsburg).

Stuttgart v Borussia Monchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN+

Joe Scally, Jordan Pefok and Borussia Monchengladbach go into the final weekend clear of relegation thanks to a draw against Frankfurt last weekend with Scally picking up the assist on Gladbach’s only goal. Scally has started all but a handful of matches for Gladbach this season and has racked up more Bundesliga minutes this season than any other American, still just 21 years old. Pefok did not appear last weekend and has not started a match since March, he has also been in a goal drought with his last goal coming in late February. Gladbach’s opponent this weekend is third place Stuttgart who technically don’t have much to play for this weekend but could pass Bayern in the standings with a win and a Bayern loss.

Heidenheim v Koln – 9:30a on ESPN+

The second leading minutes man for American’s in Germany is Lennard Maloney who returned from injury last weekend to see 24’ minutes off the bench in Heidenheim’s 1-1 draw with Freiburg. Maloney has missed five matches due to injury and came off the bench in two other matches immediately after his return from said injuries but has otherwise started every match for a Heidenheim side who came into the season as an odds on favorite to return to 2 Bundesliga but have had a solid season and are currently in 9th place, tied with Augsburg and Werder Bremen. Heidenheims opponent this weekend are Koln who need a win, a loss by Union Berlin, and to make up a three goal differential in order to crawl into the relegation playoff spot for one final chance to maintain their Bundesliga standing for next season.

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

Christian Pulisic had a pair of goals last weekend in AC Milan’s 5-1 romp over Cagliari to bring his season total to 12 goals and 7 assists in league plan and 15 goals and 9 assists across all competitions. It has been a fantastic individual year for Pulisic though without any team awards to show for his accomplishments as Inter Milan have won the league title going away. Yunus Musah also started and went the full 90’ last weekend in the win, returning from his one game yellow card suspension. It’s been a quieter year for Musah but he’s started the last four games he’s been eligible for and with two more strong appearances to close the season could finish with over 1,500 league minutes and 2,300 minutes across all competitions. Milan face tenth place Torino in their penultimate match with Milan having already sealed second place and Torino out of the European competition running.

Sunday

PSV Eindhoven v RKC Waalwijk – 8:30a on ESPN+

Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi close out their season with league champion PSV Eindhoven Sunday morning with a match against RKC Waalwijk who are tied with Excelsior for the relegation playoff spot. Tillman started and went the full 90’ last weekend in PSV’s draw with Fortuna Sittard while Pepi came on for the final 20’ but neither player made the scoresheet as the match finished 1-1.

Burnley v Nottingham Forest – 11a on Peacock

Gio Reyna was strikingly absent from the matchday squad for Forest last weekend as they fell to Chelsea 3-2 to remain three points ahead of Luton Town for the final relegation spot heading into the final matchday. It’s been a bust of a transfer for Reyna who will return to Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund this summer with an uncertain future ahead of him. It looks as though Matt Turner may also need a move this summer as he hasn’t appeared for Forest since late January, shortly after the team brought in Matz Sels, though frankly Sels has not preformed any better than Turner in his spell.

Chelsea v Bournemouth – 11a on Peacock

In a bit of more positive news Tyler Adams returned to the field for Bournemouth last weekend getting ten minutes off the bench in their 2-1 loss to Brentford. It was just Adams third appearance in what has been a lost season but it is good to see him back on the field heading into the Summer and the USMNT’s upcoming involvement in the Copa America. Bournemouth are solidly middle of the EPL table in eleventh place. They are facing a hot Chelsea side that have won four straight and are making a late push currently three points ahead of Newcastle United and Manchester United for Conference League play and looking to overtake Tottenham for Europa League qualification.

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa – 11a on Peacock

Chris Richards looks to have secured a spot with Crystal Palace moving forward. Richards made the starting lineup in December and hasn’t looked back, starting and going the full 90’ in all but three matches in which he was left out due to injury in early April. Richards will finish the season with over 2,000 minutes in EPL play and 2,500 minutes over all competitions. Palace enter the final week in twelfth place and are facing fourth place Aston Villa who can’t move up or down on the final weekend.

Luton Town v Fulham – 11a on Peacock

Tim Ream faces a more uncertain future though he recently signed an extension with Fulham. Ream signed a one year extension that would take him through the 2024-25 season but he hasn’t seen the field for Fulham since mid February. Antonee Robinson on the other hand has played nearly every minute for Fulham this year, missing one match due to muscular problems back in September and just an additional 58 minutes across the remainder of the season, he’ll finish with over 3,200 minutes in league play. Fulham are in fourteenth place, easily safe from relegation and face a Luton Town side that are all but mathematically eliminated. Luton would need a win, a Forest loss and to make up the 12 goal difference in order to avoid the drop.

Sheffield United v Tottenham Hotspur – 11a on Peacock

Sheffield’s disastrous EPL campaign comes to a merciful close this weekend with the only outstanding question being just how many goals will they allow in their record setting season. Sheffield have allowed 101 goals and will face a Tottenham side that need a result this weekend to ensure they hold off Chelsea for fifth place and Europa League qualification. Auston Trusty has started the past eight for Sheffield and looks set for a return to the Championship as he is signed with the club through the end of the 2026-27 season.

Real Betis v Real Sociedad – 1p on ESPN+

Real Betis pulled ahead of Real Sociedad last weekend with a win over Almeria but fell back to seventh place midweek when they settled for a draw with Las Palmas while Sociedad was beating Valencia. Sociedad now holds a one point lead for sixth place and Europa Conference League qualifying heading into their head-to-head matchup. Betis need at least a draw to keep their hopes alive as a win would seal sixth place for Sociedad. Johnny started again last week and has over 1,100 minutes since joining Betis in January.

Granada v Celta Vigo – 1p on ESPN+

Luca de la Torre was an unused substitute last weekend and hasn’t started a match since he was injured in early March. Celta Vigo have four wins over that time and with a five point lead over Cadiz a result of any kind this weekend against relegated Granada would guarantee they are safe heading into the final weekend.

Monaco v Nantes – 3p on beIN Sports

Folarin Balogun came off the bench late in the first half last weekend to replace the injured Breel Embolo and picked up an assist on the opening goal as Monaco would go on to win 2-0. With the result his side are guaranteed to finish in second place heading into the final weekend as they take on a Nantes side that are just guaranteed safety. The assist was Balogun’s second in three weeks and his seventh of the season giving him fifteen goal contributions across all competitions.

Monday

Bologna v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+

Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah lifted the Copa Italia trophy on Wednesday but saw their manager dismissed on Friday in what has been a turbulent week. McKennie started the match while Weah came on in the final minutes to put in a defensive effort and see out the 1-0 victory. Juventus have had a disappointing league season including a draw to last place Salernitana last weekend, though the point was enough to ensure that they will qualify for Champions League play next season. They face third place Bologna on Monday who are tied with Juventus on points and lead them in goal differential by +3.

USMNT’s core is moving away from MLS and that’s fine for now

Noah Davis, ESPNMay 11, 2024, 11:02 AM ET

In many respects, March 24, 2023 looked like just another game for the United States men’s national team. Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi tallied twice, Christian Pulisic added a goal and two assists, and the Americans beat Grenada 7-1 to move to the top of Group D in the Concacaf Nations League.

In one respect, however, the match was unlike any other in history. For the first time since Major League Soccer’s launch in 1996, the red, white, and blue game-day roster did not feature a single player from the U.S. first division. Atlanta United‘s Miles Robinson, the only MLS player to even make the training camp roster for those games, was left off the 23-man matchday squad because of injury and looking at where American players play, it’s unlikely this will be the last time such an occurrence happens.In a sense, the impact of current MLS players on the U.S. national team is waning. At the 1998 World Cup, 16 of the 22 players came from MLS. In 2002 and 2006, that number was 11 out of 23. In Qatar? Just nine of 26 players came from the first division, with only Nashville SC‘s Walker Zimmerman playing more than 45 minutes.Now, this isn’t to say that MLS (and USL Championship) aren’t having an effect on the senior national team. They clearly are, especially as the majority of those called up started their careers in MLS or the development academies. U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter pointed to the growth of the league as a key element in the development of the player pool.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Ranking the top 50 USMNT players on club form: ESPN’s Player Performance Index returns Ryan O’Hanlon

How USMNT’s McKennie emerged from Premier League disaster to be among Serie A’s best Bruce Schoenfeld

“MLS is a critical step in everything that we’re doing in U.S. Soccer,” Berhalter said in a November interview with Telemundo. “When you see the amount of investment that the owners have made in Major League Soccer, and actually soccer in America, it’s a great thing. The reason why we are where we are is because of the investment from MLS,””We don’t get hung up on where the players are coming from. We’re looking at how we grow this team, grow the player pool, and give experience to a broad selection of players.”Consider this: 17 of the 26 players on the 2022 World Cup roster played for an MLS NEXT academy, while 20 of the 21 men on the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup roster were, or had been, in an MLS academy. Additionally, 14 players with USL or League One experience made that U-20 roster including Joshua Wynder, who has since moved to Portuguese side Benfica in the USL’s first seven-figure transfer.It’s a strange spot for MLS and, to a lesser extent, USL. The league needs to move its best young players along to other clubs and reinvest the money in player development, a virtuous cycle that also means talented young Americans will end up playing overseas. While 2023 saw homegrown players set a record, with 174 playing 168,163 minutes across 2,829 games, three aging defenders — Matt Miazga, Tim Parker, and Zimmerman — were the only Americans on the Best XI team. The top three MVP candidates — FC Cincinnati playmaker Luciano Acosta, LAFC winger Dénis Bouanga and Atlanta United midfielder Thiago Almada — came from abroad, with no American winning the league’s MVP since Mike Magee in 2013.

An emerging league is, almost by definition, a place where the most talented young players leave and that is, for now at least, a feature not a bug.”All of the work that we do day to day is focused on giving opportunities for our players to reach their full potential, whether it’s in the academy or the first team, so that eventually some of them become high-level players in MLS,” Charles Altchek, president of MLS NEXT Pro, said in an interview with ESPN. “Whether they stay in MLS or end up moving around the world depends on where they are in their lifecycle as a player, what they want to achieve and where they want to be.”USL is adopting this same philosophy: they want to be a place where Americans start a career, not finish it.”I feel very strongly that the most valuable currency in soccer for player development is firstly in playing minutes, especially meaningful and competitive games in front of thousands of fans,” USL head of global football development and sporting director Oliver Wyss said during a phone call with ESPN.”Our clubs are ideally positioned to provide this environment and the full pathway that already has and will have an even bigger direct impact on developing the next generation of U.S. national team players and also allow the USL to become a bigger player in the global transfer market.””I encourage all of our teams to look at our top players as assets, and not as expenses. Ultimately, if these assets can be transferred to Europe, and you get a six- or seven-figure transfer amount plus a future sell-on percentage, the return of investment on these players is going to be significant for a club.”The growth of domestic leagues means there’s more opportunity than ever before for Americans to see the field, but there’s also more competition. The trend for MLS clubs seeking quality is to target players in their mid-20s. In other words, men in their prime who are also depreciating assets in a sport that prioritizes youth and potential.While this is good for the level of play, it’s not great for younger Americans trying to break through who can see opportunities to get on the field blocked by these expensive acquisitions. As a result, the percentage of minutes played by Americans in MLS has decreased even though available minutes have increased because of league expansion. One worthwhile comparison is Japan, a footballing country in a similar place to the U.S. in this regard.

Tom Byer, a man who has had a significant impact on the development of soccer in the Asian nation, offered an observation during an interview. “With Japan, the majority of the national team players play in Europe, but the gap between those best players in Europe and the players in the J.League is tiny,” he said. “Almost no Japanese player makes it over to Europe to play until they’ve played about 150 professional games in the J.League.”Closing the gap should, and is, a goal of MLS, and one that it’s slowly achieving. But the truth is, at the end of the day, it’s neither MLS nor the USL’s job to make the U.S. men’s national team better. They are three separate and distinct entities with their own goals and metrics for success. Still, there’s the reality that what’s good for one is good for the other — a strong tide raises all boats, or something like that — and there’s a World Cup not too far away across all of North America.”When the national team is successful, it’s good for soccer fans in this country and for MLS,” Altchek said. “That’s why we’ve worked really closely with the Federation for decades now on providing those opportunities for players and working with them on call-ups and releasing players for different competitions.””We want the U.S. to win the 2026 World Cup or at least go farther than they’ve ever gone before. Having the men’s national team there with a bunch of players who played or are playing in MLS will be icing on the cake.”

Europe’s top soccer leagues: Title fights, UCL, relegation

Dale Johnson, General Editor, ESPN FC May 14, 2024, 04:56 PM ET

The 2023-24 season is drawing to a close and the battles for the major honours, relegation and promotion are starting to become clearer.Here’s a quick roundup of what has been decided, and what’s still at stake, in the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.

Premier League – one full round to go
final day May 19

Title

1. Manchester City (37 games, 88 points)
2. Arsenal (37, 86)

Manchester City will seal the title with a victory at home to West Ham on Sunday. For Arsenal to win the title, they must win at home to Everton and Man City lose or draw. If Arsenal win and Man City draw, the Gunners would win the title on goal difference.

Premier League Table

	GP	GD	PTS
1 – Man City	37	+60	88
2 – Arsenal	37	+61	86
3 – Liverpool	37	+43	79
4 – Aston Villa	37	+20	68
5 – Tottenham	37	+10	63
6 – Newcastle	36	+22	57
7 – Chelsea	36	+12	57
8 – Man United	36	-4	54
1-4: UCL; 5: UEL; 6: UECL

Champions League (4)

All four places have now been sealed.

CONFIRMED

1. Arsenal
2. Man City
3. Liverpool (37, 79)
4. Aston Villa (37, 68)

Europa League (2)

As it stands, only fifth gets a Europa League place with the other slot, by right, going to the FA Cup winners.

Man United take on Man City in the FA Cup final on May 25 (stream live on ESPN+, U.S. only). If Erik ten Hag’s team lift the trophy then they will be in the Europa League (UEL). If Man City win the cup, then the UEL position transfers to the sixth place in the Premier League

IN CONTENTION

5. Tottenham Hotspur (37, 63)
6. Newcastle United (36, 57)
7. Chelsea (36, 57)
8. Manchester United (36, 54)

Despite poor results, Spurs are in a strong position to finish fifth with a six-point lead over Newcastle and Chelsea. Spurs still need a point away to Sheffield United on Sunday to be absolutely sure.

Spurs could also be confirmed in the Europa League on Wednesday if both Chelsea (go to Brighton) and Newcastle (visit Man United) drop points.

Man United can now finish no higher than sixth but, because of their vastly inferior goal difference, that will become seventh at best if they don’t beat Newcastle.

Europa Conference League (1)

Pending the FA Cup final, sixth will go into the Europa Conference League. Newcastle hold it, with Chelsea and Man United close behind. The UECL place will drop to seventh if Man City win the FA Cup or if Man United win the FA Cup and finish fifth or sixth. It would still be one of Man United, Newcastle and Chelsea — one of them will miss out on Europe completely. If Man United win the FA Cup and finish seventh or eighth, the UECL place goes to sixth.

Relegation (3)

RELEGATED

19. Burnley (37, 24)
20. Sheffield United (37, 16)

IN CONTENTION

17. Nottingham Forest (37, 29)
18. Luton Town (37, 26)

Luton are effectively relegated due to their vastly inferior goal difference to fourth-bottom Forest. On the final day, Luton would need to beat Fulham and Forest lose to Burnley with a goal difference swing of 12.

Leicester City and Ipswich Town have been automatically promoted to the Premier League. Leeds United, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City compete in the playoffs for one more place.

LaLiga – three rounds to go
final weekend May 25-26

Title

Real Madrid have been crowned champions.

Champions League (4)

CONFIRMED

1. Real Madrid (36, 93)
2. Barcelona (35, 76)
3. Girona (35, 75)

IN CONTENTION

4. Atlético Madrid (35, 70)
5. Athletic Club (35, 62).

Atletico are almost certain to take the fourth place, holding an eight-point lead over Athletic Club

It will be sealed on Wednesday if Atleti get a victory at Getafe, or if Athletic fail to win at Celta Vigo.

Real Madrid winning the Champions League cannot benefit another team in LaLiga. The team with the highest UEFA coefficient in UCL qualifying will be promoted direct to the group stage.

Europa League (2)

Athletic won the Copa del Rey and are almost certain to finish in the top six, so we can safely say the place for the cup moves over to the league — fifth and sixth will enter the UEL.

IN CONTENTION

4. Atlético Madrid (35, 70)
5. Athletic Club (35, 62)
6. Real Betis (35, 55)
7. Real Sociedad (35, 54)
8. Valencia (35, 48)
9. Villarreal (35, 48)

Either Atlético or Athletic will take one of the places, with Betis and Real Sociedad battling it out for the other.

Valencia and Villarreal have slim hope. Villarreal go to Genoa on Tuesday. Then on Thursday, Real Sociedad host Valencia (who really must win) and Betis are at Las Palmas.

Europa Conference League (1)

This will go to seventh in the league, probably between Real Sociedad and Real Betis, while Valencia and Villarreal require a mini-miracle from here.

Relegation (3)

CONFIRMED

19. Granada (35, 21)
20. Almería (35, 17)

IN CONTENTION

15. Mallorca (36, 36)
16. Rayo Vallecano (35, 35)
17. Celta Vigo (35, 34)
18. Cádiz (35, 29)

One relegation spot is to be decided, with Cádiz giving themselves hope by beating Getafe on Sunday. They still have a lot to do to catch Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano or Mallorca. On Wednesday, Cádiz are at Sevilla, Celta Vigo are at home to Athletic Club and Rayo Vallecano host Granada

Bundesliga – one round to go
final day May 18

Title

Bayer Leverkusen are still unbeaten and have already secured the first championship in their history.

Champions League (5)

The Bundesliga has sealed an extra place through the European Performance Spot, which sends the team in fifth to the UCL too.

CONFIRMED

1. Bayer Leverkusen (33, 87)
2. Bayern Munich (33, 72)
3. VfB Stuttgart (33, 70)
4. RB Leipzig (33, 64)
5. Borussia Dortmund (33, 60)

All five league slots are already confirmed, but there’s a possible twist.

WAITING ON DORTMUND

6. Eintracht Frankfurt (33, 46)
7. TSG Hoffenheim (33, 43)

Dortmund are in the UCL final, and if they win it a UCL place will be given to sixth in the Bundesliga. The European Performance Slot is a league benefit, so it will be an additional place to Dortmund’s as titleholders. Eintracht Frankfurt, who are guaranteed a place in the UECL at worst, are in sixth but could be overtaken by Hoffenheim on the final day. One of those two teams will be fully backing Dortmund against Real Madrid on June 1. Frankfurt need a point at home to RB Leipzig to secure sixth. If they lose, then Hoffenheim can climb above them with a victory at home to Bayern. A small goal difference swing of three is also required.

Europa League (2)

There are a few complicating factors to the UEL places, which right now go to sixth in the league (Frankfurt) and the winners of the DFB Pokal. The final of the DFB Pokal on May 25 (stream live on ESPN+, U.S. only) sees Leverkusen take on Kaiserslautern who, incredibly, could win the cup despite almost being relegated to the third division, as they sit four points above the 2. Bundesliga relegation zone with one game to be played. If Kaiserslautern pull off an almighty shock and do what no other team has done all season (beat Leverkusen), the league slots will be unaltered: sixth into the UEL and seventh into the UECL. If Leverkusen win the final, sixth and seventh will get a place in the UEL.

IN CONTENTION

6. Eintracht Frankfurt (33, 46)
7. TSG Hoffenheim (33, 43)
8. SC Freiburg (33, 42)

If Dortmund win the UCL, Germany would surrender the place in the UEL earned by Dortmund in the league. So, Dortmund would qualify as UCL titleholders in fifth, with sixth getting the European Performance position. The only way seventh can get a UEL place is if Leverkusen win the cup.

Europa Conference League (1)

If Kaiserslautern win the cup, then it will be Frankfurt, Hoffenheim or Freiburg who enter the UECL in seventh. If Leverkusen win the cup then eighth gets the UECL place, and it opens up.

IN CONTENTION

7. TSG Hoffenheim (33, 43)
8. SC Freiburg (33, 42)
9. Heidenheim (33, 39)
10. FC Augsburg (33, 39)
11. Werder Bremen (33, 39)

Hoffenheim will definitely finish in the top eight so, like with Frankfurt, it might just be a question of which competition they play in — UCL, UEL or UECL.Freiburg sit in eighth with a three-point gap to Heidenheim, Augsburg and Werder Bremen. On the last day, Freiburg travel to relegation-threatened Union Berlin knowing victory, if Hoffenheim draw or lose, could see them finish seventh; a draw would guarantee they finish eighth. But if they lose, they can be overtaken as they have worse goal difference than the three teams below them. Heidenheim are at home to Cologne, who have to win to have any chance of staying in the top flight, Augsburg travel to Leverkusen, who haven’t lost to anyone all season, and Bremen host Bochum, who could still be relegated.

Relegation (2+1)

Two teams are relegated, while third-bottom takes on third place in the 2. Bundesliga (Fortuna Düsseldorf) in a playoff for the right to play in the top flight.

RELEGATED

18. SV Darmstadt 98 (33, 17)

IN CONTENTION

14. VfL Bochum (33, 33)
15. Mainz (33, 32)
16. Union Berlin (33, 30)
17. FC Cologne (33, 27)

The best Cologne can hope for is 16th and the relegation playoff spot … by overtaking Union Berlin. To go up to the playoff place, Cologne must win at Heidenheim on Saturday, hope Union lose at home to Freiburg, and there be a goal difference swing of four. To avoid the playoff Union must win and, due to goal difference, hope Mainz lose at Wolfsburg or VfL Bochum are beaten at Bremen. St. Pauli and Holstein Kiel have been automatically promoted into the Bundesliga.

Serie A – two rounds to go, final day May 26

Title

Internazionale have wrapped up the Scudetto as runaway champions.

Champions League (5)

Like Germany, Italy has secured an extra place in next year’s competition through its clubs’ performance in Europe this season, meaning at least five clubs will qualify.

CONFIRMED

1. Internazionale (36, 92)
2. AC Milan (36, 74)
3. Bologna (36, 67)
4. Juventus (36, 67)

IN CONTENTION / WAITING ON ATALANTA

5. Atalanta (35, 63)
6. AS Roma (36, 60)
7. Lazio (36, 59)

There’s one place up for grabs, which is held by Atalanta in fifth and they have a game in hand and a three-point advantage so are in a very strong position. That extra match is against Fiorentina and both teams are in European finals; the only possible date to play the game is Sunday, June 2 — a week after the final round of Serie A games is played. Atalanta and Fiorentina will therefore go into the “extra” game in full knowledge of the final position a result will earn.

AS Roma and Lazio are still in contention, but it’s a big ask with two games remaining.

Atalanta, who can finish no lower than seventh so are guaranteed at least UEL football, can seal their place in the UCL if they better Roma’s result at the weekend and at least match Lazio’s. Atalanta go to Lecce on Saturday, and on Sunday it’s Roma vs. Genoa and Lazio are at Inter.

If Atalanta win the UEL (they face Leverkusen in the final on May 22) then Italy will have six clubs in the UCL — the top four, Atalanta as UEL titleholders and the European Performance Spot. If Atalanta finish fifth and win the UEL, sixth will play in the UCL too — meaning Roma and Lazio will be cheering on Atalanta when they face Leverkusen.

Europa League (2)

Atalanta face Juventus in the final of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, so it’s certain that sixth and seventh will qualify for the UEL.

IN CONTENTION

5. Atalanta (35, 63)
6. AS Roma (36, 60)
7. Lazio (36, 59)
8. Fiorentina (35, 53)

Atalanta, Roma and Lazio are the main contenders, but there’s a small amount of hope for eighth-placed Fiorentina with that game in hand.

If Atalanta win the UEL to qualify for the UCL and finish fifth, sixth or seventh, Italy will surrender one place in the UEL for the league which Atalanta would have earned.

Europa Conference League (1)

IN CONTENTION

6. AS Roma (36, 60)
7. Lazio (36, 59)
8. Fiorentina (35, 53)
9. Napoli (36, 51)
10. Torino (36, 50)

Eighth place will enter the UECL, which is currently held by Fiorentina but the place could yet be filled Roma, Lazio, or more likely Napoli or Torino .

On Friday, Napoli are away to Fiorentina and must win that to give themselves a real chance of being in Europe next season. Torino face a tough game at home to AC Milan.

If Fiorentina win the UECL to qualify for the UEL and finish eighth, Italy will surrender its place in the UECL.

Relegation (3)

RELEGATED

20. Salernitana (35, 15)

IN CONTENTION

14. Hellas Verona (36, 34)
15. Udinese (36, 33)
16. Cagliari (36, 33)
17. Frosinone (36, 32)
18. Empoli (36, 32)
19. Sassuolo (36, 29)

It’s exceptionally tight, with Empoli level on points with Frosinone and within touching distance of Cagliari, Udinese and Hellas Verona.

Sassuolo are three points from safety and on Sunday host Cagliari in a big relegation showdown. They could pull Cagliari right into it, or be doomed.Also on Sunday, Udinese are at home to Empoli in another huge six-pointer, and Frosinone go to Monza. Then on Monday, Hellas Verona are at Salernitana.Parma and Cesc Fàbregas’ Como have been promoted to Serie A. Venezia. Cremonese, Catanzaro, Palermo, Sampdoria and Bresica take part in the playoffs.

MLS Power Rankings: Messi’s Miami stay top, Timbers struggle

Ryan Rosenblatt May 13, 2024, 12:28 PM

It’s Monday and another week of MLS action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings. Our Power Rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal differential, expected goal differential), recent performance, the Opta computer ratings and the observations of our writers.Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? We’ve ranked all 29 clubs in the league after Matchday 12. Let’s dive in.

1. Inter Miami CF

Previous ranking: 1

Inter fell behind 2-0 before roaring back to win in Montréal. It wasn’t Lionel Messi leading the way either. Matías Rojas was the man with the magical left foot, scoring a sublime free kick and feeding Benjamin Cremaschi for the winner as the Paraguayan made sure Miami left Canada with three points.

2. FC Cincinnati

Previous ranking: 3

In FCC’s biggest game of the young season, they had the best player and that made all the difference. Lucho Acosta was sensational against Columbus, setting up the first goal and scoring the second to paint Ohio blue and orange.

3. Real Salt Lake

Previous ranking: 2

RSL will be disappointed to have conceded a stoppage time equalizer to the Galaxy, but it’s not like they have much to complain about. They were the inferior team in L.A. and still walked away with a point, even with Zac MacMath having a rough one in goal. Take it and get back to Utah.

4. New York Red Bulls

Previous ranking: 4

The Red Bulls really needed to bounce back after getting smacked by Miami last week, and they did just that with a 4-2 win over New England.

5. LAFC

Previous ranking: 7

Cristian Olivera scored twice as LAFC trounced the Whitecaps 3-0. The Uruguayan has scored five goals in his past three matches across all competitions, and the Black and Gold are doing a better job turning their possessions into chances. This is the growth LAFC needed to show as this season has gone on, which is why they are moving closer to the league’s top teams.

6. Columbus Crew

Previous ranking: 5

Nobody is going to question this Crew team that has rolled into the Concacaf Champions Cup final, but losing to Cincy at home is going to sting anyway. The Crew have been treading water while they focus on continental competition all season, but treading water is about to get a lot more difficult as they embark on a five-match road trip.

6. Vancouver Whitecaps

Previous ranking: 6

The Caps got smoked by LAFC 3-0 despite some fine saves from Yohei Takaoka. Burn the tape and forget it ever happened.

7. Minnesota United

Previous ranking: 9

While every other team was working hard, and some even doubly so with U.S. Open Cup play midweek, the Loons were kicking it on a bye week.

8. LA Galaxy

Previous ranking: 10

Miguel Berry scoring a stoppage time equalizer? The Galaxy’s 2-2 draw with RSL might seem a little flukey because of the tying goal, but they were the better team for long stretches of this one. A point was the least they deserved.

9. Philadelphia Union

Previous ranking: 8

The unthinkable happened when Dan Gazdag missed a penalty for the first time in his MLS career. And to make matters worse, it would have been an equalizer on a night in which the Union celebrated him becoming their all-time leading goal scorer. Instead, Philly lost to Orlando 3-2.

10. D.C. United

Previous ranking: 14

It was Christian Benteke vs. Atlanta United and Christian Benteke won 3-2.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Inter Miami can’t keep relying on Messi or conceding first 2d Lizzy Becherano
Lionel Messi tracker: All goals, assists, key moments for Inter Miami in 2024 3d ESPN

11. New York City FC

Previous ranking: 13

The Pigeons beat Toronto 3-2 for their first away win of 2024, then they got into a postgame skirmish with the Reds. It was a bizarre scene and one that might cost Sean Johnson a game or two.

12. Atlanta United FC

Previous ranking: 11

The Five Stripes have not won a game since March and, for some of that stretch, they have been able to say, “We were the better team tonight, the ball just didn’t bounce our way.” That wasn’t the case against D.C., as they were soundly beaten at home, turning up the heat on manager Gonzalo Pineda’s seat to scorching.

13. Charlotte FC

Previous ranking: 16

The Crown have spent a lot of time trying to find a striker since they entered the league and they might have their answer in 23-year-old former first round pick Patrick Agyemang. He has been really good and added the lone goal in Charlotte’s 1-0 win over Nashville to his resume. If he keeps it up, he’s going to be the man in Charlotte for a long time.

14. Seattle Sounders

Previous ranking: 17

With the way Seattle’s season has gone, it wouldn’t have been shocking to see the team fold once it gave up an early goal to Portland. Brian Schmetzer teams don’t make a habit of folding, though, and Seattle stormed back for a win. Don’t look now, but the Sounders are starting to rack up points.

15. Colorado Rapids

Previous ranking: 12

Just when you want to believe in the Rapids, they blow a 2-0 lead and lose. At home. To the Earthquakes. Yikes.

NWSL Power Rankings: KC Current undefeated, Bay FC drop

Megan Swanick ESPNFC May 13, 2024, 03:20 PM

It’s Monday, and another week of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.Our rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal differential, expected goal differential), recent performance, the Opta computer ratings and the observations of our writers.Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers and statistical models have ranked all 14 clubs in the league after matchday nine. Let’s dive in.

<img alt=”1. Kansas City Current

Previous ranking: 1

Next match: Saturday vs. Racing Louisville, 9:30 p.m. ET

The still-undefeated Kansas City Current took a nil-nil draw from Seattle Reign in the midweek (hammering out 19 shots in a game they controlled, though Lauren Ivory’s six saves stymied them), before overcoming North Carolina 1-0 at home Sunday night. With a wicked attack that should scare all opposition this year, Brazil‘s Debinha made her first start since returning from injury and clocked the difference-making goal to become the 12th goalscorer for the Current this season.

2. Portland Thorns

Previous ranking: 3

Next match: Friday at Houston Dash, 8 p.m. ET

Portland’s remarkable season turnaround continues to catch fire as the Thorns beat regional rivals Seattle Reign 4-0 at home Saturday night. Portland’s form is a club-wide accomplishment, but Sophia Smith has been immense in their five-match winning run. After notching one goal and three assists against Seattle, Smith leads both the NWSL goals and assists tallies with eight goals and six assists this season. And across Portland’s five-game unbeaten streak, Smith has accrued a record-setting 11 goal contributions, the most goal contributions in a five game span in NWSL history, per Opta.

3. Orlando Pride

Previous ranking: 2

Next match: Sunday at Seattle Reign FC, 6 p.m. ET

Alongside Kansas City, the Pride are one of just two teams still undefeated in 2024. Now sitting second in the standings, Kansas City reclaimed the top spot solely on goal differential this weekend. With a midweek 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville, the Pride handed Louisville their first loss of the year before taking another 1-0 victory from Bay FC Saturday evening. They came into the season humble but with a third of the year wrapped up and newly accrued Barbra Banda clocking her fourth goal in five games (the highest goals per 90 in NWSL) in the midweek, I think it’s safe to say the Pride are the real deal this season.

<img alt=”4. Washington Spirit

Previous ranking: 4

Next match: Saturday vs. Angel City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Spirit recovered from a loss to ascendant Portland by handing Racing Louisville their second loss of the season. Friday’s 2-1 victory on the road started strong thanks to rookie sensation Croix Bethune‘s fourth goal of the year, which she sent to the back of the net with a cool strike in the fifth minute to capitalize on a corner, bringing her contribution tally to four goals and four assists in nine games for her debut season.

<img alt=”5. North Carolina Courage

Previous ranking: 5

Next match: Friday vs. Utah Royals FC, 8 p.m. ET

North Carolina picked up a worrying third loss in a row against league-leaders Kansas City Current this Sunday. The streak is concerning, though falling 1-0 to Kansas City isn’t the end of the world, especially considering they held among the league’s most formidable attacks to just one goal (though they have Casey Murphy‘s seven saves to thank for this). Still, they’ve struggled to produce sufficient quality chances in their recent form, scoring only one goal in their past three games and unfurling just seven shots and two on target against the Current.

6. NJ/NY Gotham FC

Previous ranking: 6

Next match: Sunday vs. Chicago Red Stars, 5 p.m. ET

Gotham picked up a 1-0 win over Houston Dash in the midweek as Lynn Williams equalled Sam Kerr‘s most goals all time record in NWSL in her sixth match of the year. Still recovering from early season injuries, Gotham then took a respectable 1-1 draw on the road against San Diego Wave Sunday evening. As we head into matchday 10, the reigning champs have picked up respectable wins on slim margins while significantly underperforming their xG, still looking like they have a lot left to give this season.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Ranking every NWSL stadium from worst to best, with photos: Where should you see a game?5dJeff Kassouf
The NWSL has more billionaire owners than ever. Is that enough to hit the next level?13dJeff Kassouf
NWSL MVP Tracker: Who are the best players in the league so far this season?19dJeff Kassouf

7. San Diego Wave FC

Previous ranking: 10

Next match: Friday at Bay FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sitting mid-table with a game in hand, San Diego are nursing a sizable number of knocks from their starting lineup. Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Gotham saw Alex Morgan, Naomi Girma, Abby Dahlkemper, Sofia Jakobsson, and Melanie Barcenas all sidelined with injury. Concerningly, 19-year-old phenom Jaedyn Shaw left the draw with a stoppage time injury as well. They look like a team still looking for their form, but first priority will be getting everybody healthy.

8. Chicago Red Stars

Previous ranking: 8

Next match: Sunday at NJ/NY Gotham FC, 5 p.m. ET

When it rains it pours. Soon to be US manager Emma Hayes may be looking across the sea with mounting concern, as the USWNT’s starting keeper Alyssa Naeher also left the pitch injured in Chicago’s 3-1 victory over bottom of the table Utah Royals. On the bright side for Chicago, the Red Stars continued their efficient goal scoring operation, as they accrued three goals with just 38% of possession, finishing the weekend as the fifth-highest scoring team in the league.

9. Racing Louisville FC

Previous ranking: 7

Next match: Saturday at Kansas City Current, 9:30 p.m. ET

Savannah DeMelo‘s freekick golazo to bring Louisville level wasn’t enough to overcome their visitors, Washington Spirit, as Racing picked up their second straight loss after starting the season unbeaten.

10. Seattle Reign FC

Previous ranking: 9

Next match: Sunday vs. Orlando Pride, 6 p.m. ET

After holding the league-leaders (Kansas City) to a respectable 0-0 draw in the midweek, Seattle took a beating in Portland as they fell 4-0 to their Cascadian rivals Saturday night. Holding Sophia Smith and company at bay is a tall order these days, but Seattle will head home to a tough match with unbeaten Orlando Pride next weekend while nursing their egos from this rivalry rout.

11. Angel City FC

Previous ranking: 11

Next match: Saturday at Washington Spirit, 7:30 p.m. ET

Despite Claire Emslie‘s five goals and serious talent in their attacking ranks, Angel City underwhelmed offensively again this weekend, as they produced just three shots on target with 58% of the ball in a 1-0 loss to Houston Dash.

<img alt=”12. Houston Dash

Previous ranking: 13

Next match: Friday vs. Portland Thorns, 8 p.m. ET

Houston picked up just their second win of the year with a 1-0 victory over Angel City FC on Sunday thanks to Paige Nielsen‘s goal in the eight minute of stoppage time. With that, the Dash have picked up five points from their past four games (one win, one loss, two draws), though they face a formidable five-match unbeaten Portland Thorns in Houston this Friday.

13. Bay FC

Previous ranking: 12

Next match: Friday vs. San Diego Wave FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Nobody has allowed more goals than Bay FC this season, with 20 goals put past them at the close of week nine. Their 1-0 loss to unbeaten Orlando Pride on Friday required nine saves from Bay FC’s keeper Kateyln Rowland to keep the margin of loss to one goal. It’s hard to find optimism for Bay FC’s dynamic attack until they get their defensive lapses in line.

14. Utah Royals

Previous ranking: 14

Next match: Friday at North Carolina Courage, 8 p.m. ET

Expansion side woes continue for Utah Royals, who’ve struggled in their first season back in NWSL. Still, moments of individual brilliance have broken through, including this weekend’s 81st minute strike from 24-year-old Utah-native Cameron Tucker to mark her first-ever NWSL goal. The lone goal came in Utah’s 3-1 loss to Chicago, their seventh of the season (tied with Bay FC for most in the league).

VAR explained: What is it? Why is it controversial? How might the Premier League ditch it?

A VAR check on the big screen during the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Monday May 13, 2024. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

By Greg O’Keeffe

May 17, 2024

Has the time come for VAR itself to be overturned?

The controversial technology faces a make-or-break vote from Premier League clubs next month which will determine its future in the English game.

Here The Athletic looks back at the history of its introduction in England, examines what it was supposed to achieve, why it has fallen so flat, and what would need to happen for it to be dropped.

Should Premier League clubs vote to scrap VAR? The case for and against the system

What is the VAR system?

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is an official, or team of officials, who help the referee during a game by using video footage and technology to review key incidents and provide advice on the correct decisions.

After watching replays, the VAR gives their opinion to the referee at the stadium via an earpiece worn by the on-field official. The referee will then signal as usual to confirm the original decision or make a rectangle shape with their hands either to indicate an on-field review or that the original decision has been changed.

Usually, the outcome is then shown on screens around the ground to inform supporters.

The VAR decision is shown to supporters at Stamford Bridge (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

IFAB (International Football Association Board), the independent body responsible for the laws of the game, states that VARs can only assist a match official in the event of a “clear and obvious error” or “serious missed incident”.

They can step in on decisions over goals, no goals, penalties, direct red cards or cases of mistaken identity.

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Where did this concept originate?

The process was first proposed by the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) in 2010, along with goal-line technology. The latter was adopted into the professional game two years later, but VAR took longer to be implemented.

The first live trial was conducted in a friendly match between Dutch clubs PSV and FC Eindhoven in July 2016. Australia’s A-League was the first top-flight league to adopt a VAR system in 2017 and was soon followed by Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.

England’s Premier League was one of the last high-profile competitions to use the technology, adopting it for the 2019-20 campaign, after it had also been used in the Champions League from 2017-18, the 2018 World Cup in Russia and 2019’s Women’s World Cup in France.

The feeling at the Premier League was that spending two years monitoring VAR elsewhere would help it be more effective when it was embraced.

How was it first introduced into the Premier League?

After being given updates on various top-flight trials and reviews of its formal use in Carabao and FA Cup matches, a meeting of Premier League shareholders in November 2018 voted unanimously to introduce VAR for the 2019-20 campaign.

The clubs had voted to delay its implementation seven months previously following a debate over its use in some of those cup games, but smoother VAR performance during the 2018 World Cup allayed fears from some supporters and decision-makers.

English football was duly introduced to the VAR hub in Stockley Park, west London, and the concept of each Premier League game having a set of officials based in an office on an industrial estate just outside the capital as well as on the pitch.

The VAR hub at Stockley Park in the summer of 2019 (Chris Radburn/PA Images via Getty Images)

On the first weekend of VAR being introduced, the Premier League said around 70 incidents were VAR checked. Manchester City’s 5-0 win at West Ham saw seven checks and two decisions overturned. A Gabriel Jesus goal was ruled out, with provider Raheem Sterling’s shoulder deemed offside, and a Sergio Aguero penalty was retaken (and scored the second time around) after Declan Rice encroached into the area.

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The former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher called it a “great start” and said the overturned decisions “could not have been clear with the naked eye”.

Gallagher added: “It will get better, they will get faster and it will become more commonplace. People will grow into it.”

So why has it proved so controversial?

There was a steady flow of contentious decisions from the outset.

Each of the past four seasons has featured VAR controversies. In February 2021, the VAR invited the referee Mike Dean to consult the pitch-side monitor after West Ham’s Tomas Soucek accidentally made slight contact with the Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic with his elbow. Dean watched the footage on the pitchside monitor and then showed the Czech midfielder a red card — which was subsequently rescinded by a Football Association Independent Regulatory Commission.

A year later, in a game against Manchester City, Everton’s appeals for a penalty for a Rodri handball were dismissed. Despite TV replays showing that the City midfielder misjudged the bounce of the ball and used his upper arm to control it, VAR official Chris Kavanagh did not question Paul Tierney’s decision not to award a penalty.

Then Everton manager Frank Lampard called VAR official Kavanagh a “professional who cannot do his job right”, and the head of referees at the time, Mike Riley, later apologised to the Merseyside club.

Just looking at this season alone, VAR has been at the centre of multiple high-profile flashpoints.

Liverpool’s Luis Diaz saw a goal wrongly disallowed for offside against Tottenham Hotspur in September, while Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was angered by the decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s winning goal to stand — when it was unclear whether the ball went out of play before the goal — for Newcastle United against his team in November.

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Both the Merseyside and London clubs went on to make public statements criticising the decisions. Nottingham Forest have written letters of complaint to the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and even considered suing.

Supporters have grown fed up, too. The long delays and lack of communication with fans in the stadium have chipped away at the spontaneity and joy of watching a game. Players, too, have admitted the emotion of celebrating a goal has been diminished in case it gets disallowed by VAR.

The VAR incidents that upset Premier League clubs and the big calls it got right

How has the vote to scrap it come about?

It was Wolverhampton Wanderers, one of the Premier League teams most heavily impacted by bad calls, who acted first and publicly called for VAR to be scrapped this summer. That triggered a vote which will take place when representatives of the 20 clubs assemble for their annual gathering in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on June 6.

A Wolves statement said that “after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is time for a constructive and critical debate on its future. Our position is that the price we are paying for a small increase in accuracy is at odds with the spirit of our game, and as a result we should remove it from the 2024-25 season onwards”.

They also listed a host of the repercussions, including:

Frustration and confusion inside stadiums due to lengthy VAR checks and poor communication
A more hostile atmosphere with protests, booing of the Premier League anthem and chants against VAR
Overreach of VAR’s original purpose to correct clear and obvious mistakes as it now overanalyses subjective decisions and compromises the game’s fluidity and integrity
Diminished accountability of on-field officials due to the safety net provided by VAR, leading to an erosion of authority on the pitch
Continued errors despite VAR, with fans unable to accept human error after multiple views and replays, damaging confidence in officiating standards

The Athletic’s own subscriber poll saw fans of 15 clubs vote in favour of the system being scrapped.

How many clubs want to get rid of it?

That is difficult to know with any certainty, at least until the vote next month, but there is a sense that opinion is split.

Some, with Wolves obviously among them, have had enough while others feel there is a risk that ending VAR would undermine the Premier League’s reputation.

At the same time, there is a sentiment at some clubs that one of the main issues remains one of perception: that the initial idea of a perfect system that eradicated any inaccurate decisions was never realistic.

Dean shows Soucek the red card in February 2021 after an on-field VAR check (Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

What has to happen for it to be abolished?

For a motion to be passed, 14 Premier League clubs need to vote in favour of it.

So is there a chance that will happen?

Behind the scenes, there is scepticism among top-flight executives over whether that number will be reached, with a majority seeking improvements rather than simply washing their hands of VAR.

For their part, the top-flight’s board of directors believes removing VAR is not the correct path forward, suggesting that doing so would increase wrong calls and adversely impact the Premier League’s reputation among Europe’s leading divisions.

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It also thinks the void left, having removed VAR, would potentially place even greater criticism on on-field decisions made by match officials and, as a result, increase frustration for supporters.

The league points to innovations such as semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) — which was voted through unanimously in April — and in-stadium VAR announcements as evidence of the efforts being made to improve the system.

What is semi-automated offside technology and how does it work?

What do referees think of VAR?

The PGMOL remain an advocate of VAR and believes it is a tool that has helped reduce errors.

In December, referees chief Howard Webb said it would “be foolish to take away a tool that can remove clear errors from the game”. They are committed to making it better but will not bow to pressure to speed up decisions at the expense of accuracy. They believe delays are an inevitable part of the process, although they are keen to make improvements to its efficiency.

As well as automated offsides due to be adopted in the next 12 months, the PGMOL want to improve communication of in-stadium decisions when IFAB laws allow for it.

Webb, the chief refereeing officer for PGMOL, attends the women’s League Cup final in March (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

The PGMOL are working at establishing more dedicated VAR officials (rather than using referees who regularly officiate matches) and there is already an unofficial group who are regularly selected as VARs because of their consistency. Of those, Stuart Attwell and David Coote have been selected as VARs for this summer’s European Championships.

They believe the inevitable capacity for human error means VAR will never be perfect, but an independent panel’s assessment that 96 per cent of decisions over the last five years have been correct suggests that, overall, it works.

Webb, who regularly attends shareholders meetings to hear views of clubs, is expected to be at June’s meeting.

Does the Football Association have a view?

The FA is believed to remain behind VAR.

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What would getting rid of VAR mean for other refereeing technology in the Premier League?

Goal-line technology would likely remain but, when it comes to VAR, the understanding is that the top flight could not cherry-pick some elements and dispense with others. It either continues with all of it or without any of Stockley Park’s reviews.

Have any other countries scrapped the VAR system?

Last month, Sweden became the first country to reject implementing VAR after a fan backlash.

Supporters from clubs — where there must be a minimum of 51 per cent fan ownership — prompted the climbdown after the president of the Swedish Football Federation, Fredrik Reinfeldt, had previously backed the idea. Reinfeldt had approved trials later this year, but those will not now go ahead.

“Sweden is currently the only country among Europe’s 30 highest-ranked leagues that has not decided to introduce VAR,” said Johan Lindvall, general secretary of the Swedish Professional Football Leagues. “The fact that we have not done so is largely due to our democratic model.”

Reinfeldt, president of the Swedish Football Federation (Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

Is video technology equally controversial in other sports?

The replay review process in NFL games involves the ultimate team-oriented system. NFL officials conduct reviews — which, in 2022, lasted on average two minutes and 19 seconds — but not without the support of replay officials stationed in New York at the NFL’s Art McNally GameDay Central (AMGC).

Head coaches can use two game challenges during games (if successful on both challenges, they receive a third). But, in the final two minutes of each half, all challenges or play reviews are initiated only by the replay official.

The process itself has become pretty smooth. Once a challenge or play review is initiated, replay technicians at AMGC use technology to pinpoint the best camera angles for the game referee to review in consultation with replay officials.

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An ‘instant replay field operator’ then brings a Microsoft Surface tablet to the referee so he can review the play while consulting with the replay official stationed in New York. The final decision on the review (whether it should be overturned, or whether the on-field call should be upheld) is then made and the referee announces it.

Cricket’s Decision Review System (DRS) assesses a review for a leg before wicket (LBW) appeal (Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Like football, rugby union features split-second decisions and high levels of physical force, and no two challenges look the same.

For a video referee, the potential for inconsistency is high. Yet they have always been more accepted in rugby — even when introducing controversial new high-tackle laws or when making high-pressure calls in the sport’s biggest games.

Cricket’s version of VARs — the Decision Review System (DRS) — largely operates on a review basis. If a team disagrees with a decision, they can refer it to an off-field umpire to watch the incident back and use various forms of technology to determine whether the on-field umpire’s decision was correct.

If the team’s review is correct, they keep their review to possibly use later in the game; if wrong, they lose it.

What about the women’s game in England?

VAR was first rolled out at the Women’s World Cup in 2019. It was subsequently used at the European Championship in 2022 and a 19-strong video refereeing team — which included six women — were sent to Australia and New Zealand in the summer to cover the 2023 World Cup.

But even as VAR was being castigated in the opening months of this Premier League season, a different debate was taking place in the Women’s Super League (WSL).

In October, during Chelsea’s home match against Tottenham, officials failed to spot the ball had crossed the line when Guro Reiten looked to have put Chelsea 2-0 up. With no goal-line technology or VAR in the WSL, the goal was not given.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was incandescent, saying it is “ludicrous” and “embarrassing” that there is no VAR in women’s football.

Reiten celebrates, believing she has scored for Chelsea against Spurs (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The previous month, Chelsea had run a VAR test at Kingsmeadow for their friendly against Roma — it was the first of its kind at a WSL ground. Baroness Sue Campbell, the director of women’s football for the FA, subsequently admitted that VAR “has to come in”.

It may not be long before VAR arrives in the English women’s game. NewCo, poised to take charge over the running of the WSL from the FA next season, intend to prioritise the improvement of officiating.

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“The better the refereeing, the better the product itself — it’s one of the priorities, for sure,” Nikki Doucet, the CEO of NewCo told reporters in January. “From a VAR perspective, it’s something we need to figure out. Is that the right thing for our game, based on what’s been done in the men’s game? Is there a new alternative?

“A lot of the stadiums themselves just aren’t ready for that (technology) and so it will require an amount of investment. As we go on this journey, it’s prioritising what has to be done first based on the resources and the investment that we have. It’s definitely something that’s a priority.”

Additional reporting: Phil Buckingham

(Top photo: Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

What did you think of this story?

AWESOME

Greg O’Keeffe is a senior writer for The Athletic covering US soccer players in the UK & Europe. Previously he spent a decade at the Liverpool Echo covering news and features before an eight-year stint as the paper’s Everton correspondent; giving readers the inside track on Goodison Park, a remit he later reprised at The Athletic. He has also worked as a news and sport journalist for the BBC and hosts a podcast in his spare time.

5/12/24 Champions League Finals Set Real Madrid vs Dortmund, Leverkusen set unbeaten record, Pulisic scores Brace, Indy 11 win USOC game will host next round, @ Miami tonight

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024 gatorbest

Wow what an exciting finish as we now have the finals for EUFA Champions League set as Dortmund eliminated Mbappe & PSG on the road, while Real Madrid pulled a miracle and scored 2 goals in the final 5 minutes to beat Bayern Munich & ruin Harry Kane’s homecoming to London June 1, where the Champions League finals will be played – again with No EPL team present. I can honestly say from the knockout stages on This Sweet 16 has been the most exciting Champions League play I have ever seen. So many games coming down to the wire – drama dripping from the TV with many of the games on network TV CBS and others on CBS Sports Network and of course Para+. CBS has done a fine job of coverage – though I was shocked when Tues game Dortmund vs PSG was not on CBS here in Indy. Anyway can’t wait till the finals Sat June 1 and 3 pm on CBS.

Leverkusen just keeps on not losing

Amazing watching German upstart Bayer Leverkusen as they continue to come from behind to tie games to stay unbeaten. This time in the Europa League semi’s – losing to Roma as home 2-0 with 20 minutes to play they scored twice including an extra time goal to seal the tie – after securing advancement with a 4-2 aggregate lead to the Europa Finals. That makes a European now record 49 game unbeaten string as they have not lost in any competition since the 23-24 season started in August. Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side have avoided defeat in 32 Bundesliga games, five German Cup matches and 12 Europa League games. They have won 40 of these matches.

Indy 11 Win US Open Cup Game – host again May 22, Play Miami tonight 7 pm on ESPN+

Indy Eleven continued its trend of scoring early in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches this season, as a second-minute goal proved to be the match winner as Indy defeated USL Championship foe San Antonio FC, 2-0, in the Round of 32 Wednesday night at Butler University’s Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl. The Boys in Blue next travel to Miami FC Sunday for USL Championship action. Kick is slated for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Good looking Group of Refs & Assignor Nate at Grand Park for the Ladies National League GLC weekend.

Games on TV

Sun, May 12

7:30 am ESPN+ Norwich (Stewart) vs Leeds United Promotion Semi’s

11:30 am Tele/Peacock Man United vs Arsenal

12 Para+, Galazo Juventus (Mckinney, Weah) vs Salenritana

1:30 pm ESPN+ Bochum vs Bayer Leverkusen

1 pm CBS Houston Dash (Campbell) vs KC Current NWSL

2:45 pm Para+ Atalanta vs Roma

4:45 pm Fox Portland Timber vs Seattle Sounders

5:30 pm CBS Galazo Chicago Red Stars vs Utah Royals NWSL

7 pm ESPN Miami FC vs Indy Eleven

7:30 pm Ion San Diego Wave (Morgan, Girma) vs NY Gothem (Williams, Mewis)

10 pm Ion Portland Thorns (Smith)s vs Seattle Reign (Lavelle, Huerta, Cook) NWSL

Mon, May 13

USA 3 pm Aston Villa vs Liverpool

3 pm ESPN+ Barcelona vs Real Sociedad

Tues, May 14

3 pm USA Tottenham vs Man City

3 pm ESPN+ North Carolina vs Loudon United

Weds, May 15

3 pm USA Man United vs New Castle United

3 pm ESPN+ Atalanta vs Juventus (Mckinney, Weah)

Sat, May 18

9:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund vs Darmstadt

9:30 pm ESPN+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Ausburg

930 am ESPN+ Stuttgart vs Mgladbach (Scalley)

1”45 pm Fox Nashville SC vs Atlanta United

2:45 pm Para+ Torino vs AC Milan

Sun, May 19

10 am Arsenal vs Everton

10 am Shefield United (Trusty) vs Nottingham Forest (Reyna)

10 am Peacock Fulham (Jedi, Ream) vs Luton Town

10 am Manchester City vs West Ham United

Wed, May 22 Europa League Finals

3 pm Para+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Atalanta

Sat, June 1 Champons League Finals

3 pm CBS Real Madrid vs Dortmund

8 pm FS1 Pachuca vs Columbus Crew CCL Finals

5 pm TBS US Women vs Korea

Sat July 13

3 pm TNT ? ? US Women vs Mexico

Tues, July 16

7:30 pm TNT ? ? US Women vs Costa Rica

June 27 Copa America US Men Play Panama

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

Champions League & Europa League Semi’s

Champions League final early look: Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund?

Real Madrid open as -175 favorites in UCL final

UCL talking points: Mbappé’s PSG legacy? How did Madrid win?

Joselu night of ‘dreams’ puts Real Madrid in final

Joselu the unlikely hero, but Madrid’s fight back was inevitable

Bayern fume at offside call ‘disgrace’ in UCL exit

With Mbappe leaving and another Champions League failure, what’s next for PSG?

The battle for extra Champions League places: Germany, Italy clinch spots

MLS

GK

Manuel Nuerer’s Saves and Drop for Bayern

Brazil’s GK Bento Saves

Mary Erp Hardest Part about being a Keeper

GK Warmup Drill

Reffing

No he was not offsides Real Fans

The VAR Review: Explaining Bayern’s offside ‘goal’ vs. Real Madrid

Bayern fume at offside call ‘disgrace’ in UCL exit

Don, Shane & Alex doing National League GLC Ladies Games at Grand Park Sunday.

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Sunday

Norwich City v Leeds United – 7a on ESPN+

Josh Sargent and Norwich City face Leeds United in the first leg of their promotion semi-finals Sunday morning. Leeds won both prior matchups this season though Sargent missed the first matchup due to his ankle injury.

Fortuna Sittard v PSV Eindhoven – 8:30a on ESPN+

Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and PSV continue their league title celebrations as they take on Fortuna Sittard a week after officially clinching the league title.

Darmstadt v Hoffenheim – 9:30a on ESPN+

John Brooks was on the bench for the second straight match as Hoffenheim drew RB Leipzig last weekend. Hoffenheim are just a point back of Freiburg for Europa Conference League qualifying with two matches to play and they must face Bayern Munich in next weekend’s finale so they will be looking to make up ground as they face last place Darmstadt on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo – 10:15a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Luca de la Torre was a halftime substitute as Celta Vigo fell behind early but came back to beat 10 man Villarreal and pull eight points out of the relegation zone with four matches yet to play.

Bayern Munich v Wolfsburg – 11:30a on ESPN+

Kevin Paredes started at leftback and played 82’ as Wolfsburg defeated Darmstadt last weekend. With the win Wolfsburg are in twelfth place and officially clear of relegation. They face a Bayern Munich side coming off a brutal Champions League exit after giving up two goals in the final minutes to fall to Real Madrid midweek.

Juventus v Salernitana – Noon on Paramount+

Weston McKennie and Tim Weah both started last weekend as Juventus drew 1-1 with Roma. Juventus have a six point lead for Champions League qualification with three league matches remaining and have a Copa Italia final against Atalanta on Wednesday so we could see heavy rotation for their side on Sunday as they look to best set themselves up to hoist a trophy this season.

Montpellier v Monaco – 3p on beIN Sports

Folarin Balogun came off the bench last weekend as Monaco defeated Clermont 4-1. With two matches remaining Monaco hold a six point lead over Lille for Champions League qualification and need just a point from their final two matches to secure their spot in next seasons competition.

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

Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis defeated Osasuna 2-0 last weekend to stay within two points of sixth place Real Sociedad. The teams will face off directly in the penultimate match of the season so Real Betis control their qualification hopes in their own hands and face an Almeria side whose relegation fate has already been sealed this weekend.

Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders – 4:45p on FOX

Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris, and the Seattle Sounders take on their west coast rivals, the Portland Timbers, in Sunday’s MLS action on FOX.

Bayer Leverkusen set European record with longest unbeaten run, through to Europa League final

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 09: Josip Stanisic of Bayer Leverkusen celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Semi-Final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 09, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

By Omar Garrick and Will Jeanesn May 9, 2024

Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-2 draw against Roma in the Europa League on Thursday night means the German side have gone 49 games unbeaten and broken the record for the longest streak without losing to a European club since the introduction of UEFA club competitions in 1955.

Leverkusen were leading their tie against Roma by two goals following the opening clash, but looked set to lose their first game of the season after two penalties from Leandro Paredes had put the Italian club ahead.An own goal from Gianluca Mancini in the 82nd minute, however, and a 97th-minute equaliser from Josip Stanisic ensured Leverkusen progressed to the Europa League final following a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Stanisic’s goal, meanwhile, was Leverkusen’s 17th scored in stoppage time this season.

Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka said to TNT Sports: “This is football. It is the nice part of football. For the mentality we showed again today against a big team to come back like this and go through to the final. We are more than happy today.

“You see the desire from the team, we didn’t want to slow down. We wanted to score the next goal to keep going unbeaten, 49 times now. We are proud of it.”

Leverkusen made it through to the Europa League final on Thursday night (Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

The unbeaten run, which is across all competitions and started with an 8-0 victory over FC Teutonia Ottensen in the German Cup on August 12, has surpassed Portuguese club Benfica’s mark of 48 consecutive games without losing from December 1963 to February 1965.

That Benfica team was spearheaded by Eusebio and they won the Portuguese league and cup over the course of their unbeaten run.

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side have avoided defeat in 32 Bundesliga games, five German Cup matches and 12 Europa League games. They have won 40 of these matches.

Unsurprisingly, this has left them on the brink of a treble. They have already won the Bundesliga — ending Bayern Munich’s 11-season dominance as a result — face second-tier Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on May 25 and Atalanta in the Europa League final on May 22.

If Leverkusen also avoid defeat in their final two league games they will become the first side in Bundesliga history to go a whole season unbeaten.

Here are the five longest unbeaten runs by a European club since 1955:

Longest unbeaten runs

CLUB	COUNTRY	GAMES UNBEATEN	YEARS
Bayer Leverkusen	Germany	49	2023-2024
Benfica	Portugal	48	1963-1965
Dinamo Zagreb	Croatia	45	2014-2015
Rijeka	Croatia	45	2016-2017
Rangers	Scotland	44	1992-1993

Messi finds camera, tells whole world he loathes new MLS rule

Jason Anderson May 11, 2024 9:23 pm ET

MLS has some new rules, and Lionel Messi thinks at least one of them should go.During Inter Miami’s 3-2 win at CF Montréal, Messi quite literally looked into a broadcast camera to announce his take on MLS’s new guidelines for players who need to leave the field for treatment.Under the new regulations, a player who stays down injured for longer than 15 seconds must leave the field for a minimum of two minutes, and is not allowed back until the referee waves them on.Messi got to give the new rule a spin after an ugly 40th minute challenge from Montréal defender George Campbell on Saturday.Messi understandably stayed down for well over a minute after the heavy contact with his shin and foot. Since referee Drew Fischer didn’t book Campbell, Messi was required to trudge off the field with Miami’s training staff.

The icon got to the touchline at Stade Saputo in the 43rd minute, watching on as play resumed for only a few seconds. The next stoppage? Another Montréal foul, this time with Samuel Piette clipping Luis Suárez in prime territory for Messi to fire a direct free kick on goal.

However, Fischer enforced the new regulations, meaning Messi had to stand on and watch. That’s when Messi offered up his take on the rule, which was the product of some experimentation in MLS Next Pro dating back to the 2022 season.

Finding a midfield camera and looking directly into it, Messi shook his head and said in Spanish “With this type of rule, we are doing badly.”

With 10 men on the pitch and Messi essentially rolling his eyes, the Herons got a remedy to their complaints.

Matías Rojas stepped in for Messi on the dead ball, delivering a sensational, curling free kick from nearly 30 yards out.Messi would have to continue standing on the touchline until the 45th minute, when fourth official Michael Venne allowed the No. 10 to make his way back into the match.

If that weren’t enough, Miami ran afoul of another new MLS rule in the game’s final moments. Protecting a narrow lead as stoppage time loomed, Suárez was replaced by Leo Campana. However, the Uruguayan took longer than the maximum of 10 seconds MLS has mandated for players to leave the field.

The league has issued a new rule where, in that situation, the substitute entering play must wait a full minute before coming on. Venne enforced the rule, setting off vociferous protests from Suárez, Campana, and Miami manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino (who at least recovered his composure to drag Suárez away before the situation got worse).

Real Madrid’s Champions League comeback – you can live it, but can’t explain it

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 08: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates with fans after winning the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final second leg football match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain on May 08, 2024. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)

By Guillermo Ra

May 9, 2024

Vinicius Junior was down on the Santiago Bernabeu pitch, singing to the stadium’s packed south stand as if he were a fan among them, megaphone in hand.

The match had just ended and Real Madrid had come from behind again at their home stadium on another hugely dramatic night.

At Wembley on June 1, Carlo Ancelotti’s team will be looking to win the club’s 15th European Cup/Champions League title. Their remarkable competition record already places them well ahead of AC Milan’s seven trophies and the six won by Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

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After drawing 2-2 in the first leg in Germany, Madrid dominated Bayern in Wednesday’s return match, but a series of misfortunes left them on the brink of elimination. That was until the magic of the Bernabeu appeared again.

Joselu’s dramatic late double turned the tie around as Madrid came back once more, another ‘remontada’. The celebrations were wild-eyed, jubilant, all-encompassing. Everyone was in shock, including the players.

On their way to a 14th title in 2022, Madrid performed three dramatic comebacks in the Champions League knockout stages, beating Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City to reach the final against Liverpool.

It happened again. How?

“It’s something inexplicable,” said manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Champions League nights are always occasions to savour at the Santiago Bernabeu and this was no exception, but the way the evening started, you could tell there would be something special in store.

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When Madrid’s players left their Valdebebas training ground to travel to the Bernabeu on Wednesday, they were seen off by over 300 boys and girls from 17 of the club’s youth teams.

They held up a 15-metre-long banner at the end of a guard of honour. “Your heart, our badge,” it read.

The team bus was headed for the stadium, for the ‘Busiana’, a word not included in any official dictionary but already deeply ingrained in the collective mindset of Madrid fans.

Just as they often do in the build-up to important games, Madrid fans gathered along the Avenida de Concha Espina, one of the main thoroughfares leading towards the Bernabeu. At 7:30pm local time, 90 minutes before kick-off, thousands of supporters were there as white and purple flares were set off in the intense sunshine.

Smoke filled the air and made it almost impossible to see anything at all, until you could suddenly spot the horses of the mounted police cutting through the mist, closely followed by Madrid’s white team bus.

The coaching staff and players, who had encouraged fans to gather, filmed footage on their phones and shouted excitedly from behind the darkened windows of the vehicle.

“Si se puede, si se puede (Yes, we can),” chanted fans in return.

This is the ‘Busiana’ and the same had happened before City’s visit in the quarter-final first leg — when the Premier League side were more feared than Bayern. But this was on a new scale.

Madrid fans let off flares as the team bus approaches the Bernabeu (Diego Radames/Europa Press via Getty Images)

The mood continued inside the ground as kick-off approached. “Real Madrid never give up,” read one sign in the stands. All around the stadium, white and purple banners appeared again and two tifos were displayed, one in the north end with the image of the European Cup, another in the south end with the Madrid crest.

This was the biggest game held at the Bernabeu since its recent renovation — and the newly installed roof was again closed to help keep the atmosphere in. This has been done by Madrid several times this season — a deliberate policy.

More than 76,000 people sang “Hala Madrid y Nada Mas” (the song in tribute to La Decima, the 10th European Cup won in Lisbon in 2014) before kick-off, their voices booming and bouncing back. It seemed to have the desired effect. Ancelotti’s players were at full tilt in the opening stages. They started well on top — in contrast to how it went at Munich.

By the 12th minute, Vinicius Jr had already shot against the post and the Bernabeu was lamenting. In all the excitement and encouragement, there was a lot of tension and nerves did not ease as Madrid continued to miss chances, lowering the spirits of their fans.

What it’s like to play at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu fortress on a Champions League night

The 4,000 or so Munich supporters, who were also very noisy despite being located up in the fourth tier, silenced the Bernabeu at times. Vinicius Jr, who was a constant threat, asked for encouragement from the home support on three occasions in the second half, with the game still goalless and the score level at 2-2 on aggregate.

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When the deadlock was broken, after Madrid target Alphonso Davies scored a sensational strike on the counter-attack, Madrid’s fans were silenced. There were still over 20 minutes left to play, but the home side somehow looked short, unlikely to capture the comeback spirit of other famous nights as further chances were missed and Nacho’s foul on Joshua Kimmich meant an equaliser was ruled out.

Harry Kane almost made it 2-0 for Bayern. Thomas Tuchel’s players began to waste time, throwing themselves to the ground at the slightest opportunity. With just minutes remaining, it looked over.

But momentum had been building. Fans had not given up. Scarves were still whirling, voices were still rising. Madrid’s stadium took on its role of rallying the team until the very end. Songs were being sung, but at times it just sounded like a single continuous wave of noise, an indistinct roar as thousands raised the volume in unison.

Whatever the workings, however it was carried, Joselu heard the call. And his two goals in three minutes (88th, 91st) unleashed the purest form of madness you could possibly imagine witnessing in a football ground.

They had done it again.

Joselu celebrates at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night (Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

It turned out that Joselu’s late goals weren’t actually all that late — another quarter of an hour was played as stoppage time was filled with stoppages. It was so long that Bayern rallied themselves, despite having appeared totally broken by the equaliser. They even put the ball in the net — although the whistle had already blown for offside before Matthijs de Ligt’s shot rolled in.

When the final whistle did come, Madrid’s players threw themselves on the floor in utter joy and relief. They could not believe it. Nobody in the stadium could.

They had done it again.

Real Madrid’s new Champions League comeback hero Joselu – and his long road to destiny

There was no time to think about the why or the how, it was just time to linger in the glorious scale of it all. Vinicius Jr ran straight to the south stand, where Madrid’s La Grada fans congress in a distinctive sea of white, and made himself the master of the party.

His team-mates followed him, climbing the billboards to get closer to supporters, balancing so as not to fall. Meanwhile, one of the club’s employees, Alejandro Mori, brought out a basket of shirts on which a London bus was depicted with the slogan: ‘A por la 15’ (Let’s go for the 15th).

Ancelotti, visibly moved, joined the players and fans to sing Madrid’s anthem again.

Antonio Rudiger, Ancelotti and Vinicius Jr singing with fans (Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

“They are incredible, they are the best in the world by far,” Jude Bellingham told TNT Sports. “Coming here (to the Bernabeu) is the reason we turn so many games around, why, when we are down in the first half of the season, we always manage to come back in the second half.

“They give you an energy that you can’t find anywhere else.”

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The crowd remained in their seats. Nobody wanted it to stop, they were ready to celebrate all night and the team did a lap of honour. Antonio Rudiger picked up a plastic chair and handed it over to David Alaba — a symbol of the comeback celebrations that took place here in 2022 when the Austrian defender had done the same.

“The fans made the difference tonight, as they have done many times before. I can’t recall how many times. It seems like a habit now, what we do. We are delighted,” Ancelotti said at his press conference.

While the Italian spoke, members of Madrid’s staff and players were jumping and dancing barefoot in the dressing room. They had finished their celebration by running hand-in-hand from one end of the pitch to another and back. Another image to remember. Later, some of them went up to the Bernabeu boxes to be with family members and others went to a nearby restaurant called De Maria, where the party continued. They had waited to celebrate another La Liga title at the weekend, with the Champions League in mind. And now they were in another final.They had done it again.(Top photo: Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Kane subbed, Joselu’s goals and a huge row: 20 mad minutes that decided Real-Bayern epic

By Tim SpiersMay 9, 2024

There are 84 minutes on the clock at the Bernabeu, but there is plenty of football still to be played. This is Real Madrid in the Champions League – it’s not over until it’s over.And yet it is at this moment that perhaps the most perplexing substitution in this season’s Champions League takes place, setting off a chain of events that sees Bayern Munich snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, 1999-style, in 20 mad minutes.How on earth did this happen?

The Briefing: Real Madrid 2 Bayern Munich 1 – Real off to Wembley after yet another extraordinary turnaround

85mins: There are six minutes of regular time left, with 14 minutes of stoppage time still to be played. A total of 20 minutes and 27 seconds to go.

It is at this point Thomas Tuchel decides to send on Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, aged 35 and scorer of no goals since last November, to replace Harry Kane, scorer of 23 in the same timeframe.

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Off, too, is Jamal Musiala, substituted for the experience of Thomas Muller (aged 34). South Korean defender Kim Min-jae, who had a shocker in the first leg, came on 10 minutes earlier.

By contrast, Real Madrid have sent on Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Brahim Diaz and Joselu.

It’s like in the first Austin Powers film when Robert Wagner is dealt a king when playing blackjack; he twists and says he likes to live dangerously.

Powers — aka Tuchel — has a two and a three… and sticks, saying: “I also like to live dangerously.”

Did Tuchel think it was won? He suggested in the aftermath that Kane was struggling with a back injury. Even so, having come so far and with the game in the balance, it feels peculiar.

Harry Kane is taken off by Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

86mins: Immediately after the changes, Bayern have a chance to kill the tie and secure their place in the final. They break, three-on-one initially, before some slack passes (one goes behind Alphonso Davies) and then Aleksandar Pavlovic struggling to stay onside means they cock it up.

A Musiala or Kane through ball, anyone? Although to be fair, Bayern have been messing up those break opportunities all night.

88mins: Manuel Neuer’s throw to the left flank is intercepted by Modric and Madrid have only one attacking plan in mind – find Vinicius Junior. That’s been their primary mode of attack for the entire second half and with good reason; his marker, Joshua Kimmich, has been ridden and flailed harder than a bucking bronco and could have PTSD by the time the night is done.

Vinicius Jr cuts inside (yep) Kimmich, his shot is poor and bounces into Neuer’s midriff but also off it… and Joselu reacts first to slam the ball home.

The place goes berserk. Joselu, who isn’t even a Real Madrid player (he is on loan from Espanyol), kisses the badge. The game restarts with the whole stadium on its feet. Momentum = accrued.

Joselu equalises for Real (Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)

90mins: Bayern are rattled. Eric Dier misplaces a pass out of his own box but makes up for it when he kicks away from Vinicius Jr as he is about to shoot and then chucks his body in the way of Diaz’s goalbound effort. It goes behind for a corner…

91mins: Modric’s corner causes carnage, mostly because Bayern have forgotten how to defend. There is ping pong in the box, they can’t clear the ball or form a defensive line, they are just bodies writhing everywhere. The ball goes out to Antonio Rudiger whose excellent cross reaches Joselu and he beats Neuer with a reflex finish. Both players are unmarked.

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Drama… the flag is up. Jude Bellingham puts his hands to his head.

92mins: VAR rules the goal was onside. Joselu sinks to his knees — he has scored with two of his first three touches of the ball — the subs race on, Neuer looks completely bereft, Tuchel doesn’t have any words, he just puts his hands against his temple, perhaps trying to erase the memory of the last four minutes, perhaps attempting to turn back time with his mind.

He semaphores with his arms but no one can hear him. The Bernabeu is going nuts.

Joselu, the 34-year-old journeyman formerly of Stoke, Hannover and Alaves, elevated to a starring role in one of the biggest matches in football.

It’s akin to Kieffer Moore joining Arsenal on loan and winning a Champions League semi-final.

Joselu celebrates his winner (David Ramos/Getty Images)

103mins: There is still time for Bayern. Choupo-Moting wins the ball back, a long ball goes into the box, Noussair Mazraoui goes up for the ball, the flag goes up (as with the Joselu winner, it’s another premature flag for a tight offside even though assistant refs are told not to do this) and the referee whistles (again, even if he sees the flag, he should let play continue), Muller wins the loose ball and Matthijs de Ligt drives it into the net. Offside given, perhaps incorrectly, but the Madrid defenders stopped at the whistle, as did motionless goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.It’s a clear mistake from the officials. How many times do we see strikers played in on goal, clearly offside, the assistant doesn’t flag and we go through the whole rigmarole of seeing the striker score/miss before a flag is finally raised. This was the opposite and no wonder Bayern are annoyed, albeit would play have continued like it did if there was no whistle? No.

105mins: It’s over. Incredible drama, an amazing quickfire comeback double from Joselu, Madrid head to Wembley and Bayern head to the beach, their trophy-less season done.Did the subs cost Tuchel? Not just Kane and Musiala, but sending Kim on and changing the shape?Former Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves is spitting in the TNT studio: “To take off a guy that’s scored 44 goals, who’s the most durable player pretty much anywhere, and you bring on another striker in Choupo-Moting… maybe he wanted height for corners, I don’t know. But you cannot take him off.”

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Paul Scholes questions Tuchel’s arrogance in thinking it was won.“Kane didn’t look tired,” Scholes says. “He was still an outlet and Bayern were getting chances on the counter-attack and he’s brilliant at that, as we saw with Alphonso Davies’ goal, his pass out to him.“The biggest one for me was Kim. After last week he’s had a lot of stick, I think the last place he wanted to be tonight was on that football pitch. As soon as Kim came on, the first 30 seconds he was all over the place.”At the end, though, there can only be one conclusion: Madrid’s rubbish ex-Stoke striker is better than Bayern’s. This is Champions League heritage.

(Top photos: Getty Images)

5/3/24 EPL Races tighten up, Champs League Final 4 wrap up Tues/Wed, Indy 11 host US Open Cup Wed at Butler, USWMT Kelley O’Hara to retire, US move to 2031 Bid for WWC

May 4, 2024May 4, 2024 gatorbest ac-milan, arsenal, carmel-fc, football, grand-park-soccer, indy-11, premier-league, reffing, soccer, usmnt, uswnt

Indy 11 host US Open Cup Game Wed 7 pm vs San Antonio @ Butler Bowl

The Boys in Blue return to action Saturday at Western Conference opponent Monterey Bay F.C. Sat at 10 pm on CBS Galazo Network. Indy is coming off a 2-1 home win over North Carolina FC to move to 2-4-2 on the season and sit at eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Indy 11 will host San Antonio in a huge midweek US Open Cup Sweet 16 game this Wed, May 8^th at 7 pm at the Butler Bowl. Tix are just $10 each and can be ordered here.

Columbus Crew on to Finals of CONCACAF Champions Cup

What a huge 3-1 win at Monterrey in the Semi-Final (5-2 Aggregate) for the Columbus Crew as they will advance on to the Finals where they will play Liga MX powerhouse Pachuca – winner over Club America 2-1. Probably the biggest win in Franchise history for the defending MLS Champs. They will play for the Championship Sat June 1 in Pachuca on FS1.

Champions League Semi’s Wrap up Tues/Wed 3 pm CBS

Lets start with Champions League – man the games since the knockout stages have just been fantastic – so great that CBS has shown games from the Sweet 16 on – this week Real Madrid @ Bayern Munich was fantastic – as Bayern with Harry Kane up front scored 2 goals at home but of course Real has this magical way in Champions League to find a way and they also scored 2 goals (highlights) – the 2^nd leg in Madrid promises to be a great one on Wed 3 pm on CBS. As a longtime Dortmund fan – because they are the German squad who had American’s – first Pulisic then Reyna – I couldn’t help but root for the team with the best stands (the big Yellow Wall) and their 1-0 win over PSG and Mbappe was impressive (highlights). PGS hosts the final Tues 3 pm at CBS – pregame starts at 2 pm.

News

Indiana Pacer Pascal Siakam from Cameroon has some mad soccer skills during his hoops pregame warm-ups before a recent home playoff game. Really cool story from ESPN about how Juve’s American midfielder, who some consider the best mid in Italy this season, McKinney below.

Huge news that USWNT long time right back Kelley Ohare has announced she will retire at the end of her NWSL Season. (Story below). Also in Women’s Soccer news – The US & Mexico officially dropped out of the bid to host the 2027 World Cup in favor of the 2031 one instead. (Story below and smart thinking). The biggest story in European Soccer: Bayern Levekusen has taken Germany by storm with an amazing 47 wins without a loss since the season 23-24 season started. Already securing the Bundesliga Championship over Bayern Munich by 7 pts – Javi Alonso’s squad look well on their way to a Europa League Championship as well after scoring 2 in Roma to take a commanding lead back home Thurs at 3 pm on Para+. I have watched them comeback 3 times now down in the 90^th minute to win or tie the game- simply amazing the belief they have. The play Sunday 11:30 am @ 6^th place Frankfort on ESPN+.

Congrats to the Carmel FC 2013 Girls Blue team for their Championship at the Mid Ohio Soccer Classic. That’s our CFCGKU member Hattie L in the middle!

Good luck to all our Carmel FC teams playing in State, President’s & Challenge Cup games this weekend at Grand Park. A reminder my CFC GK Training for U12 & below will move from Wed to Thurs at Badger 5:15 pm. The older group will be at 5:45 pm Wed at River Road still.

Good looking crew at the Girls Showcase at Grand Park last weekend. Shane Best, T Ray Phillips, Carla Baker and Mike Arrington.

GAMES ON TV

Sat, May 4

7:30 am USA Arsenal vs Bournmouth

10 am USA Shefield United (Trusty) vs Nottingham Forest (Reyna)

10 am Peacock Fulham (Jedi, Ream) vs Brentford

10 am Peacock New Castle vs Burnley (adams)

12:30 pm NBC Manchester City vs Wolbverhampton

3 pm Peacock Aston Villa vs Chelsea

3 pm ESPN+ Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Club Spain

7:30 pm Ion NY Gotham (Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs NC Courage (Murphy, Fox) NWSL

10 pm CBS Galazo Net Indy 11 @ Monterey Bay Cal

10 pm Ion Portland Thorns (Smith) vs Washington Spirit (Rodman, Hatch, Sullivan) NWSL

Sun, Apr 28

9 am USA Brighton vs Aston Villa

11:30 am ESPN+ Frankfurt vs Bayer Leverkusen

11:30 am Tele/Peacock Liverpool vs Tottenham

12 noon Para+ AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Genoa

1 pm CBS Houston Dash (Campbell) vs KC Current NWSL

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

6:45 pm FS1 Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy

Tues, May7

3 pm CBS Dortmund 1 vs PSG 0 UCL

7 pm US Open Cup Games

Weds, May 8

3 pm CBS Bayern Munich 2 vs Real Madrid 2 UCL

7 pm USSoccer.com Indy 11 vs San Antonio @ Butler Field

Thurs, May 9

3 pm CBSSN Leverkusen 2 vs Roma 0 Europa

3 pm Para+ Marseille vs Atalanta

3 pm Para+ Aston Villa vs Olympiakos Pireaus

June 27 Copa America US Men Play Panama

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

https://www.uslchampionship.com/cbs CBS Schedule

https://www.uslchampionship.com/espn ESPN

Champions League & Europa League Semi’s

May viewing guide: Champions League final, title chases, relegation fights and more

Terzic unsurprised as Sancho dazzles for Dortmund

Superstars often leave Dortmund, but BVB inch toward Champions League final anyway

Madrid showcase to Bayern their mythical Champions League status

Tuchel’s tactics give Bayern hope of ousting Real Madrid at Bernabéu

Vini raves about Kroos pass: ‘Makes things easy’

Roma 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen: Bundesliga champions in command of Europa League

Leverkusen in Charge after first leg

The battle for extra Champions League places: Germany, Italy clinch spots

USA

U.S. vet, WWC winner O’Hara retiring end of ’24 ESPN Jeff Kassouf

How USMNT’s McKennie emerged from Premier League disaster to be among Serie A’s best ESPN

Why Pulisic is a must starter at AC Milan

MLS

Crew take down Monterrey, advance to CCC final

MLS Power Rankings: Messi takes Miami to top, Chicago Fire languish

Messi wins MLS Player of the Month for first time

Messi teammate: Everyone plays Leo like a final

Sources: Austin finalizing plan to host ’25 MLS ASG

Messi stars with 2 goals before record Revs crowd

GK

The man with the 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 🧤🔒@jordanfarr0 of the @TampaBayRowdies has won the @Terminix Save of the Week! pic.twitter.com/qRBBoOagrU
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) May 3, 2024

Champions League Great Saves QF

UCL Sweet 16 top saves

One of the Greatest Saves in FA Cup History David Seaman 39 YO Arsenal GK

Reffing

Wettest conditions field wise I have ever Reffed in – this pass week for CYO at Max Bahr Park with Mike Zanders – yes that’s a pond in the middle of the field. LOL – kids loved it though.

Shane with Mike Bertram & Matt Antisdel at the Girls Showcase at Grand Park Friday

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(Photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF)

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USMNT weekend viewing guide: Clinching time

Clinching titles, qualification, and safety.

Saturday

Arsenal v Bournemouth – 7:30a on USA Network

With three matches to play, Bournemouth still have a mathematical shot at a top six finish, though it would require a result with title-contending Arsenal this weekend and a collapse of beautiful proportions from Manchester United and Newcastle. With little to play for the rest of the way, it seems likely the team could shut down Tyler Adams for the remainder of the season and hope he’s able to return in the fall free from injury after what has been a lost 2023-24 season.

Birmingham City v Norwich City – 7:30a on ESPN+

Josh Sargent and Norwich City close out the regular season needing just a point to guarantee a spot in the promotion playoffs and facing a Birmingham City side that need a win to pull out of the relegation zone. Norwich could also advance with a loss if Hull City fail to win and make up a seven goal differential.

Wolfsburg v Darmstadt – 9:30a on ESPN+

Kevin Paredes was a halftime substitute last weekend as Wolfsburg overcame a one goal deficit to come back and defeat Freiburg 2-1. The win pulled Wolfsburg six points clear of the relegation zone, nearly guaranteeing their safety with three matches to play. This weekend, they will face a Darmstadt side who are sitting dead last and will be headed back to the 2. Bundesliga next season.

Werder Bremen v Borussia Mönchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN+

Joe Scally started on the left side and played 90 minutes last weekend and Jordan Pefok came on in the final minutes as Borussia Mönchengladbach played Brenden Aaronson and Union Berlin to a scoreless draw last weekend. The point left ‘Gladbach four points out of the relegation positions with two additional teams cushioning them as they sit in 13th place. Their opponent this weekend is Werder Bremen, who are two spots and five points ahead of them in the table.

Brentford v Fulham – 10a on Peacock

Antonee Robinson continues to start, but Tim Ream hasn’t seen the field in over two months for Fulham. The team is coming off a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and currently sit squarely in the middle of the EPL pack heading into their match with Brentford.

Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest – 10a on USA Network

Nottingham Forest will look to fend off relegation when they take on already-relegated Sheffield United Saturday morning. Gio Reyna saw just 16 minutes off the bench last weekend in Forest’s 2-0 lost to Manchester City after having started their two previous matches. They face Sheffield United and Auston Trusty, who played every minute of last weekends 5-1 loss to Newcastle. Sheffield’s relegation has been guaranteed and they have already given up more goals than any side in a 38 match season. They are just three goals away from the 100 goals conceded record, which was set by Swindon Town in a 42 match season, with three matches to play.

Monaco v Clermont – 11a on beIN Sports

Folarin Balogun picked up an assist in the first minute, but was pulled at the half with Monaco down 2-1 in what would be an eventual 3-2 loss to Lyon. Despite the loss, Monaco remain in second place with three matches to play and a three point advantage over fourth place Lille for Champions League qualification. Monaco’s opponent this weekend is last place Clermont, who are dead last in the Ligue 1 table.

Sunday

PSV v Sparta Rotterdam – 6:15a on ESPN+

Sergiño Dest’s ACL tear has been confirmed and he will be out for the remainder of the year, but Malik Tillman continues to start and was named to the Eredivisie Team of the Month in April. Tillman had a goal and two assists last weekend in the opening 12 minutes of the win over Heerenveen. Ricardo Pepi saw 12 minutes off the bench last weekend, but was not credited with a goal contribution on any of the eight goals that were scored in the match (he came on with the team up 7-0). With a nine point advantage and three matches to play, PSV can officially clinch the Eredivisie title this weekend when they face eighth place Sparta Rotterdam.

Osasuna v Real Betis – 8a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Johnny played 90 minutes last weekend as Real Betis and Sevilla played to a draw. Betis pulled within two points of Real Sociedad, who fell to Real Madrid. If Betis can close the two point gap on Sociedad over the final five matches, they will earn the Europa Conference League qualifying position. Betis face 11th place Osasuna this weekend who are comfortably middle of the pack.

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

Brenden Aaronson started and played 74 minutes last weekend as Union Berlin were held to a scoreless draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach to remain just two points out of the relegation playoff position. They are tied with this weekend’s opponent, Bochum, on 30 points and a win by either side would help them to draw clear of the relegation zone with three matches to play.

Celta Vigo v Villarreal – 10:15a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Celta Vigo fell to Deportivo Alaves 3-0 last weekend with Luca de la Torre coming on for the final 36 minutes with his team already down 2-0. Celta are five points out of the relegation positions with five matches to play heading into their match with ninth place Villarreal.

AC Milan v Genoa – Noon on Paramount+

Christian Pulisic started yet again and Yunus Musah also got the starting nod, this time at right back, as AC Milan played Juventus to a scoreless draw last weekend. Milan remain solidly in second place heading into their match against Genoa and with four matches yet to play this season.

Roma v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+

Tim Weah started as the right wingback (and put the clamps on Rafael Leao) with Weston McKennie coming on as his replacement with 20 minutes to play last weekend for Juventus. The team will play a Coppa Italia final against Atalanta on Wednesday, so we may see a rotated side again this weekend for Juventus, who are looking like a look to qualify for Champions League play with a eight point advantage and four matches to play.

After Leeds disaster, USMNT’s McKennie is back to his best at Juventus

Bruce Schoenfeld

May 2, 2024, 08:41 AM ET

TURIN, Italy — One recent afternoon, Weston McKennie walked into a pizza parlor.In this part of the world, where he has emerged as one of the top midfielders in Serie A and perhaps Juventus‘ most consistent player, McKennie can rarely go out in public. La Lampara, a restaurant run by the cousin of his personal chef, is a safe haven. He even stores a bottle of Hidden Valley ranch dressing, his favorite condiment, in the refrigerator to swirl on his pizza. But in Leeds, where McKennie was chastised by fans for looking overweight, it all sounds like the start of a bad joke. McKennie spent the second half of last season on loan at Leeds United with the expectation of staying longer. Instead, his introduction to the Premier League was a disaster, marred by accusations by fans that he wasn’t fit and wasn’t making an effort. Suddenly, ranch dressing was no longer just a personality quirk. It was a symptom of the problem that was dragging down the club. “I feel like I let people down,” he says now. At the time, Leeds appeared to be building America’s Team. The investment arm of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers was set to complete a purchase of the historic club and market it across the Atlantic. Manager Jesse Marsch — of Racine, Wisconsin, and D.C. United — had signed two of McKennie’s U.S. teammates, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson. (They joined Englishman Jack Harrison, who attended high school in Massachusetts and played college soccer at Wake Forest.)

McKennie, who started his career at Schalke 04 and moved to Juventus in 2020, was seen as the missing piece, a tireless box-to-box midfielder who would provide a touch of Champions League quality.

Except … none of it happened. Marsch was fired in February 2023, after McKennie had played one game for him. The sale was postponed, though the 49ers eventually acquired the team at a reduced price. After three seasons in the Premier League, Leeds was relegated. “Because they signed half the U.S. national team, who weren’t very good,” Darragh MacAnthony, the owner of Peterborough, said in a radio interview.

Fairly or not, McKennie bore much of the blame. A player who prides himself on his work rate, he appeared sluggish. In more than 1,400 minutes over 20 games, he managed just one assist. He had broken a foot the previous February. That healed, but his form hadn’t recovered. “He wasn’t playing like himself,” Aaronson says. “He had a lot of expectations coming in, and that just took its toll on the pitch.”

When McKennie was substituted out an hour into the season’s final game, a 4-1 loss to Spurs at Elland Road that sealed the club’s return to the second division Championship, the home fans chanted at him, “You fat bastard!” Leeds’ option to make McKennie’s transfer permanent for a $38 million fee had seemed like a bargain in January 2023. Not surprisingly, the club declined to activate it. “I felt like it was the first time that I had failed,” McKennie says now. “It knocked me down completely. It put me in the situation of having to prove myself all over again.” Then, McKennie returned to Turin in July and discovered that Juventus didn’t seem to want him back. “The situation that he described to me was horrible,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter says. “He went from a bad situation at Leeds to going back to Juventus, and all of a sudden you don’t have a parking spot or a locker.” At 25, McKennie’s future as an elite player was far from certain. Now, somehow, he is finishing one of the finest seasons of any American in Europe. A playmaker who can score goals, he’s also a ball-winner who is rarely dispossessed. If he maintains his form, he will greatly enhance the U.S. team’s chances of winning the Copa América this summer in its only meaningful games before the 2026 World Cup. “He’s a difference-maker in the final third, and he can also be a difference-maker in the middle third,” Adams says. “He can do so many things that other players can’t do. I think people are only beginning to see what a difference he can make when he’s playing at his best.” They’re seeing it now in Turin, where he ranks among Juventus’s most popular players. He sits in a private room at La Lampara, waiting for his pizza, both literally and figuratively in a place where not many people thought he’d be. “It was difficult for me, honestly,” he says. “But I did it to myself. And my time at Leeds, as bad as it did go, was very important. It was a big moment in my career as far as my development. I am where I am today because of everything I’ve been through. And I’m happy about it. I wouldn’t change any of it.”

During the mostly turgid “Juventus: All or Nothing” documentary series released in 2021, one of the few entertaining scenes shows McKennie with two of his teammates, club legends Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon, discussing food over lunch at the club’s training ground. “If I don’t eat well, it’s impossible to play,” Chiellini says, in what is probably the most Italian comment ever. McKennie urges Chiellini to consider smothering his pizza in ranch, that uniquely American, buttermilk-based invention. “What are you saying to me?” Chiellini responds in mock horror. He then asks about McKennie’s taste in coffee. McKennie makes a face and reveals, in graphic terms, that espresso sends him directly to the bathroom. Laughter ensues. Hanging out with these guys seems like fun.

McKennie’s appealingly quirky personality makes him a popular teammate everywhere he goes. “Relaxed, bubbly good vibes,” is how Glasgow Rangers’ Rabbi Matondo, who played with him at Schalke 04, describes him. “He’s just in his own world, doing his own thing.” McKennie’s father, a U.S. Air Force officer, moved his family from one base to another. McKennie learned to make friends easily. “I make myself so open and — I don’t know — goofy because I want people to feel comfortable to come talk to me,” he says. At Schalke, he spent hours mastering magic tricks he found on YouTube so he could entertain his teammates. He also tried to initiate Matondo into the Cult of Ranch. “Have you been in America?” he asked Matondo, who grew up in Wales. When Matondo told him he had, McKennie’s eyes lit up. “Did you try ranch?”McKennie also plays Fortnite relentlessly. He has a Harry Potter fascination that has led to a goal celebration in which he appears to wave a magic wand and, lately, a deal to promote the video game. “I dabble in different things,” McKennie says. “I’m just the guy who loves to be free and do what he wants.”

Even in the changing room before games, McKennie seems carefree — so much so that teammates sometimes wonder if he’s properly focused. “Then he crosses the white line [onto the pitch] and he becomes a different animal,” Matondo says. “And you see him running and running and going after the ball everywhere. It’s amazing to me.””He’s like a child,” says Adams. “Both on and off the field. And that’s what makes him great.”But McKennie’s antics mask a vulnerability. “He has so much feeling inside of him,” says Berhalter. “That’s who he is. And being receptive to that is part of getting the best out of him.”At a USMNT training camp in Orlando, Florida, in 2019, Berhalter found McKennie to be distracted. “He could tell that my head wasn’t there,” said McKennie, who was 21 at the time. “That I was a little bit off. Maybe not my happy self.” It turned out that he was having issues with his girlfriend. “I was young, I was in love,” he says. “I just went to Gregg and talked with him — not at all about soccer, but just about life. I legit cried in front of him. I sat there and cried and he hugged me, like a father who’s not a father.”

McKennie has also had to spend stretches of his career striving to gain acceptance as an elite player. “My whole career has kind of been that path where people have doubted me, labeled me as an underdog,” he says. As a teenager, he was chosen for a U17 national team residency in Florida, which set him on the path to becoming a professional. But in 2015, he was cut from the team. That motivated him to not only succeed in American soccer, but to go up against the world’s best players in Europe, where he’d been introduced to the game while his father was stationed in Germany. He turned down a scholarship offer at the University of Virginia, then declined an offer to play in MLS for FC Dallas, his hometown team. Not yet 18, he went to Schalke, where he set out to show the skeptics that an unknown young American could be a Bundesliga standout.”Weston is at his best when people count him out,” says Berhalter. His evolution came in fits and starts. At times, he questioned his decision. “Somewhere deep down, though, I knew I had the potential,” he says.In November, 2017, McKennie scored against Portugal in his USMNT debut. When Berhalter became the U.S. coach a year later, he established a leadership council, consisting of six or seven players who rotate into the traditional positions of captain and vice captain. From the beginning, McKennie was a fixture. Yet he felt uncomfortable as a role model. “I’m too free-spirited,” he says.

Given the armband for the first time at Chicago’s Soldier Field in the Concacaf Gold Cup final against Mexico in 2019, he suffered through one of his worst games as a U.S. international. Then, though the responsibilities of the captain include representing the team with the media, McKennie refused to give an interview. He still spurns official titles, but if you were a fly on the wall, he says now, you’d be surprised to see how far he has come. Invariably, he’s the USMNT member who welcomes new arrivals. If a group of established players are headed out somewhere, Aaronson says, “he’s always the one to text the new guys and make sure they know about it. I’ve seen him do it again and again. I’m really impressed by that.”McKennie also lets his U.S. teammates know that they can come to him with insecurities, competitive issues or other problems. “Maybe you’re going through the same thing that I went through,” he says, “because I’ve had my share of hiccups.” That includes getting sent home from the final round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup for spending one night outside the club’s COVID-19 bubble at a Nashville hotel and bringing an unauthorized visitor into his hotel room during another, which earned him the disgust of former USMNT standout Landon Donovan.” And I remember the times when maybe I thought I didn’t belong,” McKennie says. “So I try to tell the players, ‘You belong. You’re here. Trust yourself. Believe in yourself.'”And then, last summer, McKennie had to convince himself of the same.

Nobody would have questioned McKennie in August if he had asked to get a fresh start somewhere else, especially when it became clear he wasn’t in Juventus’s plans. “A lot of players would have said, ‘I’m done here. I’m leaving'” Berhalter says. “And he did just the opposite. He said, ‘I’m going to prove them all wrong.'”He was included on Juventus’s preseason tour to California and Florida, both to showcase him and to provide a marquee name for American fans. Still, his determination impressed manager Max Allegri, who saw utility in a player who competed each time he stepped on the field. “Weston has this mentality that he’s able to brush things aside,” Aaronson says. “He went back to Juventus and did what he did because he’s not focused on things like other people are. It’s a source of strength for him.”

Start running now and don’t stop until the end of the season, Allegri told him, and McKennie is still running. He began the season as a substitute at right-back, then stepped in when Tim Weah strained a thigh and couldn’t play. Soon enough, he was back in the midfield, using his skill as a distributor to get the ball forward to Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa.

McKennie has operated from both the right side and in the middle, depending on Allegri’s needs. He hurt a knee in January, which necessitated a trip to see a specialist in France, then separated a shoulder in a collision with a Frosinone player in late February. Yet he still ranks among Serie A leaders this season in clearances, progressive passes and assists, an unusual trifecta that illustrates his varied skills.In late December, when the well-regarded Italian daily Tuttosport published its compilation of Juventus player ratings for the season’s first half, McKennie led the team. “Right now,” Weah says, “he’s top-tier. He’s one of the best midfielders in the world.”

Against Frosinone in February, he played one of the better games in memory by an American in Europe before hurting his shoulder in the 82nd minute. He created Juventus’ first goal by making a run down the right side without the ball, then receiving a pass he controlled with a single touch and sending the ball into the box for Vlahovic, who poked it home. Half an hour later he fed Vlahovic again, a pinpoint delivery from a step inside the box, for a second goal. Later, he moved from the right wing to a role as an inside midfielder, from which he was controlling play. Until he collided awkwardly with Kaio Jorge and was taken off, he was clearly the best player on the field. The next day, Tuttosport dubbed him the “King of Assists.”Within days, the local newspaper in Leeds, the Yorkshire Evening Post, would run a story about the interest McKennie was suddenly generating among England’s biggest clubs. The headline: “Leeds United Flop Linked with Manchester United and Arsenal.”

Unlike the vast majority of football professionals, McKennie professes to have no interest in a game unless he’s playing in it. He can’t remember the last time he watched one on television, start to finish. In fact, he may never have done it.”I used to ask him, ‘How do you play football the way you do and have no knowledge of anything going on in the sport?” Matondo says.In summer 2018, while in preseason camp with Schalke 04, McKennie went to Christian Pulisic‘s house in Dortmund with a bunch of other players to see the France-Croatia World Cup final. Except, McKennie didn’t actually see it. “Everyone was on the couch watching the game,” he says. “There were a whole bunch of TVs.” One of them was right in front of McKennie, but he had his head down playing Fortnite.

“They all just laughed at me,” he says. “Like, ‘how can you be playing that right now? This game is so good.’ And I would look up every once in a while. But it just doesn’t interest me. I’ll play soccer and give it everything I have. But that mentality when I’m not playing, I need to switch it off.”

LIVE ON ESPN+ (SELECTED GAMES)

SATURDAY, MAY 4 (all times ET)
• Stuttgart vs. Bayern Munich (9:20 a.m.)
• BVB Dortmund vs. Augsburg (9:20 a.m.)
• Real Madrid vs. Cadiz (10 a.m.)
• Girona vs. Barcelona (12:20 p.m.)
• Mallorca vs. Atletico Madrid (3 p.m.)
• North Carolina FC vs. Rhode Island (7 p.m.)
• Las Vegas Lights vs. New Mexico (10 p.m.)

SUNDAY, MAY 5 (all times ET)
• PSV vs. Sparta Rotterdam (6 a.m.)
• Osasuna vs. Real Betis (7:50 a.m.)
• Celta Vigo vs. Villarreal (10 a.m.)
• Eintracht vs. Bayer Leverkusen (11 a.m.)
• Feyenoord vs. PEC Zwolle (2 p.m.)

McKennie is deeply involved in fashion and music. He has a real estate business with his brother in Dallas. When his career ends, he says, he could imagine doing something in one of those areas, or maybe becoming an agent, or even a broadcaster, though in that case he’d probably have to watch games. “I enjoy playing football. I want to go as far as I can,” he says. “But honestly, if my career ended tomorrow, I would be happy. And I wouldn’t have regrets for anything that I’ve done.”

At 25, McKennie believes he has plenty of football ahead of him. First comes this summer’s Copa América, which he believes the U.S. can win. “Maybe people don’t look at us against Argentina or Brazil and say, ‘Wow, look at the USA,'” he says. “But that’s why Gregg is so important. Because, yeah, a team can have a lot of individual talent, but when you have a team that has quality and potential and will sacrifice everything for each other, that will make a difference.”

He even fantasizes about that happening at the next level. “Do I believe that we can win the World Cup? Very slim chances,” he admits. “But it’s, what, eight games? If you can catch fire for those eight games, it can happen. The grit, the desire, a little bit of luck as well — that’s what it takes in a football game. That’s the beauty about it. Anybody can be beaten on any given day.”

McKennie’s contract with Juventus is up after next season. Negotiations are ongoing, but his constant yearning for the next challenge may lead him to agree to a transfer, especially if it involves the unfinished business of proving himself in the Premier League. At the same time, he’s more than content in Turin. He lives in a house on a hill outside the city that he rents from a wealthy doctor. He eats at La Lampara, where they nod when he covers his pizza with creamy dressing. And inside and outside the club, his stock keeps rising. The food has just arrived when a young woman approaches his table and begs for a picture. Peeking out from behind her is the manager, Fabrizio. He has a guilty look, as if he knows he should be letting McKennie eat in peace. But what can he do? She won’t be denied. Fabrizio shrugs. “Her favorite player,” he says.

USWNT two-time World Cup winner Kelley O’Hara set to retire at the end of 2024 NWSL season

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 01: Kelley O'Hara #5 of the United States reacts before the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group E match between Portugal and USA at Eden Park on August 01, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/USSF/Getty Images )

By Meg Linehan May 2, 2024 THe Athletic

U.S. women’s national team and Gotham FC defender Kelley O’Hara announced she plans to retire from soccer following the conclusion of the 2024 NWSL season. A stalwart for more than a decade, O’Hara played in four World Cups (winning two in 2015 and 2019) and three Olympics with the national team, as well as adding a WPS championship and two NWSL championships in her professional career.She announced the decision in a video created for Just Women’s Sports as part of her series Kelley on the Street.

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O’Hara has played limited minutes for Gotham FC so far this season and has struggled with ankle and knee injuries. “To get injured and come back, and get injured and come back, and just keep doing it, it really takes a toll on you,” she told Claire Watkins in an interview for JWS.

O’Hara’s first cap for the USWNT came in March 2010, and, while she was named to the 2011 World Cup roster, broke out for the USWNT during the team’s gold medal run in the 2012 London Olympics, playing every minute as an outside back. She previously won the 2009 MAC Hermann Trophy as a forward at Stanford (scoring 26 goals and adding 13 assists), but it was the conversion to outside back that cemented her place on the national team for years.

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(Notably, the 2012 Olympics were also the source of one of the greatest pieces of old-school USWNT content featuring O’Hara — in which she reports she “got sniped” after wiping out in the grass at a Scottish castle pretending to ride brooms).

O’Hara’s final match for the national team was against Sweden during the team’s exit from last summer’s World Cup in the round of 16. Due to injury concerns, there were doubts that O’Hara would be named to the final 23-player roster for the tournament, and when she received the call from former head coach Vlatko Andonovski, the emotions were clear.

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She played over 10,000 minutes for the national team, sitting at 160 appearances, three goals and 21 assists. One of her most famous USWNT goals was the one she scored against Germany during the 2015 World Cup semifinal. It was also her first international goal.

O’Hara’s club career was also successful, starting with her rookie season in WPS with FC Gold Pride, winning the 2010 championship. When FC Gold Pride folded, O’Hara was signed by the Boston Breakers. She intended to play for the Atlanta Beat, her hometown WPS team, but the league folded. O’Hara has been with the NWSL since the beginning, starting her NWSL career with Sky Blue FC, before a stint with the first version of Utah Royals FC, then heading to the Washington Spirit — where she finally won her first NWSL championship in 2021. In January 2023, she signed with Gotham, who won last year’s final.

“It has been one of the greatest joys to represent my country and to wear the U.S. Soccer crest,” O’Hara said in the USWNT press release on Thursday. “As I close this chapter of my life, I am filled with gratitude. Looking back on my career I am so thankful for all the things I was able to accomplish but most importantly the people I was able to accomplish them with.”

As of now, neither U.S. Soccer nor Gotham has shared any intended plans to celebrate O’Hara ahead of her retirement before the end of the 2024 season, though U.S. Soccer could choose to take advantage of their July match at Red Bull Arena for a send-off. (Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Women’s World Cup: Why U.S./Mexico pivoted from 2027 to ‘record-breaking’ bid for 2031

By Adam Crafton May 2, 2024

In February, executives from the United States Soccer Federation and their Mexican counterparts welcomed FIFA delegates to Atlanta as official inspections began before the vote this month to decide who will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

The U.S. and Mexico submitted their joint bid in December, rivalling a proposal from Brazil and a combined European bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The U.S. has hosted the tournament twice before — in 1999 and 2003 — but it would have been a first for Mexico.

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“We are a very strong and compelling proposition,” said Juan Carlos Rodriguez, president of the Mexican Football Federation, in late February. “We are gonna make a good run of it.”

Behind the scenes, however, doubts had already surfaced. Was 2027 the right time for the U.S. and Mexico to host a World Cup? Would it suit football’s world governing body FIFA to take the tournament elsewhere?

The bid team had previously discussed pivoting to 2031 and, on Monday evening, a statement landed to formalise the U.S. and Mexico’s decision to do just that — only three weeks before the vote was scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, at the FIFA Congress.

“The revised bid will allow us to build on the learnings and success of the 2026 World Cup (in the U.S., Mexico and Canada), better support our host cities, expand our partnerships and media deals, and further engage with our fans so we can host a record-breaking tournament in 2031,” a joint statement read.

So why the change of heart?

How to follow the Copa America on The Athletic…

A pledge for equal investment

The U.S./Mexico revised World Cup bid has called for “equal investment” with the men’s tournament, “eliminating investment disparities to fully maximize the commercial potential of the women’s tournament”.

The bid is seeking to bring the organisation, promotion and funding for the Women’s World Cup fully in line with its male counterparts.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino claimed that the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand had broken even, generating more than $570million in revenue, even with the prize pool being 10 times higher than the 2015 edition. The 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar, however, generated $686million in ticket sales and $243million through hospitality rights alone, with global TV rights from 2019-22 — the bulk of which was for the 2022 tournament — bringing in $3.4billion according to FIFA. The $440million prize pot for the men’s 2022 World Cup was also far more than the $152million shared by women last year.

Aitana Bonmati celebrates winning the 2023 World Cup with Spain (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Infantino has already provided his answer to those who question the disparity, saying: “I say to all the women, you have the power to change. Pick the right battles. Pick the right fights.”

The U.S./Mexico bid for 2031, though, would like FIFA to set out a timeline towards equal prize money and its vision is set out in the bid book submitted to FIFA for 2027.

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The hope is not that FIFA should simply pluck the money out of is reserves but rather that genuine investment into the development, promotion and organisation of the tournament will bring about the revenue which may enable the governing body to eventually level up the prize money.

Now the bid has been pushed back, FIFA has four more years to bridge the gap.

Thanks Gianni, now we know – all we had to do was ‘pick the right fights’

Increase the golden period for international soccer in the U.S.

The 2027 bid book was, in many ways, a copied and pasted version of the men’s edition in 2026. The U.S. submitted the same host cities, while Mexico added a few additional options to Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.

The 2027 bid wanted to use 2026 as an asset; in essence replicating the relationships between cities, local government, security, transportation infrastructure and stadiums to create a back-to-back bonanza of premium international football that would then roll over into an Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, cementing the United States as the global hub for major sporting events over three years. In bid talk, this was described as “leveraging the efficiencies” of 2026, and big promises were made.

The U.S./Mexico bid claimed the commercial possibilities in the two countries “will accelerate the growth of women’s football unlike any tournament before”. They pledged to bring 4.5million fans into the stadium, capture the highest TV audience for any sporting event in history and generate more than $3 billion in total revenue. For FIFA, which has established offices in Miami and is also launching a revamped men’s Club World Cup in the U.S. in 2025, the temptation was obvious.

And yet, as conversations developed, it became clear that this idea did not make much sense for anyone.

From a FIFA perspective, the imagined boom for soccer in the U.S. is better served by a six-year run-up, stretching from the Club World Cup in 2025 (there may also be a women’s edition in 2026) through to the men’s World Cup in 2026, football within the Olympic Games in 2028 and then capped off with a Women’s World Cup in 2031. This provides more space for soccer to gain further popularity and, in turn, drive up demand and revenue for the competition.

Infantino announces the venues for the 2026 men’s World Cup (Brennan Asplen – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

And while the idea of back-to-back World Cups is tantalising, there were plenty of sectors that were not overly enamoured with the idea. For some host cities and stadiums, it would have meant three consecutive years satisfying FIFA’s very specific criteria for hosting soccer matches and revenue-sharing. Concerns also developed that the potential to maximise the Women’s World Cup commercially, both among broadcasters and sponsors, would be limited by sandwiching the tournament between a men’s World Cup and the Olympic Games.

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FIFA is also seeking to drive sponsorship agreements for its expanded men’s Club World Cup — launching across the east coast of the U.S. in the summer of 2025 — but the tournament is struggling to hit the hugely ambitious targets set out by Infantino when the concept was devised. As such, freeing up commercial space for soccer in a saturated market within the next few years may be useful for everyone involved.

FIFA does not comment on commercially-sensitive matters but would point to a recent lucrative partnership with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Aramco as evidence of its ability to strike deals.

Why are Napoli – and other teams – now so keen to qualify for the men’s Club World Cup?

Put U.S./Mexico in the driving seat for 2031

There is another reality to bidding processes that is usually not said aloud: sometimes, you only say you are bidding to put yourself in pole position before the next tournament — and that, increasingly, appears to be an element of the strategy here.

Brazil is a case in point, having lost out on the 2023 tournament but now primed for a coronation in Thailand in mid-May. The European bid remains on the table but multiple sources, spoken to by The Athletic this week on condition of anonymity to protect their roles, have presented Brazil’s success as a fait accompli.

For FIFA, there are plenty of reasons to run with Brazil in 2027. The planet’s most famous soccer nation has never hosted a Women’s World Cup and FIFA is obliged grow football internationally.

It has become anachronistic to think about World Cup bidding processes as a traditional vote where nations submit their bids and every member weighs up the pros and the cons before casting their votes. This is how it is supposed to work but the pattern more recently is to see a contest, a reasonable amount of lobbying, and then everyone appears to agree that bid X is most-suited and bid Y may get something else as consolation, or be rewarded down the line.

This is what happened for the 2030 men’s World Cup selection. FIFA found a way to just about please everybody by awarding it to six countries in one go.

Why 2030 World Cup is split across six countries – and all roads lead to Saudi Arabia 2034

FIFA president Infantino confirmed the opening game would be played at Estadio Centenario in Uruguay, while Argentina and Paraguay would each host a game before the tournament and then move to Morocco, Spain and Portugal. This left Saudi Arabia out in the cold — except, not really, because FIFA has something called the “confederation rotation principle” and by grouping three confederations together in 2030 — Africa, Europe and South America — it left the path clear for Asia and Oceania to host the 2034 tournament.

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Once Australia’s executives dropped their interest in the 2030 World Cup, Saudi Arabia was the only bidder. They have already been congratulated by Infantino on Instagram, although FIFA insists the Saudis are undergoing a very intensive bid process — albeit one in which they are the only competitors.

What’s this all got to do with 2027? Well, FIFA would say nothing at all and every bid is considered on its merits, but there is a school of thought that CONMEBOL felt a little short-changed by the 2030 palaver. It had also been particularly kind to FIFA when Argentina stepped in to host the Under-20 World Cup in 2023 at short notice. A first Women’s World Cup for CONMEBOL would be a useful reconciliation.

None of this is to say that everyone was pretending all along for 2027. Nor is it inevitable that the US/Mexico bid will win next year.

Yet by 2031, it will have been 16 years since a Women’s World Cup in a CONCACAF country (when Canada hosted the tournament in 2015) and UEFA nation France hosted the tournament more recently in 2019. England, which had already been looking at 2035 and 2039 as options, as well as a possible joint bid with the other Home Nations, may pivot away from 2031.

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Later, bigger and better?

Should the U.S. and Mexico be awarded the 2031 tournament, ambitious plans will take shape. The bid wants fan festivals of equivalent size to the men’s World Cup, promising beach football tournaments on the shores of Miami and Cancun, and watchalong parties in New York City’s Times Square. Most boldly, within the U.S., the bid wants to solely use multi-purpose NFL stadiums with at least 65,000 seats, rather than be more cautious with smaller soccer-specific stadiums.

Expect this to become part of the conversation, too: should the Women’s World Cup mirror the men’s by expanding to a 48-team edition? The 2023 World Cup features 32 teams instead of 24 and the competitive balance did not suffer in a way some had worried beforehand. A six-year runway between the announcement of a potential 48-team tournament and the competition itself would allow time for more nations to invest resources into their women’s games and enter the fray in 2031.

As for broadcasters, there is quiet relief at FIFA and in the U.S./Mexico bid because we are now only three years out from the 2027 tournament and FIFA would have been behind in maximising its true broadcasting potential. Some breathing space from the men’s World Cup and Olympics, it is hoped, will further free up the necessary dollars for the 2031 tournament to hit record numbers.

The US-Mexican bid may have said ‘goodbye’ to 2027, but it is ‘see you soon’ for 2031.

(Top photo: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Bayern Munich 2 Real Madrid 2: Advantage Ancelotti – and Kroos for Ballon d’Or?

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 30: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on April 30, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

By Dermot Corrigan, John Muller and more

Apr 30, 2024

A bout between two of Europe’s genuine heavyweights in a Champions League semi-final was never likely to disappoint – and so it proved.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid played out an enthralling first leg in Bavaria, with the teams locked at 2-2 thanks to Vincius Junior’s late penalty ahead of next week’s second leg in Spain.

Our experts analyse the talking points.

How do Real Madrid do it?

This was another European knockout tie that appeared to be teetering on the brink of disaster for Real Madrid before they delivered another of their trademark comebacks.

When Bayern’s quickfire brace of second-half goals had swung this game in their favour, Madrid had to take stock. For a while, it seemed that 2-1 was not such a bad result ahead of the second leg at the Bernabeu.

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Ancelotti’s tactical switch to 4-3-3 helped provide more cover, especially for stand-in right-back Lucas Vazquez, who was suffering badly against an inspired Jamal Musiala, and also gave his team another chance to take a breath.

The element of phoney war ended when Madrid went for a last push, with substitutes Luka Modric and Brahim Diaz adding energy and ideas. Vinicius Jr’s flick to Rodrygo then tempted Kim Min-jae into a foolish penalty concession and Vinicius Jr again showed his big-game mentality to convert from the spot.

Ancelotti’s changes worked and, as so often in recent years, Madrid had rode out the storm and found a way to turn things to their advantage. At 2-2, with the return at a fired-up Bernabeu, Los Blancos will be confident of making yet another Champions League final.

But neither of these teams are perfect and both have mixed real power with dodgy moments through the competition this season. It is all set up tantalisingly for the second leg next Wednesday.

Dermot Corrigan

What these two pictures tell us about Jude Bellingham’s attitude to football

How did Sane wreak havoc?

Leroy Sane was a doubt for tonight’s game due to a pubic bone injury and when the German international was named in the starting line-up, the anticipation was that he would be on the right flank — as he has been for the majority of the season.

However, injuries elsewhere meant Thomas Tuchel shuffled the pack slightly, placing Sane on the left and Jamal Musiala on the right, with Thomas Muller playing alongside Harry Kane in a 4-2-2-2.

For long periods of the first half, the plan looked effective. Sane was put through in a one-on-one within the first minute and was regularly looking to stretch the Madrid back line with runs to receive first-time on his natural left foot.

Sane and Musiala would frequently roll inside into the respective half spaces and leave Bayern’s full-backs to keep the width. In the second half, as Bayern switched more to a 4-2-3-1, Sane assumed his typical position on the right flank and restored parity within 10 minutes.

A driving run, drop of the shoulder and a thundered finish at the near post reignited the clash — his first goal since October 28.

Sane fires in Bayern’s equaliser (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

It was a superb performance and a reminder of Sane’s versatility to play on either flank on the biggest European stage.

Mark Carey

Is Kroos a Ballon d’Or contender?

Madrid were struggling a quarter of an hour into the game as Bayern had six shots while no visiting player had come anywhere close to a chance.

Toni Kroos decided something had to be done, first with a super aggressive challenge on his old team-mate Thomas Muller, which was more about showing an example to his team-mates than actually winning the ball back.

Kroos began to get on the ball, move it around, giving his team-mates time and space to regain their composure. Then came his phenomenal assist for the opening goal, splitting the Bayern defence open completely, giving Vinicius Jr the chance to finish first time.

Kroos sees Vinicius Jr starting to make his run…

… and angles a pass between the two Bayern players in front of him…

… leaving Vinicius Jr free to break clear…

(TNT Sport)

… and score with ease.

Replays showed how he conceived the goal in his head in advance, pointing with his finger for Vinicius Jr to run behind Bayern’s out-of-position centre-back Kim Min-jae, then delaying the pass to allow the Brazilian to sprint into the space before perfectly timing and weighting the assist.

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From being under the cosh due to Bayern’s fast start, Madrid were suddenly in full control of the tie. Confidence flowed through the visiting players, while belief seemed to ebb from the home side. Few individual performances have had such an effect on such a huge game.

Kroos completed all 36 of the passes he played in the first 30 minutes, making it a pretty special return to his old club, who must so rue letting him leave for Madrid on a cut-price €25m deal back in 2014. A decade later, the 34-year-old is out of contract in June but will surely renew with Madrid.

He has also recently returned to the Germany national squad in time for the Euros in his home country. Many more performances like this – he also saw a curling shot saved in the second half – and he’ll be a leading Ballon D’Or candidate. And a hugely deserving one.

Dermot Corrigan

How was Kane subdued… but still a scorer?

For a minute there, early on, it looked like tonight might be all about Harry Kane.

Just seconds into the match, Bayern ran a simple little pattern down the left-hand side that ended with Kane pulling toward the ball and redirecting it into the channel to put Leroy Sane in on goal. It was a perfect illustration of his gifts as not only Europe’s leading goalscorer but also perhaps its most creative striker.

A few minutes later, Kane did it again, this time from deeper: he received the ball in midfield and played another perfectly weighted through ball that Sane couldn’t quite figure out how to turn into a goal. Kane’s constant movement posed a problem for Real Madrid’s right centre-back, Antonio Rudiger: how far could he track the dropping striker without letting Sane slip behind him?

Yet for most of the rest of the match, Kane went strangely quiet. Lucas Vazquez stayed deep as Madrid’s right-back to help Rudiger in the Kane-Sane dilemma and Kane started drifting into other channels to look for service. When he finally got through on goal himself, in the 66th minute, Rudiger was there to knock him down with a powerful and well-timed shoulder.

Kane slams home his penalty (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

In the end, Kane turned out to be almost a non-factor, managing just two shots on target from open play and not much creativity after those opening minutes. Chalk up another victory for Rudiger, who had shut down Erling Haaland in the previous round.

But when Jamal Musiala went down for a penalty in the second half, it was Kane who stepped up to the spot, broadcast his chosen side with a deliberate glance that made Andre Lunin second-guess himself, and rolled a simple shot home for Bayern’s first goal of the tie. Even when Kane stumbles — as he did on his way to celebrate the penalty — he’s still the surest thing in Europe.

John Muller

Should Ancelotti send for Courtois?

Andriy Lunin has made some unexpected leaps forward since Madrid’s No 1 goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage in training in August.

He first overcame the challenge of Kepa Arrizabalaga to become first choice and was then a hero of the penalty shootout win over Manchester City in the quarter-final.

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However, Lunin has not always looked like a top-class goalkeeper. He was caught out by Bernardo Silva’s long-range free kick in the first leg against City and suffered when targeted with inswinging corners by Barcelona in the recent Clasico.

It might be harsh to blame the Ukrainian for Sane’s goal given both Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo should have got closer, the shot was unexpected, and it was hit with superb power and precision, but there is a rule that goalkeepers should not be beaten at their near post and it was a huge moment in the tie.

Courtois was a welcome presence on the Real bench (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Courtois had a setback in mid-March but has been back training with the team for a few weeks. Ancelotti has already said he will start Saturday’s La Liga game at home to Cadiz at the Bernabeu, a 90-minute test to see how his knee has recovered.

All being well, there will be a heavy temptation to bring Courtois back in for next Wednesday’s second leg against Bayern given how important the Belgian has been for Madrid in the Champions League in the past.

Dermot Corrigan

What happened to Kim Min-jae?

How did Bayern’s defence leave Vinicius Jr that open for Real Madrid’s first-half goal?

The most obvious culprit was Kim Min-Jae, who bit too hard on a double move and left an ocean of space behind him. When Vinicius Jr abruptly switched gears and sprinted for goal, Kim just didn’t have the wheels to catch up.

Speaking of a lack of speed, it didn’t help Kim’s cause that his centre-back partner was Eric Dier, who had wandered too far from goal to keep an eye on Jude Bellingham and made only a half-hearted, plodding recovery run to try to cover for Kim when he saw he was beaten.

Nor was Manuel Neuer particularly quick off his line to block the shot, but these sorts of things happen when you’re 38 years old and still starting Champions League semi-finals.

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The real mystery is how, with so many players lacking pace at the back, Bayern allowed Kroos enough time in possession to not only pick his pass behind their back line but to point out to Vinicius where to go and then wait for the run to materialise. What happened to a team that used to have one of Europe’s most fierce high presses?

Bayern were oddly passive here, allowing Real Madrid to complete 90 per cent of their passes in the first half at the Allianz, and when you give Kroos and Vinicius Jr an inch, they’ll take a mile.

Sadly for Kim, his suffering did not end there. He was caught out by another swift Real Madrid passing exchange in the second half, only for Neuer to save well from Vinicius Jr’s shot, but had no safety net when he hauled down Rodrygo for a penalty in the 83rd minute. A night to forget.

John Muller

UK readers can view Real Madrid’s first goal here:

US readers can view Real’s first goal here:

The Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid match dashboard, showing the threat timeline, territory, match stats, shot maps and pass networks

What was said afterwards?

Harry Kane was frustrated at Bayern’s inability to hold on to their 2-1 lead after coming back strongly in the second half.

“Once we got 2-1 ahead, we had two or three good chances,” he told TNT Sport. “This is the Champions League semi-final. We expected a tough game. Real are one of the best teams in Europe who can punish you.

“We started on the front foot and their goal came against the run of play. Second half we played with a higher intensity. We deserved our two goals and it’s a shame we couldn’t get a third.”

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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti – who said he had taken off Jude Bellingham as the midfielder was suffering with cramp – was satisfied with his side’s fightback but acknowledged there was scope for improvement.

“We could play better,” he said. “We had problems in the first half with a low block, too deep. We started to put pressure and it was much better. We tried to change something in the second half. We started really well and conceded two goals when our moment was good.”

Borussia Dortmund 1 Paris Saint-Germain 0: Sancho’s starring role, in-form Fullkrug, wasteful Dembele

By Sebastian Stafford-Bloor and more May 1, 2024

This was meant to be Kylian Mbappe’s stage. Instead it was journeyman striker Niclas Fullkrug who proved the difference to give Borussia Dortmund a slender advantage in their semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain.

The 31-year-old is in the form of his life after spending the majority of it in the second tier in Germany and is now a regular scorer for the national team.

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After Bayern Munich’s thrilling 2-2 draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday night, this was a much tighter first leg, particularly in the first period. That was until Dortmund went direct to Fullkrug, who produced a brilliant first touch before firing low beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 36th minute.

PSG improved after the break, with Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi hitting the post within the space of 10 seconds and Ousmane Dembele blazing over in the final 10 minutes. Fullkrug should have added a second too but it is Dortmund who will head to Paris with a vital goal.

The Athletic’s Peter Rutzler, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Thom Harris and Elias Burke analyse the action.

Functional Fullkrug is flying in Champions League

Just under two years ago, Niclas Fullkrug poked home his 19th goal of the season to spark wild celebrations in Bremen. It sealed a crucial final-day win, and moved the 29-year-old up to fourth place in the goalscoring standings — in the German second tier.

He has always been a proficient striker through the divisions, a functional target man and battering ram at the top of five different teams. But since Fullkrug has turned 30, he has won a Bundesliga Golden Boot, made his international debut, scored 11 international goals — including two at the World Cup — and put his new side in the driving seat for a Champions League semi-final.

Fullkrug hammers home the opening goal (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

Fullkrug is unfashionable, but undoubtedly effective. He can sometimes struggle to get into games — he touched the ball just nine times in a cagey opening half an hour here — but his emphatic ability to smash the ball on either foot can blow games apart. It was a crisp left-footed strike to open the scoring, but as his shot map below illustrates, he is a striker who can make the most of any penalty-box situation.

He should have added a second after the break but it was heartening to see a distinctly normal footballer take centre stage.

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Thom Harris

Why do PSG struggle with long balls?

Across both legs of PSG’s quarter-final victory over Barcelona, they struggled with the long ball. PSG are one of the most aggressive pressers in this year’s Champions League — no team has regained the ball quicker (judged by the opposition passes per defensive action) — but that can leave space in behind if their first press, from those forward line, is not sharp or precise.

Xavi recognised this and used Robert Lewandowski as his out ball. Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the Barcelona goalkeeper, played the majority of his passes up the field to the Poland striker, and he in turn was able to bring his wide players into play. PSG defender Lucas Beraldo had a particularly difficult game, losing five duels.

Dortmund clearly learned from those matches. Edin Terzic, the Dortmund coach, was able to use Fullkrug in a similar manner. There were early warning signs; Marcel Sabitzer made a curved run from the right to reach a long pass from Ian Maatsen, but the pass was misplaced.

Dortmund were not as precise as Barcelona in the opening stages, often wayward in their attempts to pick out Fullkrug, who in turn could not contest the aerial duel against the PSG defence. But then, Dortmund got one right. Nico Schlotterbeck sold Mbappe a dummy, and used that extra second of space to arrow a ball over the top of the PSG back line.

It was an incredibly simple goal to concede but one that proves PSG are vulnerable. They struggled with their first pressure, allowing Dortmund to play out through Julian Ryerson or allowing the time to arrow a direct pass accurately, which is exactly what happened with the opening goal.

The back line switched off and were caught flat-footed; they were not set to deal with a run in behind, expecting a pass to instead be played onto Fullkrug’s head — normally his main strength. PSG may be better pressers, but simple mistakes are still undermining that.

Peter Rutzler

Is Sancho back to his best?

Sancho’s performance was a reminder of how important environment is for footballers. He has not blazed through the Bundesliga since returning but he has seemed far less inhibited in Germany. Far away from the stifling commentary surrounding his Manchester United career, the expression has returned to his game and the timing and smart decisions that once accented his talent have returned.

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They were prominent again. At his best, there is a waspishness to Sancho’s attacking play, which sees him flutter in and out of the attack and influence the game with little touches and tricks across the width of the pitch.

In the first half, he touched the ball more than any other Dortmund player, which described his appetite for the occasion and how difficult PSG found it to keep hold of him.

Sancho’s dribbling came to the fore in the first period (Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

He completed seven dribbles in the first 45 minutes, too. More than any player in any Champions League game this season. More than he managed in any Manchester United game he took part in.

But on a night when Dortmund needed their crowd, the Westfalenstadion responded to his confidence and his little moments of flare. This was Sancho at his very best. It was him as a spectacle again and after what seems like a very long time, it’s nice to be able to write that again.

Seb Stafford-Bloor

How costly will PSG’s misses prove?

When Mbappe faced up his full-back a few minutes into the second half, it looked as though he would put PSG back on level terms from an acute angle.

As it transpired, his right-footed curling effort towards Gregor Kobel’s left-hand post did not curl enough and hit the post. Minutes later, Marquinhos curled a cross that dropped perfectly between Kobel and the Dortmund defensive line, with Marco Fabian ghosting in. Six yards from goal, it seemed certain he would head in from close range and put PSG on level terms. Somehow, he missed. And missed chances proved to be the story of PSG’s second half.

Mbappe was involved again in the 70th minute, receiving the ball in the same top right-hand corner of the Dortmund box that he almost scored from 20 minutes earlier. This time, he slipped in Dembele, whose tame effort was saved by Kobel. Ten minutes later, he would have the chance to redeem himself after Achraf Hakimi spotted his deep run into the box and played a pass across the box, but his right-footed shot ballooned over the crossbar.

Dembele after his miss (Oliver Hardt – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

“How the French haven’t scored, I can’t believe, frankly,” said Ally McCoist, the co-commentator for TNT Sports, the UK broadcaster of the Champions League.

Fortunately for Luis Enrique, Dortmund could not make the most of several excellent second-half goalscoring opportunities. Shooting practice will surely be on the agenda ahead of next week’s second leg.

Elias Burke

Did hard-working Adeyemi silence critics?

Of all the factors expected to influence this game, Karim Adeyemi’s work without the ball was not among them. Adeyemi has suffered a bad month. From the high of his goal against Bayern Munich in March, his form has plateaued. A silly red card against Borussia Monchengladbach rightly provoked criticism and drew mutterings about his attitude. His stock has not been high.

But what a response this was. Adeyemi’s speed is typically an asset in attack. This evening it was virtue in defence, as he worked as hard as he probably ever has in Dortmund yellow to protect Ian Maatsen, his full-back, from the menacing Dembele-Hakimi threat down the PSG right.

Adeyemi was effective in defence as well as attack (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)

The 70 yards he ran in the first half to chase down Hakimi and end a counter-attack was particularly stirring. He did exactly the same thing in the second half and that was typical of Adeyemi’s night. It was also emblematic of an astute and tactically aware performance in which he gave absolutely everything to prevent Dortmund’s cracks from showing.

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Praise is due for Terzic, too. Adeyemi was part of a gameplan in that part of the pitch that worked really well.

Sebastian Stafford-Bloor

What did Terzic say?

“It was a well-deserved win, a good team performance,” he told DAZN. “We could have scored more goals, but so could they. That’s why the result is OK from my point of view.

“We ran a lot, but that’s necessary in a game like this. You have to earn your way to Wembley. All we need now is a draw in the second leg, but we also want to win next week. We have a small lead and a good opportunity. We don’t have fear. We know the quality of Paris.

“Sancho was extraordinary but we have seen it often training. He translates it onto the pitch. He has quality, we know his quality. It wasn’t just him, and it was important for a good match.”

What did Luis Enrique say?

“Everybody knew that this wasn’t going to be easy. This is the semi-final of the Champions League. The dressing room is a bit down, especially after hitting the post twice. But we had our supporters pushing us on throughout the match. We must recognise that this is an exceptional stadium, with fans who know how to support their team.

“We lacked incision in the final third. We didn’t create a lot more than the opponent, we looked for transitions and counter attacks. The mindset was better in the second half. It’s an opponent at a very good level and we created good chances.

“Both teams created a lot of opportunities. But they scored, and we didn’t. The result reflects how close the game was. It’s a new situation for both teams. In the last two rounds, they had the home game as their second game, whereas it was the other way round for us. We’ll now have the crowd on our side in the second leg. We’ll have to be more effective there.”

Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin: The shy goalkeeper who seized his moment – and surprised everyone

Mario Cortegana May 2, 2024

A year ago, decision-makers at Real Madrid explored the possibility of Andriy Lunin’s departure as they searched for a reinforcement in goal.The club considered signing David Soria from Getafe in June, although they preferred not to make a permanent investment in that position. When Thibaut Courtois picked up an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in August, they did not hesitate in bringing in Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan without an option to buy from Chelsea.

But Arrizabalaga failed to impress after returning from an injury he suffered in November, while Lunin has emerged one of the heroes of the season. The 25-year-old produced a fine performance in the second leg of Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City, keeping Pep Guardiola’s side at bay in normal time before saving two penalties in the subsequent shootout.

Nobody would have expected that when Lunin started the campaign behind Arrizabalaga, knowing he could find himself as third choice when Courtois returned. He went out on three separate loans after joining Madrid in 2018 but is now close to agreeing a new deal until 2028, as reported by The Athletic on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian barely smiled in his post-match interviews after that performance against City, which gave an indication of his steely personality.So, who is Lunin? And what does the future hold for him, after stepping in so brilliantly for Courtois?

Born to a father in banking and a mother who worked as a civil servant, Lunin grew up in Krasnohrad, a town of around 20,000 inhabitants in eastern Ukraine.He started out playing futsal and excelled as a striker. His first shirt was that of Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo and it was only aged eight that he began to play as a seven-a-side goalkeeper in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city in the country’s northeast. Iker Casillas was his new idol.Lunin had trials with three different teams — Ukrainian sides Shakhtar Donetsk and Metalist Kharkiv, along with a football school in Kharkiv. He chose Metalist as his destination, living and studying at their academy from under-12 to under-18 level.

Lunin was Madrid’s hero against City (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

From there, Lunin moved to Dnipro in 2016 and Zorya Luhansk a year later. Then, in 2018, he learned that Madrid wanted to sign him one day after training. Those close to him — who, like all those cited in this article, asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships — say he felt a mixture of happiness and vertigo. He knew the scale of the challenge ahead.

He received interest from other teams but told his club he only wanted to join Madrid. The deal was done quickly, for around €8.5million ($9.1m; £7.3m at current exchange rates) plus about €4m in variables, with Lunin signing a contract until 2024.

Lunin’s arrival, like those of many other youngsters at Madrid, bore the stamp of their chief scout Juni Calafat and his staff. Calafat, who is a Brazilian-Spanish national, has helped Madrid sign South American talents including Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde in recent years. He has been one of Lunin’s key backers, too. He has always had confidence in the Ukrainian’s potential and believed he deserved a chance as No 1 after Courtois’ injury in August.

Vinicius, Rodrygo and a man called Juni: How Real Madrid rule at recruiting in Brazil

Lunin got the chance to meet Madrid president Florentino Perez on his first visit to the Spanish capital in 2018. Those close to the goalkeeper say he was impressed by Perez, who made him feel like a son.

Those sources describe Lunin as a quiet individual who rarely smiles. But, at Madrid’s Valdebebas headquarters, they have always said he is humble, polite, hard-working and methodical — sometimes even too much so.

An early example of that was when he decided to speak in Spanish at his Madrid presentation in July 2018, despite not knowing the language. He spent hours rehearsing a speech from memory, in which he thanked Madrid for “giving me the opportunity to fulfil a dream” and said he was signing for “the best club in the world”.

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But his path to the starting XI was unclear. When Lunin joined, Keylor Navas was Zinedine Zidane’s first-choice goalkeeper after helping Real Madrid win three Champions League titles in a row. Courtois had also arrived from Chelsea that summer, having been named the best goalkeeper of the 2018 World Cup with Belgium.

Madrid sent Lunin on loan to Leganes, a club on the outskirts of the city who were then in La Liga. He was second-choice there and returned to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2019, expecting Navas to leave. But the Costa Rican stayed put until September, when he joined Paris Saint-Germain and Alphonse Areola went the other way on loan as a backup for Courtois. By then, Lunin had already joined another La Liga side, Real Valladolid.

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That spell did not go to plan either: he was a backup to Jordi Masip and the loan was cut short in January after just two appearances in the Copa del Rey. A spell at second-division Real Oviedo in the second half of that season proved more fruitful, as he helped the team stay up in 15th place with six clean sheets.

Even so, Lunin has happy memories from Valladolid’s Estadio Jose Zorrilla — it was where he proposed to his then-girlfriend Anastasia in 2019. The couple married in March 2021. Some were struck by the comparatively low-key ceremony.https://www.instagram.com/p/CMmXWiRJ-wn/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com&rp=%2F5463727%2F2024%2F05%2F02%2Freal-madrid-andriy-lunin-keeper%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2076.5999999046326%2C%22ls%22%3A266.59999990463257%2C%22le%22%3A584.3999999761581%7D

Anastasia has often made the headlines in Spain. On several occasions, she has posted on social media or conducted interviews to warn that Lunin would look for another destination if he continued on Madrid’s bench. In February, she told a YouTube show that it would be “difficult for Courtois to return from injury and take the top spot” if her husband continued to play.

Lunin has always stayed patient and insisted on staying at Madrid even when he wasn’t trusted in goal. His contract was extended for a further season that summer until 2025 — but this was not announced publicly and only came to light in 2024. Meanwhile, he also became part of Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute agency. His father had been his agent.

Lunin believes those three loans away improved him and made him mentally stronger, which was key to his return to Madrid. He also had the support of Ukraine coach and legendary forward Andriy Shevchenko during this time, who called him up for 29 games from 2017-2020, giving him six appearances.

Ukraine qualify for Euro 2024: ‘The world is going to watch and see we never give up’

In July 2020, Madrid told Lunin he would be part of the squad for the following season as a reserve option, as they did not want to bring in Areola on loan again or sign another ‘keeper. But he fell out of favour with Ukraine, with Shevchenko’s successor, Oleksandr Petrakov, not selecting him from 2021-2022.

Lunin has been active in public and private in showing his support for his home country since the Russian invasion in February 2022. He has kept himself informed of the situation, donated money to the war effort and participated in initiatives to collect and send food and supplies there.

Madrid have also helped him during the conflict, giving him moral and logistical support to assist his relatives still in Ukraine. On the first day of the war, Perez went to see him in person at the club’s Valdebebas training ground to speak with him.

Lunin helped Ukraine qualify for this summer’s Euros (Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)

Lunin helped Ukraine qualify for this summer’s European Championship and he started in their play-off semi-final and final against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland in March — his 10th and 11th caps for the national team.

“The only difficulty is the war in my country,” he said after Madrid’s penalty win against City. “It’s not easy to go to training every day when the worst news is coming out. There is my family, my friends, all my people, my city, my school. I try to help.”

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He has barely put a foot wrong this season, playing 29 times — more than the sum of his three full campaigns at Madrid before this term. But at first, he was left frustrated with Carlo Ancelotti’s rotation between him and Arrizabalaga. He felt there was a lack of communication from the coaching staff and he and the Spaniard often found out who Ancelotti had selected through what he told the press.

Real Madrid loan has not worked as hoped for Kepa – but he’s still committed

Errors from Arrizabalaga in the games he started allowed Lunin to take advantage and become Madrid’s undisputed first choice from mid-January. He has conceded 27 goals in 29 games and kept 12 clean sheets. The club opened talks with his agent in March over his renewal.

Ancelotti still believes Lunin has plenty of room for improvement, especially in terms of his aerial presence and footwork. But both he and his staff value the goalkeeper’s professionalism, resilience and growth, which they put down to being released from the pressure of living in Courtois’ shadow. In the dressing room, he is closest to young players such as Brahim Diaz, Valverde and summer signing Fran Gracia.

Despite his improvement, everyone at Valdebebas expects Courtois to return as Madrid’s first-choice ‘keeper once he is fully recovered. The Belgian was on the bench for the Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich on Tuesday after a separate meniscus injury suffered during his ACL recovery. He could play in Madrid’s potentially decisive La Liga game against Cadiz on Saturday, although a final choice will be made today or tomorrow.

But, for now, Lunin is the man of the moment — to the surprise of almost everyone.

(Top photo: Maria de Gracias Jimenez/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

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

4/26/24 EPL Race tightens, Indy pitch MLS? Coventry robbed, Wrexham moving up, American’s Abroad, Champs League Tue/Wed

April 26, 2024 gatorbest carmel-fc, football, indy-11, indy-soccer, premier-league, soccer, soccer-refs, usmnt, uswnt

Indy Mayor Pitches MLS and appears to cut out Indy 11 in the process. Interesting press conference by the Mayor. https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2024/04/25/indianapolis-plans-to-bid-for-mls-expansion-team/73458916007/ No idea what this means for Indy 11 Park and the downtown stadium? Is there a mystery potential new owner for an Indy MLS team – Confusion sets in ? I have long said the Indy 11 owner does not have MLS money and I am not sure we have the corporate support to field an MLS team along with NFL and NBA teams.

FA Cup Semi-Final leaves American offsides

Got a chance to watch the FA Cup Semi’s this weekend while in Cincy for a tourney – and man did Coventry City get robbed in their PK loss to Man United. American winger Haji Wright was dangerous all day and was (Not offsides) on the would be winning goal in ET – at Wembley Sunday. Man U won in PKs though US #9 Wright did score his PK. It will be Man U vs Man City in the FA Cup Finals again in May. Meanwhile Liverpool and Arsenal both lost last weekend leaving the door open for Man City to win the EPL again – games continue this weekend as just 1 pt separates Arsenal & Man City.

MLS – Big Win for Columbus + Big News for LAFC

The Columbus Crew took a huge home 2-1 win over Liga MX power Monterrey for the first leg in the Champions Cup. The return round is Tues night on FS1 10:15 pm on FS1. Big news for LAFC as they announced that French & AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud will be coming to LAFC after the Serie A season ends. Giroud, 37, has scored 13 goals and 8 assist this season while often starting for AC Milan.

Big Games on TV

Of course Champions League is back next week with no English teams left as Germany’s Bayern Munich will host Real Madrid Tuesday on CBS at 3 pm, while Dortmund will host PSG and Mbappe on Wed 3 pm on CBS. Sat gives us some battles of American’s with Fulham and Jedi Robinson hosting Crystal Palace and Centerback Chris Richards at 10 am on Peacock, followed by Juventus (Weah, McKinney) hosting AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) at 12 noon on Para+. (Man this game on CBS would be cool). Sunday at 12:30 Bayern Leverkusen (German Champ) continues its quest for an unbeaten season as they host top 5 foe Stuttgart on ESPN+. (I watched their amazing comeback in stoppage time at Dortmund last Sunday). Tues night on FS 1 at 10 pm the Columbus Crew carry a 2-1 lead to Monterrey as they look to advance to the finals of the CONCACAF Championship.

Carmel FC 2010 Boys Gold Wins Kolping Cup Championship last weekend in Cincy, Ohio with a 3-0-1 mark. Head Coach Mark Stumpf (left) and Asst Shane Best (right).

Reffing done Right – always a pleasure to ref for ref assignor Nate Sinders & Dave – especially on a Bar BQ Weekend – like the Boys Showcase last weekend and Girls Showcase this weekend. Nate makes some of the best Beef Brisket in the state of Indiana. Good Eatin — thanks Nate !!

GAMES ON TV

Fri, 4/26

3 pm ESPN+ Real Sociadad vs Real Madrid

3 pm ESPN+ QPR vs Leeds United Championship

10 pm Amazon Prime Angel City vs KC Current NWSL

Sat, Apr 27

7:30 am USA West Ham vs Liverpool

9:30 am EPSN+ Bayern Munich vs Frankfurt

10 am USA Wolverhampton vs Luton Town

10 am Peacock Fulham (Jedi, Ream) vs Crystal Palace (Richards)

10 am Peacock Man United vs Burnley (adams)

10 am ESPN+ Blackburn vs Coventry City (HAji Wright) Championship

12 noon Para+ Juventus (Weah, McKinney) vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)

12:30 pm NBC Everton vs Brentford

12:30 pm ESPN+ Leverkusen vs Stuttgart

1:45 pm Fox Austin vs LA Galaxy MLS

3 pm Peacock Aston Villa vs Chelsea

3 pm ESPN+ Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Club Spain

7:30 pm Ion Chicago Starts vs Portland Thorns NWSL

7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs North Carolina

7:30 pm CBSSN Tampa Bay Rowdies (Jordan Farr) vs NM United USL

Sun, Apr 28

9 am USA Tottenham vs Arsenal

11:30 am USA Nottingham Forest (Reyna, Turner) vs Man City

12 noon Para+ Napoli vs Roma

Tues, Apr 30

3 pm CBS Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid UCL

Weds, May 1 Champions League

3 pm CBS Dortmund vs PSG

10:15 pm FS1 Monterrey 1 vs Columbus Crew 2 CONCACAF Champs Cup

10 pm CBSSN Bay FC vs Portland Thorns (Smith) NWSL

Thurs, May 2 Europa

3 pm CBSSN Roma vs Leverkusen Europa

3 pm Para+ Marseille vs Atalanta

3 pm Para+ Aston Villa vs Olympiakos Pireaus

June 27 Copa America US Men Play Panama

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

https://www.uslchampionship.com/cbs CBS Schedule

https://www.uslchampionship.com/espn ESPN

USMNT has no proven replacement for Dest, says Lalas

US Men

No Serg, big problem? Assessing the USMNT’s right back options with Dest out

Pulisic admits he’s been surprised by Serie A difficulty

Late Weah assist sends Juventus to Coppa Italia final at Lazio’s expense

Pulisic includes McKennie when building dream player — for his banter, of course

Report: McKennie has Saudi Arabia, MLS offers as Juventus contract talks continue

Is Weston McKennie dating an Inter player’s sister?

PSV boss Bosz wants to sign Dest permanently despite serious injury
Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as ’25 Sam Marsden

Weah lifts Juve – Adams Still out & American’s Update

US Women

USWNT star Horan named player of the season finalist in France

Lavelle: USWNT will enter Olympics with chip on shoulder after World Cup failure

Press on comeback: The only promise I’ll make is that I’ll try

USWNT learns Zambia will be final Olympic group stage opponent

USWNT player ratings: Smith, Naeher decisive in SheBelieves Cup triumph over Canada

EPL

‘With title prize in sight, Man City rarely show any weakness’
Kevin De Bruyne is still the Premier League’s true Grandmaster
Why so many goals in this season’s Premier League?
Premier League Picks: PST’s predictions for Week 35 of 2023-24 season
Who is Arne Slot? Feyenoord boss acknowledges he wants Liverpool job
Everton have miles to go despite derby win – Dyche

WORLD

Barcelona president confirms Xavi will stay on as manager in press conference
Why Inzaghi deserves some love after Inter Milan cruise to Serie A title Gabriele Marcotti

Mbappe, Dembele leave PSG poised to celebrate Ligue 1 title
Season finale a ‘celebration’ for Wrexham & Stockport – Parkinson
Wrexham to play Premier League pair on tour

The state of Barcelona’s finances: How bad are they? Can they be fixed?
Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as ’25 Sam Marsden

Wrexham Wins League 2 and will move up to League 1 next season – TV Show continues on FX

MLS

French forward Olivier Giroud set for Los Angeles FC move
Columbus Crew take crucial 2-1 advantage over CF Monterrey in Champions Cup: 2 takeaways
Crew’s Championship Cup win will reverberate well beyond Columbus and Monterrey: Arace
MLS Power Rankings: Whitecaps continue strong start, Revs remain dismal Ryan Rosenblatt

Lionel Messi tracker: All goals, assists, key moments for Inter Miami in 2024 ESPN

Goalkeeping

How former Carmel FC GK Coach & Indy 11 GK became the #1 at Tampa Bay
Courtois can return next week: Madrid coach Ancelotti

Soccer world reacts as Alyssa Naeher proves she is the One True Penalty God

USL Saves of the Week – Jordan Farr for Tampa Bay Rowdies

How to Throw the Ball Properly

6 exercises to protect your Ankles

Reffing

American Haji Wright was not offsides

Did Reyna get fouled on this play?

Happy to be back on the Tourney fields – for Boys Showcase – Mike Arrington, Mike Von Duhn and Shane Best

Shane, Daekh Seyid and Matt Von Duhn Friday at the Showcase at Grand Park

USMNT Player Tracker: Dest disaster, Wright’s toenail and Richards thriving

By Greg O’KeeffeApr 22, 2024

Heartache for Sergino Dest, Haji Wright’s Wembley star turn and Chris Richards’ happy comeback play a part in this week’s USMNT player tracker.

Each Monday, we update you on how American players in leagues around Europe fared over the weekend.

With a Copa America to host this year and the 2026 World Cup, also partially on home soil, looming ever larger on the horizon, we are keeping tabs on how they are performing.

How to follow the Copa America on The Athletic…

Issue of the weekend

Dest will almost certainly endure a deeply disappointing end to a wonderful season.

His misfortune on Saturday morning, suffering a knee injury that may sideline him until next year, could barely have come at a worse time.

The USMNT defender had become a mainstay of the national team while enjoying one of the best campaigns of his club career at PSV Eindhoven on loan from Barcelona.

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Now he will be forced to watch from the stands as what he helped create — an almost unbeaten league season, with PSV on course to become champions in May — unfolds without one of its main protagonists.

But even worse for the 23-year-old will be missing out on his second major tournament for the national team.

Dest has been a key performer in PSV’s outstanding campaign (ANP via Getty Images)

Dest played in each of the USMNT’s four games at the Qatar 2022 World Cup and was likely to remain one of the first names on Gregg Berhalter’s team sheet at this summer’s Copa America. Now the USMNT manager has some thinking to do.

Joe Scally, the team’s other bespoke right-back, has put together a decent season at Borussia Monchengladbach. He is 21 and, although his starting place has looked less certain in recent weeks, Scally has been in the starting XI for the Bundesliga outfit on 22 occasions, garnering big-game experience. On Saturday, he was named on the bench but contributed an assist during his 21 minutes on the pitch during Gladbach’s 4-3 defeat at Hoffenheim.

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He will be in the mix to step into Dest’s boots this summer, but if Berhalter wants to try to emulate the attacking threat Dest brings, he might need to get creative — perhaps using Juventus’ Timothy Weah as a wing-back or even his club team-mate Weston McKennie.

AC Milan’s Yunus Musah could perform there and Westerlo’s 22-year-old full-back Bryan Reynolds offers another solution if Berhalter does not want to diminish his central midfield options by dragging a key man out wide.

Whatever the fix, it is a headache the national team coach could do without.

Dest competes with Mexico’s Gerardo Arteaga during the CONCACAF Nations League final in March (Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Player of the weekend

Ever the man for the big stage, Sunday brought another show-stopping moment Haji Wright will never forget.

In late 2022, he scored for the USMNT against the Netherlands in Qatar, and this weekend saw him almost help create one of the FA Cup’s great fairy tales. Wright’s penalty meant Coventry City, from England’s second tier, recovered from 3-0 down to force Manchester United into extra time in a thrilling semi-final at Wembley.

Wright scores from the spot (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

City pushed the Premier League giants to the brink and almost made it to the final, only for Victor Torp’s stoppage-time strike to be ruled out for a negligible VAR offside call, made against Wright.

In the end, a penalty shootout decided the pulsating tie and Wright confidently netted his side’s first after United’s Casemiro saw his effort saved.

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Yet it was not to be for the Californian and his plucky team-mates as United eventually prevailed and reached the final next month against rivals Manchester City.

Wright has been a goalscoring threat for Coventry all season, as can be seen from the variety of his shot map below.

“We get the equaliser from the penalty spot and it’s brilliantly dispatched from Wright,” said proud manager Mark Robins afterwards. “(Then) we’re back in it and, 20 seconds from the end of extra time, we get what feels like to be the winner, but it’s a toenail offside. I don’t know how unlucky we can be.

“They’ve written themselves into the history of this football club with the way they’ve come back in this football game, they have to be proud of themselves. It’s just really sad we couldn’t see it through.”

Coventry’s nervous support wait for Wright to find the back of the net (Nigel French/PA Images via Getty Images)

Quote of the weekend

Dest’s immediate future may be shrouded in doubt, but he can take solace that PSV remain keen to keep him permanently.

His Barcelona contract runs until June 2025, but with uncertainty over whether the wing-back will be part of the club’s plans next season, PSV president Marcel Brands has made it clear the Dutch club want to sign him regardless of his injury.

“We were in negotiations with him (Dest) and his agent last week,” Brands told Voetbal International. “Yes, that’s going in the right direction. We have to wait and see how or what, but we believe in Sergino and he will get fit again. We would love to keep him with PSV.

“’We had to convince him, but he became more and more enthusiastic and is having a good time. That’s why he wanted to talk to PSV about staying longer.”

Dest, Tillman, Pepi interview: The quest to become ‘invincible’ at PSV and hopes for World Cup

How did other U.S. players get on?

Name: Zyen Jones
Club: Kosice
Position: Right midfield
Appearances (all competitions): 11
Goals: Two

The 23-year-old created his side’s winning goal in a key fixture of the Slovakian top flight’s relegation battle on Friday. Kosice are three points clear of the drop and Jones, who joined in January, has one goal and two assists in six league appearances.

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Name: Josh Sargent
Club: Norwich City
Position: Striker
Appearances: 26
Goals: 15

Sargent was the provider for team-mate Borja Sainz on Saturday as Norwich drew 1-1 with Bristol City to retain their position in the Championship’s final play-off place with two games remaining.

Sainz and Sargent celebrate Norwich’s equaliser (MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Name: Gianluca Busio
Club: Venezia
Position: Midfield
Appearances: 34
Goals: Seven

The 21-year-old was the star man with his side’s second goal in their 2-1 win at Leco on Saturday, a result that kept Venezia third in Serie B and in contention for promotion. It was his seventh goal of the season.

Name: Chris Richards
Club: Defender
Position: Crystal Palace
Appearances: 26
Goals: One

It was a hugely successful return from injury for the USMNT international as he completed the 90 minutes of Palace’s emphatic 5-2 win against West Ham United, playing a significant role in winning back the ball in the build-up to the hosts’ second goal.

Richards had missed his side’s previous three games with a hamstring problem but slotted back into Oliver Glasner’s three-man defence as Palace edged further clear of trouble.

The Athletic FC: ‘Last Dance’ over for Klopp at Liverpool? Plus: Outrageous Mbappe nutmeg

By Phil Hay The Athletic Apr 25, 2024

The Athletic FC ⚽ This is The Athletic’s daily football/soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox.

Hello! You know what they say. Don’t cry because it’s ending. Smile because it happened.

On the way today:

😔 Liverpool and Klopp. Game over?

👀 Mbappe ending careers before they begin

💰 Who lives in an £800m ($1bn) home like this? NYCFC…

🏡 Xavi staying at Barcelona

Klopp’s ‘Last Dance’ looking unlikely at Liverpool

All good things are destined to end. Like Jurgen Klopp’s record at Goodison Park. Like Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.

True, Liverpool aren’t finished. Not mathematically. It’s three points to the top of the Premier League table, or four if we factor in Arsenal’s goal difference.

But losing away at Everton — their Merseyside rivals who took a step closer to survival — last night, the derby Klopp had never lost at Goodison in all his time, is probably the end for him. He knows it, and so do Liverpool.

Klopp consoles Diaz (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Were the title a two-horse race, he could pray for salvation. But Arsenal and Manchester City — who are a point behind Klopp’s side with two games in hand — both imploding in the few games that are left? We’re somewhere between no chance and none.

How quickly this turned — from a near-flawless run of results to a chaotic FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in mid-March which provoked a chain of negative reactions.

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Klopp said he was resigning because he was weary. Liverpool, in tandem and as a project, have begun to look weary too. And suddenly in need of the reset that’s coming their way.

Do players ‘really want to win the league’?

Two post-match comments at Goodison jumped out at me. The first was Klopp describing Liverpool’s counter-pressing as “horrible”. That’s an indictment of one of their biggest strengths under him.

The second was Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk questioning whether they “really want to win the league”. Which was him on the verge of saying no — and conceding that they won’t.

From the moment Klopp announced he would resign at the end of the season, this became his version of ‘The Last Dance’, that immense documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The month behind Klopp has been more like Netflix’s Tour De France series: an elite rider broken by a Hors Categorie climb.

Klopp’s record as he prepares to bow out: seven major trophies in just under nine years, including a Premier League and a Champions League. Understanding him as we do, he’d have wanted more.

But he had the misfortune of coming up against a Manchester City team beyond compare and despite that, he took Liverpool back to the top table. Anfield’s love has been well-earned.

Klopp and Van Dijk (Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)

How to Slot in?

Perhaps there is an upside to Liverpool’s downturn.

Klopp no longer looks like an impossible void to fill. Liverpool no longer look like they are losing a coach at his absolute peak. His expressions of fatigue sound honest, and are reflected in his body language.

Perhaps, on reflection, a new broom is just the ticket.

Liverpool are fishing for Feyenoord’s Arne Slot. They got nowhere with a first offer of just under £8million ($10m) but last night’s defeat will only deepen their resolve in negotiations.

Until very recently, replacing Klopp resembled a hospital pass. As it is, and as James Pearce writes, a rebuild is now much easier to embrace. It’s been some ride for Liverpool. But nothing lasts forever.

WATCH: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City, 3pm ET / 8pm UK. Premier League. USA Network, Sky Sports

Mbappe’s masterful ‘megs + assist

Thoughts and prayers with Nathaniel Adjei. There he was, minding his own business with Lorient in France, when Kylian Mbappe made his name go viral.

You might remember the piece we did recently on the Chigwada spin: a mad bit of skill by Manchester City youngster David Chigwada. Watch it 10 times and you still won’t be sure exactly how he pulled it off.

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Mbappe does tricks like that in his sleep and here he is destroying Adjei with a brutal nutmeg (more on the art of the nutmeg here) in Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-1 away win last night. I hate to say it but Adjei, who’s only 21, might just have experienced the most high-profile moment of his career.

(Video is here for readers in U.S)

Xavi U-turn

From the vaults of the unexpected — Xavi is staying on as Barcelona manager next season.

Why unexpected? Because he announced that he was quitting a while back and has given the impression of being thoroughly sick of life at Camp Nou, calling it a ‘cruel job’. Ever heard of the Barca entorno?

Not only that, in the past week Barca have dropped out of the running in La Liga and the Champions League. But an emergency meeting with president Joan Laporta turned everything on its head. We’re expecting a formal announcement today.

This got me thinking. If U-turns are in vogue, any chance that Bayern Munich go into reverse gear with Thomas Tuchel?

How the USMNT could replace Sergiño Dest for the Copa America

By Jeff Rueter

Sergiño Dest put together the best season of his young career in 2023-24.

On loan at PSV Eindhoven from Barcelona, he eclipsed 2,000 league minutes — a clear breakthrough after a few nomadic seasons in Spain and on another loan to AC Milan. He was a fixture of PSV’s ongoing quest for an Eredivisie title, starting in all 25 of his league appearances while making another 12 appearances (11 starts) in the UEFA Champions League and the KNVB Beker.

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Monday brought sobering news: The full back had suffered a knee injury in training on Saturday, with an early prognosis ruling him out for up to nine months.

That’s a big loss for PSV’s final four games, and arguably an even bigger one for the USMNT as it seeks to make a run in this summer’s Copa America. Ever since 2022 World Cup qualifying, he’s owned the right back position like few others have in any role under Gregg Berhalter.

USMNT Player Tracker: Dest disaster, Wright’s toenail and Richards thriving

Of course, time only moves forward. The Copa América will kick off on June 20, with the USMNT first taking the field on June 23 against Bolivia. Only two months remain for players to firm up their cases for inclusion — and, in the wake of Dest’s injury, for someone else to step up as the team’s first-choice right back.

Whoever steps up, though, the U.S. won’t find another player like Dest. His commitment to ball progression, chance creation (‘SCA’ in the table below means ‘shot-creating actions’) and the audacity to set up his shot comprise a rare blend for a fullback. Add in Dest’s press-resistant dribbling, and the USMNT has a way to break lines even when opponents are adequately stifling primary passing lanes.

How to follow the Copa America on The Athletic…

The U.S. pool simply doesn’t offer a like-for-like replacement. As such, most viable alternatives will require reconfiguring how the U.S. center backs and midfielders patrol space in all phases of play.

Among those alternatives, one option immediately figures to have an inside track on the role.

Joe Scally

A member of Berhalter’s squad for the 2022 World Cup, Scally has now cemented himself as a fixture of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s defense in the German Bundesliga. Although Gladbach’s season hasn’t gone as hoped, sitting 12th in the Bundesliga and four points above the relegation playoff place, Scally has now started 20+ games for them in three consecutive campaigns.

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On the same day that Dest injured his knee, Scally came off the bench away at Hoffenheim. He provided an assist — his third of the year, a new career high — but was unable to catalyze a full comeback as Mönchengladbach lost 4-3.

Regardless of the results, though, Scally cuts an entirely different figure as a defender than Dest.

The Bundesliga’s playstyle is generally less free-flowing than the Eredivisie, which does cut into his ability to progress the ball to some extent. So too does Scally’s versatility – he is occasionally used as a left back, right midfielder and even center back.

Still, Scally doesn’t carry that same upfield compass that guides Dest’s every decision. Instead, he’s a more traditional full back. USMNT fans of a certain vintage might compare him to Steve Cherundolo: prone to slinging effective short passes and prioritizing his defensive responsibilities over the attacking stuff.

All said, his regular involvement in a league that is among the world’s best sets him apart from the rest of the pool.

The rest of the pool

Scally and Dest were two of four right backs to make Berhalter’s 26-man roster for the World Cup in Qatar. In the ensuing year and a half, however, both Shaq Moore and DeAndre Yedlin have faded from consideration for a full-strength USMNT compared to Dest and Scally.

Moore has had a rough start to the 2024 MLS season, although the same can be said for the entire team around him. Nashville’s system utilizes his long distribution frequently, but this season he’s performed just below league average in terms of tackling and allowing opposing dribblers to bypass him. Still, he’s a known entity in Berhalter’s planning and could allow for steady progress with his passing.

Yedlin has benefited greatly since being traded to FC Cincinnati from Inter Miami in March. The move from one of MLS’s most porous defenses to one of its best has allowed him to be a bit more aggressive with peace of mind that his teammates will be up to bail out any miscue. Although he’ll turn 31 in July, he’s also displayed an uptick in his upfield carrying volume, albeit not quite at the same rapid rate as when he broke out a decade ago. His crossing isn’t quite up to positional standard, but the 81-cap veteran could be a viable alternative to Scally in big games.

MLS Takeaways: Vancouver Whitecaps early dominance; Inter Miami’s squad depth support

Reggie Cannon has been a steady on-ball defender since joining Queens Park Rangers this September. In his first season in the EFL Championship, he’s let opponents dribble past him just 15.2% of the time – one of the best marks in the league. The problem? Despite this strong run of form, manager Martí Cifuentes (appointed a month after Cannon signed) dropped the former FC Dallas defender from his lineup in February, opting to start center back Jimmy Dunne in a wide role. That lack of minutes could cost Cannon a chance at the Copa América roster, as he’ll struggle to return to peak form in time for the tournament.

The final pair of right backs who may be in contention seemed destined to make the Olympic roster before Dest’s injury. Bryan Reynolds has been a fixture of the U-23 side throughout its preparations, benefitting from earning regular starts in the Belgian Pro League with Westerlo.

Reynolds also started regularly at last summer’s Gold Cup under interim B.J. Callaghan, which could give him a leg up over Nathan Harriel. The Philadelphia Union homegrown is untested at the senior international level but is among MLS’s best one-on-one defenders. If either is picked for the Copa América, it could open the door for Jake Davis (another strong tackler who developed in central midfield) to crack the Olympic roster.

Tim Weah has been used as a right wingback with Juventus (Click Thompson/Getty Images)

The curveballs

If one of the above options doesn’t cut it for Gregg Berhalter, he may be able to find a solution by moving a versatile starter to the back four. Each has viable alternatives who could fill their place if they need to be relocated for the good of their country.

Tyler Adams’ return from a lengthy injury layoff was a sight for sore eyes at the Nations League. The Bournemouth midfielder has played just 211 minutes for club and country since his hamstring tear in March 2023, but he looked like his typically vital self during his two Nations League appearances last month. There’s some precedent for Adams at right back – he played there for the U.S. occasionally in the 2022 World Cup cycle. However, it’s a physically demanding role, and his recent injury history might not allow for it.

Weston McKennie’s best shift at the 2022 World Cup came as something of a right wingback. Against England, the midfielder lived in the right half-space to create a numerical overload that helped the United States in possession and frustrated the Three Lions’ build-up when the ball changed hands. However, he’s had a truly resurgent season for Juventus as a box-to-box midfielder, doing his usual all-around stuff while adding better pass selection and creativity in the heart of the park. While Luca de la Torre (or Gio Reyna, if he isn’t used on the wing) could take his place were he to move to right back, it may create more midfield imbalance than ideal.

Instead, the best bet among projected USMNT starters may be a few lockers down in the Juventus dressing room. This year, Massimiliano Allegri has utilized Tim Weah as a right wingback. The gambit worked wonders until recent weeks, where a poor run of form has Allegri shuffling his lineup on a weekly basis in hopes of keeping his job. At the club’s heights this fall and winter, however, Weah brought his usual direct speed into the role with great success, also showcasing impressive tackling acumen for a career forward.

Although he plays slightly more advanced for his club than he would for the U.S., his movement patterns are closer to Dest’s than a lot of the aforementioned alternatives. Weah has had a full season to get used to making downhill runs against more congested defenses than he finds on the wing, which would cut down on his learning curve tremendously. He would also benefit from having McKennie play in a similar spot as he does for Juventus, allowing for second-nature interplay between the pair as Weah builds a rapport with the center backs.

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Moving Weah off of the right wing would also open that role up for Christian Pulisic. The USMNT star has been among the best wide attackers in Europe, enjoying an emphatic bounce-back campaign with AC Milan after some lean years at Chelsea. That uptick has coincided with a shift from his previous role on the left to playing on the right – the same role he played during his breakout with Borussia Dortmund.

The 25-year-old has more than held his own while sharing a forward line with Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud, with 13 goals and 8 assists across 3,169 minutes in all competitions.

Compared to his form with Milan, Pulisic seemed to play less freely in the Nations League. At times against Jamaica and Mexico, he was caught in two minds as he navigated the final third in a role that has never quite brought out his best.

If Pulisic were to shift, the left wing has capable alternatives: Reyna for a creative spark and Haji Wright as an in-form wide forward, to name two.

If there’s a silver lining to be found around Dest’s injury, perhaps it’s the potential for a shake-up that keeps the USMNT from replicating the worryingly stale first 90 minutes against Jamaica. Not only would it put the team’s best player into his best role, but it would also make the USMNT harder to gameplan for due to a lack of previous utilization. Sometimes, those tweaks can make a major difference in a knockout format.

(Top photos: David Jensen/Getty Images; John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USWNT Olympic roster prediction 2.0: How things look after the SheBelieves Cup

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 9: USWNT waiting patiently during penalty kicks round during the SheBelieves Cup Final between Canada and USWNT at Lower.com Field on April 9, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

By Meg Linehan, Steph Yang, and Jeff Rueter THe Athletic Apr 20, 2024

As the interim head coach era of the U.S. women’s national team comes to a close, it’s time for a fresh round of evaluating who’s in and who’s out of Olympic roster contention. In less than four months, new head coach Emma Hayes will have to select just 18 players to take to France. Former USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis recently described the math equation she used when she was trying to figure out if she was in contention for a roster. Mewis would make her own depth chart, writing out the defenders, midfielders, and forwards in her hotel room. It’s likely the current U.S. group is doing the math now after two SheBelieves games, with both requiring comeback victories and the team needing penalties – again – to dispatch Canada.In Columbus, defender Tierna Davidson hinted at balancing the anxiety that leads to hotel room math with every athlete’s mantra about controlling the controllable. “I think for all of us, it’s just taking everything with a grain of salt and to just give everybody a little bit of space to be making the decision that they’re making, and to see different pictures on the field,” Davidson said. “We all know that nothing is guaranteed as a new coach comes in. So I think everyone (is) trying to put their best foot forward but also understanding that it is an unorthodox time for both us as players and the coaching staff, the technical staff as a whole.”As we guess at our Olympic roster 2.0 (see our first edition here), interim head coach Twila Kilgore’s summary of any roster construction provides good context.

“It’s not about young or old or less experienced or more experienced. It’s about getting the right combinations of players with the right amount of experience and different strengths and weaknesses where they can cover each other in different areas and also have some chemistry and make sure that they’re all able to highlight their strengths,” she said.

Now that SheBelieves is over, and Zambia has officially completed the USWNT’s Olympic group, it’s up to Hayes to determine the final roster — with just two international windows to do so.

The Athletic’s Olympic squad right now:

Goalkeepers (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Casey Murphy (NC Courage)

Defenders (6): Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Abby Dahlkemper (SD Wave), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Crystal Dunn (Gotham FC), Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC),

Midfielders (5): Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Catarina Macario (Chelsea), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)

Forwards (5): Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), Alex Morgan (SD Wave), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (SD Wave)

Goalkeepers

Meg: I don’t think this combo will surprise anyone. Alyssa Naeher should have done a bit better on that super-quick Japan goal in Atlanta, but it was Canada’s opening goal that’s more troublesome when you’re thinking about your starting goalkeeper. Her form so far this year has been very solid — vintage, in many ways — and she reminded everyone to settle down with another absurd penalty shootout performance against Canada: three saves and a converted spot kick.

Jeff: I think we’ve all shared similar concerns about Naeher’s agility when converging on an open ball or reacting to a powerful shot. The former scenario played out Tuesday night and it cost the U.S. the opening goal. Unfortunately, there’s been very little rotation in net since the CONCACAF W Gold Cup group stage, and any alternative would need to start at least twice in June’s friendlies against South Korea to have any familiarity with the defenders. This is one area where Kilgore could have better prepared some viable alternatives in 2024.It’s also worth stressing that the chance for a player to parlay a really strong stretch with their club into a backup role — “pulling an Aubrey Kingsbury,” if you will — is lessened when the team will only bring two goalkeepers instead of three. Casey Murphy has been Naeher’s main alternative for the better part of four years, and I’d expect that to remain the case unless Hayes rates someone else.

Defenders

Here’s where we had the most debate this time around: do you bring three center backs and three outside backs? Two straight-up center backs and then maybe a defender who can slot centrally if you need them in a pinch? On the outside back front, do we need one of each, or better to have someone who can half-credibly cover both? Is it better to prioritize pure defense on these depth picks, or someone who can slot into the U.S.’s attacking patterns?

Girma is one of the few defenders from the USWNT’s World Cup roster who is still receiving regular starts. (Photo by Brad Smith, Getty Images for USSF)

Center backs

Meg: Everyone watching the opening SheBelieves Cup match was both praying and believing in the healthiest possible vibes for Naomi Girma after she was forced to exit the match in the 18th minute with what turned out to be a day-to-day thigh injury. It seems like the team is being super precautionary and not pushing it. As we discussed last time, Girma is name number one on the S-Tier mission-critical players for the Olympics. Davidson has inched closer to being that primary partner for her, but she might have some rough video review after this tournament going over two of the goals allowed.

Here’s our one shift of this Olympic roster as we move from 1.0 to 2.0: we’ve opted to add Abby Dahlkemper to the mix.

Steph: I think SheBelieves illustrated pretty neatly that you need a third center back as opposed to someone who can shift inside in a pinch. A dedicated center back is perhaps the one area where you don’t want versatility. You want a specialist who can do a few other things but is devoted primarily to being a center back. As we saw against Canada at SheBelieves, you lose a lot with Girma if you’re facing a team trying to play over your backline. Girma is exceptional in her ability to cover the long ball and to control the space to deny runners the ability to look at goal in the first place.

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Jeff: Another factor playing in Dahlkemper’s favor is her familiarity with the two other center backs. Tuesday marked the 15th time that she’s partnered with Davidson, albeit the first in nearly three years. She also plays alongside Girma for San Diego, ensuring that any pairing from that trio will have established familiarity at a time when so much of the squad will be acclimating on the fly.

Meg: There is still a chance for Alana Cook to sneak in for one final look, finally returning to the Reign as a sub in an NWSL match last month, but that feels more like a chance than a definite right now.

Nighswonger earned her first USWNT cap in December 2023 (Photo by Andrea Vilchez, Getty Images for USSF)

Outside backs

Steph: Jenna Nighswonger has moved up to at least A-Tier for me, which we described last time as someone around whom to build the roster. I think Nighswonger has shown she’s a big piece of the USWNT’s ability to press, especially enabling Mal Swanson to go full Mal Swanson in their left-side progression.

Jeff: Nighswonger has provided width that was sorely lacking during the Vlatko Andonovski era, where both fullbacks tucked into the midfield rather than running the flank. While Fox is still doing that inverted wingback work on the right, having Nighswonger offer width and progression on the left gives a different element in the build-up — the U.S. sorely missed this in the first half against Canada, and moving upfield along the left was a slog.

Do we think Crystal Dunn knows what her role is moving forward? I wouldn’t be surprised if she is preferred to Nighswonger in the short term, but I still want to know if Hayes will keep her at left back or finally, mercifully, unleash her in midfield.

Meg: I really rate Casey Krueger, and think she should be on the USWNT. This 18-player roster is a killer.

Jeff: Kilgore did opt to bring Krueger in to replace Dunn on Tuesday rather than Nighswonger. It may have just been minute management at Gotham’s request, but we’ve also seen Krueger play right, center, and left in the past few months. If we’re highlighting versatility within the pool, she’s checked all the boxes.

Midfielders

Meg: Somehow, the one from the midfield I’m most on the fence about right now is Rose Lavelle, which isn’t anything Lavelle has done. She missed out on this camp due to injury. Assuming she’s healthy this summer (which, to be fair, sometimes is a greater assumption than anyone would prefer), she still has to make the trip. The USWNT has some different looks at the No. 10 now though, with Jaedyn Shaw getting the nod against Brazil. Catarina Macario could also slot there (or, as always: Dunn).

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Steph: I think Olivia Moultrie is a little extraneous if a roster has to get trimmed to 18, and I say that only in the context of that trimming and not at all as a referendum on her talent or ability to play at this level. It’s just that with Macario and Shaw in the mix, and especially if Lavelle gets healthy in time, I think it pushes her down the list a bit. Even though I think she’s on track to eventually work her way deeper into this team.

Lavelle was left off the SheBelieves roster due to injury. (Photo by Omar Vega, Getty Images)

Jeff: If you were listing the 18 most talented players in the pool, or the 18 most important, I wouldn’t spare a thought at listing all three of Lavelle, Macario and Shaw before I even get to the difficult decisions. But with so many high-caliber forwards and wingers, and Horan being a two-way threat, can you afford to take three attacking midfielders and punt on depth elsewhere?

If there’s one thing I’m confident about, it’s that the roster’s biggest snub will either be an attacking midfielder (Lavelle seems most tenuous given her struggles to stay healthy since 2022) or a winger.

Meg: It feels safe enough to note that we know what we’re getting with Horan in this midfield, so let’s move to the No. 6. Sam Coffey has had a very strong start to her 2024. At this point, do we think she’s done enough to cement not just a spot on the 18-player roster for France, but as the team’s starting defensive midfielder?

Jeff: I think so. I’m not an NWSL awards voter, but I would’ve had Coffey as my MVP last season for her work with Portland. She plays with a willingness to advance into the final third only when necessary, which keeps a midfield safety net to stifle a counterattack if the U.S. turns the ball over. Her long distribution can also help unlock the team’s wingers in all phases, and she’s looked the part against high-caliber opponents.

We’ve already rattled off a lot of names we’d want to bring, but we should probably address what the past couple of weeks could mean for Korbin Albert’s hopes of inclusion. The midfield is incredibly crowded right now; we haven’t even brought up World Cup call-ups like Savannah DeMelo, Ashley Sanchez or Andi Sullivan, or the long-awaited inclusion of Jaelin Howell. Hayes’ Chelsea often plays with two midfield pivots in front of the back line, so there could be room for a non-attacking inclusion at the expense of a playmaker.

Still, Albert’s overcommitment against Brazil made her easy to bypass in the Gold Cup final, and the very real locker room chemistry concerns could make this a tournament roster too soon.

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Meg: We’re not in that locker room, but those concerns are definitely heightened for an 18-player roster. I think the federation is largely satisfied with her public apology over her social media activity, but I also think that the USWNT technical staff have better options right now for soccer reasons, too.

Morgan has adapted to a new role with the young USWNT. (Photo by Carmen Mandato, Getty Images for USSF)

Forwards

Jeff: This is another area where the only real change from a month ago is an unfortunate injury. Midge Purce was at the top of my “tough omission” list after the Gold Cup, but an ACL tear has ruled her out for the Olympics and all of 2024. A player like Macario or Lavelle could be moved into a new role under Hayes and play as more of a winger, but beyond that, we’re likely talking about the same group of players with similar feelings about each.

Meg: For all the discourse on Alex Morgan, I think she’s going — and it feels like the players agree, based on this quote from Trinity Rodman in Columbus: “Alex is just a voice that we need with the experience. Being in the center, being the person that’s initiating press and attack, I think to have that voice, have that experience, have that veteran status is really good for us to build off of. And also just energy-wise, I think she sets the tone really well.” For as much as we talked about all those options at the No. 10, this team also has plenty at striker, but Morgan’s once again pulled off the return to the USWNT.

Steph: The forward group has been a historically delightful problem for coaches to solve. This team has never lacked scoring talent.

(Photo: Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

U.S. Soccer took a gamble waiting for Emma Hayes, leaving USWNT’s style of play in limbo

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Alyssa Naeher #1 of the United States watches as Fuka Nagano #10 of Japan strikes the ball during the first half in the 2024 SheBelieves Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 06, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Jeff Rueter The Athletic – Apr 12, 2024

In November, U.S. Soccer gambled that it was worth sacrificing a year of continuous preparation under a permanent manager to hire Emma Hayes. For eight months following the 2023 World Cup, interim management has overseen the U.S. women’s national team. To her credit, Twila Kilgore’s tenure as placeholder helped turn over the player pool and saw her team win a pair of tune-up competitions this spring.Still, it’s been a lost year for the program at a time when it was in sore need of a clear new vision. Hayes’ first games as USWNT manager in June are still two months away, bringing the post-World Cup interlude to 10 months — and a full seven months from her appointment in November.With the CONCACAF W Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup in the rearview, it’s time to take stock. Is the program any better prepared to contend at the Paris Olympics than it was when Sweden knocked it out of the World Cup?

The 2023 World Cup cycle (and, by association, the Vlatko Andonovski era) stands out as the low point for the USWNT on the field.The belated 2020 Olympics was a warning sign, as an aging core entered with varying levels of fitness amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team played every game in empty stadia, a far cry from the raucous support it so often enjoys in major tournaments, and the team was ultimately eliminated by Canada in the semifinal.Rather than heeding lessons from that tournament, Andonovski largely ran it back for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The team’s style of play often looked languid as it failed to breach the final third. Multiple players failed to see the field for a single minute as the U.S. advanced from its group thanks in part to a friendly goalpost against Portugal. The relief was short-lived as the U.S. fell to another longtime rival, Sweden, in a round of 16 penalty shootout.Advanced metrics show that the U.S. did do some good things in its four games at the tournament. No team allowed fewer shots per 90 than the squad’s 4.6, and its average xG per 90 advantage of 2.14-0.32 certainly screams “contender” in isolation. However, the issues with build-up and chance creation were clear.The team progressed up the field quickly enough, ranking 11th in the tournament field with a direct speed of 1.71 meters advanced upfield per second of possession.

Speed isn’t everything. Tournaments are notorious for eliciting small sample size judgments, and the trendline is far from definitive. Nevertheless, none of the 10 teams that ranked higher in direct speed advanced any further in the tournament than the round of 16.Progressing the ball upfield with pace is a helpful tool in transition, but the USWNT seemed devoid of ideas once it met the opposing defense in the final third. All four teams that had a more rapid direct speed also bowed out in the round of 16. Unsurprisingly, all five teams that averaged fewer goals per 90 than the U.S. also failed to reach the quarterfinal or further.Playing direct and sharp final third decision-making shouldn’t be treated as a mutually exclusive proposition, mind you. Given the talent at the USWNT’s disposal, there’s the potential to create a near unstoppable balance in attack. With the benefit of hindsight, the federation wanted to ensure the team was better equipped to make smart decisions to score with dependability.

“There was definitely a sense that we need to be better with the ball and have more solutions,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said in September. The federation polled players during the coaching search and much of the focus from the tactical feedback involved building the attack, playing through the midfield and having “creative solutions in tight spaces, having the players and the tactics to beat the low block.”After spending an entire cycle moving the ball despite its midfield — the Prayer Circle Formation, as Kim McCauley so brilliantly branded it — they wanted to make use of their engine room.Enter Hayes, a tactical chameleon who’s well-versed in the art of breaking down low blocks at the helm of her Chelsea juggernaut. She plans for the opponent rather than coaching from dogmatic principles. Each game’s instructions are curated with one aim in mind: winning, above all else.You can see the appeal at surface level, hiring a coach who habitually works to overcome the type of cynical tactics that sunk the team last summer. The catch: the team would have to wait while Hayes admitted her “full focus and attention is on what I do for Chelsea” until that season’s end.

If there’s a highlight performance over the last 10 months, it came in the Gold Cup quarterfinal against Colombia. In the preceding group stage, the USWNT was frustrated by opponents like Argentina and Mexico sitting in a low block as Kilgore maintained a possession-oriented structure perhaps too closely akin to Andonovski’s. Patterns of ball circulation slowed the team’s build-up, giving all too much time for defensive-minded opponents to get into their ideal placements.Colombia was a World Cup quarterfinalist last summer, blessed with one of the world’s great young attackers, Linda Caicedo, and a team that suited her skillset on the break. Kilgore strove to exploit those tendencies by letting her team play direct. It achieved two things: greater attacking intensity going forward, and fewer turnovers in the defensive half that would cater to Colombia’s strengths. A 3-0 win was a statement that the USWNT was back with a point to prove.

Direct again: How USWNT’s new old approach lends flexibility going forward

Taking a similar scoring initiative was impossible in a rain-soaked semifinal slog against Canada, and the team opted for a more controlled style of play in the final against Brazil, winning 1-0. It got results, ensuring the team won the inaugural Gold Cup.Still, the team wasn’t showcasing the type of consistent goalscoring necessary to be better prepared for the Olympics than it was in the World Cup. Fortunately, SheBelieves was right around the corner, providing another pair of games against high-level opponents to showcase Crocker’s desired “creative solutions in tight spaces.”Japan had other ideas. Kiko Seike became the first player to score against the USWNT in a game’s opening minute since 2003, putting the hosts at an early 1-0 deficit. With some savvy high-pressing the U.S. equalized 20 minutes later before a 77th-minute penalty kick sealed a 2-1 win for the U.S. It was a professional result, but not a showcase of the principles U.S. Soccer strove to install.Up next came Canada, which saw Kilgore drop one of her usual four attacking players for a second pivot at the base of midfield. Intentional or otherwise, this saw the team revert to their Prayer Circle tendencies.“Our attack is not built around one individual player and that is by design,” Kilgore said ahead of the final. “It’s important that we have the ability to score goals from a variety of different ways. And even though we have these predictable moments for us that we’re looking for, it’s important that different people are filling different roles and able to recognize when they’re the one that needs to maybe make an early run or get out ahead of the opponent for a cross.”Just over five minutes into the final against Canada, the USWNT seemed to look through its variety of chance-creation methods after a Lindsey Horan tackle sprung Sophia Smith on the counter.

Huh, that’s a let-off for Canada. Time to set up for another wave of attack.

Oh no, not the Prayer Circle.

No, no, no , no, no, no —

Over half an hour later, Canada opened the scoring after a miscommunication between goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and her defense. Once again, the United States was forced to react to the game after allowing the opponent to establish its terms.

Ultimately, a fresh batch of Naeher shootout heroics saw the USWNT become SheBelieves champions again. The two conceded goals could be chalked up to individual errors.

https://68d9e4a18cf6673b7b5917fd9e5a2e1f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Then again, the same could be said for the USWNT’s showing last summer: a team largely in control of games, but not showing enough bite to convert ball retention into goals — all while being prone to gaffes.

Is this team really better equipped to contend at these Olympics than it was last year?

If we’re looking for evidence of progress since August, we’ll need to start by looking at individual players. Alex Morgan struggled in the World Cup, but her gritty line-leading work was vital to the proactive success against Colombia. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario returned from injuries that limited their 2023 involvement and largely kept pace with the game around them.

The aftermath of the World Cup was always bound to see some program mainstays give way to the next generation. Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe both had send-off games, while captain Becky Sauerbrunn has faded from involvement. Horan has stepped up as a team leader, while Naomi Girma is already similarly impactful despite being just 23.

Young players benefited from Kilgore’s call-ups. Jenna Nighswonger has been a breath of fresh air at left back, providing sorely needed width in the build-up in a role that was previously instructed to tuck into midfield under Andonovski. Jaedyn Shaw is the latest attacking revelation, showing precocious decision-making in transition while being a capable first-time finisher. Sam Coffey seems poised to be the team’s defensive midfielder of the future, and Korbin Albert’s all-around game makes her seem like a possible successor to Horan in midfield (pending the off-field issues that could impact her locker room standing).

Having promising young players step up is essential to overcoming a bad four-year spell. But how many players like Nighswonger, Shaw and Coffey will need to reassert their readiness once Hayes comes in? It’s remained an open question just how closely Hayes is watching and assessing her upcoming pool of players. If that answer is less than “with a keen eye,” they’ll need to ace their second first impression to stay ahead of more veteran alternatives.

Ultimately, no matter who makes the 18-player Olympic roster, we don’t know how they’ll look to play in Paris. The questions that hung over the program still don’t have definitive answers.

USWNT Olympic roster prediction after the SheBelieves Cup

In appointing a coach who couldn’t start her job for over half a year, the USSF gambled that her quality is so much more irresistible than any alternatives that it was worth spending half a year in purgatory.

The summer’s trio of friendlies come against South Korea and Mexico, both of which won’t partake in the Olympics, but will no doubt want to claim a win over one of the world’s most celebrated teams of any sport. They’ll provide tests at a time when Hayes will still be studying for answers.

https://68d9e4a18cf6673b7b5917fd9e5a2e1f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Tuesday also saw the final member of the USWNT’s Olympic group qualify. Zambia joined the U.S., Germany and Australia in Group B. Australia was a semifinalist last summer. Germany has its point to prove after failing to advance from its group, while Zambia is riding high on the back of its first World Cup appearance. It won’t be a given that the U.S. will advance to the knockouts, to say nothing of its medal-winning ambitions.

It will be easy to spin a poor showing in Paris as a short-term sacrifice with a focus on the 2027 World Cup, which could potentially be played on home soil. That said, this isn’t a program that has ever treated any major tournament as a developmental tool. When the United States competes in a women’s soccer tournament, it’s there to win. That’s the benchmark that has been established for generations of players and one that the fans hold to account.

This summer, the players’ every performance will be scrutinized, and their future selections will hang in the balance more than Hayes’ job will (or should). If the program’s decision to spend so many months under interim leadership backfires, the blame will fall on them — and unfairly so.

(Photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF)

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4/19/24 US Ladies Beat Canada in ET, El Classico Madrid/Barcelona Sun 3, German top 5 battle Sun 11:30, FA Cup Sat/Sun

April 17, 2024April 20, 2024 gatorbest alex-morgan, american-outlaws, champions-league, europa-league, soccer, the-ole-ballcoach, us-women, usmnt, uswnt

Huge Weekend Games

El Classico this Sunday 3 pm on ESPN+ and ESPN Desportes. The last thing for Barcelona to play for as they travel to Real Madrid just 8 pts behind in the table with 4 games to go. In Germany Leverkusen has won the league but is looking to be the only team undefeated in league play in the top 5 leagues as they travel to Dortmund who needs to win to stay in the top 5 Champions League slots – that game is 11:30 am on ESPN2 Sunday. The EPL has Liverpool traveling to Fulham America to face American Jedi Robinson at 11:30 am Sunday on USA – as Liverpool must win to keep their title hopes alive. Arsenal travels to Wolverhampton Sat 2:30 pm on USA before hosting Chelsea on Tues at 3 pm on USA. Chelsea of course will face Man City in the FA Cup on ESPN+ Sat 12:15 pm from Wembley.

US Ladies Shootout Win over Canada

Wow what a special time to be on hand to see the USWNT hoist another trophy – this time the She Believe’s Cup Trophy at Columbus Crew Stadium. My daughter and I were lucky to be in the American Outlaws section behind the goal where US GK Alyssa Naeher refused to lose as she saved 3 and scored a goal of her own in leading the US ladies to a 2-2 (3-2) win over a solid Canadian Side. Sophia Smith struck this wonder goal just 5 into the 2^nd half before moving to the 9 spot as subs Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson added life in the 2^nd half on the wings as the young combo eventually fed Smith for the go ahead goal. (full highlights). I thought the reffing was horrific as the Concacaf crew was obviously not used to doing high level women’s games. Crystal Dunn’s penalty was mighty questionable to give Canada the tying goal with under 5 to play. The US certainly did miss Girma as Davidson and Dahlkemper struggled to hold Canada out of the US box – and Davidson especially looked horrific at times trying to work it out of play. All in all the US outplayed Canada and deserved to win the game.

It was great to see and be amongst the sold out crowd in Columbus following the sold out crowd (over 50K) in Atlanta over the weekend. We had an absolute blast watching from the American Outlaws Section – especially when all the players came up our aisle to receive their medals – European FA Cup Style. I was especially happy to see so very many youngsters in the stands – there were a ton of young girl soccer players there – speaks well to our future!! Here’s some quick pics and videos from the game. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10161587182779104&id=501829103&mibextid=WC7FNe&rdid=hyLM9rF5RakR2VlM

Must See TV – Champions League Action is Unbelievable CBS 3 pm Wed

So sorry I didn’t get this out over the weekend or at least before today’s Champions League action – today’s Dortmund comeback to beat my Atletico and Barcelona’s choke job vs PSG was pure drama all game as multiple goals were scored and the game results were in question until the very end. Now I won’t use this space to talk about how ridiculous Europeans are to not have these games NOT Being played at the same exact time (but lets be real just because they invented the sport does not mean they know how to market it (idiots). Anyway Tuesday’s quarterfinals final legs were spectacular and Wed promises the same as Man City host Real Madrid tied at 2 @ 3 pm on CBS, while Bayern Munich host Arsenal also tied at 2 on Paramount +. The pregame and postgame action is on CBSSN so make plans now to cozy up to the bar or some TV or your phone tomorrow at work. Or at least tape the CBS game and watch the replay of Bayern vs Arsenal on CBSSN at 5 pm.

Europa League Thurs with Milan & Pulisic on CBSSN 3 pm, Liverpool, West Ham, Aston Villa

Europa League action wraps up with AC Milan and Pulisic & Musah tied at 1 traveling to Roma at 3 pm on CBSSN, while Liverpool is down 3 goals at Atalanta on Para+, and West Ham host the hottest team in the world Bayer Leverkusen down (1-3). Aston Villa travels to Lille at 12:45 pm Paramount plus. Oh and El Classico this Sunday 3 pm on ESPN+ and ESPN Desportes.

The ole ballcoach and daughter Courtney in the Outlaws Section !!

Full house in KC to see Messi and Miami take down Sporting KC – too bad the game wasn’t on TV! Stupid MLS !

Games on TV

Weds, Apr 17

3 pm CBS Bayern Munich 2 vs Arsenal 2 UCL

3 pm Para+, Tele Man City 2 vs Real Madrid 2 UCL

8 pm mls.com Indy 11 @ Chicago Fire US Open Cup

Thurs, Apr 18

12:45 Para+ Lille (france) vs Aston Villa

3 pm CBSSN Roma vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) Europa

3 pm Para+ Atalanta vs Liverpool

3 pm Para+ Leverkusen vs West Ham United

Sat, Apr 20

12”15 ESPN+ Man City vs Chelsea

12:30 pm ESPN+ Union Berlin ( ) vs Bayern Munich

1 pm CBS Washington Spirit vs NY/NJ Gotham FC NWSL

2:30 pm USA Wolverhampton vs Arsenal

7:30 pm Ion KC vs Bay FC NWSL

8 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Colorado Springs

10 pm ion Portland Thorns vs Houston Dash NWSL

10:30 pm ESPN+ Phoenix Rising vs Pittsburgh (Eric Dick GK)

Sun, Apr 21

8:30 am USA Everton vs Nottingham Forest

11:30 am USA Fulham (Jedi) vs Liverpool

11:30 pm ESPN2 Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen

3 pm ESPN+, des Real Madrid vs Barcelona El Classico

6 pm Fox Sport 1 Charlotte vs Min United

7:30 pm CBSSN Angel City vs NC Courage

8:15 pm FS1 LA Galaxy vs San Jose

June 27 Copa America US Men Play Panama

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

https://www.uslchampionship.com/cbs CBS Schedule

https://www.uslchampionship.com/espn ESPN