USMNT Roster is Announced for the Oct 10 & Oct 14 games on TNT, HB0 Max
Nice to see Botchitino finally pick the a decent roster for the our games coming next week. Nice to CCV and Antonee Robinson (back from injury) back on the backline along with Mark McKenzie. Sands, Tessman and Aidan Morris in at the 6 to replace Tyler Adams who is out while his wife gives birth in the next 10 days. Also Matt Turner is back on the Goalkeeper line – hopefully he will get at least 1 start. More on this next week. The USMNT roster:
Goalkeepers(4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Matt Turner (New England Revolution). Defenders(8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati). Midfielders (8): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), James Sands (St. Pauli), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyonnais), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen). Forwards(6): Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Olympique Marseille), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alex Zendejas (Club América).
The USMNT take on Ecuador on October 10th at Q2 Stadium in Austin. They then complete the October international window with a friendly against Australia on October 14th against Australia at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in suburban Denver. Both Ecuador and Australia are teams that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup and will serve as tests for the United States. In U20 News – the US U20s shocked France 3-0 in game 2 of the U20s for the US – they will definitely advance to the next round where they face Italy on Thursday at 3:30 pm on FS2 and may well be a favorite to get to the Final 4. Also US refs will run Sats Spain vs Brazil game 4 pm on FS2.
High School Soccer Playoffs Start Monday this week
Indy 11 Win Again – @ Louisville on WNDY 23 7:30 pm Sat
Indy Eleven midfielder Jack Blake scored his USL Championship era (2018-) franchise record 25th Boys in Blue goal for the game-winner in a huge 2-1 victory over Western Conference leader FC Tulsa at Carroll Stadium. The win moves Indy Eleven into a playoff position one point ahead of Rhode Island FC with four games left in the regular season. Indy Eleven will take their two-game winning streak to USL Championship Eastern Conference leader Louisville City FC next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on WNDY 23 and CBS Sports Golazo Network. The Boys in Blue have their final regular season home game with Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday, October 18 at 7 p.m. at Carroll Stadium vs. Loudoun United FC.
man look at this motley crew Wednesday night for Boys games at Guerin Catholic Robert H & Josh M for Girls JV & V at Guerin Catholic – last regular season High School games for me
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FULL TV GAME SCHEDULE
Sat, Oct 4 7:30 am USA Leeds United (Aaronson) vs Tottenham 9:30 am ESPN+ Bayer Leverkusen (Tillman) vs Union Berlin 9:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund vs RB Leipzig 10 am USA Man United vs Sunderland 10 am Peacock Arsenal vs West Ham 12:30 pm NBC Chelsea vs Liverpool 4 pm Tele Mexico U20 vs Morocco U20 4 pm Univision Spain U20 vs Brazil U20 7 pm FS2 Argentina U20 vs Italy U20 10:30 pm Apple Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers Sun, Oct 6 10:15 am ESPN+ Sevilla vs Barcelona 11:30 USA Brentford vs Man City 1 pm CBS Washington Spirit (Rodman) vs San Diego NWSL 1:30 pm ESPN+ Gladbach (Scally + Reyna) vs Frieberg 2:45 pm Para+ Juventus (McKinney) vs AC Milan (Pulisic) 3 pm ESPN+ Atletico Madrid (Cardosa) vs Celta 4 pm FS2 USA U20 vs South Africa U20 4 pm Prime, Para+ Chicago Stars vs Utah Royals NWSL 7 pm FS2 Nigeria U20 vs Colombia U20 9 pm Apple LAFC vs Atlanta United MLS Mon, Oct 6 10:30 pm CBSSN Angel City 0 vs KC Current 1 NWSL Tues, Oct 7 3:30 pm FS 2 U20 World Cup Chile 1 vs Mexico 4 7 pm FS2 U20 World Cup Spain 1 vs Ukraine 0 Weds, Oct 8 3:30 pm FS 2 U20 WC Argentina 4 vs Nigeria 0 7 pm FS2 U20 World Cup Japan vs France 7 pm Univision u20 WC Paraguay vs Norway Thurs, Oct 9 2:45 pm Prime Malta vs Netherlands WCQ 2:45 pm Prime Czech Rep vs Croatia WCQ 3:30 pm FS2 U20 WC USA vs Italy 7 pm FS2 U20 WC Morocco vs South Korea 10 pm Para+ Honduras vs Costa Rica Fri, Oct 10 2:45 pm FS2 France vs Azerbaijan 2:45 pm Prime Germany vs Luxenberg 8:30 pm TNT, Max USA Men vs Ecuador 10:45 pm Seattle Reign vs Bay FC NWSL Sat, Oct 11 9 am FS2 Latvia vs Andorra WCQ 12 noon Prime Norway vs Israel WCQ 2:45 pm FS2 Spain vs Georgia WCQ 2:45 pm Prime Portugal vs Ireland WCQ 4 pm FS2, Tele U20 World Cup Quarterfinal 7 pm FS2 U20 World Cup Quarterfinal 7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Pittsburgh (Carmel’s -Eric Dick) 7:30 pm Para+ North Carolina vs Washington Spirit NWSL 10 pm CBSSN Utah Royals vs San Diego Wave NWSL Sun, Oct 12 9 am FS2 San Marino vs Cypress 12N FS2 Netherland vs Finland WCQ 2:45 pm Lithuania vs Poland WCQ 4 pm FS2, Tele U20 World Cup Quarterfinal 5 pm ESPN Angel City vs Houston NWSL 7 pm FS2 U20 World Cup Quarterfinal Mon, Oct 13 2:45pm FS2 Northern Ireland vs Germany WCQ 2:45 pm Prime Iceland vs France WCQ 8 pm PAra+ Honduras vs Haiti WCQ Tues, Oct 14 2:45pm FS2 Latvia vs England WCQ 2:45pm Prime Spain vs Bulgaria WCQ 2:45pm Prime Portugal vs Hungary WCQ 9 pm TNT, Max USA Men vs Australia 10:30 pm Prime Mexico vs Ecuador
Thurs, Oct 23 9 pm TNT, Max USA Women vs Portugal Chester PA Sun, Oct 26 4 pm TNT, Max USA Women vs Portugal Hartford CT Sat, Nov 15 5 pm TNT, Max USA Men vs Paraguay Chester PA Tues, Nov 18 7 pmTNT, Max USA Men vs Uruguay Tampa, FL
In what was true until somewhat recently, a dependable strength of the USMNT has been goalkeeper. Somewhat recently is turning into a stretch now as it’s been nearly 10 years since a netminder has locked down the no. 1 shirt for the USA. It could be said that there have been three eras where a starter nailed down the role helping the national team to some impressive victories along the way.
The Tony Meola era could be characterized as a gritty group of players who found playing time with clubs when they could but came together for the national team to achieve some impressive results. Meola nailed down the starting role and the USMNT surprised the world by qualifying for the 1990 World Cup, beat Colombia in 1994, and kept Brazil scoreless for 74 minutes while hosting the tournament.
Brad Fridel and Kasey Keller kicked off an era marked by American keepers emerging as starters in Europe, and especially the Premier League. Fridel’s time abroad paid off for the national team when he became the second ever keeper to save two penalties given in open play in a single game while helping to secure wins against Portugal and Mexico in 2002. He is the only American keeper with two wins in a single World Cup. For his part, Keller made 10 saves against Brazil as the USA upset the multi-World Cup winners 1-0. The 2006 World Cup was not as it was hoped, or hyped, but Keller kept five clean sheets in qualification helping the USA climb to no. 5 in the FIFA rankings ahead of the tournament.
Tim Howard and Brad Guzan were the last of the American keepers to have been able to help the USA punch above its weight against top international competition. Throughout their era the players were stalwarts for their clubs in the Premier League and brought that experience to the national team. Howard kept a clean sheet against Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup and his performance in 2014 against Belgium is legendary. For his part, Guzan provided stiff competition and was in the net as the USA reached the semi-finals of the 2016 Copa America Centenario. These two would be the last keepers to feature in goal for the USA in upsets against top 10 teams.
After the USA failed to reach the 2018 World Cup a consistent starting keeper has failed to emerge. In this era, Matt Turner, Zach Steffen, Ethan Horvath, Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson, Matt Freese, David Bingham, William Yarborough, and Patrick Schulte have been in the mix for the wearing the gloves game in and game out. Turner and Steffen have been the most promising of this group but neither reached the same level of their predecessors.
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Between 1990 and 2016 the USA enjoyed the reputation of a team that had its flaws but needed to be respected as it could take down a giant on its day. That time was marked by stellar goalkeeping where a strong performance against top teams kept the Americans within striking distance of top teams. The USMNT achieved impressive upsets thanks to those performances.
Looking at the growth of the national team in that time, the team features a roster of players showcasing their talents in the Champions League and in top leagues abroad. Major League Soccer has also grown more competitive as talented players look to the domestic league as a viable option to progress, or end, their careers. That rise in talent has not translated to success for the national team in the era when goalkeeper has not kept up with the rising talent across the pitch.
Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Patrick Schulte, and Matt Turner have a chance to stake the claim on what might be the most important position historically for the national team. The friendlies against Australia and Ecuador will give them a chance to do just that and it can’t happen soon enough with the World Cup approaching in less than a year.
In the wake of Christian Pulisic’s decision to skip this summer’s Gold Cup, and especially after coach Mauricio Pochettino’s tournament eve declaration: “I am not a mannequin” — there was a real concern about how the relationship between coach and star player was frayed.
More importantly, it fostered a fear of what that might mean for this U.S. team as it tried to get back on track ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Less than four months later, the tone has shifted completely. Pochettino made clear the way he feels about the in-form Pulisic on Thursday after unveiling his 26-man roster for friendlies this month against Ecuador and Australia.
“I think we can say that he is the most important player now for the national team,” he said.
Pulisic has been, without a doubt, the most important player and best big-game player in the U.S. pool for years now. He has proved it time and again in the high-pressure moments, scoring in Nations League finals, World Cup qualifying games and, of course, the winner against Iran to send the U.S. through to the knockout stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Christian Pulisic shined in the USMNT’s crucial 2022 World Cup clash against Iran.Brad Smith / ISI Photos / Getty Images
If the Americans are going to be successful in the World Cup next summer, it is critical they find a way to maximize Pulisic’s skillset. Amidst the debate this summer about Pulisic’s decision to skip the Gold Cup and Pochettino’s justified declaration that he was the coach in charge of picking the team, it felt like that basic point might be lost.
Everyone can now take a deep breath. Pulisic’s form with AC Milan has ensured the attention shifts back to where it should be. The U.S. star needed to back up his decision to rest this summer, and so far he has — and then some.
“This is the right decision for myself, and for the team, at the end of the day,” Pulisic said on a CBS podcast this summer. “And people will see that. You guys will see, man. I’m hungrier than ever — truly. I’m really looking forward for big things to come.”
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It’s tough to argue Pulisic wasn’t right. (And I’ll put my hand up and admit I was wrong.)
He has four goals and two assists in five Serie A games this season for a Milan team that sits atop the table. He scored another two goals in the Coppa Italia. Pulisic has been one of the best performers in Italy so far this season. His darting run and assist against Napoli, later followed by a goal, speak to that impact.
La Gazzetta dello Sport ran a full spread of Pulisic — dressed, of course, as Captain America with a “Super Pulisic headline — running through just how good he’s been in Serie A this season and comparing him to other strikers in the league.
On Sunday, he will lead Milan into a massive top-5 clash against his U.S. teammate Weston McKennie and Juventus, which sit just one point behind the Rossoneri in the table. It’s a massively important game for Milan, which missed out on European competition this season. If Pulisic can continue his sparkling form it would be yet another boost to his value at the club.
For the U.S., the task is to translate that over to the international stage.
“We are so happy when he’s scoring goals, giving assists and performing,” Pochettino said. “That is what we want. And now it is to help him to arrive to the World Cup in the best place.”
During a press conference in which the coach hammered the idea that no player’s spot was ensured, Pochettino had to crack a smile when he slipped up by talking about Pulisic arriving at next summer’s tournament in the same form.
“You say, ‘OK but Christian, you are talking about (it) is sure that (he) is going to be in the roster,” Pochettino said. “We all know that he is a player that is performing, and is a player that is really important for us. We cannot lie.”
Pulisic will meet his national team colleague Weston McKennie when Milan faces Juventus this weekend.Isabella Bonotto / AFP via Getty Images
As Pochettino’s U.S. team figures out exactly how it wants to play — whether it opts for the four-man or five-man back line — it will be vital that they find a way to put Pulisic in a place where he can thrive. Pulisic has said he prefers to play as a central playmaker, but he has not always been his most effective playing in that spot for the U.S.
To get Pulisic at his best, it’s important to find ways to get him in space, where he can use his pace and skill to run at defenders and create off the dribble. Pulisic has been effective playing on the left wing, where he can drift inside to his right foot to create goals. Pochettino has moved Pulisic to the right wing at times, preferring to play Tim Weah on the left.
When the U.S. shifted to five in the back against Japan, Pulisic came underneath the striker into the pocket in what was essentially a 3-4-2-1. It risks taking him out of his most dangerous spot, but it’s a tradeoff that might work if Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest provide enough of an attacking threat on either side to open space up for Pulisic to exploit.
The next three windows in October, November and March will be about figuring out the ideal squad to compete in the World Cup. A big part of that is becoming more dangerous and efficient in the final third. Pulisic is the biggest piece to that equation.
If they can get it right, Pulisic will have been proved right about more than one thing this past summer.
“Once I’m back with the national team— I hope — once I’m back with the national team and can play again, score a goal and win a game, people will forget all about this quickly,” he said.
Goals with Milan have already been enough to mostly make people forget. If he can carry over his club form in his country’s colors, the panic of this past summer will fade away completely as the outlook for next summer’s World Cup grows brighter.
Powered by three late goals, the U.S. under-20 national team pulled off a stunning 3-0 win over France at the 2025 U-20 World Cup on Thursday.
Zavier Gozo, Brooklyn Raines and Marcos Zambrano scored goals after the 85th minute to lead the Americans to the top of their group at the tournament in Chile. The U.S. won its opening match 9-1 over New Caledonia on Monday.
U.S. U-20 coach Marko Mitrovic summoned Gozo, Zambrano and Atlanta United’s Luke Brennan off the bench in the second half, and all three helped to change the match.
The U.S. and France had battled for much of the game and looked likely to settle for a scoreless draw, but the Americans broke through in the 85th minute when Real Salt Lake’s Gozo scored on a cross from Brennan to provide a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later, Raines (Houston Dynamo) created a turnover with a press just over midfield, found Gozo and then continued his run, splitting France’s center backs and getting on to the Gozo pass to finish to the far post and double the lead. Four minutes after that, it was Zambrano (Real Salt Lake) who settled the outcome by putting home a rebound after Gozo rattled the crossbar with an attempted finish.
France had just two shots on goal on the night, a credit to the defensive effort from the U.S. that eventually allowed the Americans to break through in the late stages and get the win.
Nine different players have scored for the U.S. through two matches, setting a new team record for most at the tournament. The previous record was eight, achieved at the 2023 U-20 World Cup in Argentina.
With the win, the U.S. improved to 2-0-1 in three meetings with France at the U-20 World Cup.
The U.S. will close out the group stage against South Africa on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET and can guarantee the top spot in the group with a win or draw. The game will air on FS2 and Telemundo.
All 4 MLS teams won vs their Mexican counterparts on Wednesday night as MLS dominated this competition and will send all 4 teams to the Semi-Finals Wednesday night for the first time ever. Two of the games did go to shootouts however. I have to admit – I stayed up to 2 am to watch these games as I have been intrigued by this competition. Huge news that American Paxton Aaronson is returning to MLS with Colorado.
Italy & Germany Start European Seasons this Weekend
Exciting for Americans as Italy and Germany get underway with tons of American internationals on rosters with stars like Pulisic @ AC Milan, McKennie @ Juventus and Joe Scally at M’Gladbach & now Gio Reyna who has joined him from Dortmund on hand. Of course Inter Milan and Bayern Munich will be tough to knock of their perches as each league. Full previews for both leagues below.
Indy 11 loses in Jagermeister Cup – Hosts Miami FC Sat for All Things Indiana Night
Indianapolis – For the second time in the past three USL Jägermeister Cup matches, penalty kicks decided the outcome, but this time Indy Eleven fell to Greenville Triumph SC, 6-5, in the Quarterfinals at Carroll Stadium.The Boys in Blue scored first in the 55th minute when midfielder Bruno Rendon played a cross into that area that forward Romario Williams finished into the top right corner to give his team a 1-0 lead. Indy Eleven maintained that lead until the 90th minute when Greenville tied the match at 1-1 on an own goal. In penalty kicks, Greenville shot first, with both teams converting the first 11 tries. Greenville goalkeeper Gunther Rankeburg then made the deciding save on Oliver Brynéus’ attempt to send his team to the Jäger Cup semi-finals.The Boys in Blue resume USL Championship play vs. Miami FC on Saturday at 7 pm at Carroll Stadium on All Things Indiana Night. Single-game tickets for all matches are available via Ticketmaster.
Dan, Brent and Shane Reffing at Park Tudor Thursday night Josh, Mohamed & I at the Hamilton Heights Complex Tuesday night
TV GAME SCHEDULE
Fri, Aug 22 2:30 pm ESPN2 Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig Germany 8 pm Amazon Prime Chicago Red Stars vs NC Courage NWSL Sat, Aug 23 7:20 am Para+ Wrexham vs West Brom 7:30 am USA Man City vs Tottenham 9:30 am ESPN+ Leverkusen (Tilman) vs Hoffenheim 9:30 am Para+ Wrexham vs Sheffield Wed 9:30 am Para+ Norwich City (Stewart) vs Middlesborough (Aidan Morris) 9:30 am Para+ Coventry City (Haji Wright) vs Queens Park Rangers (Juergan Sumners old team) 10 am USA Brentford vs Aston villa 10 am Peackcock Bournemouth (Adams) vs Wolverhampton 11 am 12:30 pm NBC Arsenal vs Leeds (Aaronson) 12:30 pm St Pauli (Sands) vs Dortmund (Reyna) 1:30 pm ESPND+ Atletico Madrid (Cardoso) vs Elche 2:45 pm Para+ AC Milan (Pulisic) vs Cremosnese 3:30 pm ESPND+ Levante vs Barcelona 4 pm CBS Bay FC vs Washington Spirit NWSL 7 pm TV6, ESPN+ Indy 11 vs Miami FC 7:30 pm Apple TV free Chicago vs Philly 7:30 pm Prime Cincy vs NYCFC 7:30 pm ION NY/NJ Gotham FC vs Utah Royals NWSL 10 pm ION Portland vs Kansas City Current NWSL Sun, Aug 24 9 am USA Everton vs Brighton (new stadium unviel) 9 am Peacock Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Nottingham Forest 11:30 am NBC Fulham (Jedi-hurt) vs Man United 11:30 pm ESPN+ M’Gladbach (Scally) vs Hamburger 2:45 pm CBSSN Juventus (McKennie) vs Parma 3:30 pm ESPNd+ Oviedo vs Real Madrid 7 pm Apple TV Charlotte vs NY Red Bulls 7 pm Para+ Houston Dash vs Seattle Reign NWSL 8 pm Para+, Prime, Golazo San Diego Wave vs Racing Louisville 9 pm FS1 Apple TV Seattle vs KC Mon, Aug, 25 1:30 pm ESPN+ Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano 2:45 pm CBSSN Inter Milan vs Torino 3 pm USA Newcastle vs Liverpool Tues, Aug 26 12:45 pm Para+ Kairat vs Celtic (CVB) 2:45 pm Para+ Preston North End vs Wrexham 2:45 pm Para+ Bournmouth (Adams) vs Brentford C Cup 2:45 pm Para+ Norwich (Sargent) vs Southampton C Cup Wed, Aug 30 2:$5 PM Para+ Fulham (Robinson) vs Bristol City C Cup 2:45 pm Para+ Grimbsy Town vs Man United C Cup 2:45 pm Para+ Millwall vs Coventry City (Wright) C Cup 2:50 pm Para+ Club Brugge vs Rangers Champs League Fri, Aug 29 2:45 pm Para+ Lecce vs AC Milan (Pulisic) 3 pm CBSSN Leicester City vs Birmingham City Championship 8 pm Prime Orlando Pride (Marta) vs NY/NJ Gothem NWSL 10:30 pm Para+, Prime Seattle Reign vs San Diego Wave NWSL 10:30 pm Para+, Prime, Golazo Portland Thorns vs Utah Sat, Aug 30 7:30 am USA Chelsea vs Fulham (Jedi) 12:30 pm NBC Leeds United (Aaronson) vs Newcastle United Sun Aug 31 7:30 am USA Nottingham Forest vs West Ham 11:30 am USA Liverpool vs Arsenal 12:30 pm CBSSN Genoa vs Juventus (McKennie) Sat, Sept 6 5 pm TNT, Tele, Max USA Men vs Korea Tues, Sept 9 7:30 pm TNT, Tele, Max USA Men vs Japan in Columbus, Ohio Fri, Oct 10 8:30 pm TNT, Max USA Men vs Ecuador Tues, Oct 14 9 pm TNT, Max USA Men vs Australia
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Italy and Germany join the regular season roundup this weekend for a full schedule of league action as we fully get the European calendar underway. Despite that, there is a slow start to the weekend with a lack of action on Friday. However, the combo of all leagues in play, and matches not starting up until Friday is out, gives us a load of action to follow starting Saturday morning. Let’s get to it:
Saturday
Eintracht Frankfurt v Werder Bremen – 9:30a on ESPN+: Paxten Aaronson is heading to Colorado and Timothy Chandler doesn’t actually play so Eintracht Frankfurt will be dropping off our watchlist for now, unless Nathaniel Brown decides to make a switch to the USMNT.
Bayer Leverkusen v TSG Hoffenheim – 9:30a on ESPN+: Malik Tillman missed Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-0 win over SG Sonnenhof in dfb Pokal action last weekend and will be unavailable this weekend as well as Leverkusen open their season against Hoffenheim though he has returned to training.
AFC Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers – 10a on Peacock: Tyler Adams and Bournemouth look to bounce back after their 4-2 loss to Liverpool in last weekends opener. Their opponent this weekend, the Wolverhampton Wanderers, also gave up four goals last weekend in a 4-0 loss to Manchester City.
Norwich City v Middlesbrough – 10a on Paramount+: Josh Sargent and Aidan Morris will face off in the Championship as Sargent looks to continue his hot start. The forward, who was left out of the Gold Cup squad, has scored in each of his first three matches to start the 2025 season. Meanwhile, Morris and Middlesborough haven’t conceded a goal in league play through their first two matches as they are off to a 2-0-0 start.
Coventry City v Queens Park Rangers – 10a on Paramount+: Haji Wright picked up his first goal of the season last weekend as he converted a penalty and Coventry City went on to defeat Derby 5-3 and pick up their first win of the season.
Olympique Marseille v Paris FC – 11a on beIN Sports: Tim Weah’s playing options look to be opening up as a post match dustup following last weekends opening loss between Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe that was described by the club as being “extremely violent” led to both players being transfer listed. Weah came on as a substitute at the start of the second half last weekend for centerback Geoffrey Kondogbia as the team looked to take advantage of a first half red card to Rennais. Marseille need to rebound quickly as they take on newly promoted Paris FC on Saturday.
Arsenal v Leeds United – 12:30p on NBC and Universo: Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United defeated Everton in their return to the Premier League with Aaronson seeing 23’ minutes off the bench. The difficulty level ratchets up a notch or twelve on Saturday as they face an Arsenal side coming off a 1-0 win over Manchester United and looking to make a title run this season.
St. Pauli v Borussia Dortmund – 12:30p on ESPN+: James Sands made his return from injury as St. Pauli needed penalties to defeat Eintracht Norderstedt in dfp Pokal first round action on Saturday. Sands went the full 90’ in his return playing as a center-mid. St. Pauli will now face Borussia Dortmund which also looks like they will be dropping off as a regular on the viewing guide with the likely exit of Giovanni Reyna and neither Cole Campbell nor Mathis Albert looking likely to break through in the short term.
PSV v Groningen – 12:45p on ESPN+: Sergino Dest created PSV’s opening goal with a fizzed cross that was redirected for an own goal last Sunday in PSV’s 2-0 win over Twente. Ricardo Pepi was again not included in the squad as his recovery is ongoing but Alassane Plea has picked up a long term injury so there are certainly minutes for the taking when Pepi is available. This weekend PSV face FC Groningen who are coming off a 2-1 win over Heerenveen.
Atletico Madrid v Elche – 1:30p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+: Johnny Cardoso started Atletico Madrid’s La Liga opener and came off at the half with his club up 1-0 but the team would give up two second half goals to Espanyol to fall 2-1. Cardoso did not look out of place in the first half though he did pick up a yellow just minutes prior to the half ending. This weekends opponent, Elche, played to a 1-1 draw with Johnny’s former team, Real Betis, last weekend.
AC Milan v Cremonese – 2:45p on Paramount+: Christian Pulisic got his season started on the right foot, scoring a goal in AC Milan’s 2-0 Copa Italia win over Bari last weekend. Pulisic played the first 66’ minutes of the match before being subbed out for Club and Country teammate Yunus Musah. This weekend’s opponent Cremonese lost in penalties to Palermo after neither side was able to score a goal in regulation.
Olympique Lyon v Metz – 3p on beIN Sports: Tanner Tessmann went the full 90’ as Lyon defeated Lens 1-0 in their opener and will now face a Metz side that fell 0-1 to Strasbourg.
Sunday
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest – 9a on Peacock: Chris Richards and Crystal Palace played Chelsea to a scoreless draw last Sunday and will now face Nottingham Forest who finished last season just outside of the Champions League positions and started their 2025-26 campaign with a 3-1 win over Brentford.
Toulouse v Brest – 10:15a on beIN Sports: Mark McKenzie went the full 90’ last weekend as Toulouse defeated Nice 1-0 to open their season.
Fulham v Manchester United – 11:30a on USA Network: Antonee Robinson missed Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend but is nearing a return and may be available this weekend as Fulham face Manchester United. Manager Marco Silva said he would make a decision on Robinson’s availability for this weekend following Saturday’s training session.
Borussia Monchengladbach v Hamburg SV – 11:30a on ESPN+: Joe Scally started and went the full 90’ for Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend at RB in the team’s 3-2 win over Delmenhorst. Gladbach will face Hamburg this weekend in their Bundesliga opener. Gladbach may also be moving up the priority viewing list in the near future with rumors that Gio Reyna could be joining his BFF Joe Scally in Gladbach.
Lille v Monaco – 2:45p on beIN Sports: Folarin Balogun missed last weekend’s match as Monaco opened their season but is reportedly available this weekend as they face Lille this weekend. Monaco opened their season with a 3-1 win over Le Havre.
Juventus v Parma – 2:45p on CBSSN and Paramount+: Weston McKennie and Juventus will open their season against Parma on Sunday looking to bounce back from a dissapointing 2024-25 season that saw them finish well out of the title race though they did just sneak into fourth place and the final Champions League spot. They will face a Parma side that were just out of the relegation positions last year.
USMNT countdown to the World Cup: Does McKennie have Juve future?
Jeff CarlisleAug 21, 2025, 07:54 AM ET
The opening weeks of the European club season have seen some auspicious starts. Norwich City‘s Josh Sargent continues to bang in the goals, with his tally against Portsmouth already giving him three on the young season. Chris Richards and Crystal Palace secured an impressive road shutout at Chelsea, and Sergiño Dest continued his fine form for PSV Eindhoven.The most notable performances of the weekend came from players in Christian Pulisic and Johnny Cardoso who have had some attention around them — not all of it positive.Throughout the season, ESPN will be monitoring the progress of the U.S. men’s national team player pool, delivering insights into those whose form or fitness has made them particularly intriguing. We call it the USMNT’s Countdown to the men’s World Cup.ESPN will count down to June 11 every week so that way, when the U.S. team is announced for this highly anticipated World Cup on home soil, no names on that 26-man roster will come as a surprise.Welcome to the USMNT’s Countdown to the World Cup. Only 295 days to go.
The 66-minute performance reinforced a truism about Pulisic and his USMNT teammates: If he plays well, he’ll be praised. If he doesn’t, he’ll be criticized. Might some of that criticism be over the top? Possibly. But like it or not, this is what he signed up for, and using his docuseries as a platform to complain about said criticism won’t change that. With next summer’s World Cup now only 10 months away, the scrutiny on Pulisic and his play is only bound to increase. His start to the season is nonetheless encouraging.
There has been plenty of head-scratching when it comes to Cardoso and the USMNT. Namely, why doesn’t he replicate his club form at international level? Cardoso’s debut for Atléti on Sunday against Espanyol elicited a very different type of question. Why was he subbed out at halftime by manager Diego Simeone?
It’s a decision made all the more puzzling given how Cardoso performed. He completed 87.5% of his passes and won 71.4% of his duels. Atlético were up 1-0 when he departed, only to lose the match 3-2 when Espanyol rallied for two goals. Simeone even praised Cardoso for his play and acknowledged he needed to reexamine his decisions.
“I think I learned a lesson,” he told reporters afterward. “I’ll take something away from that. There’s a lesson for me.”
Given that Cardoso earned compliments, it’s a start that bodes well for continued playing time on a very competitive squad. Now the challenge for Pochettino is to find a way to get the best out of Cardoso when he dons a different red, white and blue jersey.
An annual tradition: Asking whether McKennie has a future at Juve
There’s always a danger in reading too much into preseason. There are youngsters to try out, fitness levels to manage, and in the case of Juventus, there’s recovery from a packed summer that included the FIFA Club World Cup. All of that said, when it comes to McKennie, how big of a role will he end up playing for Juve this season? It seems to be an annual query.
Last season, McKennie was ever-present, making a total of 48 league and cup appearances. But if the past three friendlies are anything to go by, the U.S. midfielder will be hard-pressed to repeat that level of activity. As the Serie A opener against Genoa nears this weekend, and with manager Igor Tudor opting for a 3-4-3 formation, McKennie has seen his playing time steadily decrease, with him entering last weekend’s friendly against Atalanta in second-half stoppage time. There have also been reports he might be headed to AS Roma.
If McKennie remains with Juve as a squad player, the team’s presence in the UEFA Champions League figures to result in plenty of player rotation, but it’s a less-than-ideal scenario for McKennie and the USMNT; it also might open the door for a fringe player or two. Middlesbrough‘s Aidan Morris has impressed in the opening weeks of the season.
The in-form XI
If the World Cup started tomorrow, who would make up Pochettino’s starting XI? Each week we take our best attempt to name a starting lineup based on form and fitness, which means there’s no room for injured players.
Even as Dest returns to health, a competition is brewing for the remaining outside back slots. Antonee Robinson, when healthy, is the presumed starter at left back, but he has yet to even make the gameday roster in recent weeks for Fulham as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. One possible option on the left side, Watford‘s Caleb Wiley, is in a similar situation with a back injury.
The hope is that both players return to the field soon, but in the meantime, Pochettino has plenty of options in an attempt to fill the void. Joe Scally has played on either flank for both club and country, and has been a steady presence on the backline for Borussia Mönchengladbach, making more than 30 appearances in each of the past four seasons. However, Pochettino has shown a clear preference for outside backs who can contribute to the attack, whereas Scally’s strengths lie more on the defensive end of the field. Last season, in 32 league appearances, he had no goals or assists, and created only 11 chances.
That has led Pochettino to look at other options. Both Max Arfsten of the Columbus Crew and Orlando City SC‘s Alex Freeman logged the majority of minutes available at outside back during the Gold Cup. Arfsten showed some vulnerabilities in his defending, but improved as the tournament progressed and chipped in with a goal in the quarterfinal win against Costa Rica. Holstein Kiel‘s John Tolkin got time in the Gold Cup as well, and started the club season in dream fashion, scoring Kiel’s opener in the 2-0 victory over Homburg in the DFB-Pokal. The sequence showed off Tolkin’s passing, mobility and finishing ability. His edge in defending means he cracks this week’s in-form XI.
That is by no means the extent of Pochettino’s options when it comes to outside backs. Tim Weah‘s debut for Marseille last weekend came as a wing back, and Yunus Musah‘s early days under new Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri have seen him play in a similar role. Weah has shown flexibility in the past at club level in terms of playing on either flank, although for the USMNT, his value lies farther upfield given his ability to stretch and get behind defenses. The September window should reveal plenty.
Big Board 1.0 update
ESPN’s USMNT Big Board 1.0 went live earlier this month, and each Big Board will provide the foundation for weekly player updates. Below are the minutes and player ratings for each of those 35 players.
Turner might get the nod in the in-form XI, but Steffen is doing all he can to push for more consideration from Pochettino. Steffen’s goals prevented mark of 6.33 is the third highest in MLS, showing a level of consistency that was absent last season. The big challenge for Steffen is simply staying healthy. If he does, he should get a chance to battle for the starting goalkeeping spot.
McKenzie remains the leading contender to push for Ream’s spot in the center of the USMNT defense, and he delivered a composed performance in Toulouse’s season-opening 1-0 win over Nice, completing 93% of his passes and winning 67% of his duels. Consistency with the USMNT has been an issue, but he’s off to the right kind of start with his club.
USMNT’s Chris Richards reacts to Community Shield win with Palace
Chris Richards speaks after Crystal Palace’s penalty shootout win over Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Luna sat out last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Charlotte as he was suspended because of a red card he picked up against the New York Red Bulls. Luna now has seven yellow cards and two ejections on the season. He’s obviously getting more attention from opponents, but he’ll need to find a way to keep his composure as well as the edge with which he plays. Not at all easy, but a trait he’ll need to refine.
Zendejas looks to be cooling off a bit … or is he? During the two tournaments that comprised the 2024-25 Liga MX season, Zendejas had 11 goals from 7.07 xG across 40 matches. So far this season, Zendejas has one goal from 1.36 xG in five matches. So his goals/game are down, but his xG/game is up. Still early days yet, but if Zendejas continues to get chances, his goal scoring should round into form.
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Serie A season preview: Inter Milan favourites again, challenges for Juve, Conte being Conte
One normal season of Serie A. That’s all I ask for…
If normal means more unpredictability, more infrastructure-defying competitiveness, more “only in Italy, eh?”
As we’ll discover in this preview of the upcoming season, a coach has already rescued his sporting director from a burning building, Drake has bailed a club out of bankruptcy on the condition he can design their shirts, and Antonio Conte wants more signings, more, more, more.
Just when you thought you were out, this league pulls you back in…
Who do you think will win the title and why?
No one has retained the title since Juventus at the end of their nine-year streak in 2020, but Inter Milan have been stealthily dynastic.
Think about it. They ended Juventus’ dominance in 2021, took the title to the final day in 2022, and won the league in 2024. They’ve also been to Europa League and Champions League finals and pulled off the Coppa-Super Coppa double, twice.
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Unlike Napoli a year ago, Inter have continuity of coaching and the eviction of Suning brings stability at the ownership level.
For the first time in four summers, Inter have not sold a big name. They’ve added (Piotr Zielinski and Mehdi Taremi) without subtracting and, for that reason, appear primed to add a 21st Scudetto to their collection.
Inter celebrate their 2024 title — will they do the same in 2025? (Mattia Pistoia/Getty Images)
And who will make up the rest of the top four?
Top four is so passee. Isn’t this the league that earned five Champions League places through coefficient-leading performances in Europe? OK, I’m stalling and trying to buy myself an extra place here because, credit to Serie A, it is so tough to call.
One of the reasons for that is six of last year’s top 10 have changed their coach; seven if we include Daniele De Rossi, who is beginning his first full season at Roma. My instinct is to reward continuity and to back holders and favourites Inter, as well as Atalanta. Gian Piero Gasperini has made the top four on five occasions. If anyone slips up, Atalanta are there to take advantage.
Elsewhere, Antonio Conte is a guarantee and whether it’s Victor Osimhen or Romelu Lukaku up front, I expect Napoli to push hard. Conte’s teams in Italy always challenge for the title (unless they’re called Arezzo or Atalanta).
It’s the Bergamaschi who are the variables here.
By winning the Europa League, they showed the depth and resilience necessary to cope with eight Champions League games. But the injuries to Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca, and a stand-off between the club and Teun Koopmeiners, who wants to force a move to Juventus, throw a spanner in the works.
The test for Atalanta will be similar to what Napoli experienced last year: can they keep a group of players hungry, motivated and willing to stay at the club after finally winning a coveted trophy?
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AC Milan should be fine. More than fine. They’ve beaten Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona in pre-season. They’ve won the Trofeo Berlusconi. Surely an eighth Champions League will follow? Am I right?
This summer’s strategy seems to have as its working title “Sceptics Busters”. New coach Paulo Fonseca and Milan’s incoming striker Alvaro Morata will always have their doubters. But the Portuguese raises the ceiling of this current group of players while the Spaniard has the European pedigree that goes straight to the very core of Milan’s DNA. Both know the league.
Juventus, meanwhile, showed in each of the last two seasons they can underperform and still contend for the title for four- or five-month stretches. They’ve appointed the hottest coaching mind in Serie A in Thiago Motta, whose style is, in many ways, countercultural to Juventus’ traditions. If it meshes — and that’s a big if — then my top four, in no particular order, are: Inter, Napoli, Milan and Juve.
Milan’s pre-season form has been promising (Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty Images)
Which team will surprise us most?
Try not to pay too much attention to their sweaty tussle with Modena in the Coppa Italia — which was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout — Napoli will experience the biggest upswing in points. That’s a consequence and a combination of the anticipated Conte effect and the worst title defence since Torino in 1950 without the mitigating circumstances of the Superga air disaster.
Como are a top-half team disguised as a newly promoted club a la Monza two years ago. Now Cesc Fabregas has his coaching badges, it’ll be interesting to see how he performs in the dugout, where he replaces Osian Roberts. This is no longer Osian’s XI.
The arrivals of Pepe Reina, Alberto Moreno, Raphael Varane and Andrea Belotti make Como glitter like the waters of the lake.
Question is: do Napoli and Como constitute surprises in the way Bologna did last season? Probably not. I think the surprise will be Bologna again on the basis they won’t fade as badly as people expect after losing Motta, Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori.
This is Motta’s first big job. It’s his first time coaching in four competitions. They’re making a lot of (overdue) changes, particularly in midfield, but the squad, for now, looks incomplete. The more seasoned Juventus fans can hear echoes of 1990 when the club spent lavishly on an up-and-coming new-wave coach from Bologna, Luigi Maifredi. Juventus then finished seventh.
I don’t foresee a repeat of that. Motta theoretically has a soft start against Como and Verona and has always got his teams punching above their weight. But they have a lot of work to do this month to optimise the team and move out players such as Federico Chiesa.
League-wise, Roma have been the biggest underperformers of the past six years. It’s a big ask for De Rossi, as a young coach, to get this team out of the rut of sixth place, which is where they’ve finished three seasons in a row.
Staying in Rome, Lazio’s new boss Marco Baroni staked a claim to be considered coach of the season at Verona, but he takes over a team that has now fully transitioned away from the Ciro Immobile/Sergej Milinkovic-Savic/Luis Alberto era.
Fiorentina should give us the measure of Raffaele Palladino, too. He kept Monza up comfortably but benefited from the biggest net spend in the league in his first year. His replacement at Monza, Alessandro Nesta, needs to show he can cut it at this level and that he didn’t get the job because of his past with Adriano Galliani, his chief executive from his playing days at Milan.
Keep an eye on 777-owned Genoa. It remains to be seen if their owners’ troubles destabilise the club. Alberto Gilardino lost Radu Dragusin in January and has since bid farewell to Mateo Retegui. If Albert Gudmundsson follows, they could be in a spot of bother.
Motta, while head coach of Bologna (Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
How do you expect the promoted clubs to do?
All the teams graduating from Serie B are foreign-owned and should, if run correctly, be able to capitalise on the dysfunctional (Verona) or stale (Udinese) teams that have been circling the drain of relegation for some time.
Parma have settled down since owner Kyle Krause did a mini-Chelsea upon taking the keys to the Tardini three years ago. Their manager, Fabio Pecchia, is a promotion specialist, but it remains to be seen if he can keep them there.
Venezia reportedly risked going out of business until Drake got involved and joined the ownership group. No doubt, this was all part of God’s Plan. The Lagooners will be hoping their return to Serie A lasts longer than One Dance.
Last year’s top scorer in Serie B, Finnish striker Joel Pohjanpalo (22 goals), should be the player whose jersey you buy this season. Why? Venezia are Italy’s most fashion-first football team and Pohjanpalo has been known to go straight to the sideline bar for a pint after sinking four goals.
Who will be the best young player this season?
Milan copped a lot of flak for not sending any Italian players to the Euros, but the core of the Under-17 team that won the same competition over the summer is founded in their academy. Let’s see if Fonseca finds time to blood youngsters Mattia Liberali and Francesco Camarda.
In Turin, there’s already a lot of hype surrounding Vasilije Adzic at Juventus but, as with the Milan boys, it’s probably too soon for him to make a sustained impact.
The pick that immediately comes to mind is Matias Soule, now of Roma. He was a contender to win this award last year (the league gave it to Zirkzee) while on loan at Frosinone from Juventus and the prospect of him duetting with Paulo Dybala at Roma this season is too much to handle. Motta wished to keep the Argentine playmaker at Juventus. Soule’s sale was a freak in the balance sheets — heaps of pure profit — but will Juventus come to regret it on the pitch?
Which under-the-radar player have big clubs been sleeping on?
For two years, it was Monza goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. Then, this summer, Juventus ruthlessly demoted and released Wojciech Szczesny in order to sign him. Di Gregorio should be in the Italy setup at least as one of Gigio Donnarumma’s understudies after shining in analytics such as goals saved above average for the past two seasons.
If we rule out players who are expected to move, such as Fiorentina’s Nico Gonzalez, Udinese’s Lazar Samardzic or Genoa’s Gudmundsson, let’s settle on Morten Frendrup, a Pac-Man midfielder who gobbles up everything. Every team needs a player like the Dane.
Morten Frendrup of Genoa (Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Which team has had the best transfer window?
At times, Italian coaches sound like accountants. You do the books at the end of the year. A fortnight of the transfer window remains, so judgements are premature. Let’s put it this way: Juventus and Bologna have been the best sellers, although Zirkzee’s buyout clause and the sell-on percentage Basel were due for Calafiori needs to be taken into consideration.
In terms of retention, for all the people who say Milan have diverged from Moneyball this summer, this disciplined approach has got the team in such a strong financial position that they can keep Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao. In a vulnerable league where top talents tend to hang around for two years, it’s pretty cool that Hernandez and Leao are beginning their sixth seasons at San Siro.
Roma have been the most aggressive, investing almost €100million (£86m, $11om). Look out for their new centre-forward Artem Dovbyk. He was the Pichichi in Spain with Girona last season (24 goals). It’s the first time an Italian club has bought the holder of that award since Christian Vieri returned to Italy (Lazio) after one season at Atletico Madrid in 1997-98.
For all you romantics out there, Alexis Sanchez has returned to Udinese, swayed no doubt by the most random coaching appointment of the summer: Kosta Runjaic.
Which team has had the worst transfer window?
One swallow doesn’t make a summer. One bad signing doesn’t ruin a transfer window.
But Milan are paying Tottenham more for Emerson Royal than they paid Lille for Mike Maignan; €18million is a big price to keep captain Davide Calabria as first choice right-back. Milan fans must hope Royal suddenly transfigures into Cafu. He, on the other hand, has taken the No 22 jersey — a number that once belonged to Ballon d’Or winner Kaka. Whatever you make of Royal, you have to respect his confidence.
Lazio have let Ciro Immobile, Felipe Anderson and Luis Alberto go. Dainty playmaker Daichi Kamada, the replacement for Milinkovic-Savic last summer, left for Crystal Palace after a single season.
A strategy of signing players from Verona and Salernitana (who their president Claudio Lotito used to own) risks catching up with them. It’s a year since their sporting director Igli Tare departed. Angelo Fabiani has stepped into the breach, but it still doesn’t feel like Tare has been replaced.
Ciro Immobile, Felipe Anderson and Luis Alberto have all left Lazio (Elianton/Getty Images)
What did you miss most about Serie A?
Aside from Conte telling his new club they need to make more signings, it’s got to be Gottismo.
Lecce’s coach Luca Gotti already had a cult following. He looks like a matinee idol from the 1960s. He rides Ducatis, reads biographies of Ernest Shackleton and attended his daughter’s graduation in a Lecce polo. But then he saved his sporting director from a burning building. (I know, right?) Pantaleo Corvino had booked a hotel to talk about Gotti’s contract extension.
“It was owned by a friend of mine and at the time only used for weddings.”
Gotti bought Corvino dinner, but what sealed the deal was a knock on the door at 4:30 in the morning.
“It was Gotti. He’d come to warn me that a fire had broken out in the hotel.” Corvino had been fast asleep and would have slept through it. “I went outside but was hit by the fumes and smoke. In the meantime, I could no longer see Gotti, I tried to go down the stairs but was blocked by the flames.
“At that point, I returned to my room. I tore the curtain, went out onto the balcony and that’s when I found Gotti. I saw that the fire was heading in our direction and we started thinking about jumping from the first floor. Luckily, the fire brigade arrived and helped us down.
“After we got down, (and) when it was safe, I turned to Gotti and said: ‘Luca, how much did you want in your contract extension? That’s fine…’”
What’s the one match we should really look out for in the opening few weeks of the season?
Juventus-Roma on September 1. It’s an early chance for Soule (and Dybala) to show their old club what they’re missing.
Then the Milan derby on September 22. Inter have won a record six in a row. One of the criteria for judging Fonseca will be whether he can invert this trend.
Tell us one great storyline involving Serie A we might have missed over the summer…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Zoolander. Milan’s recruitment has been less Moneyball and more hair-brained, so to speak.
When announcing Fonseca, he said: “There’ll be a different energy on the sideline, a different face: one was bald (Stefano Pioli), the other has more hair. But still elegant.” At Morata’s unveiling, Zlatan commented on his striker’s looks. “We’re a good-looking team. Alvaro’s a handsome guy. We could do to make (Strahinja) Pavlovic (Milan’s new buzzcut centre-back) grow his hair.”
Napoli are a year removed from winning the league. Who have they lost in the meantime? Zielinski, Kim Min-jae and Hirving Lozano. They have hired Conte. Apart from Paris Saint-Germain, I don’t see anyone signing Osimhen — and if someone does cut Aurelio De Laurentiis a cheque, Napoli will buy Romelu Lukaku.
In a season in which Napoli only have Serie A and the Coppa Italia to focus on, it is not inconceivable that Conte does what Conte does and wins the league. Last of all, don’t be surprised if Vincenzo Italiano takes Bologna to the Coppa Italia final.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
Bundesliga 2022-23 season preview: Everything you need to know ahead of the new German football season
Constantin EcknerAug 3, 2022, 09:18 AM ET
On Friday, football fans around the world will hear the familiar hymn of the Bundesliga once again, when champions Bayern Munich meet Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt to start the 2022-23 season. Coaches have swapped dugouts, players have departed, others have arrived with much fanfare, and the question of whether Bayern can be challenged for the title this year remains controversial.
Before the action gets underway, though, let’s look back at what you might’ve missed since the 2021-22 campaign came to a close in May, and dissect some of the biggest storylines worth following as the 2022-23 season begins to unfold.
A disgruntled striker dominated the first few weeks of this summer, as Robert Lewandowski did not hide his intention to leave Bayern Munich. While Bayern and Barcelona negotiated a deal behind closed doors, fans were worried about the record champions’ prospects for the upcoming season. No glances at the history books are required to deduce how important Lewandowski had been to Bayern in recent years. He scored 98 goals in the past two seasons alone and was especially crucial as the team’s rescuing anchor if things didn’t go their way.
While Lewandowski eventually exited in July, Bayern’s hierarchy used that time to secure deals for the immediate future. With the signing of Sadio Mane, the German champions once again scored a real steal in the transfer market. Mane has been one of the Premier League‘s most exciting players for almost a decade. Without the Senegal international, Liverpool wouldn’t have been as successful as they were domestically and internationally.
While Mane is not a like-for-like replacement for Lewandowski, the 30-year-old offers Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann the chance to execute some of the tactical ideas he has had in mind since his arrival in Munich in 2021. First glimpses of the new Bayern team were visible in the German Supercup match against RB Leipzig, which Bayern won 5-3. Mane and Serge Gnabry played together up front and were almost impossible for Leipzig’s defence to manage, considering neither acted as an obvious target player and were free to drift around the attacking third, pressing relentlessly whenever Bayern lost possession.
The Supercup game also saw Nagelsmann bring on €67 million signing Matthijs de Ligt as well as the two Ajax academy graduates in Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui. Oh, and 17-year-old striker Mathys Tel from Stade Rennais has also just arrived in Bavaria, with Nagelsmann predicting that the young Frenchman could one day score 40 goals in a season.
Whoever thought that Bayern might go into decline after Lewandowski’s departure will be in for a surprise, because Bayern look better than they did last season.
There’s no talent exodus this year
While Bayern are always expected to leave their mark on the transfer market due to their financial might, the other 17 Bundesliga clubs usually suffer a dip in quality during the summer transfer window. Coaches and sporting directors have become creative in finding replacements and discovering new talent to fill the voids, but the fact remains that they’re often largely powerless to keep hold of their best players.
This summer was different, though. Erling Haaland has been the only major player who left one of the 17 non-Bayern clubs, with others opting against moves to England or Spain. Surprisingly, Christopher Nkunku, the highly touted Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate who was elected the Bundesliga’s Player of the Season for 2021-22, decided to extend his contract with Leipzig until 2026. Reports suggest that no buyout clause was included in his new contract.
Florian Wirtz, the 19-year-old attacking wizard at Bayer Leverkusen, also extended his contract — his running until 2027. The Germany international is recovering from a cruciate ligament tear, which might have influenced his decision to commit to Bayer for longer than initially planned. Many expected Wirtz to follow in the footsteps of former Leverkusen wunderkindKai Havertz and go abroad rather quickly.
The extensions of Nkunku and Wirtz are a signal to the rest of the league and the continent: It’s no longer a foregone conclusion that every highly skilled player in Germany under the age of 25 has to go to Bayern, Borussia Dortmund or the biggest clubs elsewhere in Europe.
Still, some sides had to contend with the departures of key players. Union Berlin lost goal scorer Taiwo Awoniyi, and Mainz moved on from captain Moussa Niakhate. Both have joined Nottingham Forest, who seemingly have an appetite for Bundesliga players, considering the newly promoted Premier League side also signed Orel Mangala from VfB Stuttgart.
These three have been the exception rather than the rule in this summer’s transfer window, which is a welcome change for fans of German football.
The coaching carousel continues to spin
Coaches might start calling the day following the end of each Bundesliga season “Black Sunday,” because on that day (or the days immediately following), a few of them are usually shown the door. It was no different in 2022, with Markus Weinzierl (FC Augsburg), Adi Hutter (Borussia Monchengladbach) and Florian Kohfeldt (VfL Wolfsburg) being relieved of their duties soon after the campaign’s conclusion. A week later, Dortmund made it official that Marco Rose was no longer the head coach of the Black and Yellow.
Naturally, those clubs began their searches for new managers. Dortmund ended up reinstating Edin Terzic, the former assistant who acted as an interim coach before Rose was appointed in 2021. Gladbach appointed Daniel Farke, the former Norwich boss who had gone to Russian Premier League outfit Krasnodar in January and left shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began. Hertha Berlin also looked to the east and brought back Sandro Schwarz, who had stayed in Russia until the summer, reaching the national cup final with Dynamo Moscow. Wolfsburg replaced Kohfeldt with former Bayern and Frankfurt boss Niko Kovac. Augsburg chose Enrico Maassen, the former coach of Dortmund’s reserve team, to step in for Weinzierl. Schalke 04 appointed Frank Kramer following their promotion, which had been achieved under Mike Buskens, who was not too fond of the idea of remaining head coach.
This marks the second consecutive summer in which the clubs swapped coaches en masse. The year prior, practically everyone looked worse after installing their new hires. Dortmund fetched Rose away from Monchengladbach, who signed Hutter from Frankfurt, who signed Oliver Glasner from Wolfsburg, who signed Mark van Bommel. Only Frankfurt had any noticeable success with their new manager, winning the Europa League in May.
Despite it all, though, the coaching carousel keeps spinning.
Can anyone challenge Bayern?
When one club wins 10 consecutive championships, it raises the question of whether anyone will ever put an end to their dominance.
A few weeks ago, some would have comfortably picked Borussia Dortmund as a viable challenger to Bayern Munich, but their chances have dropped dramatically, though, since Haaland’s exit. Their replacement, Sebastien Haller, was signed from Ajax to fill that physical center-forward role, but he will be out for several months receiving ongoing treatment for a malignant testicular tumour. Without their Haaland successor, the Black and Yellow might struggle to generate the necessary offensive output in the early going, which could mean the gap between them and Bayern is too great to make up.
The sad truth is that the remaining teams are unlikely in a position to challenge Bayern throughout the course of 34 matchdays. RB Leipzig might have significant name value in their squad, but there are justifiably question marks behind manager Domenico Tedesco’s tactical approach, as he focuses greatly on Nkunku as his target player in the final third. Leipzig also lack stability at the back, particularly when the team are forced to track back.
Leverkusen, the other team among Germany’s top four, have caused some excitement during the summer in light of the signing of 20-year-old Czech prospect Adam Hlozek, as well as Wirtz’s contract extension. However, what Bayer 04 did not manage to do is sign a much-needed anchor player for their midfield. They have been lacking that one stabilising element between defence and attack: Robert Andrich, Charles Aranguiz and Kerem Demirbay are undoubtedly gifted, yet they are better suited as sidekicks to a dominant midfielder.
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It wouldn’t be surprising if one of these three teams could keep up with Bayern during stretches of the season, but in the end, Bayern will likely prevail given their quality and depth. The record champions simply do not face the same issues as Dortmund, Leipzig or Leverkusen.
Will we see another Cinderella story?
It has become a tradition of the Bundesliga that each season at least one underdog climbs into the top third of the table, usually qualifying for continental competition and then disappearing again the next year due to the stress of the extra games in their calendar. Mainz, Augsburg and FC Cologne all have had outstanding years in recent memory, and last season saw Union Berlin and SC Freiburg both play well beyond their market value, earning places in this season’s Europa League as a result.
This season marks Union’s second straight season in Europe, but the Cinderella story of the team from the eastern part of the capital city could come to an end soon, given the departures of Awoniyi and Grischa Promel and the fact that manager Urs Fischer might not be able to reinvent his team once again. How the Swiss coach was able to tweak things enough to prevent his side from becoming predictable for the first three years following Union’s promotion was commendable enough; to do so a fourth time is unlikely.
Moreover, Union and Freiburg’s performances might suffer from playing in three competitions simultaneously in a year with a particularly condensed schedule thanks to this winter’s World Cup in Qatar. The two sides likely won’t be in danger of relegation, but slipping back into mid-table is a realistic scenario.
This raises the question of whether any other team might be able to fit into Cinderella’s glass slippers this year. It could end up being one of the fallen giants that makes a surprising impact and returns to the sharp end of the table.
Schalke have just been promoted back to the Bundesliga. The 1997 UEFA Cup winners were part of the league’s elite for many years, but mounting debt and financial constraints caused the club’s hierarchy to offload most of the team’s best players until 2020. Coupled with a series of ill-advised managerial appointments, Schalke were doomed to experience the ultimate embarrassment: relegation to the 2. Bundesliga, where the Royal Blues spent one year.
This team is nowhere near as strong as past Schalke sides, which would make a run towards European places somewhat of a miracle, but perhaps now that there is so much less pressure on the club, they can suddenly become overachievers.
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How will everyone contend with the winter break?
Three decades ago, fans of Bundesliga clubs knew exactly what to do between the holiday season and the end of January. As the league had implemented a lengthy winter break to give everyone some rest — and to pay tribute to the fact that under-soil heating has not yet been installed in every stadium — supporters streamed into indoor arenas and watched indoor football. Later, the Bundesliga adjusted its schedule and shortened the winter break to two weeks.
As the World Cup in November will affect the schedule of practically every league in Europe, we will see another temporary alteration and Bundesliga teams in particular will have to deal with an incredibly condensed timetable. Those who are also competing in international competitions will not get any break until November. Once the World Cup is concluded on Dec. 18, the league won’t restart immediately, instead waiting until Jan. 20. This means a return to the old lengthy winter break, and traditionalists have called for the temporary reinstatement of the “Hallenmasters,” a tournament crowning Germany’s indoor champions. The German FA hosted the tournament in various iterations between 1987 and 2001, with Borussia Dortmund being the record winner with four titles. The final “Hallenmasters” was decided in a penalty shootout between SpVgg Unterhaching and Dortmund, as the small club from the Munich suburbs beat Dortmund 5-4.
If you’ve witnessed those tournaments, you probably remember them fondly. If you haven’t, let’s hope you’ll get an opportunity to watch something similar in 2023.
What are the Americans up to?
Finally, a look at the Bundesliga through the lens of the United States. This summer has seen Tyler Adams leave Leipzig and Chris Richards depart Bayern for Crystal Palace, but Germany remains home to plenty of intrigue for followers of the USMNT.
Giovanni Reyna has become something of a phantom in Dortmund. Everyone is aware of the gifted midfielder, but we have not seen him on the pitch in some time. After a promising start to the 2021-22 season, Reyna was sidelined by a muscle injury until February. He made his return, even played for the national team, but then was injured again in April. Even though Dortmund afforded him extra time to recover and return to full fitness, he still missed 34 games through injury last season, which has raised questions about Reyna’s resilience.
The 19-year-old is still not ready to be selected for the matchday squad for Dortmund’s season opener and will need more time before he can be a reliable option for Terzic. Regardless of Reyna’s injury woes, Dortmund remain convinced of his qualities. Once he returns to the pitch, he might collide with Marco Reus, as both are best suited for the No. 10 role. Reus possesses the bonus of being the team captain, but Reyna is a pillar of the future. In any case, we should see more of him at some point this season, but patience is needed.
The same can be said for Ricardo Pepi. The Texas native signed with Augsburg for a transfer fee of $20m in January, shortly before his 19th birthday. Most fans in Germany had not heard of the striker beforehand but were curious what this hyped American could bring to the table. Sadly for him, he was a non-factor during his first few months in-country. Pepi made four appearances in Augsburg’s starting XI and was brought on as a substitute seven times, scoring no goals in 475 minutes of total playing time.
Maassen, Augsburg’s new manager, also seems to view Pepi as an alternative from the bench. He brought him on after 74 minutes in the DFB-Pokal game against fourth-division side Lohne, replacing Andre Hahn. While Augsburg’s two-striker system offers Pepi the chance to earn more playing time, he has to prove he’s able to compete in Germany’s top flight.
Patience might be the key quality most American players in the Bundesliga have to show this year. Joe Scally, right-back for Borussia Monchengladbach, has found himself on the bench more often than on the pitch in preseason.
What could give him hope is that he was featured in Borussia’s starting XI against Oberachern in the Pokal. Gladbach have two right-backs in their squad: 19-year-old Scally and the much more experienced 29-year-old Stefan Lainer. Normally, Lainer should remain first choice, but if the Austrian slips, Scally should be there to take over the spot. Scally’s advantage is that there is no considerable pressure on the young American. Gladbach want to help him progress so that he becomes a long-term option.
Jordan Pefok‘s situation is quite different. When Awoniyi, who had scored 20 goals across competitions in the previous season, decided to leave Union Berlin, he left some rather large boots to fill. Union chose Washington, D.C.-born Pefoke (who’s going by Jordan Siebatcheu in Germany) as Awoniyi’s replacement.
The American, who grew up in France and possesses Cameroonian roots, had scored 22 goals for Young Boys in the Swiss league last season and put himself on the radar. Pefok and Awoniyi have similarities in stature and physicality, and it seems Union would like him to play an identical role. Pefok started the season by scoring his maiden goal for Union in their hard-fought win over Chemnitz in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. There is certainly more to come from the newcomer — who will be on the pitch Saturday, as the Bundesliga goes into its 60th season.
Indy 11 vs Tampa Bay Rowdies Sat night 7 pm @ The Mike
The Indy Eleven won the USL Jägermeister Cup Group 3 with a 2-1 victory over FC Tulsa in the final round of group play on Saturday at Carroll Stadium. Indy Eleven amassed 11 points in Jägermeister Cup group play (3-0-1), more than anyone in the 38-team field. In his two seasons, coach Sean McAuley has guided his teams to the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semi-finals and the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup quarterfinals in their first-ever appearance. The Boys in Blue are 4-0-2 in Cup play this season (Open Cup & Jägermeister Cup), including a 2-0-1 mark at home and will host Greenville on Wed Aug 20th @ 7 pm. The Boys in Blue return to USL Championship play with “Block Party” on Saturday, August 2 at 7 p.m. at Carroll Stadium vs. Eastern Conference rival Tampa Bay Rowdies. Single-game tickets for all matches are available via Ticketmaster. Flex Plan, Group, and Hospitality tickets are available here. For questions, call (317) 685-1100 during business hours or email tickets@indyeleven.com.
MLS Leagues Cup vs Liga MX Underway
I have enjoyed a few of these MLS vs Liga MX Leagues Cup games this week – Miami winning in the final minutes was spectacular and Seattle put up a 7 spot on CruZ Azul last night. Lionel Messi had two assists, including one in the final seconds of the match, to help lift Inter Miami over Atlas 2-1 in their Leagues Cup opener (More); Games continue this week and next on Apple TV Free and FS1. (see schedule below). Cool to see German and Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller coming to MLS for Vancouver Whitecaps.
NWSL Returns
The National Women’s Soccer league returns from the European Cup break with a slew of games this weekend. Of course players from Brazil and Colombia take center stage on Saturday, 5 pm on FS1 as star-studded lineups full of NWSL talent duke it out at this year’s Copa América Femenina Final. Orlando Pride midfielder Marta will lead Brazil teammates Lorena (Kansas City), Angelina (Orlando), Ary Borges (Louisville), and Gabi Portilho (Gotham) into the nation’s 10th tournament final, taking aim at their fifth straight — and ninth overall — CONMEBOL title. Spirit midfielder Leicy Santos has her sights set on capturing Colombia’s first-ever Copa América Femenina trophy, joined by Angela Baron (Louisville), Ana Maria Guzman (Utah), and Daniela Arias (San Diego). Here in the states Louisville kicks off the NWSL return on Prime Network at 8 pm vs KC tonight before Seattle hosts my daughter’s Angel City on Para+ at 10:30 pm. Sat gives us NC vs San Diego 7:30 and new comer Bay FV vs Houston at 10 pm on ION TV. The showcase game is Washington Spirit and the return of US star Trinity Rodman hosting Portland on ABC Sunday at 12:30 pm. Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman is set to debut her Adidas Player Edition cleat this weekend, marking her return to the field by rocking the all-new F50 SPARKFUSION PE.
England Wins Another Euro Championship in Shootout over Spain
Its coming home – they English fans sang as England again found a way late to tie it up – send the game to overtime and this time beat Spain in a shootout 1-0 Hilights. Really cool to find out about the English Goalkeeper who overcame childhood strabismus or eye misalignment (meaning 1 eye is turned in a different direction that the other) to become a European Cup winner who saved the key shots in the shootout to win the trophy. (great story from the Athletic below).
US Men vs #17 Japan in Columbus on Tues. Sept 9th – Discount Tix Available
The US men are coming to Columbus, Ohio Lower.com Field on Tuesday night Sept 9th for a 7:30 pm match up with #17 ranked Japan. The Ole Ballcoach is going along with some buddies to the game sitting in section 129 ($50) – close to the American Outlaws who will be in the Nordic Section 127. Visit http://ussoccer.spinzo.com/CarmelFC this special link to get discounted tickets. Let me know if you plan to join – feel free to send on to friends. I for one was sick of seeing US fans outnumbered all summer long in our own stadiums. Let’s prove Columbus and Cincy are the HOME STADIUMS of US Soccer – this is where US Fans will not be outnumbered! Join me in the trek to Columbus to fight for our Red, White and Blue! Reach out to the Ole Ballcoach at shanebestsoccer@gmail.com if you want to coordinate travel plans.
Good luck to all of our Carmel FC players and everyone trying out for High School soccer starting next week!!
Good times reffing with my favorite Canadian Tom Baker this weekend at the Carmel High School D Wayne Aiken Invitational.
TV GAME SCHEDULE
Fri, Aug 1 12 noon ESPN+, Desp Ausburg vs Crystal Palace (Richards) 3 pm Para+ Golazo Luton Town vs AFC Richmond 8 pm FS2 Women’s Copa America Argentina vs Uruguay 8 pm Prime Racing Louisville vs KC Current NWSL 8 pm Apple? Columbus Crew vs Puebla 10 pm Apple? LAFC vs Pachuca 10 pm FS1 Tigres vs San Diego 10:30 pm Para+ Seattle Reign vs Angel City NWSL Sat, Aug 2 5 pm FS2 Women’s Copa America Final Brazil vs Columbia 7:30 pm Ion NC Courage vs San Diego Wave NWSL 8 pm Apple? Columbus Crew vs Puebla 8 pm FS1 America (Zendejas) vs Minn United 10 pm FS1 Portland Timbers vs Queretaro 10 pm ION Bay FC vs Houston Dash NWSL Sun, Aug 3 12:30 pm ABC Washington Spirit vs Portland Thorns NWSL 2 pm NBC Bournemouth (Adams) vs West Ham 5 pm Peacock Man United vs Everton 5:30 pm Apple? Cincy vs Juerez Leagues Cup 6 pm Para+ Orlando Pride vs Utah Royals 7:50 pm FS1 Guadalajara vs Charlotte 10:30 pm FS1 Seattle Sounders vs Santos Laguna 10:30 pm apple/Sirius LA Galaxy vs Cruz Azul Tues, Aug 5 7:30 pm FS1 Columbus Crew vs Leon Leagues Cup 10:30 pm Apple Tigres vs LAFC Weds, Aug 6 7:30 pm Apple Inter Miami vs Pumas UNAM Leagues Cup 9:30 pm FS1 America vs Portland Timbers 11 pm Apple Seattle Sounders vs Tijuana Thurs, Aug 7 7:30 pm AppleCincy vs Guadalajara 7:30 pm FS1 Monterey vs Charlotte 11:15 pm FS1 LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna Fri Aug 8 2 pm ESPN+ Chelsea vs Bayer Leverkusen 3 pm CBSSN Birmingham City (Tom Brady) vs Ipswich Town 8 pm Golazo, Para+ Houston Dash vs NC Courage NWSL 10 pm Amazon Prime Utah Royals vs KC Current Sat Aug 9 7:30 am CBSSN Coventry City vs Hull City 7:30 am CBS Golazo, Para+ Southampton vs Wrexham 10 am Para+ Norwich City (Stewart) vs Millwall 12 ESPN NY/NJ Gotham vs Washington Spirit NWSL 12:30 pm CBS Golazo Sheffield United vs Bristol City 7 pm ESPN+ Detroit City vs Indy 11 7:30 PM Ion Orlando Pride vs Racing Louisville 10 pm Ion San Diego Wave vs Angel City 8:45 pm FS1 San Jose vs Vancouver Whitecaps MLS Sun, Aug 10 10 am ESPN+? Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Liverpool Community Shield 2 pm CBS Chicago Red Stars vs Bay FC NWSL 4 pm CBS Portland Thorns vs Seattle Reign 10 pm FS1 LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders MLS
Sat, Sept 6 5 pm TNT, Tele, Max USA Men vs Korea Tues, Sept 9 7:30 pm TNT, Tele, Max USA Men vs Japan in Columbus, Ohio Fri, Oct 10 8:30 pm TNT, Max USA Men vs Ecuador Tues, Oct 14 9 pm TNT, Max USA Men vs Australia
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Lionel Messi had two assists, including one in the final seconds of the match, to help lift Inter Miami over Atlas 2-1 in their Leagues Cup opener (More); See all Leagues Cup results and upcoming fixtures (More) Messi didn’t hold back celebrations after Miami’s last-minute winner.
Spirit vs. Thorns FC: How to watch NWSL on ESPN Louisville extends Yanez coaching deal to 2026 What to watch: The NWSL standings dominate the narrative, with No. 1 Kansas City towering over the rest of the pack while lower-table teams embrace their shot at a reset after a month off the pitch. No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 1 Kansas City, Friday at 8 PM ET (Prime): Racing currently sits in playoff position, but they’ll be tested as the high-flying Current storm through Louisville.
No. 6 Seattle vs. No. 11 Los Angeles, Friday at 10:30 PM ET (Paramount+): Reign fans will get their first league glimpse of new signing Mia Fishel while Angel City hopes to ruin the party as they push toward playoff contention.
No. 9 North Carolina vs. No. 3 San Diego, Saturday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): Courage forward Jaedyn Shaw takes on her former team as the Wave looks to keep the NWSL’s surprise success story of the season going strong.
No. 4 Washington vs. No. 5 Portland, Sunday at 12:30 PM ET (ABC): While Spirit fans cross their fingers for the return of injured stars Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune, the Thorns try to keep their steady momentum afloat in DC.
Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman is set to debuther Adidas Player Edition cleat this weekend, marking her return to the field by rocking the all-new F50 SPARKFUSION PE — a boot built by and for women’s sports athletes.
“Growing up as a kid in California, I could never have imagined a day where there would be a cleat literally inspired by me,” the 2024 Olympic gold medalist said in a press release. “It makes it even more special knowing it’s a cleat built by, and for, female soccer players. I can’t wait to wear them.”In addition to key design adjustments addressing issues specific to women’s soccer players, Rodman’s Player Edition boots feature a pearlescent white base alongside bold pink stripes — an homage to her signature pink hair — and vibrant light blue details.
Get yours: The F50 SPARKFUSION PE are available for purchase via adidas.com.
Superhot Reffing with Carlos at Carmel On top of being the BEST BarBQ Chef and master Cooker of Brisket Noblesville Nate Sinders is also a hell of a Ref Scheduler and Pretty awesome dad.
ESPN and TUDN Mexico said Vegas had been picked for the draw of the expanded 48-team event. In all, 12 groups of four nations will be drawn (six playoff winners won’t be known until March 2026). Recently, MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed to Soccer America MLS Cup will be played Dec. 6.
One Big Thing – Breakout contenders FC Tulsa, Loudoun United are a must-see Friday night clash
You can make a case for a handful of games in this weekend’s USL Championship slate as the most compelling.At the top of the Eastern Conference, Louisville City FC hosts North Carolina FC at Lynn Family Stadium in a top-four matchup with NCFC one of the few teams to have handed LouCity defeat previously this season, back on its home turf on June 20.San Antonio FC and Sacramento Republic FC meet at Toyota Field, meanwhile, in a contest between two clubs who could meet in the USL Jagermeister Cup Final and the USL Championship Playoffs down the line.For our money, though, your attention should go to the two teams whose breakout campaigns have been among the best stories in American soccer this year.Current Western Conference leader FC Tulsa hosts Loudoun United FC on Friday night at ONEOK Field (8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+) with both clubs in the middle of the best seasons in their respective histories and the potential to be serious contenders when the postseason arrives. RISING UP: If you’d pointed to this game as one neutral fans should tune into during preseason, people might have wondered what you’d recently ingested. After all, while both showed improvement in 2024, they were still off the pace in their respective conferences. That’s been a longstanding issue; over the past three seasons, Loudoun ranked last in the league with 59 defeats, while Tulsa wasn’t far off with 45 losses.TALENT AND TOGETHERNESS: This year far more has fallen into place for each club. Following the promotion of Luke Spencer from assistant to Head Coach in Tulsa and arrival of Caleb Sewell, the side has taken a major step forward. At United, longtime Head Coach Ryan Martin’s vision has come into sharper focus as the club moves further into the light, propelling a side that’s cohesive and entertaining to previously unknown heights.NUMBERS DON’T LIE: Tulsa’s improvement is visible in its underlying numbers. It ranks second to the Charleston Battery with a 26.52 Expected Goals mark, and third in the league behind Louisville and Sacramento with a 16.55 Expected Goals Against mark. Loudoun’s numbers are more balanced, but its cumulative performances place the side fifth in the league in American Soccer Analysis’ Expected Points metric at 25.20xP.
2026 World Cup ‘hospitality’ tickets will ‘guarantee’ you a seat at a game. But what are they really?
Early access to tickets for next summer’s FIFA World Cup has been released. But what exactly do hospitality tickets entail? More important, how big a hole are they going to put in your wallet?
This countdown clock outside City Hall is a reminder that there’s less than a year to go until the 2026 World Cup.Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer
The ads have been all over the place for a while now, especially on social media. They’re brightly-colored and attention-getting — and almost a little intimidating.Want tickets for next year’s World Cup? Want to be truly certain that when you click “Buy,” you’ve actually bought a seat, not just a place in a lottery or a place near the front of another line?Right now, the ads say, only “hospitality” tickets can “guarantee”that you’re absolutely going to be in the door and in a seat at Lincoln Financial Field for the six games here, or at any of the other 98 games in the tournament.What exactly do those tickets entail? And more important, how big of a hole are they going to put in your bank account?This is worth explaining, because there’s a lot of uncertainty among soccer fans right now — and a lot of fear that if they don’t buy whatever’s available right now, they’ll be shut out.
Philadelphia will host six of the 104 games in next year’s men’s World Cup, which is set to be the largest sporting event in human history.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
FIFA hasn’t said much so far about how things will work for the general public, beyond an announcement earlier this month that “the application period for the first ticket draw” will open on Sept. 10.World soccer’s governing body hasn’t even announced what the standard ticket prices will be. Nor has it denied reports that it will use Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing system. If that does happen, it will be the first time at any World Cup that FIFA abandons its longtime system of set prices for games.
The Inquirer reached out to On Location, a company that specializes in selling high-end ticket packages for major events. It has partnered with the NFL and NBA for years, and for next year’s World Cup is working with FIFA and MLS in a three-way sales and marketing deal. (Yes, MLS will get a cut of the money, a league spokesperson confirmed. There are also official “sales agents” across the country, including the Union and Eagles in Pennsylvania.)Alicia Falken, On Location’s general manager for the World Cup, offered details of what’s in these packages.“It’s more than just a ticket,” she said. “Hospitality is a full experience — it’s a culinary experience, it’s got entertainment.”
Philadelphia has never hosted a men’s World Cup before, which is one of the reasons why there are lots of questions about how to buy tickets.Emilee Chinn – FIFA / FIFA via Getty Images
Fans might think of a suite or skybox when hearing those words, but hospitality tickets for the World Cup offer seating beyond just suites. Some deals offer tickets in the seating bowl with access to premium spaces before and after games.“There are a couple of different products — suites are one of them,” Falken said. “We’ve got various tiers of lounge products … Each one has different aspects to it, and they include a seat within the stadium, preferred seating, and various other amenities and experiences and themed entertainment within those products.”
In most of the 16 host cities, including Philadelphia, there will be five high-end lounges at various levels.“For fans, families, groups trying to get together and navigate the complexities of how do you get to go to this once-in-a-lifetime world event, these packages provide that,” Falken added.
FIFA will start taking applications in September for the first round of World Cup ticket sales to the general public, which will happen through a lottery.Dustin Satloff – FIFA / FIFA via Getty Images
She made the key point unprompted when she said, “I think people are looking for how do you guarantee access to the World Cup now, and the only way to do that is through On Location as the official hospitality provider on behalf of FIFA.”And when asked about whether fan concerns about not being able to get tickets any other way are fair, a spokesperson stepped in to “defer general ticket questions to FIFA.”
“The hospitality packages are the first tickets that have been made available to the public,” the spokesperson said. “But as far as the general seats without the hospitality experience, that’s something for FIFA to provide further background on.”Falken then added: “This does guarantee you a seat, a ticket, but also a whole experience. … If you want to guarantee access, On Location, as the official hospitality provider, is currently the only way to do that right now. But we can’t speak to the lottery process that FIFA runs, and the general ticketing.”
Some of the many fans who attended Club World Cup games at Lincoln Financial Field this summer.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Asked whether a set portion of tickets per venue have been dedicated to hospitality packages — FIFA expects to sell 6.5 million tickets for the tournament overall — Falken didn’t have a number. She noted that, “seats that are dedicated to hospitality are really decided by FIFA.”
Testing the system
After speaking with Falken, this reporter decided to test the system to see what prices are without actually buying anything. It was 11:40 a.m. on a weekday morning, and a message popped up with a waiting queue of over an hour. It ended up being just under half an hour.
The lowest price listed for a game in Philadelphia was $1,450 per person for a group stage contest on June 22 or 25. The other three group games started at $1,525.
That lowest price level was for a seat in the stadium and access to the “FIFA Pavilion,” which will be inside the stadium gates but outside the stadium itself.
A rendering of what the “FIFA Pavilion” will look like during the 2026 men’s soccer World Cup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.On Location
The other four pricing tiers were for amenities in the stadium: “Champions Club” starting at $1,950 per person, “Trophy Lounge” from $2,250 per person, “VIP” from $2,700 per person, and the top-level “Pitchside Lounge” from $3,200 per person.On Location also offers package deals for all six games at the Linc. Those prices start at $8,650 per person for the FIFA Pavilion; $11,600 for Champions Club; $13,775 for Trophy Lounge; $16,900 for VIP; and $19,700 for Pitchside Lounge.» READ MORE: Are soccer fans more unhinged than Philly sports fans? A conversation between Inquirer journalists
On top of all that, each level has a “Standard” and a “Standard+” tier. The first is described as “Back half of available seats for the product,” and the second is described as “Front half of available seats for the product.”Whether for individual games or the package, all five tiers offer a wide range of amenities, including food, drinks, entertainment, and even souvenirs. But the first two don’t include guaranteed parking, and only offer hospitality access before and after games. The top three tiers do include parking, although “subject to availability,” and halftime amenities.
USMNT’s Matt Turner seals return to New England Revolution on loan
The New England Revolution have brought back U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Turner on loan from Lyon with an option to buy, the MLS club announced on Friday.Turner, the U.S.’s starter at the 2022 World Cup, will fill a designated player spot for the remainder of 2025 for budget purposes, with plans to convert him to a targeted allocation money (TAM) player in 2026. The loan runs until June and the start of the 2026 World Cup that will be staged in North America. To keep the 31-year-old TAM-eligible beyond the loan, any purchase option would have to be significantly less than the €8 million (£6.74m; $9.13m) Lyon agreed to pay Nottingham Forest for Turner in June.
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“It is a privilege to return to the club that launched my career,” Turner said in a statement. “The club that helped me discover who I am as a professional, the club that has always felt like a home away from home. To have the chance to play in front of the Revolution supporters once again is a priceless feeling and one I’ve never taken for granted. My family and I have felt their unwavering support throughout these last three years, and I can’t wait to wear the Revolution crest again at Gillette Stadium. I am grateful for this opportunity to earn my place on the field and look forward to winning many more games with the evolution.”As for his parent club, Lyon have faced major financial difficulties in recent months. The Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG — the body responsible for overseeing the finances of French football clubs) issued Lyon an administrative relegation to Ligue 2 on June 24 following a review of the club’s finances, before they successfully appealed that decision two weeks later. Lyon had been provisionally relegated in December and banned from making any transfers in the winter window.Brazil international Lucas Perri was Lyon’s No 1 last season, starting all but one of their Ligue 1 games. Perri has since joined newly-promoted Premier League side Leeds United.Turner previously spent seven seasons with New England, winning the starting job in 2018 and establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in MLS before eventually moving to Arsenal in 2022, where he played only seven times before joining Forest. The American was Forest’s starter for the first half of the 2023-24 campaign before being displaced by Matz Sels.Turner was loaned to Crystal Palace for the 2024-25 season and made four appearances as a back-up to Dean Henderson. He featured in three of Palace’s FA Cup games in their run to lifting the trophy for the first time in history, but was an unused substitute in the 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the final.“I look forward to welcoming Matt back to the Revolution and I am excited for this opportunity to work with one of the best goalkeepers our league has produced,” Revolution manager Caleb Porter said in a statement. “Matt holds himself to an extremely high standard that has led him to success at the international level, in Europe, and of course, in MLS. Matt’s shot-stopping quality and overall character and mentality make him a tremendous addition to our goalkeeping corps.”
Analysis
The move back to MLS comes at an important time for Turner, who lost his starting job with the U.S. men’s national team this summer at the Gold Cup.U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino made it clear to Turner that he needed to play regularly in order to earn back his starting job. New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese started for the U.S. at the Gold Cup.Turner had been the consistent No 1 for the U.S. since beating out Zack Steffen for the job ahead of the Qatar World Cup in 2022. His lack of minutes in Europe, though, eventually took its toll. The U.S. goalkeeper depth chart is thin, however, and if Turner gets consistent minutes in MLS, he’ll be the favorite to win the job back.
(Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Pellegrino Matarazzo on the USMNT, Chelsea and a coaching return: ‘I’m ready for the next step’
As a former college mathematics major, Pellegrino Matarazzo could tell you a thing or two about chaos theory — the unpredictable nature of things. Or he could just refer to his last 18 months in football.During that time, the 47-year-old was sacked as manager of Bundesliga side Hoffenheim despite saving them from relegation and then guiding them into the Europa League.Next he was interviewed for the USMNT head coach role before the gig eventually went to Mauricio Pochettino. So, instead, he spent time observing Claudio Ranieri’s work at close quarters as the veteran Italian became Roma’s third manager of a turbulent campaign, steering them to a fifth-place finish.That’s why, of all his attributes, Matarazzo thinks one in particular makes him especially suited to a job in the dugout. It’s not speaking four languages, or the resilience which helped him break barriers as an American coach in Europe at Stuttgart and then fellow Germans Hoffenheim.“I’ve always been someone who’s able to deal with chaos very well,” he says. “Because I have the ability to focus on what’s important. I stay structured and remain focused and factual.”In other words — he can handle the heat, and is happiest in the kitchen.
Matarazzo offers his Hoffenheim players encouragement during a Europa League game against Lyon last November (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Matarazzo has just returned to his home in Germany, having spent the last month working as an analyst for host broadcaster DAZN at the Club World Cup. It was the first time he had taken on such a role.“It was something different,” the New Jersey-born son of Italian immigrants says of being on TV. “It really pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me valuable insights into the entertainment side of the game, which I hadn’t been exposed to in the same way during my career.”
But, while watching games at FIFA’s revamped and greatly expanded club tournament from a television studio, Matarazzo was also expanding his knowledge of the game beyond Europe, where he has coached since retiring as a player at German side Nurnberg in 2010.As Brazilian teams reached the quarter-finals (Palmeiras) and semis (Fluminense), he was impressed.“The aggression, the passion and the physicality of South American football was striking — in many cases surpassing that of the European game,” he says. “Certainly part of it was driven by players’ motives and their need to prove their value on an international stage. But the Brazilian teams in particular, they played with a complete brand of football which I value highly: very pragmatic, disciplined, organised.“It’s completely contrary to the old stereotype of Brazilian football, which was usually about flair, technical ability and creativity. What I saw were teams playing with a very well-rounded approach — defensively sound, and very successful.”
Fluminense’s Thiago Silva instructs his players during their Club World Cup semi-final against Chelsea (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
For a coach who admits he would love to work in the Premier League, Matarazzo also noted how eventual winners Chelsea are quickly developing from big-spending also-rans into a potentially dominant force in the game once again.“They grew within the tournament,” he says. “I was watching them in the first couple of games, and there was still a lot of sand in their engine. But that final was spectacular, and Cole Palmer was outstanding.
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“The key is Joao Pedro (the Brazilian forward signed from fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion partway through the competition). I’m a fan of (another new option for Chelsea up front Liam) Delap, don’t get me wrong, but he’s a different profile. I think Palmer becomes more creative with Joao Pedro in there, too.“It’s just a great team and when I see (Moises) Caicedo, how he plays… oh man. This guy is amazing. If I had a dream team, Caicedo would definitely be a part of that. For me, he will be the best No 6 in the world.“They (Chelsea) can defend deep, they can defend in a high press, as a low-block high press. They’re flexible in their defensive structure. They conceded very few chances (in the final) against Paris Saint-Germain.“One of the critical things I was seeing in the first few games is that they can now break down low blocks. That’s why, with this extra element of Joao Pedro coming in, plus the other players that they already had in their roster, I think it’s going to be fun to watch in the upcoming season.
“They could win the Premier League.”
Joao Pedro, left, could bring more out of Palmer, right, at Chelsea (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
Matarazzo’s enthusiasm for the club game is so palpable you suspect it will not be long before he returns to management.For now, he prefers to stay in Europe, having turned down offers from MLS sides, but in different circumstances he could have spent this summer guiding the USMNT through their Concacaf Gold Cup participation. As a candidate under consideration, he held talks with U.S. Soccer in 2024 before the federation ultimately opted for Pochettino’s greater star-factor.“I did truly appreciate the great conversations we had,” he says. “They (U.S. Soccer) were very, very thoughtful, well-structured, professional, and I’m sure Pochettino is an excellent choice. He’s an established coach with tremendous international experience at club level. And if you’re just two years short of a run-up to a home World Cup, then it’s important to energise the U.S. soccer landscape emotionally. So that’s something a big name like Pochettino can absolutely do.”But what does he think of the task facing the Argentine after a summer when key senior players, most notably Christian Pulisic, withdrew from the roster to prioritise rest after busy seasons with their clubs.“We’re just beginning to see the results of the work being done,” Matarazzo says. “It’s positive. Reaching the final of the Gold Cup with several key players missing was a significant achievement for Pochettino, that’s my opinion. It’s a result that will earn him both respect and credibility within the U.S. soccer landscape moving forward.“Think about it. I felt like, in this tournament, it was the first time you felt real progress was made in establishing a culture, an identity, which built around what we in Germany call the basics of football; when you speak about work ethic, intensity, a team-first mindset and when you get those basics down, then you can grow a programme.”
Pochettino and the USMNT were runners-up at the summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Some will wonder whether, with less than a year to go before the World Cup and no signature victories yet under Pochettino against any of world football’s big beasts, the USMNT can reach the level required to succeed in the tournament their homeland will co-host with Canada and Mexico and shift the dial on football’s status in North America.“Let’s put it this way, my feeling is we’re cutting it close,” says Matarazzo. “And I think the next big step will be to reintegrate those key players in the next phase of development.“There were a lot of starters missing. The loss to Mexico in the final was not a question of mentality; it was a question of quality. Mentality might get you out of the group phase in the World Cup, but if you want to make a deep run in the tournament, you need overall better quality on the pitch.“So I think that’s the key in the next phase this fall: reintegrating those key players and just growing that cohesiveness moving towards the World Cup.“It’s important to not underestimate momentum. So if there’s growth happening in this next coming year and if the players feel it and you take that momentum into the tournament, then it can be successful.”Matarazzo feels that new Bayer Leverkusen signing Malik Tillman and Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna took their chances to impress at the Gold Cup: “They were given a platform, and they performed. And that not only gives Pochettino more options going forward, but it creates healthy competition. That’s an important message — the most important take-away from this tournament is that nobody is irreplaceable. That will lead to more focus, higher performance from all the players in the upcoming camps.”
Tillman took his chance at the Gold Cup this summer (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Matarazzo will be watching Tillman’s progress back at club level in Germany with interest. The midfielder came through Greuther Furth’s academy before moving to Bayern Munich, and later PSV of the Netherlands, before joining Leverkusen earlier this month in a €35million (£30m; $41m) move.He wanted to sign the then teenager to play under him in Nurnberg’s B team before the German-American dual national headed to Bayern.“He’s strong, he’s got a good shot, he is game-intelligent,” Matarazzo says of the 23-year-old. “Malik sees slots opening to play the ball deep. He could be more consistent in his output, and if he is, then he would be a top player.”What You Should Read NextMalik Tillman and why Bayer Leverkusen have signed the USMNT midfielderFrom Bayern’s youth team to maturing at Rangers to winning titles at PSV – the 23-year-old American’s rise has been rapid
So with Tillman and Luna in mind, how does Pochettino go about reintegrating players such as Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun while retaining the emphasis on that ‘team-first’ idea?“It’s a tough dynamic, but which dynamic is not tough in football?,” says Matarazzo. “Let’s be honest, the job is so complex.“Like I said before, if you have something in place that you want to see, and the players coming into that culture already feel the energy in the group, it’s easier for them to adapt. And you need open, constructive communication with the player camp and the player himself.”rience.Matarazzo is still smarting from the nature of his sacking by Hoffenheim in November. His time there, he says, was “cut short in a way that was not natural”. He had to contend with a total overhaul of the club’s management structure after he had saved them from relegation after being appointed in February 2023 and then delivered qualification for the Europa League a year later, with the CEO and sporting director who had hired him both being fired during the following pre-season.Then came a chaotic period with a void at the top, until a new executive team was installed.“I belonged to the old leadership,” he says. “So I was not looked favourably upon — there were people within the club who were very happy to see me go. So it was just a difficult situation; keeping the players in balance, protecting myself from invisible attacks and just a lot of volatility and chaos in the club.“And listen, I coached at Stuttgart for almost three years. So I’ve been part of emotional clubs and we also had a change of leadership at Stuttgart when Thomas Hitzlsperger stopped in 2022 (the former Germany midfielder left his role as CEO). I was working there, and then Alex Wehrle came in, so I knew what that feels like but that situation felt natural — this was not natural.”
Matarazzo is still smarting from his sacking at Hoffenheim (Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
The club’s Croatian forward Andrej Kramaric went public, rebuking any suggestions the players were not behind Matarazzo. But the head coach had less and less influence on recruitment and, despite being open with the new board about the approach from U.S. Soccer to hold talks, the news was leaked to the German media.He began to feel like he was on borrowed time with the board.“Now I’m going to say something clichéd: What doesn’t break us, makes us stronger,” Matarazzo adds. “But I don’t have to get into details anymore because it’s in the past and I’ve already reflected on my time there.“I’m ready for the next step.”He has no shortage of learnings to reflect on before that next step from his time observing Ranieri and more recently successor Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma. He can turn, too, to a room-mate from his coaching-course days — former Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern manager and current German national team boss Julian Nagelsmann.“I’ve known Julian for a long time,” he says. “We were opponents at under-19 club level. We completed our pro licence together and he brought me onto his coaching staff midway through the season (at Hoffenheim in 2017).
“He’s a sharp thinker, he has a clear vision. I took a lot from our experiences together, not just tactically but in terms of leadership, communication. I can take inspiration from him, from Gasperini and, of course, from Claudio.”Nagelsmann speaks with Matarazzo before a Bayern vs Stuttgart game in 2021 (Thomas Kienzle/AFP via Getty Images)
He admits also to admiring Roberto De Zerbi’s tactics in the Premier League at Brighton in recent seasons but his ultimate inspiration, when it comes to hard work and perseverance, is familial.
“My mom and dad came to the United States with nothing,” says Matarazzo. “They were from a long line of Italian farmers. My father was an auto mechanic and my mom was working as a secretary.
“They put four kids through college (Matarazzo graduated from New York City’s Columbia University). They gave us the tools we needed to be successful in this life. We’re four brothers, and we all have the right head on our shoulders and we’re doing good things because they (their parents) put so much into every day.“My dad was working every day. My mom… what she was doing for the household and working at the same time was incredible.”Matarazzo’s accent is identifiably American but he can just as easily lapse into a German-English inflection. Still, he has had to deal with flickers of European prejudice against American coaches in the sport.“A foreign coach is more readily accepted into any football culture if they come with a proven track record and if they can speak the native language,” he says. “But I do think that one of the challenges I’ve seen is there’s still a certain degree of scepticism about whether someone from the U.S. truly understands the game and can perform at the highest level.I often ask myself, why do most (football) commentators and analysts in the U.S. still have English or Spanish accents? It tells you something about perception, and there’s certainly been a shift in a positive direction since I first arrived in Europe 25 years ago. It’s to do with the growth of MLS, and an increasing number of U.S. players that are making their mark overseas.“But when it comes to American coaches and experts, I’d say we’re still in the process of earning credibility, both abroad and within our own country.“I took the approach of climbing the ranks from the ground up in another country. So it’s like I immersed myself in that culture in the football environment and earned my place. But even that, it’s still a completely cut-throat business and there are so many highly qualified coaches out of work all competing for the same opportunity. So it’s definitely possible — I’m living proof of it — but it requires a lot of commitment and sacrifice.“After Hoffenheim, I do feel I have unfinished work. There’s still a curiosity within me, ‘How high can I go? What’s my level as a coach?’.”Matarazzo is ready to embrace the chaos once again.(Top photo: Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
Hannah Hampton: How a goalkeeper with almost no depth perception helped England win the Euros
Sarah Shephard July 27, 2025 This is an updated version of an article published on July 15.
Hannah Hampton was not supposed to make it as a professional athlete. The doctors told her it would not be possible. That professional sport was not meant for someone like her.In Hampton’s case, “someone like her” meant someone born with a condition called strabismus or eye misalignment, meaning one eye is turned in a direction that’s different from the other. By the age of three, Hampton had undergone three operations in an attempt to correct it. None of those proved wholly successful but as she grew up, it seemed she was largely unaffected by the condition. Football seemed to come easily to the young girl who was fast on her feet and naturally used both to control the ball and, by the age of 12, she was training as a goalkeeper in Stoke City’s centre of excellence.
It came as a surprise then, when a doctor’s check-up revealed she had a depth perception problem, meaning her ability to tell how far away she is from one thing compared to another is compromised. Or, as she explained when appearing on the Fozcast podcast with former England goalkeeper Ben Foster in December 2021: “I basically have no depth perception, so I can’t judge any distances.”“How does that work as a ‘keeper?” asked Foster.“I really don’t know,” replied Hampton, who saved two penalties in the European Championship shootout on Sunday as England beat Spain to retain their title. “It just does.”
Former goalkeeper turned coach Matt Pyzdrowski believes Hampton’s story is a “remarkable” one considering the specific challenges she must face as a goalkeeper who struggles to judge distances. “I think it would impact every single thing she does on the field,” he says, because “everything that you’re doing is judging distances. The biggest thing is being able to judge the ball and know when you’re supposed to move your hand towards it and at what angle and what speed and that’s before you take into account all the other players who are on the field in front of you.
“At the very top level where she’s playing, the game is moving really fast and the players in front of her can do some really amazing things with the ball when they shoot. It’s really a remarkable story.”Pyzdrowski believes the fact she was born with the condition might actually be something that has helped her in learning how to work around it. He compares her situation to that of legendary England ‘keeper Gordon Banks, who was Stoke City and England’s No 1 when a car crash in 1972 damaged the retina in his right eye, robbing him of his binocular vision (ability to see out of two eyes). He retired from professional football the following year, although returned to action for two seasons in the North American Soccer League with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.“I’d think it would be harder having had two eyes that work for your whole life and then being limited to only one,” says Pyzdrowski. “Hannah doesn’t know anything different, and she’s obviously found a way to compensate. The brain and human body are so miraculous, she has probably just found her own way to read the flight of the ball, and it works.”Hampton’s recollection of her early days in goal lends credence to this view. In an interview with the i Paper in 2022, she explained how she suffered “many, many nose bleeds” and “a lot of broken fingers” because she was constantly putting her hands in the wrong place to catch the ball. “I’ve had to adjust my set position to have my hands out to take the ball,” she explained. “Trying to catch a ball is quite hard!”
In her day-to-day life, Hampton can sometimes feel self-conscious when she sees photographs of herself that show her eyes from a certain angle. And she has to be careful when pouring drinks: “When pouring a glass of water, I’ll miss the glass if I’m not holding it,” she said on Fozcast. “The girls do it to me all the time at training: ‘Can you make me a cup of tea?’ And hold the cup, saying, ‘Can I have some milk, please?’. I’ll just spill it on their shoes and then they moan at me. ‘Well, it’s your own fault, isn’t it?’.”On the pitch, though, there is no indication that the Chelsea and England No 1 is in any way impaired. Her former club Aston Villa were not concerned about it and it was not even part of the conversation during negotiations with Chelsea.Even taking into account Hampton’s reasoning that time and experience have helped her to find a way, it is still hard to grasp exactly how she is able to overcome such a hindrance.A conversation with sports vision specialist Dr Daniel Laby provides some fascinating insight. He explains that when strabismus occurs at a very young age (as in Hampton’s case), the brain is able to effectively “turn off” the central vision from the misaligned eye (the peripheral vision remains active). “The medical term for it is suppression,” Laby tells The Athletic. “The vision comes into the brain from the eye, but the brain says: ‘This isn’t lined up properly, I’m going to ignore it’.”Providing the other eye works well, this does not affect one’s vision (you can still qualify for a driving licence with one working eye, for example), but it does mean you lose a specific form of depth perception; binocular stereo depth perception.“There are two forms of depth perception,” explains Laby. “There’s stereo depth perception, which comes from both eyes, but there is also depth perception that you can appreciate with just one eye; monocular depth perception.”To illustrate, he advises raising the index fingers on both your hands, then making one vertical and the other horizontal. Put the horizontal finger in front of the vertical one and close one eye.“You can tell with just one eye that the horizontal finger is closer to you than the vertical finger,” says Laby. “You do that because of something called overlap. The horizontal finger overlaps the vertical finger, therefore it must be in front of that or closer to you than the vertical finger.“Think about a goalkeeper. If one of your defenders is closer to you than the ball where the play is happening, and their arm or leg occasionally covers up the ball, you can tell that the ball is further away than the defender; that’s through overlap, which only requires one eye.”Monocular depth perception creates what Laby calls inferred depth, or depth derived from other cues (overlap, shadow, relative size and speed, etc). Binocular stereo depth perception is actual depth due to the parallax difference between the two eye views (the fact that our two eyes see slightly different images of the same scene, and the brain combines these images to create a 3D perception).Is one form better than the other? Laby uses the analogy of stereo depth perception being akin to high definition television. It is finer and more precise than the monocular version. Stereo depth perception only works well to a distance of six to eight feet (1.8metres to 2.4m), though. “A perfect example of that in the extreme is when you look up at the stars in the sky at night,” says Laby. “When you look at them with both eyes, they look like they are all the same distance from us. But we know that many of the stars are much further away than the others.”
Judging distances is a key part of being a goalkeeper (Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images)
This limitation means that when play is happening further than six to eight feet away from Hampton, her lack of stereo depth perception actually has very little impact on her ability to detect depth. She will instead depend on the monocular or one-eyed cues to depth.
“So she doesn’t really lose much by not having stereo depth perception because any ball that’s coming to her within two or three feet of her face, she’s not going to have time to react to it,” says Laby. “Nobody is going to react fast enough, even if they have perfect vision, because you can’t make the motor action that fast to put your hand up to stop a ball that’s two feet away from you and moving at those speeds.”
Doctors have told Hampton there is still an operation that can be done to straighten her eyes, but it would be for cosmetic purposes only; her vision would be unchanged. If it was successful in aligning her eyes, Hampton would then have to undergo a period of vision therapy during which a specialist would try to teach her how to stop suppressing the eye that her brain had turned off for so many years.To do that, Laby explains, images would be presented to the brain that are just outside of her central vision. Over time, those images would be gradually worked in towards the centre, challenging her central vision to start recognising them. “It’s using neuroplasticity to get her brain to adapt to something new,” says Laby. “The problem is, if it doesn’t perfectly line up, you’re going to end up with double vision, and once you’ve taught someone to turn off that suppression, you can’t go back and suppress again.”He describes the chances of Hampton getting back to using both eyes together as “very slim” and questions whether it is something worth pursuing, especially for someone who is right in the thick of a hugely positive career.For her part, the 24-year-old is determined to use her story for good; to show others that no matter what you might be told, there is always hope.When she first decided to speak publicly about her eye condition in 2021, a former coach questioned why she had made that decision, given the important stage she was at in her blossoming career. Hampton remained bullish. She had already achieved more than anyone expected her to, and knew there was more still to come. Her experiences could act as a positive example to others and that was enough to make her believe she had done the right thing.“I wasn’t supposed to play and I wasn’t allowed to do certain jobs,” Hampton told the BBC in 2021. “It was always my passion to do sport and it was my dream. I’ve always told the younger generation that if you can’t follow your own dreams, what are you going to do in life? You’ve got to follow your dreams and, sat here right now, I can say that I’ve done that.”
(Top photo: Kristian Skeie – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
How England nullified Spain: The Wiegman tactics that shut down the world champions
Spain composed themselves, waited for the right moment, and then calmly passed between England’s lines.But this isn’t an analysis of the tactical battle. It was the scene at 9pm at St Jakob Park when England formed a guard of honour, clapping Spain through to receive their runners-up medals. Somehow, England had done it again. “We were better,” said Spain manager Montse Tome after the game. “But football is a sport where not always the best team wins.”England have arguably not been the superior side in any of their three knockout games at Euro 2025. They were largely outplayed by Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning on penalties. They were sluggish against Italy in the semi-finals and only squeezed through thanks to an equaliser deep in stoppage time, and a winner at the end of extra time.They competed better in the final against Spain, but they still went behind, and there was a period when Spain seemed set to kill the game. But England, of course, have the never-say-die spirit. They played three matches of 120 minutes each, led for less than five minutes of those matches, and yet are travelling home with the trophy. “The most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,” said Sarina Wiegman. “Every time we came back from behind.”What You Should Read NextInside the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 win: Wiegman’s ‘new England’ mantra, ‘hard’ talks and… penaltiesEngland retained the European Championship trophy with victory over Spain. This is the story of their triumphant tournament
Wiegman has now won three European Championships on the bounce, an incredible achievement. At times, her starting tactics have been questioned, and she has relied heavily on her bench throughout this tournament, with Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang particularly decisive.
But on Sunday, her starting approach deserves credit. For once, Wiegman surprised us. And maybe she surprised Spain, too.
Her decision to recall Jess Carter was a hugely brave call. At full-back, Carter had been bypassed easily in England’s opening game against France and was moved into central defence. In that role, she had been the target of Sweden’s pressing and was overrun. She was dropped for the game against Italy, and her replacement, Esme Morgan, played well. But Carter was in the side. “I was super scared to play today, for the first time in my life,” she said. “Then when I woke up this morning and saw my team and the support that I had from my team-mates, my family and my manager, I knew I had to come out today and give it my all.”Why did Carter return? “We can make tactical decisions,” said Wiegman, calmly. “I said before the tournament that I’m really happy with my squad, that we have players in the same position who can bring different things. Italy and Spain were different games. We felt we needed Jess in the starting line-up for the fight and the duels.”Carter was excellent, and possibly England’s best performer on the night. She returned to being the Carter we know, England’s most reliable defender in individual battles, a good reader of the game, a no-nonsense player who does her job unfussily. She coped with the power of Esther Gonzalez. She then coped with the speed of Salma Paralluelo. Her final action of the 120 minutes was reading the game, covering behind centre-back partner Leah Williamson and sweeping up to tackle Aitana Bonmati, sending the ball against her and out for an England goal kick.
Aitana Bonmati won the award for the tournament’s best player, but she and her Spain team-mates had to watch on as England lifted the trophy (Maryam Majd/Getty Images)
The second call was switching her wingers. Lauren Hemp had only played on the left in this tournament, but she was switched to the right flank and lasted 120 minutes without tiring. Lauren James was moved to the left and was an early threat before going off injured. Her replacement, Kelly, decisive as a substitute against Sweden with her crosses from the left, provided a pinpoint delivery for Alessia Russo’s towering header. “We wanted to switch the play and come in behind a little bit on the inside,” said Wiegman of her inverted wingers. “So with Lauren James and Chloe Kelly from the left with the right foot, and Lauren Hemp on the right with the left foot.”The third big decision was altering the position of Lucy Bronze, asking her to move inside into midfield — a role she has previously suggested she dislikes. This opened up the passing lane into Hemp and gave England an extra option in the engine room. “We know with Spain they’re very aggressive when they have to defend,” said Wiegman. “So we wanted to get out of that first press. We wanted to create a midfield overload and create space a bit down the wing to bring Lauren Hemp a little lower at moments.”
“I think they changed,” Tome said of England’s tactics on the night. “In the first half, they had an additional player in the middle, and I think we managed that.”And that was fair. None of these things ever gave England full control or unlocked the Spain defence, but it did help to nullify the world champions — the best possession side in the competition by miles. It did help England to compete. And 1-1, as a final score, was all fair enough, really. Call it a draw?Not in tournaments, of course, and on penalties, you consistently back this England side. This is four shootout wins in a row: Brazil in the Finalissima, Nigeria in the World Cup, Sweden in the quarter-final in Zurich, and Spain in the final in Basel. England’s penalty record was not even any good in this tournament — only six of their 12 were scored — but they still won both shootouts. And doesn’t that just sum it all up?(Top photo: Harriet Lander – The FA via Getty Images)
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Lucy Bronze, the Euro 2025 winner who played with a leg fracture: “Was it worth it? Absolutely!”
Lucy Bronze put her hand to her head, looking tearful. Despite all her might, she hobbled off the pitch, unable to carry on for the last 15 minutes of extra time during the European Championship final.There was a chink in the indestructible warrior’s armour.Little did we know the 33-year-old had been playing the entire tournament with a fractured tibia in her left leg. One wonders how you even walk with a broken bone in your lower leg, let alone play 106 minutes in a Euro final and 598 across the tournament.Ask Lucy ‘Tough’ Bronze — her middle name taken from her mother Diane’s maiden name. Tough by name, tough by nature.“She has a crazy mentality, it’s unbelievable,” said winning England manager Sarina Wiegman.Bronze, England’s most decorated footballer, who was making her 36th appearance at a major tournament, the most of any England player, found out she had fractured her shin bone after England beat Portugal 6-0 on May 30.“I was in a lot of pain at the end of the (domestic) season,” she said, hobbling, following England’s penalty shootout win against Spain. A white bandage was strapped around her right leg due to a separate knee injury.
Lucy Bronze and her England team-mates celebrate winning the European Championship again (Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
And yet for two months, she carried on and started every game under Wiegman at Euro 2025.“All the England players knew,” she said. “Sarina (Wiegman) knew. I’ll do anything to play for England. I’ve always said that.”Bronze took that literally. A fractured tibia was not going to stop her.She communicated her unbridled determination to her team by showing them a picture, which hangs in the team’s Dolder Grand hotel in Zurich, of her being “absolutely exhausted” after England lost against Sweden in the 2019 World Cup bronze medal match.“My ‘why’ has always been the same,” she said before the Sweden quarter-final.
Bronze received a “little bit” of pain relief but had to spread out her dosage of medication. She has not been training all the time with England but started every game this tournament, playing 598 minutes.
Only Hannah Hampton (630), Alex Greenwood (625), and Keira Walsh (599) played more minutes at Euro 2025.
“Lucy, I don’t… I have no words,” said team-mate Jess Carter. “Lucy Bronze is just… I don’t even know. She’s incredible. Also, so stubborn to continue playing when she can’t run or walk. She’ll find a way through. Stubborn is the first thing but she’s a winner and winning is in her DNA. That’s what she wants to do. We all know that she’ll give absolutely everything for this team.”ronze hauled England through to the semi-finals. Against Sweden, she strapped her own injured leg, scored the goal to get the Lionesses back in it, and dispatched the penalty that sent England into the semis at the end of a farcical shootout. Even Wiegman, who rarely speaks about individuals, described her as “one of a kind”.“She just gets on with it,” said Chelsea defender Niamh Charles. “No one really truly knows how much she’s dealing with. To play on, that is pretty incredible but if there was anyone to do it, it would have been her.”England’s identity has been closely tied to the phrase “proper England”, and Bronze embodies that no-nonsense, steely mentality.“Yeah, proper, proper English,” said Charles. “She’s a credit to that and an England legend.”
Bronze gets up to challenge Spain’s Mariona Caldentey (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Bronze is no stranger to playing through pain, having done so throughout Euro 2022 and yet she remains one of England’s cornerstones. Her superhuman efforts have kept competition at bay.
“Was it worth it? Absolutely!” said Bronze without hesitation.After the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph, the right-back was offended that anyone would question whether she would be with England at the following year’s World Cup. “I’m only 30,” she said. “B****y hell! How many players retire at 30?”But when asked if she would go for an eighth tournament, namely the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, Bronze remained coy.“What is it now? Seven? I’ve actually played in the Olympics,” she smiled, deftly rendering the question defunct.Unbeknown to the wider world, she has played through unimaginable pain when there was no guarantee of success. Call it foolish, stubborn or pure guts, there is no one like Bronze and there never will be again.(Top photo: Manuel Winterberger/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Inside the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 win: Tough talks, a ‘new England’ and Wiegman’s toiletry-bag message
In the team meeting before England’s European Championship semi-final against Italy, manager Sarina Wiegman had a quirky motivational technique for her players.
She revealed a little toiletry bag with the phrase: ‘B**ches get s*** done’ written on it. It came out again before the final against Spain.
There were highs — from equalisers in the dying seconds to multiple penalty shootout victories — and lows that included conceding in the second minute in the quarter-final, error-strewn play and nervous spot kicks.
Ella Toone said the team nearly “killed (Wiegman) twice this tournament”.
But whenever it mattered most, they got s*** done. On Sunday, they beat Spain 3-1 on penalties in Basel to retain the trophy they won on home soil in 2022. One of the storylines of this Euros for England was their ability to fight back and save themselves, having made slow starts. They had to come from behind against Spain, Alessia Russo heading home Chloe Kelly’s teasing second-half delivery after Mariona Caldentey’s opener and England withstood the storm that followed. They stuck together.When it got to penalties, it seemed their luck had run out. Beth Mead was forced to retake hers due to the double-touch rule and her second attempt was saved. But England and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton held their nerve. Wiegman said in the previous knockout games that she felt like she was having a heart attack on the touchline, but she and her players remained poker-faced.
Almost inevitably, given her impact off the bench at this tournament, it was Kelly whose penalty won it, defeating a Spain team that beat them in the 2023 World Cup final and which possesses some of the most talented players of their generation. The Lionesses’ grit, determination and togetherness got them over the line.Finally, it was time for a moment of release for Wiegman, who joined her players in jubilant celebrations on the pitch after the final whistle.This is the story of their tournament.
England celebrate beating Spain in the final (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
In February, Wiegman reframed England’s approach to Euro 2025. They did not see it as a “defence” of their title, not something to cling onto as holders, but a “new challenge”, one which they called “new England”.
That phrase took on a new meaning when, in the weeks before departing for Switzerland, Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Fran Kirby — three influential players — withdrew from selection or retired. Wiegman had been proactive in telling the players where they stood in the pecking order, had held honest conversations with Bright and Earps and wanted them in the squad, but sources briefed on the matter — speaking anonymously to protect relationships — said they were not happy at the prospect of being on the bench. Earps said it was time to “give the younger generation an opportunity to thrive”, while Bright felt she was “mentally and physically” at her limits and needed a break.
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On Friday, Wiegman looked back on that period with her usual sense of pragmatism.
“Whether players are available or not, the result is the same as an injured or unavailable player,” she told reporters. “You have to move on to what you want and who is ready to compete.”
There was a risk the Dutch manager might become isolated, given she lost three central figures, but captain Leah Williamson quashed that sentiment before the opening game. “She is a good person,” said Williamson. “As a player, you want to respect the person you play for, which we do.”
In their opening 2-1 defeat against France, England played poorly. The biggest tactical takeaway was Wiegman starting Lauren James in the No 10 role, with Lauren Hemp and Mead out wide.
In the lead-up, England had been training using a few different systems, including that formation, but with mixed success.
Williamson described the one-vs-one defending against the French as “cheap” and disagreed that the defence was disjointed, instead pointing to her team being too “expansive” and failing to keep the ball. Jess Carter said there was more than one player who had “a mare on the ball”. There were signs of vulnerability in the team and France had shown others the blueprint of how to beat England.
But on the morning after that defeat, there was no finger-pointing, and the players were supportive of one another. Later on that Sunday, when they reviewed video clips in their team meeting, players and staff had hard, healthy, and honest conversations. They spoke about football at times being a “lonely place”, in Stanway’s words, and the importance of non-verbal communication, such as eye contact. Lucy Bronze led the discussion about how England had lost their opening game to France at the 2015 World Cup.
England’s players react after the opening loss to France (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Players took a step back and remembered why they were here. Under Wiegman, the squad has previously spoken about their personal journeys, but this year they delved even deeper. Some players’ ‘why’ has changed. Williamson, for example, missed the 2023 World Cup through injury. When times are tough on the pitch, remembering where each other has come from helps connect the team. “It’s been important,” said Hemp. “You know every single bit about someone to help you through everything.”
Former Lionesses, including Jill Scott and Toni Duggan, messaged Bronze to remind her of previous experiences. Although not always considered the most serious, Scott had several one-to-one conversations with Williamson, passing on words of wisdom.
Indeed, the player WhatsApp group made for the Euro 2022 celebrations is still active. It is not a buzzing chat full of banter, rather Bright, Kirby and many others messaged to say ‘good luck’, ‘well done’, or ‘we believe in you’.
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“When players have been part of a setup, especially those who aren’t necessarily here, and for them to, for whatever reason, reinforce their belief in the team and want to be part of it, that speaks volumes of the group,” said Williamson.
Come that Monday, Stanway was “fed up of talking”. She spoke about being “proper England” and the team returning to its roots.
Before the must-win group game against the Netherlands, the mood was calm and confident. “Everybody else (outside) was panic stations,” said Keira Walsh. “We still needed to win this game, whether we beat France or not. The objective did not change.”
Williamson followed her usual matchday routine by playing the card game Monopoly Deal with Walsh, Toone, Russo and Mead before taking a nap, while Bronze spent the morning doing a jigsaw with Michelle Agyemang and Maya Le Tissier.
Wiegman showed her adaptability by switching Carter, who struggled against France’s Delphine Cascarino, from left-back to centre-back. It made one think that had Bright, who has provided her thoughts throughout the tournament on her podcast Daly Brightness, been involved, she might have played at centre-back.
Although the England manager said she had no regrets about her selection for the first game, she moved James out to the right wing, perhaps an admission that her plan had not worked. James’ rocket got England off to the start they needed, and at half-time the message was to be ruthless. The 4-0 win showed glimpses of how England can play. Wiegman said she found the scrutiny hard and was a little “tense” before the game, but repeated her mantra: stay within our bubble and block out the noise.
The 6-1 win over Wales, featuring six different England goalscorers, brought the “positive clicks” to the fore.
When substitutes — or as Wiegman calls them, “finishers” — Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones scored, they ran to the bench and celebrated by clicking their fingers. While the starting XI were left in the dark, those in the dugout were all on the same page, having come up with the celebration before the game.
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Le Tissier had created a separate WhatsApp group for the subs called “the positive clicks”, so that they could share photos of the celebration. Whereas a ‘clique’ could be perceived negatively, this ‘click’ was anything but.
Wiegman is extremely good at keeping players happy, even if they are not playing all the time. That comes from little gestures to show she cares about each individual. One such example at this tournament was when she handed Grace Clinton the No 14 shirt and asked the midfielder: ‘Do you know who my favourite player is that wore that number? Johan Cruyff’. “That stuck with me,” said 22-year-old Clinton. I thought: ‘Wow, it’s a pleasure to wear that number’.”
Toone and Russo were the substitute game-changers at Euro 2022, but there has been a role reversal this time. Russo only scored twice in Switzerland but performed a similar role to former England No 9 Ellen White, who grafted and triggered the press three years ago before making way for the finishers. When it mattered in the final, she duly delivered.
Those super subs — Agyemang, who had only played nine minutes of senior football before being selected for the Euros squad, and Kelly chief among them — and a never-say-die attitude proved vital in the knockout stages.
Michelle Agyemang celebrates scoring against Italy in the semi-finals (Marco Iacobucci/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
England were fully aware of the threat Sweden posed in the quarter-finals, but they were still punished for their sloppiness in possession, and at 2-0 down with 12 minutes remaining, the Lionesses looked to be heading home. There was a moment in the first half when Esme Morgan thought, “I haven’t packed anything”.
Wiegman’s changes, however, turned the game around. Kelly was pivotal and Agyemang clinical.
Bronze carried the team on her shoulders, becoming a physio, striker and eventually the scorer of the penalty that sent England into the semis at the end of a farcical shootout.
“I’m just filled with this baseline confidence, I know that we can,” Williamson told the Lionesses’ podcast. When the players look at each other, “we know we’ve been to the places that we need to go to again”. It is formed on mutual respect built over time.
“What would you do if I told you we were all ready to kill each other?” joked Williamson during the tournament.
A month in close proximity with the same people is tough, let alone being part of a team under intense pressure. But Wiegman’s strength lies in building a strong culture among players, staff, and their families.
“Every single member of staff coming into this camp felt valued by her, knew exactly what their role was and how they could be part of an overall team,” said FA CEO Mark Bullingham. “Stressing that everyone is in it together is critical.”
“The staff are always there, if you need extra nutrition, gym, if you’re unsure about the tactics, the door is always open, just go and ask questions,” Stanway told the Lionesses’ podcast.
The FA created a home-away-from-home feel, including Lionesses-branded Yorkshire tea bags, at the five-star Dolder Grand hotel. It costs between £500 and £13,500 per night to stay there. Every player waxed lyrical about the facilities, especially from a performance perspective.
Darts competitions, spike ball, table tennis, basketball trick shots, quizzes, days in the life of another player, watching football, Wimbledon and the cricket, woodland walks, sightseeing in Zurich, boat trips, coffee and pizza stops, lake swims and slides have entertained them, while Reggie the dog has offered the best hugs. Bronze loves spending time with the younger players because their enthusiasm rubs off on her.
hEvery player was given a journal. Beever-Jones, the squad’s de facto photographer, and Lotte Wubben-Moy, who brought her sourdough starter with her and gave it to chef Stuart to feed every day, have used it for their reflections. On one day, the quote greeting them at their daily wellness session reminded them of the power of the team rather than individuals, and there were no seating plans or fixed meal times.
Williamson, who made a conscious effort to be more sociable during this tournament, brought her portable keyboard with her, but was slightly discouraged by Agyemang’s and Hampton’s skills on the keys, while supporting Russo’s brother Giorgio on Love Island was a way to decompress and dominated the breakfast table chatter. Walsh has leaned on former England international and Euro 2022 winner Scott, who popped on the team bus after the games, made the midfielder cups of tea, and took her out for dinner in the evenings after matchdays, most importantly talking about non-football matters.
Wiegman has always understood the importance of downtime with family and friends and made sure ample time was spent with them.
Such strong bonds within the team have also formed among players’ families and friends, who have had to sit through torture watching this team. Although the players did not review the penalties back in full, the families and friends watched them on repeat. Bronze’s brother, Jorge, was the driving force behind Saturday park runs in Dreilandergarten, Germany, while on Friday, they all met for a pub crawl.
One particularly motivational speech from Wiegman on the Saturday evening before the semi-final against Italy stood out to the players.
Late that night, the team held a meeting to discuss the best course of action in response to Carter being racially abused on social media. The squad rallied around their team-mate privately and publicly, as shown by their team and individual statements.
“Being vulnerable is probably one of the most important things because it brings the group so much closer together,” said Stanway.
England looked tired against Italy and failed to take their chances early on. It was a snapshot of the past year: lethargic, wayward passes, unforced errors, and a flat team. Their midfield was too easy to transition against and not compact enough.
It seemed those who had come back from injury, especially Hemp — who ran herself into the ground — and James, were rusty. Wiegman’s general principle is only to call up players when they are featuring regularly for their clubs, but as she did with Bright at the 2023 World Cup, she started James, Hemp and Stanway from the off. They could not find their rhythm and were inconsistent. But somehow England clung on yet again.
As long as the Lionesses were still in the game, they knew the players on the bench could have a huge impact. Late changes forced players into unfamiliar positions: Hemp at left-back, for example, and Mead in central midfield.
It all contributed to some of England’s performances in this tournament being contrary to what Wiegman likes: control, organisation, and error-free. But even though it may have looked chaotic at times, there was method in the madness.
One of Wiegman’s buzzwords is “scenarios”, though surely even she could not have predicted England’s rollercoaster ride. Her planning, however, is months in the making, even if Bright and Earps surprised her with their decisions. Earps came to watch the Wales game before starting gruelling pre-season testing with Paris Saint-Germain. She had photos with Toone and Russo, but did not have a moment with the whole squad.
On Saturday, the day before the final, Wiegman reeled off England’s squad announcement date, June 5, without hesitation.
“That is how the squad is built,” she said. “On June 5, we figured out what player we might need in certain circumstances if we want to change things. We have spoken through all the scenarios. When we want to change, we can make a decision very quickly.”
Although it may look chaotic on the outside, for Walsh, it did not feel like that.
“It is not by luck that Michelle (Agyemang) is in the box and scoring,” she said. “It is not by luck that people are putting crosses in the box. It’s thought out and purposeful and it is the absolute belief that no matter what minute of the game it is, we are going to win or get a result we need to take us to extra time. That is the resilience of this team as well.”
That word, resilience, defines this team.
It is embodied by Carter, who surprisingly returned to the starting XI ahead of Esme Morgan against Spain. When Wiegman told her of her decision in training, Carter thought: ‘Are you sure?’
“To have that faith from Sarina to put me back in and that I could help this team to a trophy was amazing,” said the Gotham defender.
At the end of normal time, Carter and Wiegman shared a laugh.
“That is the normal me,” said Carter. “Throughout this tournament I’ve not felt that and I’ve been really quite sad and disappointed at the fact I’ve not been the relaxed Jess. I’m someone who is ‘what will be will be’. We go out there and give our all and either it’ll be enough or it won’t. That’s not how I’ve played this tournament until I got to this final, where I thought I’m going to give it my all.”
“Sport has all of those words (like ‘b**ches get s*** done’) circulating all the time,“ said captain Leah Williamson. “It’s really brave to put that into action and decide that you’re going to go for it and leave yourself vulnerable.
“If you really, really try hard and it’s not quite enough then that’s an awful feeling. To put yourself out there like that, the reward is so great and we were brave enough to do it and that’s the key to the team. Sarina believes in us so much that it’s hard not to believe in yourself.”
The Lionesses celebrate retaining the trophy they won in 2022 (Maja Hitij – UEFA via Getty Images)
Wiegman said the same thing to the team before Sunday’s final as she did before the Euro 2022 final: “We do not have to win, we really want to win and we’re capable of winning, so it’s up to you girls.”
England played poorly in the knockouts, rode their luck, and pulled off two great escapes. Remarkably, they led for only four minutes and 52 seconds in total after the group stage.
But in the final, they were fearless and showed that their whole is greater than the sum of their parts. Wiegman is the first manager to win three European Championships. It is no wonder Bullingham said “she is not for sale”.
The Us held on for dear life and found a way to squeeze past the 106th ranked team in the World Guatemala to advance to their 13th Gold Cup Final where they will face Mexico a 2-0 winner over Honduras. The American’s dominated early behind 2 spectacular goals What a Goal by Diego Luna before slipping into a into the worse 50 minutes I have seen a US men’s team play in 20 years Hilights. Our “Coach” Poch continues to show what a horrific national team manager he is as – as his team was ridiculously dominated by team many US college teams could beat. NO IDEA what this guy is doing – but he’s not doing it right. We don’t look balanced in attack or defense or transition. We have no plan – the players are just running around the field – with no idea what they are doing. He subs late – and when he does his subs do NOTHING. I keep hearing the guys are close and feeling like a team – well they sure as heck don’t play like it.
Now the games have been exciting the US beating NO ONE on the way to the finals – struggling to beat CONCACAF teams – none of which is ranked in the top 60 in the World. Lets be Real – Mexico is going to kill us – 3-1 at best for the US. Our back line continues to show its weakness as our 3rd string left and right backs from MLS continue to show they can’t play defense. Thankfully Centerback Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) & the diminutive former Fulham Capt Tim Ream (37 years old – slow as molases) have played well in the middle. I am still waiting for Capt Tyler Adams to actually make a difference in a game as his partner Sebastian Berhalter has shown he deserves a look for our World Cup next year. The stars have been Diego Luna who at 21 has been our best/most competitive striker. Malik Tilman has also proven he deserves a chance to play with the A team come fall. Honestly those 2 might be competing for the #10 slot at some point. Again not sure why — but Poch decided not to bring in the B squad from Europe and instead is going with the young MLS players who honestly simply can’t play at the World Cup level. I do think he may have found a new Goalkeeper in Matt Freeze, especially if Matt Turner can’t get starter minutes in Europe. Otherwise we came in with 3 starters in Chris Richards/Tyler Adams & Matt Turner. We leave with Tilman, Luna and perhaps Luca de la Torre, Patrick Agyemang, & Jack McGlynn in the mix. If they can find a way to actually beat the only top 50 team we have played in this Gold Cup – Mexico on Sunday – I may change my tune. But the 3-1 loss we are about to get will continue to keep me in the FIRE POCH camp.
USMNT GOLD CUP DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (club/country; caps/goals):
Unlike our men – our only real US Coach – Emma Hayes continues to show what a master she is. She continues to roll in new young players while our European Contingent has the summer off. Still the US dominated Canada 3-0 (Highlights) with the new young players like Alyssa Thompson and Michelle Cooper showing their mettle. Again we are the #1 team in the World – NO QUESTIONS asked. Probably why the US ladies continue to sell out every stadium they play in. Go USA! (Stories below)
The World Club Cup is Coming Down to Crunch Time this Weekend Semis Sat/Sun
So again I have to admit I have watched more of these than I thought I would – even watching in Spanish sometimes when the games are not in english (Chelsea 2 vs Palmeiras 1 Fri) yes the same Palmeiras that is hosting Carmel FC’s Summer Camp – (see below). Exciting games coming Sat – heck I am headed down to Atlanta for Bayern vs PSG on Saturday at noon on TNT and my buddy Oscar is headed to NJ for Real Madrid vs Dortmund at 4 pm on Uni/TNT.
Women’s European Championships Continue on Fox
The Women’s Euro’s have been enjoyable so far. Some really good games this weekend as France plays England Sat after Netherlands vs Wales. Read all about below and see the full game schedule.
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Such sad the news that Liverpool foward Diogo Jotta died in a car accident. Jota Video
TV GAME SCHEDULE
GC=Gold Cup, WCC = World Club Cup in US WE -Women’s Euros
Fri, July 4th 12 noon FS1 Denmark vs Sweden WE 3 pm Fox Germany vs Poland WE 3 pm TNT, Unimas Fluminense vs Al Hilal WCC 7:30 pm FS1 Dallas vs Minn MLS 9 pm TNT Chelseas vs Palmeiras WCC 10:30 pm Apple LA Galaxy vs Vancouver MLS Sat, July 5th 12 noon FS1 Wales vs Netherlands W Euros 12 noon TNT PSG vs Bayern Munich WCC 3 pm Fox France vs England WE 4 pm TNT Real Madrid vs Borrusia Dortmund WCC 7 pm FS1 Charlotte vs Orlando MLS 7:30 pm TV 8 Indy 11 vs Hometown Heros 8:30 pm Apple Free Austin City vs LAFC MLS Sun, July 6th 12 noon FS1 Norway vs Finland W Euros 3 pm FS1 Switzerland vs Iceland WE 5 pm Apple free Seattle Sounders vs Columbus Crew MLS 7 pm FOX USA Men vs Mexico GOLD CUP FINAL
Mon, July 7 th 12 noon FS1 Spain vs Belgium W Euros 3 pm Fox Portugal vs Italy WE Tues, July 8th 12 noon FS1 Germany vs Denmark W Euros Wed, July 9 12 noon FS1 England vs Netherland W Euros 3 pm Fox France vs Wales WE 3 pm TBS Fifa WCC Semis 7 pm CBSSN Philly Union vs NYRB MLS
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The good news: Our young, raw, shorthanded squad made it to Sunday’s final in Houston. The bad news: Barely. In surreally hostile conditions on home turf in St. Louis, the United States were dominated for long spells by 106th in the world Guatemala. The experience of witnessing the game was akin to watching a rom-com movie suddenly pivot into a slasher flick. We held on, and Mexico now await. Poch’s young charges are on a CONCACAFFY hero’s journey, taking their lumps, learning their lessons, and holding on. They will become all the stronger for this experience. The question of how good we are still lingers, and, considering the “deep down in the depth chart” quality of most of these players, whether much of it matters.
Two goals inside 15 minutes, the first a delicious finish after demonstrating sharper spidey ball awareness than all those around him, the second a must-watch moment of pure, uncorked, delirious skill. Clint Dempsey has said to us, all tournament long, that our young players have a World Cup squad place in their hands, with nothing to lose. All he wanted was for one to step up and grab the chance without fear – to take on opponents and refuse to be ignored. Alongside Malik Tillman, Diego Luna has been that player. The 21-year-old from Sunnyvale, Calif. now has three goals and two assists across five matches. Poch said post-game, “[His] attitude, hunger, desire, everything, and then for sure, the talent will appear. But that is what we expect from our athletes, that’s what we want.”
I loved Luna’s own quote post game: “The game is 90 minutes of hundreds of moments, and you’ve got to execute on each one.” That is his attitude. I chatted with Diego in Austin the night before the Saudi game. I asked him what he feels like when he takes possession. He told me he tries to tell himself to just have fun, like he did as a kid playing in the park in San Jose. It reminded me of something Clint says on The Deuce, “You got to be serious about having fun.” That is what Diego Luna is doing this summer.
Let the debates begin about whether he should now be an A-Team starter, a spark plug off the bench, or as Simon Evans suggested, Poch should unleash all his toys.
How Did 106th in the World Guatemala Then Seize the Game by the Throat and Start to Overwhelm Us?
First of all — THEIR FANS ARE AMAZING. The game might have been in St. Louis, but that sold-out stadium felt like it was in Guatemala City. What a fanbase. John Strong said the terraces were “90% Guatemalan fans.” I am not Guatemalan, but when their national anthem rang out pre-game, I found the noise, and joy, and pride emanating around the stadium to be immensely moving. Let’s never use the complaint that tickets are too expensive for this tournament again – because the Guatemala fans showed out.
The Guatemalan players fed off the fan energy and simply overwhelmed us, relentlessly pressing the U.S. backline into mistakes that against a sharper team would have been punished. Before the U.S. scored their second, Poch’s boys had 70% possession. After it, we had just 40%. We were outshot 20-12. The noise once Guatemala scored was an epic moment. The last 10 minutes were an agony as the U.S. could not hold onto the ball going forward. Clint said, if the game went on for five more minutes, the outcome could have been so different. I have to salute the gutsy Los Chapines and their Mexican coach, Luis Fernando Tena. That fan base deserves all the joy. They are a glimpse of the passion and competitive fire which can make the Gold Cup grow and grow in the future. May a first-ever World Cup qualification be their solace.
So How Good Are We?
It is impossible to say. The quality of our line-up is between B and C string. The opponents we are facing are, despite their admirably ferocious CONCACAF mentalities, so far from true footballing challenges, the likes of which we would meet in the knockout round of the World Cup. Right now, we are to football what Jake Paul is to boxing.
This young squad are on a journey. What matters are the lessons they are learning along the way together. They have made the final. A Gold Cup trophy would be lovely but the optics of it are what will be important for Poch. A symbol of forward momentum and the ability to deliver a simple message to the players who did not report: “We won without you. We achieved this with a fighting culture and a willingness to struggle. This is what you now have to fit into if you want to be part of this World Cup.”
That is what Poch is attempting: An act of cultural transformation, from complacency to collective audacity. This is all that matters.
Bring on Mexico
The eighth time we dance against our arch rivals in the final (7 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX Sports). Javier Aguirre’s side outlasted a feisty Honduras 1-0 thanks to this Raúl Jiménez goal. The assist was from 16-year-old Gilberto Mora who is 459 DAYS YOUNGER than Lamine Yamal. Mexico are struggling to create in a similar way to us, but they have not allowed a goal in 383 minutes. Indeed, goalkeeper Luis Malagón has had to make only one save in the last three games. More on them here from our friends at Give N Go. One thing is sure: NRG Stadium in Houston is going to feel like the Azteca. I cannot wait. Much more on Mexico below.
Whatever happens, come and join Clint and me postgame live on YouTube and chop it up with The Deuce.
I would love to hear from you all. Let me know how you think it is going to go. Email me at meninblazers@gmail.com
Clint Dempsey on Diego Luna’s breakout performance“He was on fire tonight, man, and he’s shown that he’s a guy that can be counted on, the way that he took that first touch off the deflection off the goalie, moving it to his left side, calm-as-you-like finish. And the way he rolled the ball to do a scissor and then just pushed it in with his right foot for the second. He was the bright spot of the game, not only the two goals, but just the way he played throughout. He was dangerous.”USMNT Only@usmntonlyDIEGO LUNA AGAIN OMFG 11:23 PM • Jul 2, 2025 4.8K Likes 313 Retweets 79 Replies“I think the key for him (Luna) is not to get too high during these big moments that he’s having right now, in terms of the brace that he had tonight. He’s continuing to try to build on that and to try to be more consistent in bringing a certain type of level, every game, but he’s someone that’s growing in front of our eyes. He’s still raw, but I’m excited about seeing what will come of him and he’s just got to keep his head on straight and keep grinding and keep doing what he’s been doing.”Clint Dempsey on the U.S. struggles after grabbing the early lead“It was a tough watch after 20 minutes. It looked like we were leaking oil and, if the game would have gone on a little bit longer, maybe they would have got the equalizer. But hey, we talked about it: 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in the game, especially when you feel like you’re playing away from home with a 90% Guatemalan crowd. Still though, the U.S. got it done.”Clint Dempsey on what it’s like playing on home turf, but in an environment that feels like an away game“All you ever want to do is represent your country and play in big games, and then you wanna play in packed stadiums. And yeah, you wish it was more so the stadium was packed for you, but it’s like… you got to find it, you got to fuel your fire, right? You gotta motivate yourself to, hey, let’s quiet the crowd. We’re in America, we got to let them know this is our home. And that’s how we came out and that’s how we approached it in the first 20 minutes, before we kind of let the game slip away from us. But credit to them, man – coming out, packing the stadium, making memories.”Clint Dempsey on Pochettino potentially playing Diego Luna and Christian Pulisic together “The thing with Luna is, can he be more consistent? He’s definitely upped his goal production in MLS and he’s building into the player that he wants to be because of that confidence that he’s got now of being able to score in these big moments and step up and create that energy. You want game changers and people that can create, and those two players are definitely creating, but Luna still has a way to go to get to the levels of Christian.”Clint Dempsey on the importance of reaching the Gold Cup final“We needed them to get to the final and be in a position to try to turn things around as we build towards the World Cup. And gradually, it’s happening, but you can see that it’s starting to shift and you’re starting to see some players step up– like Luna, like Tillman, like Richards–that are pushing to get into our best starting XI.”Clint Dempsey on the three USMNT players who’ve set themselves apart at this tournament“Agyemang is still raw and has some work, but he had a part to play in one of the goals tonight in terms of hold-up play with Tillman, but Luna, bro, he’s right there with Tillman and Chris Richards. Those are the three guys that are really knocking on the door to break into the starting lineup.”Clint Dempsey on the Premier League team he almost joined“For sure, it was between Everton and Fulham – they were the ones that put in the bids. MLS accepted Fulham’s because it was the most and so it was kind of out of my hands. But at the end of the day, I’m happy I got to go to Fulham and had a great time there.”
Watch the full episode to get all of Clint’s thoughts on the USMNT’s win against Guatemala, and make sure to follow The Deuce on TikTok and YouTube for even more Texas-infused insight.
Hello, Viejo Amigo We’ve seen this movie many times before, so it isn’t surprising that the USMNT’s pickup squad of MLS prospects, relative unknowns and the odd veteran are meeting the CONCACAF Gold Cup’s most successful-ever team, Mexico, in this year’s final. Since its 1991 inception, these two have collided seven times at this tournament’s apex, with Mexico winning five of those matches and the U.S. twice, both with just a one-goal margin. There’ve been 17 Gold Cups and the 2025 finalists hold 16 between them. Although El Tri boasts nine of those dubs, over recent years, the power balance between the two nations has started to level out. Mexico are 17th in FIFA’s rankings and with the USMNT a narrow place ahead in 16th, their talent pool now spills across European leagues more prominently than ever before. But unlike the U.S., Mexico’s box office names are pretty much all here and accounted for, and in their 1-0 win over Honduras in the semi-final, Fulham’s Raúl Jiménez was decisive with his finish; although he’s 34, his mission to become his country’s all-time top goalscorer is on course.Mexico’s current formation doesn’t really allow for his deputy, AC Milan’s Santiago Giménez, to earn a regular starting place in the side, but that’s the sort of heavy-attacking artillery that this specific USMNT squad do not have in reserve. Along with the captain, West Ham’s all-action center midfielder, Edson Álvarez, and 16-year-old Gilberto Mora,who assisted Jiménez with his goal yesterday, there is a lot that Poch knows he needs to be wary of. Oh, and lest we forget, mythical 39-year-old goalkeeper, Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, fiery as ever, albeit now as a backup on the bench, where his main-character energy still somehow permits him to receive yellow cards, despite not playing a minute of football yesterday. Listen to Ochoa’s recent conversation with Herc Gomez on VAMOS to get ready for Sunday night’s clash.
Can Gold Cup final be USMNT’s first good win under Pochettino?
Ryan O’Hanlon ESPN Jul 4, 2025, 07:47 AM ET
Think back to a little over a month ago. Before the ChatGPT screenshots. Before the feuds. Before the say-it-to-my-face provocations. Before U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino told us, “I am not a mannequin.” Before Christian Pulisic played golf at the wrong time. Before the embarrassing loss to Switzerland.
Now that you’ve occupied that headspace, imagine if I told you that the U.S. men’s national team would go undefeated through the first five games of the Gold Cup. The USMNT would get a pair of breakout performances from Diego Luna and Malik Tillman. And would get a date in the final against Mexico.
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You’d be pretty happy with that, wouldn’t you?
And by and large, many USMNT fans and watchers are pretty happy. The team hasn’t lost yet. It has overcome some adversity. Luna has become a cult hero. And Tillman is about to join Bayer Leverkusen for a transfer fee of around $40 million. Given that most of the team’s first-choice players are not on the roster, it has been a successful summer.
There’s one thing missing — from this summer and the Pochettino era, at large: The team hasn’t played a good game yet.
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Diego Luna, USMNT’s Gold Cup hero, is ready to take on Mexico in final 21hJeff Carlisle It has been 15 matches since Pochettino took over, and we still haven’t seen the USMNT outplay decent, competitive opposition in a systematic, repeatable way. The U.S. has taken advantage of mistakes against bad teams, struggled to score against defensive sides, fallen apart against talented opponents and hung on against national teams that might not qualify for the next World Cup.
Sunday’s final — against Mexico, in front of what could be a partisan Mexico crowd at Houston’s NRG Stadium — will be the toughest game of Pochettino’s fledgling tenure. It’ll be the final time the U.S. plays a competitive match before the World Cup. It’ll also be Pochettino’s last chance to show that his team might be headed in the right direction.
How does Pochettino stack up with his USMNT predecessors? Since 2013, the USMNT has played 60 tournament games in Concacaf across the Nations League and Gold Cup. This isn’t a perfect baseline, given the drastically different opponent quality game to game, but it’s a nice way of presenting the average expectation for a Gold Cup or Nations League match.
In these games, per Stats Perform data, the USMNT averages:
2.4 non-penalty goals scored
0.6 goals against
14.7 shots
9.6 shots against
61.6% of all final-third possession
28.9 touches in the penalty area
14.6 touches allowed in the penalty area
None of that should be surprising. The U.S. has basically doubled up its opponent in most of the top-level attacking statistics: goals, final-third possession and penalty-area touches. This is expected from a country that has been one of the two dominant powers in the region over the past 30 years.
Here, though, are the same numbers for the USMNT in Pochettino’s nine games in charge across the two competitions:
2.0 non-penalty goals scored
0.9 goals against
12.6 shots
8.0 shots against
63.7% of all final-third possession
24.7 touches in the penalty area
15.1 touches allowed in the penalty area
This, roughly, paints the tactical picture of the USMNT under Pochettino, thus far. The team is controlling more of the territory than the USMNT had in the past, but that’s not leading to better outcomes or outputs. The U.S. is generating fewer goals, shots and penalty-area touches from the increased final-third dominance, but it is also allowing more penalty-area touches and goals despite the final-third dominance.
Of course, some of that could be randomness. Perhaps this newfound level of territorial control is creating a more sound process — but the bounces just aren’t going the USMNT’s way. That’s possible across a nine-match sample. But that hasn’t been the case. Across the same 60-match span of games, the USMNT has created 2.0 non-penalty expected goals per game and allowed 0.7. Under Pochettino, the defense has been right at that 0.7 average, but the offensive production has dipped to 1.5 xG created per game. This happened in each of the USMNT’s past two matches. Against Costa Rica, the only chance the U.S. created worth more than 0.15 xG was Malik Tillman’s missed penalty. The totals below include the penalties for each team, but even with a lopsided shot count in the USMNT’s favor, the overall chance quality was roughly even. This game went to a penalty kick shootout, and deservedly so. Orange dots are goals, purple dots are shots, and the bigger dots mean higher xG per attempt. Then, after grabbing an early 2-0 lead in the semifinals, the U.S. hung on. Conceding 20 shots to Argentina or Spain is one thing, but this was against Guatemala. Transfermarkt estimates the transfer value of Guatemala’s Gold Cup squad to be one-fifth of what Bayer Leverkusen will pay to acquire Tillman. Put another way, the average player on the USMNT squad this summer carries an estimated transfer value of about €7 million. Added together, Guatemala’s entire squad comes out to €8.3 million. Why the Gold Cup final against Mexico means everything, and nothing I’m not sure you need advanced stats to understand this. Across two matches against Costa Rica and Guatemala, the USMNT scored four goals and conceded three. Costa Rica ranks 46th in the World Football Elo ratings, while Guatemala ranks 75th. Even wi h a U.S. B-team, you’d expect some more comfortable results.Mexico, meanwhile, is 22nd. So, Sunday’s match presents a first and last for Pochettino: the last chance to win something before the World Cup, but the first time he has coached the team in a game it is not expected to win. Due to the USMNT’s depleted roster and what’s expected to be a pro-Mexican crowd in Texas, El Tri are very slight favorites. Per the implied odds from ESPN BET, Mexico has a 52% chance of lifting the trophy. Strangely, it feels like everything and nothing hinges on Sunday’s game. Nothing matters because this isn’t the team Pochettino will take to the World Cup. Plus, a lot can and will change between now and next summer — and most of it will have nothing to do with decisions made by anyone in a U.S. Soccer shirt, either. But there are so few games in international soccer that we have no choice but to give each game an outsized amount of weight. Every successive match is another bit of imperfect information about the quality of the team. That’s how a rating system will view it, too. Per the Elo ratings, the USMNT had a rating of 1738 and a ranking of 37th when Pochettino took over. Currently, it has a rating of 1727 and a ranking of 40. Teams win and lose points every time they play a game, based on the result, quality of the opponent and level of the competition. So, if the USMNT wins Sunday, it’ll make progress under its new coach. If the team loses, it’ll take a step backward. And if the match ends in a draw (and goes to penalties), the U.S. will stay where it is now: not significantly better or worse than where it was before.
Lifting Gold Cup against Mexico can give Pochettino’s USMNT the belief he craves
ST. LOUIS — As the realities faded from what this summer was supposed to be into what it was going to be, the goal of the tournament for the United States men’s national team never truly shifted.The Gold Cup was meant to be the month when Mauricio Pochettino and his staff finally got some time with the group that they would lead into next year’s home World Cup. But the FIFA Club World Cup, injuries and Christian Pulisic’s decision to request the summer off meant the U.S. went into the tournament without many of its regulars. That shifted expectations, at least on the outside. Internally, the group still believed the goal was singular: to win a trophy.On Sunday night in Houston, a group of players who have used this summer to try to force their way into the World Cup picture will get that chance against rivals Mexico. After two ugly friendly losses to start the summer, the U.S. can end it with a continental title. To do so, they’ll have to beat the best team they will have seen being beaten by Turkey and Switzerland.It felt, after those two friendly losses, that Pochettino’s desire to send a message to the wider national team pool was going to be a lost cause. But the U.S. squad’s ability to grind out results — albeit against Saudi Arabia, Haiti, Costa Rica and Guatemala — has given Pochettino enough of what he was looking for from the group. He wanted grittiness. He asked for more fight. It has not always been pretty, but this team has given him that foundational baseline.Beating Mexico would only reinforce the message that heart, desire and fight can be a differentiator. After the 2-1 win against Guatemala on Wednesday night in the semifinal, Pochettino’s press conference turned into somewhat of an assessment of footballing culture in countries such as Argentina, where he’s from, and how it compares to the States. Pochettino came away impressed by a highly partisan Guatemalan crowd. It felt like an 85-15 tilt toward the Chapines in the heartland of America. For fans of the sport in this country, it’s not a new phenomenon. But Pochettino has been coaching this U.S. team for less than a year. He’s still experiencing these things for the first time.Guatemala was playing in a Gold Cup semifinal for the first time since 1996 and just the second time ever. That made it a must-attend event for their fans, who came from around the country to rally behind a team that had shown real character over the course of the tournament. The scene around the stadium all day on Wednesday was a celebratory one. Blue-and-white clad fans were out eight hours before kickoff, grilling and partying. When the national anthem started a few minutes before kickoff, the stadium vibrated with the voices of Guatemalan fans singing proudly.“I loved it,” U.S. winger Diego Luna told reporters after the game. “It was awesome, man. That’s what every game should be like. The Guatemalans should be very proud of the fans that they have and the energy they bring. It’s badass.”
Diego Luna has been one of the USMNT’s biggest recent bright spots. (Jeff Le/Getty Images)
Pochettino loved it, too.“That is football,” Pochettino told reporters after the game. “When we say the connection between the fans and the team, that is the connection that we would like to see in the World Cup. That connection that makes you fly. Because the energy translates.“Today, do you think that was a sport, two teams playing, and doing a spectacle? No, you play for something more. You play for emotion. You play to be happy, be sad.“I saw players of Guatemala crying. I said, ‘Congratulations, because you are in a good way.’ That is the way that we need to feel. And our fans need to feel the same. Things happen because you play for your pride, you play for many, many things. But this is good for our players. Because when we talk about culture, that is culture. To see Guatemala’s team, how it fights, how it comes here and how the fans behave. That is an important thing that we need to learn here in this country.“But I am not here to tell you that we need to do this or that. Only that sometimes, we talk about culture… I come from Argentina. And Argentina is not the same, win or lose. The consequences are massive.”
Mauricio Pochettino has cause for cheer after the USMNT’s recent turnaround. (Bill Barrett / ISI Photos / USSF / Getty Images)
It was less a critique of American soccer culture and more an acknowledgement of the reality when we talk about the growth of this sport. The 1994 World Cup helped to establish soccer as a legitimate sport in the U.S. It launched a professional league. Thirty-two years later, that culture is still growing. As the team has struggled recently, the support has understandably waned. Since the Copa América exit last summer (and at times before it), the U.S. has played in front of relatively empty stadiums and now in a hostile home environment. Pochettino yearned for the World Cup stage where, in all likelihood, it will be a large pro-American crowd urging the team on — just as it was during home qualifiers in the 2022 cycle.
More importantly, though, Pochettino wanted to break off the intensity of the night to inject into the group. He wanted that live-or-die feeling to exist within his team the way he felt it had for Guatemala on a night when its supporters were just as much a part of the result as any Guatemalan player on the field.Pochettino returned to the idea later in an answer, this time in Spanish. This time, he spoke to his own emotion and attachment to the game. “I have a lot of respect for this sport, it gave me everything,” Pochettino said. “That gave me the possibility to achieve the dreams of a little kid who was in the middle of the field in Murphy, Argentina. If it hadn’t been for this sport, for soccer, I wouldn’t be able to achieve everything I’ve achieved.“That’s why I have the utmost respect for Guatemala and the game. I can answer that it was incredible, how the Guatemalan fans lifted the team and gave them energy. And the truth is, it was important, too, for us to play in an environment like this, even if it’s here in St. Louis, to be in a hostile environment with constant noise every time Guatemala took the ball from any position on the field.“That added stress also means we learn to compete better and behave differently from a sporting perspective. And that’s something for this young group, with some experienced players, that will be very useful for the future.” It will be beneficial in the immediate term, for sure. The U.S. will likely face a similarly biased crowd against Mexico in Houston. Their experience against Guatemala can instantly be applied to a bigger stage.
Mexico, led by star striker Raul Jimenez, will go into the Gold Cup final as favorite. (Shaun Clark / Getty Images)
“This game tonight would be like the little brother to the U.S.-Mexico game,” U.S. center back Chris Richards said. “If they were a bit nervous for that one, the next one is going to be a lot bigger. It was really important for some of the younger guys to experience that.”Beating Mexico in the final can be a validating moment, just as it was at the 2021 Gold Cup, when a squad that was similarly missing several top players won a trophy a few months after the full-strength squad had beaten El Tri in the Nations League. That win added to the culture and belief within the program. And several players from that group ended up making the World Cup team a year later. That should provide plenty of motivation for this group, too. If Pochettino wanted to use this summer to create a bonding moment — within the team, between the staff and the team, and the team with its fan base — a title can help accomplish all those things. The task after that will be to carry it forward into the next phase of preparation for the World Cup.But first, Mexico awaits. (Top photo: John Dorton / ISI Photos /USSF / Getty Images)
Tim Ream: ‘Shame’ on USMNT critics as Luna goals set up Mexico final
ST. LOUIS — After what felt like the entire stadium sang Guatemala’s national anthem, and as the Chapines fans roared, U.S. men’s national team defender Tim Ream gathered his young teammates around him in a pregame huddle.“Just take a breath,” Ream told them. “Listen to what we’re doing. Look at what we’re doing. Embrace what we are doing. And enjoy it.”Not every minute of the U.S.’s 2-1 win over Guatemala at Energizer Park was enjoyable. The U.S. had to survive the final 10 minutes, when their lead got cut in half as their opponent fed off of a blue-and-white partisan crowd. But, they did hold up and pull through. And the U.S. team is now headed to the Concacaf Gold Cup final, where they will meet rivals Mexico in front of what will no doubt be another unfriendly crowd.The experience of Wednesday night will go a long way toward helping them navigate what, for many of these players, will be the biggest stage they have played on.“We’re on to a final, a final that I’d say a month ago, everyone basically counted us out of,” Ream said. “Shame on them. So, for us, it’s like: great, amazing. It’s knockout football. You find a way to win. You find a way to grind it out. You find a way to do it. And why shouldn’t we be happy to go on to a final and play for a trophy? That’s why we play this game, to play in front of crowds like that and play for trophies.”
Guatemala fans dominated the crowd for the Gold Cup semifinal. (Jeff Le / Getty Images)
The U.S. was able to take the juice out of the crowd early. Diego Luna’s fourth-minute goal sucked away some of the pregame energy. His second goal, 11 minutes later, allowed the U.S. to seize the game for the first half hour.Guatemala started to find more of the game as it went on. The U.S. sat a bit deeper in the second half, content to defend and deny good chances, protecting the two-goal lead. But that allowed the Guatemalan fans to urge their team on.Missed opportunities for a third goal extended the hope. And that turned Guatemala’s 80th-minute goal into a massively threatening moment. Guatemala had the momentum. They had what was essentially a home crowd providing them energy.“I think we need to hold the ball more, be better on the ball in those moments under pressure,” Luna said. “It’s new for a lot of guys to play in environments like this. I think just being better under pressure and in moments like that — and that’s something we can build off. This is a great example for what’s to come, probably, on Sunday (in the final).”Pochettino made some interesting substitutions in the second half, inserting John Tolkin as a left wing-back and Max Arfsten sliding more into a center-back role. Jack McGlynn, not exactly known for his defending, was summoned for Tyler Adams.Pochettino defended both changes at his postgame press conference, saying he was protecting Adams, who had some issues with his hamstring against Costa Rica, and taking off Luca de la Torre, who had a yellow card. After Guatemala’s goal, Walker Zimmerman was summoned for Arfsten to stabilize the back line.From that point, it was survive and advance, as the U.S. pushed back against wave after wave of Guatemala throwing everything forward.“As much as everyone wants to dominate games for 75 to 90 minutes, you can’t anymore,” Ream said. “There’s always going to be moments in games that the other team has a little bit of a spark and a jump. Obviously, with the number of their fans, they get more, and that’s OK. We just have to figure out how to weather that storm. It, of course, spurred them on to push and fight. They had nothing else to lose, right?”
Diego Luna got the United States off to a quick start. (Jeff Le / Getty Images)
Pochettino used questions about Guatemala as an entry point to talk about the culture of the sport and how he wants to see its culture evolve in the U.S.“Do you think that was a sport, two teams playing, and doing a spectacle? No, you play for something more,” Pochettino said. “You play for emotion. You play to be happy, be sad. I saw players of Guatemala crying. I said, ‘Congratulations, because you are in a good way.’ That is the way that we need to feel. And our fans need to feel the same.“It’s not to come here to enjoy the spectacle, and if you lose, nothing happens. Yes, (a lot) happens. Things happen because you play for your pride, you play for many, many things. … But I think this is good for our players. Because when we talk about culture, that is culture. To see (Guatemala’s) team, how (it) fights, how (it) comes here and how the fans behave. That is an important thing that we need to learn here in this country.“But I am not (here) to tell (you) that we need to do this or that. Only that sometimes, we talk about culture. … But I come from Argentina. And Argentina is not the same, win or lose. The consequences are massive.”This summer, so far, the U.S. has been winning. Next up will be a final against Mexico. Pochettino will again see a partisan crowd, with Houston’s NRG Stadium likely to be pro-Mexican for the championship match.After an early exit from the Copa América and two losses in the Nations League in March, a win over Mexico in a final would go a long way toward convincing more fans ahead of the World Cup.“None of it’s going to happen unless we continue to win,” Ream said. “And, for us, what’s the hallmark of a U.S. team? Fighting.“Togetherness. And that’s what we’re finding and doing in this tournament. It’s not always going to be perfect. It’s not always going to be pretty. But doing that kind of fosters that connection with the fans, with the diehards, with the casuals, with everybody. And as long as we continue to do that, then that culture grows, the feelings grow and the connections grow.”(Top photo: Bill Barrett / ISI Photos / USSF / Getty Images)
USWNT revives set piece dominance with 3-0 win over continental rival Canada
The third and final match for the U.S. women’s national team in its busy window, and arguably its toughest test against continental opponent Canada, ended with its third consecutive victory. The USWNT sealed a 3-0 victory at Audi Field in Washington in front of a sold-out crowd Wednesday evening.Goals from midfielders Sam Coffey and Claire Hutton opened the scoring in the first half; both were results of set pieces delivered by the third midfielder in their lineup, Rose Lavelle. Second-half substitutes Yazmeen Ryan and Tara McKeown combined to bring the U.S. up to three.Coffey’s 17th-minute goal was her third in the last five games for the U.S., and Hutton’s, a head nod off a corner kick in the 36th minute, was her first for the U.S. senior team.Fifty-three minutes later, McKeown, who was very much at home in Audi Field where she plays for the Washington Spirit, carried the ball confidently forward before releasing it to Ryan. After wresting herself from pressure near the top of the penalty box, Ryan unleashed a left-footed shot past Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, the final blow to the Canadians, who are ranked eighth in the world.
U.S. forward Yazmeen Ryan celebrates scoring during the second half against Canada. (Brad Smith / Getty Images)
The U.S. victory caps off two 4-0 wins against the Republic of Ireland in Commerce City, Colo., and Cincinnati last Thursday and Sunday, respectively. Across the three fixtures, the USWNT scored 11 goals and conceded none, all while head coach Emma Hayes has employed a heavy rotation of players throughout this international window. The team’s starting XI for its second meeting with Ireland was a completely different lineup from the first.The lineup for Tuesday’s match against Canada, however, was nearly identical to last Thursday’s, except for 32-year-old striker Lynn Biyendolo, the most capped forward with 83 appearances, replacing 21-year-old Ally Sentnor.The opening minutes of the match saw the U.S. on the front foot against a Canadian side that was organized and steely and under new head coach and former San Diego Wave manager Casey Stoney. Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, who earned her second start and second cap, made a critical save against her Seattle Reign teammate Jordyn Huitema to maintain a first-half shutout.As the game wore on and the U.S. tightened its grip, exploiting the flanks with slicing balls through and over the top to wingers Alyssa Thompson and Michelle Cooper, Canada began to crumble. The margins were exacerbated by the sticky D.C. heat; the game kicked off at 7:30 p.m., and temperatures were still in the mid-80s. The humidity made it feel like 90 degrees for the 19,215 in attendance.
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 3, 2025
Hayes continued to make changes in the second half, bringing on Sentnor and forward Emma Sears for Lavelle and Cooper, and Ryan and Sam Meza for Biyendolo and Hutton, respectively. Meza, along with defender Lilly Reale, who started and played the whole game, are two of the three young players called in to this camp from the under-23 group, a move reflecting part of Hayes’ larger project to develop both national teams.Speaking on the TNT broadcast after the game, defender Naomi Girma explained that there had been an “emphasis on second balls” throughout camp and “just being hungry, wanting the ball, and putting it in the back of the net.”Girma, who plays for Chelsea and was the only player based in Europe to report to this camp after Hayes granted the group a summer off following league play, said she was “very happy with” the team’s improvement on set pieces, which had been a noticeably sore spot the past few years.What You Should Read NextHow Emma Hayes is fortifying the pathway from the under-23s to the senior USWNT squadHayes is determined to shrink the gaps she’s identified between age groups within the national team setup — and it seems to be working
“For our growth as a program, we need new players coming in,” she added of Hayes’ approach to developing fresh talent. “I think it’s a great camp.”
Convincing win aside, the United States’ performance was not without its critiques. At halftime, Hutton pointed out on the TNT broadcast that the team looked “a bit messy” at times, and that it needed to play quicker, smarter and score more goals in the second. TNT sideline reporter Melissa Ortiz also relayed early in the second half that there were issues with the midfield rotation and that Reale needed to push up higher.
When asked whether she was surprised by Canada’s performance or the relative ease with which the U.S. managed to maintain their grip on the game, Lavelle said, “It felt like a really good performance that we’ve been working towards. So I think that that’s the standard that we have for ourselves, and now that’s the expectation, that’s where we have to start going forward.”The 30 year old returned to the USWNT following a six and a half month absence as she recovered from an ankle injury. Despite the goal and three assists total that she contributed across the team’s three matches in this window, Lavelle said there are still aspects of her game that she wants to “sharpen up technically.”The next set of USWNT matches for its window in October are yet to be announced, but the trio of victories provided ample studying notes for Hayes as younger and less experienced players made their cases to be included in the core group Hayes wants to identify as the U.S. builds toward the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.(Top photo: Jess Rapfogel / Getty Images)
A Tougher Job Than Anticipated
It does not take long for reality to set in. Less than a year ago, Mauricio Pochettino was giving his first press conference as manager of the United States men’s national team. His eyes twinkled as he allowed his thoughts to wander to the challenges, and maybe even the triumphs, that lay ahead. Pochettino is a great believer in universal energy. He burns incense. He places lemons, strategically, to absorb negativity.
Everything, back then, seemed aligned. Pochettino was full of zest. He talked about winning over the fanbase with “nice football, good football, exciting football, attacking football.” The aesthetic, he said, was “really important.” “We are in the USA, you know,” he told his audience. And in the United States, the inference went, you need to put on a show.
Most of all, though, he wanted to change the “culture” of the national team. That would be difficult, he acknowledged, but he clearly felt it was possible. He wanted a side that fought for each other, that was not content just to take part, to be seen as equals, but that yearned to win. “We need to believe that we can win,” he said. “That we can win all [of the] games. We can win the World Cup.”
Judging a coach by their soundbites is, in truth, a little unfair. Pochettino could not realistically sit there, in front of the gathered news media, and declare that of course the United States could not win the World Cup, that even to mention the possibility was hopelessly naive, that the best the (main) host nation of next year’s tournament could hope for was an uplifting run to the quarterfinals. To do so would be to doom him to failure. And besides, that is not how athletes – or those involved in professional sports – think. To Pochettino, the chance that he might win the World Cup may be infinitesimal, but it is still a chance.
Still, the contrast with the landscape, 10 months on, is stark. Yes, Pochettino has reached the final in his first major tournament as coach of the United States, but he has done so in arguably the least encouraging manner imaginable. A comprehensive opening victory against Trinidad and Tobago aside, the US has sweated through the Gold Cup, beating traditional CONCACAF rival Saudi Arabia, Haiti, and Guatemala, in the semifinals, by a single goal apiece, and edging past Costa Rica on penalties in the quarters.
There are mitigating factors here, admittedly. Pochettino is working with a second, and in some cases third, choice squad. Most of his major stars are not present, absent either through injury or their involvement in the Club World Cup. Christian Pulisic, his most potent weapon, was excluded after asking to be excused from the tournament.
Far more distressing than the performances, though, has been the apathy. The Gold Cup has not exactly captivated the American public. It is tempting to attribute that to the unfamiliarity of the squad – as well as to the distraction of the Club World Cup – but even that feels like kind of a reach; U.S. fans have turned out to watch teams with much less impressive credentials than this one.
By his own measures, Pochettino has failed to deliver. He has not won over his public. His team are not playing especially good soccer. The idea that the United States might win the World Cup is more ridiculous now than it was 10 months ago. If anything, next summer has started to take on a vague air of menace, the sense of fear and inevitability that accompanies an imminent car crash.
Snaring Pochettino was no small coup for U.S. Soccer. He is, without question, an elite coach. He took Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League final. He was an N’golo Kanté injury away from winning the Premier League. He has coached Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. His résumé is quite a lot better than that of any of his predecessors. It seemed, when he was appointed, as though U.S. Soccer was very much punching above its weight.
It is hard not to wonder, though, if Pochettino might have misunderstood the nature of the task. As another high-profile coach, Thomas Tuchel, is discovering with England at roughly the same time, being an international manager might look a lot like a sinecure: a lavish salary for a couple of months work a year, and free tickets to all the games you want. That is how it is often presented; it is a job, in the eyes of the game as a whole, for old men.
Beneath the surface, it is much more complicated. It not only involves trying to build a culture, and implement a style of play, in maybe a couple of dozen training sessions, spread over a year, but requires a coach to carry with them the hopes and dreams of an entire nation, no matter how distant, how unrealistic they might be. You have to be a talisman and a lightning rod, a salesman and a politician. How well you can organize a pressing system is some way down the list.
Pochettino will know that now, and will have to decide how he reacts. A story emerged in England last week that he had been sounded out as a potential successor to Thomas Frank at Brentford. There have been whispers that, had a slightly more glamorous club come calling, he might have been receptive. The World Cup sits visible, now, on the horizon. This is no time for itchy feet.
It is, instead, time to live his values. The Gold Cup might not have brought the sort of glory Pochettino might have wanted, but it has been a useful learning experience. Not just because this summer has confirmed that the likes of Diego Luna and Jack McGlynn have a role to play next year, once the more established names have returned, but because – as Tim Ream has said – there have been signs of a team that is starting to prove it cannot “be pushed around.” The U.S. has started to bare its teeth.
That is the sort of thing a manager can work with, the sort of environment that returning players can buy into, the green shoots of an emergent culture. It is also a story that can be sold to the public. Pochettino knows, deep down, that is what he needs: not a particular style of play, but a journey that the fans can enjoy. He must rediscover that energy, that confidence that he exuded when he first took the job. He has to let those lemons do their job, absorb the negativity, dissolve the bad vibes. When life gives you lemons, after all, there are things you can make with them.
I didn’t get a chance to properly write about American Chris Richard’s and Crystal Palace’s huge FA Cup victory 2 weekends ago. The moment is captured here Crystal Palace wins FA Cup on Radio. I have included the great story from The Athletic about Chris Richards showing just how it was for a kid from Alabama to make it big in soccer (see below). Also cool to see Liverpool lift the EPL Trophy again at Anfield my coaching pal Bill Spencer is thrilled. This scene with Arnold who is leaving his boyhood team for Real Madrid next season was touching – Trent Alexander Arnold last game at Anfield. Of course re-signed Forward Mo Salah won EPL player of the Year here are his (Goals). Must Watch this weekend – Champions League Sat 3 pm on CBS, US Women Sat 5 pm TBS, Miami & Messi vs Columbus Crew Sat 7:30 pm on Apple TV, Concacaf Champ Cup Final MLS vs Mexico Cruz Azul vs Vancouver Whitecaps Sun 9 pm on FS1. Friday on CBSSN friendlies for the ladies with England vs Portugal at 3 pm & Germany vs Netherlands CBSSN 5 pm.
Champions League Final Sat 3 pm Inter Milan vs PSG on CBS So can PSG actually finally win a UCL title now that Messi, Neymar and Mbappe aren’t there? Amazingly the Parisians seem to be a better team now without the superstars as they march to their 2nd UCL finals ever. I think it will be a very even game — Inter Milan can and will score – but something tells me PSG pulls this off – 2-1 or something like that. (tons of stories below).
Pulisic pulls out of Gold Cup – US to send B+ team Lots of controversy this week with US top stars not playing in the Gold Cup especially our talisman Christian Pulisic from AC Milan. You could argue this has been his best season overseas ever with near top of the league goals & assists. I for one do not understand – this is honestly THE LAST Competition before the World Cup next summer – he is our best player. Doesn’t he need to be there to help get us ready? Listen Juve stars McKinney & Weah (Club World Cup) and outside back Jedi Robinson (injured knee) are already missing – doesn’t that make it more important to be there? Bologan, Adams, Richards, Dest and most of our starting backline & GK are there. I just don’t understand why Puli thinks he shouldn’t be there. Does he need rest – of course he does – watch he’ll propose this summer. But as the best player on our team – he should be there. Renaldo would be there – Messi would be there – so should Pulisic. (More on this & Gold Cup prep below)
US Women play China Sat 5 pm on TBS, Tues vs Jamaica on TNT @ 8 pm It will be nice having Centerback Girma back in the fold along with recent Champions League winners Emily Sonnett & Emily Foxx on the backline as the US ladies take on China and Jamaica this week. NWSL standout Lo’eau LaBonta of KC will get her chance to play for the US for the first time and Caterina Macario should be full strength but of course the US will be without the Holy Trinity.
Good luck to all those teams playing in State & President’s and Challenge Cup games this weekend at Grand Park! Especially our Carmel FC teams below!
2012 Girls Gold, 2014 Boys Gold – President’s Cup 2008/9 Girls Gold, 2012 Boys Blue, 2014 Boys Blue, 2013 Girls Blue – Challenge Cup
Had a blast doing CYO Games this Spring – here with Mike Arrington & the Master Dave Howard on the southside for playoff Finals. Register for Free for Carmel FC Tryouts
Sat May 31st at 3 pm on CBS- Coverage starts at 2 pm
Fri, May 30
3 pm CBSSN England vs Portugal Ladies Friendly 5 pm CBSSN Germany vs Netherlands Ladies Friendly
Sat, May 31
CBS 3 pm Inter Milan vs PSG UEFA Champions League Final in Munich, Germany
5:30 pm TBS US Women vs China 7:30 pm Apple Free Miami (Messi) vs Columbus 10:30 pm Unimas LAFC vs Club America (Club WC play-in game) LAFC vs Club America Preview
Sun, June 1
6 pm Apple Free Seattle Sounders vs Minn United MLS 9 pm Fox Sport 1 Cruz Azul vs Vancouver Whitecaps CC Champions Cup Final
Tues, June 3
8 pmTNT, Max, Peacock US Women vs Jamaica
Wed, June 4
2:45 pm Fox Germany vs Portugal – Nations League Semi
Thurs, June 5
2:45 pm Fox Spain vs France– Nations League Semi
Fri, June 6
730 pm Golazo, Para+ Louisville vs Utah NWSL 10 pm Prime San Diego vs Seattle NWSL
Sat, June 7
1 pm CBS Gothem FC vs KC Current NWSL 3:30 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Turkey 7 pm Ion Bay City vs Portland NWSL 10 pm Ion LA Angel City vs Chicago
Sun, June 8
2:45 pm Fox Nations League Finals 4 pm Golazo, Para+ Washington vs NC Courage NWSL
Tues, June 10
8 pm TNT, Peacock US Men vs Switzerland
June 13 – 29 GOLD CUP MEN Sat, June 14 7 pm TV 8 & CBS Golaso Indy 11 vs Pittsburg Riverhounds (Carmel GK Eric Dick returns)
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PSG-Inter: UEFA Champions League final preview, predictions
May 30, 2025, 09:51 AM ET ESPN
On Saturday, the 2024-25 European club season comes to an end with the traditional closer, the UEFA Champions League final. Held in Munich this year, the head-to-head is a tantalizing one that few expected: the “born again” Paris Saint-Germain, led by manager Luis Enrique and a young, hungry squad, taking on wily veterans Inter Milan, who have a unique formation, plenty of savvy stars and an underrated tactician in Simone Inzaghi. Both teams have taken down giants to reach the showpiece finale — PSG eliminated Liverpool and Arsenal in the knockout rounds, while Inter Milan fended off fancied Barcelona and Bayern Munich to punch their ticket — and now face a winner-take-all showdown.So who will win, and what storylines are bubbling under the surface? ESPN writers Mark Ogden, Gab Marcotti, Julien Laurens, Tom Hamilton and Bill Connelly walk you through what to watch for and give their picks for who will claim the prize Saturday night.
A final of youth vs. experience
The contrast is evident. Inter’s likely starting XI have an average age of 30 years and 4 months; Paris Saint-Germain’s is 24 and 7 months. Inter have eight players who featured the last time they were in the Champions League final, two years ago; Marquinhos is the only PSG starter to have played in a Champions League final at any time in his career. That’s the most obvious difference between Saturday’s finalists, and what impact it will have will depend heavily on how the game is played.
A higher tempo evidently favors the fresh legs of PSG, whereas a slower, nervy grind ought to give Inter the edge, at least on paper. But both sides are far more multifaceted than they appear. Both can play a possession game, poking and prodding until the right opening appears — witness Ousmane Dembélé‘s opener against Arsenal, a result of 26 passes — but both can be direct and hit you going north-south. PSG have the speed of Dembele, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola; Inter have the chemistry of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martínez, a rare front tandem in the modern game. It’s not as simple, therefore, to liken it to a basketball game and suggest Inter want fewer possessions and PSG want more, because both coaches can and do mix things up. Rather, perhaps precisely because these teams are managed by two of the best around, we might see some myths get buried Monday night. Inter might show that the parameters of fitness and athleticism have changed and that top pros can go strong into their early 30s. PSG might show that experience is overrated relative to game intelligence and tactical instruction. So don’t just boil this down to experience vs. athleticism. There’s much more to it. — Marcotti
Battle of the superstar, MVP goalkeepers
The Champions League is usually all about the superstar forwards and their ability to win games out of nothing, from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Mohamed Salah and Vinícius Júnior, but this time around, it could be decided by the goalkeepers.
Klinsmann hails Yann Sommer’s heroics in Inter’s semifinal win
Jurgen Klinsmann names Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer as his man of the match after coming up with some huge saves to deny Barcelona.
Inter’s Yann Sommer and PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma were the players who got their teams over the line in the semifinals, and they have produced similar performances on the international stage with Switzerland and Italy, respectively.
Sommer, who spent a year in Munich with Bayern in 2023 after 11 seasons with Borussia Monchengladbach, replaced André Onana at Inter following the Cameroon international’s move to Manchester United two years ago, and the 36-year-old has been a clear upgrade on Onana, with his performance against Barcelona in Inter’s dramatic semifinal second-leg win producing at least five world-class saves. Donnarumma had a similar performance for PSG in their semifinal second leg against Arsenal, when he pulled off incredible saves from Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to keep Luis Enrique’s team ahead. Sommer and Donnarumma have had to bounce back from difficult periods in their careers to establish themselves as two of the world’s best, and they will both be looking to win their first Champions League title in Munich. If it goes all the way to penalties, it could be too tough to call between the two goalkeepers. Sommer was the hero of Switzerland’s Euro 2020 round-of-16 shootout win against France when he saved a Kylian Mbappé spot kick, while Donnarumma has won a remarkable six of seven shootouts for club and country, including the Euro 2020 final against England at Wembley, to give him an 87.5% success rate. — Ogden
Will Luis Enrique win another Treble?
Laurens: Enrique doesn’t get enough credit
Julien Lauren praises Luis Enrique’s impact on PSG and reveals details of his training sessions.
Back in 2015, Luis Enrique won the Treble (Champions League, LaLiga, Copa del Rey) with Barcelona and had an unstoppable front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar. Ten years on, he has the chance to achieve another one, but with another club, and could equal something that only Pep Guardiola, his former club teammate at the Camp Nou, has done in the history of the game: winning two Trebles with two different clubs. Luis Enrique has had to wait 10 years to get another shot. That’s a very long time for a manager so obsessed with the game, though for him, it’s not just about winning; it’s about how you win, and this final will be very different than the previous one too. Then, Luis Enrique pretty much inherited Guardiola’s entire Barcelona squad except for Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic, who arrived the same summer as him, and the winning pedigree and mentality that came with it. For this PSG squad, it’s the opposite. This is his team. This is the Luis Enrique project, and this is only Year 1. The Asturian has built it all, getting rid of Neymar, Marco Verratti (just to name the two biggest names) and others because they didn’t fit with what he was constructing. He recruited the players he wanted (defender Willian Pacho, midfielder João Neves, playmakers Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué) to complete his jigsaw and deliver on his ambitious style of play: high press, high intensity, fluidity within the structure, pace, and attacking flair. His team has been the best in Europe in 2025; they just have to finish the job on Saturday. — Laurens
How these teams reached the final
Simply watching these two teams as they advanced through the Champions League knockout rounds — PSG with ball pressure, steady buildup and an overwhelming tilt of the field, Inter with structure and substitutions and perfectly timed swipes of the sword — would give you a pretty clear impression that they thrive as polar opposites. The stats very much back up that impression.PSG are here because of pitch domination. After some early-season wobbles, they became maybe the best team in the world starting in December. Since Matchday 6, they’ve averaged the most points per game (2.45) with the most goals (30) and the best goal differential (plus-21). That includes a 7-0 win over Brest, yes, but also four wins in five games against the three teams in England (Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City).PSG have flooded teams with pure quantity: For the entire competition, they’re fifth out of 36 Champions League teams in shots per possession and third in shots allowed per possession. They’ve attempted 45 shots worth at least 0.2 xG and allowed 20, a plus-25 margin that ranks first. They just do more than their opponents: They’re first in ball recoveries (48.6) and take-ons per match (27.7), second in direct attacks (sequences starting in the defending half and producing a shot within 20 seconds) and third in buildup attacks (sequences that contain 10 or more passes and produce either a shot or a touch in the box).In short, they play like the young and endlessly aggressive team they are.
Inter, meanwhile, fill the role of the collective sturdy veteran. They win with quality over quantity: They attempt only 13.6 take-ons per match (35th), but they win 49.7% of them (third). They force 8.8 high turnovers per game (27th) but score 0.6 goals per game from them (ninth). They’re 15th in shots per possession but eighth in xG per shot, and they’re 22nd in shots allowed per possession but first in xG allowed per shot. Opponents have attempted more shots than them, but looking specifically at shots worth 0.2 xG or more, they attempt 2.3 (12th) and allow only 1.3 (third).
Inter force you to expend energy attempting to beat them with individual brilliance, and if you do so, they are almost always ready with a counterstrike. Just ask Bayern and Barcelona. PSG will almost certainly control large portions of the pitch and this match, but Inter are more likely to score from set pieces, more likely to win the ball in the air and almost certain to create random, high-quality opportunities that give them a chance at Champions League glory. — Bill Connelly
The omen of first-time winners in Munich
Dumfries: Champions League is the moment for Inter
Inter defender Denzel Dumfries and goalkeeper Yann Sommer look ahead to the Champions League final against PSG.
Munich has staged four previous European Cup/Champions League finals — three at the Olympiastadion, one at the Allianz Arena — and the German city has proved to be lucky for those teams aiming to be crowned European champions for the first time. That might be great news for PSG.
Nottingham Forest won the first of their two European Cups with a 1-0 victory against Swedish champions Malmo in 1979, while Marseille became the first (and so far only) French club to win Europe’s biggest prize by defeating AC Milan 1-0 in the Olympiastadion in 1993. Four years later, Borussia Dortmund made the short trip to Munich to take on reigning Champions League kings Juventus in their first-ever final, but despite the odds favoring Marcello Lippi’s formidable team, Dortmund cruised to a 3-1 win.
Bayern Munich faced Chelsea on home ground in the 2012 final, but despite facing the English side in their own stadium, Bayern could not break the sequence of first-time winners in Bavaria as Chelsea sealed the first of their two Champions League titles with a penalty shootout victory at the Allianz.
So will three-time European champions Inter be able to deny PSG a first Champions League title in Munich this weekend, or will Luis Enrique’s team keep the sequence going?
One more bit of good news for PSG: Marseille clinched a French victory in Munich in 1993 by defeating a team from Milan in their second attempt at winning the competition. PSG face another team from Milan in Munich, one that’s also aiming to win the Champions League on the second attempt. — Ogden
Two incredible full backs, but only one can win
Can PSG be inspired by the Munich UCL final good luck charm?
Julien Laurens and Mark Ogden discuss what PSG will need to do to beat Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Back in the summer of 2021, Achraf Hakimi and Denzel Dumfries passed like ships. Hakimi had enjoyed an incredibly successful 2020-21 season at Inter Milan and helped Antonio Conte’s side to the Scudetto. At the end of that term, he departed for PSG.
Hakimi’s replacement? Dumfries, signed for €15 million, a fraction of the eventual €71 million Inter Milan collected for Hakimi.
But now they’re back on the same pitch, and it’s no exaggeration to say the pair have been outstanding in this year’s tournament.
Dumfries was integral to Inter’s remarkable win over Barcelona in the semifinals, scoring twice in the first leg (including on that scissor kick), and then managing to tee up Lautaro Martinez for their opener in the return fixture in Milan. Hakimi has kept a close eye on Dumfries, saying last week: “He’s a great player. One thing I like about him is that he’s very strong in the air, while I’m terrible.” Then came the little dig, however, with Hakimi saying it’s “easier” to play wing back in a 3-5-2 than to handle a back four role.
Hakimi has been consistently regarded as the best right back in world football, and he has enjoyed another superb season for PSG, even scoring the winner against Arsenal in their semifinal.
The two had very different paths to the top: Dumfries played amateur football to age 18 before progressing to PSV and then Inter Milan, while Hakimi came through the Real Madrid academy. But if you look at the stats comparison between the two this season, they are close on many metrics, such as ground duels won and tackles per 90 minutes. Then comes the nuance: Hakimi has made 3.67 interceptions per 90, compared with Dumfries’ 1.27, and Dumfries has been far more dominant in the air (winning 71% of aerial duels to Hakimi’s 47%).
They are very different types of players, but one thing binds them: their desire to get into attack and influence the match. Which one will have the defining moment Saturday? — Hamilton
It’s prediction time! Who will win, and by what scoreline?
Inter Milan 2, PSG 1: As soon as Inter and PSG confirmed their spots in the final, I predicted a 2-1 win for Inter, and I am sticking with that. I believe PSG are the better team and more exciting to watch, but Inter are a tough, uncompromising side with a cutting edge up front, so I am backing their resolve over PSG’s flair to seal the win. — Ogden
Inter Milan 2, PSG 0: They knocked out the champions of Germany and Spain, so why not make it a trifecta with the champions of France, too? The bookies fancy PSG, and you can see why. But if the game comes down to set pieces (where Inter have an edge) and intangibles (experience, sure, but also the ability to get back up after being punched in the face), Inter can shade this. — Marcotti
Inter Milan 3, PSG 2: This is going to be tight, but Inter will edge it. They have the most underrated manager (Simone Inzaghi) in world football, and their ability to arm-wrestle the tightest matches into victory will come through again. — Hamilton
PSG 1, Inter Milan 0: We’ll just play the odds here. Inter will inevitably create a couple of good chances, but PSG will create more of them. — Connelly
USWNT has no face of the team now. Which player will step up?
Jeff KassoufMay 29, 2025, 09:15 AM ET
The U.S. women’s national team has always had an abundance of strong leaders and recognizable stars throughout its 40-year history. Many iconic players competed across multiple generations, with 14 of them accumulating 200 caps or more, and three eclipsing the 300 mark. Today’s USWNT, however, is marked by youthful inexperience, as head coach Emma Hayes experiments to decide who will join her on the path to the 2027 World Cup.
Hayes started the youngest USWNT lineup in 24 years against Brazil last month. She has doled out 23 first-time call-ups since being hired in November 2023. Fifteen players on the current roster have 10 caps or fewer, and the three goalkeepers have a combined four caps.
All of which underscores this changeover in generations as a jarring moment in USWNT history: For the first time in a long time, there is no obvious face of the team or spokesperson for the larger group.
Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Becky Sauerbrunn prominently filled those roles over the past decade, leading the USWNT to back-to-back World Cup titles and standing on the front lines of the fight for equal pay off the field. All three have retired in the past 18 months.
Transitioning generations is natural and necessary for any team, so is it even that big of a deal? Well, yes, it is, considering the uniquely high standards of a USWNT program that has won four World Cups and five Olympic gold medals — world records in both. It is not the first time that a new generation has had to pick up where its predecessors left off, but the player turnover happening in this cycle is arguably unprecedented.
“Sometimes we just assume that everybody knows what the demands or the standards are for a U.S. women’s national team player,” Hayes said recently. “But as I’ve mentioned, we’ve got a lot of new players that lack a lot of experience. We have to transfer that, and we have to transfer it in the right way.”
Last year provided clear evidence that the changing of the guard for the USWNT was going smoothly. Hayes officially took over the job in late May, and by mid-August, the team won the Olympic gold medal. Hayes said then that she couldn’t worry about the lack of time she had — her focus was short-term on the Olympics. Only during the past eight months has she had time to plot out her long-term vision for success.
During February’s SheBelieves Cup, Hayes sat down with Lindsey Heaps, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Lynn Biyendolo, Tierna Davidson and Sam Coffey to discuss whether they see themselves as leaders — and how that might not matter, she said, because their teammates view them as leaders anyway. What followed was weeks of conversation among players and staff around how to transfer the “non-negotiables” of work ethic and effort — and what she frequently calls “the American DNA” — to a new group of players trying to establish its own identity. “Their insights are invaluable, and I lean on learnings from them to help this process,” Hayes said of her more experienced players. “It’s going to be a little bit unfamiliar at this moment in time, but I think we’ll go to the next place. I’m certain of that.” LaBonta: USWNT senior call-up ‘a dream for over 20 years’ Kansas City captain Lo’eau LaBonta reacts to her first ever senior call-up to the USWNT at 32 years old. Heaps is the USWNT’s captain and most experienced player with 165 caps. She is a passionate, often unheralded leader who organizes the team behind the scenes, as Hayes pointed out after the team’s Olympic triumph in August. Heaps is one of the few remaining (or, at least, healthy) bridges to the past generation of players. She came onto the scene ahead of the 2016 Olympics and was part of the 2019 World Cup-winning team. Only two other players from that 2019 squad are on the current roster: Sonnett and Dunn. Hayes confirmed last week that Naomi Girma is the vice-captain. Both Girma and Heaps have had to grow into more vocal roles. “I think it just takes time,” Sauerbrunn told ESPN. “If you look at some of the personalities on the team that have retired, that took us a while to get into that after Abby Wambach retired and Shannon Boxx retired [after the 2015 World Cup]. “You just kind of learn a little bit from the people ahead of you and then you have to go and learn on your own as you figure out what you’re comfortable with. Some people want to be the spokesperson, and some people are behind there in the weeds.” The USWNT doesn’t live in the weeds, however. It is the most famous women’s sports team on the planet, and the most successful women’s soccer team in history.
Sauerbrunn’s generation had to publicly fight the U.S. Soccer Federation and U.S. President Donald Trump as part of its years-long quest for equal pay, which increased attention and scrutiny on the USWNT. Sauerbrunn said she hopes the next generation doesn’t have to shoulder as much of a burden off the field — but she also said it isn’t really a choice.”It’s not even if they want to [take on those things], because I think they have a responsibility with this platform,” Sauerbrunn said. “But it’s what they’re comfortable doing within that platform.”Coffey, who has 33 caps, is the captain of the Portland Thorns and one of the USWNT’s several emerging leaders. She said her leadership looks different each day based on the USWNT’s needs, but she told ESPN “we’re in trouble when we’re quiet,” which means she is constantly a vocal source of positive reinforcement.Coffey barely played alongside the past generation of stars, but she still regularly seeks advice from Sauerbrunn, her former Thorns teammate, who she calls “the gold standard of what it means to be a leader.”Sauerbrunn was the USWNT’s captain at multiple points over the past two World Cup cycles. Rapinoe and Morgan were the faces of the team who became global superstars. Wambach previously filled that spokesperson and star role, and Mia Hamm — among others — before that.At 24 years old and already the vice-captain, Girma is clearly next in line as leader after Heaps. Girma has already taken on some of those duties, but there has been a void of experience around the team for simple reasons: injuries and other absences.Girma, who became the first player to fetch a $1 million transfer in January, effectively missed the last three USWNT camps due to injury. Davidson tore her ACL in March, days before the camp began for the Brazil games. Biyendolo missed the April games due to injury. Dunn was absent from club and country last fall for personal reasons. And Rose Lavelle has been sidelined all year.
All three forwards who led the USWNT to the Olympic gold medal — Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson (nee Smith) — have been missing from the team since the gold-medal game, save for a goal-scoring cameo from Rodman in April. Wilson and Swanson are on maternity leave, and Rodman is sidelined again due to a chronic back injury.Rodman, 23, is emerging as a star who transcends sports into pop culture and is someone Sauerbrunn says could reach the star status of Rapinoe. “And with that, I think she’s going to develop the responsibility of being a spokesperson for the team when you are also the face of the team,” Sauerbrunn said.With iconic stories, hit Originals and live sports, there’s something for everyone on Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+. Get all three for a price you’ll love.
Rodman is electric when she is on the field, and the media attention she has attracted suggests she is already becoming The Next Big Thing™ for the USWNT. Staying healthy is her biggest challenge right now. She said earlier this year that she didn’t think her back would ever be 100% healthy.There is an argument that Hayes is the biggest personality on the team, which further reflects the volatile nature of the player pool. She won the first Ballon d’Or women’s coaching award last year, and she instantly commands attention, whether she’s in a locker room, boardroom or packed convention hall.Hayes has appeared to use her platform to absorb and deflect the external pressures placed on a team full of young, talented players like Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw, and 17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes. She has preached patience as the group discovers its identity. “I think you’re seeing that this less experienced team are growing up,” Hayes said after the team’s 2-1 win over Brazil on April 5. Who among them will take on the vaunted role as one of the next faces of the USWNT? The lack of an immediate answer is an unfamiliar, uncomfortable position for a team so accustomed to having one, but it isn’t necessarily something that needs fixing. It’s a natural step in the transfer process.
Records Across the Board and International Call Ups The NWSL had a wild week 10, setting up this upcoming international window seamlessly for the action to come in Week 11. With the Pride returning to winning form with Banda’s first hat trick, the Current and the Wave continuing their top of the table dominance, and the Spirit hitting their fifth straight road win, there were 27 goals across the league last weekend.With 108 call-ups across 30 countries and all 14 NWSL clubs represented, this upcoming international window promises to be a busy one—for both players and fans. The Latest at the NWSL
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Barbra Banda made NWSL history on Friday night, netting the first hat trick in Orlando Pride history in a 3–1 win over Utah. All three goals came in the first half within 38 minutes from the first whistle.Read More108 NWSL players called up to national teamsWatch your favorite NWSL stars shine on the global stage. For national teams, it’s a critical window of preparation ahead of this summer’s Copa América Femenina and UEFA Women’s EURO tournaments.Read More
Gotham wins the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup, punch ticket to new 2026, 2028 international competitions
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San Diego Wave breaks club record in 5-2 win over North Carolina Courage
The Wave broke a club-record of 5 goals on Sunday evening. The Wave now have the most goals in the league through 10 games and extended their unbeaten streak to a club-record six matches, and now have 13 unique goal scorers this season. Read More
Champions League magic, Club World Cup controversy: A blockbuster Saturday of soccer’s contrasts
Henry BushnellSenior reporter May 29, 2025 at 10:21 AM EDT·
A blockbuster Saturday of soccer will begin with a game that needs no introduction. At 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. in Munich, the 2025 Champions League final will ignite. Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain will vie for the grandest prize in club football. Both are behemoths, rich and talented, so much so that they are also among the favorites at this summer’s Club World Cup.Which brings us to Saturday’s nightcap, a game that needs every introduction. At 10:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. in Los Angeles, LAFC and Mexican powerhouse Club América will vie for one last place in that Club World Cup.Globally, their 11th-hour playoff pales in comparison to the Champions League final. It has no precedent nor built-in prestige. It is a qualifier for an unproven tournament, one that neither LAFC nor América would have realistic hopes of winning. PSG and Inter, on the other hand, are playing to actually win a competition that’s far more prestigious. One will enter the Club World Cup perched on a throne that many consider to be atop the sport.
But here in North America, when Yahoo Sports asked TelevisaUnivision executive Olek Loewenstein about the Club World Cup’s most attractive teams, and specifically about where Club América would rank if it qualified, he didn’t hesitate.“Oh, No. 1,” Loewenstein said.That, in part, is why this novel game is happening — and why it is, in FIFA’s words, a “blockbuster bout” in its own right. LAFC’s BMO Stadium is sold out, with the cheapest resaletickets priced north of $200. While América regularly packs stadiums across the continent, even for friendlies, Saturday’s game brings unique stakes. The winner will get at least $9.55 million in guaranteed prize money, and a global stage that neither club has ever had. Hype, it seems, is building.But it’s a different type of hype than the one overtaking Paris, Milan and Munich.It has been manufactured in months, rather than developed over decades.And it epitomizes the contrasts between the UEFA Champions League and the Club World Cup, which is, in some ways, the UCL’s upstart challenger.
The stage is set in Munich — and so is the official match ball for the 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan. (Photo by Michael Regan – UEFA via Getty Images) (Michael Regan – UEFA via Getty Images)
The controversial Club World Cup playoff
Perhaps now is the time for the Club World Cup introduction, and the explanation of a playoff that, a month ago, did not yet exist. The field for the inaugural 32-team, quadrennial club tournament had been set since the fall. North America’s representatives were seemingly finalized when Pachuca won the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the region’s only known route to the Club World Cup.But then, in October, FIFA released the Club World Cup’s regulations. Article 10 prohibited the participation of two clubs who share an owner — which, for Pachuca and fellow Mexican club León, became a problem. Both are owned by Grupo Pachuca.In March, citing this rule, FIFA expelled León, the 2023 CONCACAF champs, from its tournament. León players decried the “grave,” “brutal injustice” — “football is stained by this,” James Rodríguez said — but FIFA was already considering replacements. Its rules gave it significant discretion. And its plan soon became clear.The Club World Cup’s qualification criteria gave FIFA five or six realistic options. It could choose the Columbus Crew or LAFC, the runners-up to Pachuca and León in the last two CONCACAF finals. Or it could turn to its CONCACAF rankings, where Club América was the top unqualified team; Costa Rica’s Alajuelense was the top team from a country with less than two participants; and the Philadelphia Union were the top team from a country with less than two standard qualifiers.The criteria stipulated that “a cap of two clubs per country is applied” to those attempting to qualify via rankings. FIFA ignored that stipulation, picked LAFC and América, and pitted them against each other in this one-off “play-in.”
It is, in many ways, the perfect high-stakes appetizer for the Club World Cup. It’s also par for the tournament’s course. With skepticism and resistance dogging its launch, and with a need to sell tickets, broadcast rights and sponsorships, FIFA has reached for star power. It gave Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami a “host country” berth in October. More recently, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has talked up the possibility that Cristiano Ronaldo could join one of the qualified teams less than three weeks before kickoff.
And now, FIFA will get either Major League Soccer’s most valuable club or Mexico’s winningest. LAFC was MLS’ pre-Messi glamor club. América is the continent’s most popular. They will duel in prime time for a place in Group D alongside Flamengo, ES Tunis and Chelsea.
The magic of the Champions League
The Champions League final, on the other hand, does not have a sexy headliner. It does not have Real Madrid, nor Barcelona, nor an English Premier League power. It is the first final without them or Bayern Munich in over two decades. Some casual American fans might not find it all that intriguing.And yet, it will almost certainly be the most-watched sporting event on Earth in 2025.Even with Lautaro Martínez and Ousmane Dembélé — rather than Ronaldo or Messi, or Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé — as the stars, it hardly needs hype manufactured.And it does not need to be sold as “the $26 million game,” even though its prize pot is larger than the Club World Cup’s. It is lucrative, and increasingly commercialized, yes, but its appeal is not about money. Its appeal is simple: It’s the Champions League.
There are surely some fans and soccer execs who are bummed that Barcelona isn’t playing in it. Ratings won’t break records. Narratives, beyond PSG’s unlikely resurgence and a possible first title, might not break through into the casual fan’s consciousness.But there is magic in this competition, and in this singular match. Magic sourced in simplicity. For 70 years, the best clubs in Europe — which are almost always the best clubs in the world — have battled for supremacy. And inevitably, special things have happened.So, you wouldn’t dare bet against more special things on Saturday. You might not know the magicians, yet, but you don’t need to; and soon, you will. Inter and PSG might not give us a 13- or nine-goal thriller, as they did in the semis and quarters, respectively; but they’ll surely give us drama, and emotions, all of which will sell itself.
Johnny Cardoso caps breakout season with a USMNT first in Conference League final defeat
It wasn’t quite the history that Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis meant to make on Wednesday. Going in search of a first European trophy, the U.S. men’s national team defensive midfielder’s Spanish club blew a 1-0 lead against Chelsea and capitulated entirely in the last 25 minutes, falling 4-1 in the UEFA Europa Conference League final. Cardoso did, however, become the first American male to start in a major European final in the process, taking his usual place as the anchor of Real Betis’ midfield and playing 85 minutes.Wednesday’s final came almost four years to the day after Christian Pulisic became the first American man to play in a final on the other end of the UEFA spectrum, coming off the bench as his Chelsea side topped Manchester City to win the Champions League. That match was highly anticipated in spite of Pulisic’s rotational role with the Blues, arguably the high point of what became a frustrating spell in London for the winger.Just as the Europa Conference League doesn’t have the same pull as the Champions League, Cardoso doesn’t carry the same clout in U.S. circles as Pulisic, but then again, nobody in the pool can match Pulisic’s magnetism and high-level production these days. Nevertheless, Cardoso has been closely monitored by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with his European stage offering a spotlight. Tottenham worked something of a “dibs” option on the midfielder when it sold Giovani Lo Celso to Betis in 2024, establishing a fixed fee of €25 million (£20.9m; $26.9m) should he further pique Spurs’ interest.
That clause expires at the end of June, and other clubs (including Manchester United and Atlético Madrid) are reportedly also monitoring the 23-year-old for a potential summer move, despite a February contract extension tying him to Betis through 2029-30. On the back of a capable individual showing on Wednesday, particularly in the first half, it’s plausible that Cardoso won’t be with Betis for much longer.
The Conference League final was the culmination of the latest step in Cardoso’s rapid ascent — one that makes him among the most intriguing players in the entire USMNT pool.
What Sets Johnny Apart
Most U.S. eligible players spend their formative years getting driven around to weekend soccer tournaments or slamming a ball off of a wall. Born in New Jersey and raised in his parents’ native Brazil, Cardoso cut his teeth playing futsal. The small-field alternative to soccer emphasizes technical prowess instead of open-space running, requiring its players to keep close control of a ball and make quick decisions in possession.Those instincts helped the midfielder as he began his professional career, debuting with Brazilian side Internacional days before his 18th birthday. He amassed 117 league appearances with the club, capping his tenure with a run to the 2023 Copa Libertadores semifinal, where he started both legs against eventual champion Fluminense.Soon, Cardoso had his suitors: Napoli, Brighton, Sporting and Galatasaray reportedly among them. Ultimately, he felt that Betis represented the best opportunity for launching his European career.“It was a question of feeling,” Cardoso told The Athletic in 2024. “I just had this hunch that it was the right choice. I thought I would be able to adapt to the city and felt Spain would suit my style of play. I am a very technical player, which comes from futsal. I read the game well and Spanish football is very positional, very organized. I knew that it would be easier to adapt here than in the Premier League, for example.”
Betis has been praised as a very technical side under Manuel Pellegrini, with the Chilean manager favoring players who can be nimble on the ball. Stylistically, it afforded Cardoso an immediate fit into the core of Pellegrini’s side while he adjusted from the Brazilian Serie A’s hard-nosed nature to La Liga’s more wide-open alternative. Based on his underlying numbers, that transition didn’t take long at all.
First, some footage. Early in Cardoso’s tenure, Betis was facing Cadiz in league play. Here, Cardoso found himself in a more advanced position than usual as Cadiz worked to force a turnover and spring a break.
Offering his teammate an outlet, Cadiz’s four-man convergence forces an eventually blocked pass. Cardoso anticipated a passing triangle, ignoring the initial pass to jump into the next passing lane.
If he gets his timing wrong, Cadiz will have a golden chance to open space and launch the ball upfield. Between his reading of the sequence and his somewhat gangly 6-foot-1 frame, which he positions to present a wide obstacle to his opponent’s anticipated pass, he’s able to stop this quick break before it can be sprung.
At this point, his work isn’t done. With Internacional, Cardoso gained plaudits for his ability to break lines with his passing. That much hasn’t manifested in his role with Betis — no midfielder in La Liga who has played at least 1,800 minutes since he debuted sends a lower rate of his passes at least five yards upfield than Cardoso’s 8.7%. Most often, Cardoso is asked to prod the ball to either of his box-to-box midfield partners to do the line-breaking worHere, the line is already broken. Keeping the ball on the ground, Cardoso dribbles upfield and spots a pocket of space between attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir and Willian José. As the ball skips just beyond Fekir, the Brazilian forward is in perfect position for an unmarked first-touch finish, as Cardoso has played the ball with ideal weight and pace.
When Betis tightens the screw and moves its midfield line into the attacking half, Cardoso doesn’t look out of place. His technical acumen allows him to create chances in a manner usually reserved for the sport’s attacking showmen.
When the ball is in Betis’ own half, those same close-control techniques can help him prevent making costly turnovers close to his own goal, as Fiorentina saw in the Conference League semifinal. He’s still a defensive midfielder, after all, so he isn’t shy about dropping a shoulder or swinging a leg to get around an opponent in the name of securing possession.
How Johnny Fits With the USMNT
This combination of tidy technician work and his rangy mobility has made him an ideal target for many clubs. It’s also what played him into Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT as the primary deputy to Tyler Adams, a long-needed alternative to the Bournemouth midfielder.
Depending on how Mauricio Pochettino wants to calibrate his midfield, there could be room for both defensive midfielders to start. They could set up as a stingy double-pivot to shield the USMNT’s often-unsettled back line, affording the defense more time to get its shape right while two tireless ball hawks offer protection. In this scenario, Weston McKennie could play more advanced in a three-man midfield.
At the very least, he’s a very viable option to step in if needed, especially after being tested at a higher level this season. One issue during the 2022 World Cup was Berhalter’s reliance on Adams, McKennie and Yunus Musah to start all four matches. By the round of 16, the youthful trio looked fatigued, giving the Netherlands more freedom to operate up the heart of the park than the USMNT had faced in the group stage.
Since Adams debuted, the U.S. has been at its best with him in the lineup. That may give him an edge over Cardoso if the co-hosts can advance into the knockout bracket, but it shouldn’t preclude Cardoso from getting ample run-out if he continues in his current form. If he can take his game to the next level, with or without a summer move, it’ll present Pochettino with a rare “good problem” as he works through the rest of the team’s ongoing headache areas. And with Cardoso part of the Gold Cup squad at a time when McKennie and Musah are absent, he should have every chance to make that case.
What it’s like to watch your son win the FA Cup – by Chris Richards’ parents
Almost a week has passed since Carrie Richards watched her son climb the Wembley steps to be greeted by Prince William, and raise the FA Cup with his victorious Crystal Palace team-mates.The rush of adrenaline will take some time yet to subside. So, too, will the beaming pride felt by Carrie and her husband, Ken. They flew in from Birmingham, Alabama, to see their son, the 25-year-old USMNT defender Chris Richards, become only the third American to win the FA Cup — as part of the Palace team that defeated Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Matt Turner, the national team’s goalkeeper, also received a winner’s medal, albeit he was an unused substitute on the day.“ Saturday was the most surreal experience of my life,” Carrie grins, speaking on a video call with The Athletic from the family home. “Seeing the fans walking down Wembley Way… I have never seen anything like it. The stadium was electric. My heart was beating. If I had worn my Apple watch, it probably would have told me I needed to go to the emergency room, from the moment we got there to the moment we left.”The game itself was a nerve-shredding, nail-eviscerating experience. Palace had never won a major trophy in their history. This was City’s 14th appearance in an FA Cup final and they had won two of the previous six editions of the tournament. For Palace to win demanded extreme commitment, the players stretching every last sinew in red and blue. It needed supreme organisation, a splash of quality and also a little fortune.Palace scored the game’s only goal via their talismanic attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, but also survived a red card review against their goalkeeper, Dean Henderson. He subsequently saved a penalty.
Henderson saves Omar Marmoush’s penalty as Richards watches on (Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images)
Carrie says: “Even if we’d been two or three ahead, I don’t I think I would have felt any more comfortable! A few weeks back, we were 2-0 up against City and we still lost 5-2 (in the Premier League fixture).”Even after Palace survived 90 minutes of ordinary time, the fourth official’s board indicated 10 additional minutes for stoppages. Ken and Carrie blow out their cheeks. “We were counting down every last second,” she says. “I remember seeing we were down to three minutes, but there wasn’t a second where I was like, ‘OK, I can breathe now!’ until he blew the final whistle.”That was the starting pistol for an explosion of joy and abandon. Carrie, who was seated with the families of the Palace players, says: “Everyone was in tears. Everyone was hugging…”“High-fiving, too,” Ken interjects. “It was crazy. We were just ecstatic, there were lots of balloons going around.”The couple took in the scene. Multiple generations of families collapsing into each other on the terraces. Some players appeared to enter a trance; some sinking to their knees, others on their backs, exhausted, while more still embraced joyously. Messages from across the pond flooded into Carrie’s inbox. One photograph in particular, of royalty placing the winners’ medal around her son’s neck, kept coming through.She says: ‘What’s funny is all my friends were more impressed with him being greeted by Prince William. They were like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ Americans are so fascinated with the royal family!”
Prince William, Prince of Wales, presented the cup to Crystal Palace (Eddie Keogh – The FA/Getty Images)
Richards excelled in the Palace defence, muzzling City superstar Erling Haaland. He made four blocks, 12 clearances and won five duels. Not once did an opponent dribble past him.Before the game, his parents had sent their usual text messages. Ken says: “I tell him good luck. Trust your instincts, trust what you see, go out, play and have fun.”Carrie’s message was a little more sentimental. “I was telling him how proud I was. The coach Oliver Glasner told him this opportunity was not a burden, but a privilege. We just wanted Chris to stay in the moment, be present, enjoy every minute, because we knew or had been told that it could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”Carrie and Ken’s first pleasant surprise came when arriving at Wembley and seeing their son on the front cover of the match-day programme. As for how the Palace fans feel about him?“People were walking around with Afro wigs on and American flags,” Carrie laughs. “A whole group (of fans) were in the section of the stadium chanting ‘USA!’ That’s priceless.”
Richards at Wembley (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
For the Richards family, this represented a milestone.Their collective story is one of devotion and sacrifice. Unseen to the ordinary fan is how families share in the emotional rollercoaster of professional soccer; matchday at the highest level can test emotions, but the journey to the summit requires patience, empathy and no little resilience. Richards was born into a comfortable household. His mum worked in a managerial paralegal-type role in a law firm, while his dad owned a moving transportation company that helped people with house moves. But when the economy crashed in 2009, and far fewer people moved home, the business went under.“We lost everything,” Carrie says. “We had to start completely over, from doing very well before to having absolutely nothing. We were definitely pinching pennies every week. I can remember one time even Chris getting in from practice and him handing me a letter that said if we didn’t pay his soccer fees, then he wouldn’t get to play that next week.“I was so embarrassed. We were just robbing Peter to pay Paul every week.”In the United States, life as a soccer parent can be exorbitantly expensive. Carrie and Ken say that Chris would often have games either out of state, or far enough away to require a hotel stay. He had two younger siblings who also required attention. “We were an average family and we were struggling to pay it,” Carrie says.Trips out of town would cost at least $500 for a weekend. Carrie or Ken would often volunteer to drive the passenger van for the team, because that was a way to have the cost of a hotel covered.“There was another player whose parents could never go, so they would split the hotel costs with us and they would stay in our room,” she says. “I don’t think him quitting was ever a question. For us, it was always just, ‘How are we going to do it?’ rather than, ‘Will we do it?’.”
A young Richards takes on his marker (Carrie Richards)
The family lived in Hoover, Alabama, around 10 miles south of Birmingham. A place where football is king — Hoover High School has 13 state titles — and soccer is seen as a curiosity. “Soccer here is probably the fifth most popular sport,” says Carrie. “It is only now (after the final) some people around us are starting to say, ‘Oh, now I understand what Chris achieved because he’s on the news’.
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“A few weeks ago, somebody asked me what I was going to London for. I said: ‘Oh, my son plays soccer in England’. And they’re like, ‘Oh he doesn’t want to play in the United States?’. So I think there’s still a lot of people around here just don’t understand the magnitude of playing in the Premier League.
“They’re like, ‘Oh, you’re going all the way to the UK for a game?’. Yes, the FA Cup is the oldest tournament in history! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
On Richards’ arms, he has tattoos of heroes including Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali and Barack Obama, but his first tattoo, written in Roman numerals, is the date he left home shortly after turning 16.He had not long been cut by FC Dallas when he was offered a place at U.S. Soccer Academy Development club Houston Texans SC. This was a step down to move forwards, playing in a non-MLS academy 10 hours from home.Chris, his mum admits, was “devastated” when Dallas let him go.Ken says, “I’m a little old school and I felt like he would do one of two things: he would give up or use it as fuel to push him on. That’s exactly what he did. Sometimes it’s good to have a little disappointment. It built a resilience which helped him as he left home and especially when he later moved to Europe.”
A delighted Richards with team-mate Jean-Philippe Mateta at Wembley (Julian Finney – The FA/Getty Images)
For both parents, letting their eldest boy fly the nest was a wrench. Houston found him a host family, the Eastons, who met Carrie and Ken once before taking in their son. They remain in touch to this day and describe the family as “just amazing”.“We were thinking that we have two more years to prepare him for life — to learn how to cook, how to make a doctor’s appointment,” says Carrie. “He moved 10 hours away to a family that we’d barely met in a city that we’ve never been to. We were praying for the best.“But he was saying: ‘We’ve got to do this’. So, OK, I’ve got to get on board. It was heart wrenching.“I cried every day for God knows how long. Every time we went to see him, I would cry when we left. He didn’t even have his driver’s licence yet. Our other son Christian was two, just a little baby, and he was missing his big brother. It was almost like he’d gone to college two years early. We mentally weren’t ready for that.”Ken smiles. “And there were so many people, family and friends, in our ears, saying, ‘Are you guys going to let them go? You guys are crazy. This is the worst idea you could have!’,” he says.Carrie continues, “We were second guessing ourselves, asking: ‘Is this the dumbest thing we’ve ever done?’.”
It turned out to be the opposite.Richards grew in height and quality while in Houston and his team racked up a string of impressive wins, including against the team who had released him. Dallas then invited him back and, after trials at Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim, he was signed by Bayern Munich just as he turned 18.
There were a handful of appearances for Bayern’s first team, as well as loan spells at Hoffenheim, before Palace spent an initial €12million (£10m; $13.5m) on Richards in the summer of 2022. This campaign has been his best yet, starting 28 games in Glasner’s exciting Palace team, particularly coming to the fore in a second half of the season in which Palace have shot up the Premier League table and claimed the FA Cup.
Carrie, Chris and Ken Richards with the FA Cup (Carrie Richards)
“It was very moving at the final to see how much it meant to the people of south London — for him to be a part of something that’s so historic,” says Ken. “He’ll forever be a part of that. Maybe 100 years from now, it’ll be maybe a trivia question: ‘Who’s the American centre-back when we won our first FA Cup?’.”
After the game, there was time for hugs, drinks and photographs at the nearby Boxpark, both with his parents and his girlfriend, who recently gave birth for the first time. His siblings watched from home, with his sister Mackenzie studying at college and younger brother Christian still at school. They sent explanations from across the pond when Carrie and Ken were trying to understand, amid little in-stadium communication, why the game had been delayed for a VAR review of Henderson’s handball outside the penalty area.
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But enough about Chris the footballer. What does Chris the person mean to his parents?
Ken pauses, his eyes moistening. “He’s such a good person. Everybody thinks highly of their kids but he really is a great person who cares about other people. He’s very humble, very considerate…”
Carrie jumps in: “He has a really good sense of humor.”
Ken nods: “Yes, he’s funny. There are so many adjectives I can use, but he’s special.”
Carrie says: “He would do anything for either of us, for his siblings. He’s loyal to the friends he grew up with.”
Richards and fellow USMNT player Turner parade the FA Cup around Wembley (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
As parents of an American soccer player, the next year brings excitement, with a home World Cup on the horizon in the summer of 2026.
“He was injured right before the World Cup in Qatar,” Carrie adds. “Since we had already taken off the time to go to the World Cup, we decided to go over and spend that time with him, because he was not in a good place emotionally at all. So we made sure we were there for him.
“When he was a little boy, he always had these little sticky notes on his mirror: he wants to achieve this or he wants to achieve that. Playing in the World Cup was one one of these. We would be so incredibly proud.”
Fulham and USMNT’s Antonee Robinson undergoes minor knee surgery
Robinson featured in 36 of Fulham’s 38 Premier League fixtures this campaign but missed two of his side’s final five league matches through injury. He was also absent from the Concacaf Nations League finals in March due to tendinopathy.The left-back is one of a number of first-team regulars missing from the U.S. Gold Cup squad, alongside Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah. Like Robinson, Pulisic was also given the summer off after making 50 appearances in all competitions for Milan this season, while McKennie and Weah both have club commitments with Juventus competing in the Club World Cup.The U.S. play Trinidad & Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Haiti in the Gold Cup group stages, which start in June.
It’s the final weekend of play in the European leagues with lots of spots still up for grab for Champions League and European league options – especially in the EPL. Read below for all the breakdowns.
US Men’s Team Roster Set for Gold Cup
So the last major tournament before the World Cup will happen with about 1/3 of the US starters missing due to World Club Cup matches this summer – and of course Pulisic is not coming due to wear and tear this season. (read all about the rosters below)
US Men’s Team Roster
GOALKEEPERS: Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), DeJuan Jones (San Jose Earthquakes), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS: Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Damion Downs (FC Köln), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
TV Games
Wed, May 28
Paramount Plus Chelsea vs Real Bettis (Ricardo) Europa Conference League Final in Poland
Sat, May 31
CBS 3 pm Inter Milan vs PSG UEFA Champions League Final in Munich, Germany
5 pm TBS US Women vs China
Sun, June 1
Fox Sport 1 Cruz Azul vs Vancouver Whitecaps CC Champions Cup Final
Tues, June 3
TNT, Max, Peacock US Women vs Jamaica
Wed, June 4
2:45 pm Fox Germany vs Portugal – Nations League Semi
Thurs, June 5
2:45 pm Fox Spain vs France– Nations League Semi
Sat, June 7
3:30 pm TNT, Tele US Men vs Turkey
Sun, June 8
2:45 pm Fox Nations League Finals
Tues, June 10
8 pm TNT, Peacock US Men vs Switzerland
June 13 – 29 GOLD CUP MEN
Sun, June 15
6 pm FS1 US Men vs Trinidad Gold Cup
Thur, June 19
6 pm FS1 US Men vs KSA Gold Cup
Sun, June 22
7 pm FS1 US Men vs Haiti Gold Cup
Sun, June 26
TBS, Peacock US Women vs Ireland
Sun, June 29th
TNT, Peacock US Women vs Ireland in Cincy
USMNT weekend viewing guide: Long weekend, short schedule
Still some things to be wrapped up this holiday weekend. May 23rd – Stars & Stripes
It’s the last weekend of action in Italy, England and Spain, and the Netherlands and Germany have already wrapped up. So it’s a bit of an abbreviated schedule with many places already set, but there is still some action to catch this weekend ahead of the long summer break. Here’s what we’re watching:
Saturday
AC Milan v Monza – 2:45p on Paramount+
Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah also finish their season at home hosting already relegated Monza on Saturday afternoon. Milan will finish no worse than their current ninth place, but can climb no higher than seventh (and would need help for that) so will finish outside of the European spots this season. It’s possible that both Pulisic and Musah could move on from the club this summer, Musah’s playing time has really fallen off down the stretch and Pulisic would reportedly like to learn more about Milan’s plans before committing to a contract extension that would lock him in past next season.
Sunday
Fulham v Manchester City – 11a on Peacock
Antonee Robinson and Fulham sit in tenth place, leading the pack of American’s in the middle of the table. Fulham could hop Brentford for ninth place but will be facing a Manchester City side that need a win to guarantee their Champions League spot for next season. A loss, combined with wins by the trio of teams behind them (Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa) would push City down to sixth place and the Europa League. Robinson started again last week but has missed alternating matches over the past four matchdays and he was not included in the summer roster that was released on Thursday.
Bournemouth v Leicester – 11a on Peacock
Tyler Adams and Bournemouth sit in eleventh place, one point back of Fulham. Bournemouth’s task is quite a bit easier this weekend as they take on an already relegated Leicester City side. Since his return from injury in mid-October Adams has appeared in nearly every match for Bournemouth, starting most of those. Unfortunately a mid-February through March swoon took Bournemouth out of the running for the top six and they have dropped their last two matches as well but finishing the season with a win against Leicester on Sunday could end things on a more positive note.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace – 11a on NBC
Chris Richards and Crystal Palace are the last of the US trio and are facing Liverpool who will be taking a victory lap for having won the league title. It will be tough work to jump Fulham and Bournemouth into the top ten of the Premier League standings but Crystal Palace already have a Europa League spot for next season thanks to their FA Cup victory which also brought home the first trophy in the clubs 120 year history.
Venezia v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+
Venezia’s loss last weekend combined with wins by both Empoli and Lecce dropped Venezia into nineteenth place, needing a win this weekend as well as loss from Lecce and a loss or draw from Empoli this weekend. Unfortunately, Gianluca Busio and Venezia will be facing fourth place Juventus who also need a win to secure a Champions League spot for next season. Weston McKennie started and Tim Weah came on as a substitute last weekend as Juventus defeated Udinese 2-0 to maintain their narrow lead over Roma and Lazio, either of who could pass Juventus this weekend if they fail to defeat Venezia.
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Europe’s top soccer leagues: Titles, cup finals, UCL, relegation
Dale JohnsonMay 23, 2025, 06:42 PM ET
The 2024-25 season has entered the closing stages, with the battles for the major honours, European qualification, relegation and promotion reached their conclusion.
In 2025-26, the Premier League has been allocated five teams in the Champions League due to the performance of its clubs in Europe this season, meaning the top five will qualify for the UCL. Liverpool and Arsenal (71) have booked two of them.
In addition, Tottenham Hotspur won the Europa League, beating Manchester United1-0 in the final, which earns a place in the Champions League. So the Premier League will have six teams in the UCL and nine in Europe.
All of the top seven are guaranteed European football of some description.
Superior goal difference over Villa means Man City only need a point, while Newcastle and Chelsea definitely seal it with a win.
But there’s a big last-day fixture, when Chelsea head to Forest — who need a victory to have any chance.
Newcastle are at home to Everton, Villa go to Man United and Man City are at Fulham.
This is what each team needs for UCL football:
MAN CITY (68, +26) In short: a point seals it Win: Guaranteed UCL Draw: Effectively guaranteed UCL due to superior goal difference over Villa Lose: Get UCL unless Newcastle, Chelsea and Villa all win
NEWCASTLE (66, +22) In short: a win seals it Win: Effectively guaranteed UCL due to superior goal difference over Villa Draw: Get UCL unless there’s both a winner in Forest vs. Chelsea and Villa win Lose: Only get UCL if Villa lose to Man United
CHELSEA (66, +20) In short: a win seals it Win: Effectively guaranteed UCL due to superior goal difference over Villa Draw: Get UCL unless both Newcastle win/draw and Villa win Lose: Only get UCL if Villa lose to Man United and Newcastle lose by a greater margin (than Chelsea) of four goals
ASTON VILLA (66, +9) In short: a draw could do it, but really they must win and hope another result goes their way Win: Get UCL if one of Man City lose, Newcastle lose/draw or Chelsea lose/draw Draw: Get UCL if Newcastle lose Lose: Cannot get UCL
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (65, +12) In short: must win and hope another result goes their way Win: Get UCL if one of Newcastle draw/lose or Aston Villa draw/lose Draw: Cannot get UCL Lose: Cannot get UCL
As it stands, sixth (Aston Villa) will enter the Europa League by league position, and it will go to one of those teams in the Champions League section.
If Chelsea win the Conference League — they are in the final vs. Real Betis on Wednesday — they are guaranteed at least a place in the Europa League, but will play in the Champions League if they finish in the top five. Their final position could also influence the allocation of European places.
There is a way for seventh to get a place in the Europa League. This requires:
1) Newcastle to finish in the top five 2) Chelsea to finish sixth 3) Chelsea to win the Conference League
In this scenario, there would be no English club in the Conference League, but three in the Europa League.
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Mark Ogden talks about Manchester United’s recruitment approach to improve the squad for next season under Ruben Amorim.
Newcastle are guaranteed at least a place in the Conference League playoff round, as they won the Carabao Cup. But if Newcastle finish in the top six, which is almost certain, to play in the UCL or UEL, the Conference League place goes to seventh.
Eighth can still take the Conference League place, which requires:
1) Chelsea to finish seventh 2) Chelsea to win the Conference League
It’s also possible if Chelsea finish sixth and Newcastle are seventh, but that is now highly improbable.
After Tuesday night’s results, we now know exactly what needs to happen for eighth (and that means 10 Premier League teams) to get into Europe. And it really is possible:
1) Chelsea lose at Nottingham Forest 2) Aston Villa win or draw at Manchester United 3) Chelsea win the Conference League
Brighton need at least a point from their game at Spurs on Sunday to secure eighth place. However, if Brighton lose they can get overtaken by Brentford, who are away at Wolves, as the Bees have the better goal difference.
The tight title race came to a head on Friday when either Napoli(82) or Internazionale(81) could have been crowned champions.
Both won 2-0, with Napoli’s victory over Cagliari ensuring they were crowned champions.
Champions League (4)
CONFIRMED
1. Napoli (38, 82)
2. Inter Milan (38, 81)
3. Atalanta (37, 74)
Napoli and Internazionale have already been joined by Atalanta(74). The fight for the last spot goes to Sunday.
Juventus (67) have fourth place in their own destiny. AS Roma(66) are the closest challengers, while Lazio(65) are outsiders.
Juve must win at relegation-threatened Venezia to be sure of their place in the UCL.
If Juve draw, they can only be overtaken by Roma (because Juve hold the head-to-head record over Lazio), who would have to win at Torino.
If Juve lose, they drop out of the top four with a win for either Roma or Lazio. If Juve and Roma (with a draw) are on 67 points, Juve will be ahead on goal difference — but Lazio could take fourth with a victory.
Lazio are at home to Lecce, another team in relegation danger. Lazio have to win, hope Juve lose and Roma draw/lose.
NB: There is one crazy scenario. If Juve lose 3-0 to Venezia, Roma draw 1-1, and Lazio draw/lose, then Juve and Roma would be level on all tiebreakers. Fourth place would be decided by … a coin toss.
If Inter win the Champions League there will be no impact on the Serie A places.
Europa League (2)
CONFIRMED
8. Bologna (Coppa Italia winners)
Bologna (62)are guaranteed Europa League football after they won the Coppa Italia, beating AC Milan 1-0 in the final.
Fifth place (Roma as it stands) will play in the Europa League by league position, which will also be a battle between Juve, Roma and Lazio.
Conference League (1)
At present this goes to sixth (Lazio), though it will pass to seventh if Bologna finish sixth.
Even so, if Bologna win at home to Genoa on Saturday, and Lazio lose to Lecce on Sunday, then Bologna could be sixth and Lazio seventh — so it would still be Lazio in the Conference League place.
However, if Fiorentina(62, away to Udinese on Sunday), Bologna and Lazio end up level on 65 points, that will be the final order — with Fiorentina in the Conference League spot.
Monza(18) were relegated at the start of this month.
It’s a fierce battle to avoid the last two spots between Venezia(29), Empoli(31) and Lecce(31).
Going into Sunday’s games, Venezia have to win at home to Juve to have any chance, and then hope both Empoli (home to Hellas Verona) and Lecce (away to Lazio) lose to definitely stay up.
If two teams finish level on points for 17th — this can happen if Venezia win and one of the other teams draw — then there will be a one-legged playoff hosted by the team with the best goal difference to stay in Serie A.
In Serie B, Sassuolo and Pisa have been promoted. One of six clubs will also come up through the end-of-season playoffs. Spezia, Cremonese, Juve Stabia, Catanzaro, Cesena and Palermo will take part for the last promotion place. The second leg of the semifinals take place on Sunday.
Barcelona celebrate winning their 28th LaLiga title win with an open-top bus parade through the streets of the city.
Europa League (2)
CONFIRMED
6. Real Betis (37, 59)
As Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, the place for the cup transfers to the league — sixth and seventh will enter the Europa League. One place goes to Real Betis(59), but there’s a close race for seventh.
The games involving these teams will be played on Saturday.
Celta Vigo go to Getafe knowing it’s still in their own hands: win, and they are in the Europa League.
Vallecano are at home to Mallorca, while Osasuna go to Alavés. If Celta Vigo slip up, Vallecano or Osasuna could take advantage. Vallecano hold the head-to-head record over Osasuna, who can therefore only qualify for the UEL with a victory if both Celta and Vallecano fail to win.
Real Betis are in the Conference League final, with the winners of competition earning a spot in the Europa League, but their performance can’t impact the LaLiga allocation.
Europa Conference League (1)
This will go to eighth place, held right now by Rayo Vallecano, with the same three teams battling it out as noted in the Europa League section. One of the trio will miss out on European football altogether.
Relegation (3)
CONFIRMED
19. Las Palmas (37, 32)
20. Real Valladolid (37, 16)
Real Valladolid(16) and Las Palmas(32) are already down, but the third relegation place is going to be decided on Saturday.
Leganés (37) host rock-bottom Valladolid, so they have a chance.
The only team Leganés can catch is Espanyol(39), who were well clear but have lost their last five matches. The good news for Espanyol? They are at home to Las Palmas, the other relegated team.
Leganés hold the head-to-head record over Espanyol, which means if Leganés get three points they will be safe if Espanyol fail to win.
It’s a very tight race for the two automatic promotion places from LaLiga2 with two games to be played. Levante, Elche, Real Oviedo, Mirandés and Racing Santander are fighting it out. A third team comes up through four-team playoffs.
This time VfB Stuttgartwill play Arminia Bielefeld who, incredibly, are in the third division and have been promoted as champions.
The winners of the Pokal will qualify for the Europa League.
Stuttgart finished ninth on 50 points, so there will be no transfer of the place to the league if they win the cup. If Arminia Bielefeld produce a shock win in the final, they are set to play in the Europa League as a second-division club
Conference League (1)
CONFIRMED
6. Mainz (34, 52)
Mainz(52) drew 2-2 at home to Leverkusen on the final day to finish sixth, though as it turned out they could have lost and still taken the Conference League qualifying round spot.
Relegation (2+1)
Two teams are relegated automatically, while third-bottom takes on third place in the 2.Bundesliga in a playoff.
In 2.Bundesliga, Hamburg and FC Cologneare promoted. SV 07 Elversberg will face Heidenheim in the playoff. The first leg on Thursday finished 2-2, with the return to be played on Monday.
If PSG win the Champions League there will be no impact on the Ligue 1 places.
Champions League (3+1)
France gets three automatic places, with fourth place entering the UCL in the third qualifying round.
CONFIRMED
1. Paris Saint-Germain (34, 84)
2. Marseille (34, 65)
3. AS Monaco (34, 61)
4. Nice (34, 60)
Marseille(65) and AS Monaco (61) sealed the direct spots with a game to spare.
Nice(60, +25) thrashed Brest 6-0 to secure the place in qualifying on goal difference ahead of Lille (60, +16).
Europa League (2)
CONFIRMED
5. Lille (34, 60)
Lille are sure to be in the Europa League.
If PSG win the Coupe de France final on Saturday, a UEL place will pass to sixth-placed Lyon(57). PSG play Stade de Reims, who are 16th and will not finish in a domestic European place. If Reims win the cup, they will be in the Europa League — possibly as a Ligue 2 club.
Conference League (1)
Strasbourg(57) were certain of being in Europe, until they lost to at home to Le Havre on the final day through a penalty in the 99th-minute. That meant they dropped below Lyon, and the only way Strasbourg can now qualify for Europe is if PSG take the Coupe de France — seventh place will be in the Conference League playoff round.
Relegation for Saint-Etienne (30) was confirmed when they lost at home to Toulouse on the last day. Le Havre AC (34) looked certain to be in the relegation playoff with their game at Strasbourg level in the ninth minute of added time, but the late winner lifted them out of the bottom three and dumped in Stade de Reims (33).
Lorientand Paris FChave secured promotion from Ligue 2, with Metzto play Reims in the relegation/promotion playoff final — the first leg was 1-1 with the second leg on Thursday.
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What it’s like to watch your son win the FA Cup – by Chris Richards’ parents
Almost a week has passed since Carrie Richards watched her son climb the Wembley steps to be greeted by Prince William, and raise the FA Cup with his victorious Crystal Palace team-mates.
The rush of adrenaline will take some time yet to subside. So, too, will the beaming pride felt by Carrie and her husband, Ken. They flew in from Birmingham, Alabama, to see their son, the 25-year-old USMNT defender Chris Richards, become only the third American to win the FA Cup — as part of the Palace team that defeated Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
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Matt Turner, the national team’s goalkeeper, also received a winner’s medal, albeit he was an unused substitute on the day.
“Saturday was the most surreal experience of my life,” Carrie grins, speaking on a video call with The Athletic from the family home. “Seeing the fans walking down Wembley Way… I have never seen anything like it. The stadium was electric. My heart was beating. If I had worn my Apple watch, it probably would have told me I needed to go to the emergency room, from the moment we got there to the moment we left.”
The game itself was a nerve-shredding, nail-eviscerating experience.
Palace had never won a major trophy in their history. This was City’s 14th appearance in an FA Cup final and they had won two of the previous six editions of the tournament. For Palace to win demanded extreme commitment, the players stretching every last sinew in red and blue. It needed supreme organisation, a splash of quality and also a little fortune.
Palace scored the game’s only goal via their talismanic attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, but also survived a red card review against their goalkeeper, Dean Henderson. He subsequently saved a penalty.
Henderson saves Omar Marmoush’s penalty as Richards watches on (Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images)
Carrie says: “Even if we’d been two or three ahead, I don’t I think I would have felt any more comfortable! A few weeks back, we were 2-0 up against City and we still lost 5-2 (in the Premier League fixture).”
Even after Palace survived 90 minutes of ordinary time, the fourth official’s board indicated 10 additional minutes for stoppages. Ken and Carrie blow out their cheeks. “We were counting down every last second,” she says. “I remember seeing we were down to three minutes, but there wasn’t a second where I was like, ‘OK, I can breathe now!’ until he blew the final whistle.”
That was the starting pistol for an explosion of joy and abandon. Carrie, who was seated with the families of the Palace players, says: “Everyone was in tears. Everyone was hugging…”
“High-fiving, too,” Ken interjects. “It was crazy. We were just ecstatic, there were lots of balloons going around.”
The couple took in the scene. Multiple generations of families collapsing into each other on the terraces. Some players appeared to enter a trance; some sinking to their knees, others on their backs, exhausted, while more still embraced joyously. Messages from across the pond flooded into Carrie’s inbox. One photograph in particular, of royalty placing the winners’ medal around her son’s neck, kept coming through.
She says: ‘What’s funny is all my friends were more impressed with him being greeted by Prince William. They were like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ Americans are so fascinated with the royal family!”
Prince William, Prince of Wales, presented the cup to Crystal Palace (Eddie Keogh – The FA/Getty Images)
Richards excelled in the Palace defence, muzzling City superstar Erling Haaland. He made four blocks, 12 clearances and won five duels. Not once did an opponent dribble past him.
Before the game, his parents had sent their usual text messages. Ken says: “I tell him good luck. Trust your instincts, trust what you see, go out, play and have fun.”
Carrie’s message was a little more sentimental. “I was telling him how proud I was. The coach Oliver Glasner told him this opportunity was not a burden, but a privilege. We just wanted Chris to stay in the moment, be present, enjoy every minute, because we knew or had been told that it could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Carrie and Ken’s first pleasant surprise came when arriving at Wembley and seeing their son on the front cover of the match-day programme. As for how the Palace fans feel about him?
“People were walking around with Afro wigs on and American flags,” Carrie laughs. “A whole group (of fans) were in the section of the stadium chanting ‘USA!’ That’s priceless.”
Richards at Wembley (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
For the Richards family, this represented a milestone.
Their collective story is one of devotion and sacrifice. Unseen to the ordinary fan is how families share in the emotional rollercoaster of professional soccer; matchday at the highest level can test emotions, but the journey to the summit requires patience, empathy and no little resilience.
Richards was born into a comfortable household. His mum worked in a managerial paralegal-type role in a law firm, while his dad owned a moving transportation company that helped people with house moves. But when the economy crashed in 2009, and far fewer people moved home, the business went under.
“We lost everything,” Carrie says. “We had to start completely over, from doing very well before to having absolutely nothing. We were definitely pinching pennies every week. I can remember one time even Chris getting in from practice and him handing me a letter that said if we didn’t pay his soccer fees, then he wouldn’t get to play that next week.
“I was so embarrassed. We were just robbing Peter to pay Paul every week.”
In the United States, life as a soccer parent can be exorbitantly expensive. Carrie and Ken say that Chris would often have games either out of state, or far enough away to require a hotel stay. He had two younger siblings who also required attention. “We were an average family and we were struggling to pay it,” Carrie says.
Trips out of town would cost at least $500 for a weekend. Carrie or Ken would often volunteer to drive the passenger van for the team, because that was a way to have the cost of a hotel covered.
“There was another player whose parents could never go, so they would split the hotel costs with us and they would stay in our room,” she says. “I don’t think him quitting was ever a question. For us, it was always just, ‘How are we going to do it?’ rather than, ‘Will we do it?’.”
A young Richards takes on his marker (Carrie Richards)
The family lived in Hoover, Alabama, around 10 miles south of Birmingham. A place where football is king — Hoover High School has 13 state titles — and soccer is seen as a curiosity. “Soccer here is probably the fifth most popular sport,” says Carrie. “It is only now (after the final) some people around us are starting to say, ‘Oh, now I understand what Chris achieved because he’s on the news’.
“A few weeks ago, somebody asked me what I was going to London for. I said: ‘Oh, my son plays soccer in England’. And they’re like, ‘Oh he doesn’t want to play in the United States?’. So I think there’s still a lot of people around here just don’t understand the magnitude of playing in the Premier League.
“They’re like, ‘Oh, you’re going all the way to the UK for a game?’. Yes, the FA Cup is the oldest tournament in history! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
On Richards’ arms, he has tattoos of heroes including Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali and Barack Obama, but his first tattoo, written in Roman numerals, is the date he left home shortly after turning 16.
He had not long been cut by FC Dallas when he was offered a place at U.S. Soccer Academy Development club Houston Texans SC. This was a step down to move forwards, playing in a non-MLS academy 10 hours from home.
Chris, his mum admits, was “devastated” when Dallas let him go.
Ken says, “I’m a little old school and I felt like he would do one of two things: he would give up or use it as fuel to push him on. That’s exactly what he did. Sometimes it’s good to have a little disappointment. It built a resilience which helped him as he left home and especially when he later moved to Europe.”
A delighted Richards with team-mate Jean-Philippe Mateta at Wembley (Julian Finney – The FA/Getty Images)
For both parents, letting their eldest boy fly the nest was a wrench. Houston found him a host family, the Eastons, who met Carrie and Ken once before taking in their son. They remain in touch to this day and describe the family as “just amazing”.
“We were thinking that we have two more years to prepare him for life — to learn how to cook, how to make a doctor’s appointment,” says Carrie. “He moved 10 hours away to a family that we’d barely met in a city that we’ve never been to. We were praying for the best.
“But he was saying: ‘We’ve got to do this’. So, OK, I’ve got to get on board. It was heart wrenching.
“I cried every day for God knows how long. Every time we went to see him, I would cry when we left. He didn’t even have his driver’s licence yet. Our other son Christian was two, just a little baby, and he was missing his big brother. It was almost like he’d gone to college two years early. We mentally weren’t ready for that.”
Ken smiles. “And there were so many people, family and friends, in our ears, saying, ‘Are you guys going to let them go? You guys are crazy. This is the worst idea you could have!’,” he says.
Carrie continues, “We were second guessing ourselves, asking: ‘Is this the dumbest thing we’ve ever done?’.”
It turned out to be the opposite.
Richards grew in height and quality while in Houston and his team racked up a string of impressive wins, including against the team who had released him. Dallas then invited him back and, after trials at Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim, he was signed by Bayern Munich just as he turned 18.
There were a handful of appearances for Bayern’s first team, as well as loan spells at Hoffenheim, before Palace spent an initial €12million (£10m; $13.5m) on Richards in the summer of 2022. This campaign has been his best yet, starting 28 games in Glasner’s exciting Palace team, particularly coming to the fore in a second half of the season in which Palace have shot up the Premier League table and claimed the FA Cup.
Carrie, Chris and Ken Richards with the FA Cup (Carrie Richards)
“It was very moving at the final to see how much it meant to the people of south London — for him to be a part of something that’s so historic,” says Ken. “He’ll forever be a part of that. Maybe 100 years from now, it’ll be maybe a trivia question: ‘Who’s the American centre-back when we won our first FA Cup?’.”
After the game, there was time for hugs, drinks and photographs at the nearby Boxpark, both with his parents and his girlfriend, who recently gave birth for the first time. His siblings watched from home, with his sister Mackenzie studying at college and younger brother Christian still at school. They sent explanations from across the pond when Carrie and Ken were trying to understand, amid little in-stadium communication, why the game had been delayed for a VAR review of Henderson’s handball outside the penalty area.
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But enough about Chris the footballer. What does Chris the person mean to his parents?
Ken pauses, his eyes moistening. “He’s such a good person. Everybody thinks highly of their kids but he really is a great person who cares about other people. He’s very humble, very considerate…”
Carrie jumps in: “He has a really good sense of humor.”
Ken nods: “Yes, he’s funny. There are so many adjectives I can use, but he’s special.”
Carrie says: “He would do anything for either of us, for his siblings. He’s loyal to the friends he grew up with.”
Richards and fellow USMNT player Turner parade the FA Cup around Wembley (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
As parents of an American soccer player, the next year brings excitement, with a home World Cup on the horizon in the summer of 2026.
“He was injured right before the World Cup in Qatar,” Carrie adds. “Since we had already taken off the time to go to the World Cup, we decided to go over and spend that time with him, because he was not in a good place emotionally at all. So we made sure we were there for him.
No Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah or Josh Sargent.
The reasons for those absences from this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup vary. McKennie, Weah and Reyna are playing in the FIFA Club World Cup. Musah asked to be excused due to personal reasons. Sargent was a coach’s choice. Robinson has dealt with numerous injuries this season with Fulham and needed a rest. Pulisic requested to get the summer off after playing another 50-game campaign for AC Milan.
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“Many people can say it’s really important for us to be all together for the last time (in a tournament) before the World Cup,” Pochettino said. “But always as a coaching staff we listen to the player and then, of course, we take the decision. We have our own idea in everything, but after the consideration … we decided the best for him, the best for the team, the best for the national team is the decision that we made.”
The larger message from Pochettino, though, was clear — both for the players who were absent and the ones that were going to be in camp.
Christian Pulisic won’t be involved in the USMNT’s Gold Cup quest this summer. (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
“The important thing is to provide to the new players the possibility to challenge,” Pochettino said. “And to challenge the possibility to take a place. My first conversation we are going to have on (June 1) when we are all together is: ‘Listen, guys. You have the possibility to defend your place. When you are now in the national team, it is not because you are here to try to replace people that (are) sure that (they are) going to be here. No, you have the possibility to defend your place. How you are going to defend your place, that is the important thing for us. You need to fight, you need to show attitude, the right attitude, but not only that, perform, and be brave, and follow the rules that we set in the group.’
“I think it is really important for us. And of course they need to know that they … are going to compete in a fair way with different people that maybe are not involved today in this squad.”
In other words: Fight like this is your job to lose, not your job to win. Because no one is guaranteed a spot on this U.S. national team.
The names being brought into this camp seem to be a bid to inject more of that into a group that needs it. There are players like Sebastian Berhalter, the son of ex-U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, who got released by Columbus and Austin and has earned his call-up with his strong form for the Vancouver Whitecaps; Luna, who has spoken often about constantly feeling like he needed to prove himself; and Alex Freeman, the son of a Super Bowl winner who will get a chance to make his national team debut amid a breakout season in Orlando.
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“Obviously those thoughts have crossed my mind,” Freeman said when asked last week by The Athletic about a potential USMNT call-up. “It just gives me more to work for, more to strive for. It would be a dream to play for them.”
The value of this Gold Cup could be finding the right mix of hungry players for the World Cup squad in order to offset a core that has at times been considered a “golden generation.” The utility is in creating the right culture within the group.
Pochettino has made clear that he doesn’t care where players play their club soccer. Asked about a handful of European-based players who were not on the team, Pochettino said they are “at the same level as some of the players that are now involved in the roster.”
“My feeling in all these camps — from October, November, January and March — I think many players, they took the chance and deserve again to come back,” he said. “Because they not only performed and behaved well in the camp, after that they kept performing in their teams.”
Pochettino is hoping for a bounce-back summer for the USMNT, a year out from the World Cup it will cohost. (Photo by Erich Schlegel/Imagn Images)
Pochettino continued rolling in his answer, thinking back on a previous question asked. His response spoke plenty about where he thinks this team can improve and the type of players he’s seeking to improve it.
“In a previous question you asked: Is (this squad meant) to punish or say ‘pay attention’ to some players? I think what we want to create in our national team is people desperate to come, but desperate to come to perform,” he said. “To perform means follow the rules, create a good atmosphere, be part of the team. Be able, in every single aspect, (to meet) our (federation) demands … and understand that it’s possible (this could) be the last possibility to be with us. Because (in most windows) we only have time to come to maybe train one, two, three times, then play. One, two recovery sessions and then play. And then go home and maybe wait two months to be all together (again). If you arrive to the camp and you want to spend a nice time, play golf, go for a dinner, visit my family, visit my friend. Is that the culture that we want to create? No, no, no, no, no.
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“What we want to do is to go to the national team, arrive and be focused. And spend all my focus and energy on the national team. Because we need to create this culture about winning and we need to chase our aim. If we want to be good in one year’s time, we need to think that today is the most important day, because we need to build from today our way to arrive. It’s not to say, ‘OK, I wait, I wait, I wait. No, the World Cup is in one year. It’s in six months. It’s in one month.’ And then it’s late.
“That is why I think it’s important to have (a) different approach. And for us, I think we learned a lot in the last few camps, for sure in March. And I think it is about maybe using a different way to approach this. These opportunities are amazing. We are so motivated, so excited. That is why I am full of energy. We are full of energy working in trying to create a good group that we can feel proud (of).”
The U.S. will be without several regulars for this summer’s Gold Cup, including stars Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Antonee Robinson.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino named a 27-man roster for camp ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup on Thursday. The U.S. will only be able to carry 26 players into the tournament, with Concacaf’s deadline to finalize the squad on June 4. The U.S. will play friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland before group games against Trinidad & Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Haiti.
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Pulisic and Robinson have been given the summer off after long seasons with AC Milan and Fulham, respectively. Robinson has been dealing with several injury issues, including tendinopathy, which caused him to miss the Concacaf Nations League finals in March. If Pulisic plays this weekend for AC Milan, it will be his 120th game for club and country in the past two years.
“Christian and his team approached the Federation and the coaching staff about the possibility of stepping back this summer, given the amount of matches he has played in the past two years at both the club and international level with very little break,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said in a statement. “After thoughtful discussions and careful consideration, we made the collective decision that this is the right moment for him to get the rest he needs. The objective is to ensure he’s fully prepared to perform at the highest level next season.”
McKennie and Weah (Juventus) and Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) will also miss the tournament due to commitments with their club teams, which are competing in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
Other notable names not on the squad include midfielder Yunus Musah, who had an up-and-down season for Milan, and Josh Sargent, who scored 15 goals for Norwich this season in the English Championship.
The absence of so many notable players means the U.S. will go into the summer’s tournament with a mix of players considered to be first-choice regulars, as well as more than a few players trying to break into the squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Despite all of the omissions, there are some positive developments within this team.
USMNT right back Sergiño Dest is back in the mix ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Sergiño Dest is back after tearing his ACL in April 2024, a welcome return for one of the USMNT’s best players. Several others who missed the Nations League through injury — Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun — are also back in the rotation.
World Cup veterans Tyler Adams, Matt Turner, Tim Ream, Luca de la Torre, Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright are also in the team, while veteran center backs Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson and Chris Richards bolster the defensive options.
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Among the notable new names in the mix: Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, the son of former U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter; Orlando City right back Alex Freeman, the son of NFL Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman; Philadelphia Union attacking midfielder Quinn Sullivan; and German-American striker Damion Downs, a 20-year-old who had 10 goals for Koln in the 2. Bundesliga as the club earned promotion to Germany’s top flight.
Interestingly, Pochettino opted for MLS-based strikers Patrick Agyemang and Brian White over Sargent, who started multiple games for the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup. Diego Luna, a standout at the Nations League, will also get another opportunity to make his case for inclusion in the World Cup squad.
The full roster is below:
GOALKEEPERS: Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), DeJuan Jones (San Jose Earthquakes), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati)
MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS: Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Damion Downs (FC Köln), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
Christian Pulisic missing Gold Cup: Bad look for the player, bad break for USMNT
Christian Pulisic has long been the tone-setting player on this U.S. men’s national team, a leader by example who has been counted on in the program’s biggest moments.
With just more than a year left to prepare for the World Cup, however, the U.S. will have to work its way out of a major slump without its most important player.
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Pulisic will not be a part of the U.S.’s Gold Cup roster, sources confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday night. The news was first reported by Fox Sports. The 26-year-old winger seemingly wants a break after a long season with AC Milan. He has nursed and played through several slight injuries over the course of the Serie A campaign. The hope is that resting Pulisic in the Gold Cup will give him a better chance at being healthy for next season and, by extension, next summer’s World Cup.
All of that may be true and valid. The demand of an increasingly grueling calendar on players is as under the microscope as ever, and we won’t hear the official reasons for Pulisic’s absence until U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino speaks Thursday.
But it is still a bad look for the player and a bad break for this U.S. team that its best player and face of the program is missing this tournament.
The U.S. is in the midst of a major tailspin. It was knocked out in the group stage at the Copa América last summer and then dumped in the semifinals of the Nations League by Panama in March before losing the third-place game to Canada.
Vibes around this group are alarmingly low. The Gold Cup was meant to be a potential salve to the culture within the team, and the faith of the fanbase around it. Ahead of a home World Cup, it took on even more importance.
It is also the first time Pochettino will get more than a short international window with his Europe-based players. That has real value for a new coach trying not just to instill a system, but also heal the internal mindset and attitude. Pulisic himself called on Pochettino to do that last September.
“Hopefully, he’s someone that’s going to come in and really change the culture around here,” Pulisic said at the time.
Now, Pulisic appears to be opting out of that chance at a cultural reset this summer.
Christian Pulisic will be a spectator for this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
The U.S. was already weakened by the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, two regular USMNT starters, will be participating in that tournament with Juventus and won’t be with the U.S. Gio Reyna, once an enticing prospect, is struggling for minutes at the club level, but will be with Borussia Dortmund for the Club World Cup, as well.
Yunus Musah, Pulisic’s Milan teammate, will also miss the tournament, sources told The Athletic, meaning the U.S. will be without five players from its supposed “golden generation” this summer.
That doesn’t mean the group will be entirely decimated. Several key players are still expected to be a part of the squad. Left back Antonee Robinson, right back Sergiño Dest, forward Folarin Balogun and midfielders Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman, all of whom missed the Nations League debacle, were on the 60-man preliminary roster and are expected to make the squad.
World Cup captain Tyler Adams should also be there, as well as FA Cup winner Chris Richards.
The absence of those other key figures means opportunities could be opened up for players who are trying to make an impression and whose hunger could help this team. The preliminary list included the likes of Diego Luna, a standout at Nations League, and Brenden Aaronson and Alejandro Zendejas, who missed the previous squad and will want to prove a point. (Though Zendejas would not be available if Club America qualifies for the Club World Cup at the end of the month.)
A wildcard may even be able to slip in there if they get a look.
The positive spin on this situation is that the void left behind by one player opens a window for another. But the reality is that there is no replacement for Pulisic. The 2026 World Cup has been touted for some time as a transformative moment for the sport in this country. Pulisic is undeniably the most famous American on the national team. The responsibility that comes with that fame is enormous. For some fans, Pulisic is the national team.
His absence, particularly at this time, hits differently.
When Pochettino was hired last September, he was supposed to be a stabilizer. His sterling resume and global recognition was meant to calm some of the diehard fans that were turning on the program and blaming former coach Gregg Berhalter for all that was going wrong.
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One of the benefits of Pochettino’s hire was that it would turn the pressure back onto the players. That has certainly proved to be true. The Nations League was eye-opening. The team looked disinterested. Fans and alumni started to call out a group they felt was complacent and entitled. At the time, Pochettino preached patience.
“I don’t want the people to feel pessimistic,” he said. “Disappointed? Disappointed, we are all. And the fans need to feel the disappointment that we didn’t win. But I don’t want to allow (them) to feel pessimistic, because we have good players. We are going to find a way to perform.”
Since the 2022 World Cup, Pulisic has been one of the few American players that has taken steps forward in his game. He’s become counted on to deliver week-in and week-out at AC Milan, and has mostly done so. Out of any of the so-called “golden generation,” the winger’s play and desire to produce for the U.S. has been evident.
“This team is everything to me,” Pulisic said on Paramount+ after the Nations League losses. “I care so much for this team, for this country. I hope people know that about me. It’s truly an honor to lead this country.”https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHkElrsM6Km/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com&rp=%2Fathletic%2F6373974%2F2025%2F05%2F21%2Fchristian-pulisic-out-gold-cup-usmnt-impact-pochettino%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2312.3000000000466%2C%22ls%22%3A778.8000000000466%2C%22le%22%3A1283.8000000000466%7D
It’s hard to argue that his absence from this tournament a year out from the World Cup doesn’t speak just as loudly, though.
One can’t help but think back to something Pochettino said the day he was introduced as the U.S. coach. Asked about the lack of meaningful competitive games before the World Cup, Pochettino pushed back on that notion.
“When I was a player with Argentina, Copa America, World Cup or friendly, it was the same,” he said. “To show that you are the best and win the game for your country, for your pride and everything. Because that is what it means to be competitive. We are going to be focusing on that.”
This Gold Cup was already going to be a test on that competitiveness and desire. That one of its leaders won’t be there is a rough start to the evaluation.
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)
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
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Early blockbusters headline NWSL
Kansas City faces 2024 NWSL runners-up Washington on Saturday. (Kyle Rivas/NWSL via Getty Images)
The NWSL’s second match weekend promises some standout matchups, as last week’s winners look to build while its losers attempt to shift the energy.
Last year’s top-four finishers square off against one another this weekend, while a pair teams searching for their first points of 2025 will do the same.
What to watch: While not a carbon copy of the 2024 playoffs, these heavyweight clashes could set the early-days tone for 2025’s championship favorites.
Washington Spirit vs. KC Current, Saturday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): Each coming off big regular-season opener wins, KC travels to DC for a game with great potential for attacking fireworks.Gotham FC vs. Orlando Pride, Sunday at 5 PM ET (ESPN2): Orlando sit atop the NWSL table after battering Chicago 6-0 last weekend, but now face a pragmatic and talented Gotham side in a game with chess match written all over it.Chicago Stars vs. Houston Dash, Sunday at 3 PM ET (Paramount+): After suffering tough losses last week, both Chicago and Houston are eager to put their first points on the board with bounce-back performances.
Bottom line: With a number of teams already looking close to mid-season form, these early NWSL matchups really could have major implications down the line.
USMNT vs. Canada: A desirable matchup with undesirable third-place stakes
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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, 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
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)
Matt Turner and the challenge of being first-choice goalkeeper for the USMNT but not his club
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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
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.
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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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
A youthful US ladies squad lost the She Believes Cup to Japan Thur night in San Diego as the experienced Japan squad simply had too much for the US ladies. Japan became the only team to score within 1 minute of kickoff as they a 1-0 lead less than 1 minute in when Campbell and young centerback ____ miss-communicated giving up an easy goal early. Honestly I thought Campbell was somewhat at fault on both goals as the GK position looks to be one of concern moving forward. The US answered back quickly behind the foot of left winger Ally Sentnor with this masterful strike-her second tournament goal, of the tourney. But Japan scored on a tap in off a free kick drop by Campbell to win it for Japan in the 2nd half.
Bottom line much like Manager Emma Hayes said after – the World Cup is a long way away – and its time to see if the kids can handle the top teams in the world. Of course most of Japan’s players play in Europe which is in midseason while the US NWSL starts in 3 weeks (and was missing Triple Expresso & Girma). The combo of a top 3 team in Japan vs a youthful US team was too much on this night – leading to Hayes’ first loss as US Manager. Still all in all – I think the Cup was a good tool in giving the youngsters time to improve and impress. No doubt wingers Ally Sentnor & Alyssa Thompson are ready to join the A team moving forward. Next up is Gold Medal foe Brazil in early April.
Liverpool coasted through the league phase, finding no issue winning every game except for their essentially dead-rubber game on Matchday 8. The last couple of months have not exactly been smooth sailing for the Reds, though – fatigue has set in a little bit, They have not dropped a ton of games and managed to book a spot in the EFL Cup final along the way, but the restrained control that was once the trademark of Arne Slot’s team has given way for some hard-fought results.
As long as Mohamed Salah is around, though, they will be hard to count out. The Egypt international is up to 30 goals and 22 assists across all competitions, putting himself not only in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or but perhaps putting together the greatest-ever season from a Premier League attacker. It will not be an easy feat against Paris Saint-Germain, but the French champions have been vulnerable over the course of the Champions League season – and that might be the perfect set-up for Salah.
2. Madrid derby, Champions League edition
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will have to go through each other for a spot in the last eight, which is intriguing in its own right. The current state of both teams makes this a very fascinating tie, though.
The reigning champions can take some positives from ousting Manchester City in the knockout phase playoffs, but this season has not exactly been straightforward for the star-studded Real Madrid. Look no further than Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Real Betis in La Liga play, a game in which they were not only outshot 18-9 but fully outplayed by the opposition. That loss came after a handful of key defenders returned from injury, signaling that the imbalance that has plagued Los Blancos for a year and change could linger for a little while longer.
On the flip side, Atletico Madrid have been a surprise contender in both La Liga and the Champions League. They were inside the top eight during the league phase and are currently just one point behind Barcelona in La Liga, finding new life in Diego Simeone’s tried-and-true system. It helps that their goalscorers have been in fine form all season long, with each of Julian Alvarez, Antoine Griezmann and Alexander Sorloth scoring 13 or more goals this season. They present a formidable challenge to Real Madrid, who have not beat them yet this season.
3. Are Bayern Munich in good shape?
Bayern Munich may have advanced out of the knockout phase playoffs, but a narrow win over a competitive Celtic side is not exactly the vote of confidence manager Vincent Kompany might be looking for in his first season in charge. The challenge of staying in the Champions League will get harder this week when they take on the team that beat them to the Bundesliga title last season – Bayer Leverkusen.
These two faced each other in league play just a few weeks ago, a game in which Bayern were lucky to leave 0-0. Leverkusen generated 2.16 expected goals but somehow managed not to score, while Bayern took just two shots and were unable to put a single one on frame. The eight-point deficit in the Bundesliga may be too much for them to overcome at this rate, but Leverkusen’s steady form in the league phase teases that they may have the goods to get one over on Bayern.
As a result, Kompany’s side have a lot to prove in this tie. There’s a lot of discussion out there that they can hang in the Bundesliga just fine, but they have not exactly stacked up well against European competitions. The round of 16 offers a chance to correct course – or demonstrate that they are a step behind.
Mike A, T Ray and Shane Reffing the Girls Showcase at Grand Park last weekend. Happy to be back on the fields – even it was cold as heck – Boys Showcase this weekend !! Mohamed, T Ray and me first tourney of the season at the Girls Showcase at Grand Park last weekend
GAMES ON TV
Tues, March 4 Champions League
12:45 pm Par+, Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
3 pm Para+, CBSSN Dortmund (Reyna) vs Lille
3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
3 pm Para+ PSV (Ledezma) vs Arsenal
6 pm Fox Sport 2 Cincy vs Tigres UANL Champs Cup
8:30 pm FS2 Pumas vs Alajuelense
Weds, Mar 5
12:45 pm Para+CBSSN Feyenord vs Inter
3 pm Para+ Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
3 pm Para+ PSG vs Liverpool
3 pm Para + Benefica vs Barcelona
8:30 pm FS2 Herediano vs LA Galaxy Champs Cup
10:30 pm FS2 Seattle Sounders vs Cruz Azul
Thur, Mar 6 Europa League
12:45 pm Para+ Tottenham vs AZ
12:45 pm Para+ Kobenhavn vs Chelsea
12:45 pm Para+, CBSSN Fenerbahce vs Rangers
12:45 pm Para+ FSCB vs Olympique Lyonnais
12:45 pm Para+ Sociadad vs Man United
3 pm CBSSN Roma vs Athletic Club
8 pm Fox Sports 2 Inter Miami (Messi) vs Cavalier
Fr, Mar 7
2:30 pm ESPN+ Borussia MGladbach (Scally) vs Mainz
(American’s in Parenthesis)
last Saturday
Crystal Palace v Millwall – 7:15a on ESPN+
Matt Turner has started both Crystal Palace’s FA Cup matches this season as has Chris Richards so we may again see both American’s in action this weekend as Crystal Palace host Millwall in Cup action on Saturday.
Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion 8 am ESPN+
Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United host fifth place West Brom looking to extend their five point lead for first place in the Championship. Aaronson has cooled off a bit with just one goal contribution in the teams past ten matches but continues to start regularly, including last weeks win over second place Sheffield United.
Atalanta v Venezia – 9a on Paramount+
Gianluca Busio and Venezia visit Atalanta this weekend. Busio has started the last two matches on the bench though come in for solid playing time in both. Last weekend Venezia played fifth place Lazio to a scoreless draw.
Heidenheim v Borussia Monchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN+
Joe Scally and Borussia Monchengladbach travel to Heidenheim on Saturday looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to Augsburg. Gladbach are in ninth place and still within striking distance of the top four.
St. Pauli v Borussia Dortmund – 9:30a on ESPN+
Gio Reyna saw a rare start last weekend in Borussia Dortmund’s 6-0 shellacking of Union Berlin, though four of those goals came after Reyna had been subbed off in the 70th minute. Dortmund will place St. Pauli this weekend who have lost three straight but still have a six point cushion between themselves and relegation.
AFC Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers – 10a on ESPN+
Tyler Adams and Bournemouth host Wolverhampton on Saturday in a cup match between the two Premier League sides. Adams has been starting pretty regularly, including Bournemouth’s last two FA cup matches but he was used as a sub last weekend as his team fell to Wolves 1-0 in league play.
Real Betis v Real Madrid – 12:30p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis will host Real Madrid on Saturday. Cardoso has started nine straight but he did come off the bench early this season as Betis fell to Madrid 2-0.
Go Ahead Eagles v PSV – 12:45p on ESPN+
Perhaps we shouldn’t be tracking PSV at this point as the only healthy American is Richard Ledezma, who reportedly did not make the 60 man provisional roster for the March USMNT camp. However, the team does play on Saturday and need to get back on track after a four match winless streak that has them in second place, five points back of league leading Ajax.
Sunday
Olympique Lyon v Brest – 9a on beIN Sports
Tanner Tessmann has started three straight and played the full ninety last weekend as Lyon fell to PSG 3-2. The team will host Brest on Sunday.
Manchester United v Fulham – 11:30a on ESPN+
Antonee Robinson and Fulham will travel to Manchester to face a Man U side that defeated Ipswich Town last weekend but remain in fourteenth place in the EPL. Fulham fell to United in their season opener 1-0 but since then have pretty easily looked the better side and are coming off a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton.
Augsburg v Freiburg – 11:30a on ESPN+
Noahkai Banks has not seen the field the last couple of weeks for Augsburg who will host Freiburg on Sunday.
AC Milan v Lazio – 2:45p on Paramount+
Yunus Musah started and Christian Pulisic came off the bench mid-week as Milan fell 2-1 for the second straight match and dropped back to eighth place in the Serie A table. Milan are now eight points back of Juventus for fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying spot.
Monday
Juventus v Verona – 2:45p on Paramount+
Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus will look to tighten their grip on Champions League qualification when they host fourteenth place Verona on Monday afternoon.
FA Cup Schedule this Weekend
Champions League
What to know about the Champions League round of 16
When this is offside — we have gone way to far with VAR !!
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Japan snaps USWNT unbeaten streak
Last night’s 2-1 USWNT loss is their first under manager Emma Hayes. (Ben Nichols/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
The USWNT suffered their first loss under head coach Emma Hayes on Wednesday, falling 2-1 to Japan and ceding the SheBelieves Cup title for the first time in five years.
In her post-game remarks, Hayes called the tournament winners “without question one of the best teams in the world, with players that are extremely well played-in together.”Top scorer Mina Tanaka took home the Best Player award, after leading Japan to their first-ever SheBelieves Cup title.
How it happened: Needing only a draw to lift the trophy thanks to goal differential, Japan’s Yūka Momiki opened scoring almost immediately, putting the Nadeshiko up 1-0 in the second minute after a scramble in the USWNT’s penalty area.
The USWNT drew level in the 14th minute behind Ally Sentnor’s second tournament goal, before second-half sub Tōko Koga slotted in game-winner shortly after taking the pitch.
Big picture: While the US walked away defeated, Hayes remained adamant that prioritizing player pool evaluation and showcasing less experienced players over winning at all costs will pay off in the long run.
“You’re comparing Hasegawa to a 17-year-old for us,” Hayes told TBS, referencing 28-year-old world-renown Japan and Man City defensive midfielder Yui Hasegawa. “Let’s have some perspective. I think it’s important to be calm in this moment.”“It’s okay to be disappointed — I told the players that,” she added. “It’s really important to remember moments like this and the learnings that we take from it… [You] learn the most important things when you play a top-class opponent. I’d rather do that now than much later.”
Takeaway: Any loss stings for the world’s No. 1 team, but Hayes’s outspoken commitment to developing young players as the USWNT starts down the long road to the next major tournament leaves fans no option but to trust the process.
Why USWNT’s loss to Japan in SheBelieves Cup could be a ‘good thing’ for Emma Hayes’ team
Melanie Anzidei The Athletic Thu, February 27, 2025 at 8:31 AM EST·
Why USWNT’s loss to Japan in SheBelieves Cup could be a ‘good thing’ for Emma Hayes’ team
SAN DIEGO—The U.S. women’s national team has ended its five-year run as the reigning champions of the SheBelieves Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Japan.
It is a disappointing result for U.S. fans, marking Emma Hayes’ first loss in 15 matches since becoming head coach, but Wednesday’s game against a more experienced rival was a humbling and necessary step for the Americans as they focus on developing a new generation of players.
“I always go back to what our objectives were in the first place,” Hayes calmly told reporters after the game, “and that was to deepen our playing pool with opportunities in high-pressure situations against top opponents, and that’s what tonight (Wednesday), especially, is about.”
It’s no secret this latest camp was designed for Hayes and her coaching staff to observe seasoned U.S. players in a tournament setting. The goal was to determine where players were in their development, and whether they are ready for a regular spot on the senior team, or would be a better fit among Hayes’ burgeoning Under-23 project.
“We have to look at which players are ready for now, which players are ready for later, and which ones will go with the under-23s and which ones will develop with us,” Hayes said. “So, from that perspective, it was mission accomplished.”
Hayes experimented heavily with the SheBelieves line-up, even changing the team’s starting XI entirely from their opening game against Colombia to their second match with Australia, which ended in victory.
There were four senior debuts over three games, and a handful of breakout moments for young players such as 21-year-old Ally Sentnor and 17-year-old Lily Yohannes. Cat Macario, a familiar face in the national team circuit, also had a stellar comeback to the international stage after being sidelined for years because of a knee injury. She even scored for the U.S. for the first time in three years, finding the net in the 2-0 win over Colombia.
“We could look at the progress of Ally Sentnor, a young player coming into the senior camp, scoring a couple of goals, Lily Yohannes, getting her first two starts at senior level,” Hayes said. “There are plenty of new combinations and new connections, which throw up several challenges when you play a well-polished team.”
Those challenges are exactly why Hayes tapered expectations heading into the SheBelieves finale. Japan were dominant in the tournament, scoring 10 goals across three wins. They only needed a draw against the U.S. to lift their first SheBelieves title, but they quickly set the pace with an opening goal from Yuka Momiki in the second minute.
“I completely understood the quality of the opponent we would face,” Hayes said. “They, without question, (are) one of the best teams in the world, with players that are extremely well played-in together, while probably the vast majority of them being in the middle of their season (the NWSL resumes in March). That showed in the game, and it’s OK to be disappointed.”
Both goals in the 2-1 loss came following errors in front of goal. While the U.S. could respond to Japan’s first goal with an equalizer in the 14th minute through Sentnor, they failed to respond to Toko Koga’s strike in the 50th minute.
“Every cycle, there’s always a little upset like this — and it’s a really good thing for this team. No one likes losing. But there’s a lot of progress in our development and how we’re playing, our style, our identity, and really honing in on the details,” U.S. captain Lindsey Heaps said after the game. “We faced a really good team, they made it so difficult on us.
“It’s a hard loss, but we keep moving and we stay positive.”
There were glimpses of brilliance in their performance against Japan. The U.S. kept possession even and had more shots on target, with Heaps nearly scoring off several diving headers. The team was tapping on Japan’s door, but it proved too little too late by full time. As Hayes said, the only way the U.S. would improve against Japan and other top-level teams was to play against them and make those mistakes in real-time. The preference, of course, is to do that during an international friendly.
“This is a big learning opportunity. We’re a young team. We all haven’t played together for very long,” said 20-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who began her NWSL career in San Diego at 17 before being traded to the North Carolina Courage last month. “It just gives us something to go and work for and really dive deep into when we go back to our clubs, and continue to evolve as a team.”
Sentnor had a breakout tournament, scoring her first two international goals and netting an assist over three games to make her the sixth player to contribute in all three matches in a single edition of this tournament, following other U.S. standouts Tobin Heath (2019), Christen Press (2020), Heaps (2021), Alex Morgan (2023) and Mallory Swanson (2023), according to OptaJack.
“The young players, including myself, are just gonna learn a ton from playing against really tough opponents that are super technical,” said Sentnor. “I would have never believed I’d be in this position this early in my career, and the players around me have just helped me so much, so I’m hoping for more caps with this team and more opportunities, but I’m just so grateful for the ones I got this tournament.”
“You need moments to give you a sense of where you are in that path, but our future is exciting, regardless of the result,” Hayes said. “We played one of the best teams in the world, whose nucleus have played together for a long time, and it showed.
“We need to build the group and the larger pool that we think are going to progress us to the World Cup (in 2027), and now we have to develop our game model so that it plays out in with the qualities that we know you need to have to beat the very, very best teams at the top level.”
USWNT player review: Who stood out, stepped back or made a case for the future?
Meg Linehan and Jeff Rueter Fri, February 28, 2025 at 7:01 AM EST·
USWNT player review: Who stood out, stepped back or made a case for the future?
The 2025 SheBelieves Cup is in the rearview. For the first time in six years, the tournament trophy did not end up in the United States’ possession. Instead, Japan took top honors after a 2-1 win over the USWNT on Wednesday in San Diego.
However, this wasn’t the type of U.S. camp that would be deemed a failure or success by results alone. Head coach Emma Hayes selected plenty of her player pool’s more untested members to size up their readiness for her best possible squad.
“I always go back to what our objectives were in the first place — and that was to deepen our playing pool with opportunities in high-pressure situations against top opponents, and that’s what tonight especially was about,” Hayes said after the match. “From that perspective, it was mission accomplished.”
With 270 minutes of evidence to study, here are the players who stepped up, those who left us wanting more and those still waiting to strengthen their cases.
Who impressed?
Ally Sentnor
While Japan’s Mina Tanaka had the SheBelieves Cup MVP on lock for much of the tournament, forward Sentnor may have been the USWNT’s leading candidate for the award — and it wouldn’t have been down to just her incredible golazo against Colombia, either.
The challenge for Sentnor is the crowded forward pool. Despite adding a second goal against Japan, a class finish off a feed from Cat Macario, Sentnor’s really going to have to fight to stay in the mix among Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Wilson. Sentnor likely did enough to book a trip to California in April for the Brazil friendlies, but if the starting forward line is back, her mission becomes ensuring she capitalizes on her chances as a second-half substitute.
“Ally has demonstrated in her rise through the youth national teams and in her first pro year (with the Royals) that she’s got qualities that can decide a game,” Hayes said after the loss to Japan. “She certainly finishes the very minimal chances she might get, and that’s what top players possess. I think she’s got that, and it will build her confidence to have had this tournament and be given a couple of starts.”
Tara McKeown
While Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson established themselves as a strong partnership in the Olympics, there is still space for newcomers to work into Hayes’ plans at center back. McKeown earned her first appearance with the team this tournament. While both Colombia and Japan seemed eager to attack her side of the back line in their first halves, McKeown largely looked the part. She also played a line-breaking assist to Sentnor for the forward’s unforgettable first international goal — a reminder of her ability to help in possession.
McKeown rejoins the Washington Spirit ready to further her case for USWNT inclusion.
“I’m sure she will have learned a lot about anything from her build-up angles and how you break pressure against the best opponents, to recognizing at the top, top level, games are usually decided by very marginal moments,” Hayes said Wednesday — stressing that it was a learning moment not just for McKeown but for the whole team.
Catarina Macario
At long last, the Chelsea forward reunited with her old club coach. Injuries kept Macario off of the USWNT’s squads for the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics, but the 25-year-old figures to be a major part of Hayes’ plans moving forward. She showcased how she can change a game across her two appearances, capping a great team sequence in the opener for her first international goal since April 12, 2022.
She later played a crisp assist to Sentnor against Japan that resulted in the USWNT’s lone goal.
Hayes said after the tournament that Macario had shown “moments of brilliance,” but still was not at full fitness. Opponents, be warned.
Lily Yohannes
The hype train for Yohannes was full steam ahead after the USWNT’s opening match against Colombia, even as Hayes urged everyone to give the 17-year-old time and space to develop. Yohannes got the start against Japan — a sign of Hayes’s trust in the biggest game of the tournament — but they were far more effective at containing Yohannes, especially when it came to mid- and long-range passing.
As Hayes said, despite her talent, Yohannes is still developing. Wednesday night showed that there’s still plenty of room for progress against a top team, even with the statement game she had in the USWNT opener against Colombia.
“(Yui) Hasegawa in the middle of the park is probably the best pivot in the world at both the domestic and international level,” Hayes said. “And our pivot is 17 years of age and has played in three caps. So we have to be patient too, in our expectations.”
Yazmeen Ryan
Ryan played more of a supporting role when she was with Gotham FC. She’ll get that leading woman opportunity in her first season with the Houston Dash, but the selfless elements that made her invaluable with Gotham also put her in good stead for this USWNT camp.
Ryan was a proactive carrier upfield to help the United States progress. Her interplay with Macario and Sentnor was especially sharp against Colombia.
Hayes also thought Ryan had her share of moments, both in terms of her passing and distribution and her ability to carry the ball upfield. But Hayes focused primarily on how to develop Ryan to unlock her next level, which included her defensive play, figuring out when to press and when to hold her position.
“I think there’s another layer of learning for her,” Hayes concluded, “but she’s shown some really good signs and shown, once again, the quality in her execution.”
Who missed the moment?
Goalkeepers
It’s never easy to follow up a program legend, and it’s clear that the current pool of USWNT goalkeeping options have big gloves to fill after Alyssa Naeher’s retirement. Jane Campbell and Mandy McGlynn were given the first opportunities in net after Naeher’s exit, and neither made an emphatic case to keep a hold of the No. 1 jersey for the foreseeable future.
Campbell misread the run-up to Japan’s early opener and took herself out of the play by running into teammate Emily Sonnett. On the second goal, her brilliant save on a free kick put the ball directly back into an opponent’s path, making it all too easy on the eventual tournament winner.
McGlynn conceded just once against Australia, but her positioning was clumsy as she was in two minds about whether to close down the shooter or get a strong positioning for a reflex save.
“Our job is to keep pushing and developing,” Hayes said of her goalkeepers after the Japan match, “and time will reveal where they both are. But I know I’ve been in this situation a lot of times in my career. I value patience in development, and I know that we have a plan, and it’s important for us to keep developing — as we are.”
The mainstays from the 2019 squad
With so many new faces in camp, Hayes was careful to balance their inexperience with some USWNT regulars to maintain continuity as they acclimated. These veterans were expected to put in consistent shifts to account for varying forms among their less-tested teammates. Unfortunately, the old guard also struggled in some crucial areas, especially those who remain from the 2019 world champions.
Lindsey Heaps looked especially frustrated in her games against Colombia and Japan. Playing as a No. 10, the Lyon midfielder sometimes gummed up the United States’ sequences as they entered the final third, getting in the way of her midfield’s progressive passing and trying to run into the same spaces as her center forward. The United States captain tried to make an impact aerially and by being in the position to play the final ball, but these were far from her best shifts to date.
Sonnett’s poorly timed slip helped gift Japan a clear shot for the opening goal, but the all-time SheBelieves minutes leader was otherwise her usually dependable self most often. The same can’t be said for Crystal Dunn, whose lack of playing time since the Paris Olympics was evident as she made unusual mistakes by her standard.
Despite her 157 caps, this felt like a camp in which Dunn was fighting for her spot in Hayes’ plans for the 2027 World Cup cycle. Dunn will likely stay part of the mix in this time of transition, but she’ll need to make more of an impact in future camps.
Ones for the future
Hal Hershfelt
Thanks to a stellar rookie year for the Spirit, Hershfelt had pried open a path into the USWNT midfield. Despite making the roster for the January training camp, Hershfelt didn’t get the nod for SheBelieves Cup. That may have been in part due to the return of multiple European-based players, but Hayes also opted to take a look at Claire Hutton this go-round.
Hershfelt still offers the USWNT real bite in the midfield and a knack for winning aerial duels all over the pitch, including on set pieces. While it feels unlikely that the window has been shut on future call-ups, this felt like the exact type of camp for a player like Hershfelt to shine.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce
Hayes opted for two goalkeepers on her squad in exchange for an additional field player, keeping Tullis-Joyce in camp as a training option. It was unfortunate that we weren’t able to see how the Manchester United netminder could have fared in tandem with the new wave of defenders, as her form in the Women’s Super League has been among the best of any player at her position.
Still, Hayes assured that Tullis-Joyce would eventually get a shot in goal for her team.
“This is just her second camp, she’s still getting to know people,” Hayes said, noting they’ve been keeping tabs on her performances with Manchester United and the areas they’d like to see improvement. “I’m sure Phallon will get her opportunities with us, but the other two (Campbell and McGlynn) have been around the group a little bit longer and built those connections and those relationships. Phallon will get her turn.”
More new kids
Hutton, Gisele Thompson and Emma Sears all got limited opportunities through these three matches, though all three started against Australia. With massive rotation from Hayes in that match, changing all 11 players from the tournament opener (just the sixth time it’s ever happened in program history), cohesion was always going to be a tall ask.
The USWNT will at least have some individual tape for these players, and more for Sears, but Hutton probably came the closest to standing out in the Australia match. Former USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski has relied on the 19-year-old defensive midfielder as the backbone of the Kansas City Current’s success, but much as Hayes has preached patience across the board, a solid performance against the current iteration of the Matildas isn’t the same level as a solid performance against Japan or Colombia.None of them should be worried about their standing with the USWNT, but all three are still in the early stages of being dropped into this environment and tested at the highest level.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.US Women’s national team, Soccer, NWSL
US Ladies Win 2-0 over Colombia, Play Australia Sun 5 pm on TBS, Wed 10:30 pm vs Japan It was nice to see the US look good vs Colombia with a whole lot of new faces on the field. A 2-0 SheBelieves Cup win over Colombia in Houston on Thursday night. Chelsea midfielder Cat Macario (back after 3 years from a torn MCL) and Utah Royals’ Ally Sentnor were the difference for the U.S., the latter scoring in her first start with the senior national team. US vs Colombia Highlights. I thought the whole team looked good – hard getting used to Captain Lindsay Horan being called her new married name of Heaps. The US really dominated play – Gothem’s Ashley Ryan had a couple of nice shots and an assist on the night playing in Rose’s role. Playing as the chief line-breaker behind Sentnor, Lindsey Heaps, and Ryan, 17 year old Lilly Yohannes continually slotted the ball between Colombian midfielders and defenders leading to the first goal. The D lead by Sonnet, Nighswonger were solid and Campbell was really not tested in goal. The US next plays Sunday at 5 pm with a match against Australia in Glendale on TBS. The final day of the competition is Wed vs Japan at 10:30 pm on TBS @ Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Calif.
Champions League see’s Most American’s Eliminated First it was AC Milan with Pulisic and Musah with a devastating loss at home to Feynord 2-1 knocking them out before the round of 16. Then Celtic with American centerbacks Cameron Carter Vickers and Aaron Trusty showing their quality but still barely losing at Bayern in the closing seconds. And of course the final had my precious Juventus losing a heartbreaking game at home to PSV 3-1 despite a goal from American Tim Weah and a full 120 for McKinney. Of course PSV has 4 American’s but only 1 is playing in RB Ledezma as the others are lost for the season (although Dest might return soon). Either way it was a heartbreaking 2 days leading into the Round of 16 as their were more Americans in the knock-out stages than ever before. As many as 9 American’s started in the knockout rounds and only a couple are moving thru.. 😦
MLS Season Kicks off 30th Season Friday night on Apple
So MLS is back underway in what is Messi’s 3rd year of a 3 yr contract with Inter-Miami. While Messi has sold out stadiums nationwide – MLS refusal to allow his games to be played on normal TV – in my opinion has drastically limited his impact. Yes you still need Apple TV and a $100 MLS Season pass to see MLS regular season games — and most of them are all played at the same time on Saturday nights. Absolutely clueless! I can’t say I am excited for the season — as honestly I watch about 1/10th the # of games I used to watch before Apple. I still love Seattle and try to follow Cincy, Miami and Atlanta United – but its so much easier to watch EPL – lets be honest. Anyway I have included a bunch of stories about MLS, season predictions and more. I will say Champions Cup games are on weeknights on Fox Sports 2 which many people have-I have included them on the TV schedule. Also rumor has it the Sunday night Games might be Free on Apple TV – trying to establish Sunday night Futbol by MLS.
Big Games this Weekend Liverpool @ Man City on Sun 11:30 am leads the big games this weekend, along with New Castle vs Forest on USA at 9 am. American’s will face off Sat at 10 am on Peacock as Fulham & Robinson hosts Crystal Palace and Chris Richards. AC Milan w/Pulisic & Musah travel to Torino at Sat at 12 on Para+ in a must win, while Juve with Weah/Mckinney play Cagliari on CBS Golazo/Para+ at 2:45 pm on Sunday. MLS has LA vs Minn United on Fox at 4:30 pm Sat along with Miami vs NYCFC at 7:30 pm free on Apple TV.
Here’s a bullet-point rundown of the USMNT players whose clubs were in action this week (Monday through Thursday). Well, there were 13 Americans alive in Champions League on Monday, and now it’s down to just 6 (Dest, Tillman, Pepi, Ledezma, Reyna, and Cole Campbell). And of those six, Dest, Tillman, and Pepi are out injured, and Campbell hasn’t been involved with Dortmund’s first team squad in a while. So, it’s basically Reyna and Ledezma now.
I divided players by position groups (for me personally, that helps my depth-chart-oriented brain to process this information most usefully). Within position groups, players are listed in order of when their games took place.
Strikers
19-year-old Kristian Fletcher is on loan at Nottingham Forest from DC United. Fletcher scored for Forest’s U21s on Monday, making it three straight games with a goal.
Kristian Fletcher’s goal for Nottingham Forest’s U21s on Monday. Would prove to be the winner in a 1-0 win over Stoke.
Brenden Aaronson started and played 78 minutes for Leeds United in a 2-1 win over Sunderland at Elland Park on Monday. The game was 1-1 when Brenden came off the field, Leeds got the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Christian Pulisic started for AC Milan and played 63 minutes in their 1-1 draw with Feyenoord on Tuesday. Pulisic sent in a near-perfect cross to set up Milan’s only goal. Milan lost 1-2 on aggregate, and are eliminated from Champions League.
DREAM START AT THE SAN SIRO!
Santi Giménez stays hot for Milan with a scrappy goal inside the first minute against his former club pic.twitter.com/q2tzmpq9go— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 18, 2025
Djordje Mihailovic played the full 90 in the Colorado Rapids’ 2-1 Concacaf Champions Cup win over LAFC on Tuesday, scoring both Colorado goals. First, a penalty, to open the scoring, and then an 80th-minute free kick that curled into the top corner to give the Rapids a 2-1 lead heading into the second leg (highlights).
Gio Reyna played 21 minutes off the bench for Borussia Dortmund in a 0-0 draw with Sporting CP on Wednesday. BVB advanced 3-0 on aggregate, and will continue their Champions League journey.
Cole Campbell was an unused sub for Dortmund against Sporting CP on Wednesday.
Tim Weah played all 120 minutes for Juventus in the 1-3 loss to PSV on Wednesday. Weah scored Juve’s only goal. The goal was initially ruled offside before eventually being given.
Taylor Booth subbed on in the 106th minute to play 15 minutes for Twente in a 2-5 loss to Bodø/Glimt on Thursday. Twente lost 4-6 on aggregate, and are out of Europa League.
Center mids
Gianluca Busio played 33 minutes off the bench for Venezia in their 0-2 loss at Genoa on Monday.
Yunus Musah started and played 83 minutes for AC Milan in their 1-1 draw with Feyenoord on Tuesday. Milan lost 1-2 on aggregate, and are knocked out of Champions League.
Weston McKennie played the full 120 minutes for Juventus in the 1-3 loss to PSV on Wednesday, as Juve bowed out of Champions League.
Benja Cremaschi played 11 minutes off the bench for Inter Miami in a 1-0 win over Sporting on Wednesday.
Johnny Cardoso played 31 minutes off the bench for Real Betis in a 0-1 loss to Gent. Betis won the tie 3-1 on aggregate, and are moving on to the next round of Conference League.
Fullbacks
Reggie Cannon started for the Colorado Rapids and was subbed out in the 90th minute of their 2-1 win over LAFC in Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday (highlights).
Sergiño Dest was not in PSV’s squad for their 3-1 win over Juventus on Wednesday, but he is back in training!
Richy Ledezma started for PSV and played 78 minutes in the 3-1 win over Juve on Wednesday. A report on X claimed that USMNT staff was at the match, primarily to scout Ledezma.
Center-backs
Cameron Carter-Vickers played the full 90 for Celtic in their 1-1 draw away to Bayern Munich. Alphonso Davies’ goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time was enough to eke out a 3-2 aggregate win for Bayern, knocking Celtic out of Champions League.
Auston Trusty also played the full 90 for Celtic in the 1-1 draw with Bayern.
Jackson Ragen played the full 90 for the Seattle Sounders in the 3-1 away win over Antigua GFC on Wednesday.
Miles Robinson played the full 90 for FC Cincinnati in a 4-1 win over Motagua on Wednesday in Concacaf Champions Cup.
Matt Miazga tore his ACL in October, he missed the Motagua game. FotMob lists him as expected to return in late June.
Goalkeepers
Diego Kochen was an unused sub for FC Barcelona in their 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano at home on Monday.
Drake Callender was not in Inter Miami’s squad for their 1-0 win over Sporting KC on Wednesday. The club stated that he wasn’t 100% fit, making him unavailable for this match, but he appeared to be fully participating in training. Miami signed 38-year-old Argentine ‘keeper Oscar Ustari in September; Ustari got the start against SKC and kept a clean sheet.
Roman Celentano played the full 90 for FC Cincinnati in the 4-1 win over Motagua on Wednesday, making 4 saves (and conceding the one goal, obviously).
What were your takeaways from this weekend? What changes would you make to the format of these articles? Hit the comments to discuss.
MLS Predictions from Around the Web
American’s Tim Weah (who scored) and Weston McKinney were rated the best players in Juve’s loss.
Promising Champions League for USMNT stars turns dire in a flash
A once-promising UEFA Champions League campaign for Americans took a gruesome turn in the playoff knockout phase of the new-look competition after AC Milan, Juventus and Celtic’s eliminations took out a half dozen U.S. internationals in the process.
Although Borussia Dortmund have two U.S. players on their squad and PSV have four, both Dortmund players are late-game options at best, while PSV’s three-high profile Americans are all injured. The fourth at PSV, Richy Ledezma, started again at right back in Wednesday’s extra-time ouster of Juventus, but the 24-year-old earned his only call-up to the senior national team in 2020 and maintains eligibility for Mexico.In the meantime, high-profile core stars Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Tim Weah and Weston McKennie are done with European competition this season, while Celtic center backs and U.S. hopefuls Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty also won’t be tested by the continent’s finest anymore following last-gasp elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich (and Canadian goal-scoring hero Alphonso Davies).The final blow came Wednesday, when PSV outlasted Juventus, 4-3 on aggregate. This was the second consecutive day in which an Eredivisie side knocked off a team from Serie A in dramatic fashion, following Feyenoord’s surprising triumph over Milan.
It appeared Juventus were on their way through in the 63rd minute, when Weah, playing as a right back as he often does for the club, ran onto a cleared corner kick and connected with power and precision from 25 yards out. The linesman initially called the sequence off, spotting an offside Juventus teammate on the initial corner kick, but VAR intervened and left the center official to deem that Kelly did not influence the play in any phase. The awarded goal allowed Weah to become the fifth USMNT player to score in this season’s Champions League.
Weah was impactful throughout his shift, but a 74th-minute goal from Ismael Saibari forced extra time, while Ryan Flamingo put the tie away in the 98th minute on a scramble in front of goal following a well-executed free kick. The result sees PSV through to the round of 16 instead of Juve and another abrupt ending for Americans in Europe following a largely prolific run through the league phase.
With comparatively little laying ahead for marquee USMNT members in the Champions League now – Dortmund’s Gio Reyna and Cole Campbell join the PSV quartet in the last 16 – it’s worth examining how the full contingent fared up until the playoff round, digging into the numbers and finding a relative standing.
Through Wednesday’s knockout playoff second legs, USMNT-eligible players have logged 5,009 minutes across 82 games, with 53 of those shifts coming as starts. When they played, every American player had a record of at least .500 – meaning their teams won at least as many games as they lost when they were involved.Entering the round of 16, USMNT-eligible players’ involvement ranged from Trusty, who logged 815 minutes with Celtic, to Dortmund’s latest Yankee youngster, Cole Campbell, who made one 13-minute cameo. Extra time in Eindhoven helped the group exceed 5,000 minutes of play, comfortably eclipsing the previous high of 3,985 minutes logged in 2021-22. A year earlier, Pulisic became the first American man to play in a Champions League final, helping Chelsea beat Manchester City in Porto. Barring a surprising run to the final by either PSV or Dortmund, he’s likely to retain that distinction into 2025-26.
Understandably, an uptick in playing time helped the group set another record for goals scored in the Champions League by Americans (13; Pulisic led all U.S. scorers with four), an impressive feat reached well before the competition’s final four rounds. For context, American players scored 12 Champions League goals in the previous four editions – combined.
This season’s efforts ehaven’t been garbage-time scoreline-padders, either. Three goals proved to be game-winners, with Pepi swinging matches for PSV with both of his successful strikes and McKennie making the difference for Juventus on one occasion. Tillman, who keyed a comeback vs. Shakhtar Donetsk that Pepi finished off, also swung a result, playing a needed assist to Flamingo during the league phase. Weah’s strike on Wednesday was undoubtedly meaningful, even if its impact was short-lived.
So where does that baker’s dozen place the U.S. in the national golden boot race? Unfortunately, quite far from the podium places — but in impressive standing when given proper context.
Through the tournament’s playoff round, players from the U.S. are tied for the 13th-highest goal return, at level standing with Norway. Ten contingents above them are UEFA-affiliated nations, while the other two (Brazil and Argentina) have long been assimilated into the European game’s highest levels. As such, the U.S. has provided the third-most goals to this year’s Champions League of any non-UEFA nation, while they’ve chipped in more than any country outside of Europe and South America. Japan is next with 12 goals, while Guinea, Nigeria and Morocco are tied at 10.The fellow 2026 World Cup cohosts are a little further down the hierarchy. Canada is tied for 22nd with nine, most recently Davies’ late decider against Celtic, while all six of Mexico’s goals came from Santiago Giménez. The only other goal scored by a Concacaf player came from César Blackman, with the Panama right back scoring once for ŠK Slovan Bratislava.Some rationale for the Americans’ success this year is the inevitable result of the game’s globalization – an increase in opportunities from players who hail from beyond UEFA’s nations.
The new Champions League format also increases the number of paths into the competition. Teams operating a rung below their nation’s title favorites can still claim one of a healthy number of berths into the tournament field — teams of Dortmund, Juventus and Milan’s caliber at present. There is also more consistent access to the tournament for the best teams of perceived second-tier competitions, like the ones often dominated by Celtic and PSV. Any team that reaches the league phase is guaranteed more games than they enjoyed in the old group-stage format, with every participant playing eight games before the first wave of elimination.Still, none of this makes this week’s trio of eliminations any easier to digest. Milan will feel especially disappointed, having nearly finished high enough in the league phase standings to skip the playoff altogether. Ultimately, a tumultuous season that necessitated a December coaching change extended into Europe. Juventus will also rue its missed chances on Wednesday, having been just over a quarter of an hour away from reaching the round of 16. And while Celtic was a mighty underdog in its clash with Bayern, the Scottish giant performed admirably and nearly forced extra time at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.As such, the USMNT’s best player (Pulisic), one of its most consistent attackers (Weah), two vital midfielders (McKennie and Musah) and two World Cup hopefuls at center back (Carter-Vickers and Trusty) are all left to watch the knockout bracket transpire like the rest of us.Perhaps Reyna has one last star contribution to make for Dortmund. Maybe Ledezma’s shifts at right back will work him into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans. After a week like this, however, those silver linings are hard to spot. The U.S.’s best chances to have another prominent player reach the Champions League final have all failed to materialize.(Top photo: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
USMNT’s Christian Pulisic denies rift with Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao
Christian Pulisic has denied any fallout with Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao and described such suggestions as “unacceptable lies”.Conceicao replaced Paulo Fonseca as Milan head coach on December 30 and oversaw a busy January transfer window, when five players — including Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez and loan arrivals of Joao Felix and Kyle Walker — joined the club.
USMNT captain Pulisic has not started the club’s last two Serie A games against Hellas Verona and Empoli, but did play from the start in both of the side’s Champions League play-off games against Feyenoord — which the Italian side lost 2-1 on aggregate.Following suggestions in the Italian media that he had asked to leave the club at the end of the season after a supposed rift with the 50-year-old head coach after last month’s Champions League loss at Dinamo Zagreb, Pulisic has responded via Milan’s social media.“I have never argued with the coach and I have never asked to leave,” Pulisic, 26, said.“I am very happy at Milan and I want to continue wearing this shirt. Reading these lies is unacceptable, but let’s all continue to remain united and fight together on the pitch, for the club and for our fans.”Pulisic has made 33 appearances in total in all competitions this season, scoring 12 goals and adding nine assists.Milan, who are seventh in Serie A, are back in action on Saturday with a league match away at Torino (Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
USWNT 2, Colombia 0: Macario scores in her return, Sentnor stuns with first goal
The U.S. women’s national team’s 2025 opened up with a 2-0 SheBelieves Cup win over Colombia in Houston on Thursday night. Chelsea midfielder Cat Macario and Utah Royals’ Ally Sentnor were the difference for the U.S., the latter scoring in her first start with the senior national team. With plenty of rotation and debuts expected across the friendly tournament from head coach Emma Hayes, and a starting XI that was missing some of the team’s biggest names, the victory was a promising start to what should prove to be a year of evaluation.
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Beyond the two goalscorers, midfielder Lily Yohannes had a statement performance, making her first start for the team. Her passing game out of the midfield directly led to Macario’s opening goal, and she proved her mettle defensively against a tough Colombia team. In the waning moments of stoppage time, she nearly connected with Lynn Biyendolo with a pass off the outside of her foot that had a solid chance of being the third goal.
While Hayes has promised that she will allow Yohannes to develop on her own schedule, the 17-year-old’s performance showed she’s perfectly capable of fighting for a more consistent starting role on the USWNT.
Catarina Macario marks her return to the USWNT with a goal against Colombia. (Jack Gorman / Getty Images)
Welcome back Catarina Macario
This has been Macario’s third reintroduction to the USWNT pool, and she took full advantage of the moment. It wasn’t a shock that the European-based players looked a little sharper from the jump on Thursday, but Macario’s connection with Yohannes was immediately promising for the U.S.Her first-half goal was the final touch on a well-worked sequence that started with Yohannes, who sent a ball to Yazmeen Ryan. Streaking in off the right wing to a more central position, Ryan only needed to square it to Macario, who smashed it home from close range. The goal was her first with the national team since April 12, 2022, a whopping 1,045 days.“I just felt like it was a big weight off my shoulders,” Macario told the TBS broadcast after the game. “Just so happy, so thrilled to be scoring for the national team again, to be playing again. … It means the whole world.”It was Macario’s first goal in three years. She missed the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics recovering from an ACL tear.
Macario offers so much more than goal scoring though. Colombia’s physicality didn’t throw her — a promising sign for Macario, who has grappled with injuries for so long — but it did limit her ability to create with the ball at her feet. As Just Women’s Sports reporter Claire Watkins pointed out during the game, Macario’s service on set pieces and corner kicks is something the USWNT could certainly benefit from. It could also potentially free up someone like Mal Swanson. With Megan Rapinoe’s retirement, the team could use a new dedicated set piece maestro, and Macario makes a compelling case.Macario exited in the 64th minute as Hayes continues to evaluate her pool of players. Is the Chelsea midfielder set for a repeat of her 2022 SheBelieves MVP performance? It’s probably going to come down to how many minutes she gets over the next week — but Thursday was a solid start for her 2025 campaign.
— Meg Linehan
Ally Sentnor celebrates scoring her first goal for the U.S. women’s national team. (Brad Smith / Getty Images)
Who is Ally Sentnor?
In a camp full of players looking to work into Hayes’ plans for the coming years, it’s important to make a lasting impression. Sentnor, 21, certainly made her mark on Tuesday, scoring a golazo early in the second half to put the U.S. ahead 2-0.
This year has hardly started, but she arguably submitted the highlight of her budding career in the 60th minute against Colombia on Thursday. Collecting a pass through the midfield from Tara McKeown, Sentnor beat one opponent on her dribble, then a second, as she cut from the left half-space into the central channel. From there, she looked up and saw an opening, uncorking a knuckling shot from over 25 yards out that caught Colombia goalkeeper Katherine Tapia flat-footed as it curled into the far upper corner.
The versatile attacking midfielder, who was Sports Illustrated’s SportsKid of the Year in 2019, a year before USC basketball star JuJu Watkins, played collegiately with the vaunted North Carolina Tar Heels, overcoming a torn ACL in her freshman year to earn first-team All-ACC honors in her two seasons before going pro. She became the final player taken first overall in the NWSL’s draft before it was eliminated in the most recent collective bargaining agreement, landing with the Utah Royals.In 2024, Sentnor kept on shooting. Utah needed her to step up from the opening whistle of its first match, as the club thrust her into a starring role. She relished the responsibility, tapping into the bag of tricks she worked to refine as a youth player. As she told the TBS broadcast, her diminutive size forced her to hone in on her technique, both in terms of dribbling and shooting quickly with power before her opposing mark could contain her.Sentnor kept busy as a rookie, finishing ninth among all NWSL players by attempting 68 shots in 1,866 minutes. She also played a key role for the United States at the U-20 World Cup, scoring three goals en route to a bronze medal finish last year, the nation’s best showing at the tournament since 2012. She was a deserving winner of U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year award and earned two senior team appearances late in the year to cap a memorable year.
It was only her first start for Hayes’ side, but with her unpredictable ingenuity, Sentnor is bound to get a few more looks in this tournament and beyond. Two days after celebrating her birthday, it was a performance she and fans won’t soon forget.
— Jeff Rueter
Lily Yohannes earns her first start for the U.S. against Colombia. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
The Lily Yohannes era begins
Last year, Yohannes made history, becoming the third-youngest goalscorer in USWNT history. The then-16-year-old midfielder, playing against South Korea in a June friendly, calmly slotted the ball through a congested penalty box and into the net at Allianz Field. Although she didn’t score again on Thursday, her composure on the ball made her an undeniable standout.
The Ajax midfielder made her first start for Hayes in the SheBelieves Cup, donning the number 11 shirt in Sophia Wilson’s absence. It was Yohannes who sparked the sequence leading to Macario’s opening goal, spraying an inch-perfect lobbed pass into Ryan’s path.
Throughout the rest of her shift, she played with control and poise beyond her 17 years. Playing as the chief line-breaker behind Sentnor, Lindsey Heaps, and Ryan, Yohannes continually slotted the ball between Colombian midfielders and defenders. It wasn’t a case of an opponent being oblivious to one repeated trick, either. There were more lobbed balls over the back line and into the wings, as well as through balls rolling up the half-space hit with the outside of her foot and swift first-touch passes to pry the ball off an opponent’s boot.
For the fans who toughed out a brisk night in Houston, it was a display that radiated plenty of promise.
— Rueter
Tara McKeown makes her USWNT debut against Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup. (Maria Lysaker / Getty Images)
Trying out new players
Center backs aren’t often expected to rack up assists from the run of play. Their passing is often limited to short-range circulation, while a healthy portion of their passes are speculative launches that, statistically more often than not, miss their intended target.
As one veteran defender told me years ago: “I’m well aware I’m the last player fans pay to see on the ball.” Making her USWNT debut, Tara McKeown provided a compelling counterargument to that point.
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Earning her first senior cap as part of the starting lineup, McKeown played the ball that let Sentnor wreak havoc through Colombia’s midfield en route to her long-range goal. In the hour preceding that sequence, the Washington Spirit defender was tested often by Colombia, with Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramirez looking particularly eager to test the 25-year-old. The United States’ clean sheet speaks for itself, with McKeown and center back partner Emily Sonnett also keeping possession moving whenever the ball went their way. It was a fine showing that warrants subsequent looks.
Also making her debut, Gisele Thompson came on in the 76th minute. The Angel City left back made her club debut last year, joining her older sister (United States winger Alyssa) to kick off her professional career. By the time she joined the action, the scoreline was already 2-0 with neither team showing the same attacking verve that typified the game’s middle half-hour. With new Arsenal signing Jenna Nighswonger getting the start, we could see Thompson make one of Hayes’ two remaining starting lineups at the SheBelieves Cup.
— Rueter
What’s next?
In the first match of the SheBelieves Cup, Japan throttled Australia with a 4-0 victory. Royals forward Mina Tanaka was a standout, scoring a brace and adding an assist in the win. Thanks to the goal differential, Japan is currently atop the table for the tournament, followed by the U.S.
HOUSTON—For Catarina Macario, the euphoria she felt makes the moment hard to remember.Seventeen-year-old Lily Yohannes had just floated the ball to fellow striker Yazmeen Ryan, who only needed a simple touch to put the ball exactly where Macario knew she needed to be. In one swift motion, Macario shot the ball past Colombia’s goalkeeper, finding the back of the net like she’d done countless times before. This time, though, was special.Macario’s return to the pitch is, of course, a significant milestone. The team’s overall performance against Colombia is also another, as Hayes continues to emphasize player development and experimenting with their roster.The sequence between Yohannes, Ryan and Macario was the first time the trio had played together in a competitive setting. Despite their limited experiences during practice, their chemistry offered a promising glimpse into the possibilities that lay ahead for the national team and its growing player pipeline.“That’s what I was most proud of tonight,” Hayes said. “The team kept really good structure considering they haven’t played together before. What I’ve learned from coaching is, the better structured your teams are, especially at the higher level, the better they feel about expressing themselves within it – but you have to give them that foundation.”
Hayes was happy with the performance (Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
That foundation appears to be bubbling.
Macario’s goal in the 33rd minute came just as the U.S. was finding its footing on the pitch against Colombia. This momentum continued into the second half, punctuated by Ally Sentnor scoring the team’s second goal in the 60th minute. This marked her first international goal, from an assist by Tara McKeown, who also enjoyed her national team debut that night.
“I felt it was a really important goal to really help us finish off the game,” said captain Emily Sonnett, who was honored for her 100th cap ahead of the game. “But I think that just really speaks to the younger players who are coming in, coming off the bench, but also how deep the pool is right now.”
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When Sentnor scored from outside the box, universal joy was evident on the players’ faces. The stadium erupted as players embraced the 21-year-old. Macario’s smile was so wide it was as if she had just scored another goal, too.
“That’s such a big moment,” Macario said. “Whenever anyone scores the first goal for the national team, that’s unforgettable.”
Macario exited the match four minutes later, with an emotional Hayes embracing her for her own unforgettable moment.
Hayes recalled telling her: “Everybody is super happy, super proud, and I’m sure everybody back in Chelsea is, too.”
Champions League Drama on Final Group Day Gives us Interesting Knockout Round Match-ups
Not sure these were the match-ups that UEFA was imagining when they laid out this new Champions League format. Sure Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Leverkusen are all automatic qualifiers in the top 8 but just look at the huge teams having to battle just to get to the final 16? Real Madrid vs Man City in the Knockout Stage ?? Are you kidding? Of course some would argue how could City even make this stage after only winning 2 games in the first 7? Knockout rounds start the 2nd week of Feb while the top 8 wait around till March to play.
Why Don’t The Soccer Gods Get it ?
It certainly was an exciting Champions League Final Group stage day with all the games being played at the same time – serious drama as Man City stayed alive, & AC Milan fell out of the top 8. Too bad you could only watch a couple of them (seriously I had 3 TVs with 2 games with American’s and the Golazo show on). Man you futball/Soccer IDIOTS sure could learn a lesson about actually putting on a tournament. You can’t play all the games at one time – people can’t watch them. Its STUPID!) Imagine starting the games at say 4 pm in Europe, then 6:30, then 8:30, then 10 pm? That’s 4 primetime slots – where the entire world could try to watch say 3 or 4 games at a time. Hey Para+ maybe a 4 way split screen like the NCAAs? You could show 4 games at a time per time slot. European Futbol is so far behind the NFL in this sense – its laughable.
Big TV Games this Weekend
Lets Start with Arsenal vs Man City Sun 11:30 am – of course its on Peacock not USA – thanks NBC – NOT. Anyway can Arsenal keep their hold on 2nd in the table or will they let Man City climb back in the race?
At the same time on Sunday we get the Milan Derby – as Inter and AC Milan face off in the San Siro at 12 noon on CBS Golazo and Para+ – AC Milan fell from 6 to 13th in the Champ League table with their horrific loss Wed despite Christian Pulisic’s 4th Champion’s League goal this campaign (an American record). AC seems to be reeling under new coach Canseco – as most of the players are complaining he’s too mean and has lost the lockerroom? Of course AC was in disarray the last time two faced each other in the Cup when Pulisic saved the day and they won 3-2. Full layout of Americans overseas in games below including Tyler Adams & Bournemouth playing Liverpool Sat at 10 am on USA Network. Bournemouth stands in a tie for 6th with Chelsea and is playing some of the best ball in the EPL now that a healthy Tyler Adams at Dmid. He’s honestly one of the top #6s in the league when healthy. Dortmund and Gio Reyna travel to Heidenheim needing a win Sat at 9:30 on ESPN+. Gio got 26’ off the bench midweek against Shaktar Donetsk and contributed a lovely Backheel assist as BVB went on to win the Champions League match 3-1.
Huge Congrats toFormer Carmel FC Player Maverick McCoy son of former CFC Coach Wade McCoy for signing a USL Academy contract with Indy 11. In fact he started in the preseason friendly yesterday.
GAMES ON TV
USMNT weekend viewing guide: Leading the way
USMNT players aren’t just making the squad, they’re being recognized as leaders
Saturday
Watford v Norwich City – 7:30a on Paramount+
Josh Sargent scored two goals last weekend in his first start since returning from injury two weeks ago. The USMNT needs Sargent to stay healthy and regain his scoring form as they are likely to be down a couple of options for the Nations League competition in the March window.
Udinese v Venezia – 9a on CBSSN and Paramount+
Gianluca Busio and Venezia played Hellas Verona to a draw last weekend and remain four points back of them for safety. Venezia have just sixteen points through twenty-two matches and look likely to head back to Serie B next Fall. They will be facing eleventh place Udinese on Saturday who are looking to snap a five match winless streak.
Stuttgart v Borussia Monchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN+
Joe Scally was back in the starting lineup, one week after getting a rare day off. Borussia Monchengladbach won the match 2-0 to move to eighth in the table and they will now travel to fourth place Stuttgart looking to string together some wins.
Bayern Munich v Holstein Kiel – 9:30a on ESPN+
John Tolkin saw his first Bundesliga minutes last weekend in a substitute appearance for Holstein Kiel who held Wolfsburg to a 2-2 draw. Kiel remain two points back of Heidenheim for the relegation playoff position and will face a stiff challenge this weekend as they face league leading Bayern Munich.
Heidenheim v Borussia Dortmund – 9:30a on ESPN+
Gio Reyna was an unused substitute last weekend in his first match under new management but got 26’ off the bench midweek against Shaktar Donetsk and contributed a lovely Backheel assist as BVB went on to win the Champions League match 3-1. Dortmund have just one win in their last eight league matches and currently sit in eleventh place though just six points back of fourth place Stuttgart. They face a Heidenheim side that are flirting with the relegation zone with just fourteen points through nineteen matches.
St. Pauli v Augsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+
James Sands has started the past two matches for St. Pauli, both wins, and the six points have pulled the club up to thirteenth place, six points clear of the relegation playoff position. They will face Augsburg who are one spot, but five points, ahead of them in the Bundesliga standings. It has been a quick transition for Sands who joined St. Pauli in January
AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool – 10a on USA Network
Tyler Adams notched two more assists last weekend in Bournemouth’s 5-0 thrashing of third place Nottingham Forest last weekend. The Cherries are now in seventh place and will face league leading Liverpool on Saturday morning. Adams has started three straight for Bournemouth who are undefeated in their last eleven matches. Liverpool won the first match between the two sides, 3-0 back in September before Adams had returned from his offseason injury.
Newcastle United v Fulham – 10a on Peacock
Fulham and Antonee Robinson fell to Manchester United 1-0 last weekend with Robinson once again wearing the captains armband for the Cottagers. Despite the loss Fulham remain in tenth place, they are eight points back of this weekends opponent, Newcastle United, who are in fifth place following their win over Southampton last weekend.
Leeds United v Cardiff City – 10a on Paramount+
Brenden Aaronson started and went the full 90’ yet again for Leeds United last weekend in their scoreless draw with third place Burnley. Aaronson has started every match since Leeds’s third game of the season and is already over 2,300 minutes in league play. Leeds remain in first place, with a two point advantage over Sheffield United, heading into their matchup this weekend against eighteenth place Cardiff City who defeated Derby County last weekend and are undefeated in their past seven league matches.
Union Berlin v RB Leipzig – 12:30p on ESPN+
Jordan Pefok started yet again last weekend for Union Berlin but has yet to find the back of the next this season. Berlin fell to St Pauli 3-0 and they have suffered defeat in seven of their last nine matches, with just one win in that period. Berlin face fifth place RB Leipzig who are tied on points with Stuttgart.
NEC v PSV – 3p on ESPN+
Ricardo Pepi started for PSV on Wednesday scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 3-2 victory over Liverpool in Champions League play. Unfortunately Pepi was injured before coming off and is now set to miss the next 1-3 months, likely knocking him out of Nations League action. The Pepi injured, combined with Malik Tillman already missing out may mean that Richard Ledezma is the lone American suiting up for PSV as they take on NEC in league play, looking to maintain their five point advantage over second place Ajax.
Sunday
Juventus v Empoli – 6:30a on Paramount+
Weston McKennie wore the captains armband for Juventus midweek and Tim Weah played the full 90’ at rightback as the team fell to Benfica 2-0 but still qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League. Juventus fell to first place Napoli last weekend 2-1, suffering their first Serie A defeat of the season.
Manchester United v Crystal Palace – 9a on Peacock
Crystal Palace fell to Brentford 2-1 last weekend though Chris Richards did get his fifth straight start. Palace are eleven points clear of the relegation scrap and two points behind this weekends opponent, Manchester United who are coming off a 1-0 win over Fulham.
AC Milan v Inter Milan – Noon on Paramount+
Christian Pulisic scored yet another goal, his twelfth across all competitions this season, on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Yunus Musah received his second yellow of the match less than forty minutes in and Milan would fall 2-1 playing down a man the rest of the way to Dinamo Zagreb. Pulisic also scored last weekend in Milan’s 3-2 win over Parma. They will now host Inter Milan who are in second place, three points back of Napoli. AC Milan has defeated Inter twice this season, once in league play as well as in the Supercoppa Italiana final with Pulisic scoring in both matches.
Olympique Marseille v Olympique Lyon – 2:45p on beIN Sports
Tanner Tessmann has not made it off the bench in Lyon’s past two league matches but did get the start on Thursday as they face Ludogorets Razgrad in Europa League action. Lyon are in sixth place and taking on second place Marseille this weekend.
Real Betis v Atheltic Club – 3p on ESPN+
Real Betis defeated Mallorca 1-0 last weekend with Johnny Cardoso getting his fifth straight start and once again playing the full 90’. Betis pulled into tenth place with the victory and will now host fourth place Athletic Club.
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It has been a Champions League semi-final three times over the past decade and a quarter-final once, but this time Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the competition’s new play-offs round — with the winners over two legs next month advancing to the last 16 in March.That blockbuster tie coming at such an early stage of the competition is surely not what UEFA envisaged when it revamped the tournament’s structure this year, meaning only the top eight sides from the 36-team opening phase qualified automatically for the last 16.But City and Madrid have paid for their poor performances in Europe this season, with the English champions particularly close to going out altogether as they trailed in the last of their eight games.Now, both have the chance to make amends by knocking out opponents they will see as major rivals in their bid to go on and win the competition.Elsewhere among the eight ties, Celtic meet Bayern Munich and there is an all-French contest between minnows Brest and serial domestic champions Paris Saint-Germain.The first legs of the play-off matches will take place on February 11 and 12, with the returns a week later.Sam Lee, Rory Smith, Oliver Kay, Seb Stafford-Bloor and Dermot Corrigan analyse the key talking points from today’s draw.
City in rare position of being underdogs
Real Madrid will hardly be relishing a tie against Pep Guardiola’s men, given how dangerous they can still be, but it is a very different Manchester City this season, one ravaged by basically all of the half-decent teams they have played in the past three months — apart from the Chelsea game last week, when they ruthlessly exploited the spaces afforded to them by their visitors’ high press.
Madrid are unlikely to do that, because they have generally sat back and waited for City and tried to hit them on the break in their recent meetings.
With the remarkable exception of a 4-0 semi-final second leg defeat in Manchester to a side on their way to the treble in 2023, that approach has been enough to undo even City at their top level. This is an “old” City team, in Guardiola’s own words, and they really struggle against counter-attacks.
Guardiola is praying that many of his injured players return between now and the first leg in about 10 days. City can also register three new signings to play in the tie, although as it stands only Omar Marmoush is likely to contribute.
Madrid are favourites, then — overwhelmingly so if those injured City players do not come back to fitness quickly.
Sam Lee
Real Madrid will hope pace gives them the edge
The stark look on the face of Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno when the draw was made said it all.
Madrid were facing Manchester City yet again — for the fifth time in the past six seasons in this competition — in a play-off round they know they should not really be part of. But Carlo Ancelotti’s defending champions are paying the price for losing three of their eight league-phase games, with the slips away at Lille and at home to Milan now especially damaging.
Ancelotti’s big-name attackers Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe could do a lot of damage to a City defence which has suffered against counter-attacks all year but he said outright this week that he did not want another meeting with City, aware that, whatever happens, they will be two physically and emotionally draining games. Especially with all the focus that ex-Barcelona player and manager Guardiola coming back to the Bernabeu always brings.
Vinicius Jr will be a huge threat to a City defence that has been unusually vulnerable this season (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
There is also an awareness at Madrid that, should they progress past City, they will either play neighbours Atletico or Bernabeu old boy Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 — another super high-profile tie which they would rather have avoided at that stage of the competition.
Dermot Corrigan
Bayern avoid City and a nightmare week
Given how Bayern Munich stumbled through the league phase, this could have been a lot tougher.
There is healthy respect for Celtic and their place in the game — RB Leipzig were soundly beaten in Glasgow in November, so nobody will underestimate the challenge ahead — but the two legs of this tie occur either side of a critical Bundesliga game away to champions Leverkusen, and so being drawn against Manchester City really would have made that a nightmarish week. It would also have been appropriate punishment for a sloppy start in this competition. October’s loss to Barcelona was very ugly. The defeat at Feyenoord last week was arguably worse.
The other German side involved in this draw, Borussia Dortmund, are now under new management, with Niko Kovac appointed this week to succeed Nuri Sahin. They will see their draw as favourable, too, given that Sporting CP are still suffering in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s November departure to take the Manchester United job. Expect to see a more cautious and resilient Dortmund emerge by the first leg.
Two weeks ago, Sporting would rightly have fancied their chances — particularly for the opening game in Lisbon — but with that coaching change and the potential for some new-manager bounce, that is now a much tougher proposition. One caveat, though, is that Kovac won’t have Felix Nmecha. The influential midfielder is out for the rest of the season through injury and, barring some dramatic transfer activity in the coming days, his orchestrating will be extremely difficult to replace.
Still, a very good draw for the German clubs. The two extra games are a burden, but they could have been far more attritional.
That sound you can hear is a sigh of relief: relief for Juventus and Milan that they will not have to face each other in the Champions League play-offs; relief for Thiago Motta and Sergio Conceicao, the respective managers, that their team will not have to risk the humiliation of being eliminated by Italian rivals; relief from everyone who sat through the dreadful 2003 final between those two at Old Trafford and is still triggered by the experience.
Neither Milan nor Juventus needed that sort of strain at what has become a distinctly delicate point in their seasons. For the first time since he took charge in the summer, there is a scintilla of pressure on Motta, the man tasked with restoring Juventus to some sort of primacy at home and abroad.
His unbeaten domestic record fell at the weekend, as Juventus surrendered a lead at Napoli; all of a sudden, the 13 — yes, 13 — draws his team have registered in 22 Serie A matches look less like a platform for an imminent recovery and more like a sign of ongoing decay. Remaining in the Champions League for as long as possible is vital not just for the financial rewards, but for morale. A free-running PSV pose a challenge, but not an insurmountable one.
Milan, too, will see Feyenoord as the least worst option. Conceicao has only recently been installed as manager, replacing Paulo Fonseca at the turn of the year, and results so far have been mixed. Not as mixed as Feyenoord’s, though: Brian Priske’s side beat Bayern Munich 3-0 last week, then collapsed to a 6-1 loss at Lille. The chances are Priske will not still be in charge by the time Milan travel to Rotterdam for the first leg.
In truth, though, neither of these two looks likely to be the last Italian side standing in the 2024-25 Champions League.
Atalanta, having missed out on automatic qualification for the last 16 only by a point, would have been confident of beating either of their potential opponents Club Brugge and Sporting. Although the Belgians are probably the more exacting of the two, Gianpiero Gasperini’s team stand as overwhelming favourites to go through.
If they do get through to play Aston Villa or Lille in the round of 16, it’s fair to say nobody left in the competition will want to face them.
Rory Smith
Liverpool, Barcelona and plotting a path to the final
There are still a lot of either/ors, but at this stage it feels like the potential benefits of finishing first and second in the league phase are becoming clearer for Liverpool and Barcelona.
Another draw on February 21, after the play-off round is completed, will determine which of those two will play the winners of the Brest-PSG tie and which will meet either Monaco or Benfica. Beyond that, one of them could potentially face Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund, Lille or Sporting in the quarter-finals, while the other could potentially be up against Villa, Dortmund, Atalanta or Club Brugge.
Nobody will want to play PSG in the next round — and Liverpool know from bitter experience in the Europa League last season what difficult opponents Atalanta can be — but it feels like finishing in the top two has brought a slightly easier-looking passage to the semi-finals.
By contrast, whoever gets through that Manchester City vs Real Madrid tie will face either Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 and then, if they progress again, one of Juventus, PSV, Arsenal and Inter in the quarter-finals.
Christian Pulisic’s spot-kick composure, Tyler Adam’s unstoppable momentum and Josh Sargent’s sparky revival all play a part in this week’s USMNT player tracker.
Throughout the season, we will bring you updates on the USMNT players plying their trade in various leagues around Europe.
With a home-soil World Cup on the horizon, we’re keeping tabs on how they perform every weekend.
Issue of the weekend
Cometh the hour, as usual, cometh the man.
Pulisic was a game-changer yet again for Milan in their important win on Sunday. The USMNT star became his club’s joint top goalscorer in the league as he whipped in the penalty that got them back on level terms with Parma in a close contest they eventually won 3-2 in added time.
It was proof that Milan can count on him to lead by example when the chips are down.
“It is our job to score, we want to help the team in any way, through goals or assists,” he told broadcaster DAZN afterwards. “We have to keep going like this.”
Pulisic places the ball on the spot before equalising for Milan against Parma (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The 26-year-old’s display was not perfect. He was guilty of a few overhit crosses (unusually, none of his five deliveries found their target) and had a complete air swipe when Alvaro Morata’s ball found him in the area early on.
But the man who has never missed a penalty in his senior career had the guts to make the difference when it counted and the example set with his nerveless sixth Serie A goal of the campaign inspired the team.
Pulisic wasn’t the only American making the difference as Milan gave their top-four hopes a boost at San Siro. It was Yunus Musah’s cute pass in the 92nd minute that slipped through the Parma defence to allow Tijjani Reijnders to make it 2-2 before Samuel Chukwueze secured the dramatic winner three minutes later.
Musah’s pass carving through the Parma back line was his second assist of the season. Milan are now only five points behind Lazio, who are fourth with a game in hand on the Roman club.
Musah provided an assist (Nicolo Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
His two assists in their emphatic 5-1 thrashing of title dark horses Nottingham Forest on Saturday made him the first American to create three goals across successive Premier League games.
Adams has spoken about thriving within coach Andoni Iraola’s controlled chaos and he is a key part of the surging momentum that is currently overwhelming opponents.
Adams celebrates with Justin Kluivert (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
His tigerish display at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, as compelling defensively as it was creatively, wrote his name into most pundits’ teams of the weekend.
It is perhaps no coincidence that Bournemouth’s impressive run of form, which has them seventh in the table and in contention to qualify for European competition, stems from his return from injury in November.
“If you could see his eyes looking at me when we’re about to replace him after that second goal, he was not satisfied with that,” said Norwich’s Danish head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup. “That was not what he wanted.
“But we had a plan beforehand that it was a maximum 65 minutes with him, no matter what, because we cannot take any risk. The last thing we need is to have another injury with him. We need to still be careful, but 65 minutes, two goals, that’s a step in the right direction.
“He’s a quality player. It’s not even up for discussion. So of course when we lose him and he’s not available, it will mean a difference to the team. Simple as that. He’s quality and he’s also quality for the players.
“He’s a big voice in the dressing room and he always responds well to the way that we prepare the game. He’s able to suggest some adjustments or small details that we can correct when he’s in the game. To have him around the team means so much to the group.”
Thorup explained to local news outlet The Pink ’Un why he was willing to upset USMNT striker Josh Sargent to ensure the club carefully managed his return to full fitness after the 24-year-old’s brace in Norwich’s 5-1 Championship win over Swansea City.
Sargent scored a brace against Swansea (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
The cutoff was 22 shots, a figure reached by an unfortunate Bundesliga defender. On Saturday, another player in Germany’s top flight upped his “shots in vain” tally to 22 attempts and has a pedigree that really makes us all expect a better return.
Jordan Pefok was a shrewd dual-national commitment during Gregg Berhalter’s time as USMNT manager. Before Folarin Balogun made his decision between the USMNT, England and Nigeria, it was Pefok who gave the strike corps fresh reinforcements ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
He was in form with Swiss giant Young Boys and a move to Union Berlin in the months preceding the Qatar tournament was supposed to, if nothing else, see another U.S.-eligible forward in good standing to challenge.
As it was, he didn’t make the World Cup squad and has scored just four goals in 48 appearances with Union. This year, he hasn’t rippled the net in 889 minutes of league action.
Poor Pefok. His latest blank came in his team’s 3-0 reverse at St. Pauli on Sunday. He is getting in dangerous areas — an average shot distance of 11.5 yards is peak centre forward behavior — and only four of his 22 attempts have been blocked. That 0.13 xG per attempt rate is nothing to scoff at either. Among the Bundesliga forwards who average a lower xG per shot than Pefok are Harry Kane (0.12), Lois Openda (0.12) and new Manchester City signing Omar Marmoush (0.09).
Granted, all three of those men have been more accurate than Pefok’s 31.2 per cent on-target rate.
At 28, Pefok is unlikely to have a better chance to make a World Cup squad than next summer. Form like this will hardly keep him in the conversation given a deep pool of strikers.
The USMNT defender created a chance and won both of his tackles, according to Fotmob, against Manchester United, but the captain could not inspire Fulham to victory at Craven Cottage, as they lost 1-0 on Sunday.
Name: James Sands Club: St. Pauli Position: Midfielder Appearances: 4
The American stood out on only his second start for St. Pauli, writesSeb Stafford-Bloor.
He played 90 minutes against Union Berlin on Sunday evening as his new club won only their second home game of the season. Sands spent the first half in a midfield two with Jackson Irvine, before dropping into the centre of a back three in the second half after an injury in defence.
His big plus so far has been his versatility, particularly with St. Pauli battling injuries in midfield and defence.
Sands (right) leaps into an aerial challenge with Union Berlin’s Andras Schafer (Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Against Union Berlin, they were missing probably their most influential player, Eric Smith, who usually plays in the middle of the back three and is charged with carrying and distributing the ball. Sands can do much of what Smith does, in both parts of the pitch, and it’s quite a compliment that Smith was not badly missed.
The variation in Sands’ passing was invaluable. The 24-year-old can play short up the pitch and out to the touchline but also possesses the ability to deliver a long diagonal pass to provide a nice switch of play. It was not a coincidence that this was probably St. Pauli’s slickest passing performance of the season and the most balanced attacking I’ve seen from them at Bundesliga level.
By full time, the industrious Sands had also run 11.5km.
The 23-year-old helped Real Betis put a three-game losing run behind them as he impressed in the 1-0 win at Mallorca on Saturday. He won eight duels and made four passes into the final third.
The 18-year-old dual German and U.S. national was excellent on his full debut for the Bundesliga outfit. According to Fotmob, Banks was the most accurate passer (98 per cent accuracy) to play 45 minutes or more in the 2-1 victory against Heidenheim.
Pepi came on from the bench once again to score an important goal as defending champions PSV beat NEC Breda 3-2.
According to Opta, his 1.45 goals per 90 minutes this season (11 goals in 683 Eredivisie minutes) is the second-highest among players to play at least 500 minutes in the top 10 European leagues this season, behind Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick (1.50).
Pepi (left) celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal against Breda (Jeroen Putmans/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
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England’s players react after the opening loss to France (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Michelle Agyemang celebrates scoring against Italy in the semi-finals (Marco Iacobucci/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Lionesses celebrate retaining the trophy they won in 2022 (Maja Hitij – UEFA via Getty Images)
“He was on fire tonight, man, and he’s shown that he’s a guy that can be counted on, the way that he took that first touch off the deflection off the goalie, moving it to his left side, 
Diego Luna has been one of the USMNT’s biggest recent bright spots. (Jeff Le/Getty Images)
Mauricio Pochettino has cause for cheer after the USMNT’s recent turnaround. (Bill Barrett / ISI Photos / USSF / Getty Images)
Mexico, led by star striker Raul Jimenez, will go into the Gold Cup final as favorite. (Shaun Clark / Getty Images)
Guatemala fans dominated the crowd for the Gold Cup semifinal. (Jeff Le / Getty Images)
Diego Luna got the United States off to a quick start. (Jeff Le / Getty Images)
U.S. forward Yazmeen Ryan celebrates scoring during the second half against Canada. (Brad Smith / Getty Images)
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Henderson saves Omar Marmoush’s penalty as Richards watches on (Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images)
Prince William, Prince of Wales, presented the cup to Crystal Palace (Eddie Keogh – The FA/Getty Images)
Richards at Wembley (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
A young Richards takes on his marker (Carrie Richards)
A delighted Richards with team-mate Jean-Philippe Mateta at Wembley (Julian Finney – The FA/Getty Images)
Carrie, Chris and Ken Richards with the FA Cup (Carrie Richards)
Richards and fellow USMNT player Turner parade the FA Cup around Wembley (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
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Christian Pulisic won’t be involved in the USMNT’s Gold Cup quest this summer. (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
Pochettino is hoping for a bounce-back summer for the USMNT, a year out from the World Cup it will cohost. (Photo by Erich Schlegel/Imagn Images)
USMNT right back Sergiño Dest is back in the mix ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Canada was left to grimace after a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the Nations League semifinals. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino endures defeat to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
Pochettino’s gameplan was not enough to overcome Panama’s energy and spirit. (Robin Alam / ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Weston McKennie claimed the USMNT needed more “nastiness” against Panama. (Robin Alam / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
Thursday’s defeat rekindled memories of the Copa América defeat to Panama that ultimately sealed Gregg Berhalter’s fate. (Hector Vivas / Getty Images)
Jack McGlynn and Tim Ream are dejected as Panama celebrate their late winner (Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
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Turner during Thursday’s defeat by Panama (Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Lonergan playing for Everton against Western Sydney Wanderers in a 2022 friendly (Brett Hemmings/Getty Images for Bursty)
Turner catches a cross during Palace’s recent FA Cup win against Millwall (Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
USMNT and Iran pose together at the 1998 World Cup. (Photo by Nader Davoodi ATPImages/Getty Images)
Rafa Márquez gave Mexico its first World Cup qualifying win in Columbus in 2016. (Paul Vernon/AFP/Getty Images)
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Catarina Macario marks her return to the USWNT with a goal against Colombia. (Jack Gorman / Getty Images)
Ally Sentnor celebrates scoring her first goal for the U.S. women’s national team. (Brad Smith / Getty Images)
Lily Yohannes earns her first start for the U.S. against Colombia. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
Tara McKeown makes her USWNT debut against Colombia in the SheBelieves Cup. (Maria Lysaker / Getty Images)
Hayes was happy with the performance (Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
Vinicius Jr will be a huge threat to a City defence that has been unusually vulnerable this season (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Pulisic places the ball on the spot before equalising for Milan against Parma (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Musah provided an assist (Nicolo Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Adams celebrates with Justin Kluivert (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
Sargent scored a brace against Swansea (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
Sands (right) leaps into an aerial challenge with Union Berlin’s Andras Schafer (Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Pepi (left) celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal against Breda (Jeroen Putmans/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
The Ole BallCoach 