3/22/25 US Men lose to Panama face Canada Sun for 3rd, Mexico vs Panama NL Final, Euro Nations League has great games, Indy 11 Win 1st Game play at 7 pm

March 22, 2025March 22, 2025 gatorbest football, indy-11, premier-league, pulisic, soccer, sports, usa, usa-vs-canada, usmnt

Indy 11 Win 1st, Face Lexington Tonite at 7 pm on ESPN+

Miami, Fla.- Indy Eleven scored three first-half goals off set pieces on its way to a 3-1 victory at Miami in its USL Championship season opener last weekend. Six players made their debuts for the Boys in Blue—Elvis Amoh, Hogan, Kizza, James Murphy, Bruno Rendon, and Oliver Brynéus. Rendon tied for team highs with six recoveries (with Maalique Foster) and three tackles won (with Aedan Stanley). Indy Eleven travels to Lexington SC today at 7 p.m. in a game streamed on ESPN+. The Boys in Blue host 2024 Champion Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Carroll Stadium to open the home slate on Saturday, March 29 at 7 pm. Single-game tickets are available for all matches via Ticketmaster. Season, Flex Plan, Group, and Hospitality tickets are available here. For questions, call (317) 685-1100.

US loses to Panama 1-0 faces Canada for 3rd Sun 6 pm on Para+, Univision

I don’t even know what to say? Horrific Management, Horrific preparation, Horrific play! Those who were dogging Gregg Berhalter and begging for a foreign manager might need to rethink things. Pochettino was clueless in this game. Yes we are missing players but that was a B- team for Panama that absorbed pressure all game and countered to win 1-0. USa vs Panama Highlights The US had zero creativity in this game despite having 90% possession and 4 shots on goal. Musah at right back? Starting 2 #6s I mean — he got nothing right in this game. Yes the players were shit on this day – no spark, no aggression – only Pulisic seemed to friggin care they couldn’t score. But his subs? No Luna or Reyna at the 10 to try to find a pass on the subs. You can see now why POCH has NEVER won a trophy at any level. Sure he talks a good game working part time for 6M a year while still living in Europe. But I am not sure he has a clue. ESPN FC Questions Everything US Soccer Now for the players – this game lacked bite, lacked hard tackles, lacked what used to make the US strong – PRIDE. Not sure these millionaires playing overseas understand what US Soccer is supposed to be about. Always play like an underdog.

Sure we are missing huge players here – no Jedi Robinson was huge (the goal came from his side) and we had no movement down the left wing. No forwards up top (Pepi + Bologan are both injured) but Agyemang couldn’t hit the ocean from the pier on his 2 golden chances where was Haji Wright? I love Ream but if he starts the World Cup next summer the US will be out in 3 games. Oh and Matt Turner – its way past time for him to be replaced – I think Horvath is our best – but Matt can’t start again until he plays more in Europe. Men in Blazers Wrap Turner’s Goal I am so upset I don’t know what else to say. The US plays Canada and the man who should be our coach on Sunday at 6 pm. No one will be there again – who would pay money to watch this US team play (I was in LA last week-nothing about the game anywhere – but the Mexican’s bought all the tickets anyway). My buddy in The American Outlaws out there said they literally got no access to tickets.

DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (club/country; caps/goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 30/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 49/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 18/0), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege/BEL; 1/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 17/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 67/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 23/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 50/4), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 19/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 4/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 42/2), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 18/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 3/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 58/11), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 31/8), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon/FRA; 6/0)
FORWARDS (6): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 2/2), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 45/1), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 76/32), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 27/5), Timothy Weah (Juventus/ITA; 42/7), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 3/1)

Was Turner out of spot on this one? Looked like a save-able ball during the game?

TV Schedule

Sat 3/22

1 pm Fox Sp 2 Modova vs Norway
7:30 pm Ion TV Washington Spirit (Rodman) vs KC (Chawinga)
8:30 pm Apple TV Salt Lake vs Dallas
10 pm Ion TV Bay FC vs Louisville NWSL
10:30 pm Apple TV Seattle Sounders vs Houston
10:30 pm Apple TV Vancouver vs Chicago

Sunday 3/23

3:45 pm FS2 Germany vs Italy NL
3:45 PM Fubo TV Spain vs Netherlands NL
4 pm Apple TV Austin vs San Diego
5 pm ESPN2 NY/NJ Gothem vs Orlando Pride (Marta)
6 pm Univision, Para+ USA vs Canada 3rd place NL
9:30 pm Uni, Para+ Mexico vs Panama NL FINAL

Mon, 3/24
3:46 pm FS 2 England vs Latvia WCQ
Tues 3/25
3:46 pm FS 2 Israel vs Norway WCQ
8 pm Telemundo Argentina vs Brazil WCQ
NWSL Schedule
MLS Schedule
USL Schedule

US MEN

Fighters wanted: USMNT effort called into question after Nations League loss to Panama
Yes, USMNT fans: It’s time to worry about the 2026 World Cup Jeff Carlisle
Concacaf Nations League 3rd Place Preview – USA vs. Canada: Fated to pretend
2025 CONCACAF Nations League Finals: Scouting Canada
Concacaf Nations League Semi-Final: USA 0-1 Panama – The USMNT books a trip to the third place game
USMNT loses to Panama again in worst performance of Pochettino era Jeff Carlisle ESPN
For the USMNT and U.S., World Cup prep gets off to a ‘painful,’ sleepy start Harry Bushnell
USMNT flunks Mauricio Pochettino’s first test, loses 1-0 to Panama
USa vs Panama Highlights

Panama’s Cecilio Waterman celebrates epic goal with French legend Thierry Henry

WORLD

Netherlands vs. Spain UEFA Nations League Highlights | FOX …
Croatia vs. France UEFA Nations League Highlights | FOX …
Italy 1-2 Germany: Visitors come from behind to win first leg
Five big winners from Thomas Tuchel’s first England game
Seven things you might have missed from Thursday’s Nations League action
Thomas Tuchel coaches England to victory over Albania in his first game
One moment of magic enough for 10-man Argentina to unlock Uruguay
Kylian Mbappé’s barren spell continues for Les Bleus

Indy 11

#LEXvIND Preview
Recap-MIA 1:3 IND
United Soccer League (USL) Launches Division One & Promotion/Relegation
Blake & Hogan earn USLC “Team of the Week” honors
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana Spotlight Partner for “Kick for a Cause”
Indy Eleven Announces 2025 Promotional Schedule – Tickets on Sale NOW!

NWSL

FIFA: Huge revenue gaps across women’s soccer
NWSL Power Rankings: Orlando Pride stamp authority in week
When did NWSL teams begin playing? Key years to know
Angel City, Wave draw on 2nd-half Thompson goal
Whitham, 14, becomes youngest player in NWSL
Angel City’s Leroux takes mental health break
López, Dumornay, Shaw lead best U21 women’s soccer players

MLS

Power Rankings: St. Louis CITY continue climb, Charlotte FC rebound
Ranking MLS’s 7 unbeaten teams: Who’s left standing?
Every MLS call-up: March 2025 international window
Concacaf Champions Cup 2025: Inter Miami, LAFC book quarterfinal series

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Temwa Chawinga #6 of Kansas City Current celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal

USMNT vs. Canada: A desirable matchup with undesirable third-place stakes

USMNT and Canada will meet in the Nations League third-place game

By Joshua Kloke March 21, 2025 1:25 pm EDT

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Stephen Eustáquio began to look down at the floor in frustration before stopping to consider what lies ahead. It was less just a few hours after his Canada team came into their Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Mexico riding a wave of optimism and, they believed, preparation before a must-win match. That sense of optimism began to erode just 47 seconds after kickoff when Mexico scored the opening goal. It then disappeared completely with Mexico’s second goal to send El Tri to the final. The long-time bosses of Concacaf showed the savviness and experience Canada still lack.Canada’s midfield general knows this.“It’s experience,” he said of what Mexico has that Canada doesn’t right now. “It’s something that we will get in the future, we just have to continue to work.”

And when Eustáquio considered when the next opportunity to work, as it were, would come? That’s when his demeanor flipped.

“It’s a game against the U.S., and that motivates us a lot more,” he said of Canada’s opponent in the upcoming third-place game, following the U.S.’s stunning defeat in the other semifinal to Panama. “They’re our rivals. We beat them in (a September friendly). They want to beat us, and we want to beat them again.”U.S. vs. Canada: it’s the game so many at the Nations League – the Canadians especially – wanted. It’s just happening under wholly undesirable circumstances. The next chapter in this burgeoning rivalry will be more about avoiding catastrophe and humiliation rather than competing for a trophy. Both Canada and the U.S. should have woken up Friday morning feeling incomplete. With the World Cup a little over a year away, this third-place game offers each a chance to save face, and the opportunity to do so against an opponent equally as determined to set things back on course.

Against Panama, the U.S. couldn’t display the necessary work rate and emotion to properly influence the game, in manager Mauricio Pochettino’s estimation. A lackadaisical performance made for a wholly boring affair. Coupled with a premature Copa América exit, this group of skilled American players – many plying their trade for prominent European clubs – will aim to turn its talent into a more cohesive effort against Canada.The difference was the way they fight for the game,” Pochettino said of Panama. “They were hungry for every single ball. Every ball was the last one for Panama and, from the touchline, you feel that difference.”For the U.S., facing Canada presents a second match in which it can demonstrate the requisite enthusiasm, intensity and quality that’s been lacking, arguably dating back to the 2022 World Cup.“Just as we always do after games: We have to rest a bit, we’re going to watch back the game a little bit, see what we can improve on so we can get better and just get ourselves in the best physical and mental conditions to go again in a few days,” U.S. star Christian Pulisic said.

USMNT star Christian Pulisic The Nations League semifinals made for a night of long faces for Christian Pulisic and the U.S. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)

For Canada, it can probably sleep a little easier knowing the effort was front and center against Mexico. It dominated possession, tried to act as the aggressor by winning more duels and got close to goal on occasion. But once Canada got there, it faltered mightily. The questionable finishing and lack of quality final passes were once again Canada’s tactical undoing. Canada has now been shut out in half of manager Jesse Marsch’s 14 games in charge. The time to continue relying solely on his trusted forward pair of Jonathan David and Cyle Larin may have run out.

But beyond rectifying poor play in the final third, the intangibles will matter to Canada against the U.S. Canada knows its core is lacking a truly decisive win against the U.S. in tournament play. It may not be in a final, and perhaps a third-place match won’t carry the same clout, but this is an opponent the players have been eyeing, backed with supreme motivation.

“There’s no secret there’s a bit of a political issues surrounding this game more recently,” Canada’s Jonathan Osorio said. “There’s no hiding that it is the back of our mind. But at the end of the day, we are going to prepare for this game the best way possible: to go out and win.”

That’s been easier said than done for Canada. A group with talent that can stack up against the of the U.S., must show the kind of canny and game management that is necessary in pressure-filled, tournament situations. There was no doubting Canada’s intensity against Mexico. But the Canadians still lack the experience to turn intensity into quality attacking opportunities and close games out. The latter was alarmingly true earlier this summer as Canada squandered a lead in the Copa América third-place game against Uruguay.

“Now, it’s just that little bit of savviness that the best teams have and the best players have that we’re going to continue to push (for),” Marsch said.

Canada loses to Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League Canada was left to grimace after a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the Nations League semifinals. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

As Osorio alluded to, this match could garner more attention than the average third-place game because of the wider implications.

The strained political relations between the two longstanding allies – and World Cup cohosts – serves as a backdrop. How each team channels that aspect – or elects not to – will reveal plenty. The recent Canada-U.S. games at the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament provided a window into what kind of intensity an inflamed political climate can create. There were three fights in nine seconds. Fans booing opposition national anthems. A final that went down as an immediate classic.

The third-place setting zaps some of the organic aura surrounding the game, but there should still be plenty of motivation considering each’s desire to respond to disappointment – and doing so amid the external factors.

Plus, outside of this summer’s Gold Cup, which will feature less-than-full strength squads given that FIFA has allowed clubs to take priority over countries for the expanded Club World Cup, this will realistically be each team’s final opportunity to play a truly competitive game before hosting World Cup games at home.

So no, there’s no trophy at stake. It’s not a final. But it’s still a matchup that both can use to apply to the games that truly matter in 15 months.

“Every game from now on,” Canada’s Jonathan David quickly and sternly answered, when asked about the third-place game, “is preparation for the World Cup.”

Yes, USMNT fans: It’s time to worry about the 2026 World Cup

Jeff Carlisle ESPN Mar 22, 2025, 08:00 AM ET

LOS ANGELES — In the wake of the U.S. men’s national team‘s 1-0 defeat to Panama in the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL), it’s fair to say it’s time for USMNT fans to worry about the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. has shown flashes of stellar play since manager Mauricio Pochettino took over last September, especially in the CNL quarterfinal series with Jamaica. But Thursday’s semifinal exit exposed some old troubles. The USMNT’s lack of aggression to start matches, especially when the opposition cedes possession, remains a problem. That leads to an inability to break down tightly packed defenses. And though Panama has emerged in Concacaf as a tough-to-break-down unit, if the Americans can’t consistently get past the Canaleros, who have beaten the U.S. three straight times in tournament play, how can the USMNT expect to get out of a group at the World Cup? That isn’t to say that all hope is lost for the Americans — far from it. But with just 447 days between now and the start of the World Cup, Pochettino has little time and few opportunities to turn things around. This summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup — the USMNT’s only competitive games before the World Cup — has taken on increasing importance. It will allow Pochettino an extended camp to further familiarize himself with his players. The U.S. will also host friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland before Gold Cup matches to mimic the cadence of the World Cup.

The hope — which is not guaranteed based on Thursday’s performance — is that the players will get more experience in knockout games. But on this front, Pochettino’s plans are being undermined by the Club World Cup, with the Juventus duo of Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah, along with Borussia Dortmund‘s Gio Reyna, all possibly unavailable for the Gold Cup due to their respective clubs’ participation.

After that, and with no CNL scheduled for 2026, there are just four more international windows in September, October, November of 2025 and March of 2026, plus some pre-World Cup friendlies. That is a scant amount of time to further refine things.

And there is plenty this U.S. team needs to refine, especially with the ball.

To get a sense of how toothless the American attack was against Panama: The U.S. had 811 touches, the 11th time the Americans have had more than 800 touches in a game since September 2017. But they had an expected goals, or xG, of 0.68, making it the first time in that span that the U.S. had over 800 touches but an xG below 1.00. That shows the U.S. had plenty of time with the ball, but struggled to create dangerous scoring chances.

The return of several injured players would greatly help the U.S. cause. The U.S. has badly missed right-back Sergiño Dest, who has recently returned for PSV Eindhoven after suffering an ACL tear 11 months ago. Dest is the ultimate attacking wild card who can deliver the unexpected, either off the dribble or striking at goal. Left-back Antonee Robinson and his marauding runs down the flank were also missed against Panama.

The two absences have a massive effect on the way the U.S. plays. Joe Scally is a capable, defense-first option, but isn’t one to contribute much to the attack. That’s why in Dest’s absence, Scally usually stays home and allows the opposite full-back to get forward. But Yunus Musah seems miscast as a wing-back, given his distribution limitations.

The frontline has also been beset by injuries, with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi out for long stretches. Their returns would increase the competition for places in attack that have lacked a certain spark.

All these absences lead to questions about the depth of the USMNT’s player pool. But in situations like Thursday’s loss to Panama, the U.S. would also be aided by Pochettino tilting the lineup more toward attack. Against a team bunkering in, Tanner Tessmann‘s presence in the midfield seemed redundant given that the defensively dependable Tyler Adams was back in the team. That would’ve freed a spot for a more creative player such as Reyna or Diego Luna in the middle.

Herculez Gomez calls USMNT’s performance ‘pathetic’ in loss to Panama

Herculez Gomez rips Mauricio Pochettino and the United States men’s national team in their loss to Panama.

Yet the team’s mindset might be Pochettino’s most difficult challenge. The U.S. manager pointed to a “lack of aggression” in the first half, which he described as “painful” to watch.

This was illustrated by the Americans’ touches in Panama’s box. The U.S. had 32 touches in the Panamanian penalty area. That ranks 12th in the USMNT’s past 35 games. But only nine of those touches came in the first half. When Tim Weah started occupying wider positions in the second half, the U.S. made more headway.

Pochettino needs to create competitive tension for playing time. But are the players who could take on bigger roles good enough to unseat any incumbents? Solving the aggression puzzle won’t be easy. Some players are proving not as capable as their club reputations dictated at one point.

Pochettino has attempted to bring in reinforcements, mostly from MLS clubs, and has talked up how they’ll get chances to impress. But until he gives those players more prominent roles, his words will feel empty.

Still, there are limits to how much Pochettino can do as a manager. At some point, the onus is on the players to improve, and channel the aggression required.

“You always learn more from setbacks than you do from games that, say, we would’ve won, that you’re papering over the issues that I think everybody saw in terms of getting behind and aggression and all that,” U.S. defender Tim Ream said. “There’s always teaching moments, there’s always learning moments in every game, every training, every day that you step on the field and we have to look at that and make sure that we take on board exactly what he wants, take on board exactly what he needs and that starts with the duels and the aggression and the intensity.”

The USMNT will miss a chance to defend their CNL title after winning the past three, but Sunday’s third-place game against a very motivated Canada will be an opportunity to put those lessons into practice.

With Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Cyle Larin available, it seems likely Canada will be more adventurous than Panama in attack. But Pochettino shouldn’t change his entire starting 11. He should continue to establish chemistry. Playing time needs to be earned, as well. But there seems to be some opportunities for players.

Zack Steffen appears to be a clear choice in goal, given Matt Turner‘s suspect positioning on Cecilio Waterman‘s game winner, when he was shaded too close to his near post. Reyna or Luna in taking Tessmann’s place seems another obvious swap. Patrick Agyemang looked active in his 22 minutes against Panama.

At minimum, USMNT fans will want progress. That bar is low after the poor showing against Panama. But with just under 15 months left to the World Cup, the U.S. needs to show signs that it’s moving forward again.

Fighters wanted: USMNT effort called into question after Nations League loss to Panama

After getting easily bounced from the Copa America in the group stage, the USMNT is out of the Nations League in the semifinal with a loss to Panama. Mauricio Pochettino’s hire did not automatically reverse fortunes. Now it’s clear there is a lot of tough work to do with the team.

BY Brian SciarettaPosted March 21, 2025
12:00 PM

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LAST SUMMER, US Soccer hired Mauricio Pochettino as head coach and following a poor Copa America showing, it was expected that this would advance the national team to be in its best possible position to compete at the 2026 World Cup, which it will cohost. Now, after an embarrassing 1-0 loss to Panama in California in the semifinal of the Nations League, the team and Pochettino face difficult questions and potentially even more difficult answers. With two straight ugly early eliminations in tournaments it hosted inside of a year, alarm bells should be going off. There is always the temptation to be overly harsh following a loss. This is a team sport and upsets frequently happen. But the bigger problem for the USMNT wasn’t the loss. It was the effort. After the game, the comments from Pochettino were revealing because he wasn’t focused on the loss, but the fact that the U.S team was simply out-worked by a very disciplined and well-coached Panama team that deserved to win. “They were hungry for every ball like it as the last one,” Pochettino said of Panama. “You could feel the difference on the field.” He went on.

“We are the USA, but you cannot win with your shirt. You need to come here and be better and suffer and win the duels and work hard. If not, it’s not going to be enough.”“If you don’t have aggression, it’s impossible,” Pochettino said, “because the opponent knows that we are going to play into the feet. You are going to play safe. You are not going to take risk. If you want to play football, you need to take risks, you need to go forward, you need to win duels, sometimes 50-50.”It’s actually easy to envision a scenario way down the line when we look back on this loss and realize it was a good thing. For a long time, the team’s short falls have been blamed on Gregg Berhalter or the series of interim coaches the team had after the World Cup or after the Copa America. Fans and people in the Federation seem to be under the impression that a good coach was what was separating this team from greatness.But now, there is nowhere for the players to hide. The Federation broke the bank and went through extraordinary measures to hire Pochettino. Instead, we got a performance that was either equal or worse than we have gotten in the past with a number of coaches.This does not absolve Pochettino of blame. Sure, there are questions whether he needed more playmakers in the midfield to connect to the attack. Should he have started Joe Scally on the left side? Should he have started Matt Turner in goal with his lack of playing time. Those are fair questions. But they are a drop in the bucket of the real problem in as to why this team was outworked playing at home against Panama a year out from the World Cup? You can point out the talent on this US team, but talent only matters if you have desire when you step foot on the field to begin with. When you don’t, you get France at the 2010 World Cup. At least now, everyone’s eyes (players, coaches, fans, federation officials) should be wide open to the task at hand. The team is much further behind than many expected, maybe even Pochettino himself.

When he was hired, Pochettino spoke about when he played for Argentina. He emphasized that there was no difference between playing for his country in a friendly or in a World Cup – there was always maximum desperation for the shirt. He gave the impression that it was very important to him and, more importantly, it was instinctive to the Argentinian players. The loss against Panama revealed that the US team is missing some very basic requirements Pochettino demands or expects from his teams. There is a lot to break down from this game.

Specifics of the game

The specifics of this game are not nearly as significant as the big picture problems, but they are worth discussing nonetheless because there were some serious tactical problems.The most obvious tactical mistakes was that there was no link between the midfield and the offense. The from line of Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent, and Tim Weah were all poor. Despite it having been a front line that has played together for years, including at a World Cup, there was nothing going on with them. Sargent was a bit unlucky and was starved for service (8 touches over 68 minutes and 2 completed passes) but Weah and Pulisic were very ineffective.

Weston McKennie had a decent moment when he set up Sargent in the first half for a shot off the post. Aside from that, McKinney struggled to be that link on a consistent basis.Scally and Musah were the outside backs and were tasked with pressing forward, but the opportunities with them were few and far between.There is some talk about the players who were not here or did not get off the bench. It is fair to note that the US team was missing some key players such as Sergino Dest, Ricardo Pepi, and Antonee Robinson. But any talk of them missing this game is to ignore the bigger problems. The US team had more than enough talent to win this game, and they were outworked across the board.

Now what?

After the team departs from camp next week, there is rightfully going to be a lot of talk about how this team will use this experience as a learning lesson for the future. Pochettino is going to have to strike a fine balance between not blowing everything up, but making a significant number of changes. The challenge Pochettino faces is that you cannot coach desire or passion – that needs to be instinctive for players upon arrival in camp. What is perhaps most disappointing for fans is that after the loss to Panama, Pachino said he wanted to make such passion and hard work part of the US teams DNA. But anyone who has followed this program for a long time will tell you that it used to be the team’s leading hallmark. In the years just before and just after the millennium, that was a key reason how they used to beat teams that were considered superior. It is how they advanced to the quarterfinal of the 2002 World Cup. It’s not that Pochettino has to make this part of the team’s DNA, it’s that it has been lost and he has to reinstall it.

Starting this summer, Pochettino will need to make changes and he will need to hold some of these players accountable. It begins with scouting the entire player pool, both domestically and abroad.

There needs to be fewer lock starters and more of a need for the players to feel they need to continuously prove themselves in order to justify their selection to the team. This summer will be revealing in how Pochettino, after he has time to digest the March disappointment, how he makes changes. It would be very surprising if he makes only limited changes.

The USMNT has the same problems now that it did under Gregg Berhalter and Pochettino’s mere arrival didn’t automatically improve things. He is going to have to take active measures.

Once Pochettino can find players he trusts, then he rectify the tactical shortcomings we saw against Panama – such has better fullback setups, having a true attacking midfielders to bridge the gap between possession and chance creations. But many problems needs to be addressed before he gets to that point.

Third Place Game awaits

Before the players return to their clubs, the USMNT must play the third place game against Canada. It’s a game where participation offers only insult to injury. For Pochettino, this could very well serve as an important test and evaluation tool for players?

Any player wants to get called up for big and prestigious games, but who wants to play in a game that anything but important? The players who do could be the players that Pochettino wants in the future.

Expect Pochettino to make a lot of changes to the starting XI. He should give other players the opportunity to show what they could do. Fortunately for the USMNT, they will be playing a Canadian team that should be motivated to face the USMNT. Canada sees the USMNT as an important measuring stick and there is a growing rivalry between the two neighboring nations. Canada’s American head coach Jesse Marsch would love to kick the USMNT while it is down.

The USMNT needs a test when it is at a low point. A loss to Canada with a poor effort would be a morale killer with just 15 months to go until the World Cup. It should be a gut check moment and you can learn a lot about a team and its players at its low points just as much as the high points.

Same Berhalter-era USMNT woes linger under Pochettino in Nations League debacle

By Paul Tenorio arch 21, 2025

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Two hundred and sixty-two days had passed since the last time the U.S. men’s national team players walked disappointed off of the field after a premature exit from an international ournament on home soil. Four hundred and forty-nine days remain for them to figure out why — and fix it. The USMNT’s stunning 1-0 loss to Panama on Thursday night felt like familiar territory for anyone who has followed this team over the last six years. The U.S. changed coaches after falling in the group stage of the Copa América last summer. Gregg Berhalter was out. Mauricio Pochettino was in. The players, though, remained largely the same. And some of the problems this U.S. team displayed under Berhalter remained the same.It was, perhaps, the biggest benefit of hiring Pochettino, one of the highest-profile coaches in the world, who arrived in the U.S. with a reputation for winning in Europe and coaching some of the world’s biggest clubs and players. The attention, and some of the blame, would have to start shifting onto a player pool whose reputation had been built up but now had to start delivering.The loss to Panama, the same team that sent the U.S. on its way to Copa elimination in Atlanta last summer, had some of the hallmarks and warning signs we have long seen from this team. The players struggle to break down organized teams that play in a low block. They sometimes fail to meet the moment emotionally. They too often lack a killer instinct.Pochettino’s press conference after the loss hit on all of those ideas.

“Did we control the game? Yes. Did we dominate the game? Yes. Did we play in the opposition half? Yes. Did we create some strategy to move the ball quickly and (have) good positional game in the opposite half? Yes. But you need aggression,” Pochettino said. “If you don’t have aggression, it’s impossible. Because the opponent always knows we are going to play into the feet. You are going to play safe. You are not going to take risks. If you want to play football, you need to take risks. You need to go forward. You need to win duels. Sometimes, 50-50, the ball, that is my ball. ….“We need to find a way to compete better. And that’s it. I don’t (want to say) I like this (loss), no. But it’s (worth paying) attention, because, OK, we are (the) USA, but you can’t win with your shirt. Or you cannot win if you play here (at a big club), there, or, I don’t know. You need to show (it). And you need to come here and be better and suffer and win the duels and work hard. If not, it’s not going to be enough.”

It was a stern warning for players with 15 months left until the biggest possible spotlight is on them at a home World Cup. A tournament they’ll open in this same stadium.The Americans had won several trophies in Concacaf in spite of those flaws. They took home all three previous versions of this Nations League tournament. They had a Gold Cup trophy, too. But after losing to the Netherlands in the group stage in Qatar in 2022, the U.S. didn’t seem to be growing. In the end, the federation made a coaching change to address those issues. In his first true test, though, Pochettino failed to equal what his predecessor – and even an interim stopgap – had accomplished.

USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino endures defeat to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)

If the Copa América wasn’t a wake up call on its own, then perhaps this was an even bigger warning shot. Changing the coach isn’t going to fix things on its own. Something else has to change.The U.S. started slowly in the first half. There was an overall lack of energy, and it hardly created much in the way of chances. The second half was slightly better. Second-half substitute Patrick Agyemang had two good looks at goal. But something was missing – bite and aggression. The U.S. didn’t seem ready to assert itself as the better team.“It was a perfect opportunity to start that rebuilding process right now,” U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said. “It’s a bit disappointing in my eyes. I don’t know what we lacked exactly, whether it was that competitive nature, that mentality, but we need to look in the mirror before anything and just realize that when we have these types of games, we can’t wait for something to happen. We need to make things happen, put games on our terms.”Pochettino said this week that he preferred to learn lessons from winning games, but that sometimes the best lessons come in losses. Wins can allow you to paper over flaws. Losses fully expose those issues. They force you, as Adams said, to look in the mirror. Sometimes, they can be a turning point.This U.S. team learned a similar lesson early in the last World Cup cycle. They went on the road to Canada in a Nations League game in 2019 and lost, 2-0, in Toronto. A month later, the U.S. rocked their northern neighbor in the return leg, 4-1. They did so in part because of how they rebuilt the team’s mentality after the loss.“I think the message from that point on was intensity is the starting point,” former U.S. midfielder Sebastian Lletget said of the loss in Canada at the time. “We took a lot of pride in how we wanted to play and how we wanted to do things attacking wise — we felt like we had all the structure all down, but I think the mentality, I think that’s where we were lacking on that day. I think Canada sort of opened up our eyes to that.”Sound familiar?That loss in Toronto pushed the U.S. to a higher level. It showed that international soccer was as much about intensity as it was tactics, that talent or potential wasn’t enough on its own.On Thursday, Panama reminded the U.S. of that.Maybe, in the end, it will be a good thing. The U.S. must find a way to make it a turning point, rather than the continuation of a backslide.

Thierry Henry swarmed by epic Panama celebration as USMNT knocked out of Nations League finals
Cecilio Waterman struck the only goal of Thursday’s first semifinal deep into injury time then ran straight toward Henry.

(Top photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)

The defensive breakdown that doomed the USMNT to defeat against Panama

INGLEWOOD, CA - MARCH 20: Panama celebrating their victory with Thierry Henry and Cecilio Waterman #18 during a Concacaf Nations League game between Panama and USMNT at SoFi Stadium at on March 20, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

By Jeff Rueter March 21, 2025

Whenever you watch a game with a group and a commentator claims that a player “wanted it more,” you’re bound to hear a few scoffs.It’s a tried-and-true axiom rolled into a Bull Durham quote. In theory, every player at a sport’s highest level wants to succeed. If one player rises above an opponent to win an aerial duel, they may be able to credit their jumping reach, their strength, their reflexive timing or their raw height before even considering their intrinsic desire.And yet, rare occasions present themselves where passion and drive are at a perceived imbalance akin to a possession battle. Take, for example, Thursday night’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal between Panama and the United States men’s national team. The game was teeming with tension, as the USMNT hoped to exorcise its demons and avenge last summer’s defeat to their regional rival in the Copa América group stage.In the wake of that match, U.S. Soccer’s brass made an expensive bet that hiring Mauricio Pochettino to replace Gregg Berhalter would help get the program back on track to win such contests. The players on the field promised they’d “learn from it” and be better prepared, against Panama and other teams defending grittily in a low block.And yet, 266 days after that shocking defeat in Atlanta, the decisive moment for Panama sure seemed to embody that old cliché: Los Canaleros sure seemed to want it more.

Pochettino was the most obvious change from last summer’s sinking, but Thursday’s lineup presented a few more alterations.

First was the team’s shape, with the USMNT lining up in a 3-4-3 with a midfield box, rather than Berhalter’s preferred base 4-3-3. The emphasis was to retain possession in the middle against Panama’s usual 5-4-1 shape, ceding the wide areas as Tim Weah was asked to patrol in the left half-space.

Another was the personnel. Still without Sergiño Dest as he works back from his torn anterior cruciate ligament, the team saw its other first-choice full back — Fulham ace Antonee Robinson — exit camp before the Panama match with an undisclosed ailment. While Joe Scally struggled throughout his three Copa América games, Pochettino asked him to deputize for Robinson on the left.

It’s a spot Scally has played before, but seldom does these days; only 179 of his 2,017 Bundesliga minutes this year have come there, with the rest spent at right back. Unfortunately, the Borussia Mönchengladbach defender was exploited in the decisive sequence.

The sequence begins with Christian Pulisic winning a header at the edge of the midfield third, hoping to head it down to Jack McGlynn. The ball takes a hop a yard in front of the Houston Dynamo midfielder, leaving him to swing a leg at it in vain.

Instead, it trickles towards Panama forward Cecilio Waterman. Four USMNT players immediately converge, desperate to force the ball off the striker’s foot and back into their own possession. Mark McKenzie unsettles Waterman, who prods the ball back into open terrain rather than ceding to his opponent.

Waterman’s poke rolls right into a patch with an amount of weight that puts the nearby United States players in a precarious spot. Most opt not to leave their posts, watching the loose ball as they follow conservative instincts and don’t open passing lanes. Ultimately, Scally stops his run toward the box and turns, but is beaten to it by one of the game’s final inclusions. Janpol Morales, a 26-year-old winger playing in Ecuador who debuted for Panama this month, is quicker to it and scampers to collect the ball in front of Scally. With one of his mere two pass attempts on the night, Morales gets the ball to his team’s chief string-puller, Adalberto ‘Coco’ Carrasquilla.

The standstill nature of the United States’ defending doesn’t just allow Morales to make a decisive impact. It also leaves Carrasquilla with ample time to survey his options as the game enters its final minute, allowing Waterman to leave the scene of McKenzie’s convergence almost entirely undetected, especially once Scally commits to chase the ball alongside Morales.

Even after Scally has fully committed to Morales’ run, Tim Ream fails to stick with Waterman as he backsteps toward the corner of the box. Usually, this is where Ream would expect to find Robinson, his long-time starting team-mate for the USMNT and Fulham. With Scally already playing out of position and now drawn into the heart of the park, Waterman is some distance from his nearest defender with the game on the line.

Carrasquilla might be surprised by how open Waterman is, as the midfielder decides to recollect his initial windup to ensure he gets the weight right on his pass. That proved wise, as Waterman struggled to trap the ball — although it only served to give his shot some additional momentum given the total lack of defenders nearby.

Waterman’s shot comes in with considerable power and expert angling, spotting goalkeeper Matt Turner hugging his near post and instead opting to send it across goal. Turner’s lack of recent match involvement is perhaps relevant here, given his conservative positioning and inability to force a difficult shooting angle once Carrasquilla had readied his eventual assist.

This was just Panama’s third shot of the match, and its first on frame. Nevertheless, miscommunication, a second-rate effort to collect a loose ball and some tired legs gave Panama all it needed to beat the USMNT in another cagey matchup.

As the Panama players rushed CBS pundit Thierry Henry to celebrate, the United States was left to appreciate the scale of this fresh failure.

Throughout the broadcast, commentators Chris Wittyngham and Tony Meola highlighted this Panama squad’s lack of experience at the highest levels of club soccer. At one point, Wittyngham cited some recent history as defender César Blackman became the first Panamanian to play in a UEFA Champions League game — although it was immediately hedged that his team, Slovan Bratislava, finished second-bottom of the league-phase table.

When compared to the over half-dozen Americans whose teams advanced to the Champions League playoff round, it seemed to suggest a talent imbalance. Of course, that only gets a national team so far.

Pochettino’s gameplan was not enough to overcome Panama’s energy and spirit. (Robin Alam / ISI Photos/Getty Images)

A year ago, there were excuses: playing a man down, alleged second-cycle syndrome causing a downturn in form under Berhalter, and an uncalled foul forcing Turner to exit at halftime.

On Thursday, all three of those factors were answered in full. At few points in the preceding 93 minutes did the hosts play with the confidence and explosiveness that should accompany a tournament’s three-time defending champion. There was little evidence that taking orders from Pochettino helped them improve after the “lessons learned” under Berhalter.

Handed a fresh opportunity to rectify one of the program’s worst results in recent memory, the team instead one-upped that showing with an even poorer showing. Only they can know whether they had wanted to succeed enough in this window. Still in the wake of last summer’s debacle in the Copa América, however, it’s a group running out of opportunities to provide reasons for optimism heading into a World Cup on home soil.

(Top photo: Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino not to blame for Nations League exit, Tyler Adams says

INGLEWOOD, CA - MARCH 20: Tyler Adams #4 of the United States turns with the ball during the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal match between United States and Panama at SoFi Stadium on March 20, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

By Felipe Cardenas March 21, 2025

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Tyler Adams refused to blame head coach Mauricio Pochettino for the United States’ devastating 1-0 loss to Panama on Thursday as the squad came to terms with its sudden exit from Concacaf Nations League contention.“I’ve never blamed a coach in my entire career,” midfielder Adams said emphatically after Cecilio Waterman’s injury-time winner spurred Panama to a victory at SoFi Stadium. “I mean, the losses depend on the players unless you go out and try something completely random. … There was not a lack of communication after today. We knew exactly what we needed to do. We knew we needed to be competitive. I don’t think we were as competitive as we needed to be.”The USMNT’s exit dealt a massive blow to Pochettino’s feel-good process heading toward the 2026 World Cup. It will now face Canada in Sunday’s third-place game. The Argentine manager told reporters that the Panamanians were hungrier. At the international level, the consequences are dire.“We feel very disappointed because the way we approached the game wasn’t the right way,” he said. “In the first half, we were too comfortable on the pitch. We didn’t show aggression with the ball. We also didn’t show aggression in a defensive way. The first half was very painful to see.“This is not the way that we want to build this journey together. And moving forward, with the objective to play in the World Cup, the objective is to be competitive by seeing that this — it’s a good point to pay attention to — that this is not enough.”The Americans were sleepwalking in a poorly attended semifinal. Their lack of urgency was evident from the start, and despite perking in the second half and attacking with more purpose, Pochettino’s side always looked more timid. Panama relied on hard tackling and a commitment to defending in the low block and making the field as narrow as possible.

Weston McKennie claimed the USMNT needed more “nastiness” against Panama. (Robin Alam / ISI Photos / Getty Images)

“Knowing him, he brings a bit of that South American vibe into the group and that grittiness and makes it known to us that football isn’t always about being beautiful,” midfielder Weston McKennie said of Pochettino. “It’s always also about the grit, the desire, the nastiness that you put into the game, as well. … So I think it’s about time that our team starts doing that also.”Pochettino refused to blame the tame crowd atmosphere for the lackadaisical effort by his players. For a former player who was known as a cutthroat defender, he was perplexed by his players’ disappointing effort.“(The crowd) cannot be an excuse just because you didn’t have a full stadium with your fans,” he said. “Why weren’t we more aggressive? I think the analysis is simple. If we look at the duels won, it’s clear that we lost those to Panama. When the game is played in tight spaces, when winning duels is important, where recovering possession means you’re in a one-versus-one situation and you’re disorganizing the opponent, when possession is won consistently in the final third, that’s always going to favor a team as organized as Panama. And when you don’t show the best version of yourself, things get complicated.“Every single (duel) was the last one for every single player for Panama. We felt that from the touchline. We’re the USA, but we cannot win just because of the shirt.”

Thursday’s defeat rekindled memories of the Copa América defeat to Panama that ultimately sealed Gregg Berhalter’s fate. (Hector Vivas / Getty Images)

This isn’t a new problem for the USMNT. There were multiple occasions under former head coach Gregg Berhalter when a lack of steel and grit led to subpar performances. Pochettino’s assessment now places the spotlight directly on a group of players who are less than 15 months from taking part in a home World Cup.“It’s disappointing, of course,” winger Christian Pulisic said. “We obviously had the ball most of the game, but we just couldn’t create enough. We weren’t dangerous enough. And yeah, you know, they got one shot at the end, and that was the story.”Panama defeated the U.S. in a penalty shootout in the 2023 Gold Cup semifinals. The Central Americans then recorded a shock win over Berhalter’s side at the Copa América last summer. The defeat in Los Angeles on Thursday marked the third straight loss to Panama in a competitive match. Pochettino won his debut as U.S. head coach over Panama in a friendly last October.When a reporter reminded Pulisic of those facts, the AC Milan winger responded: “What do you want me to say? It’s tough. It’s tough. We want to win.” (Top photo of Tyler Adams: Robin Alam / ISI Photos / Getty Images)

Panama deals USMNT another deflating, exposing defeat in Nations League stunner

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Cecilio Waterman #18 of Panama celebrates after scoring a goal against the United States during the second half of a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal match at SoFi Stadium on March 20, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

By Paul Tenorio arch 20, 2025

The goal came seemingly out of nowhere.The U.S. had actually shown a bit of life in what had been a mostly lifeless Concacaf Nations League semifinal. Patrick Agyemang, the substitute forward, had a couple of good looks at goal. Weston McKennie had just unleashed a shot from the top of the box.But Panama, which had been so disciplined defensively, pushed the ball down the field in stoppage time. On the counter, the ball found its way to the right side of the box to Panamanian forward Cecilio Waterman. He took control and picked out the far post, beating the outstretched hand of Matt Turner in the 94th minute.Waterman ripped off his shirt, jumped the boards and stood in front of Thierry Henry, pointing and screaming, “Eres mi idolo,” — “You are my idol” — into the face of the legendary French forward and CBS pundit before hugging him.A few minutes later the final whistle sounded, and just like that, the three-time defending Concacaf Nations League champions were dethroned. Panama had downed the U.S., 1-0, and secured a place in Sunday’s final against either Mexico or Canada.It was a second consecutive massive disappointment in international competition for the USMNT, which was knocked out of the Copa América last year in the group stage. Once again, Panama played a feature role in the exit. After coming up empty on his first real chance at a trophy as U.S. coach, Mauricio Pochettino now will be left to figure out a tough defeat.And instead of playing for a fourth straight title, the U.S. will play in a third-place game.“This is embarrassing,” legendary U.S. forward Clint Dempsey said in his postmatch comments on CBS’s broadcast. “You look at Copa América — hosting the tournament and not getting out of the group, and now look at this situation here on home soil, have an opportunity to win your fourth Concacaf Nations League — and Panama does it again. They are our bogey team. We weren’t good enough. We had four great chances. Of those chances you think we’d score at least one or two of those. We weren’t able to get it done tonight and it’s an embarrassment.”With just over one year left until it cohosts the 2026 World Cup, the U.S. clearly has much left to sort.Beyond the defeat, here are a couple of other thoughts on the result:

Crowd disappoints

The U.S. kicked off at 4 p.m. on a Thursday in Los Angeles. It was the start of March Madness as the NCAA tournament tipped off. Tickets were sold for the doubleheader, which meant anyone coming to see Mexico-Canada didn’t need to show up for the first game.Still, it was a bit jarring to see the swaths of open seats at SoFi Stadium at kickoff for the U.S.-Panama semifinal.The U.S. will play two of its three World Cup games at the venue in Inglewood. The hope is that they will draw a huge home crowd. And while Thursday’s crowd is likely no indication of what the World Cup atmosphere will look like, the lack of noise and excitement in the stadium contributed to a game that, at times, felt more like a friendly than it did a competitive fixture.

Robinson’s importance underscored by his absence

When left back Antonee Robinson withdrew from U.S. camp earlier this week with an injury, it was immediately clear that it would have a domino effect for the Americans.Robinson is not just the best left back in the U.S. pool, he is also one of the best players on the team — and there is no clear like-for-like replacement. Pochettino acknowledged as much with his lineup choices on Thursday against Panama. Joe Scally moved from right back to left back to replace Robinson, and Yunus Musah slid from a midfield position to right back for the U.S.Beyond the shuffling that had to occur to fill the hole on the left side, the U.S. clearly lacked the verticality and service that Robinson gives them from the left side. Without his runs on the left side, Tim Weah playing inverted was less effective. The U.S. tilted the attack to the right side through Yunus Musah, but Musah’s strength is carrying the ball forward more than looking for the final pass or cross — he ranks in the 99th percentile in progressive carries per 90 minutes and just the 48th percentile in progressive passes, per FBref.As a result, the U.S. struggled to take advantage of some of the space on the wings as Panama denied space centrally to Pulisic, Weah and McKennie.The U.S. seemed to figure it out a bit more in the second half with Weah staying a bit wider on the left side, but it wasn’t enough to find a goal.(Top photo: Michael Owens/Getty Images)

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Goalkeeper Matt Turner #1 of United States looks on during the second half of the Concacaf Nations League Semifinal match between United States and Panama at SoFi Stadium on March 20, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

Matt Turner and the challenge of being first-choice goalkeeper for the USMNT but not his club

Greg O’Keeffe

March 22, 2025Updated 3:41 am EDT

It is so often the way with goalkeepers — 90 minutes of relative inactivity, one big moment, then a whole lot of judgement.

For Matt Turner, that’s what came deep into added time at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, when Panama took their only shot on target all game — from the right side of the penalty area, drilled to the bottom left corner; Turner, who had taken position to the right of his goal, could not get his gloves to it.

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“That ball can’t end up in the back of the net,” lamented former USMNT goalkeeper-turned-pundit Tony Meola.

Then, not long after the end of the home side’s 1-0 loss in that Concacaf Nations League semi-final, criticism of the goalkeeper appeared on social media, alongside stills of the goal questioning his movement.

Jack McGlynn and Tim Ream are dejected as Panama celebrate their late winner (Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

That the USMNT won’t now win a fourth consecutive Nations League final is not solely down to Turner. Thursday’s defeat was a collective failure.

And although Panama, who also beat the United States 2-1 in a pivotal Copa America group-stage meeting last summer to set up the host nation’s early exit from that tournament, have now become their bogey team, there will be tougher tests on the horizon for Mauricio Pochettino’s side as they build towards the 2026 World Cup, also largely to be played on American soil.

That is where Turner’s status as second-choice for his club — he has made only four starts this season for Crystal Palace, all in the domestic cup competitions rather than the Premier League — but the USMNT’s No 1 for their biggest games will come under further scrutiny.

It’s something he got asked about by reporters in the build-up to Thursday’s match.

“Obviously, my club situation isn’t ideal right now,” said the 30-year-old, who is on a season-long loan at Palace from rival Premier League club Nottingham Forest. “But I’m giving every opportunity that I have to play the utmost importance and trying to put good performances together, just control what I can right now and then let the chips fall where they may.”

Not ideal then, but neither is it unprecedented.

Sergio Romero was Argentina’s first-choice goalkeeper as they got to the final of the 2014 World Cup despite being second-string at Monaco of Ligue 1, the top division of French club football, and continued in his starting role for the national team despite going on to be the backup to David de Gea at Manchester United. Romero later described it as a “difficult situation”.

Former Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey also had spells as No 1 for Wales, despite hardly playing in the Premier League at the back-end of his time at Selhurst Park. Hennessey was then second-choice for Burnley and Forest while still getting games for his country, including at the 2022 World Cup.

Romero reached the 2014 World Cup final despite being second-choice at his club (Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

For the USMNT it is not a new situation, either.

One of Turner’s current understudies, Zack Steffen of MLS side Colorado Rapids, played in the 2021 Nations League finals win against Mexico and in qualifiers for the following year’s World Cup while spending most of his two complete seasons at Manchester City of the Premier League on the bench.

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“It’s come full circle,” says Matt Pyzdrowski, a coach and former goalkeeper who played professionally in the U.S. and Sweden, and is now The Athletic’s goalkeeping analyst. “Matt was playing regularly in MLS (for New England Revolution, before a July 2022 move to Europe with Arsenal) and trying to get ahead of Zack, who wasn’t playing as much as he’d like in England. Now they have kind of switched places.”

For large parts of Thursday’s game, Turner was less busy than he had been when playing 45 minutes of Palace’s 1-0 win over Norwegian side Hamarkameratene in a friendly last week.

In that practice game, part of Palace’s warm-weather training camp in Marbella, Spain during a break in their domestic schedule, he made two saves in the second half after replacing first-choice Dean Henderson at the interval. He touched the ball 17 times, only seven fewer times than in the 99 minutes, including added time, against Panama (24).

The questions come from the one decisive moment that did not go his way, meaning the U.S. will not play in Sunday’s final. But despite that setback, Turner has generally played well enough for the national team to retain his place in it, keeping high-profile errors at a bare minimum.

“It’s obviously a problem but, at the moment, I don’t think it’s a big problem because Matt has always performed for the USMNT,” says Pyzdrowski. “That’s the biggest thing you need to consider. If he was making lots of errors and not performing, then of course it would be a more pressing issue. But he has always done pretty well for his country despite not playing regularly at all for his club.”

Henderson, who is in the current England squad, and Turner warm up for Palace (Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

It remains to be seen whether Turner stays in the team for Sunday’s third-place play-off against Canada.

Patrick Schulte of Columbus Crew was in goal the last time the countries met, a 2-1 win for the Canadians last September in a friendly while the USMNT had Mikey Varas in interim charge. Had it been an important fixture, it is likely Turner would have been in the team that day in Kansas City and not on the bench. That means his performances for the national team are generally buoyed by the feeling of being trusted as a regular, according to Pyzdrowski.

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“It doesn’t matter who you are as a player, you just want to feel valued,” he says. “Then you feel more comfortable on the field and it’s important not to overlook it. Matt has built up a lot of credit with the national team.

“In a perfect world, he’d be playing every week, regardless of what that requires — if it’s going back to MLS — because he’d naturally be sharper. But at the moment it hasn’t caused him too many issues.”

Turner has largely been Palace’s cup goalkeeper this season, starting one of the three Carabao Cup matches they played following his late-August arrival and, more significantly, all three FA Cup ties to date. He will hope to retain his place in the quarter-finals on March 29 against USMNT team-mate Antonee Robinson’s Fulham.

The only potential downside to his inactivity in the Premier League, Henderson has been an ever-present for Palace to date and Turner’s last appearance in the competition was for Forest in January last year, is a potential lack of time facing key high-level-game scenarios.

“The biggest issue of not playing regularly is just rustiness,” says Pyzdrowski. “And the relationship with your back line and reading of the play — how deep the balls come, or crosses into the box.

“I wouldn’t say that saving the ball and the speed of the ball is that much of a problem, because you get a lot of that in training. You get a ton of reps (in training) even when you’re on the bench. It’s more situations that can only arise in games.”

Those daily sessions between games are also different as a club’s backup ’keeper, though. “In training, the focus is really on the No 1, so the drills you do are suited to them,” says Pyzdrowski. “A lot of the situations Matt will be in during training won’t be with the guys who play every week (other reserves), so he’s not building those relationships.

“But then that’s the important thing with the national team: that he’s familiar with the setup and the guys there. He built that up over time and really earned his spot.”

Turner during Thursday’s defeat by Panama (Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Veteran goalkeeper Andy Lonergan had spells as a backup, and even third-choice, towards the end of his career with top clubs such as Liverpool and Everton. He feels Turner’s extra physical freshness, in contrast to a ’keeper going through the grind of playing every weekend in the Premier League, should actually be a positive.

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“He’s fresh for these games, raring to go and experienced,” says the 41-year-old, now a player/coach at Wigan Athletic in League One, the third tier of English football. “I know Dean Kiely, who works with him at Palace and speaks very highly of him and says how good he is in training.

“He’s got hundreds of games behind him and has been at big teams now, so I don’t think he’ll be too concerned about the situation. He has no niggles, no injuries, and he comes to these USMNT camps champing at the bit. When you’re second-choice (at a club) but have something to work towards, like the cup games and then the international games, you have a good focus.

“Ideally you want to play all the time and keep that rhythm because it isn’t easy coming in every six weeks in the cup, and his last international camp was in November. But from his point of view, I don’t think it’ll be an issue.”

Pyzdrowski points out that, in theory at least, playing a Panama team ranked 36th in the world by FIFA (20 places below the United States) can be less taxing on a goalkeeper’s reflexes than a game in the English top flight. “International football is a little different from the Premier League,” he says. “A game against Panama will be different and have perhaps less intensity than a Premier League game, so that will also help him feel his way into it.”

Lonergan playing for Everton against Western Sydney Wanderers in a 2022 friendly (Brett Hemmings/Getty Images for Bursty)

Like Pyzdrowski, Lonergan’s only concern would be whether players in Turner’s situation can stay sharp for in-game situations.

“Speaking from experience, the only fear when I wasn’t playing (regularly) but was a cup ’keeper with a game in six weeks’ time is that, in training, you’re doing small-side games so your reactions are bang-on,” he says. “But it’s your distances with the back four, balls over the top and through balls where you could be a little bit out of sync.

“That was always my concern, because training and 11-a-side on full pitches are different. In training, you’re on autopilot, flying around, but in games those decisions are vital.

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“Through balls, distances and balls over the top are the hardest to practice as a ’keeper. You can do it in training but there are no consequences, whereas in a match if you decide to come (for a ball) and don’t get there, you’re in trouble. In training, you can keep doing it until you get it right.”

With the World Cup 15 months away, it could be that Turner — who made only seven appearances in his year with Arsenal before joining Forest, where he made 17 league starts last season — looks for a new team where he is more likely to be first choice. His loan at Palace expires in June and he has another two years to go on his contract with Forest, where Belgium international Matz Sels has established himself as a key player in goal as they make a surprise push for Champions League qualification.

“It’s not an unworkable situation as it is,” adds Pyzdrowski, who recently started a new role coaching the goalkeepers at Swedish top-flight side Malmo. “But the challenge it creates is because the goalkeeping position is so delicate, with so many small details. You really can only work on a lot of them in games.

“Goalkeeper training has evolved a lot in the last 10 years, in terms of the different repetitions and exercises you do compared to just lots of shots and volleys.

Turner catches a cross during Palace’s recent FA Cup win against Millwall (Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)

“Now it’s more match relevant, but even if you have one or two goalkeeper coaches and they’re taking shots at you, it’s not the same as a top-class striker coming at you, with the speed and accuracy. Yes, you’ll do some exercises with the team, but training just isn’t built around the number two or number three.

“You’re important and you have a role, but the coach needs guys on the team (the starters) working together to build those relationships.”

With the national team, those bonds seem as strong as ever. But to face the game’s very best at a World Cup just over a year away, Turner may decide he needs to increase his weekly workload.

Panama defeat conjures memories of USMNT’s most devastating losses

Christian Pulisic in the USMNT's loss to Trinidad & Tobago

By Pablo Maurer 0March 22, 2025 8:00 am EDT

The U.S. men’s national team’s 1-0 loss to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals was unquestionably a humiliating one. The USMNT, replete with stars playing abroad and coached by the reputable Mauricio Pochettino, looked listless against the Panamanians. Despite the fact that Panama has now beaten the Americans three times in the last 20 months, the result still felt like a gut-punch to the U.S. – the program and its fans.

Not that many of them watched the match in person. Just before the anthems on Thursday, U.S. star Christian Pulisic was spotted grimacing at the large swaths of empty seats around SoFi Stadium. The dour atmosphere – it didn’t help that it was a 4 p.m. local time kickoff outside Los Angeles – only added to the heartburn surrounding the result. A significantly larger crowd turned up for the second match of the day, between Mexico and Canada.

Pochettino spent much of the run-up to the game doing media, offering bold predictions that the USMNT were real contenders to win the World Cup in 2026, which is a little over a year away. In other interviews, he spoke of returning to the EPL some day and yearned for a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. The Argentine is charming, for certain, but his guile will mean nothing if he can’t accomplish his stated goals. He was brought in in large part to motivate this “golden generation” of U.S. players, but very few of them looked committed or golden on Thursday night.

The loss is unquestionably the poorest result of Pochettino’s seven-match tenure to date, and the U.S. still has a chance to save a bit of face against Canada in the third-place game. A loss in that match, which certainly feels possible, would only add to the misery surrounding the USMNT’s recent performances, and with time running short when it comes to galvanizing the country around the sport and program, results like Thursday’s come with some added layers.

Perspective is important, though, and even a fourth-place finish in a Concacaf Nations League wouldn’t hold a candle to some of the U.S. men’s most devastating previous failures, ones that had massive consequences. If you’re the kind of fan that likes to lean into your grief, then keep reading.

Costa Rica 1, USMNT 0; May 31, 1985

By the time the USMNT’s final qualifier of the 1986 World Cup cycle rolled around, the whole of American soccer was in a tailspin. The North American Soccer League (NASL) — the first real, top-flight league in U.S. history — had closed up shop permanently just two months earlier. The national team was largely made up of players from the Major Indoor Soccer League, and they rarely played the outdoor game, outside of national team call-ups. Some team members even played in semi-professional leagues and held part-time jobs.

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Mexico, the dominant team in the region for decades, had already qualified for the 1986 World Cup as the host nation. In an era where only two teams from Concacaf qualified, the USMNT was looked upon as a favorite to advance. It needed only a draw against Costa Rica to advance to the next round of qualifying and take a step closer to a first World Cup berth since 1950.

The NASL’s collapse and public apathy toward the sport put the U.S. Soccer Federation in a bind and made ticket sales an essential revenue stream. Consequential matches in the U.S, even World Cup qualifiers, frequently felt like away games, with crowds full of immigrants from Latin American countries. Such was the case against Costa Rica.

“There was an agent that represented some of the (Costa Rican) players,” remembered USMNT’s Perry Van der Beck. “The federation sold this game to him. The stadium was just full of Costa Ricans — the halftime show, even, was just full of Costa Rican music, all aimed at the Costa Rican fans.”

The U.S. was led by head coach Alkis Panagoulias. Born in Greece, Panagoulias was a “token offering,” remembers former USMNT defender Alan Merrick, “who truly believed that the so-called ‘American spirit’ would carry us alone.” He was short of technical acumen and long on inspirational quotes.

“In this country, somewhere out there, maybe in Harlem or Los Angeles, there is the next Pelé,” Panagoulias once said. “And not just one — maybe 20 or 30.”

None of them was present against Costa Rica. The U.S. had the lion’s share of possession that day and played a bright opening half hour, yet the Costa Ricans pulled ahead on a lucky strike. USMNT forward Ricky Davis, along with fellow upstart Hugo Pérez, had a half-dozen decent chances for the U.S., all of which missed the mark.

Then, in the 73rd minute, a ray of hope: Defender Dan Canter fired in a shot that appeared to go in. The referee signaled for a goal, which was later waved off. It had hit the side netting, and 20 minutes later, the match ended. So did the U.S.’s hopes of qualification.

“I don’t know where we go from there,” Davis told reporters after the match. “There was our best chance to make it to the World Cup. We won’t have another chance until 1990. Who knows where soccer in America will be by then?”

The defeat is among the darkest moments in U.S. soccer history, but it also marks a beginning. Panagoulias and a host of players would be shown the door, replaced by a generation of talent that would eventually lead the U.S. to its first World Cup qualification in 40 years.

Among the only players to survive that transition was Paul Caligiuri. Not only did the USMNT legend take place in one of the program’s darkest moments, he scored the famed “shot heard ‘round the world” against Trinidad and Tobago that qualified the U.S. for the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Iran 2, USMNT 1; June 21, 1998

The USMNT entered the 1998 World Cup in France riding a wave of hype. It followed a respectable showing at the 1994 World Cup on home soil with a series of wonderful results: a shocking run to the semifinals of the 1995 Copa America, the country’s first (and still only) victory over Brazil a few years later and a host of other respectable encounters against legitimately good teams across the globe.

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Under the surface, though, cracks had begun to show. Some of the squad’s veterans, many of whom were part of the ‘94 cycle, had butted heads with head coach Steve Sampson over roster decisions and their dwindling roles. Sampson added fuel to the fire when he brought in a series of foreign-born players, much to the chagrin of the team’s veterans.

And infamously, Sampson excluded U.S. legend John Harkes from the final roster after learning that Harkes had been engaged in an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda. A difficult draw made the U.S.’s task in 1998 even more difficult, and after losing the opening match to Germany and with Yugoslavia looming, the USMNT’s second match against Iran became a must-win.

The game was framed by decades-old turmoil between Iran and the United States, and as matchday approached, things grew tense. SWAT teams and snipers were present in the stadium and FIFA had mandated strict protocols for how both teams interacted before the match. The U.S. and Iran, seeking to make a statement, took a team photograph together, with the Iranians presenting the U.S. players with white flowers.

USMNT and Iran at the 1998 World Cup USMNT and Iran pose together at the 1998 World Cup. (Photo by Nader Davoodi ATPImages/Getty Images)

For his part, Sampson made a half-dozen changes to his starting XI from the Germany loss and altered his formation, as well. The U.S. started the game on the front foot, nearly pulling ahead on a Brian McBride header, which hit the post. But the Iranians were opportunistic, and they grabbed a pair of goals on the counterattack. The 2-1 loss, combined with other results, eliminated the USMNT from the World Cup after two games.

The writing was on the wall for Sampson, who’d be dismissed not long after the tournament’s conclusion. Many of the club’s senior players, most notably veteran defender Alexi Lalas, sealed Sampson’s fate by publicly criticizing him in the press. The 1998 debacle marked the end of an era for U.S. Soccer, with many of the team’s highest-profile players, those who’d taken part in the 1994 World Cup, moving on for good.

Czech Republic 3, USMNT 0; June 12, 2006

It’s nearly impossible to overstate the hype surrounding the USMNT in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup. The U.S. had shocked the world with a deep run in 2002 and stormed through qualifying for the ‘06 tournament, booking a ticket to Germany with three matches remaining. The U.S. roster was a who’s who of American soccer royalty, maybe the most talented collection of American players ever sent to a World Cup.

The qualifying run had pushed the U.S. up to fifth in FIFA’s (deeply flawed) world ranking, which was uncharted territory for the lowly Americans. They’d done something even more improbable — cracked the consciousness of the general public in the U.S., the most elusive of challenges in American soccer. U.S. Soccer and Nike only intensified the buzz, plastering the team all over American airwaves and even deputizing one of the team’s young stars, Clint Dempsey, as U.S. Soccer’s official rapper.

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Even a truly difficult draw couldn’t dampen the spirits of the American faithful. Italy and Ghana were both respectable opponents but both seemed beatable. Rounding out the U.S. group was the Czech Republic, then one of the best teams in the world.

Any and all hype surrounding the U.S. evaporated within moments of their group stage opener against the Czechs. It was not the first time the two countries had met in a World Cup. In 1990, the U.S. played their first World Cup match in 40 years against what was then called Czechoslovakia, losing in a 5-1 bloodbath. Many considered it a miracle the U.S. had even qualified for that tournament and few paid the result any mind. Even fewer considered it any form of a humiliation.

But 2006 was a different story. The U.S. was comprehensively dismantled by a Czech side featuring names like Jan Koller, Petr Čech and Tomáš Rosický. After their showing at the ‘02 World Cup and despite the hype surrounding the squad, the USMNT managed just one shot in the drubbing.

An Associated Press match report said the U.S. looked like “a bewildered World Cup newcomer again,” and the result in the opener proved too much to overcome. The USMNT managed just a single goal in the tournament and was sent packing — along with the Czech Republic, the other casualty of the group of death.What You Should Read NextHow Clint Dempsey’s childhood in Nacogdoches inspired the USMNT’s 2006 hype video ‘Don’t Tread’Dempsey still has a soft spot for the song, as do many soccer fans in this country.

USMNT 1, Mexico 2; November 11, 2016

Few words in the language of American soccer carry as much weight as “dos a cero.”

The USMNT’s rivalry with Mexico is the stuff of legend, with the Mexicans holding a historical edge on their northern neighbors. Mexico was essentially unbeatable at the Azteca in Mexico City and El Tri often got the better of the U.S. in the states, as well. It wasn’t until the USMNT started playing matches of consequence against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, that the U.S. had a true home-field advantage.

For a 15-year stretch, the U.S. were undefeated at Crew Stadium, going 8-0-3 and compiling a 6-0-2 in World Cup qualifiers at the venue. The greatest results came against Mexico. The U.S. won every match they played against the Mexicans by that 2-0, dos-a-cero scoreline during that stretch, creating a deeply important psychological edge that grew with every successive result.

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By 2016, the thought that the U.S. would lose a match to Mexico in Columbus — even allow a goal there — felt borderline unthinkable. Yet something felt different ahead of the U.S.’s qualifier against the Mexicans that November, in no small part because of the presidential election only days earlier. Trump’s dangerous rhetoric about Mexican immigrants in the United States forced both teams to put sports aside for the moment. By the time the two sides posed together for a team photo as a sign of unity just before the match, the aura surrounding the match changed. By the end of the game, the mystique of Crew Stadium was gone.

Mexico's Rafa Marquez and Miguel Layun Rafa Márquez gave Mexico its first World Cup qualifying win in Columbus in 2016. (Paul Vernon/AFP/Getty Images)

Mexican defender Miguel Layún gave El Tri their first goal in Columbus 20 minutes in before the U.S. equalized early in the second half through Bobby Wood. Mexico did not let up, though, and found the winner just a minute from full time. It came courtesy of a glancing header by Rafa Márquez, perhaps the most villainous player in the history of the rivalry to U.S. fans. It felt fitting. Four days later, the U.S. lost 4-0 in Costa Rica, and five days after that, manager Jurgen Klinsmann was fired, with qualification for the 2018 World Cup put in peril.

By the time the 2022 qualification cycle rolled around, Crew Stadium had been replaced with a gleaming new venue. It probably wouldn’t have mattered anyways — the USMNT chose to play their home qualifier against Mexico in Cincinnati instead, leaving Columbus and all of its accompanying magic in the rearview.

Trinidad and Tobago 2, USMNT 1; October 10, 2017

Few U.S. fans had heard of Couva (population 45,000) before the USMNT played a decisive World Cup qualifier there in the fall of 2017. Now, the little town in Trinidad is seared into the collective consciousness of every USMNT fan. The name alone is a trigger word.

It was there that a shocking result eliminated the U.S. from qualification for the 2018 World Cup, ending a stretch during which the U.S. had played in every World Cup since 1990.

The seeds of the defeat in Couva were planted by Klinsmann, who led the USMNT through a miserable qualification cycle. After losing to Mexico and Costa Rica in the opening matches of the final stage of qualification, Klinsmann was sacked and replaced by Bruce Arena.

Arena, by most metrics the most successful coach in USMNT history, set about trying to repair the damage. The U.S. breezed through a few games but stuttered late in the qualification cycle. Even still, it seemed in excellent shape entering the match in Couva, needing just a draw to book a trip to Russia.

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Trinidad and Tobago entered the match with little to play for, having already been eliminated. But games between these two opponents are always tinged with that famous 1989 win, the one where Caligiuri put a dagger in the heart of the Caribbean nation. The U.S. did little to help its cause by posting video on social media of the field conditions in Trinidad, a jab many viewed as belittling and insensitive given the resources available to the tiny nation.

In turn, the Soca Warriors came to play. They scored first through an own goal by U.S. defender Omar Gonzalez. Things went from bad to worse after T&T right back Alvin Jones ripped a 35-yard curler by U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard. Pulisic, then 19, handed his team a lifeline with a goal early in the second half, but the U.S. never found an equalizer. Dempsey, reduced to a substitute, hit the post on the closest call.

Elsewhere in the region, other teams had pulled off their own upsets. Panama and Honduras had beaten Costa Rica and Mexico, respectively. and earned the right to advance. The unthinkable, to many, had happened: the USMNT was eliminated. To this day, the loss remains the worst loss in USMNT history, based on ELO rating.

Arena resigned almost immediately. USMNT fans, who had long grown accustomed to qualifying in every World Cup cycle, called for widespread change. The match marked the end of the line for a generation of U.S. legends — Michael Bradley, Dempsey, Howard and Jozy Altidore among them – and ushered in the new.

(Editor’s note: A portion of this piece was repurposed from a previous Athletic article from this writer detailing past significant USMNT defeats)

(Top photo: Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

3/15/25 USMNT Nations League Finals Th, Indy 11 Start Away @ Miami Sat 6:30, UCL Final 8, NWSL Kick-off

March 15, 2025March 16, 2025 gatorbest carmel-fc, carmel-soccer, champions-league-soccer, football, grand-park-soccer, indy-11, premier-league, reffing, soccer, soccer-refs

Wow what a busy weekend and of course I am on the road so not as much as I would like this week. Lets start by saying Champions League continues to deliver in whatever format its in. Both the Indy 11 & NWSL kick off this weekend (I will be at the Angel City game Sun eve). I don’t have time to give them the full rundown and will try to do season premiers on both next week. Of course the US Men have Nations League Finals on Thurs on Paramount Plus- not real TV?? at 8 pm on Thursday night vs Panama. The Canada vs Mexico game will follow at 10 pm on Para+. Don’t ask me how our US team in playing in Tourney play and the game is not on TV? UNBELIEVABLE. Of course the other factor is these game were set to go head to head with the first weekend of NCAA March Madness. To say the idiots who run soccer in this country are dumb might be the UNDERSTATEMENT of a lifetime.

Champions League
I am sad that huge games between Atletico Madrid & Real Madrid and Liverpool & PSG were played in the round of 16 rather than an Elite 8 or deeper in the tourney. Both were classics and spectacular end to end play along with spectacular goalkeeping and both ended in shootouts. Sad to see Liverpool & Atletico out so soon. Big fellow Ref question – Was Atletico Robbed when this crucial 3^rd kick in the shootout was ruled as a double touch by VAR? Atletico basically lost the game on that call as they can’t find a way to beat Real Madrid again in Champions League play. Rules changes are being considered because of it – see last story below.

Indy 11

The Boys in Blue open the USL Championship regular season on Saturday, March 15 at Miami FC at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+. Saturday is the 14th all-time meeting between the two sides, with Miami holding a 6-5-2 edge. The Boys in Blue have won the past four meetings. Coach Sean McAuley enters year two leading the Boys in Blue with 15 players returning from last year’s squad that earned the franchise’s first home playoff game since 2019 after advancing to the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Indy Eleven home opener is 2 weeks away. Get the exclusive Home Opener Ticket Pack starting at $29, which includes tickets to the home opener March 29 vs. Colorado Springs (with on-field access), the U.S. Open Cup match on April 15 or 16, and a flex ticket for a match of your choice. Awesome to see Maverick McCoy a former Carmel FC player on the Roster as a 17 year-old academy player. Go Maverick – I know his dad Wade McCoy a former CFC Coach is proud as are we!

Goalkeepers (3): Reice Charles-Cook, ^Ryan Hunsucker, Hunter Sulte
Defenders (9): Pat Hogan, ^Maverick McCoy, Finn McRobb, James Musa, Josh O’Brien, Ben Ofeimu, Bruno Rendon, Aedan Stanley, Hayden White
Midfielders (7): Jack Blake, Oliver Brynéus, Cam Lindley, James Murphy, Logan Neidlinger, Aodhan Quinn, Brem Soumaoro
Forwards (5): Elvis Amoh, Elliot Collier, Maalique Foster, Edward Kizza, Romario Williams
^USL Academy Contract

US Men Look to Win 3rd Straight Nations League Title Next Week

So the USMNT and new Manager Poch have a big task ahead as they look to secure their 3rd straight Nations League title starting Thur night vs Panama 8:30 pm on Paramount plus. The winner will face the winner of Canada vs Mexico which is played right after our game. The final is Sunday night at 10 pm on Para+. No real surprises on roster selection – waiting to see who will start in the middle defense will the Celtic duo outperform Richards & McKensie? Who starts along with Adams & Mckinney in the middle? I will have more on this including my line-up choices later in the week.

DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (club/country; caps/goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 30/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 49/0)

NWSL Season Stars this Weekend

The NWSL kicks off this weekend after an offseason packed with player movement, coaching hires, emerging storylines, and one compelling sneak peek. Orlando enters 2025 as the reigning NWSL Shield and Championship winners while Kansas City forward Temwa Chawinga defends her MVP award — but outside contenders are bound to keep 2024’s titans on their toes. Big games to watch this weekend.

Kansas City Current vs Portland Thorns Sat 12:45 pm on ABC. The MVP and Kansas City will host a rebuilding Portland Thorns team on national TV.

Gotham FC vs. Seattle Reign, Saturday at 10 PM ET (ION): See how the tension plays out between teams on either side of one of the offseason’s biggest trades, after Gotham sent veteran forward Lynn Biyendolo and goalkeeper Cassie Miller to Seattle while receiving promising young midfielder Jaelin Howell in return.
Angel City vs. San Diego, Sunday at 6:50 PM ET (ESPN2): The SoCal rivalry heats back up between two work-in-progress teams, as Angel City begins anew under an interim manager while San Diego charts a new course with both a new coach and some big-name departures.

Champions League Chances to Win as we Enter The Quarter Finals

For Carmel Dad’s Club Refs — and want to be refs — check out the below. New Refs can learn to ref for free – at the new Ref Classes then ref rec games this spring after training with older officials. Its a great way to break into reffing without having to pay quite as much to start.

TV SCHEDULE

US PLAYERS ACROSS THE WORLD
Saturday

Werder Bremen v Borussia Mönchengladbach – 10:30a on ESPN+

Joe Scally missed Borussia Mönchengladbach’s 3-1 loss to Mainz last weekend due to yellow card accumulation, but should be available and back in the starting lineup on Saturday as they travel to take on Werder Bremen. ‘Gladbach fell to ninth place with the loss, seven points back of Mainz and five points back of fourth place Eintracht Frankfurt. Their opponent this weekend is 12th place Werder Bremen who have won two straight, including a 2-0 win over second place Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.

Augsburg v Wolfsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+

Kevin Paredes has returned to training but remains unavailable for Wolfsburg and Noahkai Banks has seen just 9 minutes in the last four matches for Augsburg (albeit all last weekend) so it seems unlikely that we’ll have an American take the field on Saturday as 11th place Augsburg host 7th place Wolfsburg.

AC Milan v Como – 1p on Paramount+

Christian Pulisic scored two goals last weekend in AC Milan’s 3-2 win over Lecce but the team remains in ninth place heading into their matchup with Como this weekend. Yunus Musah was also once again starting in the midfield for Milan and it will be interesting to see his continued usage for both club and country, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino has recently expressed that Musah can really be played all over the right side of the field, from rightback, in the midfield, or on the wing. However, Musah seems to have performed better for his club in the midfield though that is a crowded position for the USMNT.

RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund – 1:30p on ESPN+

After two straight league starts Gio Reyna did not make it off the bench last weekend in Borussia Dortmund’s 1-0 loss to Augsburg last weekend and just a handful of minutes on Wednesday as they saw out their 2-1 victory over Lille in the second leg of their Champions League matchup. With the win over Lille BVB continue on in this years Champions League competition but they remain in tenth place in Bundesliga play and seem unlikely to qualify for next year’s competition. They have a chance to gain ground this weekend as they face sixth place RB Leipzig who are four points ahead of them in the table. Leipzig have drawn three of their past four league matches.

Bournemouth v Brentford – 1:30p on USA Network

Tyler Adams and Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Tottenham on Sunday to stretch their winless streak to three matches. Bournemouth have fallen to ninth place with the recent rough stretch and are five points out of a top five finish. They host twelfth place Brentford this weekend who are coming off a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.

Sunday

Venezia v Napoli – 7:30a on Paramount+

Gianluca Busio did not appear for Venezia last weekend, the first match since August that he has failed to see minutes in, and just the fourth match that he hasn’t started in that same time. Venezia picked up their third straight draw, against Como, and they remain well within the relegation zone, five points from safety, as they have won just three times in 28 matches this season. They face second place Napoli on Sunday who are just a point back of league leading Inter Milan.

Leganes v Real Betis – 9a on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes

Johnny Cardoso was not included in the squad on Thursday as Real Betis defeated Vitoria Guimaraes 4-0 in UEFA Conference League action, casting some doubt on his availability for the USMNT Nations League camp just around the corner. There is no indication of a major injury but if the club is choosing to rest or be cautious with Johnny then perhaps it could impact his national team opportunities as well. Betis have won four straight league matches, all of which Cardoso started and they are in sixth place, three points back of fifth place Villarreal and eight back of Athletic Club and Champions League qualification. They face a Leagnes side that is just a point ahead of Alaves in the race to avoid relegation.

Fulham v Tottenham – 9:30a on USA Network

Antonee Robinson and Fulham fell to Brighton last weekend and look to bounce back against 13th place Tottenham who are coming off a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Robinson once again started and was wearing the captains armband last weekend. He did pick up his seventh yellow card of the season but the EPL rules allow for 10 in the first 32 matches before a player faces a two match suspension.

Olympique Lyon v Le Havre – 10a on beIN Sports

Tanner Tessmann has started five straight matches, continuing in the starting lineup after the suspension of his manager, and Lyon have won four of the five matches including last weekends 2-0 win over Nice to move within four points of the third place team and the Champions League qualification position. This weekend they face a Le Havre side that are in the relegation playoff position, a point back of straight safety and a point ahead of Saint-Etienne for straight relegation in a tight relegation playoff race.

Strasbourg v Toulouse – 12:15p on beIN Sports

Mark McKenzie started yet again for Toulouse last weekend and is approaching 2,000 Ligue 1 minutes for the team this season. Toulouse drew 1-1 with high flying Monaco, who had put up nineteen goals in their past six matches. Toulouse are in tenth place and will travel to take on seventh place Strasbourg on Sunday. Strasbourg have won four of their last five, and haven’t given up a goal over that span, their only blemish being a scoreless draw with Brest three weeks ago.

Fiorentina v Juventus – 1p on Paramount+

Juventus lost for just the second time last weekend, fa 4-0 stinker to Atalanta that left Juve in fourth place, six points back of their third place opponent. Tim Weah once again started at rightback but was pulled 54’ minutes in with Juve down 2-0. Weston McKennie also started the match and went the full 90’ playing as an attacking mid. Juventus will face Fiorentina this weekend, on Thursday Fiorentina reversed a 3-2 first leg deficit to Panathinaikos in UEEF Conference League action, winning 3-1 to move on 5-4 on aggregate.

INDY 11

2 Indy Eleven matches to air on CBS Sports Network & ESPN2
Indy Eleven finishes preseason with third straight victory
Indy Eleven brings back goalkeeper Hunter Sulte on loan from Portland Timbers
Indy Eleven Reveals 2025 Under Armour Kits
Indy Eleven Announces 2025 USL W League Schedule

USMNT

Mauricio Pochettino names USMNT Concacaf Nations League roster with eye on defending title
Adams, Reyna return to USMNT for CNL finals
USMNT midweek roundup: Zendejas, White score in CCC
USMNT to face Türkiye, Switzerland in June friendlies

NWSL

NWSL team-by-team preview: Can Orlando Pride repeat as champions?
As the NWSL brings in foreign talent, international players savor new opportunity
NWSL club BOS Nation FC to announce new name soon following fan backlash
NWSL 2025 cheatsheet: Big questions, schedule highlights and how to watch this season
How to watch the 2025 NWSL Season: Schedule, channels and more
Three NWSL trades that could define the 2025 season
NWSL 2025 predictions: Pride looking for repeat, top newcomers and more
2025 NWSL season preview: Stars, storylines and teams to watch after league’s biggest year
Angel City believes it finally has right chemistry to be competitive amid rebuild

GK

Great Saves Champions league 2^nd Leg Rd of 16
Arsenal’s Raya receives Save of the Month nomination
New 8 Second Rule Coming GK
Kicking Side Volleys

Reffing

New 8 Second Rule Coming GK
Was Atletico Robbed when this crucial 3^rd kick in the shootout was ruled as a double touch by VAR?

New Ref Abuse Prevention Policy
Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13

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Pochettino addresses his inclusions, snubs for USMNT’s Nations League squad

By Paul Tenorio The Atletic ar. 11, 2025Updated Mar. 13, 2025

Several times over the course of his press conference on Tuesday, U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino invoked the idea of “trust” to describe his selection process for the team that will compete for a fourth consecutive Concacaf Nations League trophy next week.

The trust earned by players like forward Patrick Agyemang during January camp. The trust he wanted to return to players like Diego Luna, to build the confidence and belief in a player who showed well in January and now will get his first shot with the full team. The trust and relationship he wanted to build with a player like Gio Reyna, who got his first call-up under Pochettino despite struggling for minutes and form at Borussia Dortmund; and Tyler Adams, who similarly will get his first look after returning from a back injury.

Ultimately, it’s in the trust of communicating what Pochettino and his staff want from the team — and that the players can understand and execute those core tenets.

“It’s clear that many of the players here have won this competition,” Pochettino said. “And you always lose a little bit of hunger when you win, right? In this case we want to keep that hunger and try to instill in the players that you have to keep winning. You have to keep competing and keep winning.”

GO DEEPER

Reyna, Adams return as Pochettino crafts U.S.’s Nations League finals squad

The U.S. will have two opportunities to compete for trophies between now and next summer’s World Cup. Both are Concacaf competitions: this spring’s Nations League and the summer’s Gold Cup. It put more value on this roster and its coveted roster spots.

A few familiar names were left off the team. Alejandro Zendejas is in top form at Club America in Liga MX, with five goals and five assists in the Clausura so far. He also scored two goals and had two assists in December’s Apertura semis and finals and was probably the biggest surprise snub if only because of his form. Brenden Aaronson, who was part of the 2022 World Cup roster, was also left off. Others on the outside looking in included center back Miles Robinson and midfielder Aidan Morris.

Pochettino said it’s down to the increased competition at each spot. Asked specifically about Aaronson, he shed some light on the depth chart.

“Brenden we know very well, but we decided to bring other players in that place,” Pochettino said. “We have players in that position like Gio Reyna, Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Diego Luna. Too many players for only one position. The (idea) was to provide balance. … We (are talking) about him, but we can talk about many other players that were in the preliminary list.”

The answer reinforced the obvious. For every player who misses out on a team, there’s another player given a chance to prove they belong. Pochettino called six players who were a part of January camp and will now get a chance to validate their place among the senior squad in the biggest international windows.

That includes Luna and Agyemang. “(Diego is) a player we followed from the day we signed with the USA national team,” Pochettino said. “We want to give another possibility. … I think it’s important for him to feel confidence from us, and I think he was good in the January camp and we want to provide the possibility to train with us again.

USMNT's Patrick Agyemang Patrick Agyemang, center, was a star of January camp for the U.S. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

“Talking about Patrick he’s still a little bit raw, a player that you can feel that he can evolve and learn a lot,” Pochettino continued. “But the potential and the characteristics, if he continues his progression, we can talk about in the future a very good striker. Now it’s up to him. We were so happy about January camp, I think he showed we can trust him. He scored, but not only his scoring, his work ethic in the camp, the way that he can press, he worked for the team. All these things that I think meant we were focused on him, to give the trust and calling him now is to show that we really believe in him.”

The roster also includes a few familiar faces for U.S. fans who haven’t yet had a chance to prove themselves to Pochettino. That includes Adams, whom Pochettino praised but also said would have to “prove that he’s better than” others in a midfield that includes Tanner Tessmann, Johnny Cardoso, Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie.

GO DEEPER

USMNT Player Tracker: Pulisic finds his mojo, another Richards shut out and Dest returns

It also includes Reyna, who is still trying to find his way at the club level. He’ll get a chance to set things right in Nations League, a tournament that has been kind to him in the past. Reyna has five goal contributions across three Nations League finals. Despite not being in prime form, Pochettino said it was important to get Reyna in because he wouldn’t be able to participate in the Gold Cup. He’s instead due to be playing for Borussia Dortmund in the Club World Cup, which will be going on concurrently with the national team’s regional competition.

FIFA ruled that clubs have priority over players in this summer international window as it tries to push its new club competition, meaning Reyna and Juventus players Weston McKennie and Tim Weah are likely to e with their club teams rather than with the U.S.

“Everyone recognizes that his talent (is there),” Pochettino said of Reyna. “Of course, he’s improving, but he needs to improve. And of course he can do better. We need to push him, but we need to understand how he thinks, what he likes, (what) he (doesn’t) like. It’s important to create this relationship for the future if we are going to have the (possibility) again (for him) to join us. We want to win this competition, and I think he can help. That is why he is with us. But at the same time, I think he can do better. We are going to try to create this relationship, to try to discover and how to help.”

It makes this March window important on a number of levels — from team success, to individual performances and enhancing competition ahead of next summer’s all-important World Cup.

(Top photo: Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

Five Questions for Week 2 in the USL Championship

We’ve got another 11-game slate of action this weekend in the USL Championship, including Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s home opener and a regional rivalry clash in Northern California.Here are five questions we have ahead of the action.1. Can Colorado Springs get Marco Micaletto and Anthony Fontana more involved?We saw a great example of how Colorado Springs can be an effective attacking force in the opening minutes of its contest in El Paso when Marco Micaletto’s run into space behind Locomotive’s back line resulted in a penalty that Micaletto converted. The challenge? Both Micaletto and Anthony Fontana were limited in their influence overall, combining for only 28 passes overall and one chance created.Both Fontana and Micaletto can be difference-makers, but they’re going to need more opportunity on the ball to do so. At home against a strong Detroit City midfield, they’re going to need to be more active for the defending title-holders to pick up their first win of the season.2. Will Lexington SC maintain its perfect start in Orange County?Lexington SC produced one of the best performances of the opening weekend, becoming the first team to win its inaugural game in the USL Championship since 2018 with a 2-0 win at home to Hartford Athletic. Central to that was a stellar defensive display that didn’t allow a shot on target, providing the foundation for Head Coach Terry Boss’ side.Lexington should get a much sterner test this Saturday when it visits an Orange County SC side that put up a four-spot in its opening night victory against Oakland Roots SC. If the visitors can come away from Championship Soccer Stadium with a result, it’ll add to the belief this side can be an immediate contender.3. Can FC Tulsa break its duck against the Rowdies?When it comes to FC Tulsa, there are some clubs that simply have proven an obstacle too great to overcome. While the history between Tulsa and the Tampa Bay Rowdies is relatively limited – the sides have played five times in league play – the Scissortails have only emerged with one point from those encounters, losing four times.After breaking a seven-year winless streak against Phoenix Rising FC last week with a hard-fought 1-0 win in the desert, however, the hope is the tide is turning under new Head Coach Luke Spencer. It’s early for statements, but Tulsa picking up its first win at home to Tampa Bay in its home opener would be an eye-opener.4. Will Monterey Bay FC or Oakland Roots SC give us something to believe in?It’s fair to say the opening games of the season for both Monterey Bay FC – a 1-0 loss at San Antonio in which the side didn’t officially record a shot on target – and Oakland Roots SC – a 4-2 defeat at Orange County SC in which the side’s defense looked as fallible as a season ago – wasn’t what either club was looking for.The NorCal rivals meet at Cardinale Stadium on Saturday night (10 p.m. ET | CBS Sports Golazo Network) aiming to deliver their first points of the season. Hopefully we’ll be able to walk away with a bit more optimism about at least one of their directions by the end of the night.5. What does Loudoun United’s second act look like?On this week’s USL All Access, our friend Devon Kerr described Loudoun United FC’s performance at Birmingham Legion FC as “awesome,” and we’re in complete concurrence. The combination of Abdellatif Aboukoura and Zach Ryan led the way in the final third, and it was hard to find a weak link in the lineup.There was the mitigation that Birmingham Legion FC looked subpar, however, which means we’re curious as to what United’s second outing of the season looks like against a North Carolina FC side that was solid in its debut against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. If Loudoun comes away with another result and positive performance, we’re in for a re-evaluation of where this club might sit in the East’s hierarchy.

Champions League projections 2024-25: Who will lift the trophy in Munich on May 31?

By The Athletic UK Staff

The Champions League has a new format for 2024-25. Forget group tables, instead we saw a 36-team league stage being contested from September through to January. But now that has been completed, who has the best chance of progressing to the final in May and lifting the trophy? Throughout the season, we will publish projections — powered by Opta data — to show how teams are expected to perform. These will update after each matchday. The competition’s expanded format might take a little time to get used to, but these projections can show you how it might all unfold.

Last updated March 13, 2025 at 8:56 AM

State of the League: Before the NWSL can take on the world, it must find its place in the U.S.

By Meg Linehan The Athletic Mar. 14, 2025Updated 10:49 am PDT

The narrative around women’s sports has changed drastically over the past few years, expedited by the current political climate in the United States.

Right now, the WNBA is out in front in a way the NWSL — on the cusp of its 2025 season — can only dream of.

The NWSL doesn’t have a Caitlin Clark-esque marquee player, but Clark has served as an amplifying factor more than a foundational one. It’s also a transitional time for the NWSL when it comes to minting new stars that can transcend the league or make the cover of Time or Vogue. The leading candidate, Trinity Rodman, discussed her desire to play in Europe at some point in the same week she graced a Times Square billboard for the league.

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The NWSL has always talked a big game about being the best in the world. In 2025, it wouldn’t hurt to take a step back and figure out how to truly matter in the U.S. first — though such an undertaking isn’t guaranteed to be fully under its control.

“We’ve talked about becoming really laser focused on our key initiatives. Everything that we’re doing right now from a business perspective is focused on cultural relevance and storytelling,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said in her state of the league presser ahead of the Challenge Cup.

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In theory, all of this makes sense — the part that worries me is that the scaffolding is being built upon brands rather than the league itself. Berman highlighted two new deals with e.l.f. Cosmetics and Alex Cooper’s Unwell, “both of whom are exactly within the strategy that we deployed for the offseason to really get after our next generation of fans.”

She pointed to “share of mind, share of wallet and cultural relevance” as vehicles for the league’s strategic plan in a meeting with The Athletic on Tuesday, saying the league has key results they monitor to see how much they are moving the needle. The NWSL measures awareness (via brand tracker surveys both aided with leading questions and unaided), how marketable their players are, how the league resonates from a public relations perspective and sentiment on social media.

While the NWSL feels bigger and more successful than it’s ever been, it’s hard not to compare it to a league like the WNBA — and some of those tensions still come out of the NWSL working in real time how it communicates its ultimate goals beyond being the best in the world.What you should read nextNWSL 2025 cheatsheet: Big questions, schedule highlights and how to watch this seasonWhat you need to know at the start of the 2025 NWSL season

This offseason was also full of mixed vibes

Worries over player departures, especially center back Naomi Girma, dominated the conversation, but the league also launched its 16th expansion team in Denver with a whopping $110 million fee and plenty of buzz. They released a four-part series, “For the Win,” going behind the scenes of last year’s playoffs with media rights partner Prime Video. The league also settled with three attorneys general regarding past systemic failures to protect its players from abuse, even as it grapples with the present — most recently launching a formal review into Bay FC’s coaching staff.

There’s no such thing as a quiet offseason in the NWSL, but that’s a lot on top of all the usual free agency moves and trades — and the first winter where teams had to sign young players without the mechanism of the NWSL college draft.

Despite the activity, it feels like the NWSL is heading into a new season with a little less momentum than usual — not ideal for a league that wants to be a driver of culture.What you should read nextHow an influx of elite youth players to NWSL is impacting the college soccer landscapeWith more teenagers going pro, college soccer is left to soul search – and consider the risks.

Before the NWSL can achieve that cultural relevance though, they need eyeballs. Last year, they failed to crack the one million viewer threshold for a game. The championship got close, peaking at 1.1 million viewers up against college football, but averaged 967,900; 1.5 million watched the Skills Challenge, a number helped tremendously by NFL game lead-ins. For comparison, the WNBA regular season averaged 1.2 million viewers across ESPN platforms, up 170 percent from the previous year. Their most-watched game, Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky on June 23, averaged 2.3 million viewers.

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This has to be the year the NWSL reaches that 1 million view milestone, and TV numbers for regular season games need to be up, too. This year, much like last year, feels like the NWSL is getting closer to an answer to those big-picture questions.

With the addition of two teams next year, the league has a decent runway to 2026, when it will need to figure out how to insert itself into the conversation of the men’s World Cup on home soil or provide audiences with counter-programming.

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How the economic outlook could affect the league

The NWSL’s growth and destiny as a professional league are also not immune from the current state of affairs in the United States, especially if a potential economic recession comes into play.

According to a recent report by The New York Times, strategists at Goldman Sachs have increased the chances of a U.S. recession to 20 percent in the next year, and any slowdown here could then raise the risks of a global recession, according to analysts at JPMorgan Chase.

Every domestic professional league is likely watching the economic outlook closely, but historically, all three professional women’s soccer leagues in the U.S. have had to contend with the impacts of a recession. The NWSL has survived a short but steep recession before, getting through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but this is now another time of uncertainty and volatility. While there were many contributing factors to the demise of its predecessor, the WPS, the league was constantly on unsteady footing financially, with an average salary of $25,000 in its final year.

Continued inflation or any meaningful signs of a recession could impact everything from ongoing and potential brand partnerships to fan purchasing power. During the Great Recession in 2009, the WNBA even had to retract a team, the Houston Comets.

The NWSL was one of the first leagues to return to play amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Jeffrey Swinger / USA TODAY Sports)

Women’s sports, for better or worse, have always been viewed as a more affordable option for a fan compared to men’s sports. While that may still technically be the case, as premium options become the norm and demand rises, the NWSL will have to ask itself who’s attending their games and what the get-in price is. Will it be sustainable in the long run for younger fans — especially the Gen-Z audience the NWSL so desperately craves?

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So far, at least, there haven’t been many signs of economic activity negatively impacting the NWSL. For instance, the Washington Spirit just opened up the upper deck due to demand for new season ticket holders, despite the impact of widespread federal worker layoffs across the metro area led by the Department of Government Efficiency.

But couple that volatility with a presidential administration that has made the “protect opportunities for women and girls to compete in safe and fair sports” a focus, and the NWSL — and any other women’s professional league — could suddenly find itself in a very precarious place. One of President Donald Trump’s first executive orders was to ban transgender women and girls from competing in women’s sports.

Last year, the league was briefly tested in its response to other bad-faith attacks when author JK Rowling falsely accused Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda of being ineligible to compete in women’s divisions. Her eligibility has never been seriously questioned nor revoked. Banda was being honored as the BBC’s women’s footballer of the year, but the NWSL failed to support her. It’s something the league has since worked to remedy.

Around the NWSL ecosystem, the conversation has already started. Last week, Canada international Vanessa Gilles, on loan to Lyon from Angel City, said she was working on extending her time in France.

Canada defender Vanessa Gilles said she’s unlikely to return to Angel City from Lyon at this time. (Maria Lysaker / USA TODAY Sports)

“I don’t see myself going back to the United States with the current geopolitical situation,” she told Le Progrès. “It’s a bit complicated to go back there as a Canadian.”

It’s an entirely reasonable position, but not one the NWSL has a decent answer to yet.

There’s a bit of a pretense of a business-as-usual approach across the league, but that sentiment could crumble at any moment with little warning.

Sports are an escape, but they cannot be completely divorced from society. The NWSL wants its spotlight in 2025, but that won’t come without the increasing creep of U.S. politics into the league and women’s sports as a whole.

(Top photo: Jaylynn Nash / USA TODAY Sports via Imagn)

NWSL players to watch: Key performers for every team in 2025

By Jeff Rueter Mar. 11, 2025Updated Mar. 14, 2025 11:57 am PDT

For a few more days, all 14 NWSL teams will refine their preseason preparations. Every team can credibly dream of reaching the title game a year after the Orlando Pride went from regularly missing the playoffs to winning it all.

The rising level of talent in the NWSL means every team has more than one player they can hitch their hopes to heading into the 2025 season.

This is not necessarily intended to be a guide to each team’s most important or impactful player — we’re not looking at Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga or Trinity Rodman here — nor is this a speculative guess of which unknown squad members will catch us all by surprise. Instead, the following analysis is a hodgepodge of high-end performers, players looking to bounce back from tough 2024 seasons and invaluable options who often fly under the radar. All are welcome; let’s dive in.

All data was pulled from TruMedia via StatsPerform (Opta).

Angel City: Alyssa Thompson

When a player earns a World Cup roster spot at 18, their careers get judged differently than most of their peers. Thompson struggled at the start of 2024, failing to score before the Olympic break. She broke her scoring slump in the first game back, netting a brace against San Diego Wave to kick off a burst that yielded five goals from five NWSL appearances. Thompson also chipped in with seven assists despite her team missing the postseason.

Thompson has been tricky with the ball at her feet since her debut in 2023 but her confidence grew further last year, seeing her take on more responsibility. She attempted nearly twice as many take-ons (86 in 2024 vs 46 as a rookie), had three game-winning assists and one match-winning goal. She returned to the U.S. women’s national team after the Olympics and will likely remain in head coach Emma Hayes’ plans this year.

Interim coach Sam Laity will lead Angel City until at least June, so the squad’s holdovers will be invaluable amid change and uncertainty to start the season. Although Thompson only turned 20 years old in November, she’s been a regular starter for two seasons and projects to be even more valuable in 2025. With Christen Press and Sydney Leroux continuing to offer help in the attack and veterans’ insight off the pitch, Thompson could hit even greater heights in her third season.

Bay FC: Racheal Kundananji

There have been 10 games when a player has notched double-digit shot attempts since 2021. Nine of the 10 were active members of the USWNT. The only exception, and the sole 10-shot firer of 2024, was Kundananji, as Bay FC closed its regular season by cementing a playoff place against the Houston Dash.

Signed to a then-world-record transfer fee, the Zambia international had an up-and-down debut NWSL season. Kundananji scored in her debut (also against the Dash), then netted just once more before the Olympics. She finished the year in fine form, however, scoring twice and adding two assists in Bay’s final three regular season games to lead the team to the playoffs in their expansion season.

Getting a full preseason with the team, Kundananji has forged better relationships with her returning teammates. She can also play free from certain pressures that come with a record transfer, as Naomi Girma now bears that mantle.

Chicago Stars: Ally Schlegel

This has been another trying offseason for Chicago fans. The team made a few major moves in the middle of 2024, but it doesn’t entirely explain away a mostly dormant offseason. Question marks also surround the availability of the team’s marquee player, Mallory Swanson.

While summer signings Ludmila and Julia Grosso will begin their first full seasons at Chicago, the club put Schlegel front and center for its jersey release. This wasn’t a choice devoid of merit, either. Schlegel quietly tied Swanson with six non-penalty goals to lead Chicago, while her 13 chances created from open play only trailed Swanson on the squad.

It’s difficult to see how the Stars could contend if Swanson isn’t starting. She led the team with 49 shots (no one else took more than 28) and was again top with 31 chances created (more than double her teammates). All of that was symptomatic of a one-note attack in head coach Lorne Donaldson’s first season, but Schlegel, Ludmila and Jenna Bike will be eager to make their impacts in the final third. With her trademark pink headband, Schlegel won’t be hard to spot — especially if she keeps bagging goals.

Gotham FC: Rose Lavelle

Lavelle is the USWNT’s chief facilitator. Her eye for a clever pass is unparalleled, and the team’s chance creation suffers whenever she’s missing. At the NWSL level, however, a different side to Lavelle’s game emerges: a volume shooter who dribbles to get herself into range.

She may need to tap into her international job description in the 2025 season. Gotham said goodbye to its two top run-of-play chance creators this offseason, as Yazmeen Ryan and Delanie Sheehan are off to revive the Dash. Left back Jenna Nighswonger also left for Arsenal in England, leaving the squad with one less capable crosser.

Gotham has had another free-wheeling offseason, with other key departures including Lynn Biyendolo and Crystal Dunn. The club replaced Biyendolo with center forward Gabi Portilho, which could leave Lavelle playing closer to midfield than the front of the attack. That would put her in a prime position to pull the strings, and it could help catalyze Gotham’s efforts to return to the NWSL championship final. She just needs to get healthy first after offseason ankle surgery.

Houston Dash: Diana Ordóñez

After the 2022 season, Ordóñez was among the most lauded young players in the league. She excelled as a 20-year-old rookie, scoring 11 goals for the North Carolina Courage and bagging a brace in her international debut with Mexico against Anguilla.

Houston pushed hard to bring her into the fold, landing her in a pre-draft trade. While she had a more obvious leading role with her new club, the drop in squad caliber hampered her scoring output.

The graphic above compares her goalscoring output to expected goals (xG) across a rolling 900-minute sample. The blue line is the one that changes scorelines, and the annual swan dives in form are an obvious concern. However, she was hardly equipped to get those kinds of shooting looks, as the Dash’s chance creation across her two seasons has never met the service she enjoyed with the Courage.

With Ryan and Sheehan joining her in Houston, Ordóñez projects to benefit greatly. After scoring just three goals in 2023 and five in 2024, the creative reinforcements could vault her back to double-digit output.

Kansas City Current: Bia

From the first match at CPKC Stadium, the Current was arguably the league’s most watchable team for neutral viewers. The attack whirred from the opening whistle, led by Chawinga. Vanessa DiBernardo put in the best year of her career in midfield. In the season’s first quarter, however, Chawinga shared top billing with her strike partner, Bia.

The Brazilian forward was a handful in the season’s early weeks, tied with Chawinga with four goals in the Current’s first five matches. Her form returned to Earth as May and June progressed, and a stress fracture in her foot ruled her out of Brazil’s Olympics squad in early July.

In the playoffs, with Bia still recovering and Debinha looking less impactful than in past seasons, opponents were happy to pester Chawinga and persistently challenge the Malawian with foul-worthy contact. Having Bia back to her best would give defenders more to worry about in transition and on set plays, and would open up space for Chawinga to wreak more havoc.

North Carolina Courage: Tyler Lussi

Six years removed from winning a second straight NWSL title, the Courage’s path to title contention is going through the field’s central channel. After trading for Ashley Sanchez last winter, the Courage returned to the trade market to bring in USWNT playmaker Jaedyn Shaw from San Diego, offering her a role in a system that caters to the 20-year-old’s game. Even with 2023 MVP Kerolin among the departures, North Carolina should again compete in the upper third of the table.

Sanchez and Shaw want to get on the ball, willing to roam from side to side and drop into midfield to facilitate. The United States internationals are also happy to shoot from outside the box. This often requires a teammate to do more thankless work running off the ball and dribbling down the flank as the central playmakers find their pockets of space.

That job description matches Lussi’s style of play. Her expert reading of a game and dribbling help her teams advance upfield.

The 30-year-old has the kind of downhill compass that is vital to ease the pressure on Sanchez and Shaw, as it’s easier to make a defense backpedal in the less congested wide thirds of the field. Lussi has the potential to set a new career high mark with assists, but her movement should allow her to bag a handful of goals as well.

Orlando Pride: Angelina

Orlando’s emergent 2024 had many headliners. Banda was unstoppable and a worthy MVP finalist. Marta cannon-balled into the fountain of youth to help the Pride win its first NWSL title. Seb Hines was a worthy coach of the year, while defender Emily Sams went from an unsung starter to an Olympic gold medalist.

And yet, the midfield was often overlooked when discussing this team’s greatest strengths. That’s not to criticise Angelina, who was industrious and consistent in the heart of the park. The Jersey City-born midfielder made a defensive impact across the pitch, was a consistent chance-creator and vital line-breaking passer in the team’s build-up.

The 25-year-old Brazil international has already built a winning track record and will expect a similar high standard for herself and her team alike. Banda and Marta will undoubtedly still fill the highlight reels, but much of what they can do depends on players like Angelina.

Portland Thorns: Anyone who’s available for selection

Among the league’s most consistent franchises since debuting, Portland will follow a tumultuous 2024 with even more uncertainty this spring. Christine Sinclair and Becky Sauerbrunn have retired, while the team placed three starters — Morgan Weaver, Marie Müller and Nicole Payne — on the season-ending injury list late in February. As if that wasn’t enough change for one offseason, star striker Sophia Wilson (nee Smith) announced her pregnancy in early March.

That’s an overwhelming amount of attacking quality now missing from last year’s side.

Of the players shown above who helped Portland crash the box, only Canada international Jessie Fleming, United States international Olivia Moultrie and second-year forward Payton Linnehan return. Sam Coffey gives the Thorns arguably the league’s best defensive midfielder. Japan international Hina Sugita may also be relied upon heavily, and Deyna Castellanos has arrived after a frustrating year with Bay. Still, this figures to be another season with plenty of questions to answer for the Thorns.

Racing Louisville: Uchenna Kanu

This season will be Louisville’s fifth in the NWSL. For four years running, Louisville has finished ninth in the standings — a feat that’s increasingly impressive as the league continues to expand, but a place that has never been enough for a playoff berth.

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The squad has undeniable quality. The midfield looks especially robust, with Savannah DeMelo and Ary Borges pulling the strings. Taylor Flint is among the league’s best defensive midfielders. Emma Sears has broken through with the USWNT and is among the league’s best players in transition sequences thanks to her considerable speed and dribbling ability. All those skill sets are great for build-up and chance generation, but Louisville has often gone begging for a consistent goalscorer.

While Kanu featured in a few roles last year, most often as a left-sided attacking midfielder, her shifts up front may give head coach Bev Yanez her answer at striker. The Nigeria international converted five of the seven shots she placed on goal, while her goalscoring record with Tigres UANL (20 goals in 30 games) shows what she can do. If she can get closer to that return, Louisville may finally finish in a playoff position.

San Diego Wave: Kailen Sheridan

Not much went to plan for San Diego in its fourth season. As Alex Morgan played the final season of her illustrious career, the 2023 NWSL Shield winner plummeted to the wrong end of the table. The Wave played under three coaches while Morgan and Girma closed their tenures at the club.

The Wave is looking to rebound under former Arsenal coach Jonas Eidevall. Adriana Leon is the new projected star striker, but Sheridan represents an invaluable presence in the locker room. Not only is she Leon’s international teammate, which should help as the forward readjusts to the league, but she also has the high-level track record and leadership chops to give Eidevall someone to lean on.

She’s also still among the world’s best goalkeepers. Even as San Diego’s once-stout defense wobbled in 2024, Sheridan performed well above expectations. The 29-year-old is the undisputed most important player at the Wave.

Seattle Reign: Jordyn Huitema

Huitema broke through early, debuting internationally as a 15-year-old and making Canada’s 2019 World Cup squad just after her 18th birthday. The hype machine did its thing and projected her as Canada’s answer up top, but she hasn’t put up the goalscoring numbers that typified her predecessor, Sinclair. Huitema has scored 23 goals in her 88 caps for Canada, but she’s scored just 10 times for Seattle across her first three seasons.

Huitema has expert movement in the final third and consistently gets into good scoring areas, with her average shot distance since joining the Reign ranging from 11.2 yards to 12.8 yards. Her shot placement is the concern.

Most great strikers spray the ball to any area of the goalmouth, high and low, to keep a goalkeeper guessing. Last year, Huitema did the opposite, placing 74 percent of her shots on target low and in the middle of the goal.

With Biyendolo joining Seattle this winter, it could afford Huitema more space to set up her shots. If so, it could lead to the kind of goal return that many expected from the Canada international when she first broke out.

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Utah Royals: Mina Tanaka

tah Royals: Mina Tanaka

Tanaka could hardly have started 2025 in finer form. The Royal scored four goals in Japan’s first two games of the SheBelieves Cup to tie Swanson’s 2023 record for the three-game tournament. She started in Japan’s 2-1 victory to capture the team’s first SheBelieves trophy.

The forward made her NWSL debut midway through the 2024 season, joining Utah in July. Although she scored just once, it was the second time she had played outside of Japan. With an offseason to acclimate, she should also have a clearer role under head coach Jimmy Coenraets.

Both Tanaka and fellow SheBelieves star Ally Sentnor love a shot from deep, but Tanaka projects to be more willing to play in a more advanced role as a striker. Her deftness on the ball and quick decision-making will make her an exceptional focal point for the Royals in 2025.

Washington Spirit: Hal Hershfelt

While Croix Bethune was a no-brainer to win rookie of the year, she was far from the only first-year player to carry the Spirit to the NWSL championship final. Many were surprised to see Hershfelt among Hayes’ alternates for the 2024 Olympics, but the selection only clued more of us in on how impactful the midfielder already was for her club.

Drafted out of Clemson, Hershfelt was selected using the pick that Washington obtained when they traded Sanchez. In her first professional season, Hershfelt played with tenacity and confidence, getting stuck in across the pitch while playing with positional awareness that rarely left Washington without cover.

Hershfelt was also an aerial threat on set pieces, most memorably saving the Spirit’s season with a late equalizer in the semifinal against Gotham. The mix of high-octane defending and aerial threat in attack begs comparisons to Julie Ertz, and the 23-year-old would be a worthy regular alternative to Coffey for the USWNT.

(Top photo: Imagn Images)

Julian Alvarez penalty decision could spark law change; UEFA to discuss with FIFA, IFAB

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 12: Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid scores the team's second penalty in the penalty shoot out, which is later ruled out following a VAR Review due to an improper kick, during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 second leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid C.F. at Estadio Metropolitano on March 12, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

By Colin Millar, Alex Brodie and more Mar. 13, 2025Updated Mar. 14, 2025 10:03 am PDT

The law that saw Julian Alvarez’s penalty controversially ruled out against Real Madrid could be reviewed with UEFA releasing a new video of the spot kick.

The footage of the penalty, posted on the governing body’s website, shows the ball move slightly after being touched by the Atletico Madrid forward’s standing left foot before he strikes it with his right.

Alvarez thought he had scored from the spot during the penalty shootout in his side’s Champions League last-16 second-leg defeat before a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention saw it chalked off.

Real Madrid went on to advance through to the quarter-finals.

On Thursday, UEFA said Atletico had contacted them about the decision and that they will discuss the law with FIFA, the world governing body, and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which determines the laws of the game.

UEFA released the video of the penalty on its website on Thursday (UEFA)

In a statement, UEFA said: “Atletico Madrid enquired with UEFA over the incident, which led to the disallowance of the kick from the penalty mark taken by Julian Alvarez at the end of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid.

“Although minimal, the player made contact with the ball using his standing foot before kicking it, as shown in the attached video clip. Under the current rule (Laws of the Game, Law 14.1), the VAR had to call the referee signalling that the goal should be disallowed.

“UEFA will enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional.”

Atletico head coach Diego Simeone was left angered by the decision and claimed there was insufficient evidence for VAR to overturn the on-field referee’s initial call.

“The referee said when Julian got to the penalty spot he touched the ball with his standing foot, but the ball did not move,” he told reporters after the game.

“I’ve never seen a penalty where they’ve called the VAR, but well, they would have seen that he touched it. I want to believe they saw he touched it.

“Did you see him touching the ball twice? Please, whoever was present in the stadium and saw him touching the ball twice, the ball moving, please come forward and raise your hand. I don’t see anybody with their hand raised so that’s all I have to say… next question.”

The IFAB laws of the game prohibit the player taking the penalty kick from playing the ball twice before it has touched another player, the ball stops moving or goes out of play.

Article 14.1 reads: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player. The penalty kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence.”

Alvarez’s penalty was ruled out after a VAR intervention (Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

The law was designed to stop players from dribbling towards goal from a penalty kick and was applied in January 2023 when then-Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic slipped as he went to strike the penalty against Newcastle United and kicked it into his standing leg.

Mitrovic’s penalty goal was disallowed and a free-kick was awarded to Newcastle.

UEFA introduced in-ball technology for Euro 2024 last summer to help improve the accuracy and speed of decision making.

European football’s governing body have confirmed to The Athletic that no in-ball technology was used to assist in overturning the decision to award Alvarez’s penalty with the new system only in place for the men’s and women’s European Championships but not the Champions League.

The decision was made solely using cameras in the stadium. The semi-automated offside system in place also utilises cameras only.

An Atletico statement on Friday detailed the “tremendous frustration” the club feel over the decision and threw their support behind a changing of the law.

A club spokesperson said: “For us there is an error in the use of the VAR that has caused tremendous frustration and damage to our fans and the efforts of our players. We consider that there is no clear movement as indicated in rule 14 and that in 45 seconds you cannot resolve an action that more than a day later is still unclear.

“But we are aware that even if this error is demonstrated in the use of the VAR it will never change the final result of the tie. We believe that the football family must work together to prevent such an error from happening again.”

Real Madrid will now play Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with the fixtures to be played over April 8 and April 16.

11/29/24 USWNT plays England Sat 12:30 TNT, US Keeper Naeher to retire, Pulisic, Pepi, Score in Champs League, Orlando & Marta win NWSL, MLS Semi’s Sat

November 29, 2024November 29, 2024 gatorbest ac-milan, arsenal, emma-hayes, fulham, indy-11, liverpool, nwsl, premier-league, pulisic, soccer, sports, us-womens-soccer, uswnt, uswnt-vs-england

US Ladies Travel to England Sat 12:20 on TNT, then face Dutch Tues
Excited to see the US ladies headed to Europe to face solid competition – though this is a mighty young and inexperienced roster Hayes is carrying over. Man I would love to see at least part of the Triple Expresso trio in England – but all 3 will be missing after draining NWSL Seasons. Also with US GK Alyssa Naeher announcing her retirement from international football after this 2 game set – interesting to see 2 new keepers in the mix this time – including youngster Phallon Tullis-Joyce the Man U keeper. (nice story about her below- along with tons on the game & Naeher). I’m guessing we lose a close one at England with so many players missing – but of course I won’t question our Gold Medal winning Coach – I trust she’s doing what’s right here. Cool Behind the Crest with the US Ladies. Man we are going to miss Naeher – seriously her saves and PK saves at critical times in the 2019 World Cup and this summer’s Olympics rank her as perhaps the best overall US GK ever. Naeher’s best moments (more below under GK)

Nice to See US Players Making a Difference in Champions League this week
Love the first goal for AC Milan by Pulisic – Pulisic Scores another Champ League Goal here it is in proper Spanish – much better of course Capitan Ameri’ca. Also 2 American’s helped PSV come from behind to win 3-2 as Tilman scored 2 and Pepi scored the winner in stoppage time. Champion’s League Talk on Galazo.

NWSL Ends Fantastic Season with Orlando & Marta Winning the Championship
Wow what a season for the Orlando Pride and NWSL – as Orlando won the Championship in KC over the Washington Spirit as over 1 million watched on CBS on a Saturday night head to head with College Football. The skills competition pulled another 1.5 million eyeballs Sun afternoon and was the most watched sport not called NFL on Sunday. The first Women’s Soccer Specific stadium in KC hosted 20K rowdy fans as Brazilian Superstar Marta finally brought home a trophy for Orlando. NWSL Final Highlights. In my eyes the NWSL is doing everything MLS is too stupid to do. With games on CBS, ESPN, & Prime – their 240 million dollar package is putting USWNT and world stars in front of a growing female audience begging for more coverage. Unlike MLS – NWSL doesn’t have MOST of their games behind a paywall – as only Prime’s Friday night games do that. Congrats NWSL – it was great seeing your playoff games on Real TV – keep up the good work !!

USWNT roster (club; caps/goals) vs England & Netherlands

Goalkeepers (3): Mandy Haught (Utah Royals FC; 1), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 0 -Cool story about her below), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 113)

Defenders (9): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 64/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 60/1), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 1/0), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 42/2), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit; 59/0), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 1/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 17/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 101/2)

Midfielders (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 20/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 26/1), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 2/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 159/36), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 108/24), Lily Yohannes (Ajax, NED; 1/1)

Forwards (6): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 2/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 2/1), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals FC; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 19/8), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/1), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 73/20)

Shane, Mike Arrington & T Ray Phillips at the Girls Showcase last weekend at Grand Park Friday- man I love reffing with these guys. And of course the chow – this time Chili was fantastic – thanks Nate !!

TV GAME SCHEDULE

Sat, 11/29
12 noon ESPN+ Dortmund vs Bayern Munich
12 pm TNT, Telemundo USWNT @ England
12 pm CBS Golazo AC Milan (Pulisic) vs Empoli
12:30 pm USA West Ham vs Arsenal
3:30 pm ESPN Des Real Valladolid vs Atletico Madrid
7:30 pm Sirius XM, apple Orlando City vs NY Red Bulls
8 pm Univision Cruz Azul vs Tijuana
10 pm Apple LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders
Sun, 11/30
8:30 am USA Chelsea vs Aston Villa
8:30 am Peacock Tottenham vs Fulham (Jedi)
11 am USA Liverpool vs Man City
12 pm CBSSN, Para+ Fiorentina vs Inter Milan
2:45 pm Para+ Lecce vs Juventus (McKinney, Weah)
Tues, 12/3
2:45 pm TNT? Netherlands vs USWNT
2:45 pm ESPN2 Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
3 pm PAra+ AC Milan (Pulisic & Musah) vs Sassuolo
3 pm CBSSN France vs Spain (Women)
Weds, 12/4
2:45 pm ESPN+ RB Leipzig vs Frankfurt
3 pm ESPN+ Athletic Club vs Real Madrid
3:15 pm Peacock Arsenal vs Man United
3:15 pm USA Aston Villa vs Brentford
Thurs, 12/6
2:30 pm Peacock Fulham (Jedi) vs Brighton
3:15 pm USA AFC Bournemouth vs Tottenham
Fri, 12/7
12:30 pm Para+ Inter Milan vs Parma
2:45 pm PAra+ Atalanta vs AC Milan (Pulisic & Musah)

US Ladies

How the USWNT is spending Thanksgiving in London ahead of England clash
Yohannes in for USWNT, Rodman, Smith left out
https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/uswnt/2024/11/18/uswnt-roster-three-takeaways-squad-england-netherlands/76403789007/ WC, Olympic champ Naeher retiring from USWNT
Naeher: ‘Nervous’ to tell Hayes about retiring
Alyssa Naeher announces retirement from USWNT
Why is Alyssa Naeher retiring from USWNT? Star goalie explains decision to walk away
Hayes: I was ‘unwell’ before taking USWNT role
U.S. to face Japan, Australia in SheBelieves Cup
Emma Hayes’ USWNT rebuild is just getting started
Olympics are over, World Cup is in three years: What questions must USWNT answer now? EPSN

Champions League

The 5 most interesting stats of Matchday 5 https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/champions-league/scoreboard/ Christian Pulisic — playing the best soccer of his career — delivers again Real Madrid is floundering in the Champions League, but the format could save it Dortmund’s Gittens closes in on unique UCL feat for an Englishman
Amorim enjoys ‘special’ first Man Utd win despite ‘anxiety’
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou comments on “frustrating” late draw versus Roma

Real Madrid is floundering in Champions League. The format they hate might save them Real Madrid lost to Liverpool on Wednesday, its third defeat in five Champions League games.

American’s Ricardo Pepi scored the game winner for PSV after Mark Tillman scored the first 2 goals in the 87th & 90th minutes to beat Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League action.

MLS

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-cup-2024-odds-who-s-the-favorite-to-win-it-all
Conference finals predictions: What’s our ideal MLS Cup? Who will surprise? MLS playoffs conference semis: Galaxy the last giant standing
Seattle stun LAFC on the road; Red Bulls sucker punch NYCFC
Galaxy put six past Minnesota; Atlanta crash out in Orlando

NWSL

Banda the difference as Orlando Pride crowned NWSL champs
NWSL Championship Weekend Wins Fans, Sets Viewership Records
Marta has lived through long, lean years. Now she has another title
Orlando Pride: A historic journey to their first NWSL Championship
NWSL title match was most-watched game in league history: How media rights deal shaped its success
Marta’s resurgence, the clean sheets, the unbeaten run – Orlando Pride’s NWSL championship seemed destined
Kansas City Current’s Temwa Chawinga wins NWSL MVP

GK

Alyssa Naeher announces retirement from USWNT
“I have to say” – Del Piero singles out Aston Villa player for his performance vs Juventus
USWNT’s rock, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, is retiring from international soccer
Why is Alyssa Naeher retiring from USWNT? Star goalie explains decision to walk away
Naeher’s best moments
Great Saves Naeher

World

Growth of Bayern-Dortmund rivalry has made Klassiker must-see TV
It’s time for Pep Guardiola to unleash a Manchester City legend on Sunday
“Not a good sign” – Liverpool duo now doubtful for Manchester City clash as Slot delivers worrying update
Analysis: What Liverpool’s ‘Dominant’ Real Madrid Victory Means for Man City Clash
Preview: Premier League Heavyweights Collide at Anfield

Reffing

Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13
Reffing the Best Job for High School Kids Ever
Become a Licensed High School Ref

USMNT’s Ricardo Pepi reflects on ‘most important’ goal of career in PSV’s ‘crazy’ Champions League win

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 26: Ricardo Pepi of PSV celebrates 1-0 with Malik Tillman of PSV during the Dutch Eredivisie match between PSV v PEC Zwolle at the Philips Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Eindhoven Netherlands (Photo by Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images)

By Nnamdi OnyeagwaraNov 28, 2024

Ricardo Pepi said his stoppage time winner against Shakhtar Donetsk was the most important goal of his career after he and USMNT team-mate Malik Tillman played instrumental roles in PSV’s “crazy” 3-2 comeback victory in the Champions League.The Dutch side had trailed 2-0 in the latter stages at the Philips Stadium on Wednesday before Tillman, 22, scored two goals in the 87th and 90th minute of the game to level proceedings. Pepi, 21, who came on at half-time, scored in the 95th minute to complete a dramatic comeback and secure all three points for PSV. Game-winner Pepi told PSV’s official club website: “I think definitely this one (is the most important goal of my career). It’s up there for sure. I think this one is important, we needed the three points and now we’re in a good spot to make it to the next round.“Emotions are all over the place, I was very happy. It was a crazy game, a lot of emotions in the game. It doesn’t feel real. I’m just very happy to help the team.

“It was crazy, to be honest, but I feel like we have something special in our group. We don’t stop until the final whistle blows. “That is something very special that we’ve worked on. At the end of the day, the result went our way and tonight was something very special.“As a striker, it is always important (to score goals) It’s a special feeling.”Tillman echoed Pepi’s sentiment, saying: “I think ‘disturbed’ is the only right word. What an amazing comeback, I’m really speechless. I’ve never seen Philips Stadium explode like this before.“I literally had goosebumps. To win a game like that, that’s just indescribable. Also all credit to Pepi. Bizarre that he scores so often at important moments.”

The victory leaves PSV 18th in the Champions League league phase.Tillman’s move to PSV from Bayern Munich was made permanent this summer while Pepi joined the club in the summer of 2023 from FC Augsburg and the pair are enjoying successful campaigns for the Dutch side.Tillman has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 19 games for PSV this season, while Pepi has scored 11 goals and provided one assist in 18 games, helping PSV to the summit of the Eredivisie.PSV, who are five points clear at the top of Eredivisie, face second-placed Utrecht on Sunday.

USWNT vs. England, 2024 Friendly: Scouting England

By Brendan Joseph Nov 28, 2024, 6:00am PST Stars and Stripes —

England v South Africa - Women’s International Friendly

As the reigning Olympic gold medalists and top-ranked team in the world, the United States Women’s National Team reeled off three consecutive friendly victories over Iceland and Argentina. There are two remaining fixtures this year, against a pair of opponents that should provide a slightly sterner challenge than the previous foes. The first, England, has ascended to elite status in the footballing world and produced consistent results since claiming the 2022 UEFA European Championship, with the chance to lodge a resounding exhibition result. London’s historic Wembley Stadium, a 90,000-seat venue with a HATKO Hybridgrass Carpet surface, is set to host.

This is the 20^th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USWNT holding a 12-5-2 advantage but failing in the most-recent match-up (1-2) in October of 2022. Ranked second internationally by FIFA, England booked a ticket over the summer to the 2025 UEFA European Championship with a second-place finish during qualifying in a difficult Group 3, drawing twice with Sweden (1-1, 0-0), grabbing two wins against Ireland (2-0, 2-1), and splitting results with France (1-2, 2-1). Recent friendly results include a defeat to Germany (3-4) and a tight result against South Africa (2-1).

The “unrivaled” Sarina Wiegman was appointed to the manager position in August of 2020 and stepped into the role in September of 2021, “succeeding Phil Neville at the end of his term” after “honoring her commitment to the Netherlands FA.” The 54-year-old former midfielder from The Hague earned 104 caps and served as captain for her birth nation before embarking on a coaching career that included stops at Ter Leede, ADO Den Haag, and the Oranje (Orange). Since taking over England, she has continued to add to her career legacy that includes two UEFA Women’s Championships, a Women’s Finalissima, and two runner-up finishes at the World Cup in 2019 and 2023.Here it is!

Your #Lionesses to face & this November and December…— Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 19, 2024

For the friendlies against the USWNT and Switzerland, Wiegman named a 24-player roster that is missing several notable talents. The domestic Women’s Super League is home to 18 of the call-ups, while three are on the books at National Women’s Soccer League clubs. Lauren James, Ella Toone, Niamh Charles, and Lauren Hemp are out due to various injuries. Maya Le Tissier was initially included in squad but was removed due to a concussion and replaced by Lotte Wubben-Moy.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)

DEFENDERS (9): Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Jess Carter (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Gabby George (Manchester United), Millie Turner (Manchester United)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Fran Kirby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Jess Park (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Ruby Mace (Leicester City)

FORWARDS (5): Beth Mead (Arsenal), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea)

Under Wiegman, England are praised as becoming “tactical chameleons” with the variations and flexibility to line up in a few different formations, notably pulling out an unexpected 3-5-2 during tournament play. She uses a “team-first” style with a “clarity of tactics” and “zonal defending with three midfielders” that also “allows players to improvise and make mistakes.” The squad has been trained to handle pressure, with practice matches featuring intentionally incorrect refereeing decisions in order to cause a heightened emotional state. According to The Mastermind Site, the high-possession attack is generated from “progression out of the back” through the centre-backs that builds with “short, sharp passes,” while the defense has struggled to handle the transition and “drops into [the] mid-block quite early.”

Projected England Starting XI (via BuildLineup.com)

Due to both injuries and the ravages of time, Mary Earps appears to be slowly losing her grip on the number-one role, replaced by relative-to-the-position youngster Hannah Hampton. The 24-year-old Chelsea goalkeeper is comfortable coming very far off of her line to claim the ball and has the athleticism to leap for crosses and beat out taller opposing strikers. Standing at five-foot-eight, she has the size and length to cover the goalmouth and displays solid reflexes on short-range opportunities, standing firm when facing an onrushing opponent. Her work in possession is beyond serviceable, playing line-drive passes at a variety of distances while under pressure, hitting deep kicks from restarts, and taking an active role to build out of the back.

The experienced Alex Greenwood is highly influential in possession with frequent distribution as “an exceptional progressor” but can also win her fair share of headers and “produces positive moments in the final third.” The 31-year-old Manchester City centre-back will often push forward into the midfield in order to serve as a safety valve for her pressured teammates and get the ball into the box. Leah Williamson was forced to miss the World Cup with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture but has regained her spot in the starting lineup, resuming her status as “the ultimate ball-playing defender” with a “delightful passing range” and “reliability under pressure.” She is reasonably strong in the air and utilizes her read of the opponent during the build-up and when blocking lanes, coming in from behind and stepping forward at the right moments. Imposing veteran Millie Bright could also feature in proceedings, describing herself as playing “on the front foot” and providing “power and a penchant for scoring spectacular volleys.” The five-foot-ten Chesterfield native “reads the game well,” is a constant danger on set pieces, dispenses “thunderous tackles,” and finds teammates with long-range efforts that will bypass multiple lines.

Lucy Bronze’s first Chelsea goal is a SCREAMER! pic.twitter.com/9rUQW1KkUX— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) September 27, 2024

Artfully praised as “a stalwart of quiet calm,” Jess Carter has lined up in a variety of roles over her career due to her high level of athleticism, comfort on the ball, and ability to pick her moments for individual brilliance. The 27-year-old NJ/NY Gotham FC defender constantly presses forward and overlaps on the outside but can also move centrally in both phases of the game, best described as a somewhat reluctant fullback. One of the squad’s veterans, Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze is “a serial winner and versatile [talent]” with an attacking mindset guided by “pace, core strength, and composure in possession.” As a two-way player, she is strong in the air, plays a constant barrage of accurate passes, swarms the opponent’s lanes, and makes a crucial impact in the final third with delicate crosses.

Versatile and “brilliant” Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh boasts excellent “passing quality, range, and vision” but is also a master manipulator of space, serving as a metronome with a high usage rate. She can find any teammate on the field and has just enough guile on the ball to avoid pressure, spinning and darting around both halves in order to buy time. One of the creative roles is occupied by Georgia Stanway of Bayern Munich, a dynamic option who racks up assists for club and country by leading the transition and “working well in tight [areas].” Her aggressive nature will produce some crushing yet sometimes dangerous challenges, but the regular highlight-reel finishing and long-distance shooting are more than enough to merit constant inclusion in the lineup. There is also Jess Park, who has been getting an extended run with the squad and made two starts during EURO qualifying, earning praise as a “skillful, creative player with an eye for goal.” Hailed as “the future for England and Manchester City,” the multi-faceted option is a pacy, offensive machine with a daring nature that challenges both centre-backs and fullbacks alike.That is a CLASSIC Beth Mead goal #BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/aG0Zymo2WO— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 8, 2024

Beth Mead is slowly moving out of her peak years, but the Arsenal forward can still grab the spotlight with her “ability to create chances, penetrate opposing back lines, and receive between the lines,” with the utilization of intuitive timing. She is equally comfortable on the inside and the outside of the field, with darting runs that slalom toward the center or physical battles in the box. Despite wanting for playing time at Manchester City, Chloe Kelly has been a reliable option off of the bench for England and should pick up a start due to several absences, providing the potential danger for a long-range blast. The 26-year-old attacker is always looking to cut inside and hit a searching shot with either foot but can also hang on the wing and pick out teammates with accurate crosses.

Former University of North Carolina Tar Heel Alessia Russo is the main scoring threat at the top of the formation and has found the back of the net five times this season. The 25-year-old Arsenal forward “is a very good dribbler and provides dangerous passes,” while also shooting frequently and winning aerial duels with “excellent positioning inside of the box.” As expected of a player with her abilities, she is dangerous with both feet, reads the opponent quickly, and can finish at any distance when given a yard of space. Marc Lamberts praises her progression of possession, high level of distribution, and prolific nature, enabling her to slot into a variety of roles and match the manager’s tactical shifts.

After a few less taxing friendlies, the USWNT has the privilege of a true test against a program that spent the past decade ascending into the elite level. England has a talented squad and a wily, experienced manager, which should provide a compelling physical and tactical match-up. The added bonus of the fixture taking place at Wembley adds interest for both fan and neutral viewer, although crucial absences on both sides dampen proceedings.The match is scheduled for Saturday, November 30^th at 12:20 p.m. Eastern, 9:20 a.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, Universo, truTV, Max, Peacock, and Fubo TV (free trial).

Why USWNT coach Emma Hayes was so happy in the basement of a London pub: ‘I’ve got my mojo back’

By Charlotte Harpur The Athletic = Nov 25, 2024

The first time Emma Hayes introduced herself to the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) she put a photo up on the big screen.The photo showed the intersection on Camden High Street, north London, just outside a pub called the World’s End. Hayes said to the players: “This is Camden, England. This is where I’m from. This is what made me.”

So when Hayes returned to the UK ahead of England vs USWNT at Wembley on Saturday, U.S. Soccer decided to use the pub as the setting for her pre-match press conference. A press conference in a pub — that must be a first.

So, at 11am on a Monday morning, The Athletic was weaving our way down a pub’s staircase, round the bar, past some less-than-salubrious toilets, into Underworld, a black-walled basement club where Hayes spent much of her youth dancing until 3am.“I remember many an evening we would come in here, and thankfully it still smells of fart and feet,” said Hayes, who’d been greeted with a ‘Welcome back Emma’ sign outside. “It was a big indie place for me back in the day and I definitely have not seen this place in the daylight so that’s refreshing.”Although the music blaring from the speakers remains the same, the agenda and vibe at this time in the morning were slightly different — not least the fact that tea, coffee and pastries were being served.With a table and mics set up where Hayes used to rock and roll, the head coach looked out to a bizarre mix of her mum, sisters, school friends, former and current colleagues, and the international media.Asked how she felt to be in the Underworld with those closest to her, every word captured on camera, navigating questions from coaching at Wembley to Donald Trump, from USWNT’s Thanksgiving plans to the homophobic abuse aimed at her former player Sam Kerr, from developing the national youth team strategy to Hayes’ top tourist tips, Hayes said simply: “F****** brilliant!”

(U.S. Soccer/Getty Images/Brad Smith)

Hayes may be coaching in America but she has not changed, firmly shaped by her upbringing in north London.She credits her friends and family for keeping her humble. Those in the audience had shared her journey with her since she was a child, people who continue to run projects across the London borough at Camden Sports Development or youth leagues at Regent’s Park.“My community is what I am and what I care about,” she said. “I’m so stoked to be here with people that have been massive in my life. My friends have never changed and I’m grateful for that. If you say otherwise, there’ll be about 50 of them lining up at the door for you… I’m kidding.“Are you?” one heckled.“I probably shouldn’t say this in a press conference,” said Hayes, “but one of my friends used to live up in Delancey Street and she lived in a big posh house, a nice five-storey, it was lovely, gorgeous.

“I used to go up there and pretend, maybe one day, this would be a life for me. I used to come home with a little posh accent and my mum would say, ‘Your s*** still stinks’”.That was one way to keep your daughter grounded.When it comes to her tenure as the USWNT boss, Hayes is, in her words, “fresh out of the packet”, but she is already thinking about her legacy, explaining that unifying the US talent pool under a women’s football development strategy is “going to be the biggest piece” of what she leaves behind.She described herself as a “builder” who wants to lay foundations for the long term, and importantly she wants to devise a strategy for players and staff across all departments which is centred around a “female lens”.“Everything we create, the systems, frameworks, methodology, everything is done through a male lens. I seek to challenge that. If we value women and want to keep women in the workplace, we have to be creative because raising children is the hardest job in the world and your children need you too. But you’re entitled to be able to do that and have a job in football. We have to think through a female lens. That’s at the heart of everything.”Hayes said of her own accord: “I’m not going to answer any questions on men’s football. I know exactly where I am and what I want to do with my life. That’s in the women’s game, developing everything in and around that.”On Saturday Hayes will be a visitor at what she called her “second home”, Wembley. The 48-year-old will have to go through a “weird moment” of humming the English and American anthems because she “loves them” both before coming up against former Chelsea players like her ex-captain Millie Bright.Hayes momentarily feared making the jump from club to national-team management as she was unsure how the change in rhythm would affect her. For around 25 years, she had driven to the training ground six or seven days a week.“I worried about that for about four seconds,” she said. “Then I said, ‘OK, what are the benefits?“I get to get up and breathe, take Harry to school, go to the gym, create my schedule around those things, and not sacrifice the things that make me feel healthy.”She added: “I definitely didn’t feel healthy at the end of my time at Chelsea. I don’t want to say it’s pressure. I just think it’s the stress, the toll it took on me. Doing that during menopause, I realised, was even harder.“To get on top of all of these things, I feel like I’ve got my mojo back, my smile back and joy back. I didn’t realise how much I’d lost in that. I’m loving football more than ever.”(Top photo: U.S. Soccer/Getty Images/Brad Smith)

England vs USWNT: The Lionesses who were made in America

By Megan Ferin Nov 27, 2024

When England face the USWNT at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, all eyes will be on Emma Hayes.

The former Chelsea manager is making her first return to English soil in a managerial capacity since leaving the seven-time Women’s Super League (WSL) champions in May to lead the U.S. women’s team.

Footballing trips across the Pond are familiar territory for Hayes, though. Her coaching career began at summer camps in Long Island, New York when she was 25, when she headed to the States with just $1,000 (£1,250 at today’s exchange rates) and a one-way ticket. After eight years coaching club and college teams (with a three-year stint as Arsenal’s assistant coach in the middle), she returned to England in 2012, building Chelsea into a domestic behemoth, before heading back to America this summer and promptly leading her new team to gold medals at the Olympics in France.

Hayes is not an anomaly. Where MLS was historically branded a “retirement league” for august but ageing male players, English women footballers (and coaches) have found early-career moves to the States foundational.

Of England’s current 24-strong squad, forward Alessia Russo and right-back Lucy Bronze, plus head coach Sarina Wiegman, credit time spent in the U.S. as being critical in their career development, while goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and defenders Esme Morgan and Jess Carter currently ply their trades in the top-flight National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

Other England internationals with U.S. roots include Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy, who attended the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Aston Villa defender Lucy Parker, who went to Louisiana State University (LSU) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Now-retired internationals Rachel Daly, Demi Stokes, Karen Bardsley and Jodie Taylor also found value playing college and club football on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

The American appeal is multi-faceted. There is the opportunity to develop within a more direct, physical style of football, and the boon of getting a university education alongside playing competitive football, as well as the chance of regular game time.

The Athletic takes a look at the England squad members “made” in America…

Alessia Russo, 2017-20, University of North Carolina

Russo was, at first, a gamble.

In 2017, North Carolina were being pipped to top American talents by rival universities, so their head coach Anson Dorrance needed to recruit from further afield. At England youth camps, a teenage Russo repeatedly caught the eye, to the point a full scholarship was offered. Russo accepted. There was anticipation — but then angst.

“I sent my assistant coach to watch her play and he calls me back in a panic and says, ‘Oh my gosh, Anson, I am so sorry. This kid can’t play, she’ll never play for us’,” Dorrance told the Press Association news agency in 2023.“I’m thinking, ‘Oh god, we’ve dumped all of our money into a player that can’t play’, and all of a sudden I’m having sleepless nights. Then I get a call a couple of days later, ‘Oh no, Anson, I’m wrong, they had the wrong (shirt) number on Alessia. She’s an a**-kicker’.”Upon Russo’s arrival, the No 19 shirt worn by USWNT legends Mia Hamm and Crystal Dunn during their time at UNC, was brought out of retirement for her — a sign of the potential they saw.

Russo in action for North Carolina in 2019 (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

To honour the history, Russo wore a Hamm patch on one sleeve of her jersey and a Dunn patch on the other. But Russo’s greatest tribute came in the form of her performances.

In three seasons, she established herself as one of the best forwards in the college game, being named a first-team All-American (awarded annually to the most outstanding athletes in their sport) in 2018 — the first UNC player to earn that honour since Dunn — and 2019, and helping UNC twice finish as runners-up for the national championship. Russo was also a semi-finalist for the Hermann Trophy, an honour awarded to the top collegiate player in the country, in those two years.

Russo’s triumphs were born out of challenge. A broken leg forced her to miss the end-of-season play-offs in 2019 (she was still named Offensive Player of the Year for UNC’s regional league and a first-team All-American). She later told Manchester United’s UTD Podcast that the mental strength the recovery process built was key to handling future setbacks.

The step up in physicality and athleticism was also steep. The game in America focused on slick, direct transitional play, where athleticism and physical fitness were lionised above technical skill. While Russo’s technical skill today is laudable, one of the Arsenal forward’s most impressive assets is her strength and power in the final third.

“Moving to America helped me develop loads, on and off the pitch,” Russo told Arsenal’s media team in a 2024 documentary. “I needed to grow up physically. I’d not really set foot into the gym or pushed my body. In America, you have to step up.”

Lucy Bronze, 2009, University of North Carolina

Bronze knows how to lift silverware. The Chelsea full-back has five Champions Leagues, three WSL titles, two Division 1 Feminine winner’s medals and one from Liga F, among others. She is the first English footballer to win the Champions League with two different foreign clubs and the first England footballer and first female defender to claim the FIFA Best Women’s Player of the Year award and a spot on the FIFPRO World XI (2020).

“That comes from my time in the U.S. and how competitive it was,” Bronze told Chelsea’s website after joining them from Barcelona in the summer.

Bronze in action for North Carolina in 2009 (Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Bronze’s spell in the States was brief but impactful. Her mum, Diana Tough, persuaded Bronze to attend summer training camps in North Carolina. There she impressed head coach Dorrance, who offered her a scholarship to UNC in 2009. Across 24 appearances, Bronze helped UNC claim the 2009 national title as she won All-American honours.Key to her development on the pitch were Dorrance’s training methods. The now-retired coach (he won 21 national titles over a 45-year career but also faced a lawsuit from two former players claiming sexual harassment, which resulted in a settlement in 2008 despite him denying the allegations) was known for pitting players against each other during sessions. Bronze often found herself up against Tobin Heath, a 2008 Olympic gold medallist with the USWNT. “I realised that I need to work a lot harder and push myself if I want to compete against those kind of players,” Bronze told Forbes.

After just a year in North Carolina, Bronze returned to England to continue her sports science degree at Leeds Metropolitan University, while playing for Sunderland, then Everton and Liverpool.

“It was tough being away from home, from where I’d learned to play football, but I think that made me the player I am,” Bronze has said. “That really shaped me, more than anything else in my career at such a young age. I then knew how to be a winner and that has driven me every year since.”

Sarina Wiegman, 1989, University of North Carolina

A glance at Wiegman on the touchline is a window into the soul. On the outside, the two-time European Championship-winning head coach is calmness personified. But behind that, her mind is whirring, analysing, competing.This has always been Wiegman’s way around the football pitch.“I think the difference between her and most of the kids I was coaching back then is the Europeans come in with a greater maturity,” Dorrance told the PA news agency. “We had a wonderful culture of great kids, very talented kids, but she always seemed to be a tad more serious than anyone else. You can even see her in press conferences — you’re interviewing a serious individual.”Where Russo credits UNC for instilling in her a physical and psychological strength and ronze also says it gave her a winning mentality, for Wiegman, her time on its campus was the start of her understanding the differing standards in women’s football — and importantly, how to raise them.In 1988, while competing in the FIFA Women’s Invitation Tournament with the Netherlands, Wiegman was invited by Dorrance to study at UNC and join the school’s football team. The following year, she was playing alongside Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Carla Overbeck, lifting the national championship trophy at season’s end.

Wiegman considered her time in the U.S. “an absolute trigger for me”, describing the quality of players and working conditions as operating at the “highest level”.

Upon returning to her home country a year later, the disparity in infrastructure and quality was stark. “When I went back, I thought, ‘If I can contribute in the Netherlands, to create what is in the U.S. in the Netherlands, I would be a happy person’,” she told UK newspaper The Guardian in 2023. “It took 20 years.”

Anna Moorhouse, 2022-present, Orlando Pride

For Moorhouse, America was a slow burn.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper earned her first call-up to Wiegman’s England squad in July this year. A second call-up arrived in October, and she’s now had a third. The attention arrived as Moorehouse was having one of her best seasons between the sticks, helping Orlando Pride first to the NWSL Shield (given to the club with the best regular season record each year, and the first trophy in club history) and then, this past weekend, to the NWSL championship, thanks to a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit in the final.

Moorhouse has been integral, keeping clean sheets in half of her 26 appearances this season.

Moorhouse has become an influential player for Orlando (Elsa/Getty Images)

Her recent success in the States is more notable when considered in the light of her itinerant past. In the decade prior, Moorhouse spent time at Everton, Durham, Doncaster Rover Belles, Arsenal and West Ham United in England, before two mixed seasons with Bordeaux in France’s top division.

A move to Orlando came along in 2022, but her fortunes looked destined to follow the established theme. In that debut season, Moorhouse made five appearances, conceding 13 goals without keeping a single clean sheet nor being part of a win as the Pride finished 10th in the 12-team NWSL. Not until three games into the next season did Moorhouse play in her first victory (also the Pride’s first of the 2023 campaign), a 3-1 win against the San Diego Wave. In her ninth appearance last season, she kept her first clean sheet in a 1-0 defeat of Racing Louisville.Moorhouse was not helped by the quality of defence in front of her, but the league’s relentless transitional style also posed an initial challenge.“The biggest difference between the two leagues is the (NWSL) is a lot faster pace. You have athletes in every single position,” she told women’s football website INDIVISA this year. “You have so many transitions. The players are just pure athletic. When I first got here, I was trying to play and getting caught on the ball. I was trying to get up to speed. I think I’ve grown into that and I’ve changed that side of my game.“

Esme Morgan, 2024-present, Washington Spirit

After seven years with Manchester City, England defender Morgan made the bold call to move to the NWSL’s Washington Spirit in the summer, craving a new experience. “If I’d have got to the end of my career and just stayed in England the whole time, having heard how much other people have enjoyed going abroad, maybe I would have regretted it,” she told The Washington Post.

Her struggles to break into Gareth Taylor’s starting XI and the potential impact on her place in Wiegman’s squad had been evident. The 24-year-old featured in just nine WSL matches for City last season, starting five, and she spent most of her time with England on the bench.

The move to Washington represented an opportunity to shift this and so far, has. Following a thigh injury which delayed her debut until mid-September, Morgan has become a mainstay in the Spirit’s back line, helping them to finish runners-up to Orlando in both the regular-season table and again in Saturday’s play-offs final.

Morgan has been utilised mostly in central defence but has slotted in at right-back when required, a versatility that Wiegman will welcome, given Niamh Charles’s shoulder surgery. Her adaptation to the shift in style will also be crucial in setting her apart from other defenders at Wiegman’s disposal.

After the Spirit’s semi-final win against NJ/NY Gotham — in a penalty shootout — Morgan even lamented the number of fouls called by the officials: “This league certainly, comparing it to the English league, everyone’s so physical, so fit, so fast, so much less time on the ball, and so I really enjoy the challenge of it. No one ever plays to sit out and defend for a draw for 90 minutes or just low-block the whole time.

“I feel like it’s an element of my game that is developing a lot from being over here.”

Jess Carter, 2024-present, NJ/NY Gotham FC

From one league champion to another — Carter swapped Chelsea for NJ/NY Gotham in July after six seasons in west London.

Carter’s transfer was eagerly anticipated by the New York club’s fans: a six-time WSL and reigning European champion, the England defender’s pedigree spoke for itself. For Carter, the opportunity to challenge herself in a different environment appealed, particularly as the arrival of England team-mate Bronze posed a threat to her in terms of getting regular club minutes.

Jess Carter, right, scored against former club Chelsea in a pre-season friendly (Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)

Carter, who has U.S. citizenship through her father, had always kept an eye on football across the Pond. But her move was also tinged with controversy after the defender said her decision was about wanting to be “surrounded by people who treat other people well”.Her off-field relationship with former Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who had moved to Gotham in April, was thrust into the spotlight after manager Hayes said in March that romances between team-mates were “inappropriate”. Carter liked a post on X condemning Hayes’ remark. Hayes later said she “let herself down” with the comment, but added, “I don’t take those things back”.lthough she did not mention Chelsea, Carter told women’s soccer website The Equaliser in an interview announcing her transfer: “Gotham shares my same values. How you treat people and how the team is treated are my biggest values. I think I can really become a better football player when I’m surrounded by people who treat other people well, and really care for one another as people before footballers.”

Carter has shown the power of confidence, instantly becoming a mainstay in the reigning champions’ defence as they progressed to the NWSL semi-finals, though they were denied a chance to play for successive titles by the Spirit.

While Carter, like her compatriots, has credited the league’s athleticism and physicality for aiding her development, she has also praised the positivity that comes with the American sporting culture.

“When I first came, I was like, well, this is a little bit much — everyone is so energetic!” Carter told football website 90 Minutes in October. “But it’s more the fact that I could probably count on one hand in WSL club football how many times my managers or coaches turn around and say, ‘You did really well. Good job. Well done’. That positive reinforcement I don’t think really happens much in the WSL, or not in my experience, anyway.”

Lotte Wubben-Moy, 2017-19, University of North Carolina

At 17 years old, Wubben-Moy was presented with a decision: say yes to a dream or choose the more difficult path to achieve it.

It is telling of the Arsenal defender’s mindset that she chose the latter, opting to leave her girlhood club Arsenal after 13 professional appearances and the offer of a professional contract to pursue higher education at UNC and further development under Dorrance.

Looking back, Wubben-Moy calls the decision “the hardest” of her life so far, but the upsides have been plentiful. After three years of starting regularly at centre-back and helping UNC to successive runner-up finishes in the NCAA College Cup, Wubben-Moy returned to England in 2020 and has established herself as one of England and Arsenal’s most aggressive and consistent defenders after two standout campaigns.

“They definitely contributed to the player I am today, not just on the field but off the field as well,” Wubben-Moy told Arsenal’s website in 2020 of her time at UNC.

Dorrance specifically is praised by Wubben-Moy for his impact. The architect of the first U.S. World Cup win in 1991, Dorrance lionised the “winning mentality” that defines American sporting success. His tactics to develop the mental and physical side of a player’s game hinged on creating what he called a “competitive cauldron”, where players’ performances were analysed in front of peers and rankings posted on a weekly bulletin board for all to see.

As Wubben-Moy learned to adapt her game to the U.S.’s more athletic style of play in real-time, the visibility of her progression served as a catalyst.

“It doesn’t suit everyone and it is brutal, as in the numbers don’t lie,” Wubben-Moy told The Guardian in 2021. “But while so much of the game today is dictated by stats, the bottom line is still whoever scores more goals, whoever’s better on the day, whoever’s feeling more confident, that’s who wins.”

Wubben-Moy called the “competitive cauldron” a “masterpiece” due to the myriad mental components it demanded.“There are only going to be so many winners,” Wubben-Moy said. “But if as a team you can lift each other up while being competitive and go from saying, ‘Ah, I could be better there’ to looking at your mate and saying, ‘She’s gonna help me get there’, I think that’s next level.”

(Top photos: Getty Images)

USMNT Player Tracker: Pepi the hat-trick hero, Adams’ impact and Reyna returns

By Greg O’KeeffeNov 25, 2024

Ricardo Pepi’s growing dilemma at PSV Eindhoven, Paxten Aaronson’s key role in Utrecht’s remarkable progress and Gio Reyna’s much-anticipated return all play a part in this week’s USMNT tracker.

Throughout the season, we will bring you updates on the U.S. players plying their trade in various leagues around Europe. With a World Cup on home soil on the horizon and new national team boss Mauricio Pochettino monitoring from afar, we’re keeping tabs on how they perform every weekend.

Issue of the weekend

His defending champions are top of the league, remain competitive in Europe and have an attack as formidable as their defence is mean — Peter Bosz cannot have much to grumble about.But the PSV manager does have one thorny issue to resolve and, even if he is probably tired of talking about it already, it is not going away anytime soon.Bosz is wedded to playing a lone centre-forward, so how do you make two go into one? Specifically, how do you give enough game time to a striker considered a club legend while also accommodating the Eredivisie’s best young forward in the team?Captain Luuk de Jong’s muscle strain at the weekend meant Pepi made successive starts this season for the first time. The 21-year-old duly followed his goal and assist from the 3-0 win over NAC Breda before the international break with a hat-trick in their 5-0 thrashing of Groningen.

Pepi celebrates after scoring his team’s fifth against Groningen (Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

It puts Pepi on nine goals to date this term — he is joint-top scorer in the division alongside FC Twente’s Sem Steijn. But, while the latter has clocked nine goals from 11 starts for his fifth-placed team, Pepi has that many from just four starts. Other clubs across Europe are by now well aware of his prowess, and have taken note of his relative lack of opportunities.De Jong has five more starts than Pepi, and three fewer goals which would suggest that, at 34, his prolific powers are beginning to ebb. So how could Bosz perform a better balancing act between a club icon and what could be one in the making (if he stays in Eindhoven for long enough)?Could PSV go two up front, giving both men a chance to shine together? It appears not.Asked in his post-match press conference if it is an option, Bosz appeared to shut it down. “For years we have had a system that everyone thrives on and that is with one striker,” he said.When pressed further on whether Pepi’s remarkable form is making his selection task harder he was giving nothing away. ”No, I’m happy to have two good strikers,“ insisted Bosz.

The familiar sight of Pepi replacing De Jong (Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Almost as taciturn after the game was Pepi himself, who was grilled by ESPN on how it feels to be in and out of the team when playing so well — not least with three goals in his last four appearances for the USMNT under new manager Pochettino.“No matter when my name is called, I am going to be ready and I have been showing that,” he said. “I’m going to keep preparing and working hard. (Whether Pepi is picked) is not my decision. That’s the coach’s decision and it’s completely out of my control so I just focus on what I can control.Advertisement“I’ve said it before, mentally it can be difficult, but sometimes you get rewarded and get a couple of starts and all of a sudden everything changes a little bit.”Whether anything changes after his latest heroics remains to be seen. The team sheets for their next two games, Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk and Sunday’s top-vs-second clash with FC Utrecht, will be intriguing. But if there is a succession plan in the pipeline, Bosz needs to ensure Pepi enjoys more opportunities to thrive as he has in the last two league games.

Quote of the weekend

“Right now, everything he touches turns to gold. I think it’s very nice for him.”

PSV and Netherlands midfielder Guus Til, who also scored against Groningen, was another mightily impressed by the USMNT star’s hat-trick.

Player of the weekend

One young American who is getting the game time his performances deserve in the Eredivisie is Aaronson. And no wonder, with the 21-year-old involved in yet another goal for Utrecht as the team hot on PSV’s heels won again on Sunday.

Aaronson’s assist for Yoann Cathline in the 2-1 victory at NEC Nijmegen made it three goal contributions in three games. The loanee now boasts four goals and two assists in 10 starts so far this season.

The New Jersey native has knuckled down in another loan spell away from parent club Eintracht Frankfurt (who intend on making him a first-team regular next term), and is thriving in Holland after a harder spell in a doomed relegation scrap with Vitesse Arnhem last term.

Aaronson holds off NEC’s Rober Gonzalez (Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

Graphic of the weekend

Over 18 months since his previous consistent involvement at club level, Tyler Adams has logged consecutive starts for AFC Bournemouth — you’d be forgiven if you didn’t remember he plays there given how infrequently he has been fit to feature — on either side of the November window.

After a 67-minute shift against Brentford on November 9, the midfielder remained in Andoni Iraola’s lineup for Saturday’s visit from fellow south coasters Brighton, exiting after 65 minutes with a tidy performance to show for his efforts.

Iraola likely won’t conflate correlation with causation as the Cherries suffered defeat in both of Adams’ recent starts. Each was decided by a single goal, after all. Adams showed some signs of rust on Brighton’s first goal on Saturday, as Danny Welbeck and former Leeds team-mate Georginio Rutter deftly passed around him in the build-up. On both goals, Adams made recovery runs to get back into defensive position, showing he should still have the pace to be impactful at this high of a level.ow all that’s left is getting back that previously uncanny reading of sequences and more decisive defending when able.But sometimes, the most mundane of updates can provide the greatest comfort. Sometimes, just seeing a player make it through a pair of starts is its own kind of solace.Jeff Rueter

How did other U.S. players get on?

Name: Tanner Tessmann
Club: Lyon
Position: Midfielder
Games: 10

Pochettino was very complimentary about Tessmann after his performance in the second CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final win over Jamaica last week. The USMNT boss said he hoped to see him get more starts for Lyon too, but Tessmann was back on the bench for the financially troubled French club and had to be content with a nine-minute cameo in the 1-1 draw with Reims.

Name: Taylor Booth
Club: FC Utrecht
Position: Midfielder
Games: 8

Another young American trying to make a bright impression at Utrecht is Booth, who has not had as many starts as Aaronson but features regularly for Ron Jans’ side from the bench. Booth got onto the field again on Sunday and did well, creating a chance and looking bright on the ball.

Booth replaces Miguel Rodriguez against NEC (ANP via Getty Images)

Name: Griffin Yow
Club: Westerlo
Position: Right wing
Games: 10
Goals: 1

The 22-year-old scored in his Belgian side’s 4-0 win against Kortrijk, and looks fully recovered from the knee complaint that ruled him out for four games earlier in the season. Westerlo are seventh in the league.

Name: Gio Reyna
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Attacking midfielder
Games: 2

The USMNT playmaker made his long-awaited return from injury for the Bundesliga side in their 4-0 win over Freiburg on Saturday at Signal Iduna Park. His 12 minutes off the bench were his first action for his club since August and manager Nuri Sahin was pleased.

“Gio trained brilliantly this week,” he said in the post-game press conference. “It’s important to get training minutes and, if possible, as many minutes as possible into the legs.”

The challenge for Reyna, once fully fit, is to convince Sahin he should be a regular starter — an objective that proved so difficult under previous manager Edin Terzic.

Reyna urges his team on against Freiburg (Hesham Elsherif/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

When Mauricio Pochettino was a rugged enforcer, and why he wants his USMNT to follow suit

Felipe Cardenas Nov 27, 2024 The Athletic

auricio Pochettino’s goals as United States men’s coach are big and bold and complicated by both historical realities and current perceptions. Turn the national team into a competitive international power. Capitalize on the opportunity of a lifetime presented by the next World Cup. Tap into the sport’s massive, unfulfilled American potential.His first impression to the U.S. audience is one of a smart-suited tactician of global repute with a $6 million annual contract, but in 1989, Pochettino was a rough-edged, 17-year-old defender trying to earn himself a pro soccer career. Back then, the tasks were less ambitious but more direct. ‘Go soften up the opposing No. 9,’ he was told by his veteran teammates and coaches at Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys. The instruction was clear, the execution bruising.A message-sending challenge. A knee to the back of the thigh. A cleat to the ankle. No quarter given. No apology offered.Could it be that kind of mindset the USMNT needs as much as implied promises of formational focus and technical improvement? Pochettino is perceived as a savant, but his methods and motivations are founded on willpower and ferocity.

Even after the 2022 World Cup cycle and winning several regional trophies, questions continue to be asked about this team’s mentality and whether they can tap into the spicier aspects of the world’s game.

It was billed as the newly minted Pochettino’s first major test. On Oct. 15, the Americans traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, to face their eternal rivals in a prime-time friendly with nothing but pride on the line.

As he’d played 67 minutes two days earlier against Panama, Pochettino allowed star Christian Pulisic to travel back early to his club, Milan, instead of being involved, to limit the winger’s minutes. Pulisic is enjoying the best moment of his career in Serie A, and his absence that night in Guadalajara left a leadership void. Mexico won their individual battles and bullied their visitors en route to a 2-0 win.

Pochettino’s side were listless, uninspired.Soft, perhaps?U.S. central defender Tim Ream seemed to think so.“It comes down to fighting for each other and being even more aggressive. We didn’t match (Mexico’s) intensity and that’s on us,” Ream told Sirius XM last week. “Bare minimum, you have to match the opponent’s intensity throughout the 90 minutes.”

Tim Ream during the loss to Mexico last month. (Ulises Ruiz / AFP / Getty Images)

The performances improved this month during a two-leg CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal versus Jamaica. A 1-0 away win in Kingston was followed by a convincing 4-2 victory in St. Louis. But that loss to Mexico has not been completely erased.The overwhelming takeaway from it was that this U.S. team still lacks fight and grit. That it’s more naive than it is talented, and that without Pulisic, it lacks a decisive player. It’s a concern, with the next World Cup in 2026, an event largely hosted by the United States, looming ever closer.Coupled with an embarrassing Copa America on home soil over the summer, the events from Guadalajara raised doubts about this side’s ability to manage high-stakes situations. The two wins over Jamaica will have built confidence internally, but the Reggae Boyz are no world power. Pochettino likes to talk about “the other football,” the intangibles, the steeled edge, the dark arts of soccer.Gamesmanship and deception are attributes rarely associated with the game in America. Around the world, however, those characteristics come together and are ingrained in players from a young age. Soccer is played differently stateside, and that cultural disconnect has become Pochettino’s principal concern as he takes over a team that, at times, has come off as uninterested and privileged.Pochettino has sent a message early in his tenure that a squad place under him should not be taken for granted. “We have to challenge the players, because they have to feel desperate to want to be called up; that’s what other federations like Argentina do, where the players don’t choose which games they go to,” he said before the first leg against Jamaica.

“In terms of how to translate the competitive spirit to the players, we have to do it little by little and step by step. That’s something that we can’t do too quickly because in the end, the most important thing is creating a structure around the players that has that ideology and mentality, and that our priorities are all aligned.”It raises the question: Why is this an issue for this U.S. men’s national team?

As an Argentine, it’s perhaps impossible for Pochettino to grasp that an opportunity to play for the national team is anything less than a dream. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first cap or your 78th. Argentina, a star-studded side led by Lionel Messi and the reigning world champions, have come to epitomize what that commitment looks like.“The Argentinian player is desperate to be called up, doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly or a CONCACAF game, or Copa America, or a World Cup,” Pochettino said earlier this month during a video call with reporters. “The Argentinian player approaches a call-up like it’s a world final and like it’s their last chance.“I think our players have time to get into that mindset, and if we do, we’ll increase our level by 200 percent and we’ll have a chance, because we certainly have the talent to do something important.”

Mauricio Pochettino wants his players to be more cunning. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

The CONCACAF Nations League doesn’t carry much prestige, but it’s the only competitive tournament the U.S. will participate in before the 2026 World Cup. Speaking to reporters from Jamaica, Pochettino talked about putting his players in “uncomfortable zones” and raising the team’s emotional capacity to play do-or-die matches.“We need to build that expectation. We need to build that pressure,” Pochettino said. “We are USA. We need to perform and we need to win games.“If one of my players is kicked, we’re going to defend him. We have to be cunning enough to know when to kick the ball long or to stand in front of the ball. These are things that may seem like small details, but they have everything to do with playing this game. What we showed against Mexico was the opposite of what we showed against Jamaica. That’s the stamp that we want.”

Pochettino is being open about his first impressions of the players he’s inherited. It will be fascinating to watch the plan he and his staff implement as they try to turn the U.S. into a mentally hardened team — one that’s difficult to play against, as Pochettino put it. That certainly wasn’t what defined this same group under predecessor Gregg Berhalter, despite his best attempts to change their mindset.

When Pochettino was hired, his man-management skills were highlighted as a positive for this U.S. team. He had presided over the egos and personalities of Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain. He coached in the Premier League and a UEFA Champions League final. His tactics, focused on aggressive pressing and quick attacking sequences born out of possession, were also noted as a match for these U.S. players.But it’s Pochettino’s background as a rugged Argentine central defender that could be the secret to success for the men’s side.

When Gerardo “Tata” Martino met Pochettino in 1989, he saw a nervous teenager who was about to face the pressures of football in Argentina. At the time, Martino was a title-winning captain at Newell’s Old Boys. Pochettino, still raw, had been discovered by Jorge Giffa, a renowned identifier of talent for the club, and fast-tracked towards the first team.“I didn’t meet the man who would become a head coach,” Martino told The Athletic in August. “I met a player who had the typical anxiety and expectation of someone who was just starting his career. There was no way for me to even fathom that (Pochettino) would go into coaching. I met him when he was 17 years old and he had a massive responsibility ahead of him because Newell’s was in a difficult situation, facing relegation.”

Mauricio Pochettino was an old-school defender. (Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images)

Martino, who resigned as Inter Miami coach last week, knows Pochettino well. He has also coached and suffered through the idiosyncrasies of CONCACAF football as Mexico’s national team manager from 2019 to 2022.A Newell’s legend of three league titles as a player and another as the coach, Martino quickly spotted the young Pochettino’s fearless edge.“He was the prototypical central defender from that era, at a time when there was little talk about defenders making the first pass to break a line,” Martino said. “Rather, it was about how they defended, how they marked the opposition, their ability to anticipate and win balls in the air. That was Mauricio.”

In Guillem Balague’s 2017 book “Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs,” Pochettino described a run-in he had with Martino during one of his first Newell’s training sessions. “I was 17, young and hungry. Not scared of anybody, cocky even,” Pochettino said.According to Pochettino, Martino quipped, “I’m going to kill you” after receiving a tough tackle from the academy defender.“No, there’s no chance,” Martino said emphatically with a laugh when asked whether he had threatened his rookie teammate. “Surely something must’ve happened. I was a player who had been in the top flight for almost 10 years. Mauricio was a kid who was just starting. That happened often back then. Today, those types of things don’t happen as often. It was normal for an experienced player to have a word with a young player who was just starting out.”Pochettino the enforcer further thrived when Marcelo Bielsa took over as Newell’s coach in 1990. Led by Bielsa and playing alongside Martino, Pochettino would win two league titles and reach a Copa Libertadores final in 1992. That squad’s relentless, high-pressing intensity is a characteristic Pochettino later adopted as a manager. His hire as U.S. men’s national team coach comes at a time when Argentine managers are in high demand.U.S. Soccer officials didn’t pinpoint that when they announced his appointment in September, but Martino believes Pochettino’s heritage is part of a growing trend.

“I think that’s an important piece to all of this,” Martino said. “Right now, coaches from Argentina, because of everything that has happened with the national team, are well respected, and that opens doors to be considered for certain jobs. I wouldn’t simply compare Mauricio to other Argentine coaches, though.”

USMNT looked better against Jamaica. (Tim Vizer / AFP / Getty Images)

Pochettino has been largely molded by European footballing methodologies. He is a sophisticated student of the game who has lived and coached in Barcelona, London and Paris. His DNA, though, is from rural Argentina. His core memories as a player at Newell’s are replete with blood, sweat and massive pressure.“Argentine coaches have become accustomed to difficult situations that aren’t as common today,” Martino said. “There was a time when coaches wouldn’t get paid, or they had to deal with the club’s ultras and the hostility of difficult moments. But those negative experiences strengthen you, they give you thicker skin.”Martino, though, stressed Pochettino will have to “learn how to become a national team manager.” Regardless of Pochettino’s qualifications and his implementation of progressive tactics early on, he’s in his first-ever stint as an international coach. Although so was Lionel Scaloni when he led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.There were calls for the U.S. Soccer Federation to hire another American after Berhalter was fired.

Fans and pundits passionately discussed the importance of understanding the psyche of an American player. Tapping into the courage that defined previous U.S. teams was seen as a priority.Pochettino is an outsider who has read the room accurately. He knows a player’s resume and potential are secondary to their willingness to swallow their pride for the good of their country. Case in point, his response to that comfortable home win over Jamaica last week.“In the second half, we didn’t approach the game in the way we wanted,” he said. “The goal was to win the second half, and we didn’t approach it with the same intensity and mentality. It shows we still have things we need to improve.”

Internationally, the reputation of the U.S. men’s team eroded over the summer. They were humbled by opponents who were unafraid to test the limits of the sport’s rules. Their Copa America preparation, which included losing 5-1 against Colombia, and the group-stage elimination that followed, sent the wrong message to the world.he improvement Pochettino demands must come on the sport’s biggest stage in 2026. There is no other option.If the squad cannot align culturally with its new manager at a World Cup held mostly on home soil, the repercussions will lead to a renewed evaluation of the American player.

10/30/24 US Women host Argentina tonite in Louisville 7 pm, Indy 11 host playoff game Sun 7 pm, US Coach named Coach of the Year, MLS playoffs, High School state playoffs Sat at the Mike

October 30, 2024November 6, 2024 gatorbest emma-hayes, football, indy-11, indy-11-playoffs, mls, mls-playoffs, soccer, uswnt, women-us-soccer

US Ladies Face Argentina tonight at 7 pm on TNT after 3-1 comeback win over Iceland

The US ladies fell behind on golazo goal to Iceland as #2 GK Murphy pulled a GKE on reading the high ball and of course with NO ONE ON THE POST – it slipped her head and into the backpost and in. The US ladies responded with 3 goals in the 2^nd half however as the starters returned to set things right. One more game tonight in Louisville – Seats still available by the way – at Lynn Stadium. The good news is the youngsters are really coming thru and showing they belong. (highlights). Rose Lavelle will celebrate 100 Caps tonight! Also really cool to see our Manager Emma Hayes win the Coach of the Year Honors on the Ladies side!!

Members of Utah, Gotham, Portland, and Angel City will ride the bench, with coach Emma Hayes reporting that she wont tap anyone set to play a regular-season NWSL match on Friday — except Rose Lavelle, who will celebrate her 100th cap at tonight’s game.

Big picture: Coming off two productive wins against Iceland, fitness will be front of mind for Hayes with WSL playoffs approaching and the European season in full swing. Players currently without an October start include Spirit midfielder & former Indy 11 standout Hal Hershfelt, NC Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez, and PSG defender Eva Gaetino. Tune in: The USWNT kicks off against Argentina in Louisville tonight at 7 PM ET, with live coverage on TNT.

Indy 11 host playoff game Sunday – Nov 3 vs Rhode Island FC Indy Eleven completed its regular season with a 3-0 setback at the Tampa Bay Rowdies and former GK on Saturday night, snapping a five-match unbeaten streak. The Boys in Blue earned the #4 seed in the USL Championship Eastern Conference playoffs by finishing with a 14-11-9 record for 51 points. The Eleven will begin the 2024 USL Championships Playoffs presented by Terminix next Sunday, November 3 at Carroll Stadium, hosting their first home playoff game since 2019 against #5 seed Rhode Island FC (12-7-15) in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. This will be the Boys in Blue’s fourth playoff appearance in six full seasons in the USLC. The last time that the Eleven recorded consecutive playoff berths was in 2018 and 2019. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster. Boys in Blue Season Ticket Members can purchase opening round playoff seats here.

High School Soccer Finals Sat at The Mike The high school finals for the ladies are set with Noblesville (18-0-2) looking for a Back to Back vs Center Grove (16-4-3) at 6:30 pm while the boys features Bloomington South (20-1) vs West Lafayette Harrison (18-0-4) at 11 am at the Mike. Tickets avail for the full schedule of all Class games all day.

Tuesday – American’s In Action this Week in Champions League

PSV vs Girona, 12:45p on Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMas: Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, Richard Ledezma and PSV host Girona in Champions League.
Real Madrid vs AC Milan, 3p on Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMas: Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in Champions League.
Bologna vs Monaco, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Folarin Balogun (injury?) and Monaco travel to Bologna in Champions League.
Borussia Dortmund vs Sturm Graz, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Cole Campbell and Borussia Dortmund host Sturm Graz in Champions League.
Celtic vs RB Leipzig, 3p on Paramount+, ViX, CBS Sports Golazo: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic play host to RB Leipzig in Champions League.
Lille vs Juventus, 3p on CBSSN, Paramount+, ViX: Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and Juventus travel, with Weah returning to Lille in Champions League.

Also in action:

Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough, 2:45p: Aiden Morris and Middlesbrough travel to Weston London to face QPR in the Championship
Puebla v Monterrey, 7p: Brandon Vasquez and Rayados travel to Puebla in LA MX

Wednesday

Also in action:

Millwall vs Leeds United, 2:45p: Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United travel to Millwall in the Championship.
Coventry City vs Derby County, 2:45p: Haji Wright and Coventry City host Derby County in the Championship.
America vs Pachuca, 7p, TUDNS USA, Univision: Alex Zendejas and Club America host Pachuca in Liga MX.

Thursday

Hoffenheim vs Olympique Lyon, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Tanner Tessmann and Lyon travel to Hoffenheim for this Europa League match.
Real Betis vs Celje, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Johnny Cardoso and Betis host Celje in Conference League.
Hearts vs Heidenheim, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Lennard Maloney and Heidenheim travel to the Heart of Midlothian in an epic quest to win a Conference League match

TV SCHEDULE

Wed, Oct 30

7 pm TNT US Women vs Argentina

7 pm FS1 US U17G vs Korea U17G WC Semi-Finals

Fri, Nov 1

7:30 pm Apple Charlotte vs Orlando City SC MLS Playoffs

9:30 pm Apple Colorado vs LA Galaxy

Sat, Nov 2

8:30 am USA New Castle vs Arsenal

10:30 am ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin

11 am USA Southhampton vs Everton

11 am Peacock Liverpool vs Brighton

11 am Para+ Leeds United vs Plymouth

1 pm Para+ Udinese vs Juventus (Mckinney/Weah)

1 pm NBC Wolverhampton vs Crystal Palace

1:30 pm EPNS+ Dortmund vs RB Leipzig

3:45 pm Para+ Monza vs AC Milan (Pulisic)

4 pm ESPN+ Valencia vs Real Madrid

5 pm Apple TV NYCFC 0 vs Cincy 1

5 pm ION Seattle Reign vs Orlando Pride NWSL

7:30 pm ION NC Courage vs Washington Spirit NWSL

Sun, Nov 3

9 am USA Tottenham vs Aston Villa

11:30 am USA Man United vs Chelsea

11:30 am ESPN+ MGladbach vs Bremen

2:$5 pm Golazo/Para Inter vs Venezia

3 pm ESPN Chicago Red Stars vs KC Current NWSL

4:30 pm Apple TV New York RB 1 vs Columbus

5:30 pm ESPN San Diego Wave vs Racing Louisville NWSL

6:30 pm ESPN+, TV Houston vs Seattle 1

8:30 pm Apple TV Vancouver vs LAFC 1

Thursday

USA

Emma Hayes wins Women’s Coach of the Year at Ballon d’Or ceremony

Emma Hayes Named Ballon d’Or Women’s Coach of the Year

October USWNT Friendlies: USA 3-1 Iceland – A comeback seals a win for the Americans

2024 USWNT Friendly: Scouting Argentina
2024 October USWNT Friendlies: USA 3-1 Iceland – the Americans find a late winner

USWNT’s ‘rusty’ win over Iceland shows evolution is needed5dJeff Kassouf

Olympics are over, World Cup is in three years: What questions must USWNT answer now? 6dJeff Kassouf

MLS – playoffs

How Messi made his Inter Miami teammates better on and off the field

Minnesota United takes 1-0 series lead on Real Salt Lake

Red Bulls stun second-seeded Crew 1-0 in Game 1

Sounders earn PK win over Dynamo in playoff opener

Yamil Asad lifts Cincinnati to Game 1 win over NYCFC

Facundo Torres puts home 19th goal as Orlando City blank Charlotte FC

Lionel Messi tracker: All goals, assists, key moments for Inter Miami in 2024

Power Rankings: Where do teams stand entering playoffs?

Your Wednesday Kickoff: Red Bulls, Minnesota turn playoff picture on its head

Goalkeeping

St Clair Great Saves in MLS Playoffs

GK Training on your Own

Huge props for former Carmel Dads Club & Carmel High School GK who is up for GK of year in USL for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Reffing

Handball or not? Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13

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The U-17 USWNT dogpiles each other in celebration

The US is the only country to place in all three 2024 FIFA world championships. (Buda Mendes – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The U-17 USWNT lit up the international stage on Sunday, pointing to the national team’s bright future with a U-17 World Cup bronze medal win — less than two months after their U-20 counterparts did the same.The U-17 team’s dominant 3-0 victory over England gave the US its best U-17 World Cup finish since 2008, while the U-20 USWNT’s late September third-place victory saw their best performance since lifting the trophy in 2012.With both youth World Cup medals and the senior team’s Olympic gold, the US is now the only nation to place in all three 2024 FIFA world championships.Teen pros fuel the fire: This year’s U-17 World Cup roster featured its first-ever professionals, including ACFC’s Kennedy Fuller, Seattle’s Ainsley McCammon, and San Diego’s Kimmi Ascanio and Melanie Barcenas. Add in the U-20 USWNT’s record eight NWSL players, and pro experience at the youth level appears to be paving a successful international path.

USWNT Closes Out October International Window with Argentina Friendly

USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle walks onto the pitch. — Rose Lavelle will celebrate 100 caps with the USWNT on Wednesday. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

The top-ranked USWNT will play their third and final friendly of the October international break against world No. 33 Argentina in Louisville on Wednesday night — likely with few new faces in the mix.

Head coach Emma Hayes told reporters that she will not play anyone with a regular-season NWSL match scheduled for Friday except Rose Lavelle, who will celebrate her 100th USWNT cap in Wednesday’s pre-match ceremony.

“This was the game [Lavelle] chose and for that reason she’s starting,” explained Hayes. “I’ll probably only play Rose for 45 minutes just because I know how important and valuable she is for Gotham.”

Lavelle, a Cincinnati product, likely picked Wednesday’s friendly for her celebration due to Louisville’s close proximity to her hometown.

USWNT forward Jaedyn Shaw celebrates a goal against Argentina in February's Concacaf W Gold Cup. — 19-year-old USWNT forward Jaedyn Shaw scored twice on Argentina in February. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Resting veterans means more minutes for USWNT newcomers

Coming off two productive 3-1 wins over No. 13 Iceland, fitness is front-of-mind for Hayes with NWSL playoffs approaching and the European season — where four of this camp’s athletes play — in full swing.

“I presented to the [club] head coaches in advance of this camp, saying that no player would play in more than two full games,” Hayes said.

Since the NWSL’s Utah Royals, Gotham FC, Portland Thorns, and Angel City FC all play on Friday, nine of the UWSNT’s 26 October camp athletes are unavailable to take Wednesday’s pitch. Four of those players are forwards, leaving Hayes only Mal Swanson, Jaedyn Shaw, and Emma Sears up top, unless the US boss rotates athletes in from another position.

In prioritizing rest, Hayes’s self-imposed roster limitations could result in more first caps. Both PSG center back Eva Gaetino and Bay FC left back Alyssa Malonson are awaiting their first USWNT minutes.

Other players who have yet to appear during this international window include NC Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez and KC Current defender Hailie Mace.

Argentina defender Aldana Cometti crosses the ball during a 2023 World Cup match. — With 85 caps, Aldana Cometti is the only player with more than 50 appearances for Argentina. (SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Young Argentina team aims for first win against USWNT

Like Hayes, Argentina head coach Germán Portanova stacked his 20-player roster with young talent, including four teenagers. The only Argentinian athlete with more than 50 caps is defender Aldana Cometti, and 14 players have less than 20 caps.

That young roster will take aim at the country’s first-ever result against the USWNT, who has won all five previous meetings by outscoring Argentina 32-1. The pair’s last meeting came on February 23rd in group play of the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup, where the US defeated Argentina 4-0.

Hoping to quiet the US attack, Portanova packed his team with nine defenders for Wednesday’s game. As a result, Hayes told the press that she anticipates a low-block from La Albiceleste and that she’ll “be curious to see how we handle that,” particularly as the team has been working on decision-making and finishing in the final third throughout this training camp.

U-17 USWNT players celebrate their 2-0 quarterfinal win over Nigeria at the 2024 U17 World Cup. — The U-17 USWNT is eyeing their first World Cup semifinal win in 16 years. (Pedro Vilela – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

U-17 USWNT races to World Cup semis

Airing on FS1 at the same time as the senior national team’s battle with Argentina, the U-17 USWNT will take on Korea DPR in their first U-17 World Cup semifinal since 2008.

The team has battled North Korea three times in U-17 World Cup history, most notably in the 2008 final when Korea DPR staged a come-from-behind, extra-time 2-1 win to become World Cup champs.

This time out, the US will rely on their sturdy defense, which has already pulled off three straight clean sheets, setting a new U-17 USWNT World Cup record.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Argentina international friendly

The friendly between the No. 1 USWNT and No. 33 Argentina will kick off on Wednesday at 7 PM ET, with live coverage on TNT.

The US will close out the year with with a European tour, making tonight’s match their last 2024 tilt on home soil.

USWNT 3, Iceland 1: Alyssa Thompson’s first international goal helps U.S. secure victory

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Alyssa Thompson #7 of the United States celebrates scoring with Rose Lavelle #16 during the first half against Iceland at Q2 Stadium on October 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Meg Linehan Oct 24, 2024 The Athletic

The U.S. women’s national team defeated Iceland 3-1 on Thursday in its first match following its gold-medal run this summer at the Paris Olympics. Alyssa Thompson and Jaedyn Shaw, both still teenagers, scored first before Sophia Smith provided a late dagger to seal the result.Thompson was the only player to start who did not play in this summer’s Olympics. The 19-year-old was widely expected to be called back into the national team following an excellent run of form with Angel City in NWSL. She did not disappoint in Austin, Texas, providing the opening goal, which was also her first international goal.“I get in those situations a lot in games, so I knew what to do: put it in with my right,” Thompson said during her halftime interview.Since the NWSL’s return from the Olympic break, Thompson has scored five goals with Angel City and noted she’s spent extra time after training working on cutting in off the wings with an eye for goal alongside her NWSL teammate Christen Press. Thursday night, she got another perfect opportunity to show what those extra reps have unlocked.Thompson last played for the U.S. in 2023, featuring in the final match of the year in Texas. Despite her inclusion in the 2023 World Cup roster, she missed out on an Olympic spot under head coach Emma Hayes.“Just coming onto the field and wearing the jersey in the beginning, I was like, ‘This is surreal,’” Thompson said during halftime. “Being able to get my first goal, I can’t describe how I feel. I’m just so happy.”Iceland equalized in the second half when Selma Magnúsdóttir scored in the 56th minute with an effort from outside the box that beat goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in the bottom left corner. But the tie didn’t last.Shaw was a second-half substitute, but that didn’t stop her from scoring. While her Olympics went in an unexpected direction after she picked up a muscle injury in France, Shaw had no issues returning to her scoring ways with the national team having fully recovered.“It was a really tough month for me,” Shaw said of the Olympics after the match. “But it was also the best month of my life. I learned a lot from it. It just made me hungry to come back and produce the same, if not more.”Smith also picked up some USWNT minutes, after finally making her NWSL return for the Portland Thorns in a limited capacity last weekend. Smith had an ankle injury resurface in September and had missed out on multiple Thorns matches. Smith, one-third of the “Triple Espresso” forward line at the Olympics, added the exclamation point with her goal in the 88th minute.Gotham FC’s Yazmeen Ryan earned her first U.S. cap Thursday night, subbing on Mallory Swanson in the 66th minute alongside Shaw and Casey Krueger. Hal Hershfelt of the Washington Spirit also finally earned her first cap for the USWNT in this match, after traveling with the team to France this summer as an alternate.Coach Emma Hayes called up six uncapped players as part of her 26-player roster for the October window, though only 23 players can dress for each match.

Hayes names 26-player USWNT roster for October friendlies

“We looked a little rusty,” Hayes said in her postgame press conference. “We haven’t played together since the Olympics, and I think we look like a team with a lot of players on the back end of the season.”While she liked their short passing game, Hayes said the performance in the final third during the first half wasn’t good enough and that they weren’t switching the ball quickly enough. Both were addressed at halftime.

“It’s up to us to inject that urgency into the game,” she said. “The players that came from the bench did that.”The USWNT still has two more matches in this international window. They play Iceland again Sunday in Nashville (5.30 p.m. ET, airing on TNT, truTV, Max, Universo and Peacock), before their final match on U.S. soil this year next Wednesday against Argentina in Louisville (7 p.m. ET, airing on TNT, truTV, Max, Universo and Peacock).

USWNT player ratings: Hayes’ super-subs Horan, Sears inspire win

Cesar Hernandez, Staff Writer, ESPN FCOct 27, 2024, 08:48 PM ET

Goals from Lynn Williams, Lindsey Horan, and Emma Sears earned a 3-1 friendly victory and second consecutive win for the U.S. women’s national team over Iceland.

Held at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, the game kicked off with plenty of the ball for the home side that maintained 64.2% possession during the first half. Nonetheless, it was Iceland that opened up the scoring thanks to a stunning 31st-minute goal directly off a corner from Karolina Vilhjalmsdottir.

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Seeking to alter her approach by the midway point of the friendly, USWNT manager Emma Hayes responded by making a handful of impactful substitutions.

Following the half-time break, Alyssa Thompson, Emily Fox, and Horan entered the field. Shortly afterwards, Hayes then brought on Sophia Smith, Williams, and Sears. The tactical maneuvers paid off, leading to an equalizer from Williams in the 72nd minute and Horan’s goal in the 76th, as well as Sears’ goal in the 93rd.

With a win in hand and an undefeated streak under Hayes, the USWNT will play their third friendly this month when they face Argentina at Louisville, Kentucky’s Lynn Family Stadium on Oct. 30.

Manager rating (scale of 1-10)

Emma Hayes, 8 — Unafraid to throw numbers forward in the second half, Hayes was fearless with her attack-minded substitutions that earned the victory. The manager deserves credit for not only giving opportunities for young players, but for also being able to break down an Iceland XI that parked the bus throughout the 90+ minutes.

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

GK Casey Murphy, 5 — Murphy made just one error, but it was still costly after her poor positioning allowed Vilhjalmsdottir to find the back of the net in the first half.

DF Jenna Nighswonger, 6 — Although she didn’t have too much trouble defensively, going forward, more was expected of the player who occasionally went quiet against Iceland.

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DF Emily Sams, 8 — An impressive debut For the Orlando Pride player. Sams was confident and comfortable with her interventions that made her a reliable presence in the backline.

DF Emily Sonnett, 7 — Sonnet provided important tackles and showed leadership as she barked orders in defense.

DF Casey Krueger, 6 — A decent performance. Krueger helped win back possession and showcased her speed on both flanks but could have also been more accurate with her longer passes.

MF Mallory Swanson, 8 — Swanson celebrated her 100th cap as the most dangerous player in the first half. The 26-year-old was a dynamic figure in the attack that eventually switched to a more central position in the frontline.

MF Sam Coffey, 6 — Despite buzzing around the midfield, Coffey was at times caught off-guard when needing to shut down counters.

MF Korbin Albert, 6 — Connected well with the midfield, but also wasn’t able to create enough in the final third.

MF Yazmeen Ryan, 6 — Ryan wasn’t as dangerous as Swanson on the opposite flank and struggled with effectively breaking down the Iceland defense. That said, she did well to switch the field when needed and provided a couple of shots.

FW Olivia Moultrie, 7 — Not bad for a player that just turned 19. Moultrie had a great connection with attack and dropped to the left after Swanson eventually moved up. A high ceiling for the player that has more to give.

FW Jaedyn Shaw, 6 — Shaw showed off her attacking versatility up top but couldn’t influence the game at the level she typically does in the final third. Hayes will need to figure out the best position for the 20-year-old San Diego Wave star.

Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

MF Alyssa Thompson, 8 — The teenager was brought on during the half-time break and thrived on the left flank. Some much-needed energy from the player that provided key passes and a shot that hit the woodwork.

DF Emily Fox, 7 — Credit to the full-back that had to step into a progressively chaotic formation that focused on the attack. Fox was an important distributor after being substituted in during the midway break.

MF Lindsey Horan, 8 — Horan was a catalyst moving forward and clinched the goal that gave the USWNT the lead. Difficult to think of a current best XI without the captain.

FW Lynn Williams, 9 — What more could you ask of the Gotham FC player that gifted her national team a goal and assist within 35 minutes of play.

MF Emma Sears, 9 — A dream USWNT debut. Like Williams, Sears was arguably the hero of the night with her goal and assist.

FW Sophia Smith, 7 — Excellent energy from the Portland Thorns marquee figure that took chances with her shots. Technically speaking, one of those shots could go down as a hockey assist for Williams’ goal.

MLS awards 2024: Our picks for MVP, coach of the year, Best XI and more

By The Athletic Soccer staff

Oct 29, 2024

Lionel Messi played a little more than half of Inter Miami’s regular season games this year but is on the shortlist for most valuable player. Last year, The Athletic’s MLS writers questioned the Argentina captain’s nomination for newcomer of the year. This year, the MVP argument is far less contested, but contested nonetheless.

And while there is a clear winner for each of the defensive awards, Luis Suarez isn’t the only player valued as newcomer of the year. Here’s how our MLS writers voted for MVP, defender of the year, coach of the year, Best XI and more.

Most Valuable Player

Writer	Vote
Pablo Maurer	Lionel Messi
Felipe Cardenas	Lionel Messi
Paul Tenorio	Lionel Messi
Jeff Rueter	Cucho Hernández

Pablo Maurer: Yes, I understand that Messi was injured for a long stretch of Miami’s season. I also understand that during that stretch, Miami did not miss him — not statistically, at least. And I understand that there are other players — Cucho Hernández comes to mind — that likely have a rightful claim to this award as well. Yet Messi, despite missing 15 matches, has been the most dominant attacking player in MLS by a wide margin.

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MLS conspiracy theorists will claim that the league, and Miami, will ensure that Messi wins this award. In reality, Messi wins because he’s made the league itself look like child’s play. And this is to say nothing of his effect on MLS’ global perception and its business interests. He is undoubtedly the highest-profile player in league history, and he hasn’t disappointed.

Felipe Cárdenas: Inter Miami indeed learned to win without Messi, but they weren’t steam-rolling teams while he was at the Copa America with Argentina. When he was rested before the summer, Inter Miami lost games to New York Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati by a combined score of 10-1.

The data supports Messi as the MVP, too. He had better or even numbers than the other top candidates for the award after playing only 19 games. Those facts made it an easy decision for me, and I submitted my vote before his Decision Day hat-trick against New England. He’s been Messi. That’s really difficult to contend with. Sorry, Cucho.

(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Paul Tenorio: I really just don’t get the movement to push someone else as the league MVP. I get that Messi didn’t play the whole season, but he played enough to lift Inter Miami to the Supporters’ Shield — there is no way they would have won the Shield without him — and he was the best player in MLS when he was on the field.

The guy scored 20 goals with 16 assists in 19 games, finishing second in MLS in both categories. He was dominant, his team was the best in MLS. It’s an easy one for me.

Jeff Rueter: This year, anyone who doesn’t have Messi as an MVP is going to be branded a contrarian. I guess that’s my role to play on our staff.

Ultimately, this gets into the nitty-gritty of MLS choosing to award a “most valuable player” as its top individual honor rather than a “player of the year.”

Cucho Hernández is the attacking soul of another all-time great MLS team. The Colombian also missed significant time, playing 27 of 34 possible games compared to Messi’s 19. Hernández was tied for second with 12 match-winning goal contributions; Messi’s seven match-winners were tied for 10th. While some might say it’s unfair to ding Messi for a midseason injury, ask Joel Embiid how these American sports award pageants work.

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For Messi, half a year of world-class soccer is as good a case as any need to make. I just think Hernandez’s additional workload drove home his value a little bit more.

Goalkeeper of the Year

Writer	Vote
Pablo Maurer	Kristijan Kahlina
Felipe Cardenas	Kristijan Kahlina
Paul Tenorio	Kristijan Kahlina
Jeff Rueter	Kristijan Kahlina

Rueter: Charlotte has had a lot to sort out on the fly during Dean Smith’s first season, but goalkeeper has been steady as they go. Kristijan Kahlina played every minute this season, helping backstop the club to a fifth-place finish in the East. Only one team, Seattle, allowed fewer goals than Charlotte.

The underlying numbers suggest this award is Kahlina’s to win — his +12.3 expected goals prevented is the second-highest output from any goalkeeper over the last six seasons. The only better performer? Djordje Petrovic in 2022 (+14.3), who somehow lost that year’s vote to Andre Blake but settled for a transfer to Chelsea and a corresponding pay raise.

Maurer: There’s little to no competition in this category, in my view.

Cárdenas: My colleagues at The Athletic know how I feel about Kahlina. In 2023, his howlers had me blowing up the group chat. I was probably too hard on the Croatian. After all, a goalkeeper’s mistakes are always magnified. Kahlina had hype last season, too, but his performances were inconsistent. That changed in 2024. His 12 clean sheets was the best in MLS.

Tenorio: Let the numbers tell the story here.

(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Defender of the Year

Writer	Vote
Pablo Maurer	Jordi Alba
Jeff Rueter	Steven Moreira
Felipe Cardenas	Steven Moreira
Paul Tenorio	Steven Moreira

Rueter: Reputation goes a long way in this category and playing for a top-five defense is generally mandatory. Columbus ranked fourth by conceding just 40 goals, so there’s one box checked.

Steven Moreira enjoys more fluidity in his role than any other defender in MLS. In some phases, he’s tucking into the back line to negate an onrushing attacker. In others, he’s heading wide to occupy the half-space, while he also plays a role in sustaining possession as far upfield as the far edge of the attacking third. He’s the dependable, roaming bedrock upon which Wilfried Nancy’s system is built. For a second straight year, that’s earned my vote in this category.

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Cárdenas: I considered FC Cincinnati and U.S. international Miles Robinson for this award. Seattle’s Jackson Ragen, who I believe has a similar profile to Borussia Dortmund center back Niklas Süle. But a defender who isn’t really a defender? I’m always going to be a fan of a player like Moreira.

But as Jeff states very clearly, Moreira is an integral part of Nancy’s rather intricate system. Remove him from the Crew’s XI and they’re a different team, slightly more limited. Moreira can lock down a tricky winger and put pressure on an opposing attacking fullback. He’s typically calm and at ease when he’s on the ball close to the end line.

(Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

Maurer: I write this fully expecting to get roasted in the comments. To me, though, this is not a controversial take. Miami has been shaky defensively all year as they’ve cycled through options, but Jordi Alba has been defensively sound (as always). He has also put up absurd numbers on the other side of the ball, his four goals and 12 assists made up a key part of Miami’s prolific attack.

Tenorio: I think you have to give credit to a defender who brings more to a team than just pure defending, who is a part of the identity of how a team plays and what makes them special. I’m not sure there was a defender so dominant this year in MLS that it’s worth looking away from Moreira’s value to the Crew.

Newcomer of the Year

Writer	Vote
Pablo Maurer	Gabriel Pec
Jeff Rueter	Gabriel Pec
Felipe Cardenas	Luis Suarez
Paul Tenorio	Luis Suarez

Rueter: While fellow new winger Joseph Paintsil was the headliner in the spring, Gabriel Pec’s brilliance shone all season long for the Galaxy. The Brazilian was tied for fifth in MLS with 30 goal contributions — all but one from the run of play. He swiftly assimilated into a multi-faceted LA attack and should continue to threaten MLS defenders for years.

Maurer: It took Pec a little to find his footing in the league, but when he finally acclimated he became a game-changer for the Galaxy and a major reason why LA is back in rarified air. I don’t think Pec will actually win this award; Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez has had an exceptional year and name recognition might push him ahead of Pec in the end. But no player in the league is more deserving than Pec.

Cárdenas: I hear you both on Pec. He has been silky for the Galaxy. I’ll be honest, though, I didn’t expect Suarez to be this good. He was great for Gremio, but after he told the world that he could barely walk or get out of bed in the morning, Suarez felt like a luxury signing that would only be good in flashes. Instead, he helped carry the burden for Inter Miami.

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His 20 goals in 28 games (21 starts) made him the obvious choice for this award, one that feels odd considering Suarez is 37. He recently told reporters in Miami that he’d like to be back with Miami for one more year. Who can blame him? He’s turned back the clock. Sunshine and beach life have been good to him.

Tenorio: I am a big Pec fan even though I started the season thinking Paintsil would be the most productive of the two signings. The Galaxy absolutely nailed their two DP additions this offseason. Still, I’m going to go with the guy who I think might end up making a big difference in the playoffs. Suarez is a legend for a reason.

Young Player of the Year

Writer	Vote
Jeff Rueter	Diego Luna
Felipe Cardenas	Diego Gómez
Paul Tenorio	Diego Gómez

Rueter: Diego Luna finished second in MLS’s annual 22 Under 22 rankings, the same spot I placed him on my ballot. What edges him over Diego Gómez for this award, then? Simply, importance beyond what would be expected of someone his age.

While Gómez is an undeniably talented player in a vital midfield role, Luna has been the team’s chief playmaker since Andrés Gómez’s summer move to Rennes despite only turning 21 in September. The United States youth international has rewarded RSL for their trust, with eight goals and 12 assists across 2,218 minutes. Despite selling their creative fulcrum, Pablo Mastroeni’s side sustained a high level of play to finish third in the West — and they largely had Luna to thank. I suspect he’ll be getting a call from USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino soon.

Cárdenas: Go back and watch Gómez’s first few games with Miami. His touch was off. His decision-making was poor. He received quite a few side-eyed looks from Messi and Suarez.

He was 20 years old at the time and had never played outside of Paraguay. Gómez was managing the pressure of playing with Messi, Sergio Busquets, Suarez and Alba. It was a lot for a young player with high expectations. Now, Gómez is a Premier League talent. His move to Brighton this winter appears to be a formality. Gómez has gone from a deer in headlights to a player who has a vital role in Tata Martino’s midfield.

Tenorio: In a category like this, I simply choose the player I think is the most talented young player in the league and one that is actually making an impact on the field. Gómez has grown into his time at Inter Miami; he’s a top, top player and I think he has massive potential to mature into a special player at the next level.

Comeback Player of the Year

Writer	Vote
Pablo Maurer	Lewis Morgan
Jeff Rueter	Robin Lod
Paul Tenorio	Lewis Morgan

Rueter: In May 2023, Robin Lod underwent surgery for a torn meniscus. The Loons sorely missed Lod, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018. By the time the Finland international returned this preseason, he was also adjusting to the departure of the coach who had brought him to MLS, Adrian Heath.

He wasted no time claiming ownership of the attack following Emanuel Reynoso’s departure, too. After years of proving his worth with clinical finishing, Lod played chief distributor and led Minnesota with 15 assists to complement seven goals of his own.

Maurer: After missing the lion’s share of 2023 with a hip injury, Lewis Morgan has bounced back in style for New York and has been arguably their most valuable piece. His fine league play has earned him his first string of national team call-ups in nearly half a decade. The Red Bulls simply are not a playoff team this year without Morgan’s influence, and he deserves this award.

Tenorio: I fully endorse everything Pablo said above. Morgan was very good in 2022, suffered a really difficult injury in 2023 and came back and showed his quality again this year. A hip injury is not easy to come back from and still have the burst and pace that wingers need to beat defenders and perform at a high level.

Credit to Morgan for not just getting back on the field, but doing it at such a high level.

Coach of the Year

Writer	Vote
Pablo Maurer	Wilfried Nancy
Jeff Rueter	Wilfried Nancy
Felipe Cardenas	Tata Martino
Paul Tenorio	Tata Martino

Rueter: Awards like this aren’t supposed to consider other competitions. But that’s nearly impossible as auxiliary contests accumulate. Squad management is a crucial part of a coach’s job description. Despite being active in many competitions and dealing with midseason departures (most notably Aidan Morris’ sale to Middlesbrough), Wilfried Nancy kept the defending MLS Cup champion from missing a beat all season long.

To finish second in the Supporters Shield standings despite a congested schedule and a squad that earned over $25 million less in wages than the winner is no small feat. Enjoy Nancy while he’s in MLS — he shouldn’t have any shortage of suitors for the work he’s done with Montréal and Columbus.

GO DEEPER

Lionel Messi still atop MLS salary spend, while five teams boast a new top earner

Maurer: Nancy has done everything Jeff mentions above and he’s done it while playing the most attractive soccer in the league. There are other variables — ones that probably don’t factor into the voting but matter to fans and consumers of the game: the way Nancy speaks about his craft and the way he engages with fans, media and the like. It’s been a while since MLS had a coach whose personality and passion for the game were matched by results on the field. C’est magnifique.

GO DEEPER

Inside Columbus Crew’s visit to the White House

Cárdenas: Tata Martino prioritized establishing a winning culture at a club that had grown accustomed to losing.

The 61-year-old Argentine, who won this award in 2018 with Atlanta United, had talent previously unseen in MLS. But he also played Noah Allen, 20, at center back. He relied on David Ruiz, 20, and Benjamin Cremaschi, 19, in midfield and has turned Yannick Bright, 23, into an unexpected gem. Martino kept a dressing room with enormous personalities focused on one goal: winning in 2024.

This team has been riddled with injuries to starters throughout the season. They weren’t the consensus pick to win MLS Cup, either, despite their talent. Nancy may be the best coach in MLS, but Martino has been the best coach in 2024.

Tenorio: For all the people who say Messi isn’t the MVP because Miami was able to win games when he wasn’t on the field, what’s the argument for not making Tata the coach of the year despite missing his best player for 15 games this season? Tough one for me to understand.

The Athletic MLS Staff’s combined Best XI

(Number indicates vote tally among four ballots)

GK: Kristijan Kahlina (4)
D1: Steven Moreira (3)
D2: Jordi Alba (2)
D3: Miles Robinson (2)
M1: Riqui Puig (4)
M2: Luciano Acosta (4)
M3: Evander (2)
M4: Diego Gomez (1)
F1: Cucho Hernandez (4)
F2: Lionel Messi (4)
F3: Christian Benteke (4)

(Note: Several players earned one vote, but Diego Gomez won on a tiebreaker having also been nominated for an individual award by two writers. Also receiving a vote apiece: Jackson Ragen, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Micael, Sergio Busquets, Adilson Malanda, Robin Lod, Albert Rusnak, Luca Orellano, and Denis Bouanga.)

(Top photos: Imagn Images)

10/18/24 Indy 11 finale Sat, US Ladies play Thur/Sun, CHS Girls host Regional Final Sat 2 pm, US loses to Mexico 2-0, MLS Decision Day Sat, Champions League this week Tu/Wed,

October 18, 2024October 22, 2024 gatorbest carmel-girls-soccer, chs-girls-soccer, indy-11, mexico, mld, mls, nwsl, soccer, us-men-soccer, usmnt

US Ladies vs Iceland Thur 7:30 pm TBS & Sun 5:30 pm TNT

The US ladies returns for their first games since winning Olympic Gold this past summer with 2 games vs Iceland and a game vs Argentina on Wed Oct 30th.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (9): Emily Fox (Arsenal FC), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage)

FORWARDS (7): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

Indy 11 Fan Appreciation Night on Final Game Sat 7 pm vs Birmingham

Indy Eleven hosts Fan Appreciation Night next Saturday at 7 p.m. at Carroll Stadium vs. Birmingham Legion FC in the final home match of the regular season – Fan appreciation night. Single-game tickets are available at Ticketmaster. For information on all ticket options visit the Indy Eleven Ticket Central. For questions, email tickets@indyeleven.com or call (317) 685-1100. The top eight teams in the East will compete in the playoffs the first weekend in November, with the top four teams at home. Indy is 4th.

US Men lose to Mexico Dos a Cero

So the Honeymoon is over for Coach Poch – as he took a weak team into Mexico on Tuesday night and got pounded 2-0. I was beside myself – as he sent Pulisic, McKennie and Pepi home before the game. We only have like 8 windows before the World Cup – why would you not bring your best team – to what was bound to be one of our only really tough games before the World Cup? We brought our B team – I get trying to see how the younger guys would handle it but we got pounded. Oh by the Way GB has owned Mexico of late. I won’t say too much more for now other than I am extremely disappointed in Poch’s first window of games. I completely agree with former national team players and pundits Tim Howard and Casey Keller that Poch completely dropped the ball on this!! He has a LONG way to go as does the US overall.

CHS Ladies host Regional Finals Sat at 2 pm at Murray

The 3^rd ranked Carmel Girls come home to Murray Field for the Regional Finals on Saturday at 2 pm vs the winner of Franklin & East Central. Tickets are just $7 – come on out and support the Ladies! CHS Boys lose in Shootout to Lawrence North

TV SCHEDULE

(American’s in Parenthesis)

Sat, Oct 19

9:30 am ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Stuttgart

9:30 pm ESPN+ Bayer Leverkusen vs Frankfurt

9:30 am ESPN+ Mgladbach (Scalley) vs Heidenheim

12 noon CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic) vs Udinees

2″15 pm FS2 US women U17 vs Colombia U17 WWC

6 pm MLS Decision Day

6 pm Apple TV Inter Miami vs New England

7 pm ESPN+, TV Indy 11 vs Birmingham

7:30 pm ION TV Portland Thorns vs Racing Louisville NWSL

9 pm Apple TV Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers

Sun, Oct 20

9 am USA Wolverhampton vs Man City

11 am USA Liverpool vs Chelsea

2:45 pm Para+ Roma vs Inter Milan

3 pm ESPN2 Barcelona vs Sevilla

5 pm ESPN NY Gothem (Williams, Ohara, Mewis) vs Orlando Pride

7:30 pm Para+ Angel City vs Utah NWSL

Tues, Oct 22 Champions League

12:45 pm Par+ AC Milan (Pulisic) vs Club Brugge

3 pm CBSSN Aston Villa vs Bologna

3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs Dortmund UCL

3 pm Para+ Arsenal vs Shakhtar UCL

3 pm Para+ Juveuntus vs Stuttgart UCL

3 pm Para+ PSG vs PSV (Pepi, Tllman)

4 pm FS2 US Women U17 vs Korea U17 WC

Weds, Oct 23

12:45 pm Para+ Atalanta vs Celtic (CCV) UCL

3 pm Para+ Bayern Munich vs Barcelona UCL

3 pm Para+ RB Leipzig vs Liverpool UCL

3 pm CBSSN Atletico Madrid vs Lille

4 pm FS2 Poland U17 vs Brazil U17 WWC

7 pm FS2 England U17 vs Korea U17 WWC

Thur, Oct 24

12:45 pm CBSSN Roma vs Dynamo Kiev

12:45 pm Para+ Chelsea vs Pathainaikos

3 pm CBSSN Porto vs Hoffenhiem

3 pm Para+ Fenervbahce vs Man United

3 pm Para+ Tottenham vs AZ

7:30 pm TBS/Max US Women vs Iceland in Austin

Sunday, Oct 26

5:30 pm TNT/Peacock US Women vs Iceland in Nashville

USMNT midweek viewing guide: Time to shine

Action to follow along with this week, including UEFA Champions League.

By Justin Moran @kickswish Oct 22, 2024, 7:20am PDT

16 Comments / 16 New

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Midweek USMNT action is here. MLS games are on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as any other networks listed. Let’s get into it!

Tuesday

AC Milan vs Club Brugge, 12:45p on Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMás, FuboTV (free trial), ViX: Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and Milan host Brugge in UEFA Champions League.
AS Monaco vs Crvena Zvezda, 12:45p on Paramount+, ViX: Folarin Balogun and Monaco host Red Star Belgrade in Champions League.
Juventus vs VfB Stuttgart, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Yanus Musah and Juve host Stuttgart in Champions League.
PSG vs PSV Eindhoven, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, and PSV travel to Paris for their Champions League match.

Also in action:

Leeds United vs Watford, 2:45p: Brenden Aaronson and Leeds meet Watford in the Championship.
Preston North End vs Norwich City, 2:45p: Josh Sargent and the Canaries visit Preston in the Championship.
Barnsley vs Charlton, 2:45p: Gaga Slonina, Donovan Pines, and Barnsley host Charlton Athletic in League One.
Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund, 3p on Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMás, FuboTV, ViX: Gio Reyna probably won’t be available for BVB as they visit the reigning Champions League winners.
QPR vs Coventry City on Paramount+: Haji Wright and Coventry visit QPR in the Championship.
Chivas vs Necaxa, 9p on Telemundo, UNIVERSO, FuboTV, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo: Cade Cowell and Chivas de Guadalajara host Necaxa in Liga MX.

Wednesday

Atalanta vs Celtic, 12:45p on Paramount+, ViX: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic visit Atalanta in Champions League.

Also in action:

Blackburn Rovers vs West Brom, 2:45p on Paramount+: Daryl Dike (still injured?) and West Brom are on the road vs Blackburn in the Championship.
Hull City vs Burnley, 2:45p: Luca Koleosho and Burnley visit Hull in the Championship.
Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United, 3p on Paramount+: Aidan Morris and Boro host Auston Trusty’s old club in the Championship.
Monterrey vs Pumas UNAM, 9p on TUDN USA, Univision USA, FuboTV, ViX: Brandon Vázquez and Rayados host Pumas in Liga MX.
Tijuana vs Club América, 11:05p on TUDN USA, Univision USA, FuboTV, ViX: Alex Zendejas and América visit Xolos in Liga MX.

Thursday

Olympique Lyon vs Beşiktaş, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Tanner Tessmann and Lyon welcome Beşiktaş for this Europa League match.
Real Betis vs Københaven, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Johnny Cardoso and Betis host Copenhagen in Conference League.

Also in action:

Olimpija Ljubljana vs LASK Linz, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: George Bello and LASK visit Olimpija in Conference League.
Pafos vs Heidenheim, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Lennard Maloney and Heidenheim visit Cypriot side Pafos in Conference League.

Friday

Mainz vs Mönchengladbach, 2:30p on ESPN+ (free trial): Joe Scally and Gladbach visit Mainz in the Bundesliga.
Puebla vs Chivas, 11p: Cade Cowell and Chivas visit Puebla in Liga MX.

Also in action:

Köln vs Paderborn, 12:30p on ESPN+: Damion Downs and Köln host Santiago Castañeda and SC Paderborn in the 2. Bundesliga.
Rennes vs Le Havre, 2:45p on beIN Sports, beIN Sports en Español, FuboTV, Sling TV, Fanatiz: Emmanuel Sabbi and Le Havre are on the road in Ligue 1.
Inter Miami vs CF Montreal *OR* Atlanta United, 8:30p (TV channels TBA): Benja Cremaschi and Miami will host either Montreal or Atlanta in the MLS playoffs.

US Ladies

Emma Hayes names her USWNT squad for October friendlies

2024 USWNT Friendly: Scouting Iceland

USA

USMNT 0-2 Mexico – Recapping a two a cero loss in the 2024 October Friendly Window

USMNT to play Jamaica in Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals By Donald Wine II

Pochettino urges patience after USMNT loss

USA, Mexico ratings: El Tri teach Pochettino a Concacaf lesson
Mexico vs. U.S. talking points: Poch suffers a ‘Dos a Cero,’ Jiménez is back

US Men on TV

📸 Pulisic scores direct from corner in UCL to continue fine Milan form

MLS

Previewing highly-anticipated MLS Decision Day

Sources: Miami, Messi to get Club World Cup place

Luis Suárez confirms Inter Miami contract talks

Goalkeeping

Matt Turner Double Save vs Panama Europa League Great Saves Day 2
Europa Leauge Great Saves Day 1

GK Training on your Own

Reffing

Restart Issue

Become a Licensed High School Ref

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

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Mid-table matches headline as NWSL playoffs loom

Racing Louisville forward Uchenna Kanu beats Portland Thorns defender Kelli Hubly for a goal at Providence Park

Saturday’s match between Portland and Louisville has major postseason implications. (Jaime Valdez/Imagn Images)

The NWSL’s penultimate matchday has arrived,and there’s no game with higher stakes than Saturday’s clash between seventh-place Portland and ninth-place Louisville.Both clubs sit three points from the postseason cutoff line, and while Louisville has everything to gain, the Thorns — who snapped Orlando’s unbeaten streak last weekend — have everything to lose.Elsewhere in the NWSL, eighth-place Bay FC’s Saturday test against the Courage could determine multiple postseason fates, while ACFC hosts the surging Royals in a must-win match on Sunday.Don’t miss it: Portland kicks off against Louisville on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET before Bay FC takes on North Carolina at 10 PM ET, both on ION. On Sunday, Angel City faces Utah at 7:30 PM ET, with live coverage on Paramount+.

Press scores first NWSL goal in 854 days

Christen Press celebrates her first NWSL goal in 28 months

After four surgeries and 28 months on the sidelines, Christen Press is so back. (Jaylynn Nash/Imagn Images)

Angel City forward Christen Press solidified her return to form on Saturday, finding the back of the net for first time in more than two years to secure a 1-1 draw with North Carolina.The two-time USWNT World Cup champion’s last goal came in June 2022 — less than an hour before tearing her ACL.Describing the left-footed strike as “an out-of-body experience,” the 35-year-old became the 10th player in NWSL history to score in their 100th league appearance.”Since I got injured, people were counting the days that I didn’t play soccer, and I was counting the days that I hadn’t scored,” Press said after the match. “My true love is scoring.”

NWSL playoff picture down to two final spots

Bay FC's Asisat Oshoala celebrates a goal

A Bay FC win on Saturday would eliminate three NWSL clubs from postseason contention. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

With just two regular-season games to go, six of the NWSL’s eight playoff berths are locked, while six other teams — Portland, Bay FC, Louisville, Utah, Angel City, and San Diego — are looking to punch the last two tickets. This weekend’s elimination scenarios:Seventh-place Portland can secure a berth with a win over Louisville or a draw with Louisville plus a Bay FC loss.Eighth-place Bay FC clinch with a win over North Carolina and a Louisville loss, or a draw with North Carolina plus a Louisville loss and a draw between Angel City and Utah.A Bay FC win immediately eliminates Angel City, San Diego, and Utah.To stay alive, 11th-place Angel City and 12th-place San Diego must win while 10th-place Utah must at least draw.Ninth-place Louisville can only be eliminated with a loss to Portland plus a Bay FC win or draw.

TOGETHER WITH DELTANew adventures. New goals.

With every stadium, every match, every goal, there’s opportunity for new adventure.Offering flights to hundreds of destinations worldwide, we make it easy to connect with the people and places that matter most. Whether you’re fresh off the pitch or cheering from the stands, Delta Air Lines, the Official Airline of the NWSL, gets you there.Book your next adventure at delta.com.

Can Gotham go back-to-back?

Orlando's Adriana and Gotham's Tierna Davidson chase the ball

Could 2023 champs Gotham topple Shield-winners Orlando to take a second title? (Mike Watters/Imagn Images)

In this week’s episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins makes the assertion that despite not winning the 2024 Shield, 2023 champs Gotham still have a shot at a repeat title.”Gotham is in an interesting place because they were the big super team going into 2024,” Watkins says. “We all look at the ridiculous, incredible thing that Orlando did and maybe nobody can top that, but Gotham had an aggressive offseason.””I really do think they can go back to back, and it’s not just because of all the flashy attacking midfielders and attackers, it’s because of their ability to be very, very sound in the back as well.”

Mexico vs USA: El Tri inflicts ‘Dos a Cero’ on Pochettino

Cesar Hernandez Eric Gomez ESPN ct 16, 2024, 07:00 AM E

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — The first battle between Mexico manager Javier Aguirre and new United States men’s national team boss Mauricio Pochettino ended in a 2-0 victory for El Tri on Tuesday, snapping a seven-game winless streak for Mexico against their northern rivals.The USMNT, playing away from home and without a number of key figures (Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic were sent home early), struggled against the backdrop of a hostile crowd at the Estadio Akron. By the 22nd minute, that pressure grew significantly after Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez continued his rich vein of form to put the home side up 1-0 with a mesmerizing free kick.

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Despite a couple of substitutions at halftime, the USMNT found itself in an even deeper hole shortly after the start of the second half. Thanks to a 49th-minute goal from César Huerta, which was assisted by Jiménez, the hosts doubled their lead and sent the Estadio Akron crowd into a frenzy. In response, the USMNT had little to offer. With both coaches recently kicking off tenures with their respective national teams, the result marks a step forward for Aguirre, who now has a 2W-2D-0L record in his third spell in charge. Pochettino, on the other hand, is 1W-0D-1L in his start with the USMNT. — Cesar Hernandez

No stars, just stripes for the USMNT

Realistically speaking, this wasn’t the best USMNT that was sent to Mexico. Injured stars such as Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest, Giovanni Reyna and Chris Richards were all unavailable for selection.

Editor’s Picks

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Pochettino urges patience after USMNT loss2dLizzy Becherano

Then, over the weekend, news emerged that Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, Weston McKennie, Marlon Fossey and Zack Steffen would all return to their clubs early, missing the Mexico game. While Pulisic was dealing with load management, the other four were recovering from slight injuries.

All that said, even in Mexico, the USMNT were expected to be more competitive. Throughout the match, El Tri was asking nearly all of the questions as it amped up attacking pressure and amassed 12 shots within the first half alone. As for the USMNT, its first shot on target didn’t arrive until the 64th minute.Barring the highly unlikely scenario that Pochettino will be able to consistently rely on a fully fit squad, Tuesday’s match showcased the work that’s needed to uplift and motivate a number of alternatives that were poor against Mexico. — Hernandez

Pep was right: Jiménez is back

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was ahead of the curve when he warned that “Raúl is back” after the recent 3-2 win over Fulham in the Premier League. His performance on Tuesday against the United States undoubtedly confirms that.The former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker guided Mexico toward its first win over its biggest rival in five years and gave Pochettino his first blemish as USMNT boss. In the process, he earned postmatch praise from Coach Aguirre for being a “leader” and “a very important player” for his team.Jiménez did a bit of everything on Tuesday. Not only did he score for the first time in over a year with El Tri, but he also showed off his entire repertoire on the Estadio Akron pitch: a bicycle-kick attempt, plenty of dribbles, flair when attempting passes and a flashy assist.It was more than enough to help Mexico defeat the United States by the most damning of scorelines within the rivalry: dos a cero. — Omar Flores

Dos a Cero strikes again

The United States continuously mocks Mexico with the “Dos a Cero” chant, referencing the various times the Stars and Stripes have triumphed over their rivals with that scoreline.The story began in 2002, when the American team famously eliminated El Tri from the FIFA World Cup in the round of 16 with a 2-0 victory. Aguirre cited that match as one of only two times he had ever cried in football, labeling it one of his worst moments in his career as a coach.Since that night, the United States has gone on to beat Mexico 2-0 on several occasions to keep the lore of the chant alive, but on Tuesday night in Guadalajara, Mexico flipped the script for the first time since 1997. — Lizzy Becherano

Guardado gets a hometown goodbye

Mexico’s legendary midfielder got a perfect night on which to say goodbye to international football in his hometown on Tuesday, exiting after 18 minutes in a clear ode to his preferred jersey number.Andrés Guardado first burst onto the scene as a lanky 19-year-old in 2005, brought on by eagle-eyed Ricardo La Volpe, Mexico’s manager at the time, as a talented wide player who famously held his own in the 2006 World Cup finals against Argentina. Over the course of two decades, Guardado has turned into the Mexican embodiment of Total Football, a multifaceted player who has taken on several roles and positions during his illustrious career.For 17 straight years, El Principito carried his country’s flag across European pitches as one of Mexican soccer’s most well-known ambassadors. A respected figure for Deportivo La Coruña, PSV Eindhoven, and Real Betis, Guardado — now with León in Liga MX — is also well-respected among Mexican fans for resisting the urge to exit Europe in favor of MLS. It was only fitting that Guardado close the book on his national career against the United States, his nation’s biggest rival and a team he helped defeat in two Gold Cup finals and the 2015 Concacaf Cup.At 38, Guardado could very well keep going at the international level, a testament to both his evergreen talent and Mexico’s fraught present as they look to remain competitive ahead of the 2026 World Cup. — Eric Gomez

Mexico’s roadshow of stadiums working a treat

The Mexican national team returned to Guadalajara for the first time in 14 years on Tuesday. El Tri usually hosts international matches at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, rarely exploring different parts of the country. But while the iconic Azteca undergoes refurbishments ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the Mexican Football Federation sought to play the October friendlies in Puebla and Guadalajara in hopes to reconnect with the fan base. And it worked on Tuesday night.From the opening kickoff, fans inside the Estadio Akron established a vibrant atmosphere. As the United States starting lineup echoed throughout the stadium, fans booed each passing name. But when the Mexican names rang, the cheering and chanting almost drowned out the announcer. By the initial whistle, the “Mexico, Mexico” song consumed supporters. The Mexican national team has gone through various changes since last playing in Guadalajara in September 2014, losing tournaments, failing during the 2024 Copa America and getting knocked out of multiple World Cups, yet the fans were clearly prepared to welcome the team back with open arms.

In the 22nd minute, as Jiménez’s free kick found the back of the net, the stadium exploded into a frenzy. From the criticized “silent” nights at the Estadio Azteca to Tuesday’s electric night at the Estadio Akron, it seems the fan base has not yet abandoned El Tri as many have suggested. — Becherano

Cheers (and jeers) for Mexico in Guadalajara

Pochettino and his staff were left rightfully wondering why, in the second half, there were ample boos for Mexico midfielder Alexis Vega as he entered the field of play. The crowd in Guadalajara was there for El Tri, but they definitely kept their soft spot intact for usual home team Chivas. Vega, a former Chivas player who exited the club acrimoniously, was not the only target of Estadio Akron’s ire over the course of the match.

Club América and USMNT attacker Alejandro Zendejas was targeted as he entered in the second half. The Mexican players seemed to respond in kind to Zendejas, a scuffle involving him and Tigres defender Jesús Angulo was probably the most excitement the crowd experienced during a listless latter half of the match.

The infamous anti-gay chant that has gotten Mexico in trouble over the past decade or so was also heard, though it was quickly quelled once Jiménez scored his free kick.Jiménez, once a mainstay for América during his Liga MX days, was spared by the pro-Chivas crowd, given that he also provided Huerta with an assist for Mexico’s second.

Despite all this, the crowd was subdued compared to other editions of the Mexico vs. USA rivalry — the fact that the pro-Mexican crowd experienced El Tri‘s first victory over the United States in five years definitely helped. — Gomez

How important was Mexico’s win over the USMNT?

Futbol Americas Mauricio Pedroza believes spirit and confidence were the reasons behind Mexico’s 2-0 win over the USMNT.

Malagón jumps ahead of Ochoa as Mexico’s No. 1

Who would start in goal for Mexico was perhaps Aguirre’s best-kept secret in the lead up to Tuesday’s match. El Vasco held his cards close to his chest right up until starters were announced, and eventually Luis Ángel Malagón got the nod to start against the USMNT in favor of Guillermo Ochoa — a decision that might prove key ahead of the team’s next matches.

Ochoa was absent from the September friendlies as Aguirre had requested that every single player on his radar have a club — a prerequisite the former Sevilla man did not fulfill at that particular time. Ochoa’s absence was taken advantage of by Malagón, who won over Aguirre’s trust and received the opportunity to start against the United States, a game in which he contributed with a key save.

Aguirre had said prior to Tuesday’s match that this would be the last audition for players on the Mexican national team’s radar, as November will present El Tri with the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matches against Honduras. Ochoa, who has since joined AVS in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, appears to have lost his starting job and must now await his turn from the bench in the beginning of the latest Aguirre era. — Flores

Early insight into how Poch’s USMNT will play

Scoreline aside, one major takeaway was what Pochettino is trying to build with his new national team.

Similar to the match against Panama, there was a clear attempt to defend in a 4-4-2 and then move forward in attack through a 3-4-3 that relied on the agile Antonee Robinson to cover an immense amount of ground on the left flank.

The attack was fluid, and yet they couldn’t break down Mexico’s backline enough. Throughout the start to the game, the USMNT were also mistiming tackles and not winning as many second balls or recovering as much as Mexico.

On the sideline, Pochettino looked quietly exasperated, trying to figure out a way to crack the code of the USMNT’s team that was missing key figures. The good news is that things did seem to improve in the second half. With some fresh faces introduced via substitutions, the passing was quicker as they made more of an effort to keep the ball more in Mexico’s half of the pitch.

It’s all still a work in progress though for Pochettino. Whether he keeps his 4-4-2 to 3-4-3 or mixes things up going forward, he’ll still need to test and tinker in the early days of his new national team role. — Hernandez

Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT project will be judged in 2026 – ignore early stutters, for now

USA's Argentine head coach Mauricio Pochettino gestures during the international friendly football match between Mexico and USA at the Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Jalisco state, Mexico, on October 15, 2024. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz / AFP) (Photo by ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images)

By Jeff Rueter Oct 17, 2024

The project had to start somewhere for Mauricio Pochettino.

What the Argentinian hopes to achieve with the United States men’s national team is no small task. In a way, he is winding back the clock to before his brief stays at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea — and even beyond his Tottenham Hotspur side that was teeming with promise when he arrived in 2014.

Today’s USMNT appears more reminiscent of his first posts. With Espanyol and Southampton, Pochettino was tasked with creating a side that could outperform teams with a higher level of talent.

Those jobs, and the glitzier ones that followed, left more variables for him to account for and solve. He and his staff controlled the squad’s training habits. If he needed a player to refine their specific roles, he worked on it every day. If that proved an ask too far, the transfer market could provide.

Pochettino, Southampton Pochettino in his stint at Southampton (Chris Ison/PA Images via Getty Images)

Success can take the enjoyment out of that routine. With PSG and Chelsea, Pochettino was officially in his ‘esteemed manager’ era, residing in a realm occupied by coaches like Thomas Tuchel and Jose Mourinho. Men with their reputations are rarely entrusted to lead projects, to see out a long-term vision with the benefit of patient owners. They are hired as the final piece to turn lavish expenditure into hardware. If they can’t, the owner will find someone else.

Pochettino’s new gig is readying the USMNT for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. There is no transfer market to offer the international starting-caliber center-back this program desperately needs. The right-back problem can’t be solved with months of daily training for a possible stopgap. He can’t ensure goalkeeper Matt Turner starts every week for Crystal Palace.

Throughout his first international window, that reality seemed to be what Pochettino craved.

“People sometimes say, ‘That’s my philosophy, and I’m going to die with my idea,’” Pochettino told the media before his first game against Panama. “No, I want to live. Because life is amazing. I want to be clever, and I want to win. I don’t want to die.”

How’s that for a marketing slogan? The USMNT: for those who don’t want to die.

It could be the mentality that this program needs to save face. After winning hearts and minds in 2022, the past two years have seen the USMNT fail to take the next step. There was the public spat between the Reyna family and Gregg Berhalter that immediately extinguished the good vibes from the World Cup in Qatar and called into question the once-harmonious nature of Berhalter’s locker room.

For over half a year, the program was under interim management before deciding to retain Berhalter — a calamitous waste of a crucial year before the Copa América.

While Tim Weah did Berhalter no favors with an early and unconscionable red card against Panama, the defeat and ensuing failure to advance from their group laid bare just how bleak the team had become. A far cry from the expectations of a group of players fabled as a possible golden generation. To be this uninspiring at a time when they had a bona fide attacking superstar in Christian Pulisic was impossible to accept.

Pulisic will be key to the Pochettino era (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

Fourteen months after signing Berhalter to a new pact, U.S. Soccer made an ambitious pivot. It pushed hard to secure Pochettino — a coach with a pedigree the U.S. had not had before.

As several key players saw the summer window close without improving their club situations, the only way for the USMNT to get better was from the top.

It may have required a career pivot, but Pochettino is back to managing a project. He will have nearly two years to come up with the right combination of players to challenge at a World Cup on home soil.

What transpires in the summer of 2026 will be how his success in the role will be determined. Not friendly results, nor continental showings at the Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League. Berhalter had no issue winning those competitions, and it isn’t the point of hiring Pochettino.

There’s a crucial difference between Pochettino’s job and that of Tuchel, who was hired by England for similar reasons that brought him to PSG, Chelsea (do you see a pattern here?) and Bayern Munich: to take a talented squad and make the final push to win the highest prizes.

Tuchel will have the benefit of World Cup qualifying — that is, games with tangible stakes — to chop and change. And then, almost certainly, he’ll find a new employer in July 2026.

For Pochettino, those ramp-up games aren’t on the calendar. Qualification is secure as tournament co-hosts. The USMNT knows it will benefit from a more favorable draw for the competition as a result, being the Pot 1 team. Every decision between now and then comes with hopes of making that status appear deserved.

At worst, they will be grouped in friendly territory like Qatar and South Africa before them. The best-case scenario is to pull off what Russia managed in 2018, a tournament that the USMNT missed.

It’s uncomfortable to draw parallels between Russia and the U.S. in most contexts, but the lead-up to the 2018 World Cup provides a rare opportunity. In the 2016 Euros, Russia finished last in their group. They swiftly made a coaching change, replacing Leonid Slutsky with Stanislav Cherchesov, and players responded. A rough year followed in 2017, beating only Hungary and New Zealand, but it set them up for a surprising success.

This century, no nation (save, perhaps, Australia at the 2023 Women’s World Cup) has benefited more from hosting FIFA’s grandest tournament. Cherchesov’s side enjoyed a kind draw, finishing second behind Uruguay and ahead of Saudi Arabia and Egypt. From there, the home advantage came through as they upset Spain in the round of 16 before falling to Croatia in another shootout.

Cherchesov and his players surprised even their own fans in Russia in 2018 (MAXIM ZMEYEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia is a unique program for many reasons, but the moral of their hosting cycle remains. To have the best chance of success at a home World Cup, it’s imperative to have support on your side.

The Copa América should have been the first step toward building that, but the USMNT’s performance achieved anything but. Pochettino doesn’t seem concerned that his team will play friendlies against lower-caliber opponents.

“We are our worst enemy,” Pochettino said. “We need to challenge ourselves to be better and better and better.”

Like Bora Milutinovic when the U.S. hosted in 1994, he will hope to get the USMNT ready to inspire another generation of fans. Players should take motivation from how many members of that squad have enjoyed status and careers in various arenas on the back of their star-making turns three decades ago.

This is a perfect case study to examine whether coaches matter at the game’s highest levels. It’s a final and expensive push to get a group of players with years of hype to realize their potential. If they can’t under a world-class manager in a tournament at home, it will forever be stamped onto their legacies. At least we’ll know definitively how golden their sheen truly is.

There will be highs and lows. A 2-0 win over Panama months after they were shocked at the Copa América was followed by a dreadful showing in the 2-0 defeat to Mexico. Frankly, these results don’t matter in isolation. What will matter is getting Ricardo Pepi back among the goals, seeing Yunus Musah become the midfield’s centerpiece, and hoping relative newcomers like Aidan Morris, Auston Trusty and Patrick Schulte can turn this first Pochettino camp into sustained and impactful international careers.

Pochettino wants to live, because life is amazing. Perhaps the lower stakes from now until 2026 will provide opportunities for the fanbase to feel similarly upbeat about their national team.

Inside Pochettino’s first month in charge of USMNT: Mate cups, meetings and a chance encounter

ZAPOPAN, MEXICO - OCTOBER 15: United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino along the sidelines prior to playing m at Akron Stadium on October 15, 2024 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas Cornejo/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Paul Tenorio

Oct 18, 2024

Over dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant near their Central Park hotel last month, Mauricio Pochettino explained to U.S. Soccer staffers the cultural significance of mate, the herbal tea enjoyed by South American soccer players including Lionel Messi.

Among the thoughts Pochettino shared with his new colleagues that night in New York was the name of a shop back home in Argentina that makes custom mate cups. A month later in Austin, Texas, when Pochettino and his staff arrived for their first camp in charge of the USMNT, the incumbent staff had a surprise: they had called that store in Argentina and ordered cups emblazoned with a U.S. Soccer logo, which they presented to Pochettino’s coaching group.

The exchange was a reminder that, in his first month on the job, Pochettino and U.S. Soccer are very much still getting to know each other. They are building relationships, and the hope is that, over time, a bond will push the team to a new level.

Pochettino was hired to take a U.S. group filled with potential and turn it into something tangible. After a 2-0 win against Panama and a disappointing loss to Mexico by the same score over the past week, Pochettino has seen plenty in this first international window to understand the limitations of this pool and the amount of work he and his assistants have to do. He also started to lay the foundation for how he would take this team forward and toward a 2026 World Cup to be played mostly on United States soil.

This first camp under their new head coach was at times more intense, but in many ways also more relaxed. Pochettino introduced some tactical tweaks to the way the team would play, though players said he has hinted that much more is to come, but the point of the camp was less about the tactics. Across everything Pochettino did, from his meetings with players, to his approach in front of the microphone at press conferences, to how he set up the team, it has been about fixing expectations for how he expects the team to compete and grow.

It won’t happen overnight. Anyone hoping that hiring Pochettino was like pushing a “fix it” button will have to reset their thinking. Asked by a Mexican journalist on Tuesday night what he has seen from the U.S. that might convince him that this team can represent the CONCACAF region and ascend to a different level at that World Cup in 20 months’ time, Pochettino smiled.

“Give me time,” he said in his native Spanish, his voice echoing in a tunnel buzzing with activity at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, which will host a game on the first day of that World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico and Canada. “It’s only been 10 days and a few training sessions and circumstances (with players missing) that you yourself can evaluate.

“Give us time, let us evaluate all the players, get to know them, and from there I can give a better opinion, with much more foundation, on what we can find and create to be able to reach that competition, the World Cup in 2026, with the conditions to be able to compete for great things.”

GO DEEPER

Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT project will be judged in 2026 – ignore early stutters, for now

In his first weeks on the job, Pochettino decided against meeting any U.S. players, not wanting anyone to keep tabs on who he sat down with and who he didn’t, or in what order he went to visit them. He didn’t want wrong messages to be sent.

The only conversation he had with one of his future players came by pure happenstance.

Pochettino was out to eat at Clap London, a Japanese restaurant in the affluent Knightsbridge neighborhood, near where he lives. It just so happened local Premier League side Fulham were there at the same time for a team meal. Two of Pochettino’s former players on the Fulham squad — Harrison Reed, who played for him at Southampton, and Ryan Sessegnon, who was with him at Tottenham Hotspur — stopped to say hello to their former boss. When they got into the team meal room, they told American left-back Antonee Robinson they had just walked by his new manager. Robinson headed over to introduce himself.

“I came over, said hello, and we were chatting for a little bit,” Robinson said. “I asked him if he’s excited, what the situation’s been like, whether he’d been over (to the U.S.) yet. It was casual.”

Joked Pochettino: “I said, ‘Look, you are going to be an exception, because I didn’t speak with (anyone). I think you have the privilege to be the first to talk with me’.”

Pochettino with Antonee Robinson during the match against Panama (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

Outside of that run-in with Robinson, Pochettino and his staff, including incumbent analysts and staffers at U.S. Soccer’s base in Chicago, stayed away from players and kept in touch with each other over Zooms and phone calls. They scouted players live — a staffer went to see Mark McKenzie and Tanner Tessmann face off with Toulouse and Lyon in France’s Ligue 1, and another saw Robinson play in a Premier League game, as two examples — and watched videos.

The plan was for Pochettino to return to the U.S. to meet staff in person and maybe do some house shopping in the Atlanta area, but storms and visa delays pushed back his trip. He did not fly to the U.S. until October 5, just two days before camp started.

Pochettino trusted existing USMNT staff to help him put together the first squad he would work with, and over the first few days of camp he pulled players aside for one-on-one meetings, some of which lasted a few minutes, others a half hour. Players heard some of his ideas, and he wanted to hear how they felt physically and mentally. Among other things, he was gauging confidence levels and trying to find out what psychological buttons he might need to push.

Everything in those first days, from roster selection to those individual meetings, was about figuring out how people worked.

“Our first camp is about getting to know each other,” Pochettino said at the Austin FC training facility a few days into the first camp. “Not only the players, the whole staff. We are nearly 40 people working all together, to have the capacity to organize and get to know each other and settle the way that we want to work, is the most important thing from the beginning. Of course, soccer is about competing and wanting to win, because the fans of course want to win, but our first contact with the whole organization and players, we cannot push too much.”

Usually, the first session of a camp is light. Players are arriving after long flights from Europe and usually hop on a stationary bike or do other recovery work. This time, the U.S. got straight into things with a full session. “We were kind of, ‘Right, we’re here to work’,” left-back Robinson said. “It was definitely intense from the front foot.”

The actual training sessions, usually a bit shorter in national-team camps than in the club game, lasted around two hours. That’s not unprecedented — sessions under Gregg Berhalter during the 2019 Gold Cup were similarly long. But what stood out was the intensity. Every drill, down to the rondos, called for extreme competition. “We demand a lot,” Pochettino said. “Because we really believe that if you want to compete in your best, you need to train to try to replicate the intensity that the competition is going to demand.”

Away from the field, Pochettino’s style was different. Most USMNT camps were more regimented under previous coach Berhalter. The days then were organized, with meetings and work throughout the day. The support staff would have a sort of uniformity in what they wore on the training pitch, which included no ankle socks and no sunglasses. That changed in this first camp under Pochettino. The atmosphere outside of the on-field work was a bit more relaxed, and players were given more time to themselves.

Pochettino stands for the national anthem before the Panama game (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

That approach might have been intentional, especially in this first camp. Pochettino noted that the mental strain on players would be bigger this time because they would want to make a good impression on the new coach, which meant they would likely over-analyze every touch and every action. Even in drills designed to be loose and have fun, Pochettino said, players might be worried a bad touch would leave a negative impression on him.

“You spend more energy here,” Pochettino said, touching his finger to his temple, “(and) that affects your body.”

It wasn’t the only time one of Pochettino’s answers in a press conference revealed how important that part of the game is to him, and how much of this camp was about evaluating the character and confidence of this team — and every player in the pool.

Pochettino comes across as honest, charming and down-to-earth in front of the press. He is at times philosophical, but it rarely feels like he’s lecturing or touting his expertise. One answer stood out this month because of what it revealed about his approach to his first days on the job.

Pochettino was asked about midfielder Malik Tillman, and in the question the journalist said that Tillman compared “physically and positionally” to one of his former Tottenham players, Dele Alli. Pochettino raised his eyebrows and joked that the question “put pressure on Malik, eh?”

But then Pochettino went deeper, and his response showed that in just a few days he had diagnosed some of the things that have held Tillman back with the national team compared to his success with his Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, and he used that moment to also talk about the team.

“I agree with you, because we were talking in the same way that the (physical attributes) of him is similar to Dele Alli,” Pochettino said. “Malik is an unbelievable talent. Of course, Deli Alli was an animal. Very competitive. He was unbelievable. When he arrived as a 17-year-old from (third-tier club) Milton Keynes Dons — impossible to stop him. We are not talking about playing football. We are talking about competing, killing everyone. Teammates, opponents. Sometimes we needed to stop him and say, ‘Calm (down), we need to arrive in a good condition to play’.

“And I think if we talk about talent, I think maybe they have similar talent. We need to use our experience to try to translate and to challenge him to try to compete in this way. Because if Malik competes in the way that Dele Alli used to compete, Malik for sure has the capacity, the talent, the body, the power, everything. Don’t take it in a bad way. I think he’s an amazing talent. It’s only to help (him) to be better and better.

“Because for us it’s not enough. (Whether it is USMNT star Christian) Pulisic or different players, we need to help them to be better and better. Yes, they are good players. Is it enough? No, it’s not enough. It’s not enough to play for your national team. And that is what we are going to do, is to try to push in a very good way, or in the way that we believe. Not all the players have the same character, but we are going to try to push them and to help them to find their best.”

Pochettino during USMNT’s match against Panama (Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

It had been mostly smiles for Pochettino since his first day stepping off a plane at John F Kennedy International Airport last month in New York, but in the tunnel under the Estadio Akron, the frustration of a 2-0 loss to Mexico sullied the mood.

The Americans had looked overwhelmed that night. They lost duels in midfield, were mostly overrun by a better team and never truly looked threatening. It was the USMNT’s first loss to Mexico in five years. Even without a CVS-receipt-length list of players absent, including Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna and Tim Weah, the defeat highlighted some of the pool’s shortcomings.

If the win over Panama a few days earlier had given a dose of optimism that a coaching change would help flip the fortunes, Tuesday was a reminder that this team would need more than just a new voice on the sidelines.

Pochettino, though not smiling, said the overall experience of the camp, and even the defeat, had plenty of positives on which the team could build. He insisted that he was pleased with this October window overall.

“With all the circumstances we are happy, we are positive, and of course we are focused on all the areas we need to improve with time,” he said. “But it’s only a matter of time.”

Just more than one month after that first dinner in Manhattan with staffers, things were still very much in that getting-to-know-you phase. That in itself provided some optimism around the team, even if the result against Mexico didn’t.

“It was a good introduction,” said center back Tim Ream, who wore the captain’s armband in the camp. “They gave just enough information to make sure that guys were all on the same page and guys understood, while hinting at, ‘There’s more to come in the camps ahead’. Guys will have a better idea coming into each and every camp now that we’re going to continue to progress and work on things and (take the) next steps.

“A lot of unknowns coming into this one. And now there’s not unknowns. We know where we’re going.”

(Top photo: Pochettino at the Mexico game; Agustin Cuevas Cornejo/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

10/8/24 US plays Sat/Tues, Indy 11 play Tues/Sat , HS Sectionals this week, International play this wk, Pulisic on fire still

October 8, 2024October 11, 2024 gatorbest carmel-high-school-girls-soccer, chelsea, football, high-school-soccer, indy-11, mls, premier-league, soccer, sports

US Men Set to Play Panama Sat 9 pm TNT + Mexico Tues 10 pm TNT

The US men prepare to play their first games under new manager Mauricio Pochettino with his complete new staff on hand for this first group of games vs Panama (who beat us last time) and @ Mexico. Of course the US will be missing a bunch of players as Tim Weah, Chris Richards, Fologan, Gio Reyna and more are all missing to injury. I will have more as we get closer to game time – including my starting line-up. (stories below) If you missed this Christian Pulisic has stayed hot in Italy with his 6^th goal of the season.

Indy 11 in 4^th place @ Detroit City 4 pm on ESPN+

Leesburg, Va. – Indy Eleven moved up two positions to fourth place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings with a crucial 1-0 road victory at Loudoun United in a rare mid-week contest. Defender Aedan Stanley took a corner kick from the left side and drove it in front of the goal. Loudoun keeper Hugo Fauroux punched the ball high into the air, where defender Ben Ofeimu headed it down from the corner of the six to Musa, who, with his back to the goal, volleyed it with his left foot high over Fauroux for the game winner. It was Ofeimu’s first assist for the Boys in Blue.With three games left in the regular season, the Boys in Blue (13-10-8) are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 47 points. The top four teams in the East will host the first round of the playoffs the first weekend in November. Indy finishes its road week at third-place Detroit City FC on Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.

High School Sectionals this week has Carmel Boys Hosting and Carmel Girls in Zionsville

in Class 3A, the second-ranked and three-time defending champion Noblesville Millers will meet Carmel Saturday evening at Carmel’s Murray Stadium. Noblesville has won 19 consecutive state tournament matches and is five away from tying North Central of Indianapolis (1994-97) for the state record. Tix are just $7 for the games at Murray. Get on out there and watch some high school soccer.

LADIES

The 3^rd ranked Carmel Girls cruised thru Sectionals in Zionsville and will face #12 Indianapolis Cathedral in the finals Sat at 2 pm at Zionsville’s beautiful new stadium.

Girls Soccer Rankings

Last Updated: Monday, Oct 7, 2024

#	Team	Ovr.	Str.
1	Hamilton Southeastern	13-0-3	18.3
2	Noblesville	12-0-2	17.7
3	Carmel	11-3-2	20.1
4	Homestead	13-2-1	14.3
5	Evansville Memorial	13-1-1	13.1
6	Westfield	10-4-2	19.6

Nate Sinders (middle) bringing food for his dad Mark (right) and myself and all the folks at Zionsville High a Great Assignor, Ref and Chef – NATE the GREAT !!

US Men

MLS

Miami Celebrates Winning the Supporters Shield at Columbus last week
MLS Power Rankings: Messi’s Miami eyes points record, Portland seals playoff spot MLS sets league-wide record for attendance in a regular season

US LADIES & NWSL

USWNT to face Netherlands after England friendly Jeff Kassouf

NWSL Power Rankings: Shield-clinching Orlando looks unstoppable Ryan Rosenblatt
Unbeaten Orlando Pride clinch 1st NWSL Shield

Is Chawinga Africa’s finest striker, after equalling Kerr’s NWSL record?

Why Hatch’s story is one of NWSL success, not just USWNT heartbreak

NWSL’s Red Stars sign USWNT’s Naeher to 2025

Angel City edges Seattle Reign 1-0 in tight contest

WORLD

Top 10 games to watch in October 2024 international break AC Milan boss fumes after Pulisic penalty drama ESPN Adriana Garcia

Man United continue to drift, playing boring football, as Ten Hag’s bosses watch on ESPN ark Ogden Paul Pogba sees doping ban reduced, Juventus reportedly wants to terminate contract Iniesta confirms his retirement from football
Andres Iniesta reveals dream of becoming Barcelona manager
Manchester City’s APT Ruling: How It Could Change Everything
Inside the ‘insane’ nature of Man City’s latest court case and what it means for football’s future
Lamine Yamal on course to replace Lionel Messi as leading adidas star

Goalkeeping

Great Save US Keeper Gag GK Training on your Own

Reffing

Dogso Card Mistake Yellow or Red ?

Reffing the Best Job for High School Kids Ever Become a Licensed High School Ref Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over 13 Bad Decision Does Not Mean you’re a Bad Ref

The Ole Ballcoach catching High School games down at Riverside with Marko & Terek.

Finally got a CHS Girls Freshman game vs HSE with Robert Hart on Saturday before Sectionals start

GAME TV SCHEDULE

Thur, Oct 10

2:45 pm FS 2 England vs Greece

2:45 pm TUDN Israel vs France

2:45 pm fubu Italy vs Belgium

2:45 pm FS 2 England vs Greece

2:45 pm TUDN Israel vs France

2:45 pm fubu Italy vs Belgium

Fri, Oct 11

2:45 pm TUDN Iceland vs Wales

2:45 pm FS2 Germany vs Bosnia

2:45 pm fubu Italy vs Belgium

Sat, Oct 12

12 pm FS1 Croatia vs Scotland

2:45 pm FS2 Portugal vs Poland

2:45 pm fubu Italy vs Belgium

7:30 pm Telemundo Mexico vs Valencia

9 pm TNT/Univ USMNT vs Panama

Sun Oct 13

12 pm FS1 Finland vs England

2:45 pm FS2 Austria vs Norway

2:45 pm TUDN Greece vs Ireland

4 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Detroit City

7:30 pm Apple Vancouver vs LAFC

Mon, Oct 14

12 pm FS1 Georgia v Albania

2:45 pm FS2 Belgium vs France

2:45 pm Fubo Germany vs Netherlands

Tues Oct 15

12 pm FS1 Finland vs England

2:45 pm FS2 Spain vs Serbia

2:45 pm TUDN Greece vs Ireland

7:30 pm FS1 Canada vs Panama

10:30 pm TNT/Univ Mexico vs USMNT

Top games to watch in October 2024 international break

The October international break commences this midweek as club soccer takes a backseat to games with the national teams. For example, fans can watch qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Yet, while those World Cup qualifiers are not consistent among all teams, each of the FIFA confederations has games available. Here, we picked the 10 most interesting fixtures to keep you company until Oct. 15.

Top games during October international break

USMNT v Panama (Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 p.m. ET)

Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure will start as the USMNT hosts Panama. This is a rematch of the two’s group-stage meeting from the 2024 Copa America. Panama won after Tim Weah picked up a red card. Both Weah and Folarin Balogun, who scored in that fixture, are off the Argentinian coach’s first roster due to injury. This is Panama’s first fixture since its exit from the Copa America at the quarterfinal stage.

You can watch USA vs. Panama on TNT, Telemundo, Universo, Peacock, and Fubo. For new users to Fubo, Fubo is offering a free 7-day trial.

Mexico v USMNT (Tuesday, Oct. 15, 10:30 p.m. ET)

Pochettino will also experience the heated derby against Mexico for the first time as the head coach of the Americans. Both sides crashed out of the group stage in CONMEBOL’s tournament this past summer. The game will be at Estadio Akron, one of the venues for the 2026 World Cup.It’s the first away fixture for USMNT in 2024. The United States is undefeated in this rivalry since 2019. The streak of results includes two Nations League and the 2019 Gold Cup final. It will be the first time Pochettino faces Javier Aguirre’s team since their three La Liga encounters 13 years ago. Watch the game on TNT, Univision, Sling TV, and Fubo.

England v Greece (Thursday, Oct. 10, 2:45 p.m. ET)

Lee Carsley started his spell as England’s interim head coach with a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, the national team he represented in his playing days. Despite the national anthem controversy, he’s still in the job for the October International Break with the Three Lions set to play games against Greece and Finland.

It was against Greece that David Beckham scored one of the most famous free-kicks in soccer history. In a tense atmosphere at Old Trafford, his 93rd-minute strike sent England to the 2002 World Cup.

England vs Greece will be live on FS2, ViX, and Fubo.

Austria v Norway (Sunday, Oct. 13, 2:45 p.m. ET)

These two teams aren’t among the best soccer nations by any stretch of the imagination. But their contrasting fortunes showed the importance of team planning more than individual brilliance. Under Ralf Rangnick, Austria played a fantastic Euro 2024 before losing to Türkiye in one of the best games of last summer. Norway, who missed out on the tournament, revived with a 2-1 win over Austria in the reverse fixture last month thanks to Erling Haaland’s winner. Watch Austria vs Norway live on FS2, ViX, and Fubo.Germany vs Netherlands will be shown live on the Fubo Sports Network as well as ViX.

Scotland v Portugal (Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2:45 p.m. ET)

In the wake of their promotion to Nations League A and an impressive Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, Scotland endured a difficult 2024 so far. Including the humbling 5-1 defeat by Germany in the Euro 2024 opener, Scotland lost six of their nine games since the turn of the year.Portugal also had an uninspiring time in Germany, but Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 900th career goal raised their spirit last month. The 39-year-old striker is competing with Aleksandar Mitrović and Karim Benzema to finish top of the Saudi Pro League’s scoring chart. Scotland against Portugal will stream live on ViX.

Bolivia v Colombia (Thursday, Oct. 10, 4:30 p.m. ET)

September was a historic month for Bolivia’s soccer. For only the second time in the 21st century, they won away from home courtesy of a 3-2 success in Chile. They’re now a single point behind World Cup kings Brazil nearly midpoint to the qualifiers.

Colombia also recorded a memorable victory last month in the repeat fixture of the Copa America final. Beating the world champions was a big achievement, but they’ll now have to cope with the difficulty of playing at an altitude of 4,100 meters above sea level.

Bolivia vs Colombia will be exclusively shown on Fanatiz.

Venezuela v Argentina (Thursday, Oct. 10, 5 p.m. ET)

Meanwhile, Argentina will search for a quick reaction after the defeat at Barranquilla. La Albiceleste also bid farewell to Ángel Di María in September’s eventful international window.

Three NWSL playoff spots up for grabs as season end nears

Chicago Red Stars huddle prior to the first half against the Houston Dash

Chicago can clinch a 2024 postseason berth with a win on Saturday (Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

With the Shield in Orlando’s hands, attention turns to the final three available playoff spots up for grabs in the NWSL.The Chicago Red Stars, currently in sixth, could become the next team to clinch a postseason berth with a win against the surging Gotham on Saturday at 4pm ET (Paramount+).Big Picture: Only Houston has been eliminated from postseason contention, but Portland and Bay FC will try to hold off those below the playoff line to better their odds at a quarterfinal appearance.Both clubs will have their work cut out for them, as Portland takes on first-place Orlando on Friday at 10pm ET (Prime), and Bay FC battles fourth-place Kansas City on Saturday at 10pm ET (ION).With only three regular season matches left, Seattle, Angel City, San Diego, and Utah will all face elimination scenarios this weekend.

Could NWSL MVP come down to Banda and Chawinga?

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda (22) celebrates scoring during the second half against Bay FC

Banda has headlined a historic unbeaten streak by the Orlando Pride (Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images)

With KC Current forward Temwa Chawinga running away with the 2024 NWSL golden boot, is there still intrigue to be found in this year’s MVP race?Chawinga won NWSL Player of the Month for September, while forward Barbra Banda continued to excel with the unbeaten, Shield-winning Orlando Pride.Big Picture: Banda’s goal contributions are slightly off Chawinga’s pace, with 13 goals and six assists to Chawinga’s 18 goals and six assists.Chawinga leads the league in goals per 90 minutes, but Banda holds the title in goals and assists per 90 minutes, while both players comfortably lead the league in xG and npxG per 90.Bottom line: It’s been a year for blazing offense in the NWSL, personified by Chawinga and Banda’s excellence. But who will take the MVP crown?

Portland Thorns general manager Karina LeBlanc will be transitioning out of her role at the end of the 2024 season, the club announced on Wednesday.LeBlanc will join RAJ Sports, led by Thorns ownership the Bhathal family, in a role across the Portland Thorns and the newly-announced Portland WNBA team.Big picture: Joining the club in late 2021, LeBlanc oversaw the Thorns’ most recent NWSL championship in 2022, but this year the team has struggled with performances on the pitch.The Thorns’ winless streak early in the season led to head coach Mike Norris being reassigned to a new role, with assistant Rob Gale elevated to permanent manager.After appearing to right the ship, Portland has lost six of their last seven NWSL regular season games and are battling to stay above the playoff line in seventh place.

Andi Sullivan suffers torn ACL, will miss rest of the season

Andi Sullivan #12 of Washington Spirit reacts against Kansas City Current at Audi Field

Sullivan suffered the injury in last weekend’s 2-0 loss to the Orlando Pride (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

The Washington Spirit announced on Wednesday that captain Andi Sullivan suffered an ACL tear in the team’s loss to the Orlando Pride on Sunday, and will miss the rest of the 2024 season.A Spirit stalwart, Sullivan started all 21 regular season matches she appeared in for the club in 2024, tallying two goals.Sulivan joins a growing number of injured Spirit contributors, including Croix Bethune (out for the season), Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger, and Ouley Sarr.

Alyssa Thompson’s late goal contribution surge

Alyssa Thompson #21 of Angel City FC laughs after her goal during a 2-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars

Thompson has registered five goals and two assists in her last seven NWSL games (Harry How/Getty Images)

Angel City’s playoff hopes hang by a thread after a three-point deduction due to a salary cap violation, but forward Alyssa Thompson is keeping the dream of the postseason alive.Thompson has scored five goals and registered two assists in her last seven NWSL games, including a crucial assist in a win against the Seattle Reign last weekend.Six points off the playoff pace with three games to go in the regular season, Angel City will need Thompson at the height of her powers in their matchup against North Carolina on Saturday at 7:30pm ET (ION).

12 NWSL golden boot leader Temwa Chawinga has scored against 12 different teams during Kansas City’s 2024 campaign. Chawinga can complete the first-ever season sweep against the San Diego Wave on Oct. 19.

USMNT Player Tracker: Unlucky Balogun, Tillman has no equals – and Pulisic to step up?

By Greg O’Keeffe THE Athletic

Folarin Balogun’s bad luck, Christian Pulisic’s penalty puzzler and Malik Tillman’s eye-catching form all play a part of this week’s USMNT player tracker.Throughout the season, we will bring you updates on the U.S. players plying their trade in various leagues around Europe. With a World Cup on home soil on the horizon and new national team boss Mauricio Pochettino considering the options at his disposal, we’re keeping tabs on how they perform every weekend.

Issue of the weekend

After a patchy start to the season with Monaco, things were just beginning to look up for Folarin Balogun.

His goal against Rennes on Saturday ensured the visitors won 2-1 and it was his third in as many games. Having failed to find the net in Monaco’s opening four Ligue 1 fixtures (one of which saw him left on the bench), his had been a timely return to form and confidence — even more so ahead of the autumn USMNT friendlies under Pochettino, when everyone is so keen to make a good first impression.But Balogun won’t be there when the Pochettino era kicks off against Panama in Austin, Texas, on Saturday after dislocating his shoulder 64 minutes into the win at Rennes.He had to be helped off the field in obvious pain and will undergo tests to evaluate the timeframe for his recovery.

Monaco’s head coach Adi Hutter (left) comforts Balogun as he leaves the pitch in Rennes (Jean-Francois Monier/AFP via Getty Images)

Balogun is not the only notable injury withdrawal from Pochettino’s maiden roster, with Johnny Cardoso and Tim Weah replaced by Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann and Liga MX-based pair Brandon Vazquez and Alex Zendejas.

Balogun, who pledged his international allegiance to the U.S. last year and has scored five goals in 17 appearances for his country, must now hope shoulder surgery is not required. If he needs an operation, that could entail an even longer lay-off, just as he was playing his way back into the type of form that earned him the move to Monaco after his season on loan from Arsenal with Reims the previous year.

Player of the weekend

Christian Pulisic’s supreme form for AC Milan continues, with yet another goal against Fiorentina. But it might be time for the USMNT main man, who is one of the leaders of the national team, to take a more assertive approach with his club team-mates. Pulisic’s fourth goal in consecutive appearances for the Rossoneri made it 1-1 on Sunday, but the visitors wasted the opportunity to win the game. In a match of three missed spot kicks, Milan saw the two they were awarded saved — and for reasons unknown, their designated taker, Pulisic, was overlooked to step up. Instead, defender Theo Hernandez failed to convert before half-time, then striker Tammy Abraham also saw an effort saved.

Fiorentina’s Luca Ranieri attempts to stop Pulisic (Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Milan manager Paolo Fonseca was understandably unimpressed. “Our penalty taker is Pulisic,” he said to DAZN afterwards. “I don’t know why the players changed their minds. I spoke to him and said that it must not happen again.” Pulisic was replaced on 82 minutes and did not seem too thrilled, either, but the manager insisted he was trying to look after his star man. “It was out of caution for Pulisic — he had a problem with his flexor during the week,” he explained. “(Samuel) Chukwueze came in well and created opportunities.”

Graphic of the weekend

Quote of the weekend

“Who is better than Malik Tillman in the Eredivisie? I couldn’t name anyone.” Former Denmark international Dennis Perez, an analyst for ESPN, was very impressed by Tillman’s display in PSV Eindhoven’s 2-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday. The American midfielder was influential as the reigning Dutch champions made it eight games and eight wins in Eredivisie this time around.

Tillman impressed against Sparta (Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images)

How did other U.S. players get on?

Name: Jonathan Gomez
Club: PAOK
Position: Left-back
Games (in all competitions): 1

The 21-year-old was on the winning side during his full debut for Greek top-flight club PAOK Thessaloniki on Sunday. Gomez, who signed from Spanish club Real Sociedad in August, is eligible for both the U.S. and Mexico and graduated through the FC Dallas academy.

Name: Jonathan Amon
Club: Lyngby
Position: Forward
Games: 11
Goals: 3

Amon has three goals so far this season in 11 appearances for his Danish Super Liga side. On Sunday he started in a front three as Lyngby, who are 10th in the table and struggling for wins, drew 1-1 at Randers FC. Amon, 25, has started all of his team’s league games so far.

Name: Cole Campbell
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Position: Winger
Games: 5

A special milestone for the 18-year-old Texan who was named in the matchday senior squad for Dortmund for the first time during their defeat by Union Berlin on Saturday. Campbell signed a contract with the Germans until 2028 in the summer. After a spell in Iceland, he joined Dortmund in 2022 and became part of the U.S. program earlier this year.

His five competitive appearances to date this season have been for Dortmund’s second team in the German third tier.

Westerlo’s Bryan Reynolds (Isosport/MB Media/Getty Images)

Name: Bryan Reynolds
Club: Westerlo
Position: Defender
Games: 10
Goals: 1

Reynolds had a steady game for his Belgian club on Friday during their 2-2 draw with Beerschot. Playing at right wing-back, he helped his team stay in sixth place.

Name: Paxten Aaronson
Club: FC Utrecht
Position: Midfield
Games: 8
Goals: 2

The younger Aaronsen brother is on a high at the moment after scoring his second goal in as many games for Utrecht, who have started the season strongly and are in second spot. He grabbed the second goal of a 3-2 win over RKC Waalwijk on Saturday.

What’s coming up?

(All times ET)

After the forthcoming international break, see if Campbell can get onto the pitch for Dortmund against St Pauli on Friday, October 18 in the Bundesliga (2:30pm, ESPN+).

Lennard Maloney will also try and help Heidenheim recover from their 1-0 loss to RB Leipzig last time out as they face his compatriot Joe Scally’s Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday, October 19 (9:30am, ESPN+).

Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah and Johnny Cardoso to miss USMNT’s October fixtures due to injuries

By Paul Tenorio Oct 6, 2024

Folarin Balogun, Johnny Cardoso, and Tim Weah have withdrawn from the USMNT squad due to injury.

Balogun, 23, dislocated his left shoulder during Monaco’s victory over Rennes on Saturday and will undergo further assessments in the coming days.Weah, 24, has missed Juventus’ last three games due to injury while Real Betis midfielder Cardoso has also battled injury issues in recent weeks.Lyon’s Tanner Tessman, Monterrey’s Brandon Vazquez, and Alex Zendejas, who plays for Liga MX side America, have been called up as replacements for three games this month.It is the first USMNT squad selected by Mauricio Pochettino after his appointment as head coach last month to replace Gregg Berhalter, who was dismissed after a group-stage exit at the Copa America.The 52-year-old’s first game in charge is a friendly against Panama at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on October 13. They then face Mexico in another friendly three days later at the Akron Stadium.

Full 25-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace).

Defenders: Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach, Auston Trusty (Celtic).

Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Tanner Tessmann (Olympic Lyonnais), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven).

Forwards: Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Brandon Vazquez (Monterrey), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alex Zendejas (Club América).

Mauricio Pochettino has big plans for USMNT – but will take his time to implement them

Sep 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; United States men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino talks to the media during a press conference introducing him as the new head coach for the United States men's national team at Warner Bros. Discovery Hudson Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

By Paul Tenorio The Athletic Oct 3, 2024

Mauricio Pochettino’s first U.S. men’s national team roster looks similar to the team summoned in September, a few days before he was officially unveiled as the new coach. With limited time and several injuries to regular players, Pochettino and his staff leaned heavily on the expertise of U.S. Soccer personnel to put together this first roster.

The October camp is the perfect baptism for Pochettino into international management. The U.S., like most other national teams, is dealing with multiple injuries, both long- and short-term, to regular call-ups. World Cup starters Tyler Adams (back) and Sergino Dest (ACL) remain out for some time after undergoing surgeries. Two featured players over the last two years, Chris Richards and Gio Reyna, will also miss this camp with knocks which have kept them out of club action. Some depth pieces, like Luca de la Torre and Cameron Carter-Vickers, were also unavailable due to injury.Pochettino had to reach a bit deeper into the pool. In a way, it’s a blessing for a new staff to see more of the players at their disposal. For now, many of the faces have been around the program somewhat regularly: Christian Pulisic, Weston Mckennie and Yunus Musah to name a few. But, the Argentine coach noted, they have already started work on identifying players who have not been as big a part of the program.“We start to follow some very good players we think have the potential,” Pochettino said. “And maybe they are not now in the roster, but for sure, they’re going to be in the roster in the future.”

Change, in other words, is coming to the U.S. team. But Pochettino is not going to force it just yet.

Pulisic has been a mainstay and captain of the USMNT (Katie Stratman / Imagn Images)

This camp will give another chance for someone like Johnny Cardoso, who struggled in his start against Canada last month, to make an impression. It’s also a big opportunity for Aidan Morris, who has had a strong start to his tenure at Middlesbrough. Players like Marlon Fossey might also get a chance to show he should have a shout at the right back spot, while Joe Scally will have to hold off competition ahead of Dest’s return.

With key USMNT left out, here’s who might rise to the occasion ahead of pending coaching hire

The list of players Pochettino wants to look at will undoubtedly start to change in the next few camps. The work to get to know the full pool has already started. Pochettino noted a staff member was in attendance at Toulouse against Lyon on Sunday to see Mark McKenzie. Another USMNT pool player started that game for Lyon: midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who wasn’t called to this camp. Pochettino was also asked specifically about Diego Luna, a player not called up to this camp, and said the midfielder is someone the staff wants to watch more of in the coming months.

There was one notable change in this roster: the return of Zack Steffen. The goalkeeper hasn’t played for the U.S. since 2022 and hasn’t had a great season for Colorado, but Pochettino is familiar with the former Manchester City back-up’s skillset and the goalkeeper position is problematic considering the lack of playing time for both Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath.

Steffen has not played for the U.S. since 2022 (Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images)

Pochettino said in a press conference this week that players who aren’t getting time on the field at their respective clubs have become a real issue with this national team. Pochettino, answering in his native Spanish, said he agreed that players not playing regularly is a big concern for a coach but part of his job will be to work to find players the best places to get minutes to be ready for the World Cup in 2026. Not calling in players who aren’t getting regular minutes is a luxury the U.S. men may not be able to afford, depending on the situation, but Pochettino was clear when he said players not playing for their club was “a handicap that I believe cannot be allowed.”

Still, this camp is less about those bigger-picture changes. Pochettino first must lay a foundation — for himself and the staff. That goes beyond just the players he’s calling in or their current form at the club level. Pochettino said he won’t overload players with tactical changes in this camp. Instead, he wants to “create a relationship inside and off the pitch” that will help the team understand what he is asking of them.“I think the most important (thing) is to be simple,” Pochettino said. “The player cannot believe that they’re going to arrive and the first thing in Austin we are going to be in the room and to start to spend two, three hours talking about tactics, about different things. I think the most important (thing is) that we need to settle a few principles, a few concepts that I start to develop with time.”Pochettino said the plan is to use two systems, the 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, and “from there develop our way to play.” Pochettino joked that he watches a lot of American soccer media now — “more than you believe,” he said — and he saw pundits who talked about the defensive effort the team needs.Pochettino noted that he wants to play attractive soccer that will entertain American fans. But it’s not just about playing pretty, up-tempo soccer.

“We are going to be very, very, very demanding. When we lose the ball, we need to be desperate to recover as soon as possible,” he said. “But we need to work like a team in this moment. We need to show that we are a real team.

“All the teams that win and won titles, you can see Argentina winning the Copa America or the World Cup, of course when they have the ball, they play really well. But when they don’t have the ball, they work like a team. They are really, really, really rough. I think we need to enjoy when we don’t have the ball and try to recover, and be very strong defensively.“We need to be very competitive. It’s not only to play nice football, it is to be very competitive. That, for me, is the objective.”The path toward that objective begins next week in Austin.

Antonee Robinson: My game in my words

Stuart James and Thom Harris Oct 4, 2024 dd397a641113.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

This article is the latest in our My Game In My Words 2024 series. Click here to find all articles in the series.

“F****** hell, lad. Stop running!” a Newcastle United winger told Antonee Robinson during a game against Fulham last season.

Robinson loves overlapping and underlapping and treats the left flank like the back-straight on an athletics track, tearing forward at every opportunity to add to his increasingly impressive attacking returns. He has eight assists in the Premier League since the start of last season, which is second only to Kieran Trippier when it comes to defenders.

As for interceptions, Robinson’s numbers are off the scale. There were 13 in one game at Anfield last season, equalling a Premier League record and keeping Mohamed Salah relatively quiet in the process.

Two years earlier, on the opening day of the Premier League season, Salah was so struck by Robinson’s performance for Fulham that he stopped to ask him his age in the middle of the match. Later, after they swapped shirts, the Liverpool forward gave him some words of encouragement that Robinson has never forgotten.

(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Robinson is discussing all of this and more at his home in Surrey, on the outskirts of London, where we are scrolling through close to 100 clips of him playing for Fulham and the U.S. men’s national team. There are backflips and diving headers, own goals and crunching tackles, shoulder barges against one of the strongest players in the Premier League, and running races where there was only going to be one winner.

This is Antonee Robinson’s game in his words.

“I love it,” Robinson says, smiling.

It’s hard to imagine many modern full-backs saying the same thing, mindful that Robinson is talking about one-on-one defending. The 27-year-old feels like a bit of a throwback in that respect.

“I always go into games thinking, ‘I’m playing against a winger now and I don’t want him to get the better of me’. I feel like I can read where a player is going fairly well. But the ability to not fly in, to stand them up and then pick my time to close in on someone, I do really enjoy that,” he says.

Robinson made 80 interceptions in the Premier League last season. To put that number into perspective, it was the most across Europe’s top five leagues, 15 more than any other Premier League player (Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook was in second place) and almost twice as many as any other Premier League full-back (West Ham’s Emerson Palmieri made 43).

“Obviously because I’m quite fast, it helps,” Robinson says in an understated way. “I feel confident knowing that I’m gonna get to most passes when I see them.

“But it’s quite annoying to the manager at times because sometimes I’ll be convinced the pass is going somewhere and almost gamble a little bit. And then it goes the other way and he hates it when I guess. He always says, ‘You’re fast enough to get there. Just stay, let it go (to the winger), and then go’. But sometimes when you smell something, you have the urge.”

Robinson’s scent is normally reliable. His trademark interception is cutting out the short and low diagonal pass to the winger outside of him — an action that he repeated over and again last season, including on multiple occasions against Tottenham Hotspur.

“I think the way they play would suit this because they invert the full-backs, they’re really narrow, and the winger is the only wide pass (available),” Robinson explains as we watch a couple of clips against Spurs. “So when I can see that’s literally the only pass he’s going to do, even if I go here (wide to try to intercept) and he plays it here (inside), there’s nothing on, so it feels safer to go. But you can see (on the video) that I’m just eyeing him up.”

Although Robinson said he will “almost gamble a little bit”, his interceptions are calculated. Before setting off, he looks at the body orientation of the player in possession and also waits until the passer (Bruno Guimaraes in the next example) focuses on striking the ball.

“When he’s put his head down, you can kind of see the direction of the pass — he’s going to pass here (wide) and I need to go that way anyway,” Robinson says. “This line (infield) is blocked off by our midfielder, which obviously the gaffer (Marco Silva) sets us up to do. So it looks like the only pass is (wide).”

If the distance between the passer and the receiver is close, which was the case when Robinson intercepted a ball from Julian Alvarez to Phil Foden at Manchester City last season, the risk of being caught out increases.

“I can remember similar ones to this where I would get done,” Robinson says. “Obviously I’ve seen him (Alvarez) put his head down, I know he’s passing there, so I’ve gone. But I think we played Liverpool, it was the exact same situation, it’s Trent (Alexander-Arnold) on the ball and he looks like he’s gonna pass it there (to the winger) and he plays it inside me; that’s the one I said the gaffer despises. He goes mental at that. Luckily, this one I made it.”

He has a good memory. The Liverpool clip is lined up ready to show him as a rare example of when that darting run to intercept goes wrong. Alexander-Arnold disguises his intentions, reverses the pass and Luis Diaz runs in behind.

Robinson sighs. “With that, I should know a lot better who’s on the ball. But, you know, playing against good teams you get excited. So that is a prime example of the manager waiting to kick off at me. I’m already thinking, ‘He’s gonna want to speak to me about that’.”

An aggressive, front-footed defender, Robinson enjoys an old-fashioned 50/50. “Without hurting anyone, I do like being able to leave it on someone,” he says as we watch him making fully committed but fair challenges on Bournemouth’s Adam Smith and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure (below).

Robinson’s biggest attribute by far when one-v-one defending, though, is his pace. A clip of him up against the Nottingham Forest attacker Anthony Elanga, who has registered the second-fastest speed in the Premier League this season, illustrates that point. Fulham have turned over possession and Robinson is running back on the outside of Elanga, which is the last place a full-back wants to be ordinarily, but he still manages to get to the ball first. Elanga is left on his hands and knees afterwards.

“I remember one of the first passages of play here — the ball broke and both me and Elanga ended up sprinting and he’s leaving me in this race, which I didn’t expect,” Robinson says. “I was like, ‘S***. If he gets the ball, he’s in’. I knew he was quick, but he’s top-level speed. After that, I was way more cautious of the threat in behind.”

Robinson’s speed means that throughout his career, he has been deployed as the “last man” on attacking corners, essentially as an insurance policy if the opposition counter. Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez tried and failed to win a race against Robinson from a Fulham corner last season and there was a similar scenario in the home game against Everton when Arnaut Danjuma attempted to beat him on the outside.

“He’s got to know his players there!” Robinson says, laughing. “I’d say 95 per cent of wingers, if they’re going to just try to knock it down the line and run me, I’m buzzing with that. So I was very happy when he tried that because it makes my decision so much easier.”

Robinson talks about getting tight on wingers and “not letting them breathe”. Away at Brentford last season, he was all over Bryan Mbeumo from the first minute, giving him no time on the ball. Half an hour into the game, Mbeumo let a routine pass slip under his boot by the touchline, prompting the co-commentator and former Fulham and West Ham defender Tony Gale to suggest Robinson had got inside the Brentford player’s head.

“He’s miscontrolled that because he’s looking at Robinson, thinking, ‘He’s gonna be on me sharp’. He’s taken his eye off the ball and that’s the little bit of shakiness Robinson’s put on Mbeumo early on. It’s up to Mbeumo to play a little bit of cat and mouse with him.”

Is it a game of cat and mouse with the winger?

“I suppose so,” Robinson replies, smiling. “Sometimes you end up talking to players in games, which is quite funny. I remember playing Newcastle, not this last game (this season), but a couple of games ago and Jacob Murphy was playing and he was like, ‘F****** hell, lad — stop running!’ So, little things like that — straight away they know what I’m like. And it does play a little part (in putting wingers off their game). There’s going to be players who will come at me less because they know I’m going to go the other way a lot of the time.”

Equally, there are also games where Robinson is largely defending because of the calibre of opposition. Arsenal at home last season was one of those occasions and it turned into a fascinating duel between him and Bukayo Saka in a game that Fulham won 2-1.

The first clip shows Robinson following Saka infield, shoulder-charging him and winning the ball. Robinson puffs out his cheeks after watching it. “That’s an incredibly rare occurrence because Saka is crazy strong. He’s one of the strongest players, pound for pound, that I’ve played against.”

Later in the game, Saka gets his own back in another physical duel, as if to prove Robinson’s point.

In between times, there are a couple of moments in quick succession where Robinson ends up defending one-on-one with Saka near the touchline and close to the corner flag. Robinson shows Saka down the line, forcing him onto his weaker right foot. In the first instance, Saka still manages to cross — albeit his delivery is overhit.

On the second occasion, Saka goes the same way again and Robinson blocks.

It’s tempting to think Robinson’s defending was much better the second time because he stopped the cross, but he doesn’t really see it like that.

“The first one I was still happy with,” Robinson says. “I know Saka’s very good on his left foot. If I show him down the line and he manages to get a cross in… I’d obviously like to block it, but if he’s crossing on his right foot and that’s the worst-case scenario, that’s fine. Next one you kind of know how he’s going to be shaped when he goes that way (again), so I can close it down a little bit better. But if I show him on his right every time and half of them he crosses and half of them he doesn’t, it’s a lot better than him cutting in on his left to pick a ball properly or shooting.”

(David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

An “unlucky” own goal at Villa Park in November in a 3-1 defeat. At least that was how Robinson viewed it at the time. Marco Silva thought otherwise.

Either way, that own goal represented a turning point in Robinson’s season. He went on to register assists in three successive Premier League matches (the first in the second half against Villa), scored two terrific goals for the USMNT against Trinidad & Tobago during the international break that followed, then produced one of the best performances of his career against Liverpool a couple of weeks later at Anfield.

“My season took off,” Robinson says.

The own goal is interesting to break down, especially as Robinson told The Athletic previously that Silva had said to him: “If you were in this position in the first place, maybe that wouldn’t have happened and you would not have been ‘unlucky’.”

What is this position?

Robinson asks to take the footage further back to explain. “Here, when we looked at this, the manager would like Calvin (Bassey) to be two yards this way (sliding to the right), being able to cover the line a bit better. If he’s there, Tim (Ream) is three yards over and then I’m inside this winger (Moussa Diaby). Obviously, it gets played (down the line to Youri Tielemans) and you’ll see when I come in.

“Realistically, you’d want me to be here (the black circle below), so just five yards inside this line. And if I’m already there, he (Diaby) is not in front of me.

“Still, after that, he (Diaby) missed the ball. So I do get unlucky. But it’s always the steps leading up to that which you can prevent in the gaffer’s mind.”

By his own admission, Robinson was lacking in confidence ahead of that Villa match. He scored an own goal against Sheffield United the previous month and talks about going into games around that period thinking, ‘Just don’t make any big mistakes. Just do your job. Simple’.”

International weeks can be viewed as disruptive by a lot of club managers, but a change of scenery was probably just what Robinson needed. He joined up with the USMNT for the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final tie against Trinidad & Tobago and thrived. In the first leg, in Texas, Robinson assisted the opening goal and then scored the second with a superb strike that was followed by a series of backflips that were just as impressive.

“Big moment!” Robinson says, smiling. “I dyed my hair white because I thought, ‘You know what, I’m just gonna do something mad’, and then I scored a good goal, so I was very excited.”

Four days later, in the away fixture, Robinson scored a diving header. “I’m more happy with this one, to be honest. Because I remember him (Sergino Dest) getting it and me being out here (very wide), I was just like, ‘I’m going to dart in between the defenders’. It was a proper striker’s goal.”

Robinson returned to England “feeling better about myself”. He got an assist against Wolves in Fulham’s next match and then put in a man-of-the-match performance against Liverpool. The 13 interceptions made headlines and one of them (below) led to an assist for Fulham’s first goal.

Watching the game back, it’s remarkable how often Robinson seemed to be in the right place at the right time to limit Salah’s impact in a match that Fulham lost 4-3 despite leading with less than five minutes remaining.

Did Salah say anything to him afterwards? “Not this time,” Robinson replies. “He has before. We played Liverpool in the first game of the season two years ago. We drew 2-2. I remember saying to my friends, who are all big Liverpool fans and came down because it was around my birthday, ‘Lads, if Salah scores or gets an assist this game, I’ll pay for dinner tonight’, so I put a bit of added pressure on myself. And he (Salah) did (score), annoyingly.

“But I remember him saying to me midway through the game (Robinson says this next bit in a curious voice), ‘How old are you?’. So he didn’t really know who I was. I must have been 24, 25. He just nodded and carried on with the game. Then, after the game, I asked for his shirt, so we swapped shirts and we were just chatting and he was like, ‘You were the best player this game, keep up what you’re doing’. That was very nice of him.”

A routine question about whether Robinson has had the opportunity to speak to Mauricio Pochettino since the Argentinian took over as head coach of the USMNT delivers an unexpected answer.

“Funnily enough, I bumped into him out for dinner the other day,” Robinson says. “We had a team meal in London and he just happened to be in there. I was sat next to Harrison Reed, who used to play for him at Southampton, so he went over to speak to him and I just went over and said hello. I was chatting to him and it seems like he’s really excited about it (coaching the USMNT).”

Pochettino’s appointment followed the decision to sack Gregg Berhalter in the wake of a dismal Copa America showing in the summer when the U.S. were eliminated in the group stage.

“We obviously wanted to push as far as we could in the tournament and try to win it,” Robinson says. “We didn’t even get the chance to get out of the group, which is a big, big letdown for us, especially us being the host nation.”

The Copa America post-mortem started immediately after the final whistle against Uruguay. Christian Pulisic, the U.S. captain, spoke about the need to regroup and, more significantly, highlighted the importance of “finding an identity again”.

(Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

With 46 caps to his name and six years of international experience behind him, including a World Cup in Qatar, Robinson has been around the team for long enough to know what the U.S. should look like on the pitch. What is their identity?

“Well, thinking back to teams before us, the U.S. was always gritty, hard-working, horrible to play against, a battling team,” he says. “They had good players but, on the whole, as a team, there was a lot of fight in them. And when we first came together as a team, we definitely had that a lot. I remember going into the World Cup, playing against England and feeling that we can make it extremely difficult for teams. But towards the end, it felt kind of soft and stagnant. We didn’t have that bite.

“I didn’t get to go to the last (international) window and obviously we had a different manager (Mikey Varas). But I was watching us play against Canada and it just felt like they were out-fighting us. I’d back us, at our best, as a better team than them comfortably. But you have to win that fight first.

“They (Canada) did the same thing in World Cup qualifying, where they were just nasty; horrible to play against. And I think that’s something we need to get a bit of because we’re not the most talented team. So that needs to be a minimum.”

Pochettino touched on some of those themes at a press conference this week, when he highlighted Argentina’s desire to win the ball back and said it’s not just about trying to play “nice football”.

On the face of it, Pochettino’s style of play feels like a good fit for Robinson’s game. “Yeah, I think so,” Robinson says. “I think it will suit a lot of the players on our team. And, regardless, just having a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective — I think every now and then, it gets to a point where a team does need that.

“You obviously see under his resume that he’s a top-level coach. It’s going to be interesting to see how that transitions from club level to international level in terms of how much control he can have on it. He’s not going to see us every day. He’s not got a lot of time to drill into us how he wants to play. But that’s where we’ve got to step up and take responsibility and say it’s not all just on him. We need to give him as much attention and commitment as possible and make it work between us.”

“I can feel the moment when I change gears,” Robinson says.

It’s quite a sight watching Robinson overlapping to receive a pass — a bit like an Olympic sprinter setting off in the relay and waiting to be handed the baton.

According to data from SkillCorner, Arsenal’s Ben White was the only Premier League full-back to make more overlapping runs than Robinson last season.

SkillCorner define a high-intensity sprint as capturing a player moving at over 20 km/h for at least 0.7 seconds. A significant number of Robinson’s overlaps start from inside his own half, last for 3-4 seconds and see him reaching much higher speeds than 20 km/h.

“I’ve done half a pitch there!” Robinson says, laughing, as we watch him overlapping against Forest (below).

The sprint for another overlap, this time against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, starts not far outside his own penalty area. Robinson has his hand in the air as Joao Palhinha takes possession and appears to be gesturing to the midfielder where to pass next. What’s going through his mind here?

“I think, ‘Who would I rather have the ball in this situation?’ If he (Palhinha) gives it to me, Willy’s going to run and I’m going to run and we’re going to end up in the same sort of pocket. If he gives it to Willy first, Willy is already higher up and I’m going to catch up because he’s got to wait for the ball. Willy is right-footed, he can run inside, commit a defender. If the defender goes with me, Willy is going to end up shooting. So in this situation, Willy getting the ball and me coming with speed is 10 times better than me getting it.”

‘Willy’ is Willian, the former Chelsea and Arsenal winger and a player Robinson built up an excellent understanding with at Fulham over the course of two seasons. His departure in the summer has paved the way for Robinson and Alex Iwobi to link up on the left much more frequently than before and the signs are already promising. A Robinson overlap and low cross, after a pass from Iwobi, led to Fulham’s goal at Ipswich earlier this season.

The week before, against Leicester, it was Robinson’s first-time ball that set up Iwobi for Fulham’s winner. “The understanding is getting there,” Robinson says.

Naturally, it’s much easier to develop chemistry with team-mates at club level compared with international football because of the constant repetition on the training ground, as well as the regular cycle of matches.

That said, Robinson clearly has an excellent understanding with Pulisic when it comes to his attacking runs (the clip below shows an overlap against Bolivia in the Copa America that Ricardo Pepi should have converted) and he makes it sound as though there are a lot of parallels with playing left-back for Fulham and the USMNT.

“It’s really similar,” Robinson says. “We do have a bit more licence that I can go (forward with the U.S.). If the right-back was attacking, like Sergino, or like when (Joe) Scally was playing in Copa, I can still be high because we’d have two midfielders who would sit and do that defensive box.

“But playing with Christian is very similar. We have that same understanding of, ‘You’re our most dangerous player. I’m going to give you the ball. I’ll give you the option of sprinting behind if you want to use it. If you don’t want to use it, that means you think it’s a better option, so I trust you with that’. And we have a great relationship off the pitch anyway, so it does translate to being on the same page on it.”

(Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Playing next to the same player for club and country helps — as was the case with Tim Ream up until August when the central defender joined Charlotte FC. Robinson and Ream were always on the same wavelength and had a lot of joy with a move that would see the left-winger, or No 8, come short and narrow, leaving space for Robinson to run in behind and Ream to pick him out with a longer pass.

It’s a simple but effective pattern that pulls opponents out of position.

“Opposite movements — that’s a big thing in our game (at Fulham),” Robinson says.

The footage ends with an assist that provides another example of how hard Robinson has worked to improve the quality of his final ball. “A lot of my assists have come from low crosses, which is something we do a lot after training,” he explains. “Just kind of feeding it into that danger area along the six-yard line, like the Ipswich one.”

He must be happy with his numbers: eight assists since the start of last season is an excellent return for a left-back.

“I can’t complain about that, considering the two Premier League seasons before that I had one,” Robinson says, smiling. “But a couple of goals would be nice. I haven’t scored in the Premier League yet, so I’ve got my eye on that.”

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

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

9/13/24 USMNT signs Pochettino as Manager, US ties NZ 1-1 after 2-1 loss to Canada, Alex Morgan retires, Indy 11 Home Sat, Champions League Tue/Wed

September 14, 2024September 18, 2024 gatorbest chelsea, football, goalkeepers, indy-11, premier-league, reffing-soccer, soccer, us-soccer, usmnt, uswnt

Champions League is Back

The first leg of Champions League has returned with some big games on the docket Tues/Wed for Americans. Christian Pulisic and AC Milan host Liverpool at 3 pm on Tuesday on Paramount+ (he scored!!) and Aron McKinney and Juventus play at 12 noon Tuesday.

USMNT Finally Hires Pochettino

So the US have finally made the big splash hire and signed and delivered former Tottenham and PSG Coach Mauricio Pochettino to lead us thru the World Cup on home soil in 2026. While the rumors had been rampant for weeks – finally this week it was announced and today he was introduced. Honestly this is a huge get for the US – to get a coach of this quality to coach our national team is a big deal – cudos all around to US Soccer for making this happen. Will it result in the US advancing as far as we ever have in a World Cup ? We’ll see. The US Men lost to Canada and US Coach Jesse Marsch last weekend and tied #96 New Zealand 1-1 at home in Cincy on Tuesday. So lots of work to do. Still I think we got the best possible coach under the circumstances to lead us through. Tons of stories below to read all about it.

US ties New Zealand 1-1 after losing to Canada 2-1 at home

The US men were unlucky In their 1-1 tie with NZ – as they outshout and out-possessed NZ the entire game. Great to see new faces in the mix – especially Marlon Fossey at right back and Aidan Morris again at the 6. Pepi needs to finish up top – but had some chances – good to see he and Balogun in together. Not sure why we didn’t see Auston Trusty at Centerback? Lots of work to do on our defense and in goal. US Highlights vs New Zealand

INDY 11 Home vs El Paso Locomotive Sat 7 pm

Indy Eleven returns home for its final 2024 regular-season match against the Western Conference vs. El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday at Carroll Stadium.The Boys in Blue are coming off a 0-0 draw at Hartford Athletic last Saturday. The Eleven are sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 10-9-7 record for 37 points.Saturday’s match vs. El Paso is the last regular-season match against a Western Conference opponent for the Boys in Blue.Indy finishes the regular season with seven straight matches against Eastern Conference opponents. Only six points separate teams in fourth through 10th place in the conference. The top eight teams in the East will make the playoffs, with the top four hosting first-round games the first weekend in November. Single-game tickets for all four remaining regular-season home matches are available at Ticketmaster. For information on all ticket options visit the Indy Eleven Ticket Central. For questions, please email tickets@indyeleven.com or call (317) 685-1100.

Great to be back on the high school fields Reffing after our 2 week vacation !

Great night for high school soccer at Guerin Catholic with Michael S (Center) & Stephan L (L)

TV Game Schedule

Champions League

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18	TIME	HOW TO WATCH
Bologna vs. Shakhtar Donetsk	12:45 p.m.	Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
Sparta Praha vs. RB Salzburg	12:45 p.m.	Paramount+
UEFA Champions League Today pre-match	2 p.m.	Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
The Golazo Show	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Manchester City vs. Inter	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Girona	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Club Brugge vs. Borussia Dortmund	3 p.m.	Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
Celtic vs. Slovan Bratislava	3 p.m.	Paramount+
UEFA Champions League Today post-match	5 p.m.	Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
Scoreline	6 p.m.	CBS Sports Golazo Network
The Champions Club	7 p.m.	CBS Sports Golazo Network

THURSDAY, SEPT. 19	TIME	HOW TO WATCH
Feyenoord vs. Bayer Leverkusen	12:45 p.m.	Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
Crvena Zvezda vs. Benfica	12:45 p.m.	Paramount+
UEFA Champions League Today pre-match	2 p.m.	Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
The Golazo Show	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Atalanta vs. Arsenal	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Monaco vs. Barcelona	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Atletico Madrid vs. RB Leipzig	3 p.m.	Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
Brest vs. Sturm Graz	3 p.m.	Paramount+
UEFA Champions League Today post-match	5 p.m.	Paramount+, CBS Sports Network

Champions League

Man City, Real Madrid start UCL as big favorites

As the new-look Champions League begins, here’s how the format works

Villa win big on return to top European stage

US Men Hire Pochettino

Thoughts on Pochettino’s hire, the USMNT’s draw with New Zealand, & moving forward ASN Brian Sciaretta

Pochettino arrives as USMNT’s rare superstar coach. Can he also be a savior?
Mauricio Pochettino is thinking big — but starting small — as he takes the helm of the USMNT
Pochettino targets World Cup win and praises ‘best coach in world’ Hayes
Mauricio Pochettino unveiled as USMNT boss — ‘We need to really believe we can win the World Cup’
Watch as former Chelsea boss Pochettino speaks after being named new USMNT head coach

Mauricio Pochettino officially announced as USMNT head coach S&S By Donald Wine II

Pep backs Poch in ‘fascinating’ USMNT coach role

The inside story of how Pochettino became the next USMNT manager 2d Jeff Carlisle

USMNT’s draw shows why Pochettino needs to hit the reset button 3d Jeff Carlisle

USMNT got the best possible coach by hiring Pochettino, but it might not be enough still Ryan O’Hanlon
Poch: USMNT must aim to match women, win WC 6hJeff Carlisle

USMNT’s draw shows why Pochettino needs to hit the reset button Jeff Carlisle

US ties NEW Zealand

Pulisic ready to ‘turn the page’ under Pochettino

EPL

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Crystal Palace sign NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Stengel

Goalkeeping

Great Saves Nations League Matchday 1&2
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Reffing

Young Ref Daughter makes Dad Proud Yellow or Red? You Cost us the Match Ref Become a Licensed Ref with Indiana Soccer – must be over

Nick H (L) and Shane waiting to start the Freshman boys at Brebeuf

Reffing Lawrence North Girls with Jason M (left) and Josh M (center)

USMNT midweek viewing guide: The CHAAAAMPIOOONS

UEFA Champions League is back, with as many as 10 Americans in play this midweek.

By Justin Moran @kickswish Sep 17, 2024, 6:00am PDT

AC Milan Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Midweek USMNT action is here. MLS games are on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as well as any other networks listed. Let’s get into it!

Tuesday

Juventus vs PSV, 12:45p on Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMás, FuboTV, ViX: Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, and PSV kick off UEFA Champions League action for USMNT players as they go to Turin to meet Weston McKennie, Tim Weah (who may still be injured), and Juve.
AC Milan vs Liverpool, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and Milan open Champions League at home, likely underdogs against Premier League heavyweight Liverpool.

Also in action:

Preston North End vs Fulham, 2:45p on Paramount+: Antonee Robinson and the Cottagers visit Duane Holmes and Preston in the Carabao Cup.
QPR vs Crystal Palace, 2:45p on Paramount+: Chris Richards and Palace visit QPR in the Carabao Cup. Reggie Cannon left QPR following a dispute going back to his time with Portuguese club Vizela, and signed with Colorado Rapids in MLS.
Club América vs Atlas, 9p on TUDN USA, Univision USA, FuboTV (free trial), ViX: Alex Zendejas and América host Atlas in Liga MX.

Wednesday

Real Betis vs Getafe, 1p on ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ (free trial), FuboTV: Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis are at home against Getafe in La Liga.
Coventry City vs Tottenham, 3p on Paramount+: Haji Wright and Coventry nearly pulled off an astonishing upset against Manchester United in last year’s FA Cup semifinal. Can they do something similar against Spurs in the Carabao Cup?

Also in action:

Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Cameron Carter-Vickers returned from a minor injury to play this past weekend, and should be available for Celtic as they begin Champions League play.
Club Brugge vs Borussia Dortmund, 3p on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, FuboTV, ViX: Gio Reyna is likely to miss Dortmund’s Champions League opener as they go on the road in Belgium.
NYCFC vs Philadelphia Union, 7:30p: Jack McGlynn and the Union are on the road against James Sands and NYC.
Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew, 7:30p: Patrick Schulte, DeJuan Jones, and the Crew visit Toronto in MLS.
Orlando City vs Charlotte FC, 8:15p on FS1, FOX Deportes, FuboTV, Sling TV: Tim Ream and Charlotte travel to Orlando for this MLS match.
Minnesota United vs FC Cincinnati, 8:30p: Miles Robinson, Roman Celentano, Lucho Acosta, and FC Cincy visit Minnesota in MLS play.
Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire, 8:30p: Brian Gutiérrez, Chris Brady, and the Fire meet Walker Zimmerman and Nashville in this MLS game.
Chivas vs León, 9p on Telemundo, UNIVERSO, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FuboTV: Cade Cowell and Chivas are at home in Liga MX.
Real Salt Lake vs FC Dallas, 9:30p: Diego Luna and RSL host Jesús Ferreira and the Huntsmen in MLS.
Portland Timbers vs LA Galaxy, 10:30p: Jalen Neal and the Galaxy visit the Timbers at Providence Park.
Monterrey vs Juárez, 11p on TUDN USA, FuboTV, ViX: Brandon Vázquez and Rayados host the Bravos of Juárez in Liga MX.

Thursday

No notable USMNT players in action (unless Barcelona have a goalkeeper crisis and Diego Kochen plays for them against Monaco).

Friday

Standard Liège vs Union St.Gilloise, 2:45p on ESPN+: Marlon Fossey and Standard host USG in Belgium’s top tier.

Also in action:

Paderborn vs Hannover 96, 12:30p: 19-year-old Colombian-American center mid Santiago Castañeda has played four straight full 90’s for Paderborn in the 2. Bundesliga.
Dordrecht vs Excelsior, 2p: Zach Booth recently joined Excelsior in the Dutch second tier. They’re on the road against Feyenoord loanee Korede Osundina and Dordrecht.

USMNT weekend viewing guide: Return to action

By jcksnftsn Sep 13, 2024, 10:11am PDT

Clubs will truly be restarting their seasons this weekend after the initial phase was interrupted so quickly after it had started by the international break. While the break wasn’t kind to the USMNT, it did allow key players who weren’t called in to further integrate with their teams or recover from early season (or in some cases even preseason) injuries. It’s a very full weekend, particularly on Saturday, and here’s what we’re keeping an eye on.

Saturday

Lees United v Burnley – 7:30a on Paramount+

Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United face Burnley in an early season English League Championship match that could have end of season impact on the promotion race. Four matches in Aaronson is the top scorer for Leeds with two goals.

RB Leipzig v Union Berlin – 9:30a on ESPN+

Jordan Pefok and Union Berlin went into the break with their first win of the 2024-25 campaign. The got off to a hot start last season as well, winning their first two, before loosing nine straight league matches. They face last seasons run away winners RB Leipzig on Saturday morning.

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

Kevin Paredes has missed the start of the Bundesliga season but should be returning within the next week or so if early reports have held true. Wolfsburg fell to Bayern Munich in their opener but defeated Holstein Kiel heading into the international break.

Borussia Mönchengladbach v Stuttgart – 9:30a on ESPN+

Joe Scally has started Borussia Mönchengladbach’s first two matches and gone the full ninety in each as the opened their season with a 3-2 loss to Bayer Leverkusen but rebounded with a 2-0 victory over Bochum. Stuttgart are looking for their first win of the season after giving up three goals in each of their first two matches, including a 3-3 draw with Mainz just prior to the break.

Crystal Palace v Leicester City – 10a on USA Network

Chris Richards will be one to keep an eye on as Crystal Palace have a glut of centerbacks following the transfer window closing. Richards has started the first three matches for Palace but they have suffered two losses and one draw so it will be interesting to see if changes are made coming out of the break.

Fulham v West Ham – 10a on Peacock

Antonee Robinson has notched an assist in Fulham’s last two matches and gone the full ninety in all three to start the season. He was left off the US squad for the international break but it sounded like primarily a matter of rest for a player who has seen a ton of minutes over the last couple of seasons as he prepares for a crucial role yet again for his club.

Swansea City v Norwich City – 10a on Paramount+

Josh Sargent and his ankles of glass didn’t see any minutes for the US but he is reportedly available for Norwich City this weekend as they face Swansea. Sargent has two goals and an assist already this season but Norwich have just one win in four matches.

Watford v Coventry City – 10a

Haji Wright also has a pair of goals to start the season for Coventry but his team likewise has just one win to show for it as they sit in 17th place and head into a matchup with a Watfor side that has one three of their first four matches.

PSV v NEC – 10:30a on ESPN+

Ricardo Pepi saw his first extended minutes of the season as Luuk de Jong was removed with an injury. However, most match reports seemed to indicate that an extended absence isn’t likely. Richard Ledezma continues to start at rightback while Malik Tillman is racking up the minutes in the midfield for PSV who haven’t missed a beat coming into the new season.

Empoli v Juventus – Noon on Paramount+

Weston McKennie saw 23’ off the bench for Juventus in their last match before the break, his first minutes of the season. Tim Weah missed the match due to injury but is reportedly back in training and available for Juventus as they face Empoli this weekend.

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

Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and AC Milan face Venezia this weekend and fellow American Gianluca Busio who has missed the start of the season following an injury in the Summer Olympics but is reportedly available this weekend. Both clubs are off to a rough campaign and looking for their first win on the season.

Sunday

Strasbourg v Angers – 11a on beIN Sports

Caleb Wiley continues to see minutes for Strasbourg, he came off the bench in their most recent match but played 45’ and picked up his first assist for the club.

Toulouse v Le Havre – 11a on beIN Sports

Mark McKenzie of Tolouse and Emmanuel Sabbi of Le Havre could face off in some American v American action in France on Sunday. McKenzie has started the last two matches for Toulouse while Sabbi was not included in the most recent Le Havre squad though he did see 21’ in their previous match.

Lens v Lyon – 2:45p on beIN Sports

Tanner Tessman made his Olympique Lyonnais debut just prior to the break, seeing three minutes off the bench in a wild 4-3 Lyon come-from-behind victory after they had been down 3-1 to Caleb Wiley’s Strasbourg. Presumably the international break will have allowed Tessman to further integrate with his new club and he should be in line for additional minutes.

What are Pochettino’s immediate priorities for the USMNT?

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent ESPN Sep 13, 2024, 05:16 PM ET

NEW YORK — Amid the smiles and backslapping that took place during Mauricio Pochettino’s unveiling as the new U.S. men’s national team manager Friday, there was one, more sobering undercurrent.Pochettino has a lot of work to do.The group stage exit at this summer’s Copa América, and even some matches prior to that tournament, showed that the USMNT has regressed since the 2022 World Cup. The recently concluded September international window, which saw the U.S. beaten on home soil by Canada for the first time in 67 years and then tie New Zealand 1-1, reinforced that feeling.Granted, taking over a struggling team is usually how coaches get hired in the first place. The Sir Alex Ferguson, leave-on-your-own-terms type of exit is rare. Usually, the new manager comes in because a course correction is badly needed, and that is obviously the case here.So what, then, are Pochettino’s priorities as he begins to dig into the job? At Friday’s news conference, the Argentine seemed reluctant to get into many specifics, but he dropped enough breadcrumbs to hint at how he’ll proceed.First, a bit of healing needs to take place. For Pochettino, the results of last week weren’t surprising. The pain of the Copa América performances was still too fresh. Getting over that means getting to know the players and finding ways to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. They need to believe in themselves again.It also means connecting with them beyond just tactics and skill levels. Expect Pochettino to spend a lot of time visiting with players over the next month, pumping them up and reminding them of their talent.

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“The player needs to feel that you care,” Pochettino said. “When the player feels that you care, you can get the best of them.”He added, “We are going to work and to create the right pattern to follow, to get the confidence, to recover the confidence and start to perform together. But, of course, I think it’s a very good generation of players.”That process will also require the players earning the confidence of the new coaching staff. More than once, Pochettino spoke of the need to not just “play” for a national team but to “compete” for it as well. That has been an issue during the summer, leading some players to conclude that a culture shift was needed.While there is a sense that the onus for this falls on the players, the coach sets standards. Pochettino will need to be firm in explaining what those are and then enforcing them. Doling out — or withdrawing — playing time is the ultimate card he can play.He will also need to sort out what the team’s style of play will be. In the past, he has preferred to have his teams press aggressively and then strike quickly. But he also wants his squads to be able to play out of the back when the situation calls for it, as having multiple styles in the tactical bag is a staple of good teams. That latter trait is something with which he’ll need to tread carefully, especially given the frailty displayed by the back line over the summer.Pochettino seems to realize that it won’t be only the players who will have to adapt. He and his staff will do some adjusting as well, and together they’ll need to produce a cohesive style.

“I said always we need to see the player, feel the player, see all the characteristics,” he said. “But I think we’re very flexible.” He added that he’ll need “to create this platform that when they come, the players arrive to the national team, they need to know exactly what we need to do, how we need to compete, how we need to behave like a team. And … the talent is there. It’s only to create the best platform for them to express yourself.”Pochettino promises the ‘door is open’ to every U.S. playerMauricio Pochettino says there will be no bias toward European-based players when it comes to his USMNT squad selection.

There is the question of whether Pochettino will have enough time to implement his approach. There are only nine international windows left, including the pre-World Cup period. But Pochettino doesn’t want the players using a lack of training time as an excuse if they struggle to adapt. From what he has seen, the current group of players is smart enough and has the capacity to take on new playing concepts quickly.”I see the players are so intelligent and so talented and they can, I think, play in a different way,” he said. “And for sure I think we have time. We have time and we need to really believe and think in big things. We need to believe that we can win, that we can win the World Cup. Because if not, it’s going to be so difficult to show me, and we want players that arrive in day one in the training camp and think big and that is the only way to create this philosophy or this idea altogether to perform and to really to put your talent on the service of the team.”

That isn’t to say that there won’t be any hiccups or setbacks. But Pochettino, in this moment, is thinking of what’s possible, for both players and staff.

“That is going to be a massive challenge,” he said. “We are going to be very clinical and try to transmit all the information in the same time. Players, it’s difficult to be concentrated, focused and more in this time, but I think we need to be clever enough in the way we’re approaching things to get the best from them.”

Though Pochettino was hired with an eye on the World Cup, in the short-term there are other competitions to think about. There is the Concacaf Nations League in November and March. Then comes next summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup, which will have a more familiar tournament setting with a group stage and knockout rounds.Granted, they won’t involve a World Cup competition level, but given how the U.S. has struggled against Concacaf foes lately, it’s not an event at which the team can turn up its nose. Pochettino seems willing to take things step-by-step.”For me, the priority now is improve, improve and improve and provide the team the best tools for the talent to perform as soon as possible,” he said.After a brutal summer, improvement would be a welcome development.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 13: Mauricio Pochettino speaks to the media during a press conference to introduce him as the United States Men's National Team Head Coach at Hudson Yards on September 13, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Luke Hales/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Mauricio Pochettino aims to bolster belief as USMNT role takes him outside his comfort zone

Paul Tenorio Sep 13, 2024 The Athletic

The question came 20 minutes into Mauricio Pochettino’s introductory press conference as U.S. men’s national team coach; the first query of the event in his native Spanish.“It’ll give me a break,” Pochettino joked at the chance to rest his English.“What was the challenge that made you want to take the U.S. job?” the journalist The question got to the root of an issue that hovered over the entire event at a glitzy high rise in New York City’s Hudson Yards development. Why would a manager with such a massive reputation see this as his next step?The 52-year-old former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager spoke first about the feeling he had meeting with U.S. Soccer executives, and then about the great potential of the sport in the U.S. Then he got to the task at hand: taking the USMNT to a different level. “It’s a challenge that takes us out of our comfort zone,” Pochettino said in Spanish, smiling. “For us, the easy thing to do is take on things we already know, and we already have a quick vision and an idea (of how to accomplish it). But here it is about taking on something one does not know as well; getting out of your comfort zone so that you can challenge yourself.“It is not only about a challenge to achieve things together but also about challenging yourself.”

CEO of U.S. Soccer JT Batson, technical director Matt Crocker, Pochettino and president Cindy Parlow (Luke Hales/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Whether knowingly or not, Pochettino put himself on a parallel path with his new team. For several cycles, the idea of “getting out of your comfort zone to grow” has been a part of the USMNT’s journey toward improvement. The idea dates back to Jurgen Klinsmann’s era, but it was also discussed often by former coach Gregg Berhalter.But the idea is about more than just going to Europe to play for the biggest clubs. It is about understanding how to find the right challenges that force you to grow. To get better.That Pochettino sees this job as a challenge for his own growth was, perhaps, the most important takeaway from Friday’s press conference. The U.S. needed a new voice to push them to take that next step, beyond potential and into results. They will now begin that journey with a coach who has a bigger reputation than anyone else in the room but who is seeking that same type of growth.Pochettino came across as charming, excited and motivated in the press conference. He spoke about how happy he was to be with the U.S., about the honor of being the first Spanish-speaking Latin American coach in the history of the program, and of his connection with U.S. women’s coach Emma Hayes and the potential influence the winning history of the USWNT can have on the men’s program. He told a story about learning the English-language term of being “over the moon” in his early days as manager of Southampton in the Premier League and said he and his family are over the moon that he has taken this new job. That he switched back and forth between English and Spanish was, in itself, a historic moment and representative of how this hire creates an unprecedented opportunity for U.S. Soccer to reach this country’s massive — and growing — Latino population. Pochettino clearly understood, though, that reaching fans, both new and old, will come down to one thing: winning.

Pochettino is presented to the media at Hudson Yards (Luke Hales/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Several times over the course of the morning, Pochettino returned to a simple idea that he thinks can push this team forward: belief. He said the word “believe” a dozen times over the course of the hour-long event. For a coach famous for his ability to inspire a dressing room, it hinted at the way he’ll target mentality and psychology as much as he will tactics. “’Believe’ for me is a word that is a powerful word,” Pochettino said. “You can have enormous talent and you can be clever, but in football, you need to believe. Believe that all is possible. If we find a way to believe all together, then for sure we will achieve.”

Later, he reinforced that idea with his sights set on the World Cup tournament the U.S. will co-host with Mexico and Canada in two years’ time. “We need to really believe in big things,” Pochettino said. “Believe that we can win not only a game, we can win the World Cup. … We want players that show up, day one at the training camp, and think big. That is the only way to create this philosophy or this idea all together to perform and to put your talent in the service of the team. That is going to be our massive challenge.” Bringing that belief back will be first on his to-do list as the USMNT coach. The U.S. was clearly lacking confidence in the September window, something Pochettino said was understandable considering the results in the Copa América. The performances in a loss to Canada and a draw with New Zealand only magnified the issues within the group. Pochettino, though, didn’t seem overly concerned with the overall culture of the group, alluding then to the idea of tapping into the “winning mentality” that permeates American sports and taking inspiration from the winning culture the U.S. women have long demonstrated.

“We are here because we want to win,” Pochettino said.

The video board announces Pochettino’s appointment at the friendly against New Zealand in Cincinnati (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

There were, of course, ideas about how to play discussed as well.

“We are in the USA,” Pochettino said. “I think to convince our fans, this is about to attract (them), and the aesthetic is really important. We want to play nice football, good football, exciting football, attacking football. And then, of course, we want to have the possession, because we are coaching staff also with a philosophy to have the ball. We need to run, we need to move, we need to give options, good angles to your team-mate. … And then when we don’t have the ball we need to run, we need to be aggressive, we need to be competitive. “The potential is there. The talent is there. It’s only to create the best platform for them to express themselves.” While Pochettino acknowledged that those are the trademarks of his team, he also said he wants first to get a feel for his players before he declares how this U.S. team will play. That process will start in the coming days, as Pochettino inevitably goes to sit and meet with members of the player pool, chief among them star winger Christian Pulisic. Pochettino said he wants to hear from members of the team individually, to get feedback on how they see things. Then he will gather the group together for the first time next month for friendlies in Austin, Texas and Guadalajara, Mexico. The process to get a deal over the line has been a long one, stretching more than two months from the beginning of recruitment to his formal introduction. Pochettino admitted it was difficult to wait it out. He was ready to get to work. Now, the clock has started. The U.S. has less than two years until the World Cup and a mountain to climb to be ready. They have a coach, though, that few would have imagined would take this group into that tournament.

A coach who now will try to inject belief into and around this team.

Inside Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT deal: Hayes’ role, Chelsea delays and Argentine steak

Paul Tenorio and Adam Crafton The Athletic Sep 10, 2024

U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker looked down at his phone as he stood in his home gym in Southampton, England, and saw the message from Mauricio Pochettino.Several days earlier, the U.S. had failed to progress from the group at Copa America under Gregg Berhalter. A “comprehensive review” was underway and every option was being evaluated. A list of potential coaching candidates was put together and Pochettino, the former Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager, was at the top.Pochettino and Crocker had crossed paths for one year at Southampton before the Argentine moved to Spurs in 2014 but the two hadn’t spoken in some time. Crocker reached out to a mutual friend at Southampton to ask if he had a current number for the 52-year-old, then sent him a message. Would he be interested in a chat?

When the message from Pochettino came back, Crocker picked up the phone to call immediately. For 20 minutes, as Crocker stood in his home gym, the two former colleagues caught up on their families, careers and where life had taken them since they last worked together. Then, Crocker asked if Pochettino would be willing to meet in person in Barcelona, where the former Espanyol player and manager lives. He had a project he thought would be interesting, even if it would be Pochettino’s first foray into international soccer. Pochettino agreed to see him.

Matt Crocker was already close to Mauricio Pochettino (Candice Ward/Getty Images)

On July 16, two days after the Copa America final, Crocker, U.S. Soccer chief executive officer JT Batson and vice-president of sporting operations Elaine Lemos boarded planes to Barcelona. There, in a conference room attached to a hotel suite, the federation executives sat down with Pochettino and his longtime assistant Jesus Perez. They gifted a bottle of wine to Pochettino, who is known for loving his reds, and then got straight down to business.Crocker and Batson laid out the project, the good and the bad. They went over the failure at Copa America and the USMNT’s results over the previous year. They detailed the plan for the 2026 World Cup, to be played largely on home soil. They went through a player pool which some see as a golden generation, but also highlighted the struggles some of them were going through in terms of regular minutes at their respective clubs. They didn’t want to shine everything up to look perfect.

Soon, Pochettino and Perez had a laptop out to go over their own plans and ideas. Pochettino was attracted to the idea of coaching at a World Cup, and of leading one of the 2026 version’s three host countries — especially the United States, a young team with the potential to make noise at a home tournament.A meeting that was supposed to last 90 minutes stretched to two hours, then three, then four. At one point, Batson had to step into an adjacent room to attend another USSF meeting.When the sitdown with Pochettino ended, both camps walked away with a positive feeling. But Crocker and Batson knew there was still lots of work to do. The search for a new coach would take the U.S. Soccer officials through almost a dozen trips around Europe, to five different countries and into conversations with several high-profile candidates. But it was that first meeting in Barcelona that set them on a path to the next era of the U.S. men’s national team.The journey to that potentially program-changing moment, recounted to The Athletic by several people familiar with the discussions who will remain anonymous to protect relationships, was both a whirlwind and an excruciating waiting game.

The list of candidates sparkled with big names.

Pochettino. Jurgen Klopp. Pep Guardiola. Gareth Southgate. Graham Potter. Thomas Frank.

When Crocker sat down with Sam Gregory, the director of analytics for U.S. Soccer, to craft an idea of what might come next for the U.S. men’s program, it started with one major data point: winning. Crocker wanted a coach who had a reputation for winning across several environments. That list, obviously, yielded some big names. Many already had high-profile jobs. Others were available.Deep dives were done on each coach, no matter how famous, laying out their style of play at different teams and the systems they prefer. In the end, it yielded a starting point for the coaching search. The U.S. wanted to be ambitious. They were going to shoot for even the biggest names on the list.As Crocker picked up the phone and began making calls, the responses were overwhelmingly positive. The U.S. expected some polite ‘no, thank yous’ but heard ‘yes’ a lot more often. Meetings were set up with around half a dozen candidates. A plan was crafted.Crocker, Batson and other U.S. Soccer officials had sat in a conference room at the Westin Jersey City hotel ahead of a U.S. women’s national team Olympic send-off game against Mexico at the nearby Red Bull Arena on July 13 and looked over the itinerary for the next week in Europe. The trip was extensive, but the names on the list created genuine excitement.The journey didn’t always go as planned. Batson’s flight from Berlin after the men’s European Championship final later that week had to return to the airport due to smoke in the cabin, causing him to miss a meeting. On another trip, U.S. Soccer officials’ cab was pulled over by local authorities and then another taxi was held up by a protest blocking the roads, meaning the officials had to complete the journey on foot, luggage in tow, to make a meeting on time. There were multiple meetings with Klopp, who needed a break from the game having left Liverpool in May after more than eight years at the Premier League club.

U.S. Soccer officials met with Klopp multiple times (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Talks with Pochettino continued to move along smoothly. Four days after their first meeting, U.S. Soccer officials returned to Barcelona to talk again with Pochettino and Perez. Whereas U.S. Soccer led the first conversation, the second was led by the two coaches. Pochettino laid out what his plans would look like for his first few months in charge of the national team.U.S. women’s national team coach Emma Hayes was also involved. Hayes and Pochettino became friends at Chelsea, when she was in charge of the women’s side last season as he led the men’s team, and Hayes called Pochettino to lobby and tell him about her experiences with U.S. Soccer. She also served as a reference for him, advocating for U.S. Soccer to prioritize her former colleague.Hayes was involved enough that, on the day of her team’s Olympic semifinal in Lyon, France, she checked in with U.S. Soccer officials at the squad hotel to see how things were advancing with Pochettino.Between that semifinal win against Germany on August 6 and the gold medal game in Paris against Brazil four days later, Crocker, Batson and U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone took another trip to Barcelona. Parlow Cone, like Hayes, was a strong advocate pushing for Pochettino. Over Argentine steak at a hotel restaurant, Pochettino pointed out his respect for Parlow Cone as the only World Cup winner in the room.At the USWNT’s gold medal celebration party at the Nike Athlete House in Paris, Crocker and Batson took a moment in one corner of the festivities to discuss next steps. There was still plenty to be done.

From the moment U.S. Soccer decided to move on from Berhalter, Crocker was insistent that the federation would not be limited by financial constraints.“It’s a really competitive market out there, salary-wise, and we have to be competitive to get the level of coach that I believe can take the program forward in terms of achieving the results that we want on the field,” Crocker told a small group of reporters on a Zoom call on July 10.Berhalter made north of $2 million (£1.53m at current rates), including bonuses, in 2022. Hayes is being paid $1.6m, matching Berhalter’s base salary. To get Pochettino, who has been one of the world’s highest-paid coaches at some of the world’s biggest clubs, U.S. Soccer knew it would have to be on the higher end of national team compensation. How it would do that included some creative solutions.

Gregg Berhalter was paid significantly less than Pochettino will get (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, U.S. Soccer increased its efforts in fundraising over the last decade. That included efforts to reach higher-wealth individuals who might be able to help with efforts to donate toward the federation’s efforts to grow the game.As the men’s managerial search got underway, a donor to U.S. Soccer reached out to billionaire Ken Griffin, who has given more than $2 billion to charity and has established a civic engagement initiative called Griffin Catalyst for his personal philanthropic and community impact initiatives.Griffin has long had a connection to the sport. He played soccer growing up, his children did the same and in 2022 he joined the Ricketts family in a bid for Chelsea. Notably, Griffin has also financially supported American soccer initiatives, including donating $8 million in recent years to the U.S. Soccer Foundation to build 50 mini-pitches in Chicago and another 50 in the Miami-Dade area.The donor connected Griffin to U.S. Soccer, and Griffin agreed to donate a substantial amount toward the men’s national team program and the hire of a new coach.“Soccer is one of the most popular sports in America,” Griffin said in a statement. “I am excited to join my fellow Americans in supporting our teams’ efforts to triumph in the upcoming World Cup and beyond. When our players do well on the pitch, it expands the reach of this great sport. These athletes also have a powerful opportunity to be influential role models for millions of American children by exemplifying the values of teamwork, dedication, and perseverance.”But finding the money to pay Pochettino was not the only issue. The coach was still under contract with Chelsea, despite agreeing to part ways with the London club at the end of the 2023-24 season. He was owed a substantial amount of money, but the agreement stipulated that if he took another job, Chelsea no longer owed him anything. Pochettino’s departure terms also included a six-month prohibition from taking another leading job with one of Chelsea’s major Premier League rivals.

While U.S. Soccer’s salary was competitive on the national-team scale, it fell well short of the wage paid by one of the sport’s biggest clubs. Pochettino, then, would stand to lose money by agreeing to coach the United States team.Batson became the key middleman in the negotiation around that separation agreement. The idea was that Chelsea would pay what they owed minus the salary U.S. Soccer would pay Pochettino. In theory, everyone would be happy: the coach would receive the full compensation he was due, Chelsea would save several million dollars and U.S. Soccer would land their coach.The U.S. federation had a good relationship with the English club — which has American co-owners in private equity firm Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly — after already dealing with Chelsea in its hiring of Hayes last year as the women’s national team coach.

Emma Hayes was an advocate for Pochettino (Patricia De Brad Smith/USSF via Getty Images)

But discussions dragged out for weeks over Pochettino.With the Premier League’s summer transfer window still open, Chelsea had to focus on getting business done and that delayed substantive talks. Pochettino was also focused on helping his footballer son Maurizio land a new club; the 23-year-old would end up signing with CD Ibiza in Spain’s fourth division. The talks were always constructive, but they were also complicated.Behind the scenes in the States, those waiting for word that the deal was done saw a finish line that kept moving. Preparations were made for an announcement on more than one occasion. The initial hope was to get Pochettino in time for the team’s September camp, but that didn’t happen. Then, the goal was to make an announcement in time for him to meet the players in Kansas City around the game there against Canada last week. Perhaps it was better he wasn’t there in person to see a listless performance against Canada, one that underlined just how badly this team is in search of inspiration.

Amid the delays, there was fresh tension over the futures of Eddie Howe at Newcastle United and Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Pochettino was among the coaches discussed by Manchester United in the summer and also has pre-existing relationships with Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell and performance director James Bunce. But he resisted any temptation to hold out for a potential return to the Premier League this fall.

The Athletic has every angle covered on Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment as USMNT head coach:

With the fate of the deal in the hands of lawyers, and Batson continuing to broker things to try to get it over the line, an agreement was finally finished.

The deal protects U.S. Soccer against any risk of poaching from a European club in the two years before the World Cup — there is a material buyout in the contract — and both sides feel the partnership is solidly set through 2026.Pochettino is going into the job with eyes wide open and with real intent regarding what he can do. After stops at clubs where there were different levels of instability and power dynamics, he felt confident in his ability to lead and make an impact at U.S. Soccer; not just with the men’s national team but even beyond that into the coaching and game models throughout the federation.

Who are the biggest USMNT winners and losers as Mauricio Pochettino takes over?

By Elias Burke Sep 11, 2024

In the aftermath of Gregg Berhalter’s firing, it became clear that the USMNT was looking for something different for their next appointment.Matt Crocker, the technical director for the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), identified the need for a “serial winner.” Tyler Adams, Berhalter’s captain at the 2022 World Cup, called for a “ruthless” coach to take the team forward to the 2026 World Cup being played largely on home soil — the defining tournament for this generation of American soccer players.In Mauricio Pochettino, the USSF is confident it has found the man who embodies those qualities.The Argentinian former Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea head coach has the job of turning a team that suffered an embarrassing group-stage exit as Copa America hosts this summer into one capable of going deep enough in 2026 to take soccer to another level in the United States.Here, The Athletic has analyzed the fit of the USMNT’s most prominent stars under their new boss.

Christian Pulisic — Winner

Helping develop Harry Kane at Tottenham. Fitting Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe into one PSG team. Facilitating the emergence of Cole Palmer at Chelsea. Pochettino loves to build the attacking parts of his sides around headline-grabbing forwards. With the USMNT, Pulisic is the most likely candidate.The 25-year-old has been involved with the senior national team since he was 17 and has become its star attacker. His tears became the symbol of the USMNT’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals, and his importance to American success in this sport continues to grow.Pochettino is expected to hand Pulisic the keys to his attack, providing the AC Milan forward with a level of responsibility he relishes. After a defining 2023-24 season at San Siro, Pulisic is in the form of his professional career. Under Pochettino, the onus is going to be on him to carry that form into the international sphere.

The 2024 Christian Pulisic: Leader, superstar… change maker?

Gio Reyna — Winner

Reyna has established himself in the USMNT starting line-up over the past 12 months, but Pochettino’s experience of developing No 10s suggests he could now reach another level. Across Pochettino’s five years in charge of Tottenham, he helped Christian Eriksen develop from a young talent with elite potential into one of the best midfield creators in the world. Could Reyna follow a similar path?Reyna has experienced a difficult couple of years since the World Cup in Qatar, failing to establish himself as a key player at Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. He went on loan to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League for the second half of last season but could not establish himself as they battled to avoid relegation.The 21-year-old has the talent to become a star under Pochettino, but before the new head coach entrusts him with an important role Reyna, who played only nine minutes in Dortmund’s first two games of the season, must find consistent football at the club level.

(Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah — Winners

Workhorse midfielders have been central to Pochettino’s teams.Last summer, Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo for £115million ($146m) from fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion to add dynamism to his midfield engine room, alongside Enzo Fernandez. At Southampton, his first gig in English football a decade ago, former Northern Ireland international Steven Davis provided the running alongside Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama, with the latter then being signed by Spurs after he became manager there. For the U.S., McKennie and Musah seem set to battle for that role under Pochettino.With a World Cup and Copa America cycle now behind them, Musah and McKennie are seasoned operators for the national team, and it will be up to the new manager to decide which of them best suits his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. McKennie, 26, is more experienced, started all three group games at the Copa America, and will probably be the favorite to assume the right-sided central midfield role initially.However, Musah is younger at 21 and has considerable potential, particularly as a passer and ball-carrier. Pochettino, who has never been afraid to give young players time and opportunities to impress, is the perfect boss for him to take the next step and own that spot in midfield.

The Athletic has every angle covered on Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment as USMNT head coach:

Tyler Adams — Loser

When fit, Adams is one of the first names on the USMNT team sheet.He was at his best at the 2022 World Cup, with his finest performance at that tournament — and arguably his international career — coming in the goalless group-stage draw against England. Facing Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount, Adams was crucial in the USMNT winning the midfield battle and controlling large portions of the game, earning him the player of the match award.Since then though, Adams’ career has plateaued. After suffering a season-ending hamstring injury with Leeds United in March 2023, he has endured several setbacks, causing him to miss most of last season. He made his long-awaited return to competitive USMNT action at Copa America, playing in all three matches before aggravating a back injury that caused him to miss the final part of new club Bournemouth’s league campaign. He is sidelined again for the opening months of the new season following back surgery.The 25-year-old is far from finished at club and international level, you’d imagine. He has proven his quality in the Premier League and for his nation, and Pochettino will be keen to see him back to his best, with the defensive midfield spot in his system tailor-made for Adams’ qualities.

That said, without the cushion of his strong performances under Berhalter guaranteeing his selection, Adams must prove he can still reach the physical level required from a Pochettino midfielder.

(Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Chris Richards — Winner

The present and future at the heart of the USMNT defense.Alongside Denmark international Joachim Andersen, Richards excelled under Oliver Glasner for Crystal Palace in the second half of last season, stepping up to prove his quality after England international Marc Guehi was injured.Throughout former Argentina international defender Pochettino’s time in management, athletic ball-playing center-backs have been important, allowing his sides to build attacking moves from defense and operate a high line. Richards, 24, suits this perfectly, and he appears set to become a nailed-on starter ahead of and during the next World Cup, provided he stays injury-free and continues to play club football consistently at a high level.

Tim Ream — Loser

Ream was among Berhalter’s most reliable servants, but it might be time for the United States to evolve beyond him.His selection was backed by his consistent performances in an American shirt and for Fulham in the Premier League and Championship. However, Ream will be 37 next month and has now left the Premier League and is playing in MLS for Charlotte. Although Pochettino is not against relying on older center-backs — Thiago Silva remained an essential part of his Chelsea backline last season despite turning 39 last September.There is also the question mark of what comes after Ream for the States on the road to World Cup 2026, with Cameron Carter-Vickers largely unproven at the international level and Miles Robinson yet to test himself outside MLS. Without any apparent alternatives, Pochettino’s best solution might be sticking with Ream in the short term.However, any physical decline could limit Pochettino’s desire to implement his attacking style. As mentioned with Richards, the Argentinian likes to play high up the pitch with defenders who can cover the space behind him, which could expose Ream.

Folarin Balogun — Winner

Balogun could be the player who benefits most from Pochettino’s arrival.

More than Palmer, Eriksen, Son or Dele Alli, the player Pochettino developed most in his Premier League years was Kane.

When Pochettino joined Spurs in 2014, the current England captain was a 21-year-old on the fringe of the first team. He had scored four goals in 19 games across competitions the previous season following several indifferent loan spells to lower-league clubs. Within five years, he had become one of the best strikers in the world, scoring 169 goals in 242 appearances under Pochettino.

It’s been a while since the USMNT had a reliable goalscorer, and Balogun’s performances at Copa America indicated he could be the player to make the No 9 shirt his own.

It’s difficult for an international coach to have a game-changing impact on an individual, considering the limited time they get with the players, but it might only take a few minor adjustments to take Balogun from a good striker to a world-class one.

Matt Turner — Loser

At the other end of the pitch, Turner’s place in the team has never been less secure since winning the No. 1 shirt under Berhalter.Having looked set to be Nottingham Forest’s third-choice goalkeeper this season, he now seems certain to be Crystal Palace’s second-choice after securing a season-long loan to the London club on the final day of the summer transfer window.The move is unlikely to help him in his search for regular Premier League football but his case to continue as Pochettino’s No 1 is supported by the lack of competition. Ethan Horvath’s early-season form for Cardiff City in the second-tier Championship has been patchy. Gaga Slonina, the nation’s brightest young talent in his position, is playing at Barnsley in England’s third tier on loan from top-flight Chelsea, and the rest of the starting options available to Pochettino are in MLS.If Turner can break into Palace’s team and find his best form, the shirt appears his for the foreseeable future… if not, he opens the door for challengers.

(Aric Becker/AFP via Getty Images)

Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest — Winners

Robinson and Dest have the ideal playing profiles for Pochettino’s system, in which emphasis is placed on full-backs who provide width and further cover in midfield.At Spurs, he used Kyle Walker and Danny Rose in these roles, playing them high and wide to help stretch the opposition’s defense and allow interior attackers to operate in the vacated spaces.Towards the end of last season with Chelsea, he used right-back Malo Gusto similarly but allowed Marc Cucurella to ‘invert’ from the left side, providing another body in midfield to help the team keep possession while also providing another barrier in the middle of the pitch to protect against transitions.Given Robinson’s electric pace and threat from wide positions, he appears a perfect fit. Dest could go to another level under Pochettino with his quality in possession helping to cut through opposing teams and provides the USMNT with defensive cover if their attacks break down.

(Top photos: Getty Images)

Reflecting on Alex Morgan’s career: The athlete, the fighter, the human

Meg Linehan THe Athletic – Sep 12, 2024

SAN DIEGO — Last week, I tossed out my plans to be in Washington D.C. for a different NWSL match and booked a last-minute flight to San Diego. I then stood on the field at Snapdragon Stadium, staring through my camera lens at Alex Morgan, the athlete, one more time. I watched every microexpression flicker past, every smile, every time she blinked back tears, and the times she failed to. I pressed the button every time something felt like it could somehow capture the magnitude of the moment, yards away but able to compress the distance between us simply with a twist of the lens. There was distance too — there had to be — between Alex Morgan, the image, and Alex Morgan, the human. When Morgan stepped off the pitch in her socks on Sunday, boots in hand, it had only been three days since she had announced her retirement from professional soccer at age 35.The lack of notice and Morgan’s lengthy video explaining her decision, announcing that she and husband Servando Carrasco are expecting their second child, meant there would be no long farewell tour. Fans would only have days, not months, to contemplate what women’s soccer would look like without Morgan on the field.Her abrupt retirement set off a scramble, all the emotions of sending off one of the game’s best, grappling to define a legacy — or better yet, the first act. Morgan isn’t going too far, the same way most of her generation of women’s soccer players haven’t either. They are builders. Fighters. Morgan is no different, and she is ready to invest in Act Two.

Morgan in her final game (Meg Linehan/The Athletic)

Morgan was excellent at curating what she presented, and why, for over a decade. She came into the game right as social media changed how people interacted with women’s soccer, from the then-niche #WPSChat to Twitter, then Instagram, then TikTok, allowing players to tell their own stories. A weekly online chat with topics feels quaint now women’s soccer has finally begun to crack mainstream culture (outside of World Cup bumps) over the past few years. Before all that happened, Morgan was the one who had broken through the most.Part of this was because she, in many ways, fit a stereotypical mold, a pretty, white, ‘girl next door’ who could bang in goals and sell Nikes. But what has made Morgan so fascinating to watch over the past decade was how she wielded that particular image; the way she could stockpile goodwill, recognition and power, then deploy them in pursuit of equal pay, better working conditions and player protections across country and club.Morgan wasn’t just an image or a mouthpiece for labor-related fights. She dug into policy work and organizing across both the USWNT and NWSL players’ associations. She knew the power of her platform, her image, her name, and how to extend it to others. She knew when to step back, when to step forward, when to stand side-by-side with someone. When Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly shared their stories of abuse suffered in the NWSL, Morgan put her name on her quotes — not just because she knew that she would be unlikely to suffer retaliation, but because she knew she could help to amplify their voices.On Sunday, Shim was with Morgan’s family watching her final moments on the field. On the opposite coast only a few hours before, Gotham FC honored Farrelly for her retirement — also out of her own hands, due to the cumulative impact of head injuries sustained throughout her career.

It was fitting that these three be tied together, one more time.

“It’s just incredible what you can do when you listen to players, when you value players, when you pay players, when players have autonomy over where they want to live and what team they want to play for. The longevity of our careers grows with all of what I just named, and Sinead was a pivotal piece in that,” Morgan said in her post-game press conference on Sunday. “So to share the same retirement date with her, because although we have very different journeys, we fought for the same thing, and the league is in a better place because of her.”That’s not to say Morgan was all business all the time.Morgan was sneaky good at being online without actually being online. She knew when a post pointing out an issue could have an impact and she didn’t mind embracing a meme or two. (Did she ever fully come around on the ‘Baby Horse’ nickname? Probably not, but she also ate carrots and fed an actual baby horse on camera for U.S. Soccer content, so there was at least a begrudging acceptance.) And no one enjoyed the challenge of figuring out how many drinks could fit into a new trophy more.

(Meg Linehan/The Athletic)

But be the face of anything, and there’s bound to be consequences.In her farewell speech, Morgan thanked fans for criticizing her. For years, teams sold tickets off Morgan’s fame, and it worked — to the chagrin of fans of her opponents at times. She could kick up entire news cycles by deciding to play overseas as people questioned what it meant for the NWSL, first with Lyon in France then a brief stint with Tottenham Hotspur during the height of the pandemic. (As we found out, it meant little for NWSL, but Spurs players did wind up with better training conditions thanks to Morgan.)While Morgan wasn’t alone in getting deals and building a following, she was one of the best.Fortunately for Morgan, she was also pretty good at soccer. Some of her best memories, she said before the game on Friday, were from winning. Winning offered a respite from the weight of the work.“You’re on auto drive. Like you feel when you have the blinders on and you’re just looking forward,” Morgan said. With winning, came celebrations. With celebrations, humanity:“You get to be human again, you’re not just an athlete. That’s the best part. We’re all humans, and we all have emotions, and we all have vulnerabilities. And in sports, a lot of times you’re so shut off from that, you’re so disconnected from your emotions, from the real world, because you’re so driven.”

Morgan said sometimes she felt like she hadn’t smiled for weeks at a time — something she didn’t realize until after the end had come.

Those moments when she could smile and celebrate, the ticker tape parades down Broadway in New York City, were when she felt most human. Not, as she said on Friday, “this robotic thing on this platform. But I’m a sister, I’m a daughter, I’m a friend.”

On Sunday, Morgan finally had a moment for those two worlds to collide, to be an athlete and more. To have her daughter, Charlie, with her for the walkouts and anthem, and to stand with her family on the pitch and soak in all the sounds of the adoring San Diego crowd, scattered with folks who had traveled on short notice from all over the country.

“There have been so many incredible moments, but this one, this last moment I share on the field with you, I will cherish forever,” Morgan said, having mostly succeeded at keeping the tears at bay. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.”

(Top photo: Jose Breton / Pics Action / NurPhoto; design: Dan Goldfarb)

Meg Linehan is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers the U.S. women’s national team, the National Women’s Soccer League and more. She also hosts the weekly podcast “Full Time with Meg Linehan.” Follow Meg on Twitter

Atlanta United parts ways with vice president, technical director Carlos Bocanegra

ATLANTA, GA September 29: Atlanta United Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra is interviewed prior to the start of the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United FC on September 29th, 2021 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

By Felipe Cardenas

Sep 4, 2024

Atlanta United announced on Wednesday that the club has parted ways with vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra.

The former U.S. men’s national team captain had been in the role since 2015. Atlanta made their MLS debut in 2017.

“We are deeply appreciative of Carlos’s dedication and success over the last nine years with Atlanta United,” said club president and CEO Garth Lagerwey in a statement.

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“However, I believe it’s time for our club to move in a new direction. While we will continue to fight for a playoff spot down the final stretch of the season, this gives us a clean slate and a runway to properly assess all vacancies in our sporting operation ahead of what will be an extremely important offseason for our club.”

Atlanta United currently sits ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings, which is the final automatic playoff spot. They’ve lost five of their last 10 matches under interim head coach Rob Valentino. During the most recent MLS summer transfer window, Bocanegra signed Russia international Aleksei Miranchuk to replace Thiago Almada, who was sold to Brazilian club Botafogo.

Bocanegra, alongside former team president Darren Eales, led the club’s front office during Atlanta’s 2018 MLS Cup title campaign. Eales left for Newcastle United in 2022 to become the Premier League side’s CEO. That left Bocanegra in charge of Atlanta United’s recruitment strategy, as well as overseeing the first team. Atlanta’s form and player recruiting strategy has since been under heavy scrutiny as the team has underperformed consistently since 2020.

“I want to personally thank Carlos for his many contributions to the success of Atlanta United on and off the pitch,” team owner Arthur Blank said. “He was here from the beginning and deserves much credit for our MLS Championship; other trophies we’ve won over the last nine years; and the way our team captured the heart of this city even before we launched in 2017.”

Lagerwey will take over Bocanegra’s duties moving forward. Since firing former manager Gonzalo Pineda in June, Lagerwey has personally managed the search for a new coach. He’ll now add a sporting director search to his list of duties. Because the MLS regular season is still active, qualified candidates are likely to become available in the offseason.

Atlanta United’s next match is at home against Nashville SC on September 14.

7/12/24 Euro Final England vs Spain 3 pm Sun Fox, Copa Arg vs Col Sun 8 pm FS1, USWNT vs Mexico 3:30 TNT, Sat Indy 11 home Sat 7 pm, US coach search starts

July 12, 2024July 13, 2024 gatorbest copa-america, england, euro-2024, indy-11, soccer

US ladies Olympic Prep vs Mexico Sat 3:30 pm on TNT

Emma Hayes will have 2 more games to get the US ladies ready for the ever important Olympics with 2 games this week before they take off for Paris. They did announce that Catarina Macario is still nursing a sore knee and will be replaced by Alternate Lynn Williams. Too bad – would have been great to get Macario the experience. Either way the US ladies were shocked by Mexico the last time they played them – so this game should serve as a little payback time and give us a decent feel for how this new look US team under Hayes will perform against a decent team.

2024 U.S. Olympic women’s soccer roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (6): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), ~~Catarina Macario (Chelsea)~~ Lynn Williams NY Gothem

FORWARDS (5): Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)

ALTERNATES (4): Jane Campbell (goalkeeper, Houston Dash), Hal Hershfelt (midfielder, Washington Spirit), Croix Bethune (midfielder, Washington Spirit), Lynn Williams (forward, NJ/NY Gotham FC)

Euro Finals – England vs Spain – Sun 3 pm Fox

So the Euro’s and the Copa American Finals this Sunday wrap up the 1^st half of a crazy summer of soccer. What a joy its been to watch these games. The Euro’s have been fantastic and with competitive games and two teams many predicted could reach the finals with Spain and England. I thought Germany also played great but ran into Spain too early in the Competition – I think if they had been on the other side of the bracket the two best teams were Spain and Germany. But give England credit – after looking like crap in the group stage they have come alive – albeit late in most of the games. It has made for exciting football however. I like Spain in this one 2-1 in normal time. Is it coming home England?

Copa America Finals Arg vs Colombia Sun 8 pm on Fox

So the two best teams have made it to the finals – Argentina cruised on their half of the bracket – save a scare vs Ecuador in the Quarters. Colombia however had to really battle against Uruguay playing a man down for the final 45 minutes to preserve their unbeaten streak at a world’s best 28 games. While Argentina and Messi are the prohibitive favorites headed down to the Finals in Miami – I am taking Colombia and their re-serected midfielder James – to find a way to beat the tourney’s best GK Martinez two times in route to a 2-1 win over Argentina. I will be rooting for the Messi and the blue and white – but I think the yellow clad Colombian’s are gonna find a way to win this one – maybe in Extra Time 2-1. Some great saves in this tourney – be sure to check the GK section below to see.

Copa America 3rd place Uruguay vs Canada Sat 8 pm on Fox

So the Canadians managed to make it to the Semi-Finals – while the US flamed out in the group stages. I would assume its all smiles for the US Coach Jesse Marsch who we probably should have hired last summer for the US as he managed to get his team thru. Now lets be honest they scored 3 goals to the US 4 and played 2 games up a man in a weaker group overall. But all that aside – with Uruguay down players like Nunez (red card) and others (brawl in the stands) Canada has a real chance to take 3rd place in this Copa America tourney – I will be rooting for Jesse and the Cannucks and Bakers! Go Canada.

US Needs to find the Right Coach

So I guess we’ll see if this Englishman we hired Matt Crocker is worth a crock or not. Obviously it was time for Berhalter to go zero wins against top 10 teams (Ever while head coach) will do that. And the flame out at Copa was too much to keep his job – no matter how much our players like him. I am not sure who the US gets – obviously Klopp is not coming – perhaps a Pochitino has an interesting sound to it or maybe Gareth Southgate if he wins and decides to leave England with his knighthood and take another gig. Honestly the more I see the more I think it might be Renard – the current French women’s coach (former coach of 2 men’s teams in the world cup) or some American coach like Steve Cherundolo. While I love Cherundolo – with only 3 years as a head coach and zero international coaching experience I am just not sure he or any other US coach is ready. Jesse Marsch – was probably our best shot for a US coach and he will take great pleasure trying to make sure his MLS laden Canada team outdoes the US in the World Cup.

Indy 11 home vs Loudon United Sat 7 pm @ the Mike

Indy Eleven starts a two-match homestand hosting Loudoun United FC Saturday at The Mike. This will be the eighth overall meeting between the sides, and the first of two this season. The Boys in Blue are coming off a 2-1 U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal win over MLS-side Atlanta United and tied Rhode Island, 3-3, in the last USL Championship action to remain in third in the Eastern Conference (9-5-3). Loudoun sits sixth at 7-6-4 after defeating Hartford, 3-0, its last time out. Indy Eleven made history Tuesday night, defeating Atlanta United, 2-1, to advance to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinals for the first time since opening play in the tournament in 2014. The victory was also the first for the Boys in Blue over an MLS opponent in its fourth match-up. Indy is now 8-7-1 all-time in U.S. Open Cup action and picked up its second road victory in tournament history, with the first coming in this season’s Third Round at Chicago Fire II. The Boys in Blue have outscored opponents, 8-1, in this season’s edition. Indy’s leading goal scorer in U.S. Open Cup action, Augi Williams, opened the scoring in the 31st minute off an assist from Douglas Martinez, his second helper of the tournament. The tally was the third for Williams in the Cup, scoring in the third consecutive match, while the goal was the first Atlanta had given up after opening the tournament w/a pair of shutouts. Indy 11 advance to US Open Cup Semi’s Indy 11 Radio Call

Set your calendars now for next Sat night July 20 as former Indy 11 GK & Carmel FC GK coach Jordan Farr returns with his Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7 pm at the Mike.

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

Huge Congrats to former Carmel FC & current Carmel High defender Rosie Martin (2nd row far left)– advancing to the ENCL Finals with her Indy 11 team this past weekend. Congrats Pork Chop!!

TV GAMES SCHEDULE

Sat, July 13

3:30 pm TNT, Max, Peacock US Women vs Mexico

7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs Loudon United

8 pm FS 1 Copa 3rd Canada vs Uruguay

8:30 pm Apple TV Free Austin vs Seattle Sounders

8:30 pm Apple TV Free Chicago Fire vs NYCFC

8:30 pm Apple TV Free Dallas vs LA Galaxy

9:30 pm Apple TV Free Colorado vs NY Red Bulls

10:30 pm Apple TV Free LAFC vs Columbus

Sun, July 14

3 pm Fox Euro Finals Spain vs England

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Tues, July 16

7:30 pm TNT, Max, Peacock US Women vs Costa Rica

Weds, July 17

10:30 pm FS1 LAFC vs Real Salt Lake

Fri, July 19

9 pm CBSSN Seattle Reign vs Utah Royals NWSL

Sat, July 20

7 pm ESPN+ TV 8 Indy 11 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies (Jordan Farr in goal)

8 pm CBSSN KC Current vs Houston Dash NWSL

8 pm Para+ Racing Louisville vs Monterey Fermeni NWSL tourney

10 pm CBSSN San Diego Wave vs Bay FC NWSL

10:45 pm FS1 LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers

Sun, July 21

7 pm CBSSN Portland Thorns vs Tiajuana Ladies NWSL tourney

Wed, July 24

9 am Peacock Argentina Men vs Morocco Olympics

11 am Peacock Japan Men vs Paraguay Olympics

3 pm Peacock US Men Olympics vs France

Thurs, July 25

11 am Peacock Canada Women vs New Zealand Olympics

11 am Peacock Japan Women vs Spain Olympics

1 pm Peacock Germany WNT vs Australia Olympics

3 pm Peacock USWNT Olympics vs Zambia

3 pm Peacock France WNT vs Colombia Olympics

July 27 Sat

1 pm Peacock US Men vs New Zealand

July 28 Sun

3 pm Peacock USWNT vs Germany

July 30 Tues

3 pm Peacock US Men vs Guinee

July 31 Wed

1 pm Peacock USWNT vs Australia

COPA Final Sun 7 pm 3rd place Sat

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US Ladies vs Mexico Sat 3:30 pm TNT

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Goalkeeping

Seven of the best saves at Euro 2024

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Reffing

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Euro 2024 final preview: Spain vs. England

James Olley ESPNFC Sam Marsden
- Jul 12, 2024, 04:00 AM ET

BERLIN — After a long month of continental competition stretching from one end of Germany to the other, Euro 2024 is set to conclude Sunday in Berlin, where Spain will take on England at the Olympiastadion. The paths these two teams have taken to the German capital are starkly different. Spain have been the darlings of the tournament, the only heavyweights to consistently turn in eye-catching performances that convey a coherence and clearly defined identity. England, meanwhile, have largely looked like less than the sum of their parts, but their collection of stars have managed to dig deep and grind out the results required to reach a second consecutive European Championship final. Who will emerge victorious Sunday? How will the match unfold? ESPN asked the two writers who’ve followed these teams most closely throughout Euro 2024: James Olley and Sam Marsden.

Why could England win?

England produced their best performance of the tournament by some distance in the semifinals. There is a sense of momentum behind them right now and a surging belief that comes from pulling out results late on. Jude Bellingham‘s 95th-minute equaliser against Slovakia, the penalty shootout win over Switzerland and Ollie Watkins‘ 90th-minute winner against Netherlands have created a feeling England could somehow be destined to lift their first major trophy in 58 years.

EDITOR’S PICKS

There were signs against the Dutch that England’s individual attacking talents were starting to develop an understanding and some of the combinations between Kobbie Mainoo, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in particular were exciting. Jordan Pickford is having another tournament in which he takes his game to another level, while Marc Guéhi has been a major find at centre-back. Luke Shaw‘s likely return in time for his first start of the tournament will give better balance to the team given he is a natural left-footer as opposed to Kieran Trippier, who has been filling in at left-back or left wing-back. After all the chaos of the early rounds, manager Gareth Southgate has seemingly found a degree of stability in his probable lineup. — James Olley

Why could Spain win?

No one is arguing that Spain have been the best team at Euro 2024. They have won all six matches and have already beaten hosts Germany and pre-tournament favourites France in the knockout rounds. They have done so scoring the most goals (13), creating the most chances (96) and by playing front-foot, attacking football. A lot of the focus has been on the verticality added to a previously possession-heavy side by wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal. Thanks to them, they can now go direct and cause problems in transition, although they also still manage the ball so well. They press diligently, have a nice balance to the side, a clear idea of how they want to play and in Rodri they might have the Player of the Tournament.Ballon d’Or shouts are growing for the Manchester City midfielder, and the chances are if he’s on song, Spain will win. City’s FA Cup final defeat ended a run of 74 games unbeaten for his club, but Rodri has stepped straight back into winning habits with his country.Spain were considered outsiders before the tournament, but the quiet optimism that has radiated from the camp since they opened with a 3-0 win against Croatia has proven justified. They go into the final as favourites. — Sam Marsden

Who deserves the trophy more: Southgate or De la Fuente?

Southgate for a number of reasons. Firstly, Sunday could be culmination of eight years in charge during which he has redefined the culture around the England team and broken down a series of historical barriers. He has now won more tournament knockout games than every other England manager since 1966 combined. He has secured back-to-back Euros finals, and this weekend’s is England’s first major final outside of London.It is possible to pick holes in those achievements, not least this summer in that England have had a significantly easier route to the final than Spain and the football really was terrible earlier in the tournament. A more proactive manager might have secured victory in the last Euros final against Italy as Roberto Mancini gradually took the game away from England before winning on penalties.Southgate has his flaws but he has presided over an unprecedented period of deep tournament runs, doing so more recently amid a fierce backlash from many people with short memories. Some of the criticism has been valid but throwing beer cups in his direction and booing his name when read out before kickoff is not given both his track record and sincere desire to do his nation proud. And let’s not forget his journey as a player: missing a penalty in the Euro 1996 semifinal shootout against Germany is a moment that has long threatened to define him. What a transformation it would be if he could mark eight years and 102 games as manager with a historic trophy lift. — Olley

The word “deserves” is an awkward one. Neither appointment was especially exciting at the time, but both have done good jobs. It’s easy to argue that Southgate would be a fitting winner given his trajectory with England as a player and coach and what he has done in the past eight years, including enduring extreme criticism at times during this tournament. However, if we’re just talking about what we have seen in Germany, then Luis de la Fuente edges it.

Spain’s performances have been recognisable and consistent throughout. They have taken games to opponents and not sat back once while leading. It’s an extension of the work De la Fuente has done throughout the past decade at the Spanish Football Federation. He has previously won the U19 Euros, the U21 Euros, a silver medal at the Olympic Games and the UEFA Nations League last summer. Many of the players in the senior side now played under him at youth level — including Rodri, Dani Olmo, Marc Cucurella and Pedri, among others — and those longstanding relationships, coupled with his in-tournament experience, have helped Spain prosper in Germany. — Marsden

What weaknesses could each team exploit in their opponent?

Spain might be the first side England play that are willing to allow them space on the break. If England can play through the press when they win the ball, they could create chances, although they will need to be more willing to run in behind than they have been so far — Spain play with the highest defensive line at the tournament. Goalkeeper Unai Simón has also had a couple of shaky moments. His mistake led to a Croatia penalty in the opener — which was missed — and he almost gifted Germany a goal last week, although Kai Havertz could only loft the ball onto the roof of the net.

Spain will focus on their strengths more than England’s weaknesses. They will look to Rodri and Fabián Ruiz to run the game and rely on Williams and Yamal to win their battles against the England full-backs. — Marsden

England’s inability to keep possession has been a habitual tournament failing. Although Spain are more direct under De la Fuente, they remain excellent in that regard — with Rodri the absolute master of dictating play — and so the midfield battle will be vital.

If England can get a foothold in the game, their rich array of attacking talent could exploit a vulnerable-looking Spain defence, particularly at centre-back. It would be a major surprise if Harry Kane did not start the game — unless the blow to his right foot sustained against the Netherlands is more serious than first feared — but England’s firepower off the bench could also be telling. Both Watkins and Ivan Toney have contributed key moments in this tournament to date, the former spectacularly so in scoring the 90th-minute winner against Netherlands, taking advantage of a tiring defence. His confidence will be sky high. — Olley

McManaman: Spain deserve to be favourites for Euro 2024 final

Craig Burley and Steve McManaman react to Spain’s 2-1 win over France in the Euro 2024 semifinals.

England player to watch

Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal winger’s consistency and application is so unswerving that it is easy to take him for granted. Saka was a menace against Switzerland — scoring a brilliant equaliser in that quarterfinal — and particularly in the first half against the Netherlands. But his tactical intelligence is also particularly important to England when they adopt a hybrid system. England used a back five out of possession with Saka tucking in at right wing-back but then switched to a four-man defence with the ball as the 22-year-old pushed forward to operate as a more conventional winger. His ability one-on-one is not matched by many in the game, and he will fancy the matchup against Cucurella. — Olley

Spain player to watch

Dani Olmo. Obviously Rodri, Yamal and, to a lesser extent, Williams are the key men for Spain, but England will also need to be on top of Olmo. The RB Leipzig forward started the tournament on the bench, but Pedri’s injury handed him his chance against Germany, when he scored one and assisted on the winner. He then came into the side against France, scoring the winner himself. Prior to that, he was already having an impact as a substitute. He has a tournament-high five goal contributions — three goals and two assists — and is given freedom to roam between the lines in front of Rodri and Ruiz. — Marsden

Score prediction

Spain 2-1 England. The form lines suggest Spain deserve to start this game as favourites. England keep finding a way to win — and they might do so again — but this will be the toughest challenge they have faced by some distance at these Euros, and Spain have shown a consistently higher level throughout the tournament. — Olley

Spain 3-1 England. Both teams have responded to going behind in the knockout rounds — Spain against Georgia and France, England in all three matches — so it doesn’t seem like the first goal will provide a knockout blow on this occasion. It will be tight, but Spain have been the better side throughout and there’s no reason to imagine that will drastically change Sunday. The third goal will come on the break as England chase a late equaliser. — Marsden

2024 Copa América final: Argentina-Colombia predictions

ESPN Jul 12, 2024, 07:30 AM

It’s here! After a grueling, entertaining and drama-filled month, Sunday night brings the final of the 2024 Copa America, as defending champions Argentina host Colombia in Miami. Which team will reign supreme? Will Argentina and Lionel Messi cruise to victory, or can Colombia shock them? (Game odds, per ESPNBET, point towards Argentina: they’re favored at -165 to Colombia’s +125.)

If Colombia are going to win, which players need to have a statement game? And what will Messi do at Hard Rock Stadium? ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, Lizzy Becherano and Tim Vickery offer their predictions and expectations for Sunday’s final.

1. Who will win, and why will it be Argentina?

Carlisle: I don’t think it will be Argentina winning on Sunday! Obviously, Colombia were pushed to their physical limits against Uruguay, but manager Nestor Lorenzo also maximized his substitutions in the match. James Rodríguez came off after 62 minutes. Richard Ríos was stretchered off after 61 minutes but was seen dancing afterward, proving that winning does wonders for a player’s recuperative powers.

Yes, Argentina are formidable, but as the saying goes, steel sharpens steel, and Colombia will gain immense confidence from their win over Uruguay. Argentina still look like they haven’t had to get out of third gear, though Ecuador provided a scare. I think Colombia just shade this one.

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Becherano: I actually think Colombia will be the first to overcome Argentina this tournament. La Albiceleste cruised through the group stage, really not getting tested until their quarterfinal clash against Ecuador. Lionel Scaloni’s side looked uncomfortable when facing an aggressive opponent, struggling to hold back an eager attack.

Argentina boast an extremely capable set of players, but the 2024 Copa America has yet to see a stellar, trademark performance by the group. Colombia, on the other hand, have seen each player rise to the occasion at different points of the tournament to stun the most difficult opponents. Rodriguez is channeling his form from the 2014 World Cup while Luis Díaz continues to triumph on the left. Should Lorenzo’s side capitalize on their momentum, Argentina will have a difficult time overcoming Colombia’s physicality and force.

Vickery: The worry from the Colombia point of view is how much they took out of themselves playing the semifinal for so long with 10 men, which applies more to Diaz than anyone else. This is clearly an important question given that they go to Miami with a day less to rest up, but if they can recharge their batteries, then I think Colombia are capable of doing it. The discipline of the central midfield trio will help close Argentina down, and the physicality of the strikers will cause problems, as will their strength from set pieces.

Time after time in knockout games, the Argentina defence has been known to collapse — it could have cost them in Qatar against France, Holland and Australia and here against Ecuador — and even Canada had two golden chances in the last five minutes. One day this will cost Argentina, and that day could be Sunday.

2. Which version of Messi will we see and what do you expect from him?

Carlisle: Messi’s usually razor-sharp finishing hasn’t been evident in this tournament, with his goal against Canada one of the great two-foot putts. But for Colombia, the scary part about that goal is that it can nudge Messi’s confidence just that little bit higher to get his shooting accuracy recalibrated.

The other part is that Messi has been getting into good spots from which to score. Yes, I realize this is the old adage of being concerned only if he isn’t getting chances, but you have to think that eventually if that trend continues those shots will begin to find the target. I expect that to come to pass. Then it will be up to Colombia keeper Camilo Vargas to do what he can to thwart a legend.

Becherano: Messi’s quality will continue to be evident on Sunday thanks to his unique understanding of the game, spatial awareness and ability to draw out defenders. Through the age and injuries, Messi has learned to adapt his style of play to fit the current state. The Argentine forward is capable of much more than we’ve seen this tournament, but Colombia should expect him to rise to the occasion.

Argentina’s ability to capitalize on emotions when searching for motivation cannot be taken lightly, and Messi is no different. With the criticism of recent performances and thoughts of his final Copa America, the No. 10 will be out in his newly adapted full force. He might not outrun defensive counterparts, but he needs only a minute to inspire the creation and buildup of what could be a deadly goal.

Vickery: We are watching the sunset of the god. What he does can still be brilliant, but he does less of it than he did in Qatar. Some were shocked that Scaloni left top scorer Lautaro Martínez out of the team for the semifinal, but it is easily explained, and it serves as a recognition from the coach that Messi is not far from the end at this level.

Someone has to do the hard running. Julián Álvarez can do that and also form an extra player in the midfield setup when Argentina aren’t in possession. It is very hard on Lautaro, but it is a consequence of Messi slowly losing the battle against time. It will be fascinating to see how Argentina seek to bring him into the game against the organised and physically imposing Colombians.

3. Which Colombia player needs to have a good game if they are to beat Argentina?

Carlisle: James Rodriguez is the clear candidate, especially given how deadly he has been from set pieces, though that won’t be enough for Argentina to stop him from the run of play. They’ll need to make sure they don’t concede set pieces in dangerous spots.

The defensive side of the ball will be just as critical. The centre-back tandem of Carlos Cuesta and Davinson Sánchez will need to be at their best to stop Messi and Julian Alvarez if Colombia are to come out on top.

Becherano: Naturally, all eyes will be on Rodriguez, and Lionel Scaloni should plan accordingly, but Camilo Vargas is set to face the biggest challenge on Sunday. Should he be able to retain a clean sheet while Argentina possess the ball, then Rodriguez, Luis Diaz and Jhon Córdoba can confidently play without the burden of needing to score a desperate late equalizer.

Vickery: Obviously Rodriguez, for the way he serves as a supply line for Diaz, and, perhaps most of all, for the excellent delivery of his set pieces.

4. OK, predictions time! Give us the final score and how the game will go!

Carlisle: I’m going for 2-0 Colombia, following a similar script to the Uruguay game (minus the red card). A Rodriguez set piece will put the Cafeteros ahead, with Cordoba icing it late.

Becherano: I hate to be redundant, but 2-1 Colombia. Impossible to think that Argentina won’t be able to find the back of the net after their Copa America run, but Colombia will be overpowering.

Vickery: Always make your predictions after the event! But if pushed I’m going for Colombia 2-1, possibly with a late surge. One a header from a set piece, the other from Diaz on the break.

If U.S. Soccer has a plan, trying to hire Jurgen Klopp surely can’t be part of it

By Jeff Rueter Jul 12, 2024

If we’ve learned one thing following Gregg Berhalter’s dismissal as manager of the United States men’s national team, perhaps it’s this: when an esteemed coach states they need a year away from the endless grind of their job, they likely mean it. It’s understandable that Jurgen Klopp would rebuff the advances of U.S. Soccer when he isn’t even two months removed from emotionally departing Liverpool. Still, it was worth a shot in the federation’s eyes.The German is as ambitious a target as the federation could identify. He’s a serial winner at the highest level of club football, a culture-builder who is tactically flexible within a clear guiding ideology. He’s also unemployed, removing any buyout cost, and U.S. Soccer was seemingly willing to open its salary budget.Here’s the thing: if you take Klopp’s announcement that he was leaving Liverpool in January at face value, this wasn’t the case of a coach needing a new challenge. He made this call despite having a year left on his contract. He looked beleaguered, harried by the stresses of perennially keeping up with the constant churn of managing one of the world’s most prominent clubs.Even if Klopp had decided that dabbling in international management was enough reprieve after admitting he was “running out of energy,” this would have remedied U.S. Soccer’s ongoing headaches for exactly two years.

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I’m not sure the USMNT fanbase fully appreciates the considerable gap between risk and reward if Klopp had replaced Berhalter.The best-case scenario is obvious: an ambitious hiring that makes the federation look good, a truly great coach crafting a potent batch of Schwarzwaldian lemonade from the lemons he inherited, perhaps a run to the 2026 World Cup semifinals and some fond memories when he leaves to either return to club soccer or retire outright.The worst-case scenarios would turn ongoing headaches into diagnosable migraines. One would be that Klopp was right: that he’s out of gas and he wouldn’t have the wherewithal to master the nuances that distinguish international soccer from its club alternative. Another is that he simply wouldn’t be able to handle the crash-course adaptation to international football, that he could get more out of individuals but can’t pull it into a collective in time for the World Cup. A ‘Luis Enrique’s Spain’ scenario, if you will.Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp turned down an approach from the USMNT (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

In either case, the result would be an underwhelming resolution — and a costly one. U.S. Soccer would return to the hiring desk on the back of the World Cup and feel financially strapped as they look for a longer-term alternative.So while Klopp looks very good photoshopped into a USMNT hat, the reality is that the gamble is far more expensive than an Adobe suite subscription.When a federation can’t land the best unemployed manager in the game, what does the ‘best’ hiring possible look like? It’s a question that Matt Crocker and U.S. Soccer will work to answer over the coming weeks in hopes of securing the right coach for the World Cup by September. Names will continue to churn through the rumor mill like an endless conveyor belt. A couple of my colleagues highlighted some of the buzziest options, Klopp among them.

Who should USMNT hire to replace Berhalter? Analysing Klopp, Pochettino, Vieira and others

Maybe rushing to meet Klopp’s asking price with some combination of salary, sponsor considerations and NFTs was an expensive stopgap that wouldn’t address the bigger issues at play.Is that a hiring driven by process, an approach Crocker emphasized upon reappointing Berhalter in 2023? Does that hiring respond to the issues that came during Berhalter’s brief second tenure and set the program up on better footing? Or was it an opulent scramble that could have been better planned and executed given Klopp’s months of notice?Does U.S. Soccer really know what it wants from its next men’s manager? Has it had adequate time to figure that out?“There has been progress made,” Crocker said on Wednesday in the wake of Berhalter’s firing, “but now is the time to turn that progress into winning.”Winning! That’s a great start. American sports fans are awfully fond of winning.Here’s the thing: if it was as easy as just wanting to win, the USMNT would be 22-time defending World Cup champions.Saying it’s time to win after six years of, uh, whatever they just did under Berhalter is a backhanded admittance of failure. If you set a modest budget to buy a handful of citrus trees, waited six years as they occasionally bore fruit in hopes of a bountiful harvest to come, then uprooted those trees to import an entire Brazilian grove’s worth of produce ahead of a big event… are you any better at growing citrus? And what was the point of nurturing that smaller plot in the first place?

Gregg Berhalter was dismissed on Wednesday (Eduardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images)

Crocker has sworn repeatedly that Berhalter’s second appointment was the result of arduous interviewing, research, and data-driven assessment. If that process is thrown out the window in lieu of a “spend big on famous club coaches” model, that admits a failure beyond just one hire. Trust the process, as they say — but please, keep updating the process along the way based on new information.To send a message of adjustment and ambition, there may be a temptation to skew the coaching search and prioritize candidates who aren’t from the United States. That may be an overreaction if a domestic option enters with a clear vision to get things back on track. At this point, all options have to be considered with clear eyes. Berhalter was hardly the first native son to coach the USMNT. The program has skewed domestically with all but one hire since the 1994 World Cup, when the team was led by Serbian coaching nomad Bora Milutinovic. The one exception, Jurgen Klinsmann, carries an asterisk as he’d set up roots in California years before being appointed in hopes of staying in the federation’s mind whenever Bob Bradley was dismissed. At many times, being coached by someone from the U.S. paid off. The program’s best runs in the modern era were overseen by Bruce Arena and Bradley. Both had intimate knowledge of the player pool at a time when scouting and talent identification wasn’t as effortlessly global. Both had clear ideas for how they wanted the team to get results, catering to their pools’ strengths while accounting for the weaknesses. Neither was scared to embrace stereotypical national ideas about ‘grit’ and playing direct soccer. Both used parts of that DNA to their advantage. Arena led the USMNT to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals and Bradley led the team to a runner-up finish at the 2009 Confederations Cup, beating the all-time Spanish juggernaut en route to the final. As Crocker figures out what’s ‘best’ for the next appointment, the ultimate hire may indeed be domestic. Steve Cherundolo and Pat Noonan are ex U.S. internationals who are thriving in MLS, while Jim Curtin is familiar with many players in the pool and offers a fresh perspective. If any of these or other alternatives are hired, they’ll feel increased pressure to overperform as the fanbase gets past the second Berhalter era. The ‘best’ hire may be international, too. Milutinovic helped turn a generation of USMNT players into program legends and brought a fresh perspective to set the team up for success on home soil. He brought ample experience coaching internationally, having led Mexico when it hosted the 1986 World Cup.

The USMNT, who will host the 2026 World Cup, exited the Copa America at the group stage (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

His CV is comparable to that of Herve Renard, another nomadic international manager who most recently led the France women’s national team. Renard isn’t a celebrity coach, even if he has a catalog-ready face, but he has standout accomplishments to his name: two Africa Cup of Nations titles (with Zambia in 2012 and the Ivory Coast in 2015), leading Saudi Arabia to the World Cup shock win of the century against Argentina in 2022, and leading a turbulent French team to the quarterfinal of the 2023 Women’s World Cup mere months after taking the job. He checks a lot of boxes for a possible stopgap solution with a very high upside and a low floor.ever, getting the best version of him may require a year’s worth of patience on top of lavish wages — two resources U.S. Soccer can ill afford to waste. Again, risks and rewards.Ultimately, the necessity to get this hire right extends beyond the field. You don’t need to scroll far into our comments sections to find that morale among USMNT fans is at a nadir. Depending how you value the Gold Cup, the team won’t play another high-level meaningful match until a World Cup group-stage opener in 2026. This appointment is one of the few remaining chances to galvanize the fanbase and rebuild morale to get maximum support ahead of hosting the World Cup. Crocker and federation leadership didn’t tell Tim Weah to swing an arm at the back of a defender’s head. They are, however, accountable for re-hiring a coach who didn’t set his team up to compete at the Copa America. Whoever is ultimately hired, the federation needs to make its choice with full confidence that it’s the ‘best’ option for the next two years — and they better have a clear definition of ‘best’ to justify that pick. (Top photo: Wolverhampton Wanderers FC/Wolves via Getty Images)

Gregg Berhalter’s firing and the high-stakes game soccer in the U.S. continues to play

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 14: Matt Crocker sporting director of U.S. Soccer Federation speaks during the 2023 U.S. Soccer Commercial Summit at Coke Headquarters on December 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Adam Hagy/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

By Paul Tenorio Jul 11, 2024

A little more than a year after bringing Gregg Berhalter back as men’s national-team manager, U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker sat on a video call with a small group of reporters on Wednesday evening to reflect on why that decision did not work out.When Crocker brought Berhalter back, he pointed to the coach’s “passion to develop the legacy of U.S. Soccer, not just about winning in the men’s national team, but about developing the game for the good of the game, the growth of the game in this country”.Nine days after the USMNT went out in the group stage of a Copa America played on U.S. soil, the reality of the business — that results matter more than anything else — had overridden discussion about long-term goals and the greater good.When asked why Berhalter was no longer the right voice to lead the program, Crocker had a simple answer: the federation had “clear benchmarks” for Copa America 2024 that the team did not hit.“There has been progress made,” Crocker said, “but now is the time to turn that progress into winning.”The U.S. is now fighting battles on multiple fronts. Those in charge must live up to the high expectations of a fanbase that, true or not, believes this player pool to be the best the country has produced; they must deal with the pressure not to waste the opportunity presented by a largely home World Cup in 2026, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico; and, in the shadow of this decision to fire Berhalter, they are wrestling with time.

Berhalter has been replaced after a dismal Copa America for the USMNT (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Twenty-one months will have passed between when the U.S. left the 2022 World Cup finals and when they take the field for friendlies in September. In that time, the USMNT won two continental trophies but took steps backwards in terms of results. If this cycle was about building on what was accomplished by getting to and then getting out of the group in Qatar, there should be real concerns about how much time has been spent with interim coaches or in coaching searches versus pushing things forward. Crocker said the hope is to have a new coach in place in time for those September games against Canada and New Zealand, though he has a “robust contingency plan” if that doesn’t happen.The U.S. can’t afford to wait much longer. Whoever Crocker hires will have 11 windows with the U.S. team, including the month-long CONCACAF Gold Cup next summer, before the World Cup kicks off.Crocker didn’t lay out a shortlist of candidates or hint too much at what exactly he’ll be looking for other than saying “We are looking for a serial winning coach.” The search will not be limited in its reach or by financial constraints. “I just want to get the best coach possible that can help the team win,” Crocker said. “Whether they’re from the U.S. or elsewhere.”Asked whether the search would be dictated by equal pay between the U.S. men’s national team job and new women’s national team coach Emma Hayes, who makes a reported $2million (£1.6m) a year, Crocker said he knows “it’s a really competitive market out there, salary-wise, and we have to be competitive to get the level of coach that I believe can take the program forward in terms of achieving the results that we want on the field.

“I’m also really conscious that we need to continue to drive for higher standards in equality but I don’t think that’s going to be a stumbling block in terms of our investment from our national teams. It’s a priority. It’s something we’re prepared to invest in and something that we will be investing in.”

After reappointing Berhalter only to fire him one year later, Crocker must get this next choice of coach correct.

Crocker, a Welshman hired from then Premier League club Southampton in April 2023, said he feels more confident now in his understanding of what is needed.

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“I’m a lot clearer and a lot more confident in what I see,” Crocker said. “We’re in a better place to have much more of a targeted search, where I’ll be more inclined to go hard and go early with specific candidates that I feel meet the criteria that we’re looking for… because I’ve seen it firsthand.”

In conversations over the past few days, criticisms around this team from outside observers and sources connected to the group’s inner circle have centered on the idea that players are too comfortable in the USMNT environment.

Crocker started work with U.S. Soccer in April 2023 (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

That was reflected in some of the disciplinary issues in the team, they said, namely Sergiño Dest’s red card in Trinidad last November and Tim Weah’s first-half one against Panama in the second of the three group matches at Copa America, but also in what some believe is an environment where some American players are “untouchable”, no matter form or fitness.

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While the culture of the team was considered a strength in the last cycle, the new coach will be tasked with ensuring that it doesn’t become a weakness leading into that home World Cup.

In addition, though much of the fans’ blame for the team’s failures was put on Berhalter, his exit should now put more accountability and scrutiny on the player pool to live up to the hype. It’s an idea center-back Tim Ream hinted at after the Uruguay loss that meant elimination from this tournament.

“This is a fantastic group, as everyone knows, and one that is very close, but sometimes the intensity falls through the cracks,” Ream told broadcaster Univision. “We have to continue to put our heads down and continue to work, continue to be humble enough to know there are things we can continue to improve, every single day.

“If guys have that mindset, then they can continue to be on an upward trajectory. When we start to think that we are a finished product, then guys are going to stagnate and just stay at the level they are at.”

The stakes are as high as ever.

Crocker wasn’t wrong last summer when he discussed how success will be gauged in 2026 — not just by winning, but by transforming on-field success into capturing a wider audience and further developing the sport in this country.

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USMNT had questions before its Copa America exit. Now those get even louder

(Top photo: Adam Hagy/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

USMNT, Canada and Mexico: What went right (and wrong) for 2026 World Cup hosts at Copa America

The Athletic Stafful 11, 2024

One semi-finalist, one team looking for a new coach after early elimination and one that scored just a single goal in an embarrassing group-stage exit.anada, the United States and Mexico — co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup — certainly had mixed fortunes at 2024 Copa America.But with less than two years to go and no qualifying tournament to navigate, the trio have a paucity of opportunities to test themselves at a high level ahead of the first 48-team World Cup.With that in mind, the 2024 Copa America was supposed to be a golden chance to size up the player pool and gauge each program’s readiness to compete in 2026.

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For Canada, things could hardly have gone better, as Jesse Marsch’s side made a surprising run to the semi-finals and could yet end up finishing third if they beat Uruguay on Saturday.For Mexico and the United States, however, failure to advance from their groups has left each team with more questions than answers — while the U.S. has already started another head coach search after firing Gregg Berhalter.Our experts on each team looked at what went right (or wrong) for each nation at the Copa America. What can be done to remedy their shortcomings ahead of the World Cup?

USMNT — Paul Tenorio

What when right/wrong in the group?

Things turned from right to wrong around the 18th minute of the USMNT’s second group game, when referee Ivan Barton pulled out a red card and sent Tim Weah to the locker room.

Tim Weah sent off against Panama Weah’s red card against Panama (Eduardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. had picked up three points in their group opener against Bolivia in an imperfect but ‘did-the-job’ 2-0 win over Bolivia. They were firmly in control of the game in the opening stages against Panama. Even a few minutes after Weah’s ejection, the U.S. scored. But Panama equalized four minutes after that and found a winner in the 83rd minute, and the U.S. suddenly was left scrambling.A loss to Uruguay in the group finale eliminated the hosts and spotlighted the issues around a team that still struggles to score and still lacks a signature win against a top-tier opponent.

What can the team take away from the tournament?

The Copa was a massive disappointment for the U.S. It was supposed to serve as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup in two years, both from a sporting standpoint and also in generating excitement around the country behind this U.S. team. Instead, the U.S. had their worst tournament performance on home soil and now will have to figure out how to course correct without many competitive games between now and 2026.

How did the coach do?

The Copa America was the end of the road for Berhalter, who had become a lightning rod for criticism around the U.S. team.Berhalter was criticized for his team playing too conservatively after Weah’s red card — which might be a bit unfair considering the circumstances — but also for being unable to push this U.S. team to another level since the 2022 World Cup (and since he took charge again last summer).Poor results against Trinidad and Tobago and Panama in CONCACAF competition, a last-gasp win over Jamaica in the Nations League, losses to Germany and Colombia in friendlies and the Copa group exit added up to the end of Berhalter’s tenure as coach.

The Copa America was the end of the road for Berhalter (Shaun Clark/Getty Images)

What happens next?

Over to you, U.S. Soccer.

Does the federation push for a big-name hire? Could they land on a coach like Patrick Vieira or Gareth Southgate? Will they opt for an American, such as LAFC’s Steve Cherundolo?The core of this U.S. team has been together essentially since qualifying started for the 2022 World Cup. A full reset isn’t necessary, but a new voice would need to find a way to push this team to grow and improve if they want to advance deep into the World Cup in two years.

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Strengths

Generally, it’s reckless to make wholesale judgements off a 270-minute sample, particularly given the nature of international soccer. That said, each program will be desperate to advance from their World Cup groups in two years — something that must be achieved in 270 minutes. So keep that lens in mind.Although the United States only scored three goals and none after half-time of the second game against Panama, they consistently created dangerous chances. Only three teams averaged a higher xG per shot than their 0.12 — suggesting a 12 per cent historical likelihood that a chance would be converted. The other seven teams in the top half of the xG per shot rankings all advanced to the quarter-finals.The left side was particularly potent in build-up thanks to Antonee Robinson, Gio Reyna and Christian Pulisic.

While Pulisic’s corner kick goal in the opener was the obvious evidence, the United States was very good at drawing fouls. Berhalter’s side had the second-most fouls suffered per game (16.0), trailing only Costa Rica in that department. That frequency helped create many moments that either ended an opponent’s chance to build an attack or helped the USMNT create their own opportunities.

Jeff Rueter

Weaknesses

Weah drawing a red card meant the team had little to show for its right flank’s efforts, with Joe Scally failing to come close to replicating Sergino Dest’s impact at right-back. Even as Pulisic shifted right for the finale, Reyna struggled to make an impact throughout the tournament whether in midfield or on the wing.

The United States had the field’s third-worst PPDA (passes allowed per defensive action made), evidence of a languid defensive press. That may be due to losing the midfield battle, as only three teams averaged fewer wins of possession in the middle third than the USMNT’s 15.7 per game. Every team that ranked below Berhalter’s side in these two categories also missed the knockouts.

Jeff Rueter

Mexico — Stuart James

What went right/wrong in the group?

Let’s start with a potential positive. Mexico only conceded one goal across three matches, which suggests their defence has improved — a point the coach Jaime Lozano made over and again in the wake of elimination.

However, the calibre of Mexico’s opponents makes it hard to get carried away. Jamaica, Venezuela and Ecuador are not comparable to Brazil or Uruguay, who put a combined seven goals past Mexico on the eve of the Copa America. Would Mexico really be any better defensively if they played Brazil and Uruguay now?

Jaime Lozano, Mexico Jaime Lozano and Luis Romo leave the field after Mexico’s elimination (Omar Vega/Getty Images)

At the other end of the pitch, Mexico lacked creativity and penetration. They scored only once in 270 minutes – a terrific shot from outside the penalty area by the left-back Gerardo Arteaga in the opening match against Jamaica – and there was a mixture of disappointment and frustration tha Santiago Gimenez couldn’t reprise his prolific club form for Feyenoord in a Mexico shirt.Generally, the quality of the service to Gimenez was poor but the 23-year-old could, and should, have scored against Venezuela on a night when Orbelin Pineda also missed a penalty. That 1-0 defeat in Los Angeles was the result that really did the damage for Mexico, who were also not helped by the hamstring injury that their captain Edson Alvarez suffered early on against Jamaica. It was that sort of tournament.

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What can the team take away from the tournament?

Mexico’s talent pool has shrunk. They were well-beaten by the USMNT in March, Uruguay thrashed them 4-0 two weeks before the Copa America started, and Lozano left out four of the country’s most experienced players – Guillermo Ochoa, Raul Jimenez, Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano and Henry Martin. In other words, what did Mexican fans really expect?That said, Mexico were drawn in the easiest of the four groups. They avoided Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay, and were up against the only CONMEBOL nation (Venezuela) never to make it to a World Cup. Against that backdrop, finishing in the top two and qualifying for the quarter-finals didn’t feel like it should be that big an ask. The fact it was underlines just how far Mexico have fallen.

How did the coach do?

Not well enough is the simple answer. But if you believe the pre-tournament messaging from the Mexico Football Federation (FMF), Lozano’s position is secure until the end of the 2026 World Cup finals come what may.“We are two years away from our World Cup,” Mexico sporting director Duilio Davino said. “We have our spot secured and we want to take advantage of this great opportunity to not think about the immediacy of the result and project our path to 2026.”It says everything that Lozano was asked repeatedly about his future during the Copa America, and that line of questioning will continue if, as expected, he remains in post. If the FMF did go back on their word now and make a change, they’d look rather silly. Equally, Lozano has a lot of work to do to convince the public that he’s the best man for the job – although there appears to be an acceptance that this is one of the weakest squads that Mexico have had for a long time. The question many people are asking is whether another coach would get more out of the same players.

What happens next?

In practical terms, Lozano has to submit a report to the FMF with his observations on the team’s performances at Copa America. That would make for interesting reading, albeit predictable in some respects: defensively sound; lack a goal threat.Either way, it’s hard to see how Mexico can press the reset button and start over — they’ve just tried to do that. What next — go back to the past? Chucky Lozano will be only 30 years old when the 2026 World Cup comes around but Jimenez will be 35. As for Ochoa, he turns 39 next week. Some may argue there’s a case to be made for Martin, at the age of 31, returning to the squad to compete with, or support, Gimenez, but that feels like a mess too. ‘We didn’t want you for the Copa America, Henry, but it turns out we’re not as good as we thought without you.’

The bottom line is that there’s nowhere near enough time before the World Cup for Mexico to address the underlying problems that have contributed to the national team’s demise. That work needed to start at least a decade ago.

Strengths

El Tri was adept at keeping the ball in its attacking third, even if they weren’t always able to turn build-up into end product. Their field tilt of 64.9 per cent trailed only Brazil in this tournament. Further, they were the only team of the seven most aggressive field-tilters that didn’t advance to the quarter-finals.Mexico was among the group stage’s best-performing sides in transition. There’s little to separate their balance between attacking directly and proactively pressing and that of Uruguay. The fact they had the third-stingiest PPDA rate in the field while the other five CONCACAF sides were among the field’s six least aggressive shows a difference in approach from regional rivals.

Jeff Rueter

Weaknesses

Stuart expertly looked into Santi Gimenez’s woes after the second match, but it can’t be overstated how helpless the attack was on the whole. Mexico led the 16-team field by averaging 19.3 shots per game (Argentina was second with 17.7), but their 1.7 per cent conversion rate was by far the worst of any team that wasn’t shut out in all three games. Their on-target rate of 31 per cent was below the tournament average of 34.6 per cent.

Given the importance of set pieces in international tournaments, it’s surprising that Mexico was so inept at drawing fouls. No team was fouled less often than El Tri, at 8.7 per game — only Bolivia and Jamaica (9.3 apiece) were also below 11 per contest. That’s far below the tournament average of 12.9, and it’s hard not to wonder what another quartet of dead-ball scenarios could have enabled.

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Jeff Rueter

Canada — Josh Kloke

What went right/wrong in the group?

Canada grew up at Copa America. They bounced back and forth between aggressive and composed but were almost always mature. An emerging group relied less on the emotion that fueled them through the 2022 World Cup and instead showed heightened tactical awareness. And they defended in a way you wouldn’t expect from a group anchored by a pair of centre-backs with very little international experience: in their three games not against Argentina, Canada allowed just one goal total.

Locking things down the way they did and not letting South American sides bully them — all while adhering to the demands of a new international coach — has to be considered the highlight of Canada’s tournament.

Argentina beat Canada twice at Copa America (Steve Dinberg/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

It was at the other end of the pitch that the lowlights were glaringly obvious. Canada just flat-out didn’t score enough.And when you have one of Europe’s most in-demand strikers, the program’s all-time leading scorer and a pacy player with attacking instincts all at your disposal, Jesse Marsch has every right to be both frustrated and flabbergasted at how things unfolded close to the opposition goal.

What can the team take away from the tournament?

Most importantly, Canada should feel more confidence in international tournaments than they did after their failures at the 2022 World Cup. By managing ugly games and prioritizing results over aesthetics against stingy teams, Canada showed they understand the demands of tournaments.At the Copa America, Canada became the team their core have long wanted to be. The expectation — deserved or not — come 2026 is that they get out of their group. They’re in a better place to do that now.

But there are still lessons learned for Marsch. Just as with Qatar 2022, Canada’s finishing was poor. Jonathan David and Cyle Larin were more experienced than in the last World Cup, but they didn’t score nearly enough.

In five games, Canada had an xG of 6.5 but only found the net twice.

Jonathan David, Canada David scored against Peru — but goals were scarce for Canada (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Marsch’s other looming takeaway has to be the gap in quality between his secondary group of players. Marsch has his stars — and knows he’ll have to rely on them — but he barely rotated his team throughout the tournament. That’s largely because he either doesn’t know what he has beyond his first-choice XI or doesn’t have a lot of faith in some of his bench players.

The manager has to expand his player pool by scrawling the planet for available Canadians, including dual nationals, and also start playing and developing new faces. Canada’s best players simply tired late in the tournament. That can’t happen in the knockout round in two years.

How did the coach do?

Marsch passed his first test as the new Canada manager — having only been appointed to the job just over a month before the tournament opener — with flying colours. He got his players to buy into a system that was physically demanding and had this young-ish Canadian core turn in their most mature and composed performances, well, ever.

Let’s not forget that Canada doesn’t have much experience in this kind of international tournament. Canada isn’t supposed to get out of their group and win grinding, physical affairs that go to penalties, like the quarter-final against Venezuela.

Marsch did an impressive job having only just taken over (Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Marsch himself admitted that he told his staff going into Copa America that it could be a long month. Instead, Marsch’s high-energy style of play and attitude guided this team to new heights.

Marsch won’t just be in charge come 2026; he’s in line to capture the nation’s attention and win over even more hearts and minds than his predecessor did. And that’s saying something.

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What happens next?

Canada have to approach the next two years with the same appetite of a growing teenager at an all-you-can-eat buffet: more, more, more of everything.That means getting players more in tune with Marsch’s demands after their Copa America crash course. This won’t be on Marsch himself but is more moves for players into roles with playing time in top European leagues.And as with the other two teams mentioned here, Canada will need to book more friendlies against elite opposition to test their players. Earning a 0-0 draw against France in the build-up to Copa America? More of that whenever possible, please.

Strengths

Through the semi-final round, only two teams averaged higher expected goals per shot than Canada’s 0.13. They focused on attacking dangerously in transition and creating higher-yield chances rather than slinging hopeless crosses. This resulted in three ‘big’ chances per game — a statistic that conveniently saw the four highest-ranked teams each reach the semi-finals.

In general, Marsch set this team up to outright fly up the pitch. Canada ranked first with a direct speed of 1.94 meters advanced per second of possession. For comparison’s sake, John Herdman’s iteration at the 2022 World Cup slogged at a rate of 1.34 — in line with this tournament’s output by Ecuador (1.34) and the USMNT (1.26).

Jeff Rueter

Weaknesses

Canada could afford to take a few more attempts per game in hopes of bolstering their scoring chances. Their 9.8 shots per game were over two fewer than any other team that advanced to the knockout stages. It makes sense that they managed to score just twice in their first five games.

Perhaps surprisingly, given Marsch’s background with Red Bull clubs, Canada were one of the tournament’s least aggressive pressing teams. Canada allowed 12.2 passes per defensive action (PPDA) — one of just two teams to advance from the group stage with a double-digit rate. Additionally, Canada ranked 14th among the tournament’s 16 teams by forcing just two high turnovers per game. Jeff Rueter (Top photos: Getty Images)

USWNT’s Lindsey Horan defining her leadership style with challenging Olympics ahead

Steph Yang

Jul 11, 2024

International Football Association Board’s laws of the game say: “Each team must have a captain on the field of play who wears an identifying armband. The team captain has no special status or privileges but has a degree of responsibility for the behavior of the team.”

Lindsey Horan could have special status and privileges as captain of the U.S. women’s national team. It’s the most prominent public-facing role on a prominent team, a vote of confidence from the manager and a position of trust for teammates. Accordingly, it’s a position that engenders huge respect alongside the huge expectations that have followed the USWNT for decades. The captain is the leader on the field, in the locker room and in front of the press. The prestige can at times be completely overwhelmed by the scrutiny.

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For such a role, different players have adapted in different ways. The classic archetypes tend to be the loud leader or the silent leader; the one who speaks up to inspire, or the one who quietly sets the example.

“She’s somewhere in the middle,” said Tierna Davidson. “I feel like she’s louder with the people that she knows and more outgoing with people that she knows, but a little bit more reserved with people that she doesn’t, which is natural for pretty much everybody.

“So somewhere in the middle, maybe leaning a little bit more towards the introverted side.”

Horan is a veteran presence in a young USWNT Olympic roster (Getty Images)

Maybe that’s a little more of a fair reading of Horan than the overly serious picture she painted of herself when she spoke to The Athletic earlier this year, an interview in which she disapproved of wacky starting XI photos and said: “We need to get back to the football. The football is the most important thing.”

Davidson seemed to pin her more as the captain trying to be what everyone needs her to be.

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Former head coach Vlatko Andonovski named Horan as captain alongside Alex Morgan in July 2023 ahead of the World Cup, officially stepping into a role that she’d already held informally after previous captain Becky Sauerbrunn missed the tournament with a foot injury. Going through the 2023 World Cup together, Horan said learning from Morgan was a crucial experience. Now, with Emma Hayes in charge and Morgan left off the Olympic roster, Horan is the sole captain.

It’s an interesting change in vibe after years of Morgan, Sauerbrunn, and before them Megan Rapinoe, in the armband. You cannot find a louder, more vibrant presence than Rapinoe, Morgan is no shrinking violet herself and Sauerbrunn has a reputation for calm, cerebral focus.

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At media availability in New York previewing the team’s Olympic sendoff friendlies, Horan was swarmed by reporters on the top floor of Nike’s Fifth Avenue building. It is one of Horan’s many duties going into a tournament in which the team will seek the type of success that has eluded them for the past five years.

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“It hasn’t been long,” Horan said of her tenure as captain. “I think there are so many things that I’ve learned.

“I think I can continue to grow and and also just continue to have voices on this team and push more players to be leaders as well because we need everyone and those voices can’t just be mine.”

That balanced style, a kind of ambiversion amid so many different personalities and histories, doesn’t necessarily imply a milquetoast leadership. A common theme amongst her teammates has been how much work Horan puts into being captain.

“I think Lindsey has been very good at connecting with every single player, checking in on every player,” midfielder Rose Lavelle said in Minneapolis before the United States played South Korea. “Players that have been here, players that are new, and making them know that she is available to talk, ask questions too.

Horan and Lavelle have been teammates on the USWNT since 2017 (Getty Images)

“She’s just that person that you can rely on when maybe you need a little help or if there’s something you’re unsure about. I think she’s been great at just making herself available to everyone and making her a safe space for people to go to and talk to when stuff is tough — or when stuff’s good.”

In Gold Cup camp earlier this year, U.S. defender Emily Fox said that Horan had given her a one-on-one talk. “For me, she did that a lot — like the first game of the World Cup and I really needed that, just a one-on-one talk to prep you and tell you that you got this,” Fox said.

Along with individual check-ins, Horan, alongside Morgan, has had to navigate captaincy through a transitional period from interim head coach Twila Kilgore to the incumbent Hayes, who was officially appointed in November of 2023 but only arrived in person to take the reins in May 2024. While Hayes was technically in charge, everything had to be relayed through Kilgore and her staff. Horan provided backup on the field.

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“I think it’s always a really cool process because I think, as a professional soccer player, you have to know that change is always there. I think through my career, you always know that there’s going to be a next coach and that’s another opportunity to learn from someone else,” Horan said at open practice in May.

Horan doesn’t hide that she needs support. This is not a role in which you can go it alone and put on a brave face to the twenty-odd other players around you.

“I need the leaders in this group as well to help me out,” Horan said. “I think giving voices to them and making sure that they know that this is their team. I think some of those young ones, they make up a good chunk of their team and I think that’s important for them to know that I will need them and we are one. It’s not just me at the end of the day.”

There are a few players who are designated to act as captain if Horan is off the field; Naomi Girma, obviously, and Lavelle and Dunn have worn the armband as well.

“I think she does a good job of feeling what the vibe of the group is and really making sure that we hear what we need to hear going into a game,” said center-back Girma, who wore the captain’s armband for the first time after Horan substituted off during the June friendly against South Korea in St. Paul.

“Whether it’s talking to someone or talking to the team right before we go out and just making sure that we’re all on the same page and knowing that we have each other’s backs.”

Girma has also worn the armband before (Getty Images)

Davidson said she has seen the growth in Horan as she takes on the responsibility of captainhood, and acknowledged just how much weight the role carries.

“I think she’s understood the importance of what that role means not just for herself as a player, but also as an ambassador for the sport, as an ambassador for the team,” said Davidson. “You know that this team has fantastic history and has done a lot of great things both on and off the field.

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“As a leader, I think you grow into it when you understand that you don’t have to be like somebody else, but you do have to lead. So kind of learning about herself, I think, is a lot of what she’s done and understanding how she wants to lead the team.”

Horan got a good dose of what it means to be under the microscope while she still had Morgan to sit next to her. The captain might get to give pump-up speeches and lift trophies, but she also has to face the media scrutiny after bad games or negative incidents.

A sober-faced Horan and Morgan sat together and read a prepared statement after teammate Korbin Albert’s anti-LGBTQ social media posts garnered widespread attention in March.Korbin Albert story continues: @LindseyHoran and @alexmorgan13 made impromptu statement at SheBelieves presser to announce there have been “internal discussions” about Korbin Albert’s social media and that “standards were not upheld within the team.”

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— The Women’s Game (@WomensGameMIB) April 3, 2024

“We’ve worked extremely hard to uphold the integrity of this national team through all of the generations, and we are extremely, extremely sad that this standard was not upheld,” Horan said. “Our fans and our supporters feel like this is a team that they can rally behind, and it’s so important that they feel and continue to feel undeniably heard and seen.”

That day’s press availability was originally scheduled for Mal Swanson and Catarina Macario. Horan and Morgan went first, heading off the questions that would have been asked of their teammates while also emphasizing that the team was handling things internally.

Horan is now on her own as captain, unless Hayes appoints a co-captain. Horan carries by herself that nebulous “degree of responsibility”, assigned by IFAB decree.

No surprise, then, at a seeming sense of relief from Horan during the team’s Olympic media day, where Hayes sat firmly alongside her, press firmly in hand with a very teacher-like, “How are we?” Hayes’ charismatic on-camera style, refined by her growing ease with the American press corps, has given Horan some additional breathing room to say things as just Lindsey and not as team captain Lindsey Horan.

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“She gives a lot to us and she tries to take a little bit of that pressure off and takes it on herself,” Horan said. “I think it brings strength, calmness. I think when a coach takes that stress away from the team, it brings that strength and that collectivity to the group.”

Even with Hayes’ support, Horan’s leadership during the Olympics will be her biggest test to date, maintaining team cohesion under a new coach with a good mix of veteran and younger players, and without the co-captain she learned from at the beginning.

But as Davidson said, these are situations in which you don’t have to be a certain type of leader who came before you, you just have to lead. So far, it seems that she’s been able to find her footing with increasing confidence. France awaits.

(Top photo: David Berding/Getty Images; Design: Eamonn Dalton)

6/20/24 Copa America has started, US plays Sun 6 pm Fox, European Cup upsets galore, Indy 11 home 8 gm win streak intact, TV Schedule

June 21, 2024June 22, 2024 gatorbest can-us-win-copa, copa-america, european-championships, euros, indy-11, messi, pulisic, soccer, us-men, usmnt

As the Summer of Soccer continues – we now have Copa America in the evenings after Euro Cup games all day long all on Fox. I sure do with ESPN had The Euro’s while Fox had Copa. ESPN did such a good job showing Euro games on all of its channels back in the day. I still can’t believe Fox is not showing us all of the games – as the early morning 9 am kickoffs of less popular teams have been on Fubo only. Fox has like 5 stations and can’t find room for a game on Fox Sports 2 at least? Ridiculous. Either way having soccer on all day and night – even if it is all on Fox is glorious. Lots of commercials with Messi Adidas, Mastercard , Michelob , Lowes this summer – but its really cool seeing some US players get in on the action too – Mckinney & Adams in this Truly Commercial . Love these scenes from the Euro’s Awesome for Ukraine – Gotta Love the Scotts – that’s how you march to the game.

Copa America Starts & Euros Move into Games 2 of Group Stages

So with the Euro’s into the 2^nd games of the group – Copa America has arrived. Of course defending Champs Argentina are the heavy favorites along with Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. Tons of stories below and of course predictions. Of course the US – if they advance from Group play should face either Brazil or Colombia in the knockout rounds – two of the favorites of the tourney. As much as I would love to see the US make the final 4 – I don’t think we get past either Colombia or Brazil who we would face in the Quarters. (sure hope I am wrong). The pick here is for Argentina and Messi to win on American Soil. As for the Euro’s – man some of the better teams have really had issues in their first games – England, Belgium and Italy really don’t look like they are gonna make a run. I am sticking with my earlier pick of Germany on home soil or Spain – who honestly looks like the best team so far. Man that Spain vs Italy game was fantastic. Some really great games. A hint if you are watching – be sure to tune in at least 10 minutes to game-time to catch the national anthems of the games. I am hoping that the Copa will only allow the US to play the song so we can all sing – rather than have some unknown come out and butcher the national anthem.

US Men Starts Copa America Sun vs Bolivia 6 pm

So its here – the last real chance for the US men to prove they are taking steps in the right direction was we prepare to host World Cup 2026 in just 2 years. Can the US actually beat a good team, a ranked team in a game that matters. Other than beating a Mexico team that is simply not what they used to be – the US has not beaten a top 20 ranked team since Berhalter took over. Now is the chance with Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil and potentially Argentina in the way of the US making history in the Copas. The US has actually make the final 4 before – but has a much tougher draw this team and will need to beat a top 10 team in the World to make it happen. Will the US actually have home field advantage in the US? Hard to say – the tickets are Crazy expensive – and the COPA seems to care less if there are empty stadiums as long as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico can fill their stadiums around the country like Atlanta did for the opener – with 90% Argentina fans. Not sure what to expect – but the US should take care of business in the first game and find a way past a tougher than normal Panama in the 2^nd game. Hopefully the 3^rd game vs Uruguay will be for seeding – if the US can win their first 2. Since Berhalter has NEVER actually surprised anyone with his team selection in the past – I look for the US to roll out the same back line with the same front line with perhaps the only decision being does Adam’s start at D Mid with McKinney and Gio? Or does Cardoso or Musah take the # 6 role to start. The US will face a low block with Bolivia so we will need Gio to unluck things. I would love to see Sargeant or Haji Wright at the #9 – but I am sure it will be Balogen. The US should win this game 2 or 3 to zero – this is the weakest team in our group.

Shane’s Starters

Pulisic, Bologen, Weah

Gio

Mckinney, Adams

Robinson, Ream, Richards, Scally

Turner

The 26-player Copa América roster:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)

DEFENDERS (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic FC), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

MIDFIELDERS (7): 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)

FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City)

Indy 11 Win – Home again Sat Night vs Orange County 7 pm

Indy Eleven extended its unbeaten streak across all competitions to 12 after a 1-0 victory over San Antonio FC on Saturday night at Carroll Stadium. The Boys in Blue improve to 9-4-2 and move into a tie for second in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, The Boys in Blue have now scored 16 first half goals this season, the highest total for a USL Championship team. Defensively, the Boys in Blue have held their opponents scoreless in the first half in nine of 15 matches in 2024. The 11 remain at The Mike to host Orange County SC Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. The match will air locally on WNDY and stream on CBS Sports Golazo Network. Single-game tickets are available for all matches via Ticketmaster. For more information on all ticket options click here. For questions, please email tickets@indyeleven.com or call 317.685.1100.

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

Huge Congrats to former Carmel FC midfielder JD Slivinski playing this
summer for USL 2 team Virginia Beach United.

TV GAMES SCHEDULE

Fri, June 21

12 noon FS1 Poland vs Austria

3 pm Fox Netherlands vs France

7:30 pm Para+ Hartford @ Tampa Rowdies (Jordan Farr)

8 pm FS1 Peru vs Chile COPA

8 pm Amazon Prime Orlando Pride vs Utah NWSL

Sat, June 22

12 noon Fox Turkey vs Portugal

3 pm Fox Belgium vs Romania

6 pm FS1 Ecuador vs Venezuela Copa

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

9 pm Fox Mexico vs Jamaica COPA

10:30 pm Apple Seattle Sounders vs Dallas MLS

Sun, June 23

1:30 pm ESPN NY/NJ Gotham vs Washington Spirit NWSL

3 pm Fox Switzerland vs Germany

3 pm FS1 Scotland vs Hungary

4 pm CBS Golazo Portland Thorns vs Racing Louisville NWSL

6 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Bolivia COPA America

9 pm Fox or FS1 Uruguay vs Panama COPA

Mon, June 24

3 pm Fox Croatia vs Italy

3 pm FS1 Albania vs Spain

6 pm FS1 Colombia vs Paraguay Copa

9 pm FS1 Brazil vs Costa Rica

Tues, June 25

12 noon FS1 Netherlands vs Austria

12 noon Fox France vs Poland

3 pm Fox England vs Slovenia

3 pm FS1 Denmark vs Serbia

6 pm FS1 Peru vs Canada Copa

9 pm FS1 Chile vs Argentina Copa

Thur, June 27

6 pm Fox USMNT vs Panama COPA

9 pm Fox Uruguay vs Bolivia

Fri, June 28

6 pm FS1 Colombia vs Costa Rica

9 pm FS1 Paraguay vs Brazil

Sat, June 29th

12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters A2 vs B2

3 pm Fox Euro Quarters A1 vs C2

8 pm FS1 Argentina vs Peru Copa

8 pm FS2 Canada vs Chile

Sun, June 30

12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters C1 vs D/E/F3

1 pm ESPN2 NY/NJ Gotham vs Seattle Reign NWSL

3 pm Fox Euro Quarters B1 vs A/D/E/F3

7:30 pm CBS Golazo+Para Angel City vs Orlando Pride NWSL

8 pm FS1 Jamaica vs Venezuela

8 pm Fox Mexico vs Ecuador

Mon, July 1

12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters 2D vs 2E

3 pm Fox Euro Quarters 1F vs 3a/b/c

9 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Uruguay

9 pm FS1 Bolivia vs Panama

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

Copa America TV Schedule

Euro 2024 TV schedule

US Men

Christian Pulisic perfect to lead USMNT into tournament of expectations at 2024 Copa America
Will USMNT live up to “Golden Generation” tag at Copa America, or crack under pressure? Jeff Carlisle Why isn’t U.S. Soccer making more money from the 2024 Copa America?1dJeff Carlisle
Report: Weston McKennie to Tottenham – A good fit for the American midfielder? Mixed USYNT window sees U-23’s struggle, U-19s shine, & Vargas bolt for Mexico ASN Truly Commercial with Mckennie & Adams

COPA America

Welcome to Copa América, a bigger deal than it seems
Copa América: Lionel Messi unlocks Canada, Argentina opens with a shaky win

The18’s Copa América power rankings — Final edition The 18

2024 Copa América team-by-team preview: Key players, projections, more ESPN

2024 Copa América: Group C Preview Stars and Stripes By Donald Wine II

2024 Copa América: Group B Preview

2024 Copa América: Group A Preview

Copa América: Group D Preview

Ranking the best Copa América jerseys By Donald Wine II
Analysing Colombia’s chances at the 2024 Copa América

Here is every MLS player participating in the 2024 Copa América
2024 Copa América team-by-team preview: Key players, projections, more

Euros

Euro 2024 Daily: Spain send Italy back to the drawing board ESPN Spain vs Italy player ratings: Pedri and Nico Williams the stars as La Roja win Euro 2024 Group B
Nico Williams lights up Spain and gives Euro 2024 a flash of something unmissable
Gareth Southgate admits England are struggling to deal with Euro 2024 pressure
‘Alexander-Arnold experiment is surely over for Southgate’
‘Baffling and concerning’ – what is wrong with England?
England vs Denmark player ratings as Walker shines but Alexander-Arnold struggles again Xherdan Shaqiri becomes first MLS player to score in Euros with incredible goal vs. Scotland
Serbia threaten to quit Euro 2024 over alleged ‘kill the Serb’ chants

Indy 11

Recap – IND 1:0 SA Sulte Named to USL Championship Team of the Week

#KHRvIND Preview

USL W League Recap – LEX 0:2 IND

Goalkeeping

Gigi The Italian Door

Jordan Farr Great Saves for Tampa Bay

US Keeper Great Saves

Campbell Great Save

Trying on New Gloves

Great Saves

Reffing

Is this a Foul

Croatia Call

Richard’s Yellow was overturned

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USMNT Copa America 2024 squad guide: A golden generation – how far can they go?

Paul Tenorio The Athletic Jun 15, 2024 They call it a golden generation, with big-name players who have experienced the highest levels in Europe and have World Cup experience too. As hosts, they will also have the crowds with them. Could the competition’s invited guests cause an upset at South America’s greatest party?

The manager

The former Columbus Crew coach Gregg Berhalter became the first American to play for and coach the USMNT in the World Cup, guiding a young group to the knockout stage of Qatar 2022 where they were eliminated by the Netherlands. Berhalter returned as coach despite a massive post-tournament controversy involving him, star player Gio Reyna and Reyna’s parents, including his former team-mate and longtime friend Claudio Reyna.

Berhalter’s U.S. teams have played mostly a transition-style soccer, but have shifted from the 4-3-3 used in Qatar to a 4-2-3-1 with Reyna sliding into the No 10 spot. New fans to the team may want to keep an eye out for Berhalter’s sideline bounce passes when the ball runs out of play.

Berhalter was appointed U.S. coach in December 2018 (Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

The household name you haven’t heard of yet

Tim Weah. When the USMNT is discussed we often hear about Reyna, Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, but Weah has somehow fallen off the mainstream radar.

The son of former FIFA Player of the Year (and former Liberia president) George Weah, the winger has won a trophy at every club for which he has played and has become one of the leaders and consistent producers for this U.S. team. He scored the opening goal of the World Cup and currently features for Juventus in Serie A.

USMNT’s Tim Weah had Liberia on their feet: ‘There is a whole lot of respect attached to that name’

Strengths

The U.S. is best when they are playing a vertical game, pushing the ball up the field quickly in transition. With Pulisic and Weah running on the wings and a dynamic midfield that includes Adams, McKennie and Reyna, the U.S. can up the tempo and find space quickly to beat teams.

They will miss the attacking flair of right-back Sergino Dest, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but this team should still have enough about them to speed play up.

USMNT 2024 Copa America squad: How will the team measure up in a crucial World Cup test

Weston McKennie playing against Jamaica in March (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Weaknesses

Creating chances with prolonged possession.

The U.S. has struggled against teams that sit in a low block, and even at times in an organized mid-block. It forces the U.S. to find ways to beat you through passing and movement in tight spaces and takes away the strength of players such as Pulisic, who prefers to run at players in space.

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Thing you didn’t know

The U.S. have lots of club team-mates, all of which are based in Europe.

Pulisic and midfielder Yunus Musah play at Serie A side AC Milan; left-back Antonee Robinson and center-back Tim Ream are at Fulham in the Premier League; Reyna and goalkeeper Matt Turner spent part of the Premier League season together at Nottingham Forest; and forward Ricardo Pepi and midfielder Malik Tillman are at Dutch champions PSV.

Robinson and Ream playing for Fulham in the Premier League last season (Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)

Expectations back home

This U.S. team is largely considered to be a ‘golden generation’ of American players, with the core of this team playing at big clubs in Europe and many of them moving across the Atlantic at earlier ages than ever before.

This was the youngest team, by minutes played, at the Qatar World Cup, so now the players must prove they are worthy of the expectation as they begin to move into their respective primes.

The expectation undoubtedly will be that the U.S. advance to the semi-finals — but it won’t be an easy road. A second-place finish in the group likely means a meeting with Brazil in the quarter-finals.

The United States’ Copa America roster

Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)

Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Midfielders: 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)

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City)

Guide to the Copa America stadiums and host cities: Everything you need to know

(Top image: Brace Hemmelgarn, Getty Images; design by Eamonn Dalton)

Copa America 2024 predictions: Who will win it all, how far will the U.S. go? Our writers’ picks

By The Athletic Soccer staff n 20, 2024

Click here to follow Copa America on The Athletic and get relevant stories in your personalized feed.

Copa America kicks off today, with the United States as hosts. Reigning champion Argentina takes on Canada in the first game on Thursday.

What can we expect? Will Argentina complete a storybook last dance with Angel Di Maria as he plays one more major tournament with Lionel Messi? Will Vinicius Junior find a way to lead Brazil to a title? And how will the U.S. do in its fifth invitation to the oldest national team tournament?

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

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How to follow Euro 2024 on The Athletic…

Who will win the tournament and why?

Paul Tenorio: I’m not going to break away from the crowd here. This tournament falls kindly for Argentina to navigate to the final. There, no matter the opponent, Messi and Co. win a third consecutive international tournament in his new home city.

Felipe Cardenas: Argentina’s quest for greatness has defined this Messi-led group of players. They will have learned plenty from the 2022 World Cup. They took a haymaker in their opening match against Saudi Arabia and got back up. Argentina won a quarterfinal penalty shootout and leaned on multiple players other than Messi to triumph in a tournament setting. The defending champions are battle-tested and very talented.

As reigning World Cup champion, Argentina is looking to defend its Copa America title (Carl De Souza, AFP via Getty Images)

Jeff Rueter: Although the U.S. is the host, doesn’t this still feel like Argentina’s tournament? Like their talisman, the federation has set up firm roots in Miami over the past couple of years. In what might be Messi’s swansong, La Albiceleste should replicate Spain’s feat at the turn of the 2010s: continental title, World Cup, continental title.

Melanie Anzidei: Winning a second Copa America in a row would solidify Argentina’s place as one of football’s greatest teams. This is not the same team that played on American soil in 2016. Far from it. This team is led by a captain who has once again found joy in playing and who has an entire nation behind him. Winning this tournament is personal for their players, and we’ll see that starting Thursday.

Joshua Kloke: Brazil might be a younger team but without the pressure that comes with World Cups, and the expectations Argentina clearly has on them (see the pack of picks above!) I could see Brazil’s talent taking over. If they can play liberated — which can admittedly be a challenge for Brazil — they should make their way through the tougher side of the draw and win their second Copa America title in the last three tournaments.

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Thom Harris: Argentina are the sensible choice, but I’m going to be bold and say Uruguay.

They have been a joy to watch under Marcelo Bielsa scoring the most goals in World Cup qualifying, beating both Argentina and Brazil, before smashing four past Mexico in a pre-tournament friendly. Their roster is not only brimming with quality, but the kind of unstoppable athleticism that Bielsa needs to implement his man-to-man marking system, able to disrupt the opposition with aggressive defensive play and launch lethal counter-attacks.

With both nations tied on a record 15 Copa America titles each, I’ve got my fingers crossed for a meeting in the final.

Who will win the Golden Boot?

Tenorio: Lionel Messi

Cardenas: Lionel Messi

Rueter: Lautaro Martinez

Anzidei: Julian Alvarez

Kloke: Luis Diaz

Harris: Darwin Nunez

https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-one-becoming-the-goat/id1699011538?i=1000622158260&itsct=podcast_box_player&itscg=30200&ls=1&theme=auto

Who will be the best player?

Tenorio: Tough to go into a tournament predicting it will be anyone other than Messi. He is in good form and he will get his opportunities to score and change games.

Cardenas: Luis Diaz scored four goals at the 2021 Copa America, leading Colombia to the semifinals. Messi will take home the player of the tournament trophy, but Diaz will solidify his place as one of the sport’s best attacking players. Now 27, Diaz is hitting his peak. He’ll be a joy to watch this summer.

Rueter: It’s Messi like everything is these days, but Vinicius Jr will lead Brazil to a berth in the final and make a challenge for player of the tournament in the process.

Messi earned the title of best player during the 2021 Copa America (Gustavo Pagano/Getty Images)

Anzidei: The obvious answer is Messi. Even when he doesn’t want to be up there on the podium, he receives the honor again and again. But something about him giving the penalty kick to Lautaro during Argentina’s friendly against Guatemala last week makes me feel like the Inter Milan forward will have a surprise showing this tournament.

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Kloke: Brazil is Vinicius Jr’s team now and it feels entirely possible that he uses up all the runway afforded to him and takes flight this tournament.

Harris: I’m going to be bold again… James Rodriguez. Colombia have been in exceptional form under Nestor Lorenzo, unbeaten in over two years, and the 32-year-old has been central to his success. Given freedom to roam in behind the two forward players, he can drop deep to help with the build-up, but also pack a punch in the final third.

GO DEEPER

The rollercoaster career of James Rodriguez, a Colombia star who has gone missing at club level

How far will USMNT (Canada for you, Josh) get in the tournament? How will their final match pan out?

Tenorio: My gut feeling is the U.S. will bow out in the quarterfinals to Brazil after coming second in a tight finish for the top spot in the group with Uruguay.

Cardenas: After the Copa America draw, I picked the U.S. to reach the semifinals. That’s a bare minimum requirement for the host nation. However, after being thrashed by Colombia 5-1 in a June friendly, I have serious doubts about the USMNT’s ability to win a knockout game at this Copa America. Berhalter’s side will bow out in the quarterfinals.

Rueter: A step behind their 2016 showing: second in Group C behind Uruguay (six points), then a cagey 2-1 defeat in the quarterfinal against Group D winner Colombia.

The U.S. has made it to two Copa America semifinals in previous tournaments (Jeremy Reper/Getty Images)

Anzidei: I’d like to believe the U.S. will surprise us all and push through to the semifinals once again, but that’s only if they finish at the top of Group C. If they are the runner-up in their group, which is more likely, I don’t see them ousting Colombia or Brazil in the second round.

Kloke: Finishing third in a difficult Group A, which would include a confidence-building win, feels likely for Canada. Running until their legs give way against Chile for a result in their final game should inspire some fans back home, but it might not be enough to get a still-developing team into the knockout stage.

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

Tenorio: Yaser Asprilla. My Colombian colleague Felipe Cardenas wrote in The Radar that the 20-year-old is the Colombian Phil Foden. High praise. He plays in England (for second-tier side Watford) already and has been very good in a short amount of time for Colombia. If he can do it on this Copa America stage, even coming off the bench, that’s a recipe for a big transfer fee.

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Cardenas: Asprilla is a great shout by Paul. I don’t know how much he’ll play though. I’m going to choose Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie. His profile is rising after helping Bayer Leverkusen to an undefeated season in the Bundesliga. He’s an athletic ball-playing center back who is also left-footed. That’s a coveted profile at the highest level. If he plays well for Ecuador, Hincapie could make a move to the Premier League.

Rueter: We at The Athletic have all fallen hard for Dario Osorio in 2024, and the Chilean winger seems poised to be Alexis Sanchez’s heir apparent. He’s played just one season with Midtjylland in Denmark, but the 20-year-old could be poised to make the leap to an even higher level.

Anzidei: I’m also excited to see how Osorio will do, as one of the young stars on Chile’s largely veteran squad. And I’ll be paying close attention to 23-year-old Santiago Gimenez, the Argentinean-born Mexican forward. He’s made a name for himself already for Feyenoord, and a breakout performance on the international stage will draw even more eyes to the rising talent.

Kloke: We know Jonathan David is finally going to move on from Lille this summer after being Europe’s next great striker for years now. But whether he goes to the Premier League or elsewhere remains up for debate. Snagging a few key goals for Canada, especially if one of those goals comes against Argentina, could boost his profile and land him at the upper-echelon club he wants to play for.

Harris: Osorio. He has been having his own goal-of-the-season competition in Denmark and one more flash of quality will have the biggest clubs on high alert.

GO DEEPER

The Radar – The Athletic’s Copa America 2024 scouting guide

Tell us one thing you really want to see happen…

Cardenas: The Copa America is such an important tournament for South American countries. I’m very intrigued to see how it plays out in the U.S. The 2016 edition seems like a distant memory. There wasn’t a North American World Cup on the horizon. This summer, every detail will be overanalyzed. But generally speaking, I can’t wait to see these elite footballers battle for a trophy. That’s what this is all about.

Rueter: Jamaica seemingly can’t get out of its own way lately. Since qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, the team and its federation seemed to be in a better way, with many of the program’s star players returning to secure qualification for this tournament. Leon Bailey appears set to skip out amidst a fresh rift, and time is running out for the Reggae Boyz to make the ambitious leap they aspired to before the 2026 World Cup.

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Anzidei: The rematch between Argentina and Chile at MetLife Stadium in the group stage. I was there when Messi missed his penalty kick in 2016. I remember vividly watching a young boy in a Barcelona jersey cry into his father’s arms after the final whistle, and later learning the news that Messi retired. Messi has the chance to rewrite this story, and I’m excited to see what happens.

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Kloke: Copa America is a dry run for the United States co-hosting the World Cup in two years. How will the cities and venues handle hosting these games? What kind of buy-in will local fans show? Then there’s the question of transportation around the games, which, boring as that might be, has come up as a topic of conversation during the European Championship. There are early signs of anticipation towards 2026 building in some of the cities, but Copa could determine whether that anticipation will continue.

Harris: From a personal perspective, the energy of the fans. I was at Colombia’s friendly with Spain at the London Stadium in March, and could hardly believe the noise. Yellow shirts were all I could see when I touched down in Miami airport earlier this week, four days and over 1000 miles away from their opening group game against Paraguay at the weekend.

Which team is poised for a big surprise?

Cardenas: Mexico could be a sleeper, but Ecuador is the obvious choice for me. They’re young, athletic and physical. If they can consistently create and finish their chances, Ecuador will emerge as the most dangerous side in the knockout round.

Ecuador has the fans, youth and energy to make a potential run (Michael Miller/Getty Images)

Rueter: Last time the Copa America came stateside, Chile surprised many by besting a pressure-riddled Argentina on penalties. Equally, that feat feels like a stretch, but they have a favorable Group A draw beyond Argentina and would face the winner of the projected weakest group (likely Ecuador). If Osorio dazzles and veteran holdovers have one last dance in their legs, a semifinal run could be in the cards.

Anzidei: I was at Red Bull Arena in March when Ecuador faced Italy in a friendly, and the crowd was split evenly for both teams. That energy fueled Ecuador, so I’m curious to see how their fans show up during Copa America. Ecuador’s group on paper might just be the easiest to get out of. For that reason, they may catch whoever they face in the quarterfinals flatfooted.

Kloke: I’m on the Ecuador train as well. Building confidence through a weaker group should help them in the knockout stage.

Harris: They are not going to win the tournament, but I’m hopeful that Venezuela can carry on their positive form. They look hungry to press, are energetic and gritty in midfield, and have real pace and zip on the wings.

Give us an outrageous prediction…

Cardenas: Messi will turn back the clock and play like he’s 10 years younger, but he’ll revert to 2010 form and end the tournament without a goal. You said outrageous, right?

Rueter: Groups B and C will be entirely absent from the semifinal and final round, as Group A (Argentina, Chile) and Group D (Brazil, Colombia) house all four podium challengers.

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Anzidei: Brazil doesn’t make it out of groups, because of the bad juju from Ronaldinho’s publicity stunt last week. Talk about things you don’t do before a major tournament.

Kloke: Everyone knows what I’m going to go with, right? Canada dials up the intensity to 11 against Argentina in the tournament opener, tries to throw some elbows around, scores early and shocks the soccer world with a win. Big-time Senegal over France in the 2002 World Cup opener vibes here.

Harris: We will end the tournament with a new, all-time leading goalscorer at the Copa America, and it will be… Eduardo Vargas.

Lionel Messi needs four goals to equal the record of 17, while Peru’s Paulo Guerrero, like Vargas, needs three. But I fancy Chile to make it to the knockouts, and their No 9 has looked sharp at the top of Ricardo Gareca’s revitalised team. (Top photos: Getty Images)

USMNT’s Weston McKennie: ‘Everyone doubted me… but look at me now’

By Adam Crafton

Jun 20, 2024

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Weston McKennie summons the pain, transporting his mind to December 2022 and the United States men’s national team’s round-of-16 exit from the World Cup against the Netherlands.

“In a tournament,” he explains, “You have a lot of hope, and within the team, we are family. These are people you grow up with, sharing the same dreams, pushing each other, holding each other accountable and you build a bond. There are photos of us after the game up in the stands crying with our families and crying with each other.

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“(The World Cup cycle) is like going to college with a buddy for four years. You make it to graduation and realise we’re going to go our separate ways — you’re going to have your life, I’m going to have my life. But in this case, we have another shot at this and we’re going to do everything that we can to not feel this same way again. You have the World Cup, Olympics and Copa America — they are the big tournaments. And Copa is one where we can showcase what we’ve learned.”

USMNT Christian Pulisic shows his emotions after the U.S. team’s exit (Maddie Meyer/FIFA via Getty Images)

When the USMNT meet up at camp, coach Gregg Berhalter greets them with a diagram, lit up on a projector, that shows a zigzagging road through to the home World Cup in 2026.

“It has a bus and shows where we’re stopped at that moment,” McKennie says. “That’s a great picture because it shows all these things are preparing us for 2026 but the bus is stopped here right now and we have to make the most of this moment.”

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

For McKennie, now 25, Copa America also provides another opportunity to continue a personal redemptive arc after his career, in his own words, edged to its “lowest point” during a loan spell in the Premier League with Leeds United in the second half of the 2022-23 season.

The first half of that campaign had continued McKennie’s steady progress, regularly starting for Juventus in Serie A and the Champions League, before heading to Qatar for the World Cup. In January 2023, McKennie, who also played in Germany for Schalke between 2017 and 2021, continued his European tour, joining Leeds United on loan as Juventus handled the fallout of financial investigations and point deductions within Serie A.

The deal included an option to make McKennie’s transfer permanent that summer, with a fee agreed in the region of £30million ($38m) for a player who had made 24 Champions League appearances. At Leeds, then coached by Jesse Marsch, he formed part of a growing American contingent alongside USMNT team-mates Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson.

USMNT (Left to right) Aaronson, McKennie and Adams at Elland Road in March 2023 (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Yet it turned into a calamity and McKennie was by no means alone in struggling. He made 19 Premier League appearances, of which Leeds won only three. His 16 starts included 4-1 defeats against Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur, a 5-1 loss against Crystal Palace and a 6-1 drubbing by Liverpool. Within a week of McKennie moving to Leeds, Marsch had been sacked, and they were relegated from the Premier League in May.

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“My time at Leeds was probably one of my lower points, if not the lowest in my professional career,” says McKennie. “I always look at the positive because I was at Juventus, playing week in and week out, and maybe I developed a little bit of comfortability or complacency, knowing I was going to play on the weekend. By going to Leeds and having the performance that I had there and the way that it just turned out in general — four coaches in five months (Marsch was replaced by interim coach Michael Skubala, then Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce took over), just nothing going to plan or how I imagined it.”

Although McKennie’s deal included an option for Leeds to make the move permanent, he says he had aspirations of a return to Champions League football in the event he excelled at Elland Road.

“When I went there, my head was more, ‘OK, I want to go here, perform very well, put up numbers, help the team stay up and then hopefully another Premier League team, top five, comes in and sees how well I’ve played and then they would buy me’,” he says.

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“With all the respect to Leeds and their fans, I love Champions League football. I love playing at the highest level. Leeds was more of a place I wanted to go to experience something new, the Premier League. But there’s no better place to be seen by Premier League teams than if you’re playing in the Premier League.

“I won’t be able to know what would have happened if Leeds would have stayed up because it didn’t happen that way. Things turn out the way they do for a reason. And now I’m exactly in the moment that I’m supposed to be in.”

GO DEEPER

Leeds United: What happened?

At Leeds, the atmosphere between the club’s supporters, boardroom and players turned toxic. McKennie was caught in the crossfire.

“I like to think I’m someone that has a thick skin,” McKennie says, his voice softening. “When you get little comments here and there, it’s pretty easy to ignore. But then when you open up your phone and always the first thing you see on social is something negative, it’s hard to ignore it. I guess it’s hard for me because I do love it when people can relate to me and I feel like I’m always a happy person.

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“Football is a world where it’s sometimes unforgiving. People obviously don’t know what football players go through and the stress football players put on themselves to perform, because it’s not like we want to perform badly. It’s not like we want to lose games. It’s just sometimes you have ups and downs, so it hurts.

USMNT Leeds were relegated after a 4-1 defeat by Spurs in the final day of the season (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

“It was probably the first time besides for the World Cup exit where I cried, after the last game of the season at Leeds, when we officially got relegated. I hate to lose and I felt like I really let down the expectations that people had of me going there.”

He pauses briefly, before adding: “When people started attacking me — me as a person in general, not even with football — everyone knows that I’m more thick-boned than than some other players, in that my body shape is the way that it is. But when people started out saying, ‘You fat bast**d’ and ‘you pig’ and ‘you m*nkey’ and stuff like that, people don’t really realise the effect that it has on people. I like to be happy and to make people happy, to make people laugh. So that was a little bit hard.”

When the abuse turned personal, dehumanising and in some cases racist, where did McKennie turn for support?

“Luckily, I had my personal chef, Patrick Contorno, who works with me in Italy, and he was living over in England with me and I had my assistant Charles also living with me.

“If you’re in a down mood in England, it can be hard to deal with it because it’s also very bad weather most of the time. It’s rainy and gloomy and it just sets the mood for you to already be in a sad mood. I had those guys there with me and it helped a lot. If I was there alone, I would have definitely gone into, like, a state of complete depression because I wasn’t performing. I’m my own biggest critic.”

GO DEEPER

Challenge accepted: The story of rising Juventus and USMNT player Weston McKennie

When McKennie returned to Juventus in the summer of 2023, he found another challenge on his doorstep. He appeared, initially, to have been written off, relegated into football’s version of the bomb squad.

“It wasn’t scary, or exciting (as a challenge),” he says, “but it was familiar to the experience of being an American playing soccer for a high-level club in Europe. It’s something that I feel like we all have to go through when we go over to Europe. But I thrive off of it when I have to prove myself again, because then it just makes me even more honest with myself in terms of my efforts, my concentration. Something just clicks.

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“It’s like a recipe. I know the ingredients to make it happen and then I’m just… ‘boom’. Without doing any measurements of anything, I can just throw it in. I know it’s going to taste good.

“I knew it was going to be (challenging). I didn’t know it was going to be to that extent; where I didn’t have my locker, I didn’t have a room in the hotel, I didn’t have a parking space. I changed in the locker rooms with the academy kids, even when you had players in the main locker room who had never played a game for Juventus because they’d always been out on loan. And I’m thinking to myself, ‘Wow, I’ve only been gone for six months. I come back and I am treated like this’.

“I couldn’t even get my shirt number (14), even though nobody else had taken the number. I was like, ‘OK you guys want to treat me like this? I’m just going to show you on the field’.

“I’m not someone that’s problematic. I don’t like to cause problems. I don’t like uncomfortable situations. I don’t like drama. I just try and let my football, my actions and my work ethic show everything about me, because that’s when I feel like I’m at my best.”

McKennie’s revival began when he was invited to join the squad on a money-spinning U.S. tour. It is tempting to wonder whether Juventus’ commercial team remembered at that point that they had a popular USMNT midfielder on the books, but it was on the field, in performances against AC Milan and Real Madrid, that McKennie reminded head coach Massimiliano Allegri of his talents.

“It put me back in consideration. My job was to make that decision much harder for them to make.”

McKennie faces AC Milan at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California in July 2023 (Michael Janosz/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

He looks back reflectively on the turmoil at Leeds and Juventus, however.

“It grounded me… what I’m most comfortable with and most honest with is when I put my head down and work. That’s where I’ve had my biggest success. I left Schalke and went to Juventus and nobody knew me. Everyone doubted me. It’s too big of a club. I’ll never play. But look at me now. Three and a half years later, more than 100 games for Juventus and I played a majority of those games. I thrive when my back’s against the wall and everyone’s doubting me. That’s how I became the player I was.”

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Last season, McKennie made 29 starts for Juventus in Serie A and played the full 90 minutes of the Coppa Italia final victory over Atalanta. He benefited from his own performances and versatility, slotting in both at right wing-back and central midfield, while he also took advantage of the opportunity when midfield team-mates Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli were suspended for doping and betting offences respectively.

His contract at Juventus expires in 12 months and there has been speculation about a potential move back to England, this time to a club competing in the Champions League in Aston Villa. McKennie says he is in talks with his agent, acknowledging Villa are one of the clubs mentioned, but says the options will be laid out and resolved after Copa America.

He spoke to The Athletic this week as part of his partnership with Puma, the brand he signed up to in early 2024 alongside two USMNT team-mates, Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, who are also based in Italy with AC Milan. McKennie came to sign with the brand after wearing the Puma Future boot six months before agreeing a deal.

McKennie will resolve his future after Copa America (Puma)

“I did my pre-season in them,” he explains. “I played well. So I thought I may as well keep them. I have had knee problems in terms of patellar tendinitis and I have plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the tissue connected to your heel bone) on my foot. And it was a boot that was super comfortable for my foot. I didn’t have to wear insoles in them and I was not feeling pain when I play. They flew over to Italy, had a whole scanning contraption device, put my foot in, looked at my arches, my size. Whenever I get boots sent to me, it’s specifically for my foot, which is amazing.”

Superstition plays a part, too, with McKennie saying he will not change the colour of his boot to an upgraded model if he’s in good form. He will be hoping this continues during Copa America.

He smiles: “Athletes don’t play competitions to go in there and say we want to get second place, or third. We want to try and win the whole thing. We know it’s a challenge. We know it’s hard. You have defending World Cup champions Argentina in the tournament. But at the same time, we know our quality. We know our ability. We always say we may not be the most talented group, but the one thing that we can be is the type of team that plays for everyone. It’s like a big family.”

Copa America 2024 preview: The Athletic’s complete guide to the tournament

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Vinicius Junior #7 of Brazil defended by Joe Scally #22 of the United States at Camping World Stadium on June 12, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Thorstenson/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Jeff Rueter Jun 20, 2024

Click here to follow the Copa America on The Athletic and get relevant stories in your personalised feed.

We will get to Lionel Messi in a minute.

Plenty has changed in North American soccer since the Copa America last came stateside in 2016.

The United States has fallen and risen, rebounding after missing the 2018 World Cup to boast a pool teeming with young and established players in Europe’s top five leagues. Mexico is experiencing an identity crisis and Canada has overtaken Costa Rica as the region’s third power, led by top players like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.

The three nations needn’t fret over World Cup qualification thanks to being co-hosts in 2026, so the 2024 Copa America represents their only meaningful competition between now and then.

Follow live coverage of Argentina vs Canada in the opening match of the 2024 Copa America today

While this year’s tournament takes place in CONCACAF territory, its narratives and thrills will be dictated by CONMEBOL. Few tournaments can match the passion stirred by a Copa America.

Do you like stars? Of course you do. There are world-class players aplenty to be found in the 16-team field.

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By summer’s end, you’ll be singing the praises of fresh faces such as Endrick, Dario Osorio and Kendry Paez. You’ll eagerly cue up “best of” YouTube compilations of Vinicius Junior’s dribbling prowess for Brazil, of Pedro Gallese’s acrobatics in goal for Peru, of Darwin Nunez’s unpredictable nature inside the penalty box for Uruguay.

GO DEEPER

This summer on The Athletic: Tournaments, transfers and tours

Right, and there’s also Messi.

You’ve read plenty about his exploits in heron pink for Inter Miami over the past 12 months, but even his greatest skeptics have to admit: there’s something special about him when he pulls on the white and sky blue of Argentina.

This will be his first major tournament since Argentina won the 2022 World Cup and we could see the soon-to-be 37-year-old in a rare, pressure-free headspace. It may also be our last chance to catch him on a big international stage, as it’s unclear whether he’ll retire before 2026.

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Drink it in, one and all. There’s something on this tournament menu for every appetite.

You can subscribe to The Athletic using our discount code for the tournament here. We’ll make sure you have plenty to discuss within your group chats.

How to follow the Copa America on The Athletic…

The storylines to follow

First up, who’s competing? Well… we’ve got individual nation guides on the 16 teams below, but here are a few things to look out for…

Argentina has finally figured it all out, winning the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup. This isn’t a one-man band, though; Lautaro Martinez is among the world’s best strikers and their goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, revels in big moments.
Since reappointing Gregg Berhalter, the United States has looked like a team stuck in two minds. Its players often play dynamic roles for their clubs, but they resemble a more reserved collective under his guidance. A run to the semifinal would go a long way to restoring faith.
There was a 1-1 draw against the USMNT in Brazil‘s final tune-up friendly. The Selecao flamed out in the group stage of the 2016 Copa America Centenario, but were champions in 2019 and runners-up in 2021. How far will they go this time?
Canada surprised many by appointing Jesse Marsch as head coach in May. Players have grown disillusioned by a pennywise federation, but the talent that helped them top 2022 World Cup qualifying is ready to rebound.
Mexico left some experienced names off its roster — yes, Guillermo Ochoa really won’t be here. They are prioritising giving younger players big-game experience ahead of the World Cup.
When Marcelo Bielsa last coached internationally, he catalyzed the start of a strong decade for Chile. Uruguay will hope he can work similar magic, with Nunez the preferred strike partner for ageless Luis Suarez.

Detailed team guides:

Group A: Argentina, Peru, Chile, Canada

Group B: Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Jamaica

Group C: USMNT, Uruguay, Panama, Bolivia

Group D: Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Costa Rica

Lionel Messi, Copa America, Argentina (Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)

If your focus is more individually driven, there is The Radar: Copa America, which profiles 50 players to watch at the tournament, from established stars to ones on the rise.

GO DEEPER

The Radar – The Athletic’s Copa America 2024 scouting guide

And if you want a breakdown of all the squads at the competition, you can find that here.

Tactical breakdowns

The brilliant Thom Harris has gone into the weeds on all 16 teams to update you on how they’ve played in recent months.

There’s also our ultimate data guide to the squads, which will make you look even more clever to your friends. Did you know Jonathan David has the best goals-per-cap rate of any player at the tournament whose name isn’t Lionel Messi? No, me neither.

GO DEEPER

Copa America 2024 data guide: Three ex-Leeds managers, two 17-year-olds and one Argentinian outlier

What about the hosts?

The United States were host nation and a dark horse in 2016, reaching the semifinal before falling to Messi and Argentina. That proved to be an aberration, as they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but they are back at the top of the CONCACAF pecking order and trying to size up if a deep run is possible in two years’ time.

It still is a bit odd when a guest nation joins a continental tournament, whether it’s Qatar in the CONCACAF Gold Cup or, well, the United States hosting a second South American jamboree in under a decade. Elias Burke charted the past performances of these guest entries. Perhaps this tournament will see its first champion outside the confines of CONMEBOL…

Antonee Robinson had a career-best season for Fulham, proving to be among the Premier League’s best left-backs. His focus now shifts to the international arena; as he tells Peter Rutzler, it’s time for the USMNT to take the next step toward being a global contender.

(Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Johnny Cardoso is among the squad’s fastest risers in recent years, going from a mysterious prospect in Brazil to a mainstay of Real Betis’ midfield. He gave a rare interview to Jack Lang, giving insight into what motivates him and what he aspires to be.

The USMNT exited the 2022 World Cup in the round of 16, but no player was harder done by than Gio Reyna. Eighteen months have passed since the drama around his lack of playing time and the signs a relationship with Berhalter needed mending. Last week, Reyna spoke with USMNT expert Paul Tenorio about getting his career back on track.

And here’s my comprehensive scouting guide to each member of the USMNT squad, updating you on their recent form and highlighting strengths and weaknesses.

Predictions, Messi vs Ronaldo and the new generation

Elsewhere, our writers have given their predictions for the tournament: who will win it? Which players will shine brightest? And which dark horses could bust the bracket open?

Messi’s greatest rival Cristiano Ronaldo is playing across the Atlantic at Euro 2024 and their two-man dynasty has been explored here in a detailed look at their international goal records.

The sport cannot live off those two forever and a rising generation of talent has been desperate to get more time in the spotlight. This tournament boasts quite a few of them…

Kendry Paez is already turning heads at the age of 17. He will hope to help Ecuador make a deep run before joining Chelsea in 2025.
Manchester United fans came to love Alejandro Garnacho for his breathtaking moments and unshakable resolve — a rare bright spot in an otherwise dour season. He could be in line for a more prominent role with Argentina this summer.
As Paez and Brazil’s Endrick gear up to be their country’s speckle-faced sensations, we looked at managing a wonderkid on the international stage.

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(Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

This Copa America provides a platform for some elder statesmen to shine, too.

Ten years ago, James Rodriguez was the breakout star of the World Cup in Brazil. He remains as vital to Colombia as ever.
Paolo Guerrero has his critics, but one thing is clear: the 40-year-old wants few things more than to continue playing for Peru. Here’s a profile on a career like few others.
Luis Suarez is back at Uruguay’s heart and its attacking focal point. Felipe Cardenas looked at arguably the most divisive player in the sport.

But wait, there’s more!

Why do we support our nations? Sarah Shephard masterfully mused on the nature of international fandom.
Get a lay of the tournament’s sprawling geography as Elias Burke takes you on a tour of the 14 host cities.
And, if you like goals, here’s a recap of the greatest ones in Copa America history.

How to watch

For U.S. viewers, you can watch every English-language broadcast on FOX’s networks. The majority of group-stage clashes will be shown live on FS1, with select games bumped to FOX and a handful shifting to FS2. The tournament can be streamed on Fubo TV, as well. Spanish-language broadcasts will be shown on Univision and TUDN.

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In Canada, you can find Copa America matches on TSN and TSN+ while UK viewers can find broadcasts on Premier Sports, as well as live streams on the Premier Sports Player.

How does qualification for the knockout stage work?

This is as straightforward as brackets get: four groups of four teams, with the top two finishers advancing to the quarterfinal. It’s a fixed bracket from there:

Winner of Group A vs. Group B’s second-place side
Winner of Group B vs. Group A’s second-place side
Winner of Group C vs. Group D’s second-place side
Winner of Group D vs. Group C’s second-place side

In the group stage, the tiebreaking protocol for any two teams on level footing — well, save for irrelevant ties between third and fourth — is as follows:

Cumulative goal difference across all three matches
Goals scored
Head-to-head records, with additional nested tiebreakers in the event of a three-team tie:
1. Number of points accrued in matches between relevant sides
2. Greater goal difference between relevant sides
3. Most goals scored between relevant sides
Fewest red cards
Fewest yellow cards
A random draw conducted by CONMEBOL

Group stage games will conclude after 90 minutes, even if they’re played to a draw. A tie game at full time in the knockout rounds will advance to two 15-minute halves of extra time and advance to a penalty shootout if the game is still deadlocked after two hours of action.

On top of all this, we will be covering all the off-pitch news as it happens, bringing you details from the team camps, media conferences, and any other breaking news.

Away from the Copa America, we will continue to cover the summer transfer window, with our weekly Transfer DealSheet coming out every Tuesday as well as The Athletic 500 Transfer Ratings, which you can read about here.

GO DEEPER

The Athletic 500: Our new transfer ratings explained

Go touch grass while you can — a second concurrent tournament is about to kick off.

(Top photo: Mark Thorstenson/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Predicting every game of Copa America 2024: Who will win it?

Ryan O’Hanlon, ESPN.com writerJun 20, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

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The last time the United States hosted a Copa America, in 2016, Brazil got knocked out in the group stages. The U.S. men’s national team lost 4-0 to Argentina in the semifinals. And Argentina lost the final in penalties to Chile at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and Jets. It was Argentina’s second loss to Chile in a Copa America final in as many years, and it led to Lionel Messi — presumably distraught at being unable to live up to the legacies created by Eli Manning and Ryan Fitzpatrick on that same field — retiring from international soccer immediately following the match.

While Messi has spent his career expanding our collective imagination of what’s possible on a soccer field and in a soccer career, I don’t think anyone could’ve accurately predicted where we’d be eight years later. Messi is in Year 2 of playing for Inter Miami, a soccer team that didn’t exist in 2016. He spent two barely memorable seasons playing for Paris Saint-Germain. Oh, and he unretired so he and Argentina could finally win the Copa America and World Cup in consecutive years in his mid-30s.

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Elsewhere, Chile have since failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 World Cup. The other semifinalists in 2016 missed one a piece: the U.S. failed to qualify for 2018, Colombia for 2022. Brazil didn’t make it past the quarterfinals of either tournament, and just two players from their 2016 Copa team are still around in 2024 (Alisson and Marquinhos).

Mexico, meanwhile, continue to lose to the USMNT in the Nations League, a tournament that didn’t exist eight years ago. And Canada are managed by Jesse Marsch — a statement that would’ve been meaningless in 2016 but not so today because he’s managed multiple clubs in the Champions League and the Premier League since the Copa America Centenario.

The Copa America is the kind of tournament that can change the course of soccer as we know it, and it really matters to the teams that participate. So, given all the twists and turns we’ve had since the last time a Copa America was played on U.S. soil, why not look at the state of the 2024 tournament and make some predictions for where this all might end up?

It’s time to look into our stats-filled, analytics-powered crystal ball and predict how every single game of the 2024 Copa America plays out and who, ultimately, will be crowned the winner. Let’s go!

Group A analysis and predictions

Argentina: 100 rating (tied-1st), 94.8% chance of reaching quarterfinals (per ESPN BET)
Chile: 18.7 rating (11th), 46.3% chance
Canada: 21.8 rating (8th), 30.3% chance
Peru: 19.1 rating (10th), 30.3% chance

To rate all of these teams, I created a simple model that combines team performance with the talent level of the current squad. For the former, we’re using the World Football Elo ratings, which are a continuously updated set of ratings that either awards or subtracts points based on every game played — adjusted for scoreline, opponent quality and competitiveness of the match.

Given that they’ve won the last continental and global competitions, Argentina are, unsurprisingly, the highest-rated team in the world, with a rating of 2,143. For context: Eastern Samoa are the lowest-rated team in the world, ranking 241st with a rating of 377.

Elo accounts for 60% of the model, and then the other 40% comes from the overall squad value of each team, as estimated by Transfermarkt. We’ve normalized the transfer values to match the Elo scale, and then averaged the two values. And then we turned those numbers into a 0-100 scale — with 100 being the best team and zero being the worst. Here’s how everyone stacks up:

Argentina are in the top tier with Brazil and then … there’s no one from Group A in either of the next two tiers.

Through six matches of World Cup qualifying, Peru have two points and Chile five. The former ranks second-to-last in expected goal differential (minus-0.79) while the latter ranks third-to-last (minus-0.3). A big part of the problem for both countries is that neither one has been able to successfully turn over their team. The average age of Peru’s squad is 28.9, while Chile aren’t far behind at 28.6 — both significantly older than any other team in the tournament.

Canada, meanwhile, come into the tournament with one of the younger squads: 25.6. And the likes of Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and Lille’s Jonathan David give them higher-end talent than either Chile or Peru. Given how the managerial economy works — the best coaches get filtered up to the club game — Canada’s hiring of Marsch could also give them one of the best coaches in the tournament.

Game-by-game Group A predictions:

Argentina 2, Canada 0
Chile 2, Peru 1
Canada 1, Peru 0
Argentina 2, Chile 1
Argentina 3, Peru 0
Canada 2, Chile 1

Predicted Group A standings:

1. Argentina: 9 points, plus-6 goal differential
2. Canada: 6 points, even goal differential
3. Chile: 3 points, minus-1 goal differential
4. Peru: 0 points, minus-5 goal differential

Group B analysis and predictions

Mexico: 31.2 rating (7th), 75.7% chance of reaching the quarterfinals (per ESPN BET)
Ecuador: 42.8 rating (5th), 72.6% chance
Venezuela: 20.6 rating (9th), 35.4% chance
Jamaica: 8.7 rating (14th), 18% chance

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This is the weakest group in the tournament. Not only that, but the winner of Group B will also get to play the second-place team in Group A, which is likely to be the weakest second-place team in the tournament.

Luck of the draw plays a bigger role in tournament soccer than anyone would like to admit (see: Croatia’s run to the 2018 World Cup final), and Mexico and Ecuador both got lucky before a game was even played.

Although El Tri feel like they’re at their lowest point in, I don’t know, 25 years, they got a cushy draw and will have a bigger home-field advantage than any other team in the tournament. Without the underlying quality of the talent or even the recent performances changing at all, Mexico could very easily make the semis and suddenly change the vibe surrounding the program.

With the second-youngest team in the tournament, budding young stars in Europe such as Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo and Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié, a solid start to World Cup qualifying (11 points, fourth place), and the favorable draw, Ecuador look like a classic dark-horse pick. The only problem: They don’t have anyone who can score goals. Only Peru and Bolivia have created fewer xG in South American World Cup qualifying, and their leading scorer is Félix Torres, who plays center back.

Venezuela tied Ecuador in a relatively even home match at the end of last year and they also drew with Brazil — in Brazil — a few months prior. They cross the ball an absurd amount: 28% of their final-third passes in World Cup qualifying have been crosses — way higher than any other team. That’s generally an incredibly inefficient strategy, but maybe its uniqueness throws their opponents off-balance.

Jamaica’s rating here is a bit inflated because of the inclusion of Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey. He was genuinely one of the best attackers in Europe last season, and although he was called up to the Copa America squad, it appears he’s going to reject the invitation as part of a protest against the unprofessionalism of the Jamaican federation. (History is certainly on his side here.) The likes of West Ham’s Michail Antonio and former Everton winger Demarai Gray are interesting names on paper, but neither one is as dangerous as he used to be.

Game-by-game Group B predictions:

Ecuador 1, Venezuela 0
Mexico 2, Jamaica, 1
Ecuador 1, Jamaica 0
Mexico 1, Venezuela 1
Venezuela 2, Jamaica 1
Mexico 2, Ecuador 1

Predicted Group B standings:

1. Mexico: 7 points, plus-2 goal differential
2. Ecuador: 6 points, plus-1 goal differential
3. Venezuela; 4 points, even goal differential
4. Jamaica: 1 points, minus-2 goal differential

Group C analysis and predictions

Uruguay: 67.0 rating (3rd), 93.5% chance of reaching quarterfinals (per ESPN BET)
United States: 36.6 rating (6th), 85.9% chance
Panama: 15.0 rating (13th), 12.6% chance
Bolívia: 0.0 rating (16th), 12.3% chance

Although Group B has the lowest average rating among its four teams, Group C has the weakest bottom two. As such, only Argentina has better odds to reach the quarterfinals than Uruguay, while those two, plus Brazil, are the only sides with a higher likelihood of advancing than the U.S. men’s national team.

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After Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay have the third most talented squad in the tournament. In Darwin Núñez, Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, Ronald Araujo, Rodrigo Bentancur, and José María Giménez, they have six players who are at least Champions League-starter level. And at 37 and without functional knees, Luis Suárez continues to absolutely demolish whatever league he plays in. He was the best player in Brazil last year, and he’s been lights out with Inter Miami so far this season, too.

Throw in Marcelo Bielsa, easily the most accomplished coach in the tournament, and you’ve got the first-place side in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Unlike most international sides, Uruguay wants the game to be played in transition. Bielsa prefers for the ball to constantly be switching hands because he thinks he’s better at coaching these situations than anyone else in the world. In Núñez and Valverde, he has two of the best transition players in world soccer, too.

We should learn a lot about the USMNT when these two teams meet in Kansas City. The Americans are massive favorites against Bolivia — only Brazil (against Costa Rica) have shorter odds on matchday one — and they should be heavy favorites against Panama, too.

The most likely outcome is that both the U.S. and Uruguay have six points when they meet at the beginning of next month. In that case, they’ll both already be qualified. Sometimes that leads to 90 minutes of both teams staring at the ball, but I’m not sure Bielsa teams are capable of staring at the ball for 90 minutes. With their defined tactical approach and top-end talent, Uruguay might be the trickiest team the USMNT has faced in the Gregg Berhalter era.

As for the rest of the group: Bolivia are the worst team in the tournament. They have the worst results and the least talented squad. Without the advantage of playing at altitude in La Paz, they’ve been uncompetitive for a long time. Panama, meanwhile, took down the U.S. B- or C-team in the Gold Cup semifinals last summer. They also notched an impressive 3-0 win in Costa Rica back in November of last year, and they actually outshot Mexico, 18-6, in a 3-0 semifinal loss in the Nations League that was much closer than the final score.

Game-by-game Group C predictions:

USMNT 2, Bolivia 0
Uruguay 3, Panama 1
USMNT 3, Panama 1
Uruguay 2, Bolivia 0
Uruguay 2, USMNT 1
Panama 2, Bolivia 1

Predicted Group C standings

1. Uruguay: 9 points, plus-6 goal differential
2. USMNT: 6 points, plus-3
3. Panama: 3 points, minus-3
4. Bolivia: 0 points, minus-5

Group D analysis and predictions

Brazil: 100 rating (tied-1st), 89.7% chance of reaching quarterfinals (per ESPN BET)
Colombia: 62 (4th), 77.6% chance
Paraguay: 17.3 rating (12th), 20% chance
Costa Rica: 3.3 rating (15th), 18%

This isn’t your vintage Brazil. There’s no Neymar, you’ve possibly never heard of the fullbacks, and the midfielders almost all play for midtable Premier League clubs.

And yet, the forward line will include some combination of Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, Barcelona’s Raphinha, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, and the duo of phenom prospects in formerly-Girona-but-maybe-Manchester City’s Sávio and Real Madrid’s 17-year-old Endrick. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães and Atalanta‘s Éderson were two of the best two-way midfielders in Europe this past season. The potential starting center backs play for PSG, Real Madrid and Arsenal. And Liverpool’s Alisson is the best all-around goalkeeper in the world.

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Brazil’s results in qualifying have been substandard so far, but there’s just too much talent for that to continue.

Colombia, meanwhile, haven’t lost a game since February 2022, and that was against Argentina, in Argentina. They’ve moved up to fifth in the Elo ratings in the process, behind Argentina, France, Brazil and Spain — in that order. Liverpool’s Luis Díaz is their one star — and their squad value ranks fifth among all teams in the tournament, behind the USMNT, whom they just destroyed 5-1 in a pre-tournament friendly.

Perhaps most pertinent: Colombia’s previous two opponents in World Cup qualifying were group stage opponents Paraguay and Brazil. They won both matches, and created the better chances in each one.

Paraguay have one of the most exciting young players in the world — 20-year-old Brighton attacking midfielder Julio Enciso — but there’s not a ton of other talent behind him. Not one of their six World Cup qualifying matches has featured more than one total goal — there have been two total non-penalty goals scored across those games.

Incredibly, Costa Rica bring the youngest average team to the Copa America. They had the oldest team at the 2022 World Cup. It was time to turn the team over from their golden generation, but that also means that this is no longer Costa Rica’s golden generation. Their recent results have dropped them down to 59th in the Elo ratings — worse than every team in the tournament other than Bolivia.

Game-by-game Group D predictions:

Colombia 2, Paraguay 0
Brazil 4, Costa Rica 0
Colombia 3, Costa Rica 1
Brazil 3, Paraguay 1
Brazil 0, Colombia 0
Paraguay 2, Costa Rica 2

Predicted Group D standings

1. Brazil: 7 points, plus-6 goal differential
2. Colombia: 7 points, plus-4
3. Paraguay: 1 point, minus-4
4. Costa Rica: 1 point, minus-6

Predicting the quarterfinals

Argentina (77% to reach semifinal) vs. Ecuador (31.1%)

The past two times these two teams played, in World Cup qualifying and in a pre-Copa tuneup, both games ended 1-0 to Argentina. Over those two games, Ecuador attempted just eight total shots.

Although the presence of Messi is the main attraction, Argentina were a dominant defensive team in Qatar. That has remained true in World Cup qualifying — they’ve conceded just 2.3 non-penalty xG across six matches.

Predicted result: Argentina 1, Ecuador 0

Mexico (37% to reach semifinal) vs. Canada (9.8%)

Both of these teams would seem like “surprise” semifinalists — Mexico because of their recent struggles, and Canada because they’re, well, Canada. But the Canadians landed in a group without a strong second team after Argentina, and Mexico are currently the betting favorites to meet Argentina in the semifinals.

Hot tip: When the betting markets suggest that something counter to conventional wisdom is the most likely outcome, adopt it as your own opinion and impress your friends at a rate higher than expectation.

Predicted result: Mexico 2, Canada 1

Uruguay (50.8% to reach semifinal) vs. Colombia (33.9%)

Watching the World Cup qualifying match between these two teams induced emotional effects similar to those normally only associated with various illicit substances. Possession was almost even, both teams pressed high, they combined for 29 shots, and they created nearly 4.0 xG together. It ended 2-2, after a Darwin Núñez goal in injury time.

The big difference in the Copa America? This match won’t be in Colombia.

Predicted result: Uruguay 2, Colombia 1

Brazil (72.4% to reach semifinal) vs. United States (28.7%)

At 21, Ricardo Pepi has never played in an international tournament, but he gets it. “I think anything besides making it out of the group will be bad for us, so we just want to be able to compete and get the best out of it,” he told ESPN. And that’s just the reality facing the Americans.

They should get out of the group — the gap between them and Panama and Bolivia is big enough that not even bad luck should sink them. But after that, they’re just not at the same level as Colombia or Brazil, their most likely quarterfinal opponents.

Yes, they did just draw the Brazilians in a friendly last week, but they were outshot 24-12 and all of their high-quality chances came after the game devolved in the second half, like most friendlies do once substitutions are made:

The USMNT’s best bet for reaching the quarterfinals would be to win the group or hope Colombia win Group D.

In the Copa America, there’s no extra time until the final — a silly format that encourages underdogs to just try to hang on for dear life until the 90-minute mark so they can get to the coin flip of penalties. However, that format does favor the underdogs, which the USMNT will likely be if it makes it this far.

Predicted result: Brazil 3, United States 1

Predicting the semifinals

Argentina (51.5% to reach finals) vs. Mexico (16.3%)

That Argentina percentage above represents both how random soccer is and how much better Argentina is than every other team on their side of the bracket. Despite being so much better than everyone else, it’s still just about a coin flip that Messi & Co. reach the final game.

But if, say, every team in the tournament were equally matched, there would be a 12.5% chance (one in eight) that you’d reach the final. Argentina’s odds are more than four times as high.

Predicted result: Argentina 2, Mexico 0

Brazil (47.0% to reach final) vs. Uruguay (23.9%)

When these teams met in World Cup qualifying, they played a truly bizarre match where Brazil maintained 61% of possession but were outshot 6-2 and lost the game 2-0. Then-manager Fernando Diniz’s free-flowing possession tactics worked horribly with the national team.

I suspect — and most projection models agree — that Brazil will play up to their talent level this summer with a new manager who doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. They have the best goalkeeper in the tournament and the most attacking talent. This shouldn’t be that complicated.

Predicted result: Brazil 1, Uruguay 1 (Brazil advances in a shootout)

Predicting the 2024 Copa America final

Argentina (31.6% to win the tournament) vs. Brazil (26.7%)

A rematch of the 2019 semifinal and the 2021 final — a rubber match of sorts, with Brazil winning en route to winning the title four years ago and Argentina beating their neighbors to lift the trophy last time out. While Brazil have the most talented team in the tournament, we’re still working off a bit of projection here. They’ve lost their past three competitive matches, and we haven’t seen the team play a non-friendly match under manager Dorival Júnior yet. Plus, they’re probably going to have to beat at least two of Uruguay, Colombia and the USMNT — Nos. 3, 4 and 6 in our rankings — to get to the final.

Argentina, though, are maybe the most known quantity in international soccer: be defensively tough, have everyone else do the running for Messi on and off the ball, and then let Messi win the game once you have possession. We’ll see how effective Messi remains after a year of playing MLS and, simply, another year of aging, but this simplified formula just works so well in the international game.

It’s really hard to see Argentina screwing it up before the final. And with the title match in Miami, Argentina’s captain will be playing at home. After years of the opposite being true, you bet against Messi and Argentina at your own risk.

Predicted result: Argentina 1, Brazil 0

So … congratulations to Argentina, the 2024 Copa America champions!

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Will USMNT earn its “Golden Generation” tag at Copa America?

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJun 20, 2024, 08:00 AM ET

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When the term “Golden Generation” is attached to a group of players, it’s the ultimate mixed bag.

On the one hand, the expression points to the high level of excitement surrounding a team. The talent level is so high that fans — and yes, even a few pundits and coaches — begin to dream about what might be possible. They can let themselves dream about previously unexplored heights, the kind that if they’re achieved, they warm the heart years later as you sit by the fire.

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But such a label can be a trap as well — the expectations are so high that they become unrealistic and, rather than inspire the players, they can weigh heavy on a group.

It is precisely this scenario that the U.S. men’s national team finds itself dealing with now as it heads into the 2024 Copa America.

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Historically, the U.S. men’s program hasn’t had a whole lot to crow about. It’s high water mark at a World Cup was its semifinal showing in the inaugural edition back in 1930. In the modern era, the U.S. managed a quarterfinal finish at the 2002 World Cup. In the context of a Copa America, there have been two semifinal appearances, one in 1995 and another at the Copa America Centenario in 2016. Credible showings all, but nothing worth jumping up on a table and screaming at the top of one’s lungs.

So why the excitement about this generation of U.S. players? It all has to do with the caliber of the clubs that pay their wages, as well as what they’ve achieved with those clubs.

U.S. winger Christian Pulisic hoisted the UEFA Champions League trophy with Chelsea back in 2021 and is coming off a career season with AC Milan. Midfielder Weston McKennie enjoyed a similarly successful spell this season with Juventus, helping them to the Coppa Italia in the process.

The number of U.S. players annually taking part in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League seems to regularly hit double digits. In a recent friendly against Colombia, the USMNT fielded a starting lineup comprised entirely of players attached to clubs in the top five leagues of Europe.

Yet, the excitement generated by such success with their clubs is tempered by the reality that, at international level, this generation has yet to surpass the ones that came before it. When the U.S. men reached the round of 16 in 2022, they achieved something that the U.S. men had already done four times prior in the modern era of the team. Winning a Concacaf Gold Cup or Concacaf Nations League, likewise, has long been considered routine.

A so-called “Golden Generation” needs a “Golden Moment” — a signature win or best-ever tournament finish — and without one, the label feels premature.

“They still have to win something of importance, and I think that as of today, they have not done that yet,” said former U.S. international and current analyst DaMarcus Beasley. “Do I think they have the capability? One-hundred percent. I’m a big fan this group, a big fan of how much talent they have.

“But they have yet to put it together when it comes to a big game, whether that’s a friendly or whether that’s a tournament. So it just remains to be seen if this is truly our Golden Generation.”

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That’s an assertion that U.S. captain Tyler Adams isn’t fighting. He notes that the “Golden Generation” tag is usually applied to teams “that haven’t won anything in the last 10 years,” or even longer. Think England of the mid-2000s, or even the most recent vintage of Belgium, whose current crop hasn’t quite made the international breakthrough so many predicted for it, despite possessing an immensely talented group.

Adams is mindful that achievements at club level aren’t enough.

“I think that when you look at our team and the group of players that we have, we are a talented group of players for sure,” he said prior to the USMNT’s 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil last week. “But I would say that the biggest thing when I think about this team is: That individual success doesn’t correlate directly to team success, and that’s what we’re working towards right now.

“So, it’s great to have everyone playing at a top club around the world. It’s probably the first time in a long time in U.S. soccer that we can be recognized at such a high level. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to have direct success. We’re working towards that success right now.”

For defender Joe Scally, the “Golden Generation” tag isn’t something that is occupying the team’s thoughts: “We never even talk about that at all,” he said.

Labels aside, expectations can still creep into a team’s psyche like a king tide. The water seeps in slowly, and before you know it, you’re enveloped by it. And it’s not just the fans and media that are feeding expectations about the current U.S. men’s national team. Head coach Gregg Berhalter had made his own contribution, speaking openly of taking the U.S. to a place — at least in the modern era — it has never been before. In the context of a World Cup, that means a semifinal. For a Copa America, that means the final.

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The talk heading into this Copa America has oscillated a bit. There have been comments, like those from Haji Wright, that the World Cup is the main priority. While true, the timing feels like a way of limiting expectations — the World Cup isn’t until 2026. Other comments have focused on creating the aforementioned “Golden Moment.” Scally mentioned wanting to “do something great for the country.” That is the direction into which Adams is leaning as well.

“I think that you have to have goals. You have to have expectations of what you want to achieve as a group,” Adams said. “But I think building off of 2022, that was a good benchmark of where we’re at right now. We’ve navigated a group stage as a young group. That was important to do with not a lot of World Cup experience.

“Obviously, now it’s about being able to win knockout games and big games, and we have yet to do that. So we need to continue to work towards that, and I think obviously Copa America is going to be a great opportunity for us to do that. But there’s work to be done still.”

The path to reaching that goal won’t be easy. Group C, which includes Bolívia, Panama and Uruguay, is one the U.S. should be able to get past, though there are no guarantees.

Bolivia is a wild card — less is known about them than the other teams in the group, though the Bolivians won’t be able to lean on the benefit of playing at altitude like they do in their home qualifiers. In a tournament setting, Panama has given the U.S. fits on more than one occasion. Uruguay is enjoying an impressive run of form under new manager Marcelo Bielsa.

If the U.S. progresses to the quarterfinals, the Americans will likely face one of two teams they faced in recent friendlies, those being Brazil or Colombia. Getting past either team will require a monumental effort, but it’s an opportunity for this USMNT to show that it is indeed capable of something special, labels be damned.

The USMNT has the experience now. It has been tested at a World Cup. Can it reach its goal? Or even go beyond?

If the U.S. doesn’t, however, what does that mean for Berhalter? So far in his tenure he has proven to be adept at meeting expectations, but nothing more. Would the U.S. Soccer Federation brass dare fire a coach for not being able to beat Brazil? That would be harsh, but it’s what happens when expectations around a team increase.

For now, Adams is thinking of what a win would bring rather than the alternative.

“I think [a knockout stage win] would put a lot of confidence in our team,” Adams said. “We have the belief that we’re able to do that, but now it’s about executing more than anything. Our team gets in situations and we need to be able to execute. That’s the bottom line.”

2024 Copa América team previews: USMNT, Argentina, more

ESPN

Jun 19, 2024, 10:07 AM ETShare Like LikeOpen Extended Reactions Like Fire Interesting 524

It’s time for the 2024 Copa América. With the United States as the host, the next few weeks will be jam-packed with soccer as North American sides take on Central and South America teams in a bid to become the best team in the region. The USMNT boasts plenty of talent with Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah, among others, but can they upset international heavyweights Brazil or current World Cup titleholders Argentina?

It might also be Lionel Messi‘s last major tournament as the 36-year-old enters the twilight of a sparkling career. Could he help his nation to back-to-back Copa América titles? Can striker Santiago Giménez lead Mexico to a deep run in the tournament? Meanwhile, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, arguably the best winger in the world, will attract plenty of attention as he looks to become the main man for his nation.

It’s all up for grabs, and though there are clear favorites, shock results are bound to happen in international soccer. ESPN previews each of the Copa América’s 16 teams in the tournament, with everything you need to know about the sides, split into their groups.

Group A

Team: Argentina

Nickname: La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue)
FIFA rank: 1
Manager: Lionel Scaloni
Record in past 12 months: 12W-0D-0L
Group stage fixtures: Canada (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET); Chile (June 25, 9 p.m. ET); Peru (June 29, 8 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +175

Can’t-miss star: Ángel Di María. Lionel Messi would be too obvious — so it is time to pay tribute to Di Maria, who retires from international football after this tournament. The 36-year-old will be badly missed. Di Maria is that rarest of things — a genuine world-class player who seems without ego, consistently doing what is needed to improve the team. He has been key to all Argentina’s recent triumphs.

Breakout candidate: Valentin Carboni. The 19-year-old seems most likely to emerge as the Di Maria replacement. Alejandro Garnacho has more pace, but the lanky left-footed Carboni has enchanted the coaching staff with his elegant quality, sufficiently versatile to cover a number of attacking positions. Born in Buenos Aires, but used to play for Italy at under-17 level.

Why they won’t win it all: It is hardly a surprise that Argentina are at the top of the World Cup qualification table. They were the only team that went into the competition as a consolidated unit. The Copa gives the others a chance to catch up. Argentina, meanwhile, might have been treading water. Their friendlies this year have been too easy, teaching them little. And the big question remains unresolved: how long can the team go on with its model of Messi plus 10? Scaloni flirted with resignation last November, almost certainly provoked, at least in part, by a glimpse of the end of the Messi era. Much of the past 18 months have felt like a prolonged lap of honor after the triumph in Qatar.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Placed in by far the easiest half of the draw, it will take a major shock for Argentina not to reach the final. As the games become more competitive, an interesting dilemma emerges. Does the status of world and Copa champions mean that the pressure is off? Or might the fact of having something to lose prove nerve-wracking? Argentina go into the tournament as justified favorites, and there will be moments when their possession-based football delights fans, with the rhythm suddenly switching as they bear down on goal. And whatever happens, they should emerge from the Copa with one aspect of their 2026 World Cup challenge enhanced. A collapse at the heart of the defense so nearly cost them the title in Qatar. The Copa is a clear opportunity to consolidate Lisandro Martínez in the back four. — Tim Vickery

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Team: Canada

Nickname: Canucks
FIFA rank: 49
Manager: Jesse Marsch
Record in past 12 months: 4W-3D-5L
Group stage fixtures: Argentina (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET); Peru (June 25, 6 p.m. ET); Chile (June 29, 8 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +6600

Can’t-miss star: Jonathan David. Alphonso Davies is typically penciled in here, but David had the better club season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions for Ligue 1 side Lille. Davies is also slated to play left-back, which means his influence might be muted against the tough trio of South American teams — starting with Argentina — that comprise Group A. If Canada is to get out of the group stage, David will need to be banging in the goals.

Breakout candidate: Moise Bombito. The back line has long been one of Canada’s biggest weaknesses, but Bombito showed well in two recent friendlies against the Netherlands and France with his passing and speed. The Colorado Rapids defender has an opportunity to stake his claim to a starting spot and could prove to be an unlikely catalyst for Canada getting out of the group.

Why they won’t win it all: There just hasn’t been enough time for new manager Jesse Marsch — who was hired last month — to have implemented his high-pressing system and generate some cohesion. Granted, Canada did record a credible 0-0 draw against France, this after a 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands in which the Reds played well for stretches but ultimately ran out of gas. Whether that effort against France can be replicated while generating a consistent attack remains to be seen. All told, the demands of Marsch’s style, as well as a talent gap when compared to the hemisphere’s best teams, make it too big of an ask for Canada to come close to being a contender.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Getting out of the group ought to be the primary goal here. On paper that’s certainly doable, especially given the pace of players such as Davies and Tajon Buchanan. While Argentina are heavy favorites to top Group A, Chile and Peru are beatable. Both teams have struggled in South American World Cup qualifying, occupying eighth and 10th place respectively, but they won’t be pushovers either. That will require limiting the damage in the group stage opener against the reigning World Cup and Copa America champions, and then grinding out results in the last two games. This tournament will be mostly about laying foundations ahead of the 2026 World Cup. — Jeff Carlisle

Team: Chile

Nickname: La Roja (The Red One)
FIFA rank: 42
Manager: Ricardo Gareca
Record in past 12 months: 5W-3D-4L
Group stage fixtures: Peru (Friday, 8 p.m. ET); Argentina (June 25, 9 p.m. ET); Canada (June 29, 8 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +3300

Can’t-miss star: Alexis Sánchez. With more caps (163) and goals (51) for Chile than any other player, Sanchez is keen to point out that at 35 years old he is not a spent force. Enthused by the project of coach Ricardo Gareca, Sanchez is buzzing around behind the centre-forward, more involved these days in setting up the play than finishing off the moves.

Breakout candidate: Darío Osorio. After a long wait for another superstar, there is a cautious sense of optimism around the 20-year-old, a leggy left-footed winger who likes to cut in from the right. He had a fine season in Denmark and scored a splendid debut international goal against France in March, but is fighting to shake off a late season injury.

Why they won’t win it all: Chile’s second game is against Argentina in New Jersey — same venue and same opponents as the 2016 Copa final win, the greatest moment in the history of the national team. Eight years ago seems like light years ago. Chile did not make it to either of the two subsequent World Cups and have made a bad start on the way to 2026 — hence the recent change of coach. Theirs has been a typical South American problem: a drought of talent following a golden generation. The process of renewing the team has been extremely weak.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Chile have pinned their faith in the “Gareca factor” — the hope that Argentine coach Gareca can reproduce what he did with Peru and build a team that adds up to more than the sum of its parts. The new man has certainly made a promising start, with goals and good performances in his first three friendlies. Can this be continued now that the competitive games have come? The group looks easy enough, so Chile can expect a quarterfinal, although a semifinal would seem to be the limit of their chances. The main aim is to build momentum for the coming six rounds of World Cup qualifiers. — Vickery

Team: Peru

Nickname: La Blanquirroja (The White and Red)
FIFA rank: 32
Manager: Jorge Fossati
Record in past 12 months: 4W-3D-5L
Group stage fixtures: Chile (Friday, 8 p.m. ET); Canada (June 25, 6 p.m. ET); Argentina (June 29, 8 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +5000

Can’t-miss star: Pedro Gallese. Peru is not known for producing goalkeepers, but they can be proud of Gallese. Over a decade in the national team and with more than 100 caps, the Orlando City keeper has been reliable and occasionally outstanding. He would walk into a best all-time Peru XI.

Breakout candidate: Piero Quispe. He’s is a little, skipping, give-and-go midfielder who was Peru’s player of the year in 2023 and has since made an encouraging start in Mexico. Some say that he is too much of a lightweight for the top level. The Copa is a chance for him to prove them wrong and launch his international career.

Why they won’t win it all: For a few years, former coach Ricardo Gareca performed a minor miracle with Peru, building a team that added up to more than the sum of its parts. Post-Gareca, things returned to normal for a country that has gone 11 years without one of its clubs reaching the knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores, and which is not producing many successful exports. Peru lie bottom of the 2026 World Cup qualification table with just one goal scored in six games. And midfielder Renato Tapia, probably the team’s best outfield player, walked out following a row with the local federation. Everything seems stacked against the Peruvians.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: After a few gentle friendlies, these will be the first competitive games in the reign of the new coach, Uruguayan Jorge Fossati, who has immediately implanted his trademark three centre-back system. Fossati will probably try to focus on defensive solidity, and trust that clever attacking midfielder Edison Flores can buzz effectively around the centre-forward. The opening game with neighbors and bitter rivals Chile is crucial. In a perfect world, this Copa will be to Fossati what the 2016 version in the USA was to Gareca. Eight years ago, Peru travelled north in apparent disarray, but in the course of the competition found the group and the momentum that took them to Russia 2018 and very nearly to Qatar. — Vickery

Group B

Team: Ecuador

Nickname: La Tricolor (The Tricolors)
FIFA rank: 31
Manager: Félix Sánchez Bas
Record in past 12 months: 8W-2D-3L
Group stage fixtures: Venezuela (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET); Jamaica (June 26, 6 p.m. ET); Mexico (June 30, 8 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +1800

Can’t-miss star: Moisés Caicedo. He has been bestriding the Ecuador midfield like a prince since he was a teenager, and at 22 he already has more than 40 caps to his name. He is at the heart of everything that Ecuador do, winning the ball, driving forward, linking the play with quick passes and running beyond the strikers to shoot at goal.

Breakout candidate: Kendry Paez. He was making and scoring goals in World Cup qualification months before his 17th birthday. A left-footed attacking midfielder with the air of an Ecuadorian Phil Foden, he is full of surprise shots and passes at clever angles. This is an eagerly awaited first senior tournament for the Chelsea-bound wonderkid.

Why they won’t win it all: Despite a solid start to their 2026 qualification campaign, pressure is mounting on Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, who was in charge of Qatar in the last World Cup. Some even speculate that this tournament might serve as a referendum on his job security. One of his problems is that the wealth of resources at centre-back is not matched by those at centre-forward. The team are highly dependent on all-time top scorer Enner Valencia, who was overplayed during 2022 and 2023, and has since been paying the price.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Expectations in Ecuador are fluctuating wildly, from hopes of a semifinal to fears of group stage elimination. Both are possible, and plenty hangs on the opening clash with Venezuela. Pick up the points there, avoid Argentina in the quarters and a place in the last four is within the grasp of a young, physically imposing team who are not easy to play against. The key question is whether they can score enough goals, given their lack of depth at centre-forward and the absence of the strong, quick and direct wingers who have typically been a feature of recent Ecuador sides. — Vickery

Team: Jamaica

Nickname: Reggae Boyz
FIFA rank: 55
Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson
Record in past 12 months: 12W-4D-5L
Group stage fixtures: Mexico (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET); Ecuador (June 26, 6 p.m. ET); Venezuela (June 30, 8 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +15000

Can’t-miss star: Michail Antonio. With Leon Bailey out of the picture, on paper, Antonio is the star. When healthy, the West Ham United striker is brilliant in the air and a clever dribbler. So why just on paper? That’s because the England native hasn’t solidified himself as a reliable big-game goal scorer for Jamaica since his 2021 debut, but that could change this summer.

Breakout candidate: Shamar Nicholson. A fully fit and available Jamaica roster likely wouldn’t have Nicholson in the XI, but that doesn’t deny the fact that he’s been an invaluable striker. Soon to be heading back to Spartak Moscow after a loan with Clermont, the 27-year-old has been lights out for Jamaica with eight goals in his past seven games.

Why they won’t win it all: Injuries have seriously hurt their chances, as seen in recent World Cup qualifiers where they narrowly sneaked past Concacaf minnows such as the Dominican Republic and Dominica through one-goal margins. As arguably the weakest team in their group — and with a worrisome Copa América past that features six losses in six games — one can argue that Jamaica may not have enough to even get out of the group stage.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Sure, Jamaica could be seen as the worst in their group, but on the other hand, the reality is that there isn’t a significant difference between all four teams. If they can at least steal a point from Mexico in their first game, and if Nicholson continues his impressive form, there’s no reason they can’t qualify for the knockout round. That said, there are plenty of questions regarding their roster, likely leaving them at third or fourth in Group B. — Cesar Hernandez

Team: Mexico

Nickname: El Tri (The Tricolor)
FIFA rank: 14
Manager: Jaime Lozano
Record in past 12 months: 11W-4D-8L
Group stage fixtures: Jamaica (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET); Venezuela (June 26, 9 p.m. ET); Ecuador (June 30, 8 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +1200

Can’t-miss star: Edson Álvarez. To quote West Ham supporters: “Midfield maestro, from Mexico, Edson ole ole ole.” For club and country, Alvarez is a rock in the heart of the XI, often doing the dirty work with crucial interventions and crunching tackles that stop opposition. At his best, the player is capable of producing defensive midfield masterclasses with his aggressive work rate and stamina.

Breakout candidate: Santiago Giménez. Recently finishing the Eredivisie season with 23 goals, the young Feyenoord striker is a dark horse candidate for Copa América’s Golden Boot award. More than just a sturdy goal scorer with surprising acceleration, the 23-year-old is also an excellent passer in the final third. Could a performance lead to a summer move to a bigger club?

Why they won’t win it all: With an eye toward the 2026 World Cup, Mexico are currently in the middle of a generational change. When the tournament kicks off, many fans will be surprised to learn that high-profile veterans such as Hirving Lozano, Guillermo Ochoa and Raúl Jiménez were left off of the roster. During part of that process, the latest losses against Uruguay and Brazil have further strengthened the notion that head coach Jaime “Jimmy” Lozano and his men are still a work in progress.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Mexico should finish in the top two of their group, especially with their status as the (slight) favorites among the four. Assuming no early hiccups and that a backup goalkeeper is able to fill the immense gloves left by Ochoa, Mexico’s knockout round fate probably will be decided by if/when they potentially meet Argentina. If they meet in the quarters or semis, that’s likely where they’ll exit. No Argentina matchup? It then wouldn’t be a stretch to see them as finalists. If Alvarez and Gimenez live up to their expectations, Mexico could make a deep run. — Hernandez

Team: Venezuela

Nickname: La Vinotinto (The Wine Red)
FIFA rank: 54
Manager: Fernando Batista
Record in past 12 months: 4W-4D-3L
Group stage fixtures: Ecuador (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET); Mexico (June 26, 9 p.m. ET); Jamaica (June 30, 8 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +6600

Can’t-miss star: Salomón Rondón. The tragedy of the Qatar World Cup qualifiers was that Rondon was either in China or England, and regulations stopped him going home during the COVID pandemic. Now their big centre-forward and the reference point of the attack is available, and he will want to use this Copa to show that he is not in physical decline.

Breakout candidate: Kervin Andrade. There are high hopes of 19-year-old attacking midfielder Andrade, a squat little figure with close control and a rocket shot who is making a good impression in Brazil with Fortaleza. He was called up this year to the Venezuela squad and is likely to be gently introduced during the course of the tournament.

Why they won’t win it all: Venezuela can cause problems to stronger sides, but they run into the problem of the underdog — if they charge forward, their defensive unit can look vulnerable, but hanging back can leave them too timid and passive. It is not an easy balance for them to strike, and there would seem to be almost no chance of them finding the right blend over the course of six games. They are the only side in the competition who have yet to play in a World Cup, and a Venezuelan triumph on July 14 would be one of the biggest shocks in Copa history.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: For Venezuela, everything is geared around qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and making their World Cup debut. The 1-1 draw away to Brazil last October was a massive morale boost, and Argentine coach Fernando Batista will be delighted that his side have conceded just three goals in the six qualifying rounds. The priority in this Copa, then, is to emerge with faith intact. There are no real hopes of winning, and even a repeat of 2011’s semifinal would be seen as a bonus. A quarterfinal would be nice, but the most important thing is that Venezuela emerge from the competition confident that they will be back in North America two years from now. — Vickery

Group C

Team: Bolívia

Nickname: La Verde (The Green)
FIFA rank: 85
Manager: Antônio Carlos Zago
Record in past 12 months: 2W-1D-11L
Group stage fixtures: U.S. (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET); Uruguay (June 27, 9 p.m. ET); Panama (July 1, 9 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +15000

Can’t-miss star: Ramiro Vaca. He moved back home after failing to make much of an impression in Belgium with Beerschot, but he is an important player in the national team, bringing quality to the midfield with his range of passes, his well-struck shots and his set pieces. Vaca turns 25 during the competition.

Breakout candidate: Diego Medina. He made a good impression at the start of the year in the South American Under-23 championships as an aggressive and athletic right-back. He is happy in the wing-back role if Bolívia go with a back three, and will look to consolidate his place in the side during the Copa.

Why they won’t win it all: Thirty years ago, Bolívia went to the U.S. for the World Cup with a generation of talent that they have been utterly unable to replace. The recent retirement from international football of all-time top scorer Marcelo Martins Moreno has worsened matters still further. After last week’s 3-1 defeat to Ecuador, a local newspaper delivered a damning verdict, pointing out three areas where the team urgently needs to improve: defending, retaining possession and setting up chances.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Bolívia are frequently offered up to the hosts in the opening game in a move aimed to get the tournament off to a good start. Often they have refused to follow the script, rising to the occasion and holding out for a draw. But hopes are not high this time. There was optimism a year back, after some good results in friendlies, but all that was instantly swept away when World Cup qualification got underway. Following a disastrous start, Argentine coach Gustavo Costas gave way to Brazil’s Antonio Carlos Zago, without much improvement. Qualification for the 2026 World Cup, however, is still possible — Bolívia always look to pick up points at the extreme altitude of La Paz. Priority in this Copa is for a young side to emerge from the competition with self-esteem intact. — Vickery

Team: Panama

Nickname: La Marea Roja (The Red Tide)
FIFA rank: 45
Manager: Thomas Christiansen
Record in past 12 months: 14W-2D-6L
Group stage fixtures: Uruguay (Sunday, 9 p.m. ET); USA (June 27, 6 p.m. ET); Bolívia (July 1, 9 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +15000

Can’t-miss star: Michael Murillo. The pacey Marseille fullback will be a handful for opponents who will have to deal with his take-ons and influence in the attacking third. Excellent in the air and also capable of finding the back of the net, Murillo is set to be one of the leaders on either end of the pitch.

Breakout candidate: Adalberto Carrasquilla. After earning the MVP award for 2023’s Concacaf Gold Cup, can Carrasquilla gain even higher praise at the Copa América? Well-rounded in the midfield but also a threat when carrying the ball forward, the Houston Dynamo player will easily be one to watch. It wouldn’t be a surprise if a European team took a chance on the 25-year-old after the tournament.

Why they won’t win it all: Credit should be given to the gradual improvements made by manager Thomas Christiansen. The coach and his players punched above their weight with a spot at the 2023 Gold Cup final and earned a respectable place within the top four of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League. But against CONMEBOL opponents? That’s a tough ask, and Christiansen doesn’t have the depth of talent needed to go far — let alone possibly making it out of the group stage.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Stranger things have happened in tournament soccer, but there aren’t very many scenarios in which the U.S. and Uruguay aren’t in the top two of Group C. Due to the luck of the draw, Panama just happen to be in a group with two teams that are in the conversation of dark horses.

Third or fourth in their group is the expectation, but if they can get at least one surprise result vs the U.S. or Uruguay, Panama might have an unexpected fighting chance to continue their run when they close out the group stage vs. a questionable Bolívia. — Hernandez

Team: Uruguay

Nickname: La Celeste (The Sky Blue)
FIFA rank: 15
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Record in past 12 months: 8W-3D-2L
Group stage fixtures: Panama (Sunday, 9 p.m. ET); Bolívia (June 27, 9 p.m. ET); USA (July 1, 9 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +500

Can’t-miss star: Federico Valverde. He is the often overlooked quiet force of the Real Madrid team, balancing out the side with his spirit of sacrifice and extraordinary lung power. With Uruguay, he is free to shout louder. His midfield dynamism is at the heart of the side, working box to box and unleashing his ferocious shots.

Breakout candidate: Facundo Pellistri. Loaned out first to Alaves and then to Granada, Pellistri has been strangely neglected by Manchester United but has enjoyed a fine time with Uruguay. The 22-year-old might have been their most effective attacking player in the Qatar World Cup as a pacy right winger with the vision of a playmaker.

Why they won’t win it all: Bielsa’s football is notoriously high tempo and high energy. Can the team maintain the required intensity at the end of the European season? This could be especially difficult in the intense summer heat of some of the Copa venues. As Leeds United fans will recall, when the plan goes wrong, a Bielsa team can leave itself extremely open, and in the toughest half of the draw, where there is less margin for error, this could be a problem.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: It is easy to see why Bielsa was attracted to the Uruguay job. With the old generation leaving the scene after Qatar, he had a dynamic new generation to work with; an impressive spine of Ronald Araújo, Jose Gimenez, Manuel Ugarte, Valverde and Darwin Núñez, plus the wingers Uruguay usually produces and Bielsa loves so much. They ended last year as South America’s in-form side, comfortably beating Brazil and winning away to Argentina, and the recent destruction of Mexico has merely confirmed that impression. No one will relish facing them — and 100 years after Uruguay’s historic Olympic gold medal, they are candidates for a title once more. –– Vickery

Team: USA

Nickname: Stars & Stripes
FIFA rank: 11
Manager: Gregg Berhalter
Record in past 12 months: 11W-2D-5L
Group stage fixtures: Bolívia (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET); Panama (June 27, 6 p.m. ET); Uruguay (July 1, 9 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +1200

Can’t-miss star: Christian Pulisic. Pulisic has long been the face of the USMNT, and he largely delivered at the 2022 World Cup, scoring the game winner against Iran that put the U.S. through to the knockout stages. Now he is coming off arguably his best club season, having scored 12 goals and added eight assists for AC Milan.

Breakout candidate: Giovanni Reyna. Reyna is a known commodity among U.S. fans, but his club career has stalled due to a combination of injury and poor form. He has shined in recent competitions with the U.S., however, and was the Player of the Tournament at the Concacaf Nations League this past March. The Copa is a big step up, though. If the U.S. do make a deep run, they’ll need Reyna at his best playing in an attacking midfield role and providing the chance creation the team needs.

Why they won’t win it all: The 2022 World Cup revealed that the U.S. struggled mightily with chance creation, finishing in the bottom half in xG both among teams that reached the knockout rounds (tied for 12th) and for the tournament as a whole (23rd out of 32). Have the U.S. improved since then? Tough to say. Their only match since then against a non-Concacaf team ranked 50th or higher was a 3-1 home loss to Germany in which the visitors were far superior. Until the U.S. deliver against a top opponent, there will be doubts that their attack is good enough to push the tournament hosts into the elite.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: The U.S. have gone about managing expectations for the Copa in an odd way, talking about the opportunity in front of them while at the same time speaking of how the World Cup is the bigger priority. In a group featuring Bolívia, Panama and Uruguay, the U.S. will be expected to progress. Elimination in the group stage would be looked upon — justifiably — as a colossal failure, and put manager Berhalter’s status under threat. If the U.S. do progress, a likely matchup with Brazil or Colombia awaits in the quarterfinals, where the USMNT would be an underdog against either side. The U.S. recently were thrashed 5-1 by Colombia before securing a credible 1-1 draw against Brazil. Getting past either of those teams seems beyond the U.S. at the moment. The play of Reyna and oft-injured holding midfielder Tyler Adams will be critical to the U.S. team’s chances. — Carlisle

Why Gomez is preaching caution for USMNT against South American teams

Herculez Gomez warns the USMNT not to expect easy games against South American teams going into Copa America.

Group D

Team: Brazil

Nickname: Seleção Canarinha (Canary Squad)
FIFA rank: 5
Manager: Dorival Júnior
Record in past 12 months: 5W-3D-4L
Group stage fixtures: Costa Rica (Monday, 9 p.m. ET); Paraguay (June 28, 9 p.m. ET); Colombia (July 2, 9 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +225

Can’t-miss star: Vinícius Júnior. In the Qatar World Cup, Vinicius was the newcomer who had only recently forced his way into the team. Things have changed. He is now Brazil’s most dangerous attacking player, and to his stunning wing play he has added the capacity to operate more centrally. A good tournament could seal the Ballon D’Or this year.

Breakout candidate: Endrick. The stocky, left-footed Endrick, who turns 18 in July, came off the bench in three consecutive games this year to score three goals, all of them important, all of them in different styles. The talent of the Real Madrid-bound prodigy is such that everyone will want to see how he gets on in his debut tournament.

Why they won’t win it all: After a disastrous 2023 for the team, new coach Dorival Junior is attempting to steady the ship. The Copa is his competitive debut, and on the evidence of the first four friendlies, the team have yet to recover the defensive solidity that was a hallmark of the 2016-2022 Tite era. With Brazil in by far the most difficult half of the draw, they will surely be tested as they go through the competition, and it will be fascinating to find out how a young side responds under pressure.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: After winning four Copas in five between 1997 and 2007, Brazil have won only one of the past five — and that was on home soil. Even so, they are contenders for this title. In full flow they can be an exhilarating sight, and if Vini Junior, Rodrygo and company can be well backed up by the likes of Alisson, Marquinhos and Bruno Guimarães, then they will take some stopping. The prospect of a semifinal against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay is deliciously enticing. Whatever happens, Brazil should emerge from the tournament having put 2023 behind them and ready to put a swift end to any doubts about their presence in the next World Cup. — Vickery

Team: Colombia

Nickname: Los Cafeteros (The Coffeemakers)
FIFA rank: 12
Manager: Néstor Lorenzo
Record in past 12 months: 11W-3D-0L
Group stage fixtures: Paraguay (Monday, 6 p.m. ET); Costa Rica (June 28, 6 p.m. ET); Brazil (July 2, 9 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +1000

Can’t-miss star: Luis Díaz. The Liverpool winger is now the undisputed king of the team, especially after those two goals that brought a first ever World Cup qualification win over Brazil last November, just days after his father had been freed from a kidnap. He’ll cut in from the left and occasionally wander across the attacking line.

Breakout candidate: Richard Ríos. He was an unknown playing futsal in Brazil where he was discovered and transformed into a dynamic part of the Palmeiras midfield that won last year’s league title. The 24-year-old was successfully introduced to the national team this year and highlighted his value with a first goal for Colombia in the 5-1 rout of the USA.

Why they won’t win it all: The long unbeaten run under coach Nestor Lorenzo is a cause for concern for anyone who has followed the history of the Colombian national team. Their fans will be out in force, and expectations are high, but dealing with euphoria is vital in tournament football, and this has often been a problem. Older supporters will recall that 30 years ago Colombia went to the World Cup in the USA on a run of one defeat in 33 games — and that story ended in tragedy with a group stage exit. In by far the more difficult half of the draw, there are plenty of opportunities for their Copa campaign to go wrong.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: Lorenzo was an inspired choice to coach the side. The Argentine was a long-term assistant to Jose Pekerman, who took Colombia to the World Cups of 2014 and ’18, and has an undoubted flair for the top job. Lorenzo’s teams is well constructed, with attacker James Rodríguez free to float in a side that is otherwise highly structured. They know where they seek to win the ball, either sitting deep with their lines compact or pressing high. A possible problem — and here the 5-1 win over the USA can be deceptive — is a lack of goals. It was the reason they missed the Qatar World Cup, and although they are off to a sound start in the 2026 qualifiers they have only six goals in six games. But the semifinals certainly look like a realistic target. — Vickery

Team: Costa Rica

Nickname: Los Ticos (The Ticos)
FIFA rank: 52
Manager: Gustavo Alfaro
Record in past 12 months: 7W-2D-8L
Group stage fixtures: Brazil (Monday, 9 p.m. ET); Colombia (June 28, 6 p.m. ET); Paraguay (July 2, 9 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +8000

Can’t-miss star: Francisco Calvo. No Keylor Navas? No problem. Following the retirement of the iconic goalkeeper, the captain’s armband has been in safe hands with Calvo in June’s wins in World Cup qualifiers. Forceful in his defensive abilities but also with an eye for long passes, the presence of the FC Juarez defender will be highly significant this summer.

Breakout candidate: Brandon Aguilera. Costa Rica’s latest No. 10 wasn’t a veteran superstar, but instead, a versatile 20-year-old Nottingham Forest player who just wrapped up a short League One loan. Earning an assist in his last Costa Rica appearance, the midfielder still has much to prove and isn’t a guaranteed starter, but there’s a reason he made his Premier League debut in January.

Why they won’t win it all: Aguilera is a young player to keep an eye on, as is Manfred Ugalde up top, but it’s difficult to see the two players and their teammates going far without the insurance plan of Navas in net. The goalkeeper was a literal savior between the sticks, and while Costa Rica’s roster can likely hold their own without Navas against Concacaf opposition, the same can’t be said when you throw CONMEBOL into the mix as well.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: World Cup qualifying is off to a great start and they have some future stars to look forward to, and yet, at the Copa América, Costa Rica face the unenviable task of trying to halt Brazil and Colombia in Group D. To make matters more difficult, those will be their first two opponents, possibly leaving them with a consolation match against Paraguay to close out the group stage. The consensus is that Costa Rica will suffer an early exit, although this is a good time to remind everyone that we just surpassed the 10-year anniversary of a similar Group D conversation at the 2014 World Cup when Costa Rica finished first ahead of Uruguay, Italy and England. — Hernandez

Team: Paraguay

Nickname: Albirroja (The White and Red)
FIFA rank: 56
Manager: Daniel Garnero
Record in past 12 months: 3W-4D-4L
Group stage fixtures: Colombia (Monday, 6 p.m. ET); Brazil (June 28, 9 p.m. ET); Costa Rica (July 2, 9 p.m. ET)
ESPN BET odds to win Copa 2024: +6600

Can’t-miss star: Miguel Almiron. With league titles in Paraguay, Argentina and the USA plus more than five seasons in the Premier League, Almiron is Paraguay’s main star. But at age 30, just two goals in competitive games for his country is a disappointing return. Might this be the moment when his speed and left foot make an impression?

Breakout candidate: Julio Enciso. He made his Paraguay debut in the last Copa shortly after his 17th birthday, but has yet to make much of an impact. The Brighton striker picked up an injury and missed all of last year’s World Cup qualifiers. Paraguay are desperate for him to return and kick start his international career.

Why they won’t win it all: Morale is on the floor, as coach Garnero confessed after last week’s 3-0 loss to Chile. Garnero replaced fellow Argentine Guillermo Barros Schelotto after a poor start to the World Cup qualification campaign, but things have yet to improve. In the six rounds, Paraguay have managed just one goal. The heyday of Roque Santa Cruz aside, a lack of firepower has been a frequent Paraguayan problem — made worse by the impression that the current defensive unit is not as solid as some in the country’s past.

Realistic chances at Copa 2024: With Colombia first up followed by Brazil, the fixtures have not been kind to Paraguay. Coach Garnero came in full of attacking intentions, but it could be that his team’s best bet is to defend deep and rely on traditional virtues of resilience. This is an approach better suited to tournaments than to the league format of World Cup qualification. Back in 2011, for example, Paraguay made it all the way to the final of the Copa without winning a single game and going through on penalties. Paraguay’s dogged tradition means that they should never be underestimated, but it would be a surprise if they get out of the group. — Vickery

(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports illustration)

Welcome to Copa América 2024, the tournament that’s a bigger deal than it seems

Henry Bushnell Senior reporter Tue, Jun 18, 2024, 12:00 PM EDT·8 min read The 2024 Copa América — a mini-World Cup for the Western Hemisphere — kicks off Thursday in the United States. It will stretch from coast to coast, capturing TV audiences throughout the Americas. It will feature megastars, like Lionel Messi, plus a vibrant array of Latino flair.One of its core questions, though, is: Will casual fans in the host country care?Millions of Mexican Americans and Colombian Americans, of Argentine Americans and Venezuelan Americans, will joyously erupt for the Copa América. This, many of them know, is arguably the most competitive men’s international soccer tournament in the four-year interim between World Cups.But the 2024 Copa América, specifically, is a novelty in a country mostly unfamiliar with it.

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Here, then, is an attempt to familiarize you — with the basics, the narratives, the problems, and the driving forces behind this one-of-a-kind event.

What is Copa América?

Copa América is the South American men’s soccer championship, a century-old competition among the continent’s 10 national teams (and often others).

Its cadence, size and format have varied over the years. Now, it’s a quadrennial tournament much like the European Championship (Euros), played in even-year summers between men’s World Cups.

It typically features 12 teams, with two invited from other continents. But in 2024, it will temporarily expand to 16. More on that below.

Is Copa América a big deal?

In South America, perhaps the planet’s most soccer-crazed continent, it’s a massive deal. It’s historic, prestigious, anticipated, fiercely contested and festive. For years, it was massive enough to crush Messi — before finally liberating him in 2021.

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Outside the Americas, it’s a bit less so. Its global footprint is dwarfed by its European equivalent, the Euros. That, however, is largely due to western Europe’s economic might — and its willingness/eagerness to commercialize and market the sport.

At their core, the two tournaments are comparable. They’re soccer’s biggest outside the World Cup — the toughest to win, the most lucrative, the most acclaimed. And this year’s Copa América, in some ways, is even bigger.

How and why is this Copa América different? And who’s in it?

Struggling to find a satisfactory South American host, CONMEBOL — the 10-member South American soccer confederation — struck an agreement with CONCACAF, its North and Central American counterpart.

CONCACAF would help organize the 2024 edition in the United States; in return, it would get six spots in a 16-team field.

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So, the men’s national teams of the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Panama, Costa Rica and Jamaica will join the 10 traditional participants: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela and Bolivia.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Beraldo #17 of Brazil, Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States and Joao Gomes #15 of Brazil at Camping World Stadium on June 12, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Thorstenson/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF) — Christian Pulisic and the USMNT will compete against some of the powerhouses of South American soccer in the 2024 Copa América. (Mark Thorstenson/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images)

Who are the contenders to win it?

Argentina is the favorite. We’ve ranked all 16 teams here.

More Copa América

Wait, so why is the 2024 Copa América in the U.S.?

Copa América hosting duties typically rotate from one South American nation to the next — from 1989-2011, for example, each of CONMEBOL’s 10 members hosted once.

In recent years, though, the COVID-19 pandemic and instability have disrupted the rotation, and left organizers scrambling for stand-ins — first Brazil, and now the U.S.

In 2024, it was supposed to be Ecuador’s turn. But Ecuador, citing security and infrastructure concerns, relinquished the responsibility. “We’re not ready to organize the Copa América,” said Francisco Egas, the president of its soccer federation, in November 2022. So, with less than two years to go, CONMEBOL did not know where its 2024 championship would be played.

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Brazil, its biggest, richest and most capable deputy, seemed willing and able to host. But Brazil had also hosted the previous two Copa Américas — first in 2019, in line with the standard rotation; and then in 2021 when Colombia and Argentina pulled out last-minute.

So, pushed by necessity but also pulled by financial and political benefits, CONMEBOL leaders turned to the States. Conversations accelerated at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. An agreement was reached and announced in early 2023.

Hasn’t there already been a Copa América in the U.S.?

Yep, but that one was even more novel. It was a one-off “Centenario” edition in 2016. It was not moved to the U.S.; rather, it was essentially created by the U.S. Soccer Federation, in partnership with CONMEBOL, one year after the regularly scheduled 2015 Copa América, as a cash-grab and opportunity to pit the U.S. men’s national team against elite opponents.

Practically, though, the 2016 and 2024 tournaments will be very similar. Same format; six of the same host cities; 15 of the same 16 teams.

How did that 2016 Copa América Centenario go?

It was fairly successful. On the field, Chile beat Argentina in a glamorous but brutal final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In the stands, 1.48 million tickets were sold, an average of roughly 46,000 per game. In total, the event generated a “one-off profit of around $80 million” for U.S. Soccer, its then-vice president, Carlos Cordeiro, said a few years later.

Are fans excited about the 2024 Copa América?

That’s a complicated question.

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In South America, fans always get excited about any Copa América, but some are unhappy that their crown jewel has been shipped off to North America again.

In North America, those who understand the gravity and importance of the tournament seem excited; but many non-Latinos in and around the American soccer community feel that the tournament has been poorly promoted and might fail to break through a crowded U.S. sports scene.

CONMEBOL’s commercial chief, Juan Emilio Roa, told Yahoo Sports that an estimated 25-30% of match-going fans would be ones traveling from South America; most of the rest will be U.S. residents.

How are Copa América ticket sales going?

Roa told Yahoo Sports on June 7 that just over 1 million tickets had been sold — a little more than 31,000 per game. That’s around 50% of capacity across all games, most of which will be played at NFL stadiums.

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Naturally, matches featuring teams like Argentina and Mexico are close to or already sold-out; others, though, could be pretty empty.

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 9: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina looks on from the substitute bench before the national anthem before a game between Ecuador and Argentina at Soldier Field on June 9, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images) — Argentina, the defending 2022 World Cup and 2021 Copa América champions, are the current favorites to win this year’s tournament. (Michael Miller/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

How can I buy Copa América tickets?

By going to CONMEBOL’s website, finding your desired stadium or game, and paying handsomely.

One reason that roughly 50% of tickets remain unclaimed is that the prices, to many, are obscene. A single upper-deck ticket for Argentina’s opener against Canada, in the second-to-last row of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, costs $307 at the time of writing. Even for Peru-Chile at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the following day, a standard 200-level ticket costs $208. The average tournament-wide ticket price, according to Vivid Seats, is $283.

Why are tickets so expensive?

It’s unclear who, exactly, is to blame for the obscene prices.

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Roa confirmed that they are based on the “dynamic pricing” model often utilized by American ticket brokers such as Ticketmaster and SeatGeek.

For a standard Copa América in South America, CONMEBOL would have complete control over all aspects of the matchday experience, including ticketing. But here, they have had to work with a variety of interested (and capitalistic) parties stadium-by-stadium, city-by-city. Rather than sell tickets on a single platform, they have essentially delegated that task to each venue — some of which use Ticketmaster, some of which use SeatGeek.

The complexities, and the somewhat last-minute nature of all these arrangements, have been challenges, and presumably reasons that tickets did not go on sale until late February.

When and where are the games?

They’re scattered across the U.S., in 14 different cities, with each hosting no more than three games.

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The entire schedule is here. A Copa América schedule grid can be downloaded here.

So, will the Copa América be fun and successful?

Some games, certainly in the knockout rounds, should be great. Others, between prideful but less-prominent teams stuck in cavernous NFL stadiums, will feel a bit soulless.

The tournament as a whole will probably struggle to differentiate itself from all the other high-level soccer being played in the United States this decade. But for CONMEBOL, financially, it will almost surely be successful.

“The North American market is an amazing market, in terms of everything — in terms of viewerships, in terms of sponsorship, in terms of exposure,” Roa said. The inclusion of Mexico’s national team has likely allowed CONMEBOL to tap into many millions more dollars.

“And for sure, having Argentina and Leo Messi play in this Copa America … increased the interest around the world,” Roa added.

“We received calls and emails and contacts through our [commercial] agency, directly to CONMEBOL, from all around the world, como nunca antes, like never before,” Roa said. “Because, obviously, they have interests in the States. And all the things that happen in the States — it takes another dimension.”

Henry BushnellSenior reporter

Henry Bushnell writes features and covers soccer for Yahoo Sports. He is a Philadelphia native, a Northwestern University graduate, and a Washington D.C. resident. Follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell. Email him with tips, comments or questions at henrydbushnell@gmail.com.

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6/14/24 European Cup starts, US ties Brazil, Copa Starts Thurs, Indy 11 home Sat 11 games unbeaten, TV Game Schedules

June 14, 2024June 20, 2024 gatorbest copa-america, european-championships, euros, football, indy-11, indy-11-soccer, matt-turner, shane-best, soccer, sports, the-ole-ballcoach, us-mens-national-team, usmnt

European Cup is here – June 24 – July 14

The Summer of soccer starts today in Germany. England comes in as co-favorites along with Spain. Germany have struggled in Cup play – and are looking to use their home status to get them back in. Of course Italy won the last Euro’s then didn’t qualify for the World Cup – so they will be looking for Redemption as well. Tons of stories about the games – but bottom line is we have soccer to watch at 9, 12 noon, & 3 pm for the next month. Along with Copa America starting Thurs – giving us a couple of games each night. Summer of Soccer is here – enjoy. I am going to give my official picks next week. Sorry got bogged down this week.

US Men tie Brazil 1-1 – Starts Copa America next Sun vs Bolivia 6 pm

What a difference a game makes –after a woeful showing vs Colombia last weekend – the US tightened up and played Brazil to a wonderful 1-1 tie on Orlando in front of 60K –70% Brazil fans. GK Matt Turner made 11 saves – trailing only Howard’s 15 saves in the World Cup vs Belgium for most saves in a game. Honestly though while Brazil out possessed and outshot us – the US should have won this game. Brazil’s GK Alisson saved the day when he stonewalled both Pulisic and later Aaronson in the final minutes. (full highlights) The US did hold on for the last 15 minutes – but again – the US could have won this one. The US has only beaten Brazil 1 time in 18 tries – and this is the first tie. I thought the defense really stood out as Robinson, Ream, and Scally we fantastic. Remember this group only gave up 2 goals vs Colombia – and this time Turner played very well – vs struggling vs Colombia. I thought the front line was also strong – of course Pulisic was legendary as normal and playing the entire game here’s Pulisic’s masterful Free Kick Goal – showed just how much of a difference he can make. I like Pepi up front but still think Haji Wright should be our #9 in Copa. The Berhalter bashers are going to have to wait another few weeks as the team he put out there as marvelous vs Brazil. We’ll see how he manages Copa – a tourney we really need to get to the Final 4 of. Speaking of Copa here’s the Roster for Copa with starts Thurs night with the US playing Sat at 6 pm vs Bolivia.

The 26-player Copa América roster:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)

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

The Boys in Blue closed out a two-match road trip Sunday night with a win against Birmingham Legion FC. Indy sits at 8-4-2 in third place in the Eastern Conference and return home to host San Antonio FC this Saturday, June 15 at the Mike. 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.

Good luck to those players representing Indiana ODP this weekend in Cincy — especially our Goalkeeper’s

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

USA

USMNT’s Copa América prep ends with a step in the right direction ESPN FC C Jeff Carlisle
USMNT stands up to Brazil, and makes a stabilizing statement ahead of Copa América

Analysis: USMNT rebounds to draw Brazil in final Copa America tune-up

2024 Friendly – USA 1-1 Brazil: A much improved showing for the Stars and Stripes

Pulisic rates 6/10 as Brazil draw gets USMNT back on track

We’re ready:’ Brazil draw sets U.S. right for Copa ESPN Lizzy Becherano
USMNT player ratings versus Brazil

USMNT Copa América roster released By Donald Wine II

USMNT flashes its potential in draw with Brazil
Brazil held by USA in Copa America warm-up
As Copa América approaches, the pressure is building on USMNT’s Gregg Berhalter
USMNT name roster for Copa America 2024

Pulisic’s masterful Free Kick Goal full highlights Matt Turner’s 11 Saves vs Brazil

EUROS

European Championship Table
Who are the breakout U21 players to watch at Euro 2024? ESPN -Kristian Karlsen
Four teams who could be the surprise package of Euro 2024
Five young players we can’t wait to watch at Euro 2024

EURO 2024 Power Rankings: Who are the favorites? Dark horses? Underdogs?
Ranking the five favourites to win the Euro 2024 Golden Boot
Euro 2024: Group F preview and team guide
‘No Scotland, no party’: Inside the Tartan Army’s Euro 2024 journey and a party 26 years in the making
England have ditched their recipe for success with Euro 2024 Gareth Southgate’s biggest gamble of all
Euro 2024 golden boot: Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and the outside contenders in Germany

Copa America

2024 Copa America predictions: Group stage winners, finalists, top scorer, odds
Copa América power rankings: Can anybody top Argentina? Can the USMNT contend?
How Copa América changed Lionel Messi forever
Copa America 2024 Player Power Rankings
2024 Copa America team Power Rankings — Who are the favorites and dark horses?

Goalkeeping

Matt Turner’s 11 Saves vs Brazil

Great Saves this week including Alisson vs US

Reffing

US Foul vs Brazil wiped out by Var

Rule Changes for Euros

First Red Card of Euro’s Right Call?

Tricky Foul

TV GAMES SCHEDULE

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

Mon, June 17

9 am FS1 Romania vs Ukraine

12 noon FS1 Belgium vs Slovakia

3 pm Fox Austria vs France

Tues, June 18

12 noon FS1 Turkey vs Georgia

3 pm Fox Portugal vs Czech Republic

Wed, June 19

9 am FS1 Croatia vs Albania

12 noon FS 1 Germany vs Hungary

3 pm Fox Scotland vs Switzerland

Thur, June 20 COPA America Starts

9 am FS1 Slovenia vs Serbia

12 noon FS1 Denmark vs England

3 pm Fox Spain vs Italy

8 pm FS1 Argentina vs Canada COPA

Thur, June 20 COPA America Starts

9 am FS1 Slovenia vs Serbia

12 noon FS1 Denmark vs England

3 pm Fox Spain vs Italy

8 pm FS1 Argentina vs Canada COPA

Fri, June 21

9 am FS1 Slovakia vs Ukraine

12 noon FS1 Poland vs Austria

3 pm Fox Netherlands vs France

7:30 pm Para+ Hartford @ Tampa Rowdies (Jordan Farr)

8 pm FS1 Peru vs Chile COPA

8 pm Amazon Prime Orlando Pride vs Utah NWSL

Sat, June 22

12 noon Fox Turkey vs Portugal

3 pm Fox Belgium vs Romania

6 pm FS1 Ecuador vs Venezuela Copa

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

9 pm Fox Mexico vs Jamaica COPA

10:30 pm Apple Seattle Sounders vs Dallas MLS

Sun, June 23

1:30 pm ESPN NY/NJ Gotham vs Washington Spirit NWSL

3 pm Fox Switzerland vs Germany

3 pm FS1 Scotland vs Hungary

4 pm CBS Golazo Portland Thorns vs Racing Louisville NWSL

6 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Bolivia COPA America

9 pm Fox or FS1 Uruguay vs Panama COPA

Mon, June 24

3 pm Fox Croatia vs Italy

3 pm FS1 Albania vs Spain

6 pm FS1 Colombia vs Paraguay Copa

9 pm FS1 Brazil vs Costa Rica

Tues, June 25

12 noon FS1 Netherlands vs Austria

12 noon Fox France vs Poland

3 pm Fox England vs Slovenia

3 pm FS1 Denmark vs Serbia

6 pm FS1 Peru vs Canada Copa

9 pm FS1 Chile vs Argentina Copa

Thur, June 27

6 pm Fox USMNT vs Panama COPA

9 pm Fox Uruguay vs Bolivia

Fri, June 28

6 pm FS1 Colombia vs Costa Rica

9 pm FS1 Paraguay vs Brazil

Sat, June 29th

12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters A2 vs B2

3 pm Fox Euro Quarters A1 vs C2

8 pm FS1 Argentina vs Peru Copa

8 pm FS2 Canada vs Chile

Sun, June 30

12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters C1 vs D/E/F3

1 pm ESPN2 NY/NJ Gotham vs Seattle Reign NWSL

3 pm Fox Euro Quarters B1 vs A/D/E/F3

7:30 pm CBS Golazo+Para Angel City vs Orlando Pride NWSL

8 pm FS1 Jamaica vs Venezuela

8 pm Fox Mexico vs Ecuador

Mon, July 1

12 pm FS1 Euro Quarters 2D vs 2E

3 pm Fox Euro Quarters 1F vs 3a/b/c

9 pm Fox, Univision USMNT vs Uruguay

9 pm FS1 Bolivia vs Panama

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

Copa America TV Schedule

Euro 2024 TV schedule

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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.

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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.

GO DEEPER

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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

TV Schedule

US MEN

WORLD

Indy 11

NWSL

MLS

Save 20% on your order

(mention the ole ballcoach)

USMNT vs. Canada: A desirable matchup with undesirable third-place stakes

Yes, USMNT fans: It’s time to worry about the 2026 World Cup

Fighters wanted: USMNT effort called into question after Nations League loss to Panama

Specifics of the game

Now what?

Third Place Game awaits

Same Berhalter-era USMNT woes linger under Pochettino in Nations League debacle

The defensive breakdown that doomed the USMNT to defeat against Panama

Panama deals USMNT another deflating, exposing defeat in Nations League stunner

Crowd disappoints

Robinson’s importance underscored by his absence

Matt Turner and the challenge of being first-choice goalkeeper for the USMNT but not his club

Panama defeat conjures memories of USMNT’s most devastating losses

Costa Rica 1, USMNT 0; May 31, 1985

Iran 2, USMNT 1; June 21, 1998

Czech Republic 3, USMNT 0; June 12, 2006

USMNT 1, Mexico 2; November 11, 2016

Trinidad and Tobago 2, USMNT 1; October 10, 2017

Champions League Chances to Win as we Enter The Quarter Finals

TV SCHEDULE

US PLAYERS ACROSS THE WORLD Saturday

Werder Bremen v Borussia Mönchengladbach – 10:30a on ESPN+

Augsburg v Wolfsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+

AC Milan v Como – 1p on Paramount+

RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund – 1:30p on ESPN+

Bournemouth v Brentford – 1:30p on USA Network

Sunday

Venezia v Napoli – 7:30a on Paramount+

Leganes v Real Betis – 9a on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes

Fulham v Tottenham – 9:30a on USA Network

Olympique Lyon v Le Havre – 10a on beIN Sports

Strasbourg v Toulouse – 12:15p on beIN Sports

Fiorentina v Juventus – 1p on Paramount+

INDY 11

USMNT

NWSL

GK

Reffing

Save 20% on your order

(mention the ole ballcoach)

Pochettino addresses his inclusions, snubs for USMNT’s Nations League squad

Champions League projections 2024-25: Who will lift the trophy in Munich on May 31?

State of the League: Before the NWSL can take on the world, it must find its place in the U.S.

This offseason was also full of mixed vibes

How the economic outlook could affect the league

NWSL players to watch: Key performers for every team in 2025

Angel City: Alyssa Thompson

Bay FC: Racheal Kundananji

Chicago Stars: Ally Schlegel

Gotham FC: Rose Lavelle

Houston Dash: Diana Ordóñez

Kansas City Current: Bia

North Carolina Courage: Tyler Lussi

Orlando Pride: Angelina

Portland Thorns: Anyone who’s available for selection

Racing Louisville: Uchenna Kanu

San Diego Wave: Kailen Sheridan

Seattle Reign: Jordyn Huitema

Utah Royals: Mina Tanaka

tah Royals: Mina Tanaka

Washington Spirit: Hal Hershfelt

Julian Alvarez penalty decision could spark law change; UEFA to discuss with FIFA, IFAB

USWNT roster (club; caps/goals) vs England & Netherlands

TV GAME SCHEDULE

US Ladies

Champions League

MLS

NWSL

GK

World

Reffing

USMNT’s Ricardo Pepi reflects on ‘most important’ goal of career in PSV’s ‘crazy’ Champions League win

US PLAYERS ACROSS THE WORLD
Saturday