The Ole BallCoach

USMNT has no proven replacement for Dest, says Lalas

US Men

No Serg, big problem? Assessing the USMNT’s right back options with Dest out

Pulisic admits he’s been surprised by Serie A difficulty

Late Weah assist sends Juventus to Coppa Italia final at Lazio’s expense

Pulisic includes McKennie when building dream player — for his banter, of course

Report: McKennie has Saudi Arabia, MLS offers as Juventus contract talks continue

Is Weston McKennie dating an Inter player’s sister?

PSV boss Bosz wants to sign Dest permanently despite serious injury
Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as ’25 Sam Marsden

Weah lifts Juve – Adams Still out & American’s Update

US Women

USWNT star Horan named player of the season finalist in France

Lavelle: USWNT will enter Olympics with chip on shoulder after World Cup failure

Press on comeback: The only promise I’ll make is that I’ll try

USWNT learns Zambia will be final Olympic group stage opponent

USWNT player ratings: Smith, Naeher decisive in SheBelieves Cup triumph over Canada

EPL

‘With title prize in sight, Man City rarely show any weakness’
Kevin De Bruyne is still the Premier League’s true Grandmaster
Why so many goals in this season’s Premier League?
Premier League Picks: PST’s predictions for Week 35 of 2023-24 season
Who is Arne Slot? Feyenoord boss acknowledges he wants Liverpool job
Everton have miles to go despite derby win – Dyche

WORLD

Barcelona president confirms Xavi will stay on as manager in press conference
Why Inzaghi deserves some love after Inter Milan cruise to Serie A title Gabriele Marcotti

Mbappe, Dembele leave PSG poised to celebrate Ligue 1 title
Season finale a ‘celebration’ for Wrexham & Stockport – Parkinson
Wrexham to play Premier League pair on tour

The state of Barcelona’s finances: How bad are they? Can they be fixed?
Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as ’25 Sam Marsden

Wrexham Wins League 2 and will move up to League 1 next season – TV Show continues on FX

MLS

French forward Olivier Giroud set for Los Angeles FC move
Columbus Crew take crucial 2-1 advantage over CF Monterrey in Champions Cup: 2 takeaways
Crew’s Championship Cup win will reverberate well beyond Columbus and Monterrey: Arace
MLS Power Rankings: Whitecaps continue strong start, Revs remain dismal Ryan Rosenblatt

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

Goalkeeping

How former Carmel FC GK Coach & Indy 11 GK became the #1 at Tampa Bay
Courtois can return next week: Madrid coach Ancelotti

Soccer world reacts as Alyssa Naeher proves she is the One True Penalty God

USL Saves of the Week – Jordan Farr for Tampa Bay Rowdies

How to Throw the Ball Properly

6 exercises to protect your Ankles

Reffing

American Haji Wright was not offsides

Did Reyna get fouled on this play?

Happy to be back on the Tourney fields – for Boys Showcase – Mike Arrington, Mike Von Duhn and Shane Best

Shane, Daekh Seyid and Matt Von Duhn Friday at the Showcase at Grand Park

USMNT Player Tracker: Dest disaster, Wright’s toenail and Richards thriving

By Greg O’KeeffeApr 22, 2024

Heartache for Sergino Dest, Haji Wright’s Wembley star turn and Chris Richards’ happy comeback play a part in this week’s USMNT player tracker.

Each Monday, we update you on how American players in leagues around Europe fared over the weekend.

With a Copa America to host this year and the 2026 World Cup, also partially on home soil, looming ever larger on the horizon, we are keeping tabs on how they are performing.

How to follow the Copa America on The Athletic…

Issue of the weekend

Dest will almost certainly endure a deeply disappointing end to a wonderful season.

His misfortune on Saturday morning, suffering a knee injury that may sideline him until next year, could barely have come at a worse time.

The USMNT defender had become a mainstay of the national team while enjoying one of the best campaigns of his club career at PSV Eindhoven on loan from Barcelona.

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Now he will be forced to watch from the stands as what he helped create — an almost unbeaten league season, with PSV on course to become champions in May — unfolds without one of its main protagonists.

But even worse for the 23-year-old will be missing out on his second major tournament for the national team.

Dest has been a key performer in PSV’s outstanding campaign (ANP via Getty Images)

Dest played in each of the USMNT’s four games at the Qatar 2022 World Cup and was likely to remain one of the first names on Gregg Berhalter’s team sheet at this summer’s Copa America. Now the USMNT manager has some thinking to do.

Joe Scally, the team’s other bespoke right-back, has put together a decent season at Borussia Monchengladbach. He is 21 and, although his starting place has looked less certain in recent weeks, Scally has been in the starting XI for the Bundesliga outfit on 22 occasions, garnering big-game experience. On Saturday, he was named on the bench but contributed an assist during his 21 minutes on the pitch during Gladbach’s 4-3 defeat at Hoffenheim.

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He will be in the mix to step into Dest’s boots this summer, but if Berhalter wants to try to emulate the attacking threat Dest brings, he might need to get creative — perhaps using Juventus’ Timothy Weah as a wing-back or even his club team-mate Weston McKennie.

AC Milan’s Yunus Musah could perform there and Westerlo’s 22-year-old full-back Bryan Reynolds offers another solution if Berhalter does not want to diminish his central midfield options by dragging a key man out wide.

Whatever the fix, it is a headache the national team coach could do without.

Dest competes with Mexico’s Gerardo Arteaga during the CONCACAF Nations League final in March (Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Player of the weekend

Ever the man for the big stage, Sunday brought another show-stopping moment Haji Wright will never forget.

In late 2022, he scored for the USMNT against the Netherlands in Qatar, and this weekend saw him almost help create one of the FA Cup’s great fairy tales. Wright’s penalty meant Coventry City, from England’s second tier, recovered from 3-0 down to force Manchester United into extra time in a thrilling semi-final at Wembley.

Wright scores from the spot (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

City pushed the Premier League giants to the brink and almost made it to the final, only for Victor Torp’s stoppage-time strike to be ruled out for a negligible VAR offside call, made against Wright.

In the end, a penalty shootout decided the pulsating tie and Wright confidently netted his side’s first after United’s Casemiro saw his effort saved.

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Yet it was not to be for the Californian and his plucky team-mates as United eventually prevailed and reached the final next month against rivals Manchester City.

Wright has been a goalscoring threat for Coventry all season, as can be seen from the variety of his shot map below.

“We get the equaliser from the penalty spot and it’s brilliantly dispatched from Wright,” said proud manager Mark Robins afterwards. “(Then) we’re back in it and, 20 seconds from the end of extra time, we get what feels like to be the winner, but it’s a toenail offside. I don’t know how unlucky we can be.

“They’ve written themselves into the history of this football club with the way they’ve come back in this football game, they have to be proud of themselves. It’s just really sad we couldn’t see it through.”

Coventry’s nervous support wait for Wright to find the back of the net (Nigel French/PA Images via Getty Images)

Quote of the weekend

Dest’s immediate future may be shrouded in doubt, but he can take solace that PSV remain keen to keep him permanently.

His Barcelona contract runs until June 2025, but with uncertainty over whether the wing-back will be part of the club’s plans next season, PSV president Marcel Brands has made it clear the Dutch club want to sign him regardless of his injury.

“We were in negotiations with him (Dest) and his agent last week,” Brands told Voetbal International. “Yes, that’s going in the right direction. We have to wait and see how or what, but we believe in Sergino and he will get fit again. We would love to keep him with PSV.

“’We had to convince him, but he became more and more enthusiastic and is having a good time. That’s why he wanted to talk to PSV about staying longer.”

Dest, Tillman, Pepi interview: The quest to become ‘invincible’ at PSV and hopes for World Cup

How did other U.S. players get on?

Name: Zyen Jones
Club: Kosice
Position: Right midfield
Appearances (all competitions): 11
Goals: Two

The 23-year-old created his side’s winning goal in a key fixture of the Slovakian top flight’s relegation battle on Friday. Kosice are three points clear of the drop and Jones, who joined in January, has one goal and two assists in six league appearances.

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Name: Josh Sargent
Club: Norwich City
Position: Striker
Appearances: 26
Goals: 15

Sargent was the provider for team-mate Borja Sainz on Saturday as Norwich drew 1-1 with Bristol City to retain their position in the Championship’s final play-off place with two games remaining.

Sainz and Sargent celebrate Norwich’s equaliser (MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Name: Gianluca Busio
Club: Venezia
Position: Midfield
Appearances: 34
Goals: Seven

The 21-year-old was the star man with his side’s second goal in their 2-1 win at Leco on Saturday, a result that kept Venezia third in Serie B and in contention for promotion. It was his seventh goal of the season.

Name: Chris Richards
Club: Defender
Position: Crystal Palace
Appearances: 26
Goals: One

It was a hugely successful return from injury for the USMNT international as he completed the 90 minutes of Palace’s emphatic 5-2 win against West Ham United, playing a significant role in winning back the ball in the build-up to the hosts’ second goal.

Richards had missed his side’s previous three games with a hamstring problem but slotted back into Oliver Glasner’s three-man defence as Palace edged further clear of trouble.

The Athletic FC: ‘Last Dance’ over for Klopp at Liverpool? Plus: Outrageous Mbappe nutmeg

By Phil Hay The Athletic Apr 25, 2024

The Athletic FC ⚽ This is The Athletic’s daily football/soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox.

Hello! You know what they say. Don’t cry because it’s ending. Smile because it happened.

On the way today:

😔 Liverpool and Klopp. Game over?

👀 Mbappe ending careers before they begin

💰 Who lives in an £800m ($1bn) home like this? NYCFC…

🏡 Xavi staying at Barcelona

Klopp’s ‘Last Dance’ looking unlikely at Liverpool

All good things are destined to end. Like Jurgen Klopp’s record at Goodison Park. Like Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.

True, Liverpool aren’t finished. Not mathematically. It’s three points to the top of the Premier League table, or four if we factor in Arsenal’s goal difference.

But losing away at Everton — their Merseyside rivals who took a step closer to survival — last night, the derby Klopp had never lost at Goodison in all his time, is probably the end for him. He knows it, and so do Liverpool.

Klopp consoles Diaz (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Were the title a two-horse race, he could pray for salvation. But Arsenal and Manchester City — who are a point behind Klopp’s side with two games in hand — both imploding in the few games that are left? We’re somewhere between no chance and none.

How quickly this turned — from a near-flawless run of results to a chaotic FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in mid-March which provoked a chain of negative reactions.

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Klopp said he was resigning because he was weary. Liverpool, in tandem and as a project, have begun to look weary too. And suddenly in need of the reset that’s coming their way.

Do players ‘really want to win the league’?

Two post-match comments at Goodison jumped out at me. The first was Klopp describing Liverpool’s counter-pressing as “horrible”. That’s an indictment of one of their biggest strengths under him.

The second was Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk questioning whether they “really want to win the league”. Which was him on the verge of saying no — and conceding that they won’t.

From the moment Klopp announced he would resign at the end of the season, this became his version of ‘The Last Dance’, that immense documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The month behind Klopp has been more like Netflix’s Tour De France series: an elite rider broken by a Hors Categorie climb.

Klopp’s record as he prepares to bow out: seven major trophies in just under nine years, including a Premier League and a Champions League. Understanding him as we do, he’d have wanted more.

But he had the misfortune of coming up against a Manchester City team beyond compare and despite that, he took Liverpool back to the top table. Anfield’s love has been well-earned.

Klopp and Van Dijk (Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)

How to Slot in?

Perhaps there is an upside to Liverpool’s downturn.

Klopp no longer looks like an impossible void to fill. Liverpool no longer look like they are losing a coach at his absolute peak. His expressions of fatigue sound honest, and are reflected in his body language.

Perhaps, on reflection, a new broom is just the ticket.

Liverpool are fishing for Feyenoord’s Arne Slot. They got nowhere with a first offer of just under £8million ($10m) but last night’s defeat will only deepen their resolve in negotiations.

Until very recently, replacing Klopp resembled a hospital pass. As it is, and as James Pearce writes, a rebuild is now much easier to embrace. It’s been some ride for Liverpool. But nothing lasts forever.

WATCH: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City, 3pm ET / 8pm UK. Premier League. USA Network, Sky Sports

Mbappe’s masterful ‘megs + assist

Thoughts and prayers with Nathaniel Adjei. There he was, minding his own business with Lorient in France, when Kylian Mbappe made his name go viral.

You might remember the piece we did recently on the Chigwada spin: a mad bit of skill by Manchester City youngster David Chigwada. Watch it 10 times and you still won’t be sure exactly how he pulled it off.

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Mbappe does tricks like that in his sleep and here he is destroying Adjei with a brutal nutmeg (more on the art of the nutmeg here) in Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-1 away win last night. I hate to say it but Adjei, who’s only 21, might just have experienced the most high-profile moment of his career.

(Video is here for readers in U.S)

Xavi U-turn

From the vaults of the unexpected — Xavi is staying on as Barcelona manager next season.

Why unexpected? Because he announced that he was quitting a while back and has given the impression of being thoroughly sick of life at Camp Nou, calling it a ‘cruel job’. Ever heard of the Barca entorno?

Not only that, in the past week Barca have dropped out of the running in La Liga and the Champions League. But an emergency meeting with president Joan Laporta turned everything on its head. We’re expecting a formal announcement today.

This got me thinking. If U-turns are in vogue, any chance that Bayern Munich go into reverse gear with Thomas Tuchel?

How the USMNT could replace Sergiño Dest for the Copa America

By Jeff Rueter

Sergiño Dest put together the best season of his young career in 2023-24.

On loan at PSV Eindhoven from Barcelona, he eclipsed 2,000 league minutes — a clear breakthrough after a few nomadic seasons in Spain and on another loan to AC Milan. He was a fixture of PSV’s ongoing quest for an Eredivisie title, starting in all 25 of his league appearances while making another 12 appearances (11 starts) in the UEFA Champions League and the KNVB Beker.

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Monday brought sobering news: The full back had suffered a knee injury in training on Saturday, with an early prognosis ruling him out for up to nine months.

That’s a big loss for PSV’s final four games, and arguably an even bigger one for the USMNT as it seeks to make a run in this summer’s Copa America. Ever since 2022 World Cup qualifying, he’s owned the right back position like few others have in any role under Gregg Berhalter.

USMNT Player Tracker: Dest disaster, Wright’s toenail and Richards thriving

Of course, time only moves forward. The Copa América will kick off on June 20, with the USMNT first taking the field on June 23 against Bolivia. Only two months remain for players to firm up their cases for inclusion — and, in the wake of Dest’s injury, for someone else to step up as the team’s first-choice right back.

Whoever steps up, though, the U.S. won’t find another player like Dest. His commitment to ball progression, chance creation (‘SCA’ in the table below means ‘shot-creating actions’) and the audacity to set up his shot comprise a rare blend for a fullback. Add in Dest’s press-resistant dribbling, and the USMNT has a way to break lines even when opponents are adequately stifling primary passing lanes.

How to follow the Copa America on The Athletic…

The U.S. pool simply doesn’t offer a like-for-like replacement. As such, most viable alternatives will require reconfiguring how the U.S. center backs and midfielders patrol space in all phases of play.

Among those alternatives, one option immediately figures to have an inside track on the role.

Joe Scally

A member of Berhalter’s squad for the 2022 World Cup, Scally has now cemented himself as a fixture of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s defense in the German Bundesliga. Although Gladbach’s season hasn’t gone as hoped, sitting 12th in the Bundesliga and four points above the relegation playoff place, Scally has now started 20+ games for them in three consecutive campaigns.

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On the same day that Dest injured his knee, Scally came off the bench away at Hoffenheim. He provided an assist — his third of the year, a new career high — but was unable to catalyze a full comeback as Mönchengladbach lost 4-3.

Regardless of the results, though, Scally cuts an entirely different figure as a defender than Dest.

The Bundesliga’s playstyle is generally less free-flowing than the Eredivisie, which does cut into his ability to progress the ball to some extent. So too does Scally’s versatility – he is occasionally used as a left back, right midfielder and even center back.

Still, Scally doesn’t carry that same upfield compass that guides Dest’s every decision. Instead, he’s a more traditional full back. USMNT fans of a certain vintage might compare him to Steve Cherundolo: prone to slinging effective short passes and prioritizing his defensive responsibilities over the attacking stuff.

All said, his regular involvement in a league that is among the world’s best sets him apart from the rest of the pool.

The rest of the pool

Scally and Dest were two of four right backs to make Berhalter’s 26-man roster for the World Cup in Qatar. In the ensuing year and a half, however, both Shaq Moore and DeAndre Yedlin have faded from consideration for a full-strength USMNT compared to Dest and Scally.

Moore has had a rough start to the 2024 MLS season, although the same can be said for the entire team around him. Nashville’s system utilizes his long distribution frequently, but this season he’s performed just below league average in terms of tackling and allowing opposing dribblers to bypass him. Still, he’s a known entity in Berhalter’s planning and could allow for steady progress with his passing.

Yedlin has benefited greatly since being traded to FC Cincinnati from Inter Miami in March. The move from one of MLS’s most porous defenses to one of its best has allowed him to be a bit more aggressive with peace of mind that his teammates will be up to bail out any miscue. Although he’ll turn 31 in July, he’s also displayed an uptick in his upfield carrying volume, albeit not quite at the same rapid rate as when he broke out a decade ago. His crossing isn’t quite up to positional standard, but the 81-cap veteran could be a viable alternative to Scally in big games.

MLS Takeaways: Vancouver Whitecaps early dominance; Inter Miami’s squad depth support

Reggie Cannon has been a steady on-ball defender since joining Queens Park Rangers this September. In his first season in the EFL Championship, he’s let opponents dribble past him just 15.2% of the time – one of the best marks in the league. The problem? Despite this strong run of form, manager Martí Cifuentes (appointed a month after Cannon signed) dropped the former FC Dallas defender from his lineup in February, opting to start center back Jimmy Dunne in a wide role. That lack of minutes could cost Cannon a chance at the Copa América roster, as he’ll struggle to return to peak form in time for the tournament.

The final pair of right backs who may be in contention seemed destined to make the Olympic roster before Dest’s injury. Bryan Reynolds has been a fixture of the U-23 side throughout its preparations, benefitting from earning regular starts in the Belgian Pro League with Westerlo.

Reynolds also started regularly at last summer’s Gold Cup under interim B.J. Callaghan, which could give him a leg up over Nathan Harriel. The Philadelphia Union homegrown is untested at the senior international level but is among MLS’s best one-on-one defenders. If either is picked for the Copa América, it could open the door for Jake Davis (another strong tackler who developed in central midfield) to crack the Olympic roster.

Tim Weah has been used as a right wingback with Juventus (Click Thompson/Getty Images)

The curveballs

If one of the above options doesn’t cut it for Gregg Berhalter, he may be able to find a solution by moving a versatile starter to the back four. Each has viable alternatives who could fill their place if they need to be relocated for the good of their country.

Tyler Adams’ return from a lengthy injury layoff was a sight for sore eyes at the Nations League. The Bournemouth midfielder has played just 211 minutes for club and country since his hamstring tear in March 2023, but he looked like his typically vital self during his two Nations League appearances last month. There’s some precedent for Adams at right back – he played there for the U.S. occasionally in the 2022 World Cup cycle. However, it’s a physically demanding role, and his recent injury history might not allow for it.

Weston McKennie’s best shift at the 2022 World Cup came as something of a right wingback. Against England, the midfielder lived in the right half-space to create a numerical overload that helped the United States in possession and frustrated the Three Lions’ build-up when the ball changed hands. However, he’s had a truly resurgent season for Juventus as a box-to-box midfielder, doing his usual all-around stuff while adding better pass selection and creativity in the heart of the park. While Luca de la Torre (or Gio Reyna, if he isn’t used on the wing) could take his place were he to move to right back, it may create more midfield imbalance than ideal.

Instead, the best bet among projected USMNT starters may be a few lockers down in the Juventus dressing room. This year, Massimiliano Allegri has utilized Tim Weah as a right wingback. The gambit worked wonders until recent weeks, where a poor run of form has Allegri shuffling his lineup on a weekly basis in hopes of keeping his job. At the club’s heights this fall and winter, however, Weah brought his usual direct speed into the role with great success, also showcasing impressive tackling acumen for a career forward.

Although he plays slightly more advanced for his club than he would for the U.S., his movement patterns are closer to Dest’s than a lot of the aforementioned alternatives. Weah has had a full season to get used to making downhill runs against more congested defenses than he finds on the wing, which would cut down on his learning curve tremendously. He would also benefit from having McKennie play in a similar spot as he does for Juventus, allowing for second-nature interplay between the pair as Weah builds a rapport with the center backs.

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Moving Weah off of the right wing would also open that role up for Christian Pulisic. The USMNT star has been among the best wide attackers in Europe, enjoying an emphatic bounce-back campaign with AC Milan after some lean years at Chelsea. That uptick has coincided with a shift from his previous role on the left to playing on the right – the same role he played during his breakout with Borussia Dortmund.

The 25-year-old has more than held his own while sharing a forward line with Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud, with 13 goals and 8 assists across 3,169 minutes in all competitions.

Compared to his form with Milan, Pulisic seemed to play less freely in the Nations League. At times against Jamaica and Mexico, he was caught in two minds as he navigated the final third in a role that has never quite brought out his best.

If Pulisic were to shift, the left wing has capable alternatives: Reyna for a creative spark and Haji Wright as an in-form wide forward, to name two.

If there’s a silver lining to be found around Dest’s injury, perhaps it’s the potential for a shake-up that keeps the USMNT from replicating the worryingly stale first 90 minutes against Jamaica. Not only would it put the team’s best player into his best role, but it would also make the USMNT harder to gameplan for due to a lack of previous utilization. Sometimes, those tweaks can make a major difference in a knockout format.

(Top photos: David Jensen/Getty Images; John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USWNT Olympic roster prediction 2.0: How things look after the SheBelieves Cup

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 9: USWNT waiting patiently during penalty kicks round during the SheBelieves Cup Final between Canada and USWNT at Lower.com Field on April 9, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

By Meg Linehan, Steph Yang, and Jeff Rueter THe Athletic Apr 20, 2024

As the interim head coach era of the U.S. women’s national team comes to a close, it’s time for a fresh round of evaluating who’s in and who’s out of Olympic roster contention. In less than four months, new head coach Emma Hayes will have to select just 18 players to take to France. Former USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis recently described the math equation she used when she was trying to figure out if she was in contention for a roster. Mewis would make her own depth chart, writing out the defenders, midfielders, and forwards in her hotel room. It’s likely the current U.S. group is doing the math now after two SheBelieves games, with both requiring comeback victories and the team needing penalties – again – to dispatch Canada.In Columbus, defender Tierna Davidson hinted at balancing the anxiety that leads to hotel room math with every athlete’s mantra about controlling the controllable. “I think for all of us, it’s just taking everything with a grain of salt and to just give everybody a little bit of space to be making the decision that they’re making, and to see different pictures on the field,” Davidson said. “We all know that nothing is guaranteed as a new coach comes in. So I think everyone (is) trying to put their best foot forward but also understanding that it is an unorthodox time for both us as players and the coaching staff, the technical staff as a whole.”As we guess at our Olympic roster 2.0 (see our first edition here), interim head coach Twila Kilgore’s summary of any roster construction provides good context.

“It’s not about young or old or less experienced or more experienced. It’s about getting the right combinations of players with the right amount of experience and different strengths and weaknesses where they can cover each other in different areas and also have some chemistry and make sure that they’re all able to highlight their strengths,” she said.

Now that SheBelieves is over, and Zambia has officially completed the USWNT’s Olympic group, it’s up to Hayes to determine the final roster — with just two international windows to do so.

The Athletic’s Olympic squad right now:

Goalkeepers (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Casey Murphy (NC Courage)

Defenders (6): Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Abby Dahlkemper (SD Wave), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Crystal Dunn (Gotham FC), Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC),

Midfielders (5): Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Catarina Macario (Chelsea), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)

Forwards (5): Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), Alex Morgan (SD Wave), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (SD Wave)

Goalkeepers

Meg: I don’t think this combo will surprise anyone. Alyssa Naeher should have done a bit better on that super-quick Japan goal in Atlanta, but it was Canada’s opening goal that’s more troublesome when you’re thinking about your starting goalkeeper. Her form so far this year has been very solid — vintage, in many ways — and she reminded everyone to settle down with another absurd penalty shootout performance against Canada: three saves and a converted spot kick.

Jeff: I think we’ve all shared similar concerns about Naeher’s agility when converging on an open ball or reacting to a powerful shot. The former scenario played out Tuesday night and it cost the U.S. the opening goal. Unfortunately, there’s been very little rotation in net since the CONCACAF W Gold Cup group stage, and any alternative would need to start at least twice in June’s friendlies against South Korea to have any familiarity with the defenders. This is one area where Kilgore could have better prepared some viable alternatives in 2024.It’s also worth stressing that the chance for a player to parlay a really strong stretch with their club into a backup role — “pulling an Aubrey Kingsbury,” if you will — is lessened when the team will only bring two goalkeepers instead of three. Casey Murphy has been Naeher’s main alternative for the better part of four years, and I’d expect that to remain the case unless Hayes rates someone else.

Defenders

Here’s where we had the most debate this time around: do you bring three center backs and three outside backs? Two straight-up center backs and then maybe a defender who can slot centrally if you need them in a pinch? On the outside back front, do we need one of each, or better to have someone who can half-credibly cover both? Is it better to prioritize pure defense on these depth picks, or someone who can slot into the U.S.’s attacking patterns?

Girma is one of the few defenders from the USWNT’s World Cup roster who is still receiving regular starts. (Photo by Brad Smith, Getty Images for USSF)

Center backs

Meg: Everyone watching the opening SheBelieves Cup match was both praying and believing in the healthiest possible vibes for Naomi Girma after she was forced to exit the match in the 18th minute with what turned out to be a day-to-day thigh injury. It seems like the team is being super precautionary and not pushing it. As we discussed last time, Girma is name number one on the S-Tier mission-critical players for the Olympics. Davidson has inched closer to being that primary partner for her, but she might have some rough video review after this tournament going over two of the goals allowed.

Here’s our one shift of this Olympic roster as we move from 1.0 to 2.0: we’ve opted to add Abby Dahlkemper to the mix.

Steph: I think SheBelieves illustrated pretty neatly that you need a third center back as opposed to someone who can shift inside in a pinch. A dedicated center back is perhaps the one area where you don’t want versatility. You want a specialist who can do a few other things but is devoted primarily to being a center back. As we saw against Canada at SheBelieves, you lose a lot with Girma if you’re facing a team trying to play over your backline. Girma is exceptional in her ability to cover the long ball and to control the space to deny runners the ability to look at goal in the first place.

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Jeff: Another factor playing in Dahlkemper’s favor is her familiarity with the two other center backs. Tuesday marked the 15th time that she’s partnered with Davidson, albeit the first in nearly three years. She also plays alongside Girma for San Diego, ensuring that any pairing from that trio will have established familiarity at a time when so much of the squad will be acclimating on the fly.

Meg: There is still a chance for Alana Cook to sneak in for one final look, finally returning to the Reign as a sub in an NWSL match last month, but that feels more like a chance than a definite right now.

Nighswonger earned her first USWNT cap in December 2023 (Photo by Andrea Vilchez, Getty Images for USSF)

Outside backs

Steph: Jenna Nighswonger has moved up to at least A-Tier for me, which we described last time as someone around whom to build the roster. I think Nighswonger has shown she’s a big piece of the USWNT’s ability to press, especially enabling Mal Swanson to go full Mal Swanson in their left-side progression.

Jeff: Nighswonger has provided width that was sorely lacking during the Vlatko Andonovski era, where both fullbacks tucked into the midfield rather than running the flank. While Fox is still doing that inverted wingback work on the right, having Nighswonger offer width and progression on the left gives a different element in the build-up — the U.S. sorely missed this in the first half against Canada, and moving upfield along the left was a slog.

Do we think Crystal Dunn knows what her role is moving forward? I wouldn’t be surprised if she is preferred to Nighswonger in the short term, but I still want to know if Hayes will keep her at left back or finally, mercifully, unleash her in midfield.

Meg: I really rate Casey Krueger, and think she should be on the USWNT. This 18-player roster is a killer.

Jeff: Kilgore did opt to bring Krueger in to replace Dunn on Tuesday rather than Nighswonger. It may have just been minute management at Gotham’s request, but we’ve also seen Krueger play right, center, and left in the past few months. If we’re highlighting versatility within the pool, she’s checked all the boxes.

Midfielders

Meg: Somehow, the one from the midfield I’m most on the fence about right now is Rose Lavelle, which isn’t anything Lavelle has done. She missed out on this camp due to injury. Assuming she’s healthy this summer (which, to be fair, sometimes is a greater assumption than anyone would prefer), she still has to make the trip. The USWNT has some different looks at the No. 10 now though, with Jaedyn Shaw getting the nod against Brazil. Catarina Macario could also slot there (or, as always: Dunn).

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Steph: I think Olivia Moultrie is a little extraneous if a roster has to get trimmed to 18, and I say that only in the context of that trimming and not at all as a referendum on her talent or ability to play at this level. It’s just that with Macario and Shaw in the mix, and especially if Lavelle gets healthy in time, I think it pushes her down the list a bit. Even though I think she’s on track to eventually work her way deeper into this team.

Lavelle was left off the SheBelieves roster due to injury. (Photo by Omar Vega, Getty Images)

Jeff: If you were listing the 18 most talented players in the pool, or the 18 most important, I wouldn’t spare a thought at listing all three of Lavelle, Macario and Shaw before I even get to the difficult decisions. But with so many high-caliber forwards and wingers, and Horan being a two-way threat, can you afford to take three attacking midfielders and punt on depth elsewhere?

If there’s one thing I’m confident about, it’s that the roster’s biggest snub will either be an attacking midfielder (Lavelle seems most tenuous given her struggles to stay healthy since 2022) or a winger.

Meg: It feels safe enough to note that we know what we’re getting with Horan in this midfield, so let’s move to the No. 6. Sam Coffey has had a very strong start to her 2024. At this point, do we think she’s done enough to cement not just a spot on the 18-player roster for France, but as the team’s starting defensive midfielder?

Jeff: I think so. I’m not an NWSL awards voter, but I would’ve had Coffey as my MVP last season for her work with Portland. She plays with a willingness to advance into the final third only when necessary, which keeps a midfield safety net to stifle a counterattack if the U.S. turns the ball over. Her long distribution can also help unlock the team’s wingers in all phases, and she’s looked the part against high-caliber opponents.

We’ve already rattled off a lot of names we’d want to bring, but we should probably address what the past couple of weeks could mean for Korbin Albert’s hopes of inclusion. The midfield is incredibly crowded right now; we haven’t even brought up World Cup call-ups like Savannah DeMelo, Ashley Sanchez or Andi Sullivan, or the long-awaited inclusion of Jaelin Howell. Hayes’ Chelsea often plays with two midfield pivots in front of the back line, so there could be room for a non-attacking inclusion at the expense of a playmaker.

Still, Albert’s overcommitment against Brazil made her easy to bypass in the Gold Cup final, and the very real locker room chemistry concerns could make this a tournament roster too soon.

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Meg: We’re not in that locker room, but those concerns are definitely heightened for an 18-player roster. I think the federation is largely satisfied with her public apology over her social media activity, but I also think that the USWNT technical staff have better options right now for soccer reasons, too.

Morgan has adapted to a new role with the young USWNT. (Photo by Carmen Mandato, Getty Images for USSF)

Forwards

Jeff: This is another area where the only real change from a month ago is an unfortunate injury. Midge Purce was at the top of my “tough omission” list after the Gold Cup, but an ACL tear has ruled her out for the Olympics and all of 2024. A player like Macario or Lavelle could be moved into a new role under Hayes and play as more of a winger, but beyond that, we’re likely talking about the same group of players with similar feelings about each.

Meg: For all the discourse on Alex Morgan, I think she’s going — and it feels like the players agree, based on this quote from Trinity Rodman in Columbus: “Alex is just a voice that we need with the experience. Being in the center, being the person that’s initiating press and attack, I think to have that voice, have that experience, have that veteran status is really good for us to build off of. And also just energy-wise, I think she sets the tone really well.” For as much as we talked about all those options at the No. 10, this team also has plenty at striker, but Morgan’s once again pulled off the return to the USWNT.

Steph: The forward group has been a historically delightful problem for coaches to solve. This team has never lacked scoring talent.

(Photo: Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

U.S. Soccer took a gamble waiting for Emma Hayes, leaving USWNT’s style of play in limbo

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Alyssa Naeher #1 of the United States watches as Fuka Nagano #10 of Japan strikes the ball during the first half in the 2024 SheBelieves Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 06, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Jeff Rueter The Athletic – Apr 12, 2024

In November, U.S. Soccer gambled that it was worth sacrificing a year of continuous preparation under a permanent manager to hire Emma Hayes. For eight months following the 2023 World Cup, interim management has overseen the U.S. women’s national team. To her credit, Twila Kilgore’s tenure as placeholder helped turn over the player pool and saw her team win a pair of tune-up competitions this spring.Still, it’s been a lost year for the program at a time when it was in sore need of a clear new vision. Hayes’ first games as USWNT manager in June are still two months away, bringing the post-World Cup interlude to 10 months — and a full seven months from her appointment in November.With the CONCACAF W Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup in the rearview, it’s time to take stock. Is the program any better prepared to contend at the Paris Olympics than it was when Sweden knocked it out of the World Cup?

The 2023 World Cup cycle (and, by association, the Vlatko Andonovski era) stands out as the low point for the USWNT on the field.The belated 2020 Olympics was a warning sign, as an aging core entered with varying levels of fitness amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team played every game in empty stadia, a far cry from the raucous support it so often enjoys in major tournaments, and the team was ultimately eliminated by Canada in the semifinal.Rather than heeding lessons from that tournament, Andonovski largely ran it back for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The team’s style of play often looked languid as it failed to breach the final third. Multiple players failed to see the field for a single minute as the U.S. advanced from its group thanks in part to a friendly goalpost against Portugal. The relief was short-lived as the U.S. fell to another longtime rival, Sweden, in a round of 16 penalty shootout.Advanced metrics show that the U.S. did do some good things in its four games at the tournament. No team allowed fewer shots per 90 than the squad’s 4.6, and its average xG per 90 advantage of 2.14-0.32 certainly screams “contender” in isolation. However, the issues with build-up and chance creation were clear.The team progressed up the field quickly enough, ranking 11th in the tournament field with a direct speed of 1.71 meters advanced upfield per second of possession.

Speed isn’t everything. Tournaments are notorious for eliciting small sample size judgments, and the trendline is far from definitive. Nevertheless, none of the 10 teams that ranked higher in direct speed advanced any further in the tournament than the round of 16.Progressing the ball upfield with pace is a helpful tool in transition, but the USWNT seemed devoid of ideas once it met the opposing defense in the final third. All four teams that had a more rapid direct speed also bowed out in the round of 16. Unsurprisingly, all five teams that averaged fewer goals per 90 than the U.S. also failed to reach the quarterfinal or further.Playing direct and sharp final third decision-making shouldn’t be treated as a mutually exclusive proposition, mind you. Given the talent at the USWNT’s disposal, there’s the potential to create a near unstoppable balance in attack. With the benefit of hindsight, the federation wanted to ensure the team was better equipped to make smart decisions to score with dependability.

“There was definitely a sense that we need to be better with the ball and have more solutions,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said in September. The federation polled players during the coaching search and much of the focus from the tactical feedback involved building the attack, playing through the midfield and having “creative solutions in tight spaces, having the players and the tactics to beat the low block.”After spending an entire cycle moving the ball despite its midfield — the Prayer Circle Formation, as Kim McCauley so brilliantly branded it — they wanted to make use of their engine room.Enter Hayes, a tactical chameleon who’s well-versed in the art of breaking down low blocks at the helm of her Chelsea juggernaut. She plans for the opponent rather than coaching from dogmatic principles. Each game’s instructions are curated with one aim in mind: winning, above all else.You can see the appeal at surface level, hiring a coach who habitually works to overcome the type of cynical tactics that sunk the team last summer. The catch: the team would have to wait while Hayes admitted her “full focus and attention is on what I do for Chelsea” until that season’s end.

If there’s a highlight performance over the last 10 months, it came in the Gold Cup quarterfinal against Colombia. In the preceding group stage, the USWNT was frustrated by opponents like Argentina and Mexico sitting in a low block as Kilgore maintained a possession-oriented structure perhaps too closely akin to Andonovski’s. Patterns of ball circulation slowed the team’s build-up, giving all too much time for defensive-minded opponents to get into their ideal placements.Colombia was a World Cup quarterfinalist last summer, blessed with one of the world’s great young attackers, Linda Caicedo, and a team that suited her skillset on the break. Kilgore strove to exploit those tendencies by letting her team play direct. It achieved two things: greater attacking intensity going forward, and fewer turnovers in the defensive half that would cater to Colombia’s strengths. A 3-0 win was a statement that the USWNT was back with a point to prove.

Direct again: How USWNT’s new old approach lends flexibility going forward

Taking a similar scoring initiative was impossible in a rain-soaked semifinal slog against Canada, and the team opted for a more controlled style of play in the final against Brazil, winning 1-0. It got results, ensuring the team won the inaugural Gold Cup.Still, the team wasn’t showcasing the type of consistent goalscoring necessary to be better prepared for the Olympics than it was in the World Cup. Fortunately, SheBelieves was right around the corner, providing another pair of games against high-level opponents to showcase Crocker’s desired “creative solutions in tight spaces.”Japan had other ideas. Kiko Seike became the first player to score against the USWNT in a game’s opening minute since 2003, putting the hosts at an early 1-0 deficit. With some savvy high-pressing the U.S. equalized 20 minutes later before a 77th-minute penalty kick sealed a 2-1 win for the U.S. It was a professional result, but not a showcase of the principles U.S. Soccer strove to install.Up next came Canada, which saw Kilgore drop one of her usual four attacking players for a second pivot at the base of midfield. Intentional or otherwise, this saw the team revert to their Prayer Circle tendencies.“Our attack is not built around one individual player and that is by design,” Kilgore said ahead of the final. “It’s important that we have the ability to score goals from a variety of different ways. And even though we have these predictable moments for us that we’re looking for, it’s important that different people are filling different roles and able to recognize when they’re the one that needs to maybe make an early run or get out ahead of the opponent for a cross.”Just over five minutes into the final against Canada, the USWNT seemed to look through its variety of chance-creation methods after a Lindsey Horan tackle sprung Sophia Smith on the counter.

Huh, that’s a let-off for Canada. Time to set up for another wave of attack.

Oh no, not the Prayer Circle.

No, no, no , no, no, no —

Over half an hour later, Canada opened the scoring after a miscommunication between goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and her defense. Once again, the United States was forced to react to the game after allowing the opponent to establish its terms.

Ultimately, a fresh batch of Naeher shootout heroics saw the USWNT become SheBelieves champions again. The two conceded goals could be chalked up to individual errors.

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Then again, the same could be said for the USWNT’s showing last summer: a team largely in control of games, but not showing enough bite to convert ball retention into goals — all while being prone to gaffes.

Is this team really better equipped to contend at these Olympics than it was last year?

If we’re looking for evidence of progress since August, we’ll need to start by looking at individual players. Alex Morgan struggled in the World Cup, but her gritty line-leading work was vital to the proactive success against Colombia. Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario returned from injuries that limited their 2023 involvement and largely kept pace with the game around them.

The aftermath of the World Cup was always bound to see some program mainstays give way to the next generation. Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe both had send-off games, while captain Becky Sauerbrunn has faded from involvement. Horan has stepped up as a team leader, while Naomi Girma is already similarly impactful despite being just 23.

Young players benefited from Kilgore’s call-ups. Jenna Nighswonger has been a breath of fresh air at left back, providing sorely needed width in the build-up in a role that was previously instructed to tuck into midfield under Andonovski. Jaedyn Shaw is the latest attacking revelation, showing precocious decision-making in transition while being a capable first-time finisher. Sam Coffey seems poised to be the team’s defensive midfielder of the future, and Korbin Albert’s all-around game makes her seem like a possible successor to Horan in midfield (pending the off-field issues that could impact her locker room standing).

Having promising young players step up is essential to overcoming a bad four-year spell. But how many players like Nighswonger, Shaw and Coffey will need to reassert their readiness once Hayes comes in? It’s remained an open question just how closely Hayes is watching and assessing her upcoming pool of players. If that answer is less than “with a keen eye,” they’ll need to ace their second first impression to stay ahead of more veteran alternatives.

Ultimately, no matter who makes the 18-player Olympic roster, we don’t know how they’ll look to play in Paris. The questions that hung over the program still don’t have definitive answers.

USWNT Olympic roster prediction after the SheBelieves Cup

In appointing a coach who couldn’t start her job for over half a year, the USSF gambled that her quality is so much more irresistible than any alternatives that it was worth spending half a year in purgatory.

The summer’s trio of friendlies come against South Korea and Mexico, both of which won’t partake in the Olympics, but will no doubt want to claim a win over one of the world’s most celebrated teams of any sport. They’ll provide tests at a time when Hayes will still be studying for answers.

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Tuesday also saw the final member of the USWNT’s Olympic group qualify. Zambia joined the U.S., Germany and Australia in Group B. Australia was a semifinalist last summer. Germany has its point to prove after failing to advance from its group, while Zambia is riding high on the back of its first World Cup appearance. It won’t be a given that the U.S. will advance to the knockouts, to say nothing of its medal-winning ambitions.

It will be easy to spin a poor showing in Paris as a short-term sacrifice with a focus on the 2027 World Cup, which could potentially be played on home soil. That said, this isn’t a program that has ever treated any major tournament as a developmental tool. When the United States competes in a women’s soccer tournament, it’s there to win. That’s the benchmark that has been established for generations of players and one that the fans hold to account.

This summer, the players’ every performance will be scrutinized, and their future selections will hang in the balance more than Hayes’ job will (or should). If the program’s decision to spend so many months under interim leadership backfires, the blame will fall on them — and unfairly so.

(Photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF)

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4/19/24 US Ladies Beat Canada in ET, El Classico Madrid/Barcelona Sun 3, German top 5 battle Sun 11:30, FA Cup Sat/Sun

April 17, 2024April 20, 2024 gatorbest alex-morgan, american-outlaws, champions-league, europa-league, soccer, the-ole-ballcoach, us-women, usmnt, uswnt

Huge Weekend Games

El Classico this Sunday 3 pm on ESPN+ and ESPN Desportes. The last thing for Barcelona to play for as they travel to Real Madrid just 8 pts behind in the table with 4 games to go. In Germany Leverkusen has won the league but is looking to be the only team undefeated in league play in the top 5 leagues as they travel to Dortmund who needs to win to stay in the top 5 Champions League slots – that game is 11:30 am on ESPN2 Sunday. The EPL has Liverpool traveling to Fulham America to face American Jedi Robinson at 11:30 am Sunday on USA – as Liverpool must win to keep their title hopes alive. Arsenal travels to Wolverhampton Sat 2:30 pm on USA before hosting Chelsea on Tues at 3 pm on USA. Chelsea of course will face Man City in the FA Cup on ESPN+ Sat 12:15 pm from Wembley.

US Ladies Shootout Win over Canada

Wow what a special time to be on hand to see the USWNT hoist another trophy – this time the She Believe’s Cup Trophy at Columbus Crew Stadium. My daughter and I were lucky to be in the American Outlaws section behind the goal where US GK Alyssa Naeher refused to lose as she saved 3 and scored a goal of her own in leading the US ladies to a 2-2 (3-2) win over a solid Canadian Side. Sophia Smith struck this wonder goal just 5 into the 2^nd half before moving to the 9 spot as subs Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson added life in the 2^nd half on the wings as the young combo eventually fed Smith for the go ahead goal. (full highlights). I thought the reffing was horrific as the Concacaf crew was obviously not used to doing high level women’s games. Crystal Dunn’s penalty was mighty questionable to give Canada the tying goal with under 5 to play. The US certainly did miss Girma as Davidson and Dahlkemper struggled to hold Canada out of the US box – and Davidson especially looked horrific at times trying to work it out of play. All in all the US outplayed Canada and deserved to win the game.

It was great to see and be amongst the sold out crowd in Columbus following the sold out crowd (over 50K) in Atlanta over the weekend. We had an absolute blast watching from the American Outlaws Section – especially when all the players came up our aisle to receive their medals – European FA Cup Style. I was especially happy to see so very many youngsters in the stands – there were a ton of young girl soccer players there – speaks well to our future!! Here’s some quick pics and videos from the game. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10161587182779104&id=501829103&mibextid=WC7FNe&rdid=hyLM9rF5RakR2VlM

Must See TV – Champions League Action is Unbelievable CBS 3 pm Wed

So sorry I didn’t get this out over the weekend or at least before today’s Champions League action – today’s Dortmund comeback to beat my Atletico and Barcelona’s choke job vs PSG was pure drama all game as multiple goals were scored and the game results were in question until the very end. Now I won’t use this space to talk about how ridiculous Europeans are to not have these games NOT Being played at the same exact time (but lets be real just because they invented the sport does not mean they know how to market it (idiots). Anyway Tuesday’s quarterfinals final legs were spectacular and Wed promises the same as Man City host Real Madrid tied at 2 @ 3 pm on CBS, while Bayern Munich host Arsenal also tied at 2 on Paramount +. The pregame and postgame action is on CBSSN so make plans now to cozy up to the bar or some TV or your phone tomorrow at work. Or at least tape the CBS game and watch the replay of Bayern vs Arsenal on CBSSN at 5 pm.

Europa League Thurs with Milan & Pulisic on CBSSN 3 pm, Liverpool, West Ham, Aston Villa

Europa League action wraps up with AC Milan and Pulisic & Musah tied at 1 traveling to Roma at 3 pm on CBSSN, while Liverpool is down 3 goals at Atalanta on Para+, and West Ham host the hottest team in the world Bayer Leverkusen down (1-3). Aston Villa travels to Lille at 12:45 pm Paramount plus. Oh and El Classico this Sunday 3 pm on ESPN+ and ESPN Desportes.

The ole ballcoach and daughter Courtney in the Outlaws Section !!

Full house in KC to see Messi and Miami take down Sporting KC – too bad the game wasn’t on TV! Stupid MLS !

Games on TV

Weds, Apr 17

3 pm CBS Bayern Munich 2 vs Arsenal 2 UCL

3 pm Para+, Tele Man City 2 vs Real Madrid 2 UCL

8 pm mls.com Indy 11 @ Chicago Fire US Open Cup

Thurs, Apr 18

12:45 Para+ Lille (france) vs Aston Villa

3 pm CBSSN Roma vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) Europa

3 pm Para+ Atalanta vs Liverpool

3 pm Para+ Leverkusen vs West Ham United

Sat, Apr 20

12”15 ESPN+ Man City vs Chelsea

12:30 pm ESPN+ Union Berlin ( ) vs Bayern Munich

1 pm CBS Washington Spirit vs NY/NJ Gotham FC NWSL

2:30 pm USA Wolverhampton vs Arsenal

7:30 pm Ion KC vs Bay FC NWSL

8 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 @ Colorado Springs

10 pm ion Portland Thorns vs Houston Dash NWSL

10:30 pm ESPN+ Phoenix Rising vs Pittsburgh (Eric Dick GK)

Sun, Apr 21

8:30 am USA Everton vs Nottingham Forest

11:30 am USA Fulham (Jedi) vs Liverpool

11:30 pm ESPN2 Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen

3 pm ESPN+, des Real Madrid vs Barcelona El Classico

6 pm Fox Sport 1 Charlotte vs Min United

7:30 pm CBSSN Angel City vs NC Courage

8:15 pm FS1 LA Galaxy vs San Jose

June 27 Copa America US Men Play Panama

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

Emma Hayes inherits a reinvigorated USWNT. But she faces new headaches

USWNT

USWNT player ratings: Smith, Naeher decisive in SheBelieves Cup triumph over Canada

Three thoughts as USWNT lifts SheBelieves Cup with shootout win over Canada

USWNT beats Canada for SheBelieves Cup win

SheBelieves Cup 2024 – USA 2(5)-2(4) Canada: A wild comeback win sees the Americans lift the trophy

SSFC Spotlight: Eva Gaetino receives first USWNT call-up By Brendan Joseph

Sophia Smith Scored both Goals from the Field for the US vs Canada

US Men

USMNT Midweek Viewers Guide – Europa League

Champions League

Man City’s ‘double-treble’ dream is over, but ‘worst week of season’ is not ESPN Rob Dawson

Bayern give inexperienced Arsenal a painful Champions League lesson

Arteta: Beating Bayern would transform Arsenal

Bellingham has chance to show why choosing Real Madrid over Man City was right decision

Kane: Bayern’s season a failure without UCL title

City boss Pep Guardiola ‘doesn’t fear’ Madrid

Mbappé seals PSG comeback to eliminate Barça

Mbappe: Matter of ‘pride’ to win UCL with PSG

Dortmund dump Atleti in 2nd leg to reach semis

‘Rollercoaster’ win ends ‘great day’ for Dortmund

Barça’s UCL exit sends Atletico to Club World Cup

Should Harry Kane have been sent-off against Arsenal? The Independent sports team have their say

Real Madrid’s comeback draw ‘felt like defeat’ despite Federico Valverde’s late leveller
Barcelona beat PSG in thriller to seize edge in Champions League tie
Kylian Mbappe anonymous as Barcelona edge PSG in Champions League thriller
Paris St-Germain 2-3 Barcelona: Raphinha outshines Kylian Mbappe as youngsters break records
Xavi hails ‘great victory’ as Barcelona grab advantage against PSG
Raphinha outshines Kylian Mbappe as Barcelona earn advantage over PSG in five-goal thriller
Paris St-Germain 2-3 Barcelona: Andreas Christensen hits winner in Champions League quarter-final first leg
Atletico will have to suffer at Dortmund: Griezmann
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Borussia Dortmund: Hosts edge first leg of Champions League quarter-final tie
Atletico hold on to keep narrow advantage on ‘nervous’ Dortmund

Liverpool ratings: Salah gets 6/10 but not enough as Atalanta eliminate Reds

Reffing

Xavi: ‘Disaster’ referee killed Barca’s UCL hopes

Controversy caps off wild Champions League night

Bayern Munich furious as ‘crazy’ Arsenal handball missed in 2-2 UCL tie

Goalkeeping

USMNT weekend viewing guide: Playing with the big boys now

Coventry gets their shot. By jcksnftsn Apr 19, 2024, 10:52am PDT

Southampton FC v Coventry City - Sky Bet Championship

There’s an exciting addition to our usual rundown this weekend with Haji Wright and Coventry City looking to play spoiler and continue their unlikely run in the FA Cup. That match will be on Sunday so first let’s take a look at the USMNT club matches we can watch on Friday and Saturday.

Friday

Caligari v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+

Timothy Weah has not made it off the bench in the past two matches though Weston McKennie continues to start for Juventus who have really trailed off in the back half of the Serie A season with just two wins in their last eleven league matches. They face Lazio on Tuesday in the second leg of their Copa Italia semi-final matchup so there may be a bit of squad rotation this weekend against fourteenth place Caligari. Juve do hold a twelve point lead for the final Champions League qualifying spot though Atalanta have a game in hand and if Juventus can’t get some wins they could actually make a run.

Saturday

Celta Vigo v Las Palmas – 8a on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Luca de la Torre has missed three straight matches due to injury but has been included in the matchday squad for Celta Vigo as they look to continue to hold off relegation this weekend. With seven matches remaining Celta are just three points out of the relegation positions in La Liga heading into their matchup with 12th place Las Palmas

Wolfsburg v Bochum – 9:30a on ESPN+

Kevin Paredes was back on the bench last weekend but did not play a week after missing due to injury. Prior to the injury Paredes had started nine straight matches. Wolfsburg have just one win in their last fourteen matches and currently sit just two points out of the relegation spot and one points ahead of this weekends opponent, Bochum.

Hoffenheim v Borussia Monchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN+

Joe Scally did not make the field last weekend while Jordan Pefok came on as a substitute but had to come off ten minutes later due to an injury in Borussia Monchengladbach’s 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund. Gladbach’s opponent this weekend is Hoffenheim who are coming off a 4-1 loss to relegation threatened Mainz with John Brooks coming on in the 60th minute.

Heidenheim v RB Leipzig – 9:30a on ESPN+

Lennard Maloney has reclaimed his starting role for Heidenheim after returning from injury and played the full 90 minutes again last weekend in his team’s 1-1 draw with Bochum. Heidenheim sit in 10th place heading into their matchup with Leipzig this weekend with Leipzig looking to hold off Borussia Dortmund for fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying spot.

Union Berlin v Bayern Munich – 12:30p on ESPN+

Brenden Aaronson started his fourth straight match for Union Berlin last weekend but the team fell to Augsburg 2-0 and remain three points out of the relegation playoff spot just a year removed from Champions League qualification. They face a Bayern Munich side who have had their 11 year reign as Bundesliga champions come to an end as of last week but who also dismissed Arsenal from Champions League play mid-week.

Valencia v Real Betis – 12:30p on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

Johnny Cardoso started and went the full 90 for Real Betis last weekend as they snapped a four match losing streak by defeating Celta Vigo 2-1 last weekend. The result drew them within five points of Real Sociedad for sixth place and European competition qualification and they are currently two points back of this weekend’s opponent Valencia who are in seventh and have won two straight matches 1-0.

Sunday

Everton v Nottingham Forest – 8:30a on USA Network

Gio Reyna received his first start since joining Nottingham Forest last weekend and picked up an assist off a corner as Forest drew with Wolves to gain a point on Luton Town for the final relegation spot. This weekend’s match will be a key one for Forest as they take on an Everton side who are a point ahead of them in the standings with a game in hand and coming off a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea.

Aston Villa v Bournemouth – 10a on Peacock

Tyler Adams was held out again last weekend due to injury as Bournemouth drew with Manchester United 2-2. It’s a rough turn of events for Adams who had played in just two matches for Bournemouth before returning to the injury list. Bournemouth are squarely in the middle of the table from a points perspective while Aston Villa are currently holding on to fourth place, three points ahead of Tottenham.

Crystal Palace v West Ham – 10a on Peacock

Chris Richards has missed three straight due to injury but did return to training late this week for Crystal Palace who are coming off a shock 1-0 win over title contending Liverpool. With the win Palace pulled eight points out of the relegation scrap.

Coventry City v Manchester United – 10:30a on ESPN+

Haji Wright and Coventry City will look to continue their FA Cup run as they face Manchester United in the semifinals on Sunday. Coventry have seen their promotion hopes fade, falling eight points back of the playoff positions in the Championship but they can still make a splash this season. Coventry defeated Wolverhampton 3-2 in the quarterfinals after remarkably scoring a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time followed by Wright’s game winner with the last kick of the match in the tenth minute of stoppage.

Brest v Monaco – 11:05a on beIN Sports

Folarin Balogun and third place Monaco face second place Brest on Sunday morning in Ligue One action. PSG have a solid grip on the league lead but with just three Champions League spots from Ligue One and Lille only three points back of Monaco (who trail Brest by a point) both teams have a lot to play for yet this season. Fulham v Liverpool – 11:30a on USA Network

Tim Ream was not included in the matchday squad last weekend but Antonee Robinson started yet again, he’s started all but one match this season, as Fulham defeated West Ham to move into twelfth place. They will take on a Liverpool side that is licking it’s wounds coming off being bounced from the Champions League quarterfinals by Atlanta and suffering a huge blow to their title hopes in a loss to Crystal Place last weekend that saw Manchester City take a two point advantage in the title race with six matches to play.

Arsenal, Liverpool’s moment of truth in Premier League title race

Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FCApr 19, 2024, 04:00 AM ET

Arsenal and Liverpool have their own problems right now as they attempt to reignite their Premier League title hopes. But the aching bodies, tired minds and damaged morale that managers Mikel Arteta and Jürgen Klopp must overcome are suddenly threatening to halt Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, too.If the Premier League trophy is to end the season decked in red ribbons rather than blue, this weekend is the final chance for both Arsenal and Liverpool to turn the screw on City and capitalise on their moment of weakness. By the time City return to Premier League action, at Brighton & Hove Albion next Thursday, Arsenal and Liverpool could be four points clear of Guardiola’s team. If that turns out to be the case, don’t underestimate the scale of the task facing the reigning champions.The sight of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne limping out of City’s Champions League quarterfinal defeat against Real Madrid on Wednesday, combined with the looks of exhaustion and failure on the faces of Guardiola and his players, has raised question marks over City’s ability to bounce back and win a fourth successive title. Who knows how significant a blow it will be to City to have their treble hopes extinguished by a penalty shootout defeat? But having gone 27 games without walking off the pitch in defeat — yes, they technically drew over 120 minutes against Madrid, but try telling Guardiola and his players they didn’t lose the game — City have now lost the air of invincibility that they have developed since their 1-0 loss at Aston Villa in December.

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Some title races are defined by teams that really hit their stride as they approach the finish line. They deal with injuries, fatigue and opposition “mind games” as though they don’t exist. Leicester City’s fairy-tale triumph in 2016 and City’s hat trick of titles over the past three years are examples of sides blanking out all distractions to clinch the championship. But sometimes the teams at the top wobble, and their physical and mental strength are tested to the limit. In 2012, when Sergio Agüero’s 93rd-minute winner against Queen’s Park Rangers sealed the title for City in the final game of the season, both they and nearest rivals Manchester United built and lost significant leads — United were eight points clear with six games to play — during the run-in.

This season’s title race will be shaped by what happens this weekend. City’s FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea on Saturday (stream LIVE at 12:15 p.m. ET on ESPN+) gives their title rivals the chance to dislodge Guardiola’s side from top spot, with Arsenal away to Wolves on Saturday evening and Liverpool travelling to Fulham on Sunday. But although City’s confidence will have been dented by the Real defeat, Arsenal and Liverpool must also haul themselves off the floor.

Arsenal face Wolverhampton Wanderers having lost their past two games without scoring, against Aston Villa in the league and Bayern Munich in the Champions League, while a run of one point from Liverpool’s past two Premier League games has damaged their own title challenge. The 3-0 Europa League defeat at home to Atalanta between those dropped points against United and Crystal Palace inflicted drained belief at Anfield, too. But although both teams now trail City by two points at the top of the Premier League, momentum can shift quickly, and Arsenal and Liverpool simply have to win this weekend to keep their hopes alive.Arsenal need to buck their recent trend of faltering in the final weeks of a season if they are to win the title. Last season, the Gunners won just four of their last 10 league matches, while in 2021-22 they won five and lost five of their final 10 games. This time, they realistically need to win all six of their remaining games, but if they can claim all three points at Molineux and then beat Chelsea at the Emirates on Tuesday, a four-point lead (and a significantly healthier goal difference over City) would put Arteta’s team firmly back in the hunt for the title.Liverpool have a track record of finishing strongly in the league, so their recent dropped points are out of character for Klopp’s side. Last season, seven wins and three draws from their final 10 games were almost enough to clinch a top-four finish, while eight wins and two draws during the 2021-22 run-in left them just a point adrift of eventual champions City.Next up is Sunday’s trip to Fulham which, following Thursday’s Europa League elimination despite winning the second leg against Atalanta 1-0 in Italy, is crucial for Liverpool’s title ambitions. Although Liverpool haven’t lost at Craven Cottage since December 2011, they have drawn on their past two league visits to the stadium — a result they can ill afford this weekend. But a win at Fulham, coupled with another victory in the Merseyside derby at Everton o Wednesday, would lift them four points clear of City, who would have played two games fewer than Liverpool and Arsenal by the time they reemerge on league duty at Brighton.There are plenty of ifs and buts surrounding Arsenal and Liverpool, but one thing is absolutely clear: they both have to win this weekend to retain any realistic hope of winning the title. Yet if one or both of them can do the job this weekend and back it up with another win in midweek, a four-point deficit even with two games in hand would be a challenge for City to meet. History suggests Guardiola and his players will deal with that challenge, but the title race isn’t over yet.Real Madrid have shown that City can be overcome, so Arsenal and Liverpool must apply the pressure to make it happen in the Premier League.

Alyssa Naeher heroics, boos for Korbin Albert as USWNT wins SheBelieves Cup on penalties

COLUMBUS, OHIO - APRIL 09: Alyssa Naeher #1 of the United States makes a save during the penalty kick shootout against Canada in the 2024 SheBelieves Cup final match at Lower.com Field on April 09, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Steph Yang, Meg Linehan, and Jeff Rueter Apr 9, 2024 The Athletic

The USWNT needed penalty kicks and another ridiculous shootout performance from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, but Emily Fox slotted the winning penalty kick to defeat Canada for the SheBelieves Cup trophy on Tuesday night. Despite misses from Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett during the shootout, Naeher once again played hero as she made three saves during the shootout and, as is her new standard, converted her own shot. It’s the seventh SheBelieves Cup trophy for the USWNT.Sophia Smith provided both of the USWNT’s goals during the second half, after Canada went up late in the first. Canada would get an equalizer of their own late in the match after Crystal Dunn was judged to have brought down forward Adriana Leon in the box, with Leon converting the penalty to make it 2-2. Canadian center back Kadeisha Buchanen nearly provided the game-winning goal via her head, but the U.S. was saved by the crossbar on the final, notable chance of the match.

Earlier in the night, Brazil and Japan also went to penalties to decide the third-place team. Brazil ended up with that honor, as Japan struggled to convert any attempts in the shootout.

With decent weather and no torrential rain, we finally got a real look at what a true soccer game between the U.S. and Canada looks like right now — though somehow we ended up in the exact same place of needing penalties to decide a winner, while many U.S. fans made their displeasure with Korbin Albert known repeatedly throughout the night. Here are the takeaways from this edition of this matchup.

The USWNT celebrates after beating Canada. (Carmen Mandato/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Naeher redemption

Even at her heights during the 2019 World Cup cycle, few would mistake Alyssa Naeher for being a sweeper-keeper. The Chicago Red Stars netminder is an exceptional shot-stopper on her day and a capable defensive orchestrator, providing a level-headed approach that has kept games from going off the rails. Nevertheless, she’s not the type who will converge onto a ball before an attacker sets up their shot, and is more of a traditional stay-near-the-net shot-stopper.

Canada’s opening goal exposed that fact, one that has only gotten more apparent with each passing year.

Even without the “Naeher won’t beat Ashley Lawrence in a footrace” factor, Naeher decided to close the angle far too late into Canada’s counter. Any split-second of indecision works against a goalkeeper who needs to time that challenge, and it was likely the difference between a last-gasp clearance and the actual result, which was an attempted clearance off of Lawrence’s shin right to Deanne Rose. The indecision also cost the USWNT time to adjust its defensive shape, leaving Rose with an easy pass to Adriana Leon for an empty-net finish.Of course, the resolution of the game — another tournament that ends with Naeher saving at least one penalty in a shootout — does reinforce her bona fides in the big moment. She remains one of the world’s best, if not its standard-bearer, in terms of handling spot-kick responsibilities in a big moment. Her resolve helped the U.S. bounce back from Rodman having the first penalty of the shootout saved. Naeher took control of the moment by making a save of her own, then immediately stepping up to take the U.S.’s third shot, then turning around and making two more saves. It was complete domination.

That said, and it goes without saying: a team only gets to penalties if it fails to win in the 90 or 120 minutes preceding it. When a team concedes goals like the one that opened the scoring tonight, coming up big in a shootout is a mandatory recompense.

If the team is determined to play a possession-based game that invites opponents to threaten on the counter, Naeher’s decision-making in similar situations could make or break the USWNT’s quest to earn a gold medal.

The U.S. fan base is still largely unhappy with Albert

Korbin Albert was a substitute in both games, and in both games she received boos when entering the field, though they were clearly audible even on Tuesday night’s television broadcast. In Columbus, where the in-stadium announcer had to re-do the substitution announcement when Albert came on for Shaw, Albert was booed both times, and yet again after the game when her name was read during the trophy ceremony.

Leaving aside that the team did look worse when Albert came on — who wouldn’t look worse with Shaw substituting off from the No. 10? — it’s clear that some fans are left unsatisfied by Albert’s apology and subsequent statements from USWNT leadership that, while they condemn anti-LGBTQ behavior, they are handling the issue privately.

Make it a double for Smith

Listen, it’s absolutely clutch for the USWNT to get Sophia Smith back in this goal-scoring form, but both of her goals help illustrate the sort of success this team can see when they move the ball with purpose and nail their first touch or one-time passing.

We’ve seen how playing a more direct approach has worked this year during the Gold Cup against Colombia, and when you think about the attacking talent (and depth of that talent) on this team, the direct approach is actually providing more options. Smith will get the credit for Tuesday’s two goals, but it was the introduction of Swanson and shifting Shaw back to the No. 10 that unlocked a more successful interplay between the forward line — and as we noted above, Shaw was involved on both goals in the build-up.Her decision to simply lay it off for Smith on the equalizer, in particular, was the perfect example of what happens when you make the simple, quick decision and trust the player on the other side of that call.

The double pivot is back…ish

Against Canada, the United States opted for a more defensive setup with Sam Coffey and Emily Sonnett in a double pivot. But playing Coffey and Sonnett together there — and keeping Lindsey Horan in the midfield, as well — obliges you to shift Jaedyn Shaw out of the midfield, which is what happened as Shaw moved to the left wing. The 19-year-old Shaw looked a little discombobulated to start; it would’ve been really interesting to see her start at the No. 10 two games in a row, instead of asking her to adjust positionally. With more experience, that’s the kind of switch that Shaw will no doubt make more seamlessly, but in this game, it left the U.S. hunting around for some kind of outlet to penetrate Canada’s box.

The U.S. shifted tactics a bit in the second half, returning Shaw to the No. 10 by substituting Coffey for Mal Swanson. With Shaw closer to Smith, it enabled Smith to drop into the pocket in the half space instead of staying wide and having to fight past a defender, helping to create the equalizing goal in the second half. Shaw also helped create the second goal by picking out Rodman on a nicely weighted pass.

Having looked at both setups across the halves, it feels hard to argue for the more stultifying double-pivot, although that may have been affected by players adjusting positions between games and the loss of Naomi Girma to injury. It also suffered from some baffling usage of Dunn, who sat out on the touchline in space by herself for long minutes without ever getting the ball.

Of course, there’s no rule that the U.S. has to use one formation forever, and against Canada in a friendly, why not examine a more defensive setup and see if you can score out of it? The team’s willingness to make adjustments in the second half paid off in the end, and that’s really what matters.

(Top photo: Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Stars vs. balance: USWNT overcomes perpetual problem to lift SheBelieves Cup

Jeff Kassouf ESPN FC

Apr 9, 2024, 09:55 PM ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Another game United States–Canada matchup, another victorious penalty shootout for the Americans.

The USWNT defeated Canada in a shootout on Tuesday for the second time in 34 days, again after Canada equalized late in a match for a 2-2 draw. The win brought a seventh SheBelieves Cup title in nine editions of the tournament for the USWNT. While a trophy is nice, the most important aspect of the night was what did and did not work tactically as the Americans continue through this transition phase three months ahead of the Olympics.

On Tuesday, USWNT interim coach Twila Kilgore made four changes to the lineup that defeated Japan 2-1 three days earlier. The “who” of the changes was far less important than the “how,” and they captured the essence of one of the biggest questions impending head coach Emma Hayes must address upon her arrival next month: Does she try to get her most talented 11 players on the field, or will she make necessary sacrifices to find her most cohesive squad?

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

The pitfalls of the former approach were on display Tuesday and stood in stark contrast to a dominant USWNT performance against Japan. On Tuesday, Jaedyn Shaw moved back to a winger role after thriving in the No. 10 position against Japan. She flanked striker Alex Morgan on the left, with Sophia Smith lining up on the right. Lindsey Horan pushed higher into the No. 10 role, but the net result was a familiar problem for USWNT: several players who prefer to occupy central spaces are tasked with providing width.

Horan tended to drift toward the right side alongside Smith in the first half, presumably to allow Shaw the freedom to tuck inside. The net result, however, was that the US was left without a central passing option in the space a No. 10 would traditionally occupy. At one point late in the first half, Shaw drifted all the way to the right touchline alongside Smith to find the ball.

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“The first half, I felt their midfielders were going places they didn’t want to go because I think we did shut off the middle of the pitch,” Canada coach Bev Priestman said.

The problem was clear enough to require a change coming out of half-time: Mallory Swanson — likely on minutes restrictions as she returns from injury — replaced Sam Coffey, which shifted Horan deeper into midfield and Shaw inside to formally take over the No. 10 role. The changes paid off almost immediately: Smith equalized five minutes after half-time on an assist from Shaw. Eighteen minutes later, Shaw was the central playmaker again, finding second-half substitute Trinity Rodman, who fed a through ball to Smith for a second goal.

“I thought once we sorted out right after half-time where our pocket players were and making sure that we consistently had players in the pocket, the game changed for us,” Kilgore said. “That just comes down to basically creating our shape and getting into our shape as quickly as possible, and then being dynamic in it. I think the team has really bought in on that and it’s definitely something that we’ll carry forward with us.”

Shaw was a catalyst of the USWNT’s attack on Saturday in a convincing team performance against Japan. Swanson and Rodman ran the wings on each side of Morgan in that game, meaning the USWNT’s front four were all in their preferred and most natural positions. The USWNT looked out of sorts on Tuesday with those players shuffled, but balance was restored as soon as the half-time changes were made.

There lies the issue for Hayes — and it is a good problem to have.

If Shaw’s performances continue to command the starting No. 10 role — she certainly made that case against Japan and in the second half against Canada — and Horan shifts deeper into a No. 8 or double pivot role, what does that mean for a healthy Rose Lavelle or Catarina Macario?

And with Swanson and Rodman most comfortable in the winger roles, and Morgan continues to reassert her claim as the team’s central target, what happens to the uber talented Smith, recent NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner? Smith is dominant in the NWSL for the Portland Thorns but has struggled to grasp hold of an exact role at the international level, in part because of this positional dilemma. It is no coincidence she scored both goals in the second half, including her second tally right after she moved to the No. 9 role.

“I think we just had a really good, fluid movement among the front three,” Smith said about the second half. “At any given time, I could find myself at any position and same with the other two players up front. We’re not shy of movement and interchanging, and I think that just works out really well for us. It keeps the defense on their toes and just presents different challenges for the other team.”

None of these issues are new, but a different coach will now be tasked with solving them. Hayes must figure out how to optimize a talented squad.

https://bc1786c64c5cc85d551e147babc2ca02.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Last year’s tepid Women’s World Cup showing from the USWNT was a product of individualistic play and a team that lacked chemistry, in part because it couldn’t figure out its identity. Smith shoehorned into a wide role with Morgan as the striker, and the U.S. rotated its midfield in search of answers for a recovering and then injured Lavelle. Those solutions came too late, and the USWNT was bounced by Sweden in a penalty shootout in the round of 16.

Hayes previously criticized the USWNT for its lack of technical players, so the evolution of Shaw into a star before her eyes before she even arrives on the sideline is a fruitful development.Tuesday’s match reiterated that how the USWNT lines up is as important as who is on the field. There is not and never was, even through the struggles of recent years, a shortage of talent in the American player pool; there was a shortage of ideas and viable solutions — from coaches and players alike.Hayes was hired — and worth the wait as she finishes her time at Chelsea — because U.S. Soccer feels like she is the best coach to solve those issues. She will have only a few months to do so ahead of the Olympics, but the signs of what is and is not working were on display again on Tuesday in a tale of two halves.

Why Barcelona can only blame themselves after imploding vs. PSG

Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondentApr 16, 2024, 05:52 PM ET

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Barcelona‘s wait for a first Champions League semifinal appearance since 2019 goes on after Xavi Hernández’s side imploded against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday following Ronald Araújo‘s first half sending off at the Olympic Stadium.

Barça were leading 1-0 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate after last week’s first leg win in Paris, when Araujo lightly bundled Bradley Barcola down just outside the area in the 29th minute. The referee quickly branded a red card, and with it Barça’s hopes of reaching the last four disappeared as quickly as Barcola had dropped to the deck, with the game ending 6-4 on aggregate.

PSG’s comeback was led by Ousmane Dembélé on his return to Barcelona. He left Barça for France last summer in a transfer worth €50 million and fierce whistles greeted his every touch. He could afford a smile when he equalized just before half-time, converting Barcola’s cross to get his side back in the tie. It was just the third goal he has scored this season — two of them have come against Barça in the last week.

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

Barça may pin their collapse on being down to 10 men, but the truth is they made PSG’s route back into the game easy. Vitinha was left unmarked on the edge of the box from a corner in the 54th minute. He duly smashed in to the bottom corner and then, just after the hour mark, João Cancelo clattered into Dembéle inside the box. Kylian Mbappé, anonymous in the first leg, dispatched the resulting penalty to give PSG the lead in the tie.

The home side did have chances to level, but they came and went, with Mbappé adding his second goal on the counter-attack in the 89th minute to seal PSG’s passage into the semifinal as flares were set off in the away end in the second tier behind the goal where he had just scored.

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If that was the end to this frenetic tie, it is unlikely to be the end to the developing rivalry between the two clubs. Manager Luis Enrique was in the Barça dugout in 2017 when they beat PSG 6-1 to overcome a 4-0 first leg deficit. Now he has helped PSG overturn a first leg defeat in the competition for the first ever time. Before the game, he had said he was convinced that would be the case.

In between those two comebacks, PSG have taken Neymar, Lionel Messi and Dembéle from Barça, while they also hammered the Catalans at Camp Nou when the two sides met in 2021 in the last 16, Mbappé netting a hat trick on that occasion. All of those factors have added an edge to this fixture and it was apparent here, with the extra police presence palpable and supporters chanting their dislike for each other throughout the day in the city all the way up to the stadium in Montjuic.

When 16-year-old Lamine Yamal roasted Nuno Mendes in the 12th minute to set up Raphinha, it looked like the travelling supporters would finally be silenced. Barça were unbeaten in 13 games coming into this match, dating back to Xavi’s January announcement that he will step down when the season ends. They have kept six clean sheets in a row in LaLiga. With a two goal advantage, it looked like tie over.

Robert Lewandowski blazed a chance to add another goal for Barça over the bar before the game swung definitively just before the half hour mark. Araujo was adamant he had not fouled Barcola. The touch was light, but it existed and it is not the sort of decision VAR often intervenes in.

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How Barça reacted to losing a man is what will haunt them. Iñigo Martínez came on for Yamal, limiting their counter attack ability, and PSG set up camp in the final third.

Xavi said about going a man down: “We are annoyed. The red card has marked the tie. We were well-organised 11 v 11. The referee was really bad. I told him, he was a disaster. He killed the tie. I don’t like speaking about refs but it has to be said. I don’t understand it.”

Dembélé’s goal just before the break bred confidence and PSG poured forward at the start of the second half. Marc-André ter Stegen was almost caught out by a skidding effort from Achraf Hakimi, Fabián Ruiz shot wide and then, finally, Vitinha made it 2-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate. The penalty soon followed as Barça, who conceded two goals in three minutes in the first leg, once again lost their bearings.

Once behind, they did rally. There was a penalty shout turned down on Ilkay Gündogan, which led to a fuming Xavi being sent off for protesting and kicking a barrier on the sideline, before goalkeeper coach José Ramón de la Fuente also received his marching orders. The anger felt as much about a loss of control of the match as it did the decisions on the pitch.

Still, Gianluigi Donnarumma had to save from Lewandowski, with Marquinhos preventing Ferran Torres from tapping in the rebound, and then Raphinha dragged a cross-shot just wide as Barça’s European campaign faded out.

In the 88th minute, Dembélé was whistled off, and a minute later, Mbappé sealed PSG’s passage to the semifinal. The French side will meet Borussia Dortmund in the last four as they continue their bid to win a maiden Champions League trophy.

Barça, meanwhile, head to Real Madrid for El Clásico on Sunday. With Madrid eight points clear at the top of LaLiga, anything but a win would now effectively end their hopes of silverware this season.

‘Special’ Sophia Smith leads USWNT to SheBelieves Cup title

Jeff Kassouf

Apr 9, 2024, 11:23 PM ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Scoring exceptional goals is nothing new for Sophia Smith, but she’s making a habit of finishing them against Canada.

Smith scored twice Tuesday at Lower.com Field as the United States defeated Canada 5-4 in a penalty shootout to lift the SheBelieves Cup for the seventh time in nine editions of the tournament.

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

It was the USWNT’s second penalty shootout victory over Canada in 34 days after prevailing in a Gold Cup semifinal, and Smith’s individual play was another example of the 23-year-old forward “being a special player in a special moment within our team concept,” USWNT interim coach Twila Kilgore said.

Smith scored an equalizer from outside the box five minutes after halftime and the go-ahead goal 18 minutes later, when she got on a through ball from second-half substitute Trinity Rodman.

“The first goal was just class,” Kilgore said. “Sometimes individuals just do special things. It was a left-footed finish for Soph in a crowded box, just an exceptional moment, but also there’s a big team concept there.”

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Smith started the game on the right wing, a position she has been asked to play often in her blooming USWNT career but not her preferred No. 9 position, which she plays for the Portland Thorns. She won National Women’s Soccer League MVP and a league title in 2022 and the Golden Boot in 2023. Portland recently rewarded Smith with the largest annual contract in NWSL history.

Four minutes after Smith moved to her preferred No. 9 role Tuesday, she tallied her second goal. Jaedyn Shaw found the ball centrally after moving into the attacking midfield role, then Shaw turned and played a vertical ball to Rodman, who found a streaking Smith in behind.

Smith acknowledged that it is good to be versatile when the Olympic roster is only 18 players deep.

“I just try to do my job when I’m told I need to step up,” Smith said with her tournament MVP trophy beside her in the stadium tunnel Tuesday. “I don’t think anything of that. I try to lead this team in any way I can and if that’s putting the ball in the back of the net for the PKs or in the game, that’s what I pride myself in and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

The USWNT nearly wasted Smith’s efforts. Crystal Dunn conceded a penalty kick late when she fouled Canada forward Adriana Leon, and Leon stepped up to bury a late equalizer from the spot — just as she had 34 days earlier in the 127th minute of the Gold Cup semifinal.

Tuesday’s match went straight to a shootout, and it played out much like the previous meeting. USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher put in another dazzling shootout performance, saving three penalty kicks and burying one of her own to lift her team to victory.”I think it’s just something that we put the time into in training,” Naeher said of her focus in shootouts. “It’s just part of the game. Even on the men’s or women’s side, the champion of a World Cup or different tournament has statistically some very high number has had to go through at least one shootout within the tournament, so it’s something that we just put a lot of preparation into. The more you do it, the more confident [you are]. I think we’ve got 23 players that can step up and be comfortable taking a shot at any moment.”

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Next up for the USWNT is the long-awaited arrival of head coach Emma Hayes at the end of May. Hayes was announced as the team’s next coach in November, but she stayed with Chelsea throughout the European season to finish her decade with the club.

In the interim, Kilgore has been working with Hayes to implement her plans ahead of her arrival. That process has been successful of late despite a concerning group-stage loss to Mexico at the Gold Cup. Since then, the U.S. has won or advanced in five straight games, picking up two trophies in just over a month.

“Now we’re just at a point where we are tried, true, battle-tested,” Kilgore said. “This is five games back-to-back against teams that have qualified for the Olympics. There’s only one more game that puts you into a final, for context.”

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4/5/24 US Ladies ready for She Believes Cup Sat 12:30 TNT, Tues in Columbus, Indy 11 Sat at Louisville on CBS at 4 pm, Champions & Europa League Tues/Wed/Thurs, US Men up to #11

April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 gatorbest alex-morgan, indy-11, megan-rapinoe, soccer, sports, us-soccer, uswnt, womens-soccer

USWNT in She Believes Cup Sat vs Japan 12:30 TNT & Tues 4/9 in Columbus Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario will make their returns to the USWNT Sat as part of the 23-player roster for the She Believes Cup, U.S. Soccer. Two new names are also joining the roster and earning their first senior national team call-ups, both playing for European clubs: 21-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender Eva Gaetino and 16-year-old Ajax midfielder Lily Yohannes. The question is do Mallory and Macario start or come off the bench vs Japan (presumably the weeker of the 2 games)? These will be the final two matches for Twila Kilgore as USWNT interim coach. Permanent head coach Emma Hayes will take over beginning with the June window, with Kilgore remaining on the staff as an assistant. The USWNT will play in a reformatted She Believes Cup that has a semifinals and final as opposed to a round robin tournament. They will play Japan in the semifinals in Atlanta on Sat April 6th at 12:30 pm on TNT, and then will face either Brazil or Canada in either the 3rd place match at 5 pm or the final at 7 pm on April 9th in Columbus, Ohio ( tix still available- the OBC is going over) on TBS.

USWNT She Believes Cup roster Goalkeepers (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) Defenders (8): Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (NY/NJ Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Eva Gaetino (PSG), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NY/NJ Gotham FC) Midfielders (6): Korbin Albert (PSG), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Lily Yohannes (Ajax) Forwards (6): Catarina Macario (Chelsea), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)

Indy 11 vs Louisville Sat 4 pm on CBS
The Boys in Blue head south Saturday for the first installment of the LIPAFC rivalry in 2024 live on CBS at 4 pm. Indy is coming off a 2-1 loss to Detroit City FC to fall to 1-2-1 on the season, while Louisville defeated Birmingham Legion FC 5-0 to sit perfect atop the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference standings at 3-0-0.

LIPAFC
The Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest dates back to 2015 with Louisville holding the 10-5-6 advantage. Nineteen of the 21 matches have taken place since Indy joined the USL Championship in 2018 (2 playoff), with Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches in 2015 and 2016 making up the remaining two. The Boys in Blue were 1-1 in those match-ups. Indy is looking for its first road win since a 2-1 victory on May 29, 2021. Saturday marks the 22nd overall meeting between the sides all-time, with Louisville leading 10-5-6.

Champions League Elite 8 — starts April 9th & 10th on CBS

GAMES ON TV

Sat, April 6

7:30 am USA Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Man City
7:30 am ESPN+ Norwich City (Stewart) vs Ipswich Town (Champ)
9 am CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Lecce
9:30 am ESPN+ Union Berlin vs Bayer Leverkusen
10 am USA Aston Villa vs Burnley
10 am Peacock Fulham (Robinson, Ream) vs New Castle United
12:30 pm TNT, Max, Telemundo USA Women vs Japan
1 pm para+ Lazio vs Juventus (Weah, McKinney)
7:30 pm Fox LAFC vs LA Galaxy
7 pm CBS Indy 11 @ Louisville
Sun, Apr 7
10:30 am NBC Man United vs Liverpool
11:30 am NBC Sheffield United (Trusty) vs Chelsea
11:30 am ESPN+ Wolfsburg vs Mgladbach (Scalley)
1 pm USA Tottenham vs Notthingham Forest (Reyna)
2:30 pm ESPN+ Bayer Levekusen vs Wolfsburg
4 pm Fox Atlanta United vs Chicago Fire

Tues, Apr 9
3 pm CBS, Arsenal vs Bayern Munich UCL
3 pm Para+ Real Madrid vs Man City UCL

5 or 7 pm TBS, Universo, Peacock USWNT vs Brazil/Can winner Columbus, OH
8:45 pm Fox Sport 1 Columbus Crew vs Tigres CCL
10:30 pm FS1 New England vs America CCL
Weds, Apr10
3 pm CBS PSG vs Barcelona UCL
3 pm Para+ Atletico Madrid vs Dortmund UCL
10:30 pm Fox Sport 1 Monterrey vs Inter Miami (Messi) CCL
8:15 pm FS1 Heredino vs Pachuca CCL
Thurs, Apr 11
3 pm CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Roma Europa
3 pm Para+ Liverpool vs Atalanta
3 pm Para+ Leverkusen vs West Ham United
7 pm ESPN+ Miami FV vs Tampa Bay Rowdies (Jordan Farr)

June 27 Copa America US Men Play Panama

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

Mal Swanson is starting to look like her old self, and that’s just what the USWNT needs

US Ladies

USWNT’s Albert can play amid flak for social posts ESPN Jeff Carlisle

Sophia Smith excited about new USWNT phase ESPN
The USWNT’s new normal? The threat of losing almost any game ESPN Jeff Kassouf

Who should the USWNT call up? Ranking the NWSL players who deserve a look ESPN Jeff Kassouf

USWNT vs. Japan: How to watch SheBelieves Cup, TV channel, live stream

Macario talks ’emotional’ USWNT return alongside Swanson

NWSL Power Rankings: KC looks unplayable as Utah hits bottom

US Men

AC Milan boss Pioli: Pulisic could play No. 10 role vs. Lecce

Champions league

Pep hails Bellingham’s ‘massive’ impact on Madrid

Xavi: PSG favourites for Barça’s UCL quarterfinal

The battle for extra Champions League places is tight between Italy, Germany and England

Indy 11

Recap – MEM 1:2 IND

Blake, Stanley Earn USL Team of the Week Honors

Know before you Go – The Mike

Indy Eleven Announces 2024 Promotional Schedule – Tickets on Sale NOW!

Reffing

What’s the Call – Hand Ball Decisions –

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

The USWNT has long been ‘bigger than just the game,’ SheBelieves Cup will be a test of that

FRISCO, TX - FEBRUARY 23: The USWNT celebrate winning the SheBelieves Cup after a game between Iceland and USWNT at Toyota Stadium on February 23, 2022 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

By Jeff Rueter and Steph Yang r 2, 2024 The Athletic – Steph Yang & Jeff Rueter

U.S. women’s national team midfielder Korbin Albert’s social media activity will soon be under the microscope – perhaps even more than it was last week, when her reposting of anti-LGBTQ content was resurfaced online and addressed by former USWNT star Megan Rapinoe.

This weekend, the USWNT opens SheBelieves Cup against Japan in the annual invitational tournament played between the U.S. and select international teams.

For the past two years, the USWNT has advocated for trans rights at the tournament – a track record of advocacy that feels especially important in light of transphobic and homophobic sentiments that continue to permeate American society, and after Albert’s social media activity. It’s a jarring contradiction to the way the USWNT has historically spoken out to advance reforms or to advocate for equal rights.

At the center of this discussion are videos Albert reposted to her TikTok account, including one of a sermon given in a Christian worship space talking about how being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong. Among the posts on her TikTok profile was one from 2023, showing her family taking turns stating that “their pronouns are U.S.A.,” with Albert participating in the video. The post no longer appears on her profile as of Tuesday.

Albert also liked a meme on Instagram of an airplane landing with a caption reading “God taking time off performing miracles to make sure Megan Rapinoe sprains her ankle in her final ever game.”

Rapinoe has been an outspoken advocate of LGBTQ+ rights and trans rights in particular. She responded to Albert via her Instagram story, asking, “Are you making any type of space safer, more inclusive, more whole, any semblance of better, bringing the best out of anyone?” She later stressed to The Athletic that while Albert’s activity inspired the post, her focus is on the queer lives at stake, whether they be at risk through anti-trans commentary online or targeted legislation.

Rapinoe signed off her message with “Yours Truly, #15.” Albert wears the No. 15 shirt for the USWNT, a number made available after Rapinoe’s retirement last fall.

USWNT Albert wears No 15 against Brazil in March (John Todd/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Queer and trans youth remain at higher risk of bullying, facing legislative hurdles and attempting self-harm. The Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People found that 41 percent of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth. Additionally, the Trevor Project found that transgender and nonbinary youth were 2 to 2 1/2 times as likely to experience depressive symptoms, seriously consider suicide and attempt suicide compared to their cisgender LGBQ peers.

Albert later apologized on Instagram, saying, “I truly believe that everyone should feel safe and respected everywhere and on all playing fields.”

The 20-year-old midfielder is not the only player on the team or in women’s soccer to hold conservative views. As noted by a former USWNT player in 2018 after Jaelene Hinkle’s public refusal to wear the team-issued rainbow pride jerseys, there have always been people in the locker room “that are not okay, or in agreement with, the (gay) lifestyle.” The difference with Albert, as it was in 2018 with Hinkle, was that other conservative players had kept their anti-LGBTQ opinions to themselves and the team managed to go out and play together.

Now, that dynamic may be challenged as SheBelieves opens in Georgia, a state where anti-trans rhetoric from high-level leadership is pertinent and playing out in real time.

Last Tuesday, the state senate passed House Bill 1104, originally intended to provide mental health resources for young student-athletes, but which now includes language that bans transgender girls from competing on girls’ public school teams and bans them from locker rooms that match their gender identity.

In past similar situations, the USWNT has been a direct advocate for the queer and trans community, many of whom make up a passionate part of their fan base. The 2022 SheBelieves Cup took place in Frisco, Texas. During the tournament, Texas governor Greg Abbott issued guidance to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services asking employees to report trans children and their parents to state authorities, referring to gender-affirming care as a form of “child abuse.”

On the night that letter was sent, several USWNT players wore athletic tape around their wrists with the message “Protect Trans Kids.” After the game, midfielder Catarina Macario (who displayed her wristband after scoring in the first half) said it was an idea prompted by Rapinoe — and one that she and others were determined to amplify.

Macario shows her wristband after scoring against Iceland in February 2022 (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

“With the platform we have, we really wanted to show why this team is different and why we do things that are much bigger than just the game,” Macario said. “It was just a way to show awareness, especially because we were playing in Texas.”

The U.S. opened the following SheBelieves Cup in Florida, another state that had enacted anti-trans legislation. The players wore tape on their wrists again, this time with the words “Defend Trans Joy.”

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Those games were played as the Missouri state legislature was reviewing a wave of proposed legislation along similar lines as Florida and Texas. Becky Sauerbrunn, a Missouri native and the team’s captain, wrote an op-ed piece for the Springfield News-Leader that left no questions about why she felt strongly opposed to the motions, stating that the proposals “don’t consider any of the actual challenges to women and girls in sport.”

“I have been championing gender equity in sport for a long time,” Sauerbrunn wrote in part, “and I am done seeing transgender youth being cruelly targeted to score political points. Transgender people are exactly that, people — not tools to be wielded in a climb up the political ladder.”

This wasn’t the case of a team’s captain championing a cause in isolation. The piece resonated within the locker room.

“I did read what Becky said, and she is a true leader,” Alex Morgan said at the time. “Not only within our team, but standing up for trans kids and being an ally and advocate for a lot of groups who are targeted.”

The USWNT’s advocacy has not been limited to SheBelieves Cup and trans rights. Albert has only just begun to be introduced to a team with a years-long history of taking visible stances on an array of political and societal issues. Sauerbrunn said it was a crucial part of representing the United States on its national team, and Morgan agreed.

“When I represent this country, it’s knowing that it is a great country, but it’s also a country that has a lot to work on,” Morgan told Time ahead of the 2019 World Cup. “But I’m willing to be a part of that, to put the work in, to make it as good as it can be.”

The USWNT has been a political body almost by virtue of its very existence, as women’s sports are inherently political.

Megan Rapinoe USWNT players such as Rapinoe have used their platform for advocacy (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

In the United States, women were denied the ability to play organized sports until the landmark Title IX legislation passed in 1972, protecting people from discrimination based on “sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.” It took 13 more years for the first version of the USWNT to form, and nearly a full 20 before it played in the first Women’s World Cup.

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With that context in mind, it’s inherent that today’s USWNT players are not just athletes, but also symbols of societal progress – whether they desire that label or not. Yet USWNT players tend to be highly aware that to represent one of the world’s most diverse nations in this particular arena — especially given the on-field prominence of the team — is a rare platform for advocacy.

Individually and as a group, USWNT figures have spoken out about racial justice in the weeks following the murder of George Floyd and the death of Breonna Taylor. They’ve fought for equal pay in their own labor deal with U.S. Soccer, even as the federation’s lawyers argued that they deserved less because the “overall soccer playing ability” for the men’s national team is “materially influenced by the level of certain physical attributes, such as speed and strength, required for the job.” After striking that deal, they’ve advocated to improve working conditions for other national teams, including Spain, Canada and Jamaica.

Publicly, all of this opened the USWNT up to a wave of criticism from detractors who felt their full focus should be on kicking a ball.

With Rapinoe’s retirement and veteran captain Sauerbrunn not rostered, the USWNT will enter this year’s SheBelieves with a group dynamic that is still in flux, playing under an interim coach until the arrival of Emma Hayes in May.

The next generation of players is already putting its stamp on the team’s on-field identity. In light of Albert’s social media behavior, this year’s SheBelieves may show us how that generation intends to shape its off-field identity as well.

(Top photo: Robin Alam/Getty Images)

Catarina Macario, Mallory Swanson discuss USWNT returns: ‘You can’t take your health for granted’

By Steph Yang 3, 2024

Two players that the United States desperately missed during the 2023 Women’s World Cup are back in national team camp, with Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario both returning for the SheBelieves Cup after long injury recoveries.Swanson suffered a torn patellar tendon on April 8, 2023 in a national team game against the Republic of Ireland in Austin, Texas. Macario tore her ACL on June 1, 2022 while playing for her now-former club, Lyon. Macario’s last appearance for the USWNT was in a friendly against Uzbekistan on April 12, 2022 in Chester, Pennsylvania.“I think the first thing that comes to my mind is just being grateful,” Swanson said about her return. “One thing that I learned throughout my injury was that you can’t ever take life for granted. You can’t take your health for granted.”Both players ended up missing the World Cup. Their absences were a huge blow to the USWNT’s chances as they both played critical roles in the starting XI, and their return could be key for the USWNT’s Olympic hopes.Swanson said that there was a moment after her first surgery that she thought she might still make it back in time for the World Cup. “I remember texting my surgeon and being like ‘How long is this recovery,’ and he was like ‘Six months,’ and I was like ‘Oh, I can make it four. I’m gonna do it,’” she said.

But, as she revealed on The Women’s Game podcast in February, she suffered a septic infection in her knee after the first surgery and had to have a second surgery to remove the infection.“And I think that was the point that really slowed me down,” she said. “And looking back at it, I’m very thankful for how everything worked out because ultimately I learned a lot about life. I’ve never gone through something like what I went through and I think it gave me some time to evaluate myself, evaluate my life, and also take a step back and enjoy, honestly, being with my husband in Chicago.”Meanwhile, Macario was rehabbing in London during the World Cup and said it was difficult to watch the tournament. But it was also a sunny summer in the city, which helped.“(The sun) helped a lot to feel like I was a little bit back home in San Diego or Brazil,” she said. “I just tried to focus on the little things that I could control, and obviously it did take a lot longer than I expected, which was devastating. But the most important thing is that now I’m back and I hope that I can contribute to the team as much as possible leading up to the Olympics and this tournament as well. I just feel like I’ve been very, very blessed with all the people around me showing so much support and love and not feeling rushed to come back.

“Even though I could have had two children by now,” Macario added, laughing.

The USWNT will face Japan on Saturday, April 6 in the first of two games for the nation in the truncated SheBelieves Cup. Before joining the USWNT in training, Swanson and Macario returned to play for their respective clubs and have looked in good form. Swanson played a full 90 minutes for the Chicago Red Stars last weekend, scoring a goal against the Orlando Pride. Macario has been building her minutes for Chelsea since her return to play on March 3 as a substitute against Leicester City, a game in which she also scored a goal.Being able to get back into the rhythm of games with their clubs has been a matter of communication between themselves, their clubs, and U.S. Soccer, and some good timing. Macario, of course, can go directly to future U.S. head coach Emma Hayes at Chelsea for feedback, but said she ultimately left the loading to the experts.“I know that Chelsea and U.S. Soccer, they’re basically having meetings all the time and just try and figure out the right way to manage me in order to allow me to be in this environment for as long as possible,” she said. “Considering that I’ve been out for so long, we do have to take certain things into consideration.”wanson, who also played 80-plus minutes in two NWSL games before that last weekend, didn’t hide that it was a grueling transition.

“I was just like, ‘Welcome back!’ I forgot how hard (playing 90 minutes) is,” she said. “I think with U.S. Soccer and then with the Red Stars and talking to (head coach) Lorne (Donaldson), I think the timing actually worked out pretty well being able to use preseason and those preseason games as games that I can build minutes in.”

SheBelieves will be the last games under interim head coach Twila Kilgore. Emma Hayes will arrive in June for two friendlies against South Korea, which is a short window for both Swanson and Macario to get back up to speed with the national team as well as to adjust to newer and younger teammates who have joined the pool, including Jenna Nighswonger, Olivia Moultrie, and Jaedyn Shaw. There are also newcomers like Eva Gaetino and Lily Yohannes, whom Macario got a chance to see up close when Chelsea faced Ajax in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.

At 16, USWNT midfielder Lily Yohannes is right on time

“She’s a tremendous player. Really sweet girl. I honestly cannot believe that she’s 16,” said Macario. “She just reads the game so well and you can really see that. Ajax, they had a tremendous run in the Champions League and I do feel like that was a lot thanks to her.

“I remember joking around with her after the first game, I was like, ‘Oh, you’re American, right? You’re gonna join us?’ or something like that. And then I find out a few days later that she was called into camp. So that was really sweet.”Both Swanson and Macario were clearly in good spirits, laughing as they answered questions and ruminated on returning to play together after long recoveries.

“I feel like it’s always once something’s taken away from you, you always have a new perspective on it,” said Swanson. “I’m very just grateful to be back in this environment, back with this team and wearing the crest because it means so much.”

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Macario described how it felt to step back on the field when she substituted in for Chelsea against Leicester. She said it felt the same being back in USWNT camp.

“It just really felt like a dream, just felt surreal,” she said. “It almost, looking back in the 641 days that it took, it just kind of all happened in the blink of an eye.

“I felt like crying but at the same time not because well, first of all, I’m in public and I hate crying in public. … I think probably the biggest thing was just getting over that mental hurdle that was like, ‘OK, I’m safe, I’m good to play again. I got this.”

(Top photo: Getty Images)

Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan on Korbin Albert social media activity: ‘Disappointing and extremely, extremely sad’

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 02: Alex Morgan #13 of the U.S. Women's National Team speaks to the media prior to a training session at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground on April 02, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

By Meg LinehanApr 3, 2024 The Atletic

On Wednesday, USWNT captain Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan delivered a prepared statement to reporters addressing last week’s resurfacing of USWNT midfielder Korbin Albert’s social media activity.

“We just want to address the disappointing situation regarding Korbin that has unfolded over this past week. We’ve worked extremely hard to uphold the integrity of this national team through all of the generations, and we are extremely, extremely sad that this standard was not upheld,” Horan began. “Our fans and our supporters feel like this is a team that they can rally behind, and it’s so important that they feel and continue to feel undeniably heard and seen.”

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Albert had engaged with content on TikTok that runs counter to the U.S. team’s long-running and public support of LGBTQ+ rights. Her activity included reposting videos — one of which included a sermon given in a Christian worship space talking about how being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong. She also liked content about Rapinoe being injured in her final game.

USWNT’s Korbin Albert apologizes for social media posts after Megan Rapinoe’s criticism

“We stand by maintaining a safe and respectful space, especially as allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community,” Morgan continued in the statement. “This platform has given us an opportunity to highlight causes that matter to us, something that we never take for granted.”

Morgan stated that the team has also had internal discussions over Albert’s social media activity, and those discussions “will stay within the team.”

Mal Swanson and Catarina Macario were the two players originally scheduled for the virtual media availability, and Swanson declined to get into any specifics about those conversations when asked.

“We’ve had internal conversations and ultimately, those just stay internal,” Swanson said.

The USWNT has long been ‘bigger than just the game,’ SheBelieves Cup will be a test of that

Morgan stressed at the end of the prepared statement that such an internal discussion would not be avoided, even if unpleasant. “One thing to also to know is that we have never shied away from hard conversations within this team,” she said.

In Albert’s apology, posted on March 28, she wrote in part, “I’m really disappointed in myself and am deeply sorry for the hurt that I have caused to my teammates, other players, fans, friends and anyone who was offended. I truly believe that everyone should feel safe and respected everywhere and on all playing fields. I know my actions have not lived up to that and for that I sincerely apologize. It’s an honor and a privilege to play this sport on the world stage and I promise to do better.”

UPDATE (4/5): On Friday, USWNT interim head coach Twila Kilgore followed up on Horan and Morgan’s comments by saying, “It is disappointing when somebody falls short of the very high standards that we set within this team. This team has always been a beacon of respect, inclusion and demonstrated great allyship through actions for underrepresented and marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. And we will continue to do so.

“As Lindsay and Alex mentioned, this team has never shied away from hard conversations and today we’re here continuing to work on getting better, continuing to work on preparing ourselves to make ourselves proud, make our fans proud and put ourselves in the best position to continue to look towards success as we start this tournament.”

Kilgore added that Albert is available to play in the SheBelieves Cup. The U.S. will face Japan in their opening match on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET.

USMNT up to 11th in latest FIFA men’s world rankings, England down to fourth

By Nnamdi Onyeagwarar 4, 2024

The USMNT have climbed up to 11th in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, while England have dropped to fourth.Following their CONCACAF Nations League victories over Jamaica and Mexico in March, Gregg Berhalter’s U.S. side have moved up two places to 11th, just behind Croatia who complete the top 10.Gareth Southgate’s England, though, have failed to secure a victory in their last three games, drawing with Belgium and losing to Brazil during the March international break, having drawn with North Macedonia in their final European Championship qualifier in November.

How to follow the Copa America on The Athletic…

Germany, who host the European Championship this summer, remain 16th.

Argentina, who won the World Cup in 2022 and have only lost one of their last 12 games since the competition, are still ranked as the world’s No 1 side.

France remain in second while Belgium, who are unbeaten in their last 13 games, move up to third from fourth place.

Indonesia are the biggest climbest in the most recent rankings, moving up eight places to 134th, while Vietnam suffered the biggest drop, going down ten places to 115th.

An England summer exit or target the World Cup – what next for Gareth Southgate?

England lost to Brazil at Wembley Stadium last month and have not won since beating Malta 2-0 in November (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

FIFA Men’s World Rankings Top 15:

Argentina
France
Belgium
England
Brazil
Portugal
Netherlands
Spain
Italy
Croatia
USMNT
Colombia
Morocco
Mexico
Uruguay

USMNT weekend viewing guide: Firming things up

Races are heating up

By jcksnftsn Apr 5, 2024, 9:05am PDT

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Celtic FC v Dundee FC - Cinch Scottish Premiership

It’s really getting to crunch time and despite La Liga taking a break this weekend for the Copa del Ray final there is a lot of action to watch as the Old Firm derby and some key Championship matches add themselves to the mix. Here’s what we’re watching:

Friday

Eintracht Frankfurt v Werder Bremen – 2:30p on ESPN+

Timothy Chandler has appeared in three straight matches and four of the past five for Eintracht Frankfurt though all four appearances have been with under five minutes remaining in the match. Frankfurt drew with Union Berlin last weekend and remain in sixth place on a little tier by themselves; they are nine points back of fifth place RB Leipzig and five points ahead of seventh place Augsburg.

Saturday

Norwich City v Ipswich Town – 7:30a on ESPN+

We’re keeping an eye on the English Championship as well this weekend where Josh Sargent and Norwich City take on league leading Ipswich Town. There are a couple of tight races in the promotion hunt with three teams, including Ipswich Town separated by just two points and battling for the top two spots and automatic promotion. Sargent and Norwich city are involved in the second race which is for sixth place and the final promotion playoff position. Currently Norwich hold the position by four points over Haji Wright’s Coventry City but Coventry have a game in hand so it’s still a wide open race with six matches to play and there are three other teams just two points removed from Coventry as well that will be looking to sneak in.

Crystal Palace v Manchester City – 7:30a on USA Network

Chris Richards picked up a knock last weekend against Nottingham Forest and is expected to miss a couple of weeks for Crystal Palace who take on Manchester City on Saturday morning. Palace are coming off a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth and their recent run of form has included draws to relegation candidates Forest and Luton Town but they remain eight points out of the relegation scrap heading into a brutal final stretch of the season that will see them play five of their seven matches against top eight opponents including City and league leading Liverpool.

AC Milan v Lecce – 9a on CBSSN

Coming off of International break Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah were both substitutes last weekend, typical for Musah but an extra rest for Pulisic after long travel. Milan defeated Fiorentina 2-1 and hold a six point advantage over Juventus for second place in Serie A. This weekend’s opponent is Lecce who are five spots, but just four points, removed from relegation in what is a tight lower third of the Serie A table.

Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen – 9:30a on ESPN+

Brenden Aaronson saw a second straight start last weekend as Union Berlin played Eintracht Frankfurt to a scoreless draw. After their incredibly rough start to the season Berlin have straightened things out a bit and are now nine points clear of relegation but things will be quite challenging this weekend as they face a Bayer Leverkusen side that is running away with the Bundesliga title and undefeated in 40 straight matches.

Heidenheim v Bayern Munich – 9:30a on ESPN+

Lennard Maloney returned from injury last weekend and saw a minute off the bench in Heidenheim’s 3-3 draw with Stuttgart after missing the past three matches due to injury. Heidenheim have avoided the relegation scrap in their first year following promotion but are winless in their past six matches heading into their fixture against Bayern Munich who are having a down year but handled Heidenheim 4-2 in the first meeting between the clubs this season.

Fulham v Newcastle United – 10a on Peacock

Tim Ream has not been seeing minutes recently but Antonee Robinson continues to play nearly every minute for the EPL side, he’s over 3,100 minutes for the club across all competitions this season with seven matches (and 630 minutes) still remaining to play. Fulham are coming off a bad loss to Nottingham Forest but remain in thirteenth place, five points behind their opponent this weekend Newcastle, who are in eighth.

Luton Town v Bournemouth – 10a on Peacock

Tyler Adams was back in a big way last weekend, picking up man of the match honors while going the full 90’ in Bournemouth’s 2-1 win over Everton. Adams received an understandable break mid-week given that he’s just returned from injury as Bournemouth defeated Crystal Palace 1-0. Bournemouth have won three straight and the nine points has they well clear of the relegation zone and in the middle of the table as they take on a Luton Town side that currently sit in the relegation zone, three points from safety and are looking for their first win in twelve matches.

PSV Eindhoven v AZ Alkmaar – 12:45p on ESPN+

Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and PSV saw their undefeated Eredivisie campaign come to an end last weekend with a 3-1 loss to NEC Nijmegen but bounced back midweek with a 2-0 win over Excelsior. PSV still hold a nine point lead for the league title with six matches remaining. They take on fourth place AZ Alkmaar who they defeated 4-0 in December which included Malik Tillman assisting on a Sergino Dest goal.

LAFC v LA Galaxy – 7:30p on Fox

Timothy Tillman and Aaron Long will start for LAFC as they take on the LA Galaxy in the most recent edition of el Traffico. The Galaxy are currently leading the Western Conference while last years champions, LAFC, are off to a slower start, currently in 9th place.

Sunday

Rangers v Celtic – 7a on CBSSN

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic have a one point lead over Rangers who have a game in hand as they head to Ibrox Stadium for the latest edition of the Old Firm Derby with huge title implications. Carter-Vickers has dealt with some injury issues this season but has started four straight for Celtic including wearing the captains armband in the last three.

Hoffenheim v Augsburg – 9:30a on ESPN+

John Brooks has returned from his red card suspension and will be available for Hoffenheim as they take on Augsburg who are three points ahead of them in the table, with both teams looking unlikely to threaten for European qualification nor be threatened by relegation. It remains to be seen whether Brooks will return immediately to the starting lineup, he has been in and out of the lineup a bit this season and cards have been a bit of an issue recently; in addition to his early red card that led to his suspension Brooks has received a yellow card in three of his previous four matches.

Monaco v Rennes – 11:05a on beIN Sports

Folarin Balogun didn’t get the start last weekend but came on as a sub and netted two goals in Monaco’s 5-2 win over Metz last weekend. With the win Monaco remained within a point of second place and three points ahead of Lille in the race for the final Champions League spot.

Wolfsburg v Borussia Monchengladbach – 11:30a on ESPN+

Wolfsburg snapped an eleven match winless streak last weekend as they defeated Werder Bremen 2-0 with Kevin Paredes starting yet again. The win gives Wolfsburg an eight point cushion over Mainz for relegation and leaves them tied with Joe Scally, Jordan Pefok, and Borussia Monchengladbach who fell to Freiburg 3-0 last weekend.

Sheffield United v Chelsea – 12:30p on NBC

Auston Trusty started at left-wingback for Sheffield United on Thursday in the team’s 3-1 loss to league leading Liverpool. The loss leaves Sheffield on track for both relegation and a historic goals-allowed number. On Sunday they face Chelsea who broke back into the top ten with a 4-3 win over Manchester United on Thursday.

Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest – 1p on USA Network

Matt Turner wasn’t on the field but he did make it into the refs book on Tuesday as he picked up a yellow card for kicking a ball onto the field to delay a Fulham restart as Nottingham Forest needed a full team effort to pull off the 3-1 win. Giovanni Reyna saw minutes as a substitute for the second straight match, coming on in relief of Morgan Gibbs-White who had already picked up a goal and an assist in the match.

Juventus v Fiorentina – 2:45p on Paramount+

Weston McKennie was also given a bit of a rest coming out of the international break and was brought on as a halftime substitute in Juventus’ 1-0 loss to Lazio in league play. Midweek Juventus bounced back to win the first leg of their Copa Italia semi-final matchup, also against Lazio, 2-0. Timothy Weah came on as a late substitute in both matches and picked up a yellow card in each one as well. On Sunday Juventus will take on tenth place Fiorentina who are also coming off a midweek Copa Italia win, 1-0 over Atalanta.

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3/29/24 US Men Win 3rd Nations League Title, US Ladies ready for She Believes Cup 4/6-4/9, Indy 11 home Sat 7 pm vs Detroit, Big Game Weekend

March 29, 2024March 30, 2024 gatorbest carmel-fc, football, indy11, soccer, sports, usmnt, uswnt

Wow Dos a Cero again !! The US Men dominated Mexico from start to finish leaving little doubt who the top team in CONCACAF is as the US has now won this competition for the 3^rd straight time and it gets worse for Mexico each time. The US men were got fantastic goals from Tyler Adams in his return to play for his nation in over a year – this blast from distance. (Proper Spanish) Then Pulisic worked his magic and Gio Reyna finished on the rebound making it Dos a Cero. (Full Highlights) The US has better players and they are simply playing better. After obviously looking ahead against Jamaica needing a 95^th minute goal to take it to ET and win easily 2-0 It was Gio Reyna who again was darn near the man of the Match for a second straight game for the US. You could argue he’s locked down the #10 slot no matter what is happening with his club Nottingham Forest (idiots). I for one am sick and tired of hearing the Gregg Berhalter bashing – this team seems to love him, plays for him – and excels for him. Do I love GB – no but lets see how he does in Copa America this summer before making further judgement. Certainly a final 4 birth should be expected at least this summer but we’ll see. (lots of stories below)

USWNT in She Believes Cup Next Sat 4/6 vs Japan 12:30 TNT & Tues 4/9 in Columbus Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario will make their returns to the USWNT next week as part of the 23-player roster for the She Believes Cup, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday. Two new names are also joining the roster and earning their first senior national team call-ups, both playing for European clubs: 21-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender Eva Gaetino and 16-year-old Ajax midfielder Lily Yohannes. These will be the final two matches for Twila Kilgore as USWNT interim coach. Permanent head coach Emma Hayes will take over beginning with the June window, with Kilgore remaining on the staff as an assistant. The USWNT will play in a reformatted She Believes Cup that has a semifinals and final as opposed to a round robin tournament. They will play Japan in the semifinals in Atlanta on Sat April 6th at 12:30 pm on TNT, and then will face either Brazil or Canada in either the 3rd place match at 5 pm or the final at 7 pm on April 9th in Columbus, Ohio ( tix still available- the OBC is going over) on TBS. The USWNT defeated Canada and Brazil in the knockout stage on their way to claiming the inaugural W Gold Cup title.

Indy 11 face Detroit City Sat night 7 pm at the Mike

The Boys in Blue continue their homestand Saturday, hosting the first Eastern Conference foe of the season in Detroit City FC. Kick is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will air locally on WNDY, while streaming on ESPN+. Single-game tickets are available now for all matches via Ticketmaster. Season Ticket Packages can also be purchased, as well as tickets for groups and hospitality areas. For more information on these options click here.

Huge Game Weekend

Some huge games this weekend as Germany has Bayern Munich vs Dortmund on ESPN Saturday at 1:30 pm and Sunday gives us a massive EPL battle for 1st as Man City hosts Arsenal on Peacock of course at 11:30 am. Too bad NBC doesn’t give Crap about soccer in the US – that game on USA or NBC would really grab a nice viewership on Sunday. Great to see NWSL on ESPN at 3:30 pm KC vs Angel City right after the Bayern game. Fox gives us MLS Sunday Atlanta United vs Chicago Fire at 4 pm. So hard to watch MLS these days. Of course FS has the CCL Cup games Tues/Wed night. (See schedule below). Oh and Indy 11 @ Louisville City next Sat on CBS, with Champions League next Tues/Wed on CBS as well.

**Champions League Elite 8 — starts April 9th & 10th on CBS**

GAMES ON TV

Sat, MAr 30

7:30 am USA New Castle United vs West Ham

10:30 am ESPN+ Borrusia Mgladbach (Scally, ) vs Frieburg

11 am USA Nottingham Forest (Turner, Gio) vs Crystal Palace (Richards)

11 am Peacock_ Bournemouth (adams) vs Everton

11 am Peacock Sheffield United (Trusty) vs Fulham (Robinson, Ream)

1 pm para+ Lazio vs Juventus (Weah, McKinney)

1:30 pm ESPN Bayern Munich vs Dortmund

1:30 pm NBC Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton

3:30 pm ESPN KC Current vs Angel FC FC NWSL

3:45 pm Para+ Fiorentina vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)

6:30 pm Ion Portland Thorns vs Racing Louisville NWSL

7 pm ESPN+ Indy 11 vs Detroit

Sun, Apr 1

9 am USA Liverpool vs Brighton

11:30 am Peacock Man City vs Arsenal

3 pm ESPN+ Real Madrid vs Atletic Club

2:30 pm ESPN+ Bayer Levekusen vs Wolfsburg

4 pm Fox Atlanta United vs Chicago Fire

Tues, Apr 2

2:30 pm USA New Castle United vs Everton

2:30 pm Peacock Notthingham Forest vs Fulham (Robinson, Ream)

3 pm Para+, CBSSN? Juventus (Weah, McKinney) vs Lazio

7 pm Fox Sport 1 Columbus Crew vs Tigres CCL

9 pm FS1 New England vs America CCL

Weds, Apr 3

2:30 pm USA Arsenal vs Luton Town

3:15 pm Peacock Man Vity vs Aston Villa

3 pm CBSSN? Forentina vs Atalanta

8 pm Fox Sport 1 Inter Miami (Messi) vs Monterrey CCL

10 pm FS1 Heredino vs Pachuca CCL

Thurs, Apr 4

2:30 pm USA Liverpool vs Sheffield United

3:15 pm Peacock Chelsea vs Man United

Sat, April 6

12:30 pm TNT, Max, Telemundo USA Women vs Japan

Tues, Apr 9

3 pm CBS Champions League

5 or 7 pm TBS, Universo, Peacock USWNT vs Brazil/Can winner Columbus, OH

June 27 Copa America US Men Play Panama

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

Kings of Concacaf, USA lift Nations League trophy for third time

US Men

USMNT’s Concacaf dominance over Mexico eases pressure ESPN Jeff Carlisle

USA vs. Mexico, 2024 Concacaf Nations League Final: Man of the Match

Thoughts & Ratings: defensively prepared USMNT wears down Mexico in a Dos a Cero win ASN

https://ussoccerplayers.com/2024/03/cnl-24-takeaways-for-usmnt.html

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnts-latest-nations-league-triumph-vindicates-coach-gregg-berhalter-for-now Doug Mcintyre

US Soccer Vibe Check – This is an exciting chance for the USMNT to be overflowing with abundance
Opinion: The Conversation About Berhalter is Exhausting

After completing one-time switch and lifting U.S. U-19s past England, Campbell eyes bright American future

https://ussoccerplayers.com/usmnt-players-abroad

US Ladies

Purce out for Olympics, NWSL season with ACL Jeff Kassouf

Who should the USWNT call up? Ranking the NWSL players who deserve a look Jeff Kassouf

USWNT’s Smith signs record NWSL contract

USWNT to play Mexico in July friendly to celebrate 1999 Women’s World Cup team

champions league

Pep hails Bellingham’s ‘massive’ impact on Madrid

Xavi: PSG favourites for Barça’s UCL quarterfinal

The battle for extra Champions League places is tight between Italy, Germany and England

Indy 11

Preview Indy vs Detroit

Recap – MEM 1:2 IND

Blake, Stanley Earn USL Team of the Week Honors

Know before you Go – The Mike

Indy Eleven Announces 2024 Promotional Schedule – Tickets on Sale NOW!

Reffing

What’s the Call – Hand Ball Decisions –
MLS referee lockout officially ends: League agrees to seven-year CBA with PRO and PRSA, lasting through 2030
MLS Referee Lockout Ends But Anti-Union Approach …

MLS Ends Refs Lockout With Record Seven-Year Labor Deal

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

GoalKeeping

Great saves: Champs League -Round of 16, 2nd legs | Flying Saves

USL Saves of the Week – Week 3

USMNT’s Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna went from fitness doubts to Nations League game-winners

ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 24: Tyler Adams #4 of United States celebrates his goal during the CONCACAF Nations League Final match against Mexico at AT&T Stadium on March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. The United States won the match 2-0 (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

By Jon Arnold Mar 25, 2024 The Athletic

When Tyler Adams lined up a shot from nearly 30 yards out, both United States center backs, up for a corner kick, had the same thought: “Time to run back and defend.”“Usually, when Tyler shoots, you go ahead and get back into your position,” Chris Richards said.“Row Z,” added Tim Ream. “I thought, ‘OK, there’s a goal kick coming.’”Instead, the center backs’ runs were towards Adams, celebrating a goal unlike any he had scored before in a mob with a full group of jubilant teammates. The midfielder made his first start for the U.S. since the 2022 World Cup in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final following almost a whole year out through injury, as the USMNT captured the competition’s title for the third time in a row.

Adams had never scored a goal from outside the box in his professional career and rarely even shoots from distance, but felt the time was right to change that.“When the ball came to me and I felt like I had time on the ball, it was a no-brainer,” Adams said.Adams came off at halftime due to a minutes restriction agreed between the USMNT and Bournemouth, the Premier League club that was surely hoping Adams would return to England following this international break a bit fitter and much more confident.“Now I feel like I can shoot whenever I feel like,” Adams said, sporting his medal after the match. “I’ve been practicing that in my rehab recently. It was a good feeling scoring that one.”Adams and Gio Reyna both came into the game with rust: Adams having played 20 league minutes this season and Reyna 309 between Borussia Dortmund and Nottingham Forest. They were the two core pieces of the U.S. team that had the most question marks around their match fitness. Coach Gregg Berhalter opted to start both on Sunday and enjoyed the rewards, with Reyna adding the second goal.Once Ream got over the shock of seeing Adams’ long-range effort beat goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, he was able to reflect more deeply on Adams’ return to the field, coming back from a pair of hamstring injuries that required surgery and putting in a solid shift in the first half of a final.“To see him rewarded after the amount of work he’s had to put in to get back to where he is, I think that’s the most impressive part,” the defender said.

Adams was mobbed after his goal (Darren Carroll/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

That Adams and Reyna scored the goals and had a huge influence on proceedings may be a return to normal instead of a big shock for the U.S. side. The 25-year-old Adams and 21-year-old Reyna have long been seen as some of the brightest stars of a promising generation of U.S. players who have raised expectations around this squad.The surprise may be just how much they contributed — and that they did so from the opening whistle.Mexico coach Jaime Lozano said after the match he and his coaching staff expected to see Reyna from the beginning but perhaps not Adams after the midfielder’s long night against Jamaica, in which he was brought on in the second half of Thursday’s semifinal, only to be taken off again in extra time due to that minutes restriction.Still, he said, they’ve watched Adams since he was a young player and are well aware of his skills.“Today, he had a great goal, which I think changed the course of the game,” Lozano said. “We know, despite the fact that they came in (out of rhythm), that they’re totally international-quality players.”

Reyna, meanwhile, was named player of the tournament after assisting two goals in extra time in the semifinal to go with Sunday night’s insurance score. His performances merited it, but after the drama that surrounded Reyna, his family and Berhalter following the 2022 World Cup, seeing the coach run down the touchline to celebrate the title-clinching goal with Reyna last night wasn’t what many might have imagined in the aftermath of that fiasco.Other national teams might have frozen Reyna out, but since returning as U.S. manager in June 2023 after a brief hiatus following that World Cup, Berhalter has worked slowly to reintegrate Reyna into the team.“I think when I took over the team again, I talked about needing time,” Berhalter said. “The more that we worked together and the more that he believed that intentions were true and our whole staff has his best interest in mind, I think we started to gain trust.”“If we didn’t put it in the past, it would’ve been affecting the team, and I think that was most important for both of us: to put it in the past and focus on the team,” Reyna said. “I think the last few camps since we’ve been back together, they’ve been pretty successful camps.”

Reyna was named player of the tournament (Darren Carroll/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Increasingly, it feels that when it’s a successful camp for Reyna, it’s a successful camp for the U.S. and vice versa. After a stingy Jamaica nearly denied the U.S. any scoring opportunities in 95 minutes of the semifinal, Reyna unlocked the Reggae Boyz and lifted the U.S. into the final.On Sunday, Reyna was there to finish a move just after the hour mark, surging into the box to apply a strong finish to an attempted clearance. His hit on the half-volley beat Ochoa to the near post and doubled the lead Adams had given the U.S.“I think both of us came in ready to perform,” Reyna said. “I don’t think the outside noise of maybe not getting enough minutes really affects us. The body of work we’ve shown in the first few days of training here, and the preparation, really shows what we’ve done and I’m just super-happy for him and also pumped up for me, to be honest.”

The hope for the U.S. now is that both players not only excel upon their return to their clubs in England but that they stay healthy and gather strength. While Berhalter was thrilled to have 45 minutes from Adams and 78 from Reyna last night, he’ll hope to soon have 90 from both.That will be especially important in the Copa America on home turf this summer, which the U.S. begins June 23 against Bolivia. The matches only get more difficult from there and Berhalter must have Reyna creating and Adams patrolling the midfield

USMNT’s Nations League win over Mexico was expected – that’s what made it important

ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 24: The United States celebrates their victory and trophy during the CONCACAF Nations League Final match between United States and Mexico at AT&T Stadium on March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. The United States won the match 2-0 (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

By Paul Tenorio Mar 25, 2024 The Athletic

That the opening goal of the CONCACAF Nations League final happened the way it did — a blistering shot uncorked 30 yards out — felt fitting for the environment around this U.S. men’s national team this week. The pressure had been building up in the days ahead of Sunday’s game and was bound to explode — positively or negatively.The U.S. was coming off of a less-than-decisive 3-1 win over Jamaica in the semifinal on Thursday that required a last-gasp own goal to take it to extra time — a performance significantly below expectations for a U.S. team that’s believed to be capable of more than any that came before, and with a U.S.-hosted Copa America just months away. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter chuckled to himself on Saturday when asked by a media member whether it was true that they had more pressure on them than Mexico ahead of the big occasion. Berhalter tried to deflect, pointing out that Mexico was coming off of a dominant semifinal win (3-0 against Panama) and would be expected to continue that against their bigger rival. But Berhalter’s smile was also an acknowledgment of the truth: the U.S. — and Berhalter — had more to lose. Nothing but a win on Sunday would have been enough, and Tyler Adams’ goal late in the first half brke the pressure of expectation in the U.S.’s 2-0 win. “There’s always going to be talk,” said Gio Reyna, who scored the second goal on 63 minutes and was named player of the tournament. “And I think looking into Jamaica was a bit much. It obviously wasn’t our best performance, but it’s one game. Not every team can play well every game and we responded really well tonight.”While neither team dominated the final, the U.S. never looked overwhelmed, circulating the ball and probing Mexico for weak points. They gave up very little defensively. Mexico had to chase the result in the last half-hour after Reyna doubled the lead. While El Tri had some half-chances, they never truly threatened the U.S.he postgame press conference for Mexico coach Jaime Lozano had a clear tilt to it: El Tri were chasing the U.S. now. How could they catch their biggest rivals? There was no doubt which team was favored — a sign of how far the U.S. has come since Berhalter first took over.The U.S. was smashed by Mexico in September 2019, a 3-0 loss in Berhalter’s first year that altered the course for this group. After that loss, the U.S. became a more transitional, high-pressing and physical team. They learned the intensity it would take to win those big games against their rival. That result, six meetings ago now, is the last time Mexico beat the U.S.

The U.S. was able to limit Mexico’s chances throughout the final (Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

But while Sunday’s win was a requirement, it will bring little relief ahead of the Copa America. If anything, a third straight regional crown will only ramp up the hopes that the U.S. can do something special against bigger opponents in a tournament that will include the likes of Lionel Messi’s World Cup champions Argentina and world power Brazil.“I would say that, as a federation, those teams (such as Argentina and Brazil) have proven something already; they’ve won everything there is to win,” Adams said. “That’s kind of the role model, so to speak, of what the U.S. wants to become and kind of: ‘How do we get there?’.“I would say that we’re making the right steps in order to get there. Obviously, people want us to be there tomorrow and win a World Cup, but that’s not an ideal situation. We need to go through a lot of ups and downs before we get there. But steps like this tonight, playing in finals, getting that experience now, winning three in a row, this means something… We’re learning how to win in pressure situations.”The Nations League tournaments have served as markers for this group.The first win, in June 2021, was crucial in that it was a validating moment for a young team asserting itself in the region. That they battled back twice from deficits to win, 3-2 after extra time, showed the character of a group that has shined through since on multiple stages, including at the following year’s World Cup in Qatar.Last year’s dominant 3-0 semifinal win over Mexico only reinforced the U.S.’s position atop CONCACAF but, more importantly, it showed off the growth of Reyna playing in a central role. After the off-field issues in and after Qatar, Reyna came back into the group in 2023 looking to show he could be the influential playmaker the U.S. fans hoped he would be, and he then assisted on both goals in a 2-0 win over Canada in the final before being substituted for the second half due to a leg injury.

Adams celebrates his long-range goal (Omar Vega/Getty Images)

Reyna continued that impact into this year’s tournament, setting up both goals in extra time against Jamaica and then scoring in Sunday’s final. He went through the mixed zone still holding his trophy as player of the tournament.This Nations League final was never going to be the same type of marker for this group — not with the Copa America just around the corner. Instead, it served as almost a checkpoint. The U.S. was supposed to win this game. And that, in itself, spoke to the difference of this cycle.The U.S. isn’t going to be considered a young team anymore. They are expected to get results. “I think it’s something that we do respond to,” Berhalter said. “When the guys feel like we’re pressured, then we come out and we play really good performances. In the last World Cup, as soon as they got to camp, it was like, focus, focus, focus, they were on it. And the same thing in this camp as the camp went on. So I know they’re focused.“For me, it’s about really taking advantage of every single opportunity we have because, before we know it, ’26 (the World Cup being co-hosted with Canada and Mexico) is gonna be here.”(Top photo: Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

UNITED STATES

Gio Reyna has been ‘killing it’ for the USMNT. Can he now do it at the club level?

Published Mar. 25, 2024 3:52 p.m. ET

ARLINGTON, Texas — The look on Gregg Berhalter’s face was the epitome of glee. In the 63rd minute of the Concacaf Nations League final, Gio Reyna perfectly positioned his body over a bouncing ball at the top of the penalty box and struck a low volley past Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. It was a spectacular and technical goal that gave the United States men’s national team a 2-0 lead over their rival.The score went unchanged for the remainder of the match, and the U.S. fought against a feisty and physical opponent to hold on and win its third straight CNL title.After Reyna scored — his second goal of the tournament — he ran to the right corner flag while pointing at the U.S. crest on his chest. His teammates — those on the field and on the bench — joined him in a jumping-up-and-down-in-a-circle celebration. Berhalter sprinted down the touchline to join the group with a joyous smile that took up his whole face. Despite playing outside of Dallas, the crowd was pro-Mexico and the opposing fans roared with boos after Reyna’s goal. As the American players celebrated, nearby fans threw cups of beer at them. Seeing this happen in real time, Berhalter made his way to Reyna and tried to shield him from any other flying objects.A little while later, Reyna was subbed off in the 75th minute. He was on a minutes restriction, was starting to cramp up, and the USMNT had the lead in hand, so it made sense. When he stepped off the pitch, Berhalter put his arms around the player for a second. They both seemed happy.

“[He said] something along the lines that he was proud of me,” Reyna, who was named the tournament’s best player, said after the match.

“It was a long night, a lot’s been happening since the game,” Reyna said smiling, a nod to the beer and goggles celebration the players had in the locker room after the win, “and I just couldn’t tell you word for word. But it was just something nice. It wasn’t anything too special, but it was nice.”This is all a testament to how far both Berhalter and Reyna have come since the drama that ensnared their relationship at the 2022 World Cup. After the Americans were eliminated in the round of 16 of that tournament 15 months ago, Berhalter revealed that he nearly sent an unnamed player home due to a poor attitude in training. It was eventually discovered that the player was Reyna. His parents – former USMNT captain Claudio Reyna and former USWNT player Danielle Egan – retaliated by bringing up a decades-old domestic violence incident between Berhalter and his now-wife to U.S. Soccer. Berhalter’s contract expired shortly thereafter, though he was re-hired a few months later.In the aftermath, there was a lot of interest in the relationship between Berhalter and Reyna. Would Reyna be called into camp? Would he start? How would the vibes be? How would it affect the team? Etc, etc.

Reyna was recalled to the USMNT last October, and started the final four matches of 2023. In the USMNT’s semifinal win over Jamaica on Thursday, he had two beautiful assists in extra time that helped the squad to a 3-1 win. Following that game, Reyna spoke with reporters for the first time since everything transpired after the World Cup.

“Obviously, what happened, happened,” Reyna said. “But I think both of us are so far past it, and just so focused on the group that it’s not even an issue at all anymore. We’re just so far past it.”

He essentially repeated those sentiments late Sunday night, adding that he felt like this was all water under the bridge after their first camp back together last year.

“If we didn’t put it in the past, it would have been affecting the team and I think that was most important for the both of us,” Reyna explained. “I think the last few camps that he’s been here and we’ve been back together, it’s been pretty successful. So yeah, like I said, it’s in the past. It’s pretty simple.”

Time heals. Even if it didn’t, there’s no way Berhalter could avoid Reyna, who, at just 21 years old, is establishing himself as one of the most valuable players in the team.

“The kid’s unbelievable, honestly,” said Tyler Adams, who also scored a banger of a goal to put the USMNT up 1-0 right before halftime. “So many people talk about the noise that surrounded him and everything that he went through. But at 21 years old, every single one of the players on our team has gone through a situation like that. Maybe not as extreme, of course, because it was surrounding a World Cup and we didn’t play in a World Cup at 21.

“He’s got that grit, he’s got that intensity, and when he plays like that every night, he’s gonna be playing at a big club very soon.”

Last month, Reyna joined Nottingham Forest on loan from Borussia Dortmund for the remainder of the season. Minutes have been sparse for Reyna, and there were questions about his fitness entering this camp. He played 75 minutes against Jamaica, coming on at halftime and playing through extra time; then 75 more in the final against Mexico.

“He was determined to grind through it and power through it and I thought he was doing really well,” Berhalter said.

Berhalter, who said he and Reyna “started to gain trust” and were patient in rebuilding their relationship after the World Cup fallout, gushed about the young player’s talent.

“He can unlock defenses and he just has these qualities that are really good,” Berhalter said. “I also believe, and I’ve said this before, that he can be a midfielder. I think that’s the next evolution for him because he can control the tempo so well and he can make final passes when he gets the ball in pockets in transition and he’s a good finisher.”

Berhalter and Reyna both hope that Reyna can use this momentum as a springboard to get more minutes with his club. And for the USMNT, it’s especially heartening to see a confident and healthy Reyna in form with Copa America looming this summer.

“He’s killing it here,” defender Chris Richards said of his teammate. “Hopefully he continues that form.”

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.

USMNT late week viewing guide: Back to the grind

Haji Wright, perhaps Josh Sargent, and others re-start club season on Friday

Friday

Huddersfield vs Coventry, 11a: Haji Wright and Coventry (8th) meet relegation-zone Huddersfield (22nd of 24 in the Championship).
Norwich City vs Plymouth Argyle, 11a on ESPN+ (free trial): Josh Sargent and sixth-place Norwich look to maintain promotion playoff position against Plymouth (18th).
América vs San Luis, 10p: Alejandro Zendejas and América are second in the Liga MX Clausura with 12 games played; San Luis are 13th of 18.

Ukraine qualify for Euro 2024: ‘The world is going to watch and see we never give up’

Ukrainian fans attend the UEFA's EURO 2024 qualification final play off football match between Ukraine and Iceland, in Wroclaw, Poland, on March 26, 2024. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP)

By Jordan CampbellMar 27, 2024

More than 40 members of Ukraine’s national-team party were spread around the centre circle of Wroclaw’s Tarczynski Arena.Players, coaches and backroom staff locked their gaze on the 30,000 spectators sporting blue and yellow as they revved up their version of the Viking thunderclap. Iceland, the architects of that celebration during the 2016 European Championship, could only listen in despair having lost this Euro 2024 play-off final to a late strike from Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk.Strangers embraced. Families posed for photographs draped in Ukraine flags. Others video-called, possibly home to war-torn Ukraine, sharing the moment with others unable to experience first-hand this release of emotion around 600 miles (1,000km) away in south-west Poland.kraine had done it.Ukraine’s players address the crowd (Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite enduring over two years of Russian invasion and indiscriminate bombing with millions of its citizens displaced, a weakened domestic league and home advantage for matches long since diluted, Serhiy Rebrov’s side had come through two tense play-off matches to qualify for this summer’s Euros — a mountain they had failed to climb two years ago when pursuing a World Cup spot, losing to Wales at this final stage.

As Oleksandr Zinchenko, the captain, led his team around the pitch to celebrate a second comeback victory in five days, the 2-1 win over Iceland following a similar late success by the same scoreline away against Bosnia & Herzegovina, a guttural chant reverberated around the arena.

“Z-S-U! Z-S-U! Z-S-U!”

The acronym stands for ‘Zbronyi Syly Ukrainy’ — the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These Ukrainian supporters — almost all draped in the nation’s blue and yellow flag — were reminding the world of why this victory was not just a footballing triumph.

This was not so much a lap of honour as a vignette of how conflicting it is to be Ukrainian today; jubilant at a second major finals qualification via play-offs from seven attempts, yet acutely aware of how small sport seems in the shadow of war. United in a foreign city, but separated from loved ones across the border; grateful for international support, yet fearing that their struggle is fading from the public consciousness.

“I’m all emotioned out — it’s one of the most important, if not the most important, win for Ukraine in its history,” says British-Ukrainian journalist Andrew Todos, founder of Ukrainian football website Zorya Londonsk.

“It is the context of having to make the tournament to give the country a massive important platform. People are going to see the country and hear about the war carrying on during the build-up and the weeks that they are in the tournament.”

English-born drummer Andriy Buniak (bottom) of Ukrainian folk band Cov Kozaks with Andrew Todos (third right) and Myron Huzan (right) (Jordan Campbell/The Athletic)

The Ukraine FA, drawn as the hosts, chose Wroclaw for this play-off final because they knew it would be their best chance of approximating a home advantage. The 1-1 group-phase draw with England here in September attracted a crowd of 39,000 and Wroclaw has been one of the main cities to which Ukrainians have fled over the past two years.In 2018, there were already suggestions that one in every 10 Wroclaw residents was Ukrainian. The city’s university status means family reunions have driven that number up to around a third of the population. It would have been slightly higher again on Tuesday, with the city transformed into a ‘Little Kyiv’.

‘When I call home, I hear drone attacks in the background’: Andriy Kravchuk, the Ukrainian footballer given refuge by Manchester City

Drummers dressed in traditional attire beat a rhythm for jolly sing-alongs and heartfelt rallies in the market square. Every act of joy from the Ukrainian contingent quickly felt like an expression of defiance.

The constant was a sense of unity, captured by the charity match played earlier in the day between a team of former players and the ‘potato soldiers’, a nickname coined by organiser Mykola Vasylkov for the amount of food his team have delivered to the front line thanks to fundraising assistance from national-team players.

“‘No Football Euro without Ukraine’ has been our message — now we’ve done it, ” says Vasylkov, who was part of Andriy Shevchenko’s setup during his five years as Ukraine manager.

Vasylkov helped then manager Shevchenko in the Ukraine setup (Jordan Campbell/The Athletic)

The majority of the Ukrainians in attendance at last night’s play-off had lived elsewhere in Europe for some years before the conflict. Unless they receive special dispensation, males between the ages of 18 and 60 are banned from leaving the country.

Unable to fight for the cause in the conventional sense, this was the day when the diaspora played their part. Goalscorers Viktor Tsygankov and Mudryk, who play for clubs in Spain and England, and an eclectic fanbase combined to put their country on the map at this summer’s tournament in Germany.

“There were amazing emotions and atmosphere in the dressing room — these days wearing the Ukrainian badge on our chest is something special,” says Zinchenko. “The feelings inside are so hard to describe as, today, every Ukrainian was watching our game.

“All the video messages we received before the game from Ukrainians, in the country and abroad, from the military who are staying on the front line fighting for our independence and freedom… they were all supporting us. It was extra motivation for us.”

Zinchenko applauds the fans after Ukraine’s win (Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

It was only last summer that Zinchenko used Arsenal’s pre-season tour in the United States to call for American F-15 fighter jets to be given to Ukrainian forces. He did not want the world to become fatigued and forget his compatriots’ suffering.“It (Euro 2024) will be so important,” he says. “We all understand that. All the world is going to watch this competition as it’s one of the biggest in the sport. It’s an unreal opportunity to show how good we are as a team and how good it is to be Ukrainian.“Our people are about never giving up and fighting until the end.”

Iceland’s population of 375,000 is dwarfed by Ukraine’s estimated 34million and their FIFA ranking of 73rd is well below their opponents’ 24th, so Zinchenko and his team-mates were hardly underdogs last night — but Ukraine’s players still have to cope with the mental toil of having family members enduring life in a war zone.

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When Ukraine missed out on a place at the most recent World Cup in its June 2022 play-offs, winning 3-1 away to Scotland in their semi-final but then being beaten 1-0 in Cardiff by a Gareth Bale shot that took a big deflection, their domestic-based players had only been able to feature in friendlies against club sides for the previous seven months. That was not the case this time, but four of the starting XI and 11 of the 23-man squad are based in Ukraine.

The domestic league resumed in that summer of 2022 but it has dropped in quality as most of its top foreign players have left, and only in the last month have small crowds been allowed into top-flight games again. They are only able to do so with the provision of air-raid sirens, and with bunkers to shelter in readily available.

Ukrainian fans celebrate qualification (Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

During that play-off final, footage appeared of Ukrainian soldiers in the trenches watching the match on their phones. That connection to home was strong in Wrocław on Tuesday.

“I work in the army and brought a flag that Ukrainian soldiers signed,” says Artem Genne, a London-based fan, holding up the message “Keep up the good work for peace and prosperity in Ukraine”, sporting the signatures of different regiments. “We went to visit the team the day before the game and we got a picture of them with the flag to send back to the troops and boost morale.

“Some family members live near some military facilities and they have been witnessing lots of attacks. Many of my friends live in Kyiv (the capital) and they were sending me footage from their balconies of windows being smashed. It goes on every day and, even though we are not there, it still affects you knowing your friends are in underground shelters.”

Artem Genne and a friend hold up their flag signed by Ukrainian soldiers (Jordan Campbell/The Athletic)

Roman Labunski travelled from Berlin in West Germany, over 200 miles, with his wife and two sons to be at the game.

His eldest son Nathan, 13, has only ever been to Ukraine twice, but was on his father’s shoulders during the 2014 Maidan revolution. He witnessed something en route to the stadium that served as a wake-up call.

“We saw lorries carrying tanks to the border,” Roman says. “It reminded us that we’re still able to do something safe and fun. I sometimes feel guilty that I am not living it, as my cousins came to stay with us after the invasion but went back after they thought it was safe. Now they are facing rockets again.

“It is not just football that we wanted to win for, and the team know that. It is no longer that they are up here and the fans are down there. We feel together with them now. The Euros will bring everyone back home some hope and happiness.”

Aron, Natan and Roman Lanunski travelled to Wroclaw from Berlin (Jordan Campbell/The Athletic)

Although most at the game had moved away from Ukraine years earlier, there are those who only narrowly avoided life on the front line.

Serhii was a 16-year-old living in a village 5km from Kyiv when a column of Russian tanks started moving towards the capital.

“It was the last town not to be occupied. If that had happened, it would have been a big problem for Kyiv,” he says. “Once the war started, I moved west; then to Germany for seven months before going home.

“Now I have been living in Chelm (just over the border from Ukraine in eastern Poland).”

Fedir (centre) and Serhii (right) in Wroclaw’s market square (Jordan Campbell/The Athletic)

His friend Fedir is from Vinnytsia, a city south-west of Kyiv.

“The Polish people have been very kind and welcoming to us,” Fedir says. “We appreciate this support from them, but it is lower than it was two years ago. This war is making everyone tired. Ukrainians, Polish. People are starting to forget about it. We are not.”

Vitaliy is part of the select group of fighting age who has permission to cross the border, due to his work in Denmark dating back to 2010.

“I grew up with the stories of my grandparents not being able to read Ukrainian books, so it was not a surprise to me when war came,” he says.

Vitaliy (left) with his family outside the stadium (Jordan Campbell/The Athletic)

“They try to tell us that western Ukraine is not the same as the east — whether it’s language, culture, history.

“That is why football is so important. Since we got independence, we are more able, as a people, to resist and see things for ourselves. We have our own identity and this summer is our chance to show that to the world.”

(Top photo: Sergei Gapon/AFP)

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3/24/24 US Men face Mexico tonight in Nations League Finals 9 pm on Para+, Univision, Indy 11 tie home opener, NWSL Season Preview, Euro games this week (updated Sun)

March 21, 2024March 25, 2024 gatorbest indy-11, nwsl, soccer, usmnt, uswnt

US Men Defend Nations League Title vs Mexico Sun 9:15pm on Para+, Univision

The US Men look to defend their 2 Time Nations League Crown tonight as they face Mexico at 9:15 pm. The US needed a miracle goal in the 95th minute to take the game to ET where they pulled off the 3-1 win on two goals by Haji Wright off beautiful passes by Gio Reyna. Reyna certainly proved he belongs as he unlocked the tight Jamaican D over and over again. Jamaica scored 40 seconds in and parked the buss with 10 players behind the ball and in the box. The US struggled to unlock things until Reyna came in with Haji Wright. Obviously Dest will be back in at right back as Joe Scally had a tough game coming off at half time as the US looked for more attack. Otherwise not sure what changes GB might pull. I still kind of like Gio coming in at half time -but we will see. This game should be more wide open which should help the US as honestly we are a better fast break team rather than 75% possession team.

USMNT projected lineup vs Jamaica

— Turner —

— Dest — Richards — M. Robinson — A. Robinson —

— Musah — Cardoso — McKennie —

— Weah — Balogun/Wright — Pulisic —

The 23-player USMNT roster:

GOALKEEPERS (3): 22-Drake Callender (Inter Miami), 18-Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), 1-Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)

DEFENDERS (8): 2-Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), 23-Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), 16-Mark McKenzie (Genk), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham FC), 3-Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), 5-Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC), 12-Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), 19-Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

MIDFIELDERS (5): 4-Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), 15-Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), 8-Weston McKennie (Juventus FC), 6-Yunus Musah (AC Milan), 7-Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest)

FORWARDS (6): 11-Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), 20-Folarin Balogun (Monaco), 17-Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven), 9-Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), 10-Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), 21-Tim Weah (Juventus FC), 14-Haji Wright (Coventry City) – in for injured Sergent.

Berhalter: U.S. ‘can create a legacy’ in CNL final ESPN Jeff Carlisle

USMNT rides its luck, but can’t do the same against Mexico2dJeff Carlisle

Three thoughts as USMNT survives Jamaica in miraculous Nations League win

U.S. savior Reyna ‘so far past’ Berhalter feud

Opinion: The Conversation About Berhalter is Exhausting By Adnan Ilyas

CONCACAF Nations League Finals: Scouting Mexico By Brendan Joseph

USA vs. Mexico, Concacaf Nations League Final: What to watch for By Donald Wine II

USA vs. Jamaica, 2024 Concacaf Nations League Semifinals: Man of the Match

Poll results: USMNT lineup vs Mexico By Justin Moran

USMNT player ratings: Reyna, Wright save the day in Jamaica win

Did Berhalter take a shot at Marsch after USMNT-Jamaica game?

**Great to see Tyler Adams back on the field and healthy for the US Men !**

Indy 11 tie Home Opener Sat night 7 pm at the Mike

Indy Eleven and Sacramento Republic FC played to a 1-1 draw in the Boys in Blue’s home opener on Saturday night at Carroll Stadium. The Eleven found themselves on the wrong side of an own goal in the 31st minute, but answered back almost immediately when Augi Williams found the back of the net for the first time this season off and assist from Max Schneider. The Boys in Blue continue their homestand next Saturday, hosting the first Eastern Conference foe of the season in Detroit City FC. Kick is slated for 7 p.m. ET and will air locally on WNDY, while streaming on ESPN+. Single-game tickets are available now for all matches via Ticketmaster. Season Ticket Packages can also be purchased, as well as tickets for groups and hospitality areas. For more information on these options click here.

Former Carmel FC Players Doing Well

Congrats to former Carmel FC player Rosie Martin daughter of former Carmel FC coach Andy Martin and Lisa Martin has signed with University of Illinois Chicago to play D1 soccer.

Congrats to former Carmel FC player, Sophomore Maverick McCoy son of former FC coach Wade McCoy as they won the 20U Academy Cup last weekend. Center back Maverick also got to join the Indy 11 in some preseason friendlies and was on the bench last night for the home opener !!

Maverick was on the bench last night for the Indy 11 home opener !! Here with his dad Wade – Congrats !

The New US kits for Copa American & The Olympics have dropped – what do you think?

Champions League Quarterfinals – Draw -A who’s who of Euro soccer – Real Madrid vs Man City – wow.

GAMES ON TV

Thurs, Mar 21

3:45 pm Fox Sports 2 Wales vs Finland Euro Qualifying

7 pm FS1 US Men vs Jamaica — Nations League Semis

9 pm FS1? Mexico vs Canada – Nations League Semis

Friday, Mar 22

1 pm FS2 Norway vs Czech Republic

3:45 pm FS2 Netherlands vs Scotland

8 pm Amazon Prime Orlando Pride vs Angel City NWSL

Sat, Mar 23

1 pm FS2 Ireland vs Belgium

2 pm Apple MLS NY Red Bulls vs Miami (Messi)

3 pm FOX England vs Brazil

4 pm CBSSN Canada vs T&T Copa Qualifier

7 pm TV 8? Indy 11 vs Sacramento

7:30 pm Apple MLS Cincy vs NYCFC

7:30 pm Ion Washington Spirit vs Bay FC NWSL

10 pm San Diego Wave (Morgan) vs KC Current NWSL

Sun, March 24

6 pm Para+ TUDN Concacaf 3rd place game

7 pm ESPN2 Portland Thorns vs NY/NJ Gothem NWSL

9 pm Para+ TUDN CONCACAF Finals – USA vs Mexico

Mon, Mar 25

4 pm Golazo US Men U23s vs France U23s

Tues, Mar 26th

3:45 pm FS2 Germany vs Netherlands

10:50 pm CBSSN Argentina vs Costa Rica

Sat, April 6

12:30 pm TNT, Max, Telemundo USA Women vs Japan

Tues, Apr 9

5 or 7 pm TBS, Universo, Peacock USWNT vs Brazil/Can winner Columbus, OH

July 24 starts US U23 Men & US Women In Olympics

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

USMNT on ‘higher alert’ against depleted Jamaica

US Men

USA vs. Jamaica, Concacaf Nations League Semifinals: What to watch for

2024 Nations League Finals: Scouting Jamaica
Nations League is inhibiting USMNT’s prep for 2026 World Cup 16hJeff Carlisle

US Roster for Nations League – ASN

Olympic soccer tournament groups revealed
When will the US produce a soccer coach who can win respect in England?

NWSL

2024 NWSL season team-by-team preview: How are teams spending all that money coming in?

NWSL Power Rankings: North Carolina Courage put the rest of the league on notice 2dMegan Swanick

NWSL, Liga MX F announce Summer Cup tourney 12hJeff Kassouf

K.C. opens ‘game-changing’ stadium with 5-4 win

Late Morgan header grabs S.D. Challenge Cup win

NWSL ambition rankings: Which teams are raising standards, which aren’t trying enough?

Ranking all 28 new NWSL team jerseys, with photos: Argyle, sunsets and fruit make a bold slate

US Ladies

USA and Spain handed tough draws in women’s Olympic tournament
USWNT get Germany, Australia in group stage at Paris Olympics; US men get host France

World

Euro 2024 play-offs: ‘Relaxed’ Wales braced for crunch Finland semi-final
Hosts France get kind Olympic draw as Mbappe uncertainty lingers
England vs Brazil: When is the match, what time does it start and what channel is it on?
Gomez feels England recall ‘closes chapter’ on injury torment

Indy 11

Recap – MEM 1:2 IND

Blake, Stanley Earn USL Team of the Week Honors

Indy Eleven Falls in Season Opener at Oakland

Boys in Blue Add Undrafted Program Product Jay Klein

United Soccer League to Field 47 Clubs in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Indy Eleven Announces 2024 Promotional Schedule – Tickets on Sale NOW!

Reffing

Howard Webb: VAR right to stay out of Liverpool-Man City penalty decision says referees’ chief

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

GoalKeeping

Great saves: Champs League -Round of 16, 2nd legs | Flying Saves

USL Saves of the Week 2

Cool segment on former Indy 11 GK and Carmel FC GK Coach Jordan Farr
Thibaut Courtois: Real Madrid goalkeeper has surgery after another knee injury

Gomez: Berhalter not the right coach for USMNT

Seth Vertelney followMarch 23, 2024 2:58 pm ET

Former U.S. men’s national team forward Herculez Gomez has said Gregg Berhalter isn’t the right coach to lead the USMNT to the 2026 World Cup.Gomez made his comments in the aftermath of the USMNT’s wild 3-1 extra-time win over Jamaica in the Nations League semifinal.The U.S. was just seconds away from a stunning defeat, but a Jamaica own goal with the last kick of the match sent the game into extra time. From there, Gio Reyna assisted Haji Wright for two goals to seal a spot in the final.Ahead of the USMNT’s match against Mexico on Sunday, Gomez voiced his concerns over Berhalter. “There are going to be many people out here who say, ‘Well, they made it to the final.’ Gregg Berhalter was two seconds away, was a play away from everybody calling for his head, from everybody saying this isn’t the man to lead this team,” Gomez said on ESPN’s “Futbol Americas.”“And I don’t think I feel too much differently today after this game as I did before it. Gregg Berhalter may be a good coach at a certain level. He’s not the coach for the U.S. men’s national team at this level, not the coach to lead the U.S. men’s national team to the World Cup in 2026.”

Berhalter led the USMNT to Gold Cup and Nations League titles, and a World Cup knockout round spot in his first stint as head coach, but his second go-round hasn’t been convincing as of yet. The coach returned to his position after last summer’s Gold Cup, producing expected wins against the likes of Oman, Uzbekistan and Ghana. Meanwhile, the USMNT has underwhelmed in defeats against Germany and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as during Thursday’s win over the Reggae Boyz.The pressure will be ramped up ahead of Sunday’s final against Mexico, and especially heading into this summer’s Copa América on home soil.

Did Berhalter take a shot at Marsch after USMNT-Jamaica game?

USMNT player ratings: Reyna, Wright save the day in Jamaica win

Three thoughts as USMNT survives Jamaica in miraculous Nations League win

The USMNT needed an answered prayer to beat Jamaica. What was the problem?

ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 21: The United States celebrates the late own goal during the CONCACAF Nations League Semifinal match between United States and Jamaica at AT&T Stadium on March 21, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. The United States won the match 3-1 in extra time (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)

By Jon Arnold Mar 22, 2024

When the goalkeeper ran into the opposing penalty area and the tactics had become unimportant, Gregg Berhalter did the last thing he possibly could.“You prepare, you work hard, you move everybody up in the penalty box and you pray,” the United States manager said Thursday night. Where set pieces and schemes didn’t work, petitioning a higher power did: The U.S. equalized Jamaica in the final moment of regulation on a flukey own goal and sent their CONCACAF Nations League semifinal to extra time.Given the gift of an extra 30 minutes to set things right, the U.S. took advantage. A double by Haji Wright in the added period propelled the Americans to the victory, but it was clear that the 3-1 final score was makeup on the pig of an ugly performance, one that required a stunning late own goal Berhalter called ‘miraculous’.How did the U.S. get to this point? The Jamaica team that gave it so much trouble was depleted by injuries and suspensions, most notably keeping the likes of Premier Leaguers Leon Bailey and Michail Antonio off the pitch. The U.S. still needed desperate prayer answered in the form of a goal off the head of its center back and then an opposing forward.The team conceded a goal it shouldn’t have conceded after just 34 seconds, forgot the attitude it needed to have in a region where every match promises to be feisty and needed a boost from reinforcements like Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams, who weren’t able to put in a full 90-minute shift Thursday.Jamaica always intended to come out in a defensive posture, and the early goal played right into the plan. “We have to improve – especially against a 5-4-1,” Berhalter said. “To me, it’s about speed of ball movement, combinations particularly in wide areas to get behind them and hurt the defense. We didn’t do that enough. When we did, we created chances. I think the expected goals was 2.6, so we had enough there but it wasn’t consistent enough.“You can see this team hasn’t played together for four months. It’s clear.”

Berhalter made numerous adjustments in the second half (Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

After allowing that first-minute goal to fullback Gregory Leigh, who popped up at the back post without a defender anywhere near and headed in a cross from Bobby De Cordova-Reid, the U.S. had to make immediate adjustments. Jamaica was able to rely on its strengths, snuffing out potential opportunities for the U.S. to break in transition and muscling players off the ball often when the U.S. did make forays into its attacking third.“You can’t give up the first goal in 45 seconds. That can’t happen,” Berhalter said. “Then it’s patience, perseverance. We had 940 passes in the game, so we had enough but to me it’s all about what you’re doing in the wide areas. You’ve got to draw them out of position…It’s all stuff we need to keep learning from.”

The late goal wasn’t the United States’ only bit of fortune – it was lucky to not be down by more than a goal as it chased the game. While Jamaica was happy to defend its lead and let the U.S. dominate possession of the ball, it had a few scoring chances it should have finished. None will be more frustrating for Jamaica than the chance just after the hour mark when forward Renaldo Cephas was alone in front of Matt Turner, only to send a weak effort into the U.S. goalkeeper’s arms.“We should’ve killed the game off in these 90 minutes, but it really, really hurts and I feel for the guys doing so well in the 90 minutes and then conceding a goal with the last touch of the game,” Jamaica manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said. “Psychologically, it was a blow to concede this goal at the end. You kind of saw it mentally and physically in (extra time) that we were missing the power we had in the 95 minutes.”Cephas got the starting nod Thursday as the Reggae Boyz dealt with a number of key absences. Aston Villa star Bailey was kept out of the camp because of disciplinary reasons, and West Ham United forward Antonio was a late scratch with a shoulder injury. Fellow attackers Demarai Gray and Shamar Nicholson missed the contest with suspensions.

Haji Wright scored both of the United States’ extra-time goals (Shaun Clark/Getty Images)

With all those absences, Berhalter felt his U.S. team forgot an important lesson about playing in this part of the world: The opponent will be open to muddying things up and giving one of the region’s traditional powers everything they can handle.“The pregame talk is the normal CONCACAF speech: It’s not going to be easy, guys. It’s going to be a very difficult game,” the manager said. “I think somewhere along the line it goes in one of their ears and out the other. They don’t really understand it. Because this was a typical CONCACAF game. We’ve all been a part of a ton of these games”Though typical in some ways, the Jamaican game plan was not without its quirks. Among the most impactful to the U.S. was the usage of Philadelphia Union center back Damion Lowe as a roaming destroyer in the midfield, which made it tough for the U.S. to pursue their best lines of attack. The team slogged through the first half, looking for a response to the first-minute goal that never truly came.“Obviously not our best day. Obviously not my best day,” U.S. winger Christian Pulisic said after. “But on days like that when you find a way to win, it says something about the team spirit. We just kept pushing and pushing and it came right at the end.”

That continued push in the second half came in part thanks to Berhalter’s addition of Reyna to the attack and Adams’ return to the midfield after more than a year away from the national team with a hamstring injury. Both players were on minutes restrictions and will have their fitness monitored ahead of Sunday’s title decider, Berhalter said.Reyna said he was looking to “just affect the game. It was pretty simple. Not our best performance today, and I just try to bring a bit of life to the team and luckily was able to do that.”Adams showed frustration coming out of the contest, which Berhalter attempted to assuage as best he could, with a hint of amusement. After subbing on the midfielder in the 63rd minute, Berhalter took him off in the 100th. Beyond the minutes cap, the motive was clear: The U.S. now has a final to prepare for and lots of work to do.

Against Mexico in that final, they may not be as lucky, but they may need it more.

Is Gregg Berhalter a good coach for the USMNT?

Ryan O’Hanlon Jeff Carlisle ESPN+ mar 18, 2024, 09:35 AM

Gregg Berhalter’s tenure as manager of the U.S. men’s national team has divided opinion from the start.

Yes, he’d helped the Columbus Crew punch above its weight as the Designated Player era in MLS entered its second decade. But he was hired while his brother was the chief commercial officer at the U.S. Soccer Federation, raising questions about a potential conflict of interest.

On top of that, his hiring seemed to some like a retrenchment back to the relatively small and insular community of U.S. Soccer. After the disastrous reign of Jurgen Klinsmann — the ultimate outsider and a critic of U.S. Soccer — no more outsiders would be leading the way.

Despite such concerns, Berhalter then went on to lead the U.S. through a successful 2022 World Cup qualification campaign, which helped erase memories of the USMNT crashing out four years earlier thanks to a hole Klinsmann dug early on in qualifiers. Once in Qatar, the Americans under Berhalter reached the round of 16, which was neither a high nor low mark for the USMNT. Some felt Berhalter met expectations at the World Cup, but others questioned whether the team should’ve done better with a group of players widely viewed as the best U.S. generation ever.

Just over five years since Berhalter was first hired, opinion remains divided among players, coaches and fans: Is Berhalter actually a good coach?

ESPN analyst Ryan O’Hanlon will delve into the numbers to see how Berhalter stacks against his USMNT predecessors. Has there been discernible progress on the field? Is the team winning more often than it used to? Has Berhalter been able to institute the kind of cohesive attacking style that USMNT fans have been calling out for? And most importantly, does he have the team performing at, above, or below the level of its talent?

But there are also aspects beyond the numbers to consider. Can Berhalter manage the egos of these players and get them pointed in the same direction? Do the players in the USMNT locker room trust him? And is his tactics-heavy approach the right fit at the international level? ESPN national reporter Jeff Carlisle spoke to former players and colleagues to get answers.

“I thought he was an excellent coach — very, very good tactically,” former Columbus Crew and U.S. international defender Michael Parkhurst told ESPN. “And just understanding the game, no detail went unnoticed.”

Former U.S. international forward and “Fútbol Americas” host Herculez Gomez takes a different view: “I don’t think he’s the best coach for the U.S. men’s national team. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a good coach. I just think he’s a very inexperienced coach.”

Trust between player and USMNT coach must be “unbreakable”

Part of what makes answering some of these questions difficult is that Berhalter does some of these things well for the most part, only to get tripped up enough to cast some doubt. Man-management is a primary example for his critics.

It was an unforced error for Berhalter to tell a room full of people after the World Cup that he almost sent an unknown player home, when it was clear that he was referring to Gio Reyna. The event created the animosity that snowballed into Reyna’s parents disclosing a 30-year-old domestic violence incident between Berhalter and his wife, which prompted an investigation that cleared the way for Berhalter to keep coaching the USMNT. Berhalter could’ve never anticipated the Reyna family’s reactions, but he needed to show better judgement.

Gomez feels there are other times when Berhalter has broken trust with some players, like when he left Zack Steffen off the World Cup roster.

“If I’m a player and I see what he did to Steffen, I think that could happen to me,” he said. “Steffen was one of his guys. There are things that you don’t do as a coach to break trust for the player. And I think he’s done a few of those things.”

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Steffen, who played under Berhalter in Columbus, said Berhalter hadn’t communicated his plan going into the World Cup, which the coach later said was focused on having an undisputed No. 1 in goal rather than goalkeepers battling for position. “I didn’t hear about that until a couple of months later,” Steffen told ESPN last year. “I heard someone say that, but I thought it was a rumor. He and I have a long history and, yeah, I thought it was a little bit different than it was.”

When a team is going through difficult periods, Gomez added, trust with players is all a coach has, and “that should be unbreakable.”

There have also been moments when Berhalter has shown a deft hand in managing players. The incident in World Cup qualifying when midfielder Weston McKennie was sent home for violating COVID-19 protocols was a delicate moment for the team. But Berhalter was firm in his discipline, gradually brought McKennie back into the fold, and the player was a key contributor during qualifying and at the World Cup.

Tim Ream was largely on the outside of the U.S. national team during World Cup qualifying, but Berhalter maintained communication with the Fulham defender, and when injury struck the likes of Miles Robinson and Chris Richards, he reached out to Ream from a position of strength rather than desperation.

Berhalter also seeks to connect with his players beyond what happens on the field, and his ability to recruit dual nationals such as Sergiño Dest and Yunus Musah has been impressive.

“I just think he’s someone who lives, sleeps, dreams… I mean, everything about the game is what Gregg cares about, but he also cares about people,” said current Minnesota United midfielder Wil Trapp, who played for Berhalter both with Columbus and the USMNT. “And I think that’s something that sometimes maybe isn’t always seen from the outside. But being on the inside, and knowing him for as long as I’ve known him, I mean, he cares deeply about his players, about their families, about them just beyond the soccer players.”

Former U.S. assistant coach Luchi Gonzalez lauded Berhalter’s ability to give honest feedback. The strain on Berhalter’s relationship with Reyna was due in part of just such an exchange when the manager informed the player of what his role would be prior to the World Cup — although Gonzalez admitted “no one’s perfect,” he’s convinced that in most situations, Berhalter has navigated communicating with players well.

“Berhalter was the best that I’ve ever experienced in terms of just honesty,” Gonzalez said. “Like feedback, critical, demanding, simple, concise, but yet supportive. Like, ‘Hey, you have the opportunity to respond and improve the situation or, or continue the situation.’ But with the staff and players, he was just always honest. And I think people, whether they liked what they heard or not, they respected it, and they wanted to respond to it.”

De la Torre: Doing ‘everything I can’ for a USMNT spot

Celta Vigo’s American midfielder Luca de la Torre discusses his hopes of securing a USMNT spot in the future.

That approach appeared to carry the day during the last World Cup cycle. The USMNT looked bought-in during the tournament, and that vibe has continued as Berhalter has continued this cycle. “The relationship is good,” said U.S. midfielder Luca de la Torre during an appearance on Fútbol Americas. “I think what I like about Gregg is that he’s a coach who players can be honest with, and he doesn’t seem to hold it against them.”

The team’s top player and captain, Christian Pulisic, is firmly in Berhalter’s camp as well, and he voiced support for Berhalter to continue as USMNT manager after the World Cup.

“Berhalter is someone who has grown on me a lot over the years. I’ve learned a lot from him and have grown so much as a player,” Pulisic said during a 2023 interview with ESPN. “It’s underappreciated what he’s done to create that environment, which was so special within that [World Cup] team. He’s helped a lot of players improve in a lot of ways.”

How tactical is too tactical for the international game?

Berhalter’s reputation is that of a tactics obsessive. His Columbus teams were heavy on possession, and this required countless hours spent on the practice field in a bid to fine-tune his system. He carried that approach with him to the USMNT. No detail was too small there, either.

Trapp recalled how Berhalter would stop training if a player strayed two to three meters out of position. “He’s showing you, ‘No, I can’t have you doing that and here’s why,'” Trapp said.

There is near universal agreement, even among Berhalter’s admirers, that the approach isn’t for everyone. There comes a point where the tactical detail morphs into information overload.

“For some players, they eat every ounce of it up and they love it,” said current Houston Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad, who was on Berhalter’s staff in Columbus. “And then for other players, after 30 seconds, they zone out and they’re off on their own. But that doesn’t mean, as a coach, that you sit there and say, ‘OK, well I’ll just cater to the 32nd guy, and that’s it.’ I think his passion and eye for detail, and the organizational part of it is infectious within the group.”

But can a system that requires so much repetition work at an international level, where time on the training field can be limited? Trapp, who made the bulk of his 20 international appearances under Berhalter, recalled how the manager would send video clips out to players in advance in a bid to spoon-feed them information, which would help players hit the ground running once camp begins.

Berhalter has admitted that he has at times simplified his approach. Following the last international window before the World Cup — which included a blowout loss to Japan — Berhalter stated that he piled on too much information to a group that he hadn’t seen in three months.

Joe Scally, during the six-month period in 2023 where it was uncertain Berhalter would return as manager, made it clear he wasn’t a fan of the approach, calling Berhalter’s tactics “confusing,” adding that the U.S. needed a manager “that definitely understands we’re not a club team. We need to just understand simple tactics, simple system that we can all apply that brings out the best in all the players. Not something to where it’s too complicated and you’re overthinking on the field.”

That said, Scally did feel the U.S. played well during the World Cup, though even there Berhalter’s system had its drawbacks. “As a player, when you’re on the field and you’re overthinking things it leads to silly mistakes and silly things where you’re not yourself and you can’t express yourself,” he said. “I think that was one of the things that didn’t work out.”

But Berhalter is now five years into his tenure. The tactical foundation has been — or at least should be — established. “Now that the team’s been together for a while and things are expected, I think it’s a little bit easier — it should be this time versus the first go around,” Parkhurst said.

Berhalter, the idealist vs. Berhalter, the pragmatist

There have been times during Berhalter’s tenure with the USMNT when he has stubbornly clung to his approach, sometimes to the team’s detriment.

During his first 20 months, Berhalter was adamant that the U.S. play out of the back. in September 2019, the USMNT hit its nadir in a 3-0 defeat to Mexico, a match in which El Tri pressed the U.S. into oblivion. What followed was an evolution in which the U.S. mixed in more direct play with possession and the USMNT defense stabilized as a result — but it also left many wondering what took Berhalter so long?

That stubborn streak showed itself at club level, too. Parkhurst, who indicated he loved playing under Berhalter’s intricate system, said that if he had one critique of Berhalter, it would be “understanding when to adapt.”

There have, however, been moments when he would relent. Parkhurst recalls conversations during the run-up to the 2015 MLS Cup final about how to handle the New York Red Bulls‘ high-press. The Crew’s tendency to play out of the back played right into the Red Bulls’ hands, so when the Eastern Conference final came around, Berhalter at last decided to take a more direct approach, using the aerial skills of Kei Kamara.

“That was the first time in two years that we were like, ‘Hey, forget it. Let’s just kick the ball long and play for seconds up there. We’re the better soccer team, and we can win as long as we don’t turn the ball over 20 yards from our goal,'” said Parkhurst.

The move paid off as Columbus prevailed 2-1 over two legs to reach that year’s MLS Cup final.

How Berhalter is hoping to build the USMNT towards the 2026 World Cup

Gregg Berhalter explains how the USMNT are working towards the 2026 World Cup in North America.

That is by no means the last battle between Berhalter, the idealist, and Berhalter, the pragmatist. Onstad recalls that following another encounter with the Red Bulls, one in which Columbus again prevailed by being more direct, Berhalter said, “We’re never doing that again. That’s not who we are.”

Throughout World Cup qualifying, Berhalter the pragmatist had the edge. This was especially evident in the road win at Honduras, when a trio of halftime substitutions sparked a come-from-behind, 4-1 win.

The push and pull of Berhalter’s instincts was evident at the World Cup as well. The Americans’ inability to deal with and adapt to Wales‘ insertion of target forward Kieffer Moore cost the team two points in a disappointing 1-1 draw. The U.S. played more within itself in the 0-0 draw with England, but in the round of 16, Berhalter appeared to play right into the tactical hands of Dutch counterpart Louis van Gaal, having the U.S. push forward and leaving far too much room on the counter.

“He sticks to it, and you think your team can do it,” said Parkhurst. “On the one hand, he’s got good confidence in guys. But I do think there’s times to mix it up a little bit. Otherwise it just becomes too easy sometimes.”

Do the stats say the USMNT is doing better under Berhalter?

To answer the question of “Is Gregg Berhalter actually a good coach?” we have to ask ourselves two smaller questions.

The first: “How good has the USMNT been with Gregg Berhalter as the manager?” Although that gets conflated with the question of whether or not Berhalter is a good coach, it’s a different question focused purely on the USMNT’s results. And in short, the answer is, the USMNT has done pretty damn good.

Across the history of the USMNT, 10 men have coached the team for at least 15 games. Here’s how their longevity stacks up:

Given that soccer wasn’t truly professionalized in the United States until the early 1990s, we just don’t have the same kind of historical record for the national team that, say, England or Brazil might have. Fourteen different men have managed at least 15 games for England, while 17 have done so for Brazil.

Bruce Arena, then, sort of brought the USMNT into the modern era. He also brought the USMNT further than they’ve ever gone in a modern World Cup: to the quarterfinals, where they lost 1-0 to eventual runners-up Germany. And the USMNT really outplayed Germany in a number of ways: more touches in the penalty area, controlling nearly two-thirds of final third possession, and creating more chances.

The bigger the circle, the higher the expected-goal value of the attempt:

Across his tenure, Arena’s team scored 1.64 goals per game and conceded 0.75 — respectively the fourth- and second-best marks among the 10 qualifying USMNT coaches. However, another coach ranks first in both goals scored (2.02) and goals conceded (0.65) per game.

It’s Gregg Berhalter:

Now, this doesn’t adjust for the quality of the opponent or the type of match. And the tricky thing about assessing international managers is that they don’t coach many games that matter. Friendlies are games where neither team is trying to optimize to win the match: Both sides want to win, but the personnel decisions both before and during the match aren’t totally aligned with getting three points. Plus, it’s never clear how hard the players themselves are playing in friendlies.

So, then, performances in friendlies don’t really matter all that much. But then when you eliminate friendlies, you’re left with the Gold Cup, World Cup qualifying, the World Cup, and possibly the Copa America and/or Confederations Cup. That’s maybe 20 games, total.

In other words, no two USMNT managers manage against the same schedules of opponents, and they all manage too few competitive matches to really put too much weight into those games, either. To start to get around that, though, we can look at the Elo rating of the team.

Initially developed for chess, the Elo system adjusts a competitor’s rating after every match. If you win, your rating goes up; lose, and it goes down. As the World Football Elo Ratings describe their own methodology, they apply “the Elo rating system to international football, by adding a weighting for the kind of match, an adjustment for the home team advantage, and an adjustment for goal difference in the match result.”

Since the system is based only on results, and results are quite random over a short sample, we’re only going to look at the USMNT managerial stints that have lasted for 50 games or more. Here’s how they stack up, based on where the team’s Elo rating was at the start of the tenure and where it was by the end:

• Bora Milutinovic (April 1, 1991-April 14, 1995): 1601 to 1619, up 18 points
• Steve Sampson (Aug. 1, 1995-July 30, 1998): 1708 to 1697, down 11 points
• Bruce Arena (Oct. 1, 1998-July 31, 2006): 1696 to 1775, up 79 points
• Bob Bradley (Dec. 1, 2006-July 31, 2011): 1775 to 1738, down 37 points
• Jurgen Klinsmann (July 29, 2011-Nov. 21, 2016): 1738 to 1735, down 3 points
• Gregg Berhalter (Dec. 2, 2018-Dec. 31, 2022): 1743 to 1819, up 76 points

Despite experiencing the biggest start-to-finish decline, Bradley’s team also reached the high-water Elo mark for the program after their victory against Spain in the semifinals of the 2009 Confederations Cup. But Bradley’s tenure aside, these ratings check out: Milutinovic stabilized the program for the 1994 World Cup, Sampson was a disaster, Arena guided the team to a new level, and Klinsmann was supposed to “Europeanize” Bradley’s squad, but ultimately made it worse.

With Berhalter, though, what we’re left with is a coach whose team scores more goals than any U.S. manager ever, concedes fewer goals than any U.S. manager ever, and improved by a good degree over his first four-year stretch as coach.

If you’re wondering why the team’s rating jumped so much under Berhalter: The two cup-final wins over Mexico were worth massive points, and then the World Cup was an overall success, too. In Qatar, the rating dipped by a point after a draw with slightly lower-ranked Wales. It jumped by 13 with the draw with England, then a further 30 with the win over similarly ranked Iran, before dipping by 20 after the 3-1 loss to the Netherlands, who were ranked third in the world at the time. All in all, these World Cup performances bumped the USMNT’s rating up by 22 points.

How much of the USMNT’s success can be attributed to Berhalter?

All of that now brings us to the second question: “How much of this is due to Gregg Berhalter vs. the players he has?”

To his credit, Berhalter has changed the way the team plays. TruMedia doesn’t have advanced data for every USMNT manager, so unfortunately we can only compare him to Klinsmann’s full tenure and Arena’s second tenure. In competitive matches under those two, the team averaged about 3.1 possessions won in the attacking third per game, and they moved upfield at about 1.8 meters per second.

Under Berhalter, the pressing has increased — massively. The number of possessions won in the attacking third per game has leapt up to 5.8. And that’s been paired with a much more measured approach in possession — the ball has moved upfield at a rate of 1.4 meters per second under Berhalter. The current USMNT coach is clearly attuned to the tactical ideas at the highest levels of the game, and we’ve seen this show up in how his team plays. He deserves credit for implementing some kind of stylistic shift in the international game, where stylistic shifts are quite difficult because of how little game and practice time a national team coach gets with his players.

At the same time, wouldn’t we just expect some of this to happen naturally since the majority of the USMNT roster is made up of players who are playing their club ball at the highest levels of the game? These are players who are exposed to advanced pressing and possession approaches, day in and day out under their club coaches.

While it’s difficult to compare the quality of USMNT talent across eras in any kind of objective way, there’s seemingly a new stat about record contributions from Americans in the Champions League every week at this point. Previous USMNT managers weren’t as fortunate, and in fact Klinsmann frequently butted heads with the commissioner of MLS over his very public criticism of the U.S.-based league and his expectation that Americans challenge themselves in Europe. Klinsmann, for all his pushing — which included creating a Europe-based technical advisor position to scout and recruit players abroad — never enjoyed the European-based player pool that Berhalter has.

Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest and Gio Reyna have already been key contributors for better teams than any other preceding American has ever consistently played for. Then there’s a whole different group of players who are either starting for mid-tier European teams or coming off the bench for bigger clubs: Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah, Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, Luca De La Torre, Chris Richards, Johnny Cardoso, Folarin Balogun and Joe Scally. It used to be that the USMNT would just have two or three players like this. Now that number is closer to 20.

So, of course the team is better — the players are better!

It may be that 2023 was a wasted year by the program and one where Elo ratings don’t provide much value, but at the end of 2022, the USMNT was the 23rd-best team in the world, per the Elo ratings. That might seem like a disappointment relative to the talent level, but in 2022, it’s not like American soccer players were tearing it up across Europe. They were in Europe, but most of the USMNT’s best players had the worst seasons of their careers in the 2022-23 season. On top of that, the U.S. had the youngest team at the World Cup weighted by minutes played.

Per the transfer-value estimates from the site Transfermarkt, the USMNT has roughly the 21st most-valuable squad in the world — and that’s right around the level they’ve played at under Berhalter. He hasn’t made the team better, and he hasn’t made the team worse.

A ringing endorsement, huh?

Yes, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would do a better job managing the USMNT than Berhalter has. But they’re not going to manage the USMNT any time soon. The reality is that most of the top managers in the world do not want to manage national teams for an extended period of time. The quality of play is nowhere near as high as the club game, the pay isn’t as good, there’s barely any time to train, and you don’t really get to pick your players. Despite every big-name unemployed manager getting linked with the team, the USMNT just isn’t choosing from the same coaching pool as Premier League teams.

A couple weeks ago, I proposed a theory of managerial value to someone who used to work for one of the biggest clubs in Europe. In short: There are a couple managers who are guaranteed to make your team better, a ton of managers whose long-term impact will be indistinguishable from each other, and then a couple managers who will actively make your team worse.

This person agreed with the first two parts but then corrected that final categorization. No, they said, there are a ton of coaches out there who will make your team worse, too.

And so, the USMNT really does seem to have a coach who will get the American players to play roughly to the level of their collective talent. That level of talent is somewhere within the range of No. 15 to No. 30 among all national teams, which means that with a favorable draw, some luck, and perhaps some home-field advantage, it’s plausible the U.S. men can make a run at the next World Cup.

The U.S. Soccer Federation could take a swing for that tiny first group of coaches who will make the USMNT better, despite an even tinier number being available for national-team employment. What’s the harm in taking a shot to vault away from that second group of coaches who don’t make much of a difference?

Well, there’s always a chance you end up with someone from the third group: a coach who actively makes the team worse. Remember what happened before the 2018 World Cup? The USMNT didn’t even qualify.

Awaiting a signature USMNT win

There is a school of thought that the experienced crop of USMNT players has outgrown Berhalter as a manager. The U.S. player pool is at a point where you don’t have to look hard to find Americans in the top five leagues of Europe.

“I think we talk about this generation and how young they are and how green they are, coming into their own,” said Gomez. “We’re talking about this team being green and these players getting minutes at Juventus, at Chelsea, at Milan, at Leipzig, etcetera. Well, our coach is probably the greenest one in this program then, because he had Hammarby [in Sweden] and had the Columbus Crew. So, I just don’t think he is at the level of the pool.”

There is also a bit of a fantasy that the likes of Guardiola, Klopp or Jose Mourinho will be intrigued enough by what the U.S. has to offer as a country that they might be willing to take the plunge with the USMNT. That ignores some economic realities. Coaches like that are well outside of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s price range, yet the dream of hiring a foreign coach exists.

Part of the reason why those dreams persist is that Berhalter’s record works against him here. According to ESPN Stats & Information, his record against teams above the U.S. in FIFA’s rankings is 3-4-6. All three of those wins have come against a Mexico side that is widely regarded as the worst El Tri side in a generation.

Granted, when the U.S. beat Mexico in extra time at the 2021 Concacaf Nations League, it initially was counted as a signature win given that it was the first U.S. victory over their fierce rivals in a competitive fixture since qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. It was a big step forward for this generation of players.

But now, the stakes have been raised. It is no longer enough just to beat Mexico. There needs to be a win — preferably more than one — against a top side. The 3-1 defeat against Germany last October was sobering to say the least. How much of that is on the players is another one of those endless debates.

“I do understand that we have a super talented team that are playing in big games over in Europe, so it’s just fantastic,” said Parkhurst. “But shoot, we’re still far away from the top, top teams in the world.”

Berhalter is on record as wanting to change how the USMNT is perceived. In that sense, this summer’s Copa America will be revealing, especially as it relates to the question of whether Gregg Berhalter is a good coach.

Picking the USMNT’s 23-man roster 100 days out from the 2024 Copa America

By The Athletic StaffMar 13, 2024

Should USMNT call up a Burnley winger to stop him from representing Italy, Canada or Nigeria?How much should the Olympics be a factor in who Gregg Berhalter picks for the Copa America?Does Mark McKenzie deserve a call-up after his impressive season at Genk?The Copa America is just 100 days away, so six of our writers have done the hard work for Berhalter and chosen the 23 players they would pick for this summer’s tournament on home soil…

How to follow the Copa America on The Athletic…

Paul Tenorio’s USMNT squad for Copa America

My split looks odd because of the small number of “forwards” listed here, but dropping from a 26-man to a roster of 23 means versatility is going to be crucial in how Berhalter thinks about his squad. There are multiple players here who provide that sort of positional flexibility and protection.

Kevin Paredes is listed as a defender because that’s how he was registered on the USMNT’s 60-man preliminary roster for the Nations League, but he is capable — and has mostly played — as a left winger for his country. Joe Scally can play as both a left and right back, as can Sergiño Dest. Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman are both listed here as midfielders, but both can play as a winger and have for the USMNT in the past.

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Realistically for a 23-man roster, it isn’t sensible to bring three No. 9s, but I’m not sure there’s a winger who deserves a roster spot over any of the three strikers. If Berhalter opts to take just two strikers, it makes the most sense to play Ricardo Pepi or Folarin Balogun in the Olympics because they’re age-eligible (The Olympics are a U-23 tournament on the men’s side). Neither striker has lit up their respective leagues (the Eredivisie in the Netherlands and Ligue 1 in France), while Josh Sargent has been very good for Norwich City in England’s second tier since returning from injury in December. Pepi was the final cut from the 2022 World Cup roster and that was a mistake. You wonder whether that decision will weigh into the Copa choices, as well.

For now, I’ll cop out by bringing all three strikers and one fewer winger because Paredes, Reyna and Tillman give plenty of cover.

(Broer van den Boom/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

The rest of the squad essentially picks itself. I took Drake Callender over Patrick Schulte as the third goalkeeper, Paredes over Kristoffer Lund due to his ability to play on the wing and Luca de la Torre over Brenden Aaronson due to form and function.

Jeff Rueter’s USMNT squad for Copa America

Generally, this roster is built to have minimal overlap with the Olympic squad playing later in the summer — if any at all.

These are the three most in-form goalkeepers, with Patrick Schulte being better in line for the Olympics.

Mark McKenzie is quietly putting together a very strong season with Genk in Belgium, and could offer a more mobile and long-range passing alternative at the back.

I’m using two roster slots on midfield cover given Tyler Adams’ lack of playing time over the past year; Johnny Cardoso has played himself into must-select status with Spain’s Real Betis, while Lennard Maloney has been dependable for German club Heidenheim. Malik Tillman could factor for minutes along the forward line, while Reyna (who I almost talked myself into making the Olympic roster headliner) could tuck into an advanced midfield role.

(Howard Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Players I left off with an eye on the latter tournament include Pepi, Taylor Booth, Diego Luna, Schulte, Paredes, and Jordan Morris, who I’d tap for an over-age slot.

John Muller’s USMNT squad for Copa America

For the first time in the Berhalter era, the USMNT squad feels set — we pretty much know who’s in, who’s out and who’s a starter when fit. So let’s have a little fun with the depth spots, yeah?

Luca Koleosho is not a USMNT player, but he’s also not yet cap-tied to Italy, Canada or Nigeria, all of which would very much like to have the gifted young Burnley winger. Berhalter has been talking to Koleosho for a while about bringing him into the fold and a Copa America invite is the best recruiting tool he’s got.

(James Gill/Getty Images)

Same deal with the highly touted 17-year-old Barcelona goalkeeper Diego Kochen, who’s being courted by several countries. Callender hasn’t shown many signs that he is America’s goalkeeper of the future. Schulte can start in the Olympics. Berhalter should use the third goalkeeper spot at the Copa — which never really matters anyway — to make Kochen an offer he can’t refuse.

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Of the other picks here, only Jesus Ferreira is controversial. He shouldn’t be. The USMNT’s 13th-highest goalscorer of all time remains weirdly underappreciated despite years of being one of the most consistent strikers in MLS and for the national team. He’s also got a different profile than Balogun, which gives Berhalter the flexibility to switch up his striker tactics or even play both guys together.

Elias Burke’s USMNT squad for Copa America

It will be interesting to see who Berhalter opts for in goal against Jamaica this month, given Matt Turner’s loss of form at Nottingham Forest of the Premier League and Ethan Horvath’s strong displays for Cardiff City since joining the Championship club on loan in January. Cardiff is on a four-match winning streak at the time of writing, with Horvath a significant contributor. Could he displace the previously undisputed No. 1 between now and the start of the tournament? Probably not, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Six of the eight defenders pick themselves, but I’ve gone with Auston Trusty and Paredes to round out the selection. Trusty can play as an outside center back and Paredes is comfortable at wingback, giving Berhalter the option to play five in defense against more formidable opponents.

Of the seven midfielders selected, only four may expect to start. You’d imagine Berhalter to be pragmatic with an Adams-Yunus Musah-Weston McKennie trio for the final group game against Uruguay, but Reyna’s creativity may be called upon for games against Bolivia and Panama, in which the USMNT is favored. Watch out for Cardoso, who has adapted to life in La Liga with Real Betis well and can play as a No. 6 or further forward, and could deputize for Adams if his fitness struggles continue. His excellent side-footed finish from outside the box in a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao last month exemplifies his quality.

(DAX Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In attack, you’d expect Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic to flank one of Balogun, Pepi and Sargent, who all have decent claims to the starting role. Pepi has fared best in a USMNT shirt of late, and Balogun has the most pedigree, but Sargent is in the best form with 12 goals in 17 appearances in this season’s Championship. Malik Tillman and Reyna can cover in wide positions if Weah and Pulisic struggle.

Tom Bogert’s USMNT squad for Copa America

With the Olympics on the back of Copa, many younger players who could challenge for bottom of the roster squad spots should prioritize playing time in Paris. The likes of John Tolkin, Gabriel Slonina, Diego Luna, Chris Brady, Cade Cowell and others come to mind as players who maybe could make the squad but wouldn’t get much game time.

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It probably would make the most sense to suggest Pepi is better served playing every minute at the Olympics instead of being maybe third-choice at the Copa America, but that would take convincing both Pepi to skip the Copa and also PSV Eindhoven to release the forward for the Olympics, with the tournament ending on the same August the new Dutch league season starts. I don’t think that will happen.

One of the forwards who miss out on Copa (likely one of Brandon Vazquez and Haji Wright) should be an over-age addition to the Olympic squad.

The toughest overage omissions from this group are Cameron Carter-Vickers, Trusty and Brenden Aaronson. Berhalter has almost seemed to prefer Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman when available, hence my lean there.

Greg O’Keeffe’s USMNT squad for Copa America

The first two goalkeepers pick themselves but it was tough deciding between Slonina, who has been building hard experience at KAS Eupen in Belgium, and Callender. Ultimately the latter gets the nod because of his performances and the level of training he’ll have been experiencing with the Lionel Messi/Luis Suarez super-charged Inter Miami.

My defense leans on Premier League performers but Bundesliga duo Scally and Paredes, who has performed well since winning the USMNT young player of the year for 2023, offer versatility. In midfield, I wanted to find room for Maloney but in the end de la Torre’s extra creativity pushed me his way, with the more defensive roles well covered.

The attacking options are solid. Pepi can be a real game-changer from the bench, and Sargent’s injury-truncated season may be peaking by July. Pulisic walks into the team and can provide mastery out wide, Weah’s impact is clear and it’s the gifted Balogun who surprisingly has the most to prove in order to get more minutes than Sargent or Pepi.

(Top photos: Getty Images)

Tyler Adams returns for Bournemouth just in time for USMNT: ‘It felt natural’

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Tyler Adams of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town at Vitality Stadium on March 13, 2024 in Bournemouth, England. This fixture was re-scheduled after the initial match was abandoned due to Luton Town's captain Tom Lockyer suffering a cardiac arrest after 58 minutes with the score at 1-1. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

By Elias Burke and Greg O’Keeffe Mar 14, 202418

One long year and two long days after his last Premier League match, Tyler Adams is finally back where he belongs.The 25-year-old came on from the substitutes’ bench on Wednesday evening as Bournemouth fought back from three goals down at the Vitality Stadium to beat Luton Town 4-3. Though it took head coach Andoni Iraola 71 minutes to call his number, he was in game mode well before kick-off.“It felt natural,” Adams told The Athletic. “I’ve had an amazing rehab process. I played a reserve game last week and only played 30 minutes but still, just to get in the chaos of the game, look around, check your shoulder, know where you are on the field, and adapt to new team-mates; it’s been really good and it was easy to come into that game with the boys flying as soon as we got those three goals back.“You could see the confidence in the team. I was so excited to be out there.”While his team-mates conducted their pre-match warm-ups in puffer coats and jogging bottoms, Adams braved the nine-degree (48 degrees Fahrenheit) cold in a light zip-up top and shorts. As the other substitutes watched their side close the deficit from the bench, Adams ran intensely on the sideline and gestured for every foul. Though he had never played a Premier League minute as a Bournemouth player, he looked every inch a leading figure.He entered the field with the scores level and slotted into the No 6 midfield position just ahead of the defence. His first touch was calm and assured, as was almost every touch after. He completed 10 of 13 passes, a 77 per cent success rate.

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Twelve minutes later, Antoine Semenyo scored the winning goal. It was only the third time in Premier League history a team had come back to win after trailing by three goals at half-time.Once Bournemouth went ahead, he provided a calming influence. He took the responsibility of talking his midfield partners through the game and gesturing with a pointed finger to his head that his team-mates remain focused.“It’s just instinct,” Adams said. “I’ve been a leader my entire life. It’s a role I don’t shy away from taking, especially on this team where there is a lot of chaos in the game. I just wanted to try to come in and have a calming presence in the game.“You can see immediately — once you start communicating, it makes everything around you go dull. We wanted to slow the game down when we had the opportunity to.”While it was all smiles from Adams post-match, he has had to draw on his reserves of resilience over a difficult year in England.

LEEDS, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Tyler Adams of Leeds United looks on during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Elland Road on March 11, 2023 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) Adams last saw Premier League action last season with Leeds United (George Wood/Getty Images)

The initial hamstring injury he suffered a year ago was one of the many factors in Leeds’ eventual fall to the Championship last season and may ultimately have damaged his prospects of a move to Chelsea last summer.It did not deter several suitors from trying to prise him away from Elland Road, with Leeds battling to keep a player they viewed as a strong leader, quality midfielder and a potentially positive influence on a dressing room trying to win promotion.But before a key summer for the USMNT, he wanted to play in one of Europe’s top leagues and when a move to Stamford Bridge fizzled out, Bournemouth’s interest was a chance to do that.

Tyler Adams: A Chelsea collapse, legal drama with Leeds and a move to Bournemouth

Bournemouth did not share what Leeds perceived as Chelsea’s doubts over the timeframe of his recovery and were keen to activate his relegation release clause before it ran out last August, allowing them to get on with a complicated medical for a player who, back then, had already been absent from full training for more than four months.

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Bournemouth’s California-based owner Bill Foley is trying to ramp up the club’s commercial performance, widen its fanbase and replicate elements of the success he has achieved in ice hockey’s NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights. In Adams, he was landing the USMNT’s captain, one of the pin-ups of soccer in the States.

So it was with high hopes that he headed to the Vitality Stadium, hoping to become an integral part of an upwardly mobile club, stabilised in the top flight and with owners who appreciate his worth in every sense.

Bournemouth have remained true to that criteria but much to Adams’ frustration up to now, he has been unable to play his part — on the pitch at least.

A return of the hamstring problem that plagued his time in Yorkshire meant that until Wednesday, he had appeared just once: as a 70th-minute substitute in a Carabao Cup win against Stoke City in September.

Adams’ attitude, despite his disappointment and frustration, has been exemplary.

He was understandably down when he had to start over again but recovered to become an upbeat presence around the club, settling in quickly despite being injured. He has been out running on the grass, although not always with the team as his return was carefully managed, for a while now.It helped Adams’ recovery that he had a friend in fellow midfielder Alex Scott, who was also in similarly trying circumstances.

Adams has become close with Scott, who also joined in the middle of a rehab process after sustaining a serious knee problem at former club Bristol City.

It also helped that Adams has also been made to feel part of the club, featuring regularly in club content despite not being as involved on the pitch.

After his low-key return to the pitch for the club’s development squad last week, under-21s manager Alan Connell was glowing in his appraisal

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“Tyler is a lovely lad,” Connell told the club website afterwards. “Just from seeing him around the building every day, he’s very humble and very hard-working.“Obviously, he was probably our marquee signing last summer, so it was great to have him train with us and you could just tell straight away he wanted to train well, get back and play some competitive football.”The New Yorker was then on the bench for the senior squad and even if he didn’t make it onto the pitch for the 2-2 draw with Sheffield United, it was another psychological step forward.

Adams’ last appearance for the U.S. was at the 2022 World Cup (Danielle Parhizkaran/USA TODAY Sports)

After returning to action in the Premier League, Adams now turns his attention to international duty.

Despite remaining a key player, he has not represented the USMNT since the World Cup. Understandably, U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter is eager to get him back in the squad with this summer’s Copa America on the horizon.“Once we heard (he was fit enough to play), we jumped at the idea (of recalling him) because he means so much to the team both on and off the field,” Berhalter said after announcing his squad for the Nations League match against Jamaica. “It’ll be nice to get him back.“

It’s hard to imagine there’s anybody on the roster who will be looking forward to the international break more than Adams, who wears the armband with pride. Still, while his return was a goal short of a fairytale, he will not get ahead of himself. Between now and Copa America, it is about playing as much as possible to ensure his place at the base of Berhalter’s midfield.“It’s exciting, man. Really, really exciting,” Adams said. “The past year has been really difficult, but those are some of my closest friends on that team.“You can’t rush the process. I figured that out the hard way through being injured a bunch of times. (USMNT) has a good run of games and a lot of good competition, and I want to have a big role within the team. Obviously, Copa America is something to look forward to. It’s another big opportunity to play in a tournament.

“It’s one that we want to pursue and possibly win on home soil. One hundred per cent.”

(Top photo: Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

USMNT Olympics draw: U-23 team will play host nation France in opening game

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 17: Gianluca Busio #6 of the United States U-23 men's team advances the ball against the Japan U-23 men's team during the second half at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex on October 17, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Jeff Rueter and The Athletic Staff Mar 20, 2024

The U.S. men’s under-23 national team was drawn into Group A in the 2024 Olympics, where it will face the host nation France, New Zealand and the winner of an intercontinental playoff between a team from the Asian Football Confederation and Guinea in the group stage.The draw offers the U.S. a marquee occasion with a place in the opening game of the tournament, where it will meet a familiar face on the sideline. Legendary striker Thierry Henry, who played and coached in MLS after a successful European career, will lead France’s team as head coach at the tournament. Henry also appears on CBS Sports’ coverage of the UEFA Champions League.Unlike the FIFA World Cup, the men’s Olympic soccer tournament functions as a U-23 competition, through three over-age players are allowed on each 18-man squad.The U.S. appearance in the men’s soccer tournament at the Olympics will be its first since 2008.

How was the draw done?

Rather than using FIFA’s rankings as is tradition in World Cups and continental tournaments, the pots used for the Olympic draw were determined by nations’ past performances in the Games. The ranking system is based on the total number of points obtained in the last five editions of the men’s Olympic football tournament (three points for a win, one point for a draw, no points for a loss) covering the 2020, 2016, 2012, 2008 and 2004 Olympics. As a result, the United States’ fourth-place finish in 2000 — the best in program history — had no impact on where the team fell in the ranking.

The United States was in Pot 3 for the draw, alongside Egypt, Mali, and the third-ranked qualifier from Asia (to be determined in May). The draw presented some potentially tricky opponents: namely, France and Argentina in Pot 1, and Spain and Morocco (won CAF) in Pot 2.As the draw for Pot 3 began, the United States caught a break when the first-drawn side, an as-yet undetermined third-place finisher in AFC’s qualifying, was unable to be drawn into Group A. As a result, that team was assigned to Group B — the strongest group through the first two rounds boasting Argentina and Morocco. Rather than facing a pair of programs coming off of top-four finishes at the 2022 World Cup, the USA was drawn into Group A. Along with host nation France, the United States joined New Zealand — which reached the quarterfinal in the Tokyo Olympics — and whichever side wins an intercontinental playoff between Guinea and the fourth-place finisher in AFC qualifying.

Who are the USMNT’s opponents?

New Zealand breezed through Oceania qualifying in August and September. They won their opener over Papua New Guinea after their opponent forfeited, then beat Fiji, Vanuatu, and Fiji (a second time) by a combined 20-1 margin. Many players on their roster play in their domestic league, although 21-year-old forward Jesse Randall lines up for USL Championship side Charleston Battery.

France boasts one of the best youth development pipelines in the world these days, and should field plenty of promising players under Henry’s management. Among them are Nice midfielder Khéphren Thuram, Lyon forward Rayan Cherki, PSG forward Bradley Barcola and Chelsea wing back Malo Gusto.

The United States has a pool of players playing regular minutes for senior clubs, both in MLS and abroad. Among the most likely players to be included are former FC Dallas homegrown Bryan Reynolds, New York Red Bulls defender John Tolkin, Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Paxten Aaronson (on loan with Vitesse), and Real Salt Lake playmaker Diego Luna.

Full Olympic men’s tournament draw results:

Group A

France
USA
ICP AFC-CAF
New Zealand (pot 2)

Group B

Argentina
Morocco
AFC 3
Ukraine

Group C

AFC 2
Spain
Egypt
Dominican Republic

Group D

AFC 1
Paraguay
Mali
Israel

This story will be updated.

USWNT drops to a record low in FIFA rankings: What it means and why it happened

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Rebeca Bernal #4 of Mexico celebrates a Mexico goal as Alex Morgan #7 of the United States reacts during second half stoppage time during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Group A match at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 26, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

By Meg Linehan Mar 15, 2024 87

The USWNT has dropped to No. 4 in the latest FIFA rankings released on Friday, marking the first time the program has fallen out of the top three since the establishment of the rankings in 2003.

In its announcement, FIFA said the USWNT drop is thanks to the team’s 2-0 loss to Mexico in the group stage of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, though the team later went on to win the tournament.

Spain retained the top spot in the rankings, with England moving up two spots to No. 2, France staying at No. 3, and the U.S. dropping two spots to fourth.

How did recent results impact rankings?

The formula used to compute FIFA rankings is weighted to bias recent results, and the impact of that formula can be seen throughout the top spots.

Spain benefited from their UEFA Nations League win over France in February. France, on the other side of that final, did not lose any ground despite the loss to Spain. England’s 5-1 win over Italy and 7-2 victory over Austria in February provided the momentum to send the Lionesses to second place on the rankings for this edition.

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The USWNT had never dropped below third place on the FIFA rankings in the team’s history, which in itself was a new low following the 2023 World Cup. Since the establishment of the women’s rankings in 2003 and until August 2023, the U.S. had never been outside of the top two.

While the loss to Mexico may have been costly on the rankings, ultimately it may have served as a necessary gut punch for the USWNT as it entered the knockout stages of the Gold Cup, defeating Colombia, Canada and Brazil en route to the trophy.

Why do these rankings matter?

The FIFA rankings are often used to determine seeding or pots for international events. Notably, this includes the Olympics, which the USWNT will participate in this summer.

Still, the U.S. drop may not have much of an effect on the upcoming 2024 draw — England/Great Britain did not qualify for the tournament, and France will be serving as host, so the USWNT’s drop to fourth may not actually have too much impact.

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Haji Wright of Coventry City celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City at Molineux on March 16, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

USMNT forward Haji Wright settled a cup classic – like Coventry City, he is on the up

Jack LangMar 16, 2024

Perhaps the biggest compliment you could pay to Coventry City in the wake of their FA Cup quarter-final success against Wolverhampton Wanderers is that it did not feel like a shock.Sure, this was a Premier League side getting knocked out by one from the division below. The nature of the 3-2 victory — Coventry were behind after 90 minutes but scored two stoppage-time goals — also conferred smash-and-grab credentials. But no one who has watched City this season, whether quietly clawing their way up the Championship standings or racking up the goals in earlier rounds of this competition, will have had them pegged as no-hopers before kick-off.

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No one who has been listening to the mood music coming from the club, either.

Exhibit A: “The club feels in such a good place. It’s ready to take off.”

Exhibit B: “We’re on the cusp of doing something great. It’s close.”

These quotes were given some eight months apart. The first was manager Mark Robins’ assessment of the mood at the club in May 2023, before the Championship play-off final against Luton. The second dates back to the start of February, when a 12-game unbeaten streak in all competitions had filled record signing Haji Wright with optimism.

Wright celebrates his last-gasp winner (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Both referred primarily to Coventry’s hopes of returning to the Premier League — painfully thwarted last season but now very much alive again. The FA Cup was a fun diversion, a little extra-curricular adventure — at least, it was until Saturday lunchtime, when it became part of the A-plot, simultaneously a gift to the fans and proof of concept.

“The players will take that confidence into the rest of the season,” said Robins at Molineux. “There’s a Wembley trip for everyone to get excited about. This is just another reward for all the hard work that they do.”

To say that it has been a long journey to this point would be to undersell it by an order of magnitude. After being relegated from the Premier League in 2001, Coventry stumbled into football’s shadowlands. They became a middling second-division team, then a struggling one. In 2012, they sunk to League One; five years later came the ignominy of demotion to League Two. This would have been grim for any club — for one that had spent 34 consecutive years in the top flight from 1967, it was hell.

When Robins took over as manager in March 2017, he found a club on its knees. The fans were alienated, morale among players and staff was non-existent. “It was done,” Robins said last year. “It was done. You could that feel everybody had given up. It was as bad as any club I’d ever worked at. Terrible.”

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Robins, low-key to the point of grumpiness, steadied the ship. Coventry dragged themselves back to League One at the first time of asking, then into the Championship two seasons later. Throughout, drama off the field — they had to play home games in Birmingham, after an earlier spell at Northampton, between 2019 and 2021 due to a rent dispute, then started the 2022-23 season with a spate of away fixtures because the pitch at the CBS Arena had been cut up by rugby sevens matches — has been tempered with patience and equanimity on it.

The way they reset after last year’s play-off disappointment was typical. Coventry sold their two best players, Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer, but used the income smartly. In came a host of capable — and cheap — defenders, plus Japan winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Everton striker Ellis Simms and Wright, a seven-cap United States international signed from Turkish club Antalyaspor for £7.7million ($10m at today’s rates).

That was a sizeable investment but one that is paying off handsomely: the 25-year-old’s winner against Wolves, guided delicately into the far corner, was his 15th goal of the season in all competitions. Continued form like this has put him back in Gregg Berhalter’s thinking – he was overlooked for the recent Nations League squad but has now joined as an injury replacement for Norwich City striker Josh Sargent.

Wright enters the Nations League window with more World Cup appearances (four) than senior U.S. appearances of any other type (three).

USMNT Wright played four times in the World Cup in Qatar (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Five of the players who started on Saturday arrived in the summer — it would likely have been six were Sakamoto not injured — and it was perhaps inevitable that all of the new faces would take time to gel. As recently as November, Coventry were in the Championship relegation zone. Instead of panicking, however, they just knuckled down, confident in the methods that had dragged them back from the brink.

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Some credit is due to Doug King, the local businessman who completed a full takeover of City in January 2023, ending the club’s association with the deeply divisive Sisu Capital. The deal he signed to keep Coventry at the CBS Arena — their on-off home since 2005, formerly known as the Ricoh Arena — for five seasons was a popular move, as was the restoration of the company name to Coventry City Football Club Limited. Under SISA, they had been operating under the crushingly corporate Otium Entertainment Group Limited.

But the star of this story is, of course, Robins. There is real intensity behind the unassuming exterior, which might explain his knack for unlocking untapped potential and his apology for celebrating in front of a ballboy at Molineux.

Witness the form of Kasey Palmer, who has blossomed since arriving from Bristol City two years ago, or that of Callum O’Hare, a kind of hall-of-mirrors Jack Grealish, now one of the Championship’s most watchable players.

Coventry are cooking again – they will have big say in Championship promotion race

Simms, the two-goal hero against Wolves, could also be put in that category, as could Wright, who cited Robins’ faith as a major factor in his and Simms’ recent uptick in form.

“Ellis and I didn’t have amazing starts here but he believed in us,” Wright said after his winner. “Now we are in a spot where we can show ourselves.”

The same is true of the club as a whole. Coventry are through to their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987, when they went on to win it. It will be a tough ask to repeat that feat, but it is impossible to ignore the momentum building behind Robins and his men. It could take them further in this competition — and, who knows, all the way back to the Premier League.

FINAL STATS

Memphis, Tenn. (Saturday, March 16, 2024) – Indy Eleven leaves Memphis victorious, 2-1, against Western Conference opponent Memphis 901 FC in the second game of the season-opening road swing. The Boys in Blue improve to 1-1-0 in 2024 and Memphis 901 FC drops to 1-1-0.

Preseason hero Jack Blake drew a well-earned penalty and converted that penalty into an early 1-0 lead in the 26^th minute. Later, a cross from Aedan Stanley would lead to chaos in front of the net where Douglas Martinez would rainbow the ball over the keeper and head the ball into the back of the net, doubling the lead for Indy in the 42^nd minute. The Boys in Blue looked stout on defense in the first half keeping Memphis to zero shots on goal. In the 46^th minute, Memphis 901 FC defender Oscar Jiménez was awarded his second yellow of the day leaving his team a man down for the rest of the match. The second half began less eventful for both squads, with both teams making a handful of subs and lots of back-and-forth soccer. Finally, in the 91^st minute, Memphis cut the lead in half as defender Abdoulaye Cissoko scored off a bicycle kick. The goal increased pressure on the Boys in Blue in the final minutes but they ultimately held strong to win the match 2-1.

USL Championship Regular Season
Memphis 901 FC 1:2 Indy Eleven
Saturday, March 16, 2024 – 4 p.m. ET 
AutoZone Park – Memphis, Tenn.

2024 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 1-1-0 (+1)
Memphis 901 FC: 1-1-0 (-1)

Scoring Summary
IND – Jack Blake 26’
IND – Douglas Martinez (Aedan Stanley) 42’
MEM – Abdoulaye Cissoko 91’

Discipline Summary
IND – Callum Chapman-Page (caution) 8’
MEM – Oscar Jiménez (caution) 15’
MEM – Tulu (caution) 25’
IND – Daniel Barbir (caution) 35’
MEM – Oscar Jiménez (Second Yellow, election) 46
IND – Douglas Martinez (caution) 57’
IND – Ethan O’Brien (caution) 90 +3’
MEM – Abdoulaye Cissoko (caution) 90 + 4’
MEM – Akeem Ward (ejection) 90 + 7’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-3-3): Yannik Oettl, Aedan Stanley, Danny Barbir, Callum Chapman-Page (Macca King 72’), Josh O’Brien, Tyler Gibson (Captain) (Ethan O’Brien 90+3’), Cam Lindley, Jack Blake, Sebastián Guenzatti (Elliot Collier 72’), Augustine Williams, Douglas Martinez (Karsen Henderlong 63’)

Indy Subs: Jay Klein, Roberto Molina, Hunter Sulte

Memphis 901 FC line-up: Tyler Deric, Akeem Ward, Carson Vom Steeg, Tulu, Oscar Jiménez, Emerson Hyndman (Lucas Turci 45’), Zach Duncan, Samuel Careaga, Bruno Lapa (Dylan Borczak 72’), Luiz Fernando (Marlon 45’), Nighte Pickering (Neco Brett 72’)

How can NWSL fans watch every match this season? What to know about broadcast, schedule changes

By The Athletic Soccer staffMar 15, 2024

By Jeff Rueter, Meg Linehan, Melanie Anzidei and Steph Yang

Welcome to the 2024 season of the National Women’s Soccer League. This season, which kicks off with four matches on Saturday, is different from its predecessors in a few ways — primarily with the addition of two expansion teams, and the league’s biggest broadcast deal to date. The Olympics are also happening, which has prompted the league to take a midseason break and host an international club tournament while the U.S. women’s national team competes in Paris.

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How you can watch the NWSL is changing in a major way this season, too. So we’ve put together this preview with everything you’ll need ahead of the regular season kickoff (and Friday night’s Challenge Cup match) from how to watch to major storylines, plus the USWNT and international connections across the 14 teams.

To keep following The Athletic’s NWSL coverage, don’t forget to follow the league and your team(s) of choice by managing your feed. And to make sure you don’t miss any of our coverage, subscribe to our women’s soccer newsletter Full Time. It’s our biggest stories paired with Full Time exclusive insights delivered straight to your inbox every week. With the season starting, we’ll be sending out each edition on Monday to make sure you’re all caught up from every NWSL weekend.

How to watch

121 of the 189 total NWSL regular season games this year have been spread out across four different partners as part of its new four-year broadcast deal: CBS, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, and Scripps’ ION (Fun fact: ION was originally launched as PAX TV, which was the original TV network for WUSA broadcasts). Each partner has their own slate of games, and the remainder of the games will stream on the league’s NWSL+ service.

We’ve laid out what you need to know to watch all the games below if you are a viewer in the United States; we’re still waiting on international broadcast information.

Prime Video

Amazon will broadcast Friday night matches.

You do not need an Amazon Prime membership to use Prime Video, although Amazon clearly wants you to get a full Prime subscription based on how difficult it is to only subscribe to Prime Video or even dig up the information that you can subscribe to Prime Video on its own.

If you do not have an Amazon Prime account, you can currently still sign up for Prime Video on its own as a regular Amazon member. If you do have Amazon Prime, then Prime Video should be included as a service, although going ad free will cost an additional $2.99/month.

Cost: $8.99 per month

To watch, log in to your Amazon account, open the drop down menu that lists all of Amazon’s services, look under “Digital Content & Devices,” and choose Prime Video. Once on the Prime Video page, under the “Home” drop down tab, and choose “Sports.”

Prime Video tabs its 2024 NWSL broadcast team

ION

ION will air Saturday night doubleheader games at 7:30 and 10:30 PM ET.

You can either check to see if ION is on linear television in your area, or you can sign in with select existing streaming services.

Cost: If you use a TV antenna and can find ION’s broadcast signal in your area, you can watch for free.

CBS

CBS will air games on the CBS television channel or CBS Sports Network. CBS games will also stream on Paramount+, but CBSSN games will not.

Cost: $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year for the basic Paramount+ Essential plan.

ESPN

Games will be spread across ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN2, while also streaming on ESPN+. Crucially, if the game is on an ESPN channel, it will also stream on ESPN+, which isn’t the case for CBS Sports Network and Paramount+.

There are a lot of options for watching ESPN, such as logging in with your existing service provider or by bundling ESPN+ with a Disney+ subscription.

Cost: $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year for an ESPN+ subscription.

NWSL+

The league will stream the remainder of their games on NWSL+. The app can be used on iOS and Android devices, and can be added to Apple TV, Fire TV, and Roku.

Cost: Free

What’s at stake this season

Challenge Cup

The season kicks off with the Challenge Cup, which has been reformatted from a season-long tournament to a one-off game between the 2023 champions, Gotham FC, and the 2023 shield winners, San Diego Wave. It’s a smart move to decongest the schedule and create a more meaningful game for players and fans, as well as to hopefully set the tone for the rest of the season by beginning with a bang.

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NWSL shield

For the rest of the season, everything will obviously be influenced by having two new expansion teams. They have historically done poorly in the NWSL by virtue of being so new and needing to work out the kinks. There are exceptions of course; the aforementioned shield winners, the Wave, played their way to the semifinals in their inaugural season and came third overall in the regular season under the stellar coaching of Casey Stoney. And with several teams having retooled themselves under new ownership, there’s a lot of hunger out there to see what they can be with a clean slate. Whether it’s the Portland Thorns, who were just one win shy of the shield, or the dead-last Chicago Red Stars, there are exciting storylines anywhere you look up and down the table.

Mid-summer Olympic tournament

The NWSL announced that they will host an international club tournament while the league takes a break from July 15 to August 18 for the Olympics. There’s no word yet on which clubs might be involved, although based on other tournaments like the International Champions’ Cup and The Women’s Cup, it’s a strong bet that the NWSL will look to clubs from England, France, and Germany. Some NWSL teams also have relationships with Liga MX Femenil clubs, potentially bringing Mexico into the running, too.

Expanded postseason

With two more teams entering the fold this season, the NWSL Playoffs will have an additional two qualifiers. The top eight teams from the regular season will advance to the postseason, playing a single-elimination knockout bracket from November 9 to November 23. In recent seasons, the top two teams enjoyed a first-round bye, but there will be no earned respite in the new format. This makes for a cleaner bracket and an increased chance for the kind of chaotic upsets we’ve all come to love.

Championship

Of course, there is a championship trophy (a very nice, upgraded one, in fact) ultimately on the line. Defending champs Gotham FC don’t have a worst-in-the-league chip on their shoulder to motivate them anymore, while heavy hitters in the Wave and Portland Thorns will be seeking dominance again. There’s also the North Carolina Courage, who seemed to be just on the cusp of becoming that team to be feared when they got knocked out of playoffs.

Big storylines

Gotham FC superteam

The reigning NWSL champions had a busy offseason. In a span of five days, and after weeks of reports, Gotham FC announced a flurry of blockbuster signings that brought national team stars Crystal Dunn, Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett and Rose Lavelle to NJ/NY. The USWNT regulars joined an already-stacked roster that included Lynn Williams, Midge Purce, Kelley O’Hara and World Cup winner Esther Gonzalez. Rightfully, many are calling Gotham FC the NWSL’s newest “super team” — and it’s a title the franchise is ready to defend. In a crowded room welcoming the Class of ‘24, GM Yael Averbuch West told reporters: “We enjoy that type of pressure. I think it’s a more enjoyable pressure than trying to climb from the bottom to the top.”

But stacking your roster with high-demand internationals is a gamble in an Olympic year. Already we’re seeing the double-edged sword: head coach Juan Carlos Amorós told media during the team’s preseason tournament in Colombia, “It’s no secret. We’ve got a lot of players that are not here. At the moment, we have 12 (out of) 30 players available for the team. We’ve completed the team with 10 trialists and that’s how we are operating, so we know we are doing the best we can. And I’m very, very proud and I’m very happy with how the team is developing (and) doing, despite only 50% of the player base over here.”

Expansion team performance

Two years after Angel City and San Diego furthered the NWSL’s westward expansion, the league’s geographic reach continues to grow with the debuts of Bay FC and Utah Royals FC. Both sides are beginning a coach who is untested at this level: Albertin Montoya for Bay and former USWNT forward Amy Rodriguez for Utah. Given Bay’s extreme spending on the top of its roster (more on that below), Utah following previous conventional wisdom of building around players made available by NWSL rivals and top draft selections feels modest by comparison. The NWSL is hard to predict at the start of a year, of course, and Utah will hope the lack of acclimation needed for its players can allow them to start the year strong.

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NWSL competing in the global market

There have been some huge international signings this offseason. The Orlando Pride have brought in Barbra Banda and Luana and the Portland Thorns landed Jessie Fleming, Louisville added Linda Motlhalo, and the Seattle Reign brought Angharad James over from Tottenham. Bay FC alone has signed Racheal Kundananji (for a world record fee), Asisat Oshoala, and Deyna Castellanos. The Washington Spirit also went big in hiring former Barcelona coach Jonatan Giráldez.

There’s been some hand-wringing about the NWSL’s ability to keep up with the Joneses in the global market, but this flurry of offseason deals is strong evidence for the continuing ambition to keep the NWSL entertaining and competitive, as well as a signal about (some) clubs’ willingness to spend — especially with the coming salary cap increase and the ongoing injection of cash from wealthier and wealthier investors. Of course there’s an entire season to see if these clubs can turn ambition into on-field results, but if any of them manage to find the right formula of personnel, coaches, and tactics with their marquee names, it’ll push other teams across the board to keep searching for competitive advantages.

New owners, new ambitions

In addition to expansion teams, two teams will also enter the 2024 season under new ownership: Portland Thorns FC and the Chicago Red Stars. For both of these teams, it’s the long-awaited fresh start following the abuse scandal that came to light in 2021, with Merritt Paulson and Arnim Whisler first stepping back, then eventually selling their respective clubs.

In Portland, Lisa Bhathal Merage leads the new ownership group (one that also owns the NBA’s Sacramento Kings), which has promised to keep the Thorns in Portland and build a new training facility. In Chicago, Laura Ricketts’ takeover got over the line before the close of the 2023 season, but following her first offseason in charge and with new head coach Lorne Donaldson and a healthy Mal Swanson, righting the Red Stars ship is a project that is finally, truly underway.

USWNT & international connections

The majority of the USWNT plays in the NWSL — and as mentioned above, Gotham FC is now the team stacked with a ton of both U.S. national team talent and some big international names too. While this isn’t a complete list by any stretch, watching the NWSL is essential to understanding the USWNT.

Plenty of teams carry both veteran and youth talent — just look at the San Diego Wave, with Alex Morgan leading the front line, joined by center back Naomi Girma (expected to be the heart of the USWNT’s defense for the next few cycles) and Jaedyn Shaw (who impressed at the W Gold Cup and can’t stop scoring).

Expect plenty of focus on Mal Swanson’s return to the field in Chicago, but Alyssa Naeher’s performance in goal for the Red Stars could be instrumental in her bid to stay the No. 1 option for the U.S. Over at North Carolina, Casey Murphy will be getting her own reps in goal, and Ashley Sanchez gets a fresh start with the Courage after a surprise trade from the Washington Spirit.

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If you want to keep an eye on players fighting for spots for the 18-player roster for the Olympics, the Portland Thorns might be one of your better options. Sophia Smith is part of a deep forward pool, but it’s midfielders Sam Coffey and Olivia Moultrie who are still building their cases ahead of Emma Hayes’ USWNT arrival later this spring.

The NWSL is also home to some of the most notable stars in women’s soccer globally, like Brazilian icon Marta and Canada’s longtime captain Christine Sinclair, who both recently retired from the international stage. There’s a high chance this coming season could be their last at the club level too, paving the way for some emotional farewells.

In addition to the record-breaking international signings already mentioned, other players who shined on last summer’s world stage also recently found their way to the NWSL — like South Korea’s Casey Phair, who, at 16, became the youngest player to ever play in a World Cup and recently signed with Angel City, and Gotham FC’s Esther, who was part of Spain’s World Cup-winning team. A record 16 World Cup teams featured talent from the NWSL player pool, according to the league.

There’s also Mexican forward María Sánchez, who for a couple of weeks was considered the highest-paid player in the NWSL, after inking a $1.5 million deal with the Houston Dash. (That title now potentially belongs to Mallory Swanson.) Sánchez got her start in La Liga MX, like Argentina’s Sophie Braun, who recently signed with the Kansas City Current.

Other notable internationals in NWSL: Ji So-Yun (South Korea, Seattle Reign); Hannah Stambaugh (Japan, Angel City); Jen Beattie (Scotland, Bay FC); Jessie Fleming (Canada, Portland Thorns); Quinn (Canada, Reign FC); Jordyn Huitema (Canada, Seattle Reign FC); Jess Fishlock (Wales, Seattle Reign FC); Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden, San Diego Wave FC); Bruninha (Brazil, Gotham FC); Maitane López (Spain, Gotham FC); Sinead Farrelly (Ireland, Gotham FC); Emily Van Egmond (Australia, San Diego Wave FC); Adriana (Brazil, Orlando Pride); Debinha (Brazil, Kansas City Current); Mariana Larroquette (Argentina, Orlando Pride); Kailen Sheridan (Canada; San Diego Wave FC); Jun Endō (Japan, Angel City FC); Ali Riley (New Zealand, Angel City FC); Ifeoma Onumonu (Nigeria, Gotham FC)

(Top photo: Robyn Beck and Ulrik Pedersen, Getty Images; Design Eammon Dalton)

MLS Power Rankings: Suárez boosts Inter Miami, LAFC fall off

Ryan Rosenblatt

Mar 18, 2024, 02:38 PM ETShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions

It’s Monday, another week of MLS action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

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

Our Power Rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal differential, expected goal (xG) differential), recent performance, the Opta computer ratings, and the observations of our writers.

So, who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? We’ve ranked all 29 clubs in the league after Matchday 4. Let’s dive in.

<img alt=”

1. Columbus Crew

Previous ranking: 1

The Crew were free flowing, gorgeous every time they went forward and Cucho Hernández was cooking. Basically, it was a pretty normal game for Columbus as they made the vaunted RBNY press look pedestrian en route to a 3-0 win.<img alt=”

2. Inter Miami CF

Previous ranking: 2

It’s easy to say that Inter is Team Lionel Messi, and when the greatest player of all time is on the pitch Miami will rightly be Messi-centric, but they fared pretty well without him in the second half of last season. Their first match without their maestro this season went well too, as Luis Suárez scored twice to win 3-1, in D.C. There’s more to this team than Messi, still.

<img alt=”

3. FC Cincinnati

Previous ranking: 4

Cincy didn’t look so hot in the first half, but they got Lucho Acosta on at halftime and suddenly, they were well on their way to a 2-1 win in New England. Shockingly, playing the MVP makes a big difference.<img alt=”

4. Atlanta United FC

Previous ranking: 4

Everyone knows Giorgos Giakoumakis is a heck of a goal scorer, but he flashed his creativity with a great pass to set up Saba Lobjanidze‘s goal as Atlanta rolled to a 2-0 win over Orlando.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Is the USMNT’s Gregg Berhalter a good coach? What stats, players and ex-colleagues say3dRyan O’Hanlon and Jeff Carlisle
Rating every new Nike kit: From United States to England3dChris Wright
Lionel Messi tracker: All goals, assists, key moments for Inter Miami in 20247dESPN

<img alt=”

5. Real Salt Lake

Previous ranking: 9

RSL’s bye week was well-timed as the Utah Royals got the local spotlight in their return to NWSL.<img alt=”

6. New York Red Bulls

Previous ranking: 5

RBNY’s typically excellent press was ripped apart by the Crew in a 3-0 loss. The Red Bulls have looked good this season, but there’s still a gap between them and the league’s top teams.<img alt=”

7. Philadelphia Union

Previous ranking: 7

There’s nothing more reliable than Dániel Gazdag from the penalty spot. He’s converted every spot kick he’s taken for the Union, but his latest wasn’t enough to deliver victory as Philly had to settle for a 2-2 draw in Austin. Minnesota United logo

8. Minnesota United

Previous ranking: 15

Eric Ramsey made a good first impression in Minnesota with a 2-0 win over LAFC. It’s too early to get a read on the Loons’ new boss, but he has so much talent at his disposal and Emanuel Reynoso made his return from injury over the weekend. With him in the fold, Minnesota has every reason to believe the MLS Cup could head north.

Minnesota United take down LAFC 2-0 at home

<img alt=”

9. LA Galaxy

Previous ranking: 8

Joseph Paintsil has only played four MLS matches, but he’s already making his case as one of the best players in the league. If the rest of the Galaxy could give him a little more help, they wouldn’t be settling for a 3-3 draw against St. Louis when they should have eased to victory. CF Montreal logo

10. CF Montréal

Previous ranking: 12

Laurent Courtois will spend a lot of time in the video room figuring out how to tighten up the CFM defense, but there’s nothing anyone could have done about the Fire’s windswept 99th-minute winner that beat Montréal 4-3.

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3/11/24 USWNT Wins Gold Cup, Champ/Europa League Tue/Wed/Thur, Indy 11 lose opener

March 11, 2024March 14, 2024 gatorbest

US Ladies Win Women’s Gold Cup over Brazil 1-0

The USWNT definitely righted the ship in capturing the first ever Women’s Gold Cup Trophy on Sunday night in San Diego. After losing to Mexico in the group stage, they recovered to blast Colombia before surviving swamp like conditions to outlast Canada in the rain in a shootout 2-2. Finally against Brazil – Horan’s first half header was enough to give the US the championship. I thought the games were good in that a lot of players including youngster and 19 year-old Golden Boot winner Jaedyn Shaw got to show their wares. Veterans like Alex Morgan, GK Alyssa Naeher and others however showed they might still belong on the team that goes to the Olympics this summer. The She Believe’s Cup coming up the first week in April should be exciting as Canada & Brazil will be looking to avenge their Gold Cup losses along with top 10 ranked Japan. Who the US brings should be telling as these are the last competitive games before the Olympics. Tix are available in Columbus for the Finals Tuesday, Apr 9th.

Indy 11 loses season opener, back home 3/23

Indy Eleven fell, 2-1, to USL Championship Western Conference opponent Oakland Roots SC to open the season on the road. The Boys in Blue registered 20 shots in the match, equaling their single-match high in 2023. Blake had a match-high six, while Augi Williams added four. Indy continues its road swing next Saturday at Memphis 901 FC at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+ before returning home March 23 for its home opener against Sacramento Republic FC. Single-game tickets are available now for all matches via Ticketmaster. Season Ticket Packages can also be purchased, as well as tickets for groups and hospitality areas. For more information on these options click here. The Defending USL WLeague Champion Indy 11 Women announced their summer schedule this week with 5 matches at Grand Park. Cool segment on former Indy 11 GK and Carmel FC GK Coach Jordan Farr, you can watch him play for Tampa Bay this Sat at 7:30 pm for Free on CBS Golazo Network. USL Season Previews and Power Rankings below.

Coaches – Can you please help one of our CFC GK’s Kevin Russo with a Senior class project. He is investigating injuries for soccer players U14-U18. Here’s the link if you wouldn’t mind sharing with your team’s players before this Friday it would be really helpful.

Man I love Champions League – Tues Arsenal goes thru on PKs over Porto and Wed both games down to the last second – with my Atletico winning at home on PKs, while Dortmund knocked out our only American’s left at PSV – in the 94th minute. (Dest, & Tilman started and played a good 94 minutes while Pepi came on in the last 20 minutes leaving a perfect ball for DeJong that went over to lose it.) Going thru to the round of 8 – Spain’s Real & Atletico Madrid & Barcelona, England’s Man City & Arsenal, Germany’s Bayern Munich & Dortmund & PSG of France. (see PK & Great saves & Stories below). Pulisic, Musah starting for AC Milan on CBS Golazo Network wrap-around show for Free- Europa League Thurs 2 pm or on para+ subscription. Pulisic scores

GAMES ON TV

Tues, Mar 12

4 pm Para+ Arsenal 0 vs Porto 1 UCL

4 pm Para+ Barelona 1 vs Napoli 1 UCL

6 pm Fox Sport 2 Columbus Crew vs Houston CCL

8 pm FS1 Pachuca vs Philly CCL

10:30 pm FS1 Tigres vs Orlando City CCL

Weds, Mar 13

3 pm Para+ Atletico Madrid 0 vs Inter Milan 1 UCL

3 pm Para+ Dortmund vs PSV UCL

8 pm FS2 Inter Miami vs Nashville CCL

Thur, Mar 14

1:45 pm Para+, CBS Golazo Slavia Praha 2 vs 4 AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)

1:45 pm Para+ West Ham United vs Freiburg

1:45 pm Para+ Benefica vs Rangers (Carter Vickers)

4 pm Para+ Liverpool vs Sparta Praha

4 pm Para+ Brighton vs Roma

4 pm Para+ Aston Villa vs Ajax

8 pm FS2 Alajuenlense vs New England Revs

10:15 pm FS2 Cincy vs Monterrey

Fri, Mar 15

8 pm Amazon NY/NJ Gothem vs San Diego Wave

Sat, Mar16

8:15 am ESPN+ Wolverhampton vs Coventry City (League Cup)

10:30 am ESPN+ Heidienheim vs Borrusia Mgladbach (Scally, )

10 am Peacock Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Luton Town

12:30 pm ESPN+ Werder Bremen vs Dortmund

1:30 pm USA Fulham (Robinson, Ream)vs Tottenham

1:30 pm ESPN+ Man City vs New Castle United (Cup)

2 pm Apple MLS DC United vs Miami

3:30 pm FOX Seattle Sounders vs Colorado Rapids MLS

7:30 pm CBS Galazo Tampa Bay Rowdies (Jordan Farr) vs San Antonio

7:30 pm Apple MLS Columbus Crew vs NY Red Bulls

8:30 pm Apple MLS Nashville vs Charlotte

Sun, Mar 17

7:30 am CBSSSN Juventus (Mckinney) vs Genoa

8:15 am ESPN+ Chelsea vs Leicester City (FA Cup)

10 am CBS Galazo Hellas Verona vs AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah)

10 am USA West Ham vs Aston Villa

10:30 am ESPN+ Freiburg vs Bayer Leverkusen

11:30 am ESPN+ Man United vs Liverpool (FA Cup)

2 pm Apple Cincy vs New England

4 pm ESPN+ Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

7 pm FS1 Atlanta United vs Orlando City

Thurs, Mar 21

7 pm FS1 US Men vs Jamaica — Nations League Semis

9 pm FS1? Mexico vs Canada – Nations League Semis

Apr 6 -9 She Believes Cup USWNT

(American’s in Parenthesis)

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action

USWNT player ratings: Coffey, Horan solid in scrappy win over Brazil

US Women

USWNT’s rocky path to W Gold Cup title should be a catalyst for growth Cesar Hernandez ESPN

Lindsey Horan helps U.S. past Brazil in Gold Cup final

USWNT ‘just getting started’ after Gold Cup win
Commentary: For U.S. women, Gold Cup title is a gritty reward
The USWNT are champions again. But regional powers are starting to flex their muscles

US women’s soccer team wins inaugural W Gold Cup after beating Brazil in final

USWNT lineup vs. Brazil: Lavelle, Dunn recalled for W Gold Cup final

om out: USWNT defeats Brazil to clinch Gold Cup title

USWNT perseveres despite “insane” playing conditions against Canada

USWNT gets ‘gritty’ win over Canada in penalties

US Men

Pulisic reaches double-digit goals with Empoli winner

McKennie stays hot for Juventus, marks return from injury with two assists

The Americans Abroad Five: MMA midfield we are so back

Huge Weekend for Yanks Abroad American Soccer Now

GoalKeeping

US GK Alyssa Naeher Saves US vs Canada

Arsenal’s Raya wins in PKs over Porto

Great saves: Champs League -Round of 16, 2nd legs | Flying Saves

Last Week’s UCL Great Saves

Europa League great saves: Round of 16, 1st legs – UEFA.com

USL Championship Save of the Week – Week 1

Atletico’s Slovenian GK Jan Oblak wins in Penalties – saves 2 & 1 goes over. Atletico on to the round of 8

EPL

Premier League Power Rankings – Week 28 of the 2023-24 season

Worry about an all-time title race, not marginal refereeing decisions
An era ends for Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola – but now they enter something new in the title race
Every touch: Stones is City’s rock v. Liverpool
Who will win the Premier League? Predicting the title race, analysis on remaining games

Champions League

Dortmund embrace ‘favourites’ tag ahead of PSV clash
Dortmund and Terzic host PSV with future on the line
Griezmann back as Atletico face Inter challenge in crunch week

Xavi: Napoli clash is biggest game of the season Odegaard: Arsenal ready for Porto ‘time-wasting’ Porto clash allows Arsenal to prove their belonging among Champions League giants

Kane hopes Lazio win the ‘turning point’ in Bayern’s season
England captain Harry Kane to the rescue as Bayern Munich march into Champions League quarter-finals

Kane scores twice as Bayern digs out of UCL hole

Mbappe double fires PSG into UCL quarters
PSG match-winner Mbappe has ‘no problem’ with coach Luis Enrique
Champions League ‘getting tougher’, says Man City’s Guardiola
Madrid not past Leipzig yet, warns coach Ancelotti
‘We are way more mature how we compete and manage games’

Concacaf Champions Cup

Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami, Messi: Score prediction for 2nd leg CONCACAF Champions Cup

Columbus Crew’s congested schedule continues with CONCACAF Champions Cup play vs. Houston

CONCACAF Champions Cup Bracket: Matchups, schedule for round of 16

Indy 11

Indy Eleven Falls in Season Opener at Oakland

Boys in Blue Add Undrafted Program Product Jay Klein

Indy Eleven Announces Signing of Notre Dame Standout Ethan O’Brien

United Soccer League to Field 47 Clubs in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

How to Watch Indy Eleven USL Championship Action in 2024

Indy 11 Women Schedule Announced

Indy Eleven Announces 2024 Promotional Schedule – Tickets on Sale NOW!

USL

8 Key Storylines from the opening weekend of the USL Championship season

USL Championship Save of the Week – Week 1

Title Contenders? Award Winners? Dark Horses? Get Hat Trick’s Preseason Takes

2024 USL Championship Western Conference Season Preview
2024 USL Championship Eastern Conference Season Preview

United Soccer League announces CBS Sports Golazo Network selections for March

USL Preview
Presenting (almost) all the kits you’ll see in the USL Championship in 2024

Reffing

Worry about an all-time title race, not marginal refereeing decisions

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

USWNT ‘just getting started’ after Gold Cup win over Brazil

Cesar Hernandez

Mar 11, 2024, 12:53 AM ETShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions362

United States interim coach Twila Kilgore said the women’s national soccer team is “just getting started” after winning the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup with a 1-0 decision over Brazil in Sunday’s final.”This is a group that’s moving forward together, that still wants more time together. It’s time to go back to club [seasons] for them and do those things, but we genuinely enjoy being together and feel like we’re just getting started,” Kilgore said after clinching the title at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium.”This is a group that’s just getting started.”Played in front of a crowd 31,528 — a record for a Concacaf women’s game — the U.S. squad was able to sneak past Brazil thanks to a 46th-minute winner from captain Lindsey Horan.With the trophy in hand, the Americans have bounced back after an underwhelming round-of-16 finish in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Following last summer’s early exit by the four-time World Cup champions, former coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned from his position, thereby leaving Kilgore as interim coach.”This is a team and a program that will always have attention and expectations on it, and we say that pressure is a privilege,” Kilgore said. “We’ve regrouped, we’ve set new goals, we’ve set a new style of play. We’re working towards something together, and it’s a very public process, and that’s just not easy. I’m just so proud of them, and I’m just so happy.” Regarding Sunday’s final, she noted the impact of Horan’s goal. “We were pinned in for quite a bit of the first half, and it took us some time to work our way out of that,” Kilgore said. “Then the timing of our goal was really critical, just before half, [it] means we come back with a slightly different strategy in the second half.”

Brazil coach Arthur Elias highlighted how well his roster had done in outshooting the Americans 12 to 7. “I believe that we had a great performance during the game, we had chances to score goals today,” Elias said. “They were very well prepared, as well, to play our team today, but we had more chances to score goals than the U.S.” With the U.S. side going through a transition of talent, Horan brought up the influence that up-and-coming players are beginning to have. “The team makes it a lot easier for me because you see on the field there’s a lot of leaders on there,” Horan told CBS Sports. “Even some of the younger ones, they stepped up in this tournament, and they showed their leadership. “Whatever I can do to help the team and get the best out of everyone, but also be a role model in what I do on the field, as well.” Of those young U.S. players, 19-year-old San Diego Wave forward Jaedyn Shaw was given the tournament’s Golden Ball award. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher clinched the Golden Glove award. The Americans have now won every Concacaf tournament they have participated in, providing them with a total of 15 titles from the region. Looking ahead, the U.S. will take part in two She Believes Cup matches in April. Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes will soon take over as permanent coach for the U.S. team after the end of the Women’s Super League season.

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 10: Alex Morgan #7 of the United States hoisting the trophy and celebrating with her USA teammates during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Final game between Brazil and USWNT at Snapdragon Stadium on March 10, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/Getty Images).

Gold Cup gave USWNT chance to find answers, CONCACAF left with questions

Tamerra Griffin Mar 11, 2024 The CONCACAF W Gold Cup concluded Sunday evening with the U.S. women’s national team hoisting their rose-tinted trophy to the San Diego sky after defeating an imposing yet offensively subdued Brazilian side. The tournament provided clarity for the USWNT in a time of transition amongst a team still waiting for its head coach, Emma Hayes, to take charge. But the competition itself was multidimensional, demanding similarly urgent questions and answers from the confederation about the region it oversees, and the place it wants to occupy globally as women’s soccer continues to grow.

Multilayered competition, Olympic-like experience

Alex Morgan earned her first national team cap on March 31, 2010. There’s not much the veteran striker hasn’t experienced with the squad in nearly 14 years since, but on the eve of the final, she found herself navigating the first edition of a regional competition that she’d always yearned for.

“I definitely get jealous sometimes of the Euros and all the European tournaments that go on,” Morgan said. “We don’t get the opportunity to have as many tournaments as them, so having the first women’s Gold Cup is a great opportunity to do so and have two confederations (CONCACAF and CONMEBOL) come together to play for a trophy, and all we wanna do is play for a trophy.” The chance to compete for hardware was just part of the Gold Cup’s appeal. The tournament’s simulation of a grueling Olympic schedule — with a game every three days during the group stage, six days’ interim, and then a quarter, semi, and final within a week — provided a near-perfect atmosphere for players to make a case for a spot on the 18-player roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, with kickoff just four months away. In that sense, the timing of the W Gold Cup was advantageous for players like Morgan and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, veterans attuned to the physical and mental demands of an intense tournament schedule who could anchor the team with their experience. Morgan had not initially been named to the tournament roster but was brought in to replace forward Mia Fishel, who suffered an ACL injury in national team camp on Feb. 19. The efficacy with which Morgan settled into her new role on the team proved critical to the U.S.’s success, particularly in its decisive quarterfinal victory over Colombia. It provided a pretty convincing answer to questions about her place on the team heading into this tournament. When asked whether she was actively vying for a ticket to Paris, she joked, “I hope so. I hope I’m fighting for a spot with my play.” Naeher knows that song well, too.

“I think this tournament has asked a lot of questions of this team,” said Naeher before the final. “I think it’s obviously a time of transition and a time of new coaches, new players, and I think there is this balance on the group right now, of the team, of: still we have a number of great veteran players, and we have a number of young players coming in as well and I think there’s a lot of questions coming in, and I think it’s our job as players to make it hard for coaches to make decisions.”

Alyssa Naeher made crucial saves against Colombia and Canada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato, Getty Images)Even if that evaluation rested solely on Naeher’s contributions to the U.S.’s extraordinary rain-soaked semifinal victory over Canada, in which she saved three penalties and converted one of her own, it would have been enough to afford her several more rounds of the benefit of the doubt. Now, there is hardly any doubt at all. She ended her W Gold Cup run with a golden glove.And for the players with fewer caps — not necessarily the younger ones, as interim head coach Twila Kilgore consistently points out, since several young players have years of national team experience at this point — it’s difficult to imagine a more comprehensive diagnostic of a tournament than this one. From adjusting to diverse competition to learning how to bounce back from a disappointing result to powering through unimaginable weather conditions, it was the kind of gauntlet that spurs a player’s maturity and whets their appetite for pressure and chaos.

It’s one of the key lessons Jaedyn Shaw will take with her from this tournament. The 19-year-old made a commanding statement, starting three games, netting four goals, and capping that off with a Best Player award. Shaw has said many times that she craves high-pressure moments — and her track record appears to back that up — but admitted after the final that the experience of playing for a title was a new one to adjust to.

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“I’m not gonna say it was like the other games because it absolutely was not,” said Shaw, who did not start the match and subbed on for Sam Coffey in the 71st minute. “Brazil really brought it and it was a real battle, and I mean, watching it from the sideline, like, I was literally shaking for the girls out there. But we ultimately did all that we could to get this result, and it really paid off.”

Journeying across the peaks and valleys of a tournament can teach those still gaining experience a lot, though. The team’s loss to Mexico in the group stage finale might have been the most important lesson of the cup.

“I don’t think a lot of teams could lose the way we did against Mexico, which was super disappointing and unacceptable from us, but respond the way that we did,” Coffey said after the final. Firmly in the hunt for more minutes in big games, it was Coffey’s initiative to pluck a stray ball from the middle of the park and release it to Trinity Rodman that led to Lindsey Horan scoring the U.S. go-ahead, game-winning goal in the final.

“I’m not sure we get here without that loss,” Coffey continued, her arms full with a miniature can of Coke, another iced beverage, a Squishmallow, and her confetti-crusted cleats. “I think we’re a team that just takes all the good, all the bad, all the things we’re proud of, all the things we’re not, and use it together for our good and turn it into fuel and things we can learn from and so I just couldn’t be prouder of the team, I think we went through so many ups and downs and we came out on top, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Mexico (and Puerto Rico, and Argentina, and Costa Rica) would like a word

Victors and their deserved flowers aside, the Gold Cup also supplied vital tournament experience for teams on the come-up. In the ever-changing world of women’s soccer, it is less a matter of skill and more one of repetition, or lack thereof.

On the heels of a heartbreaking and short-lived quest to the 2023 World Cup, Mexico’s women’s national team is in the midst of a beautiful rebirth. Though their W Gold Cup ended at the hands of Brazil, their performances were filled with catharsis and determined joy, raising the ceiling even higher on what they can accomplish in the near future. This tournament’s success only adds to the talent spilling out of Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil, the cohesion of that talent on La Tri, and the team’s ability to churn out consistent victories and qualify for major tournaments.

Mexico shocked the USWNT, winning the final group stage game. (Photo by Jessica Alcheh, USA TODAY Sports)

“I believe that it has been a great idea to join the teams from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL,” said Mexico head coach Pedro López Ramos ahead of their semifinal game. “A lot of future soccer players, they’re seeing very incredible games, not just for men or women. It’s attractive soccer, and I believe it’s going to make soccer grow in each one of the countries.

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“I can only be grateful for this tournament because it’s going to make soccer grow in all aspects.”

Mexico winger Maria Sánchez echoed those thoughts, underscoring the visibility a CONCACAF tournament affords local leagues and the quality soccer found there.

“A lot of teams around the world, a lot of coaches around the world, can turn and see the product that has been coming out of a league like the Mexican league that maybe before weren’t rated as high,” said Sánchez, who plays for the Houston Dash in the NWSL. “Being part of this and having that visibility really helps countries like Mexico, where we weren’t able to represent in the World Cup, but we can do it in a tournament like this, and a lot of my teammates and myself are able to have different eyes on us.”

But it’s not just the larger nations in the region who benefit. Though their Gold Cup run was short-lived, there’s much to be said about the attention Puerto Rico, who knocked Haiti out of the tournament in a play-in game and held Brazil to just one goal in the group stage; Argentina, who continued the momentum of their World Cup campaign with a hearty draw with high-flying Mexico and a sound defeat of the Dominican Republic; and Costa Rica, who arguably earned the respect of every Canadian after forcing them to extra time in their eventual 1-0 win.

CONCACAF’s decision to implement a re-seeding mechanism to determine the quarterfinal matchups, instead of set paths, led to back-to-back games between Canada and Costa Rica. The Olympic champions won their first meeting handily, 3-0, but the pressure (and, surely, some sharp answers from Costa Rica) made the second meeting an entirely different game.

And that’s to say nothing of Colombia and Brazil, whose successes don’t require qualification. These teams have shown they have no desire to fade into the background, only emerging into the discourse during big tournament years. They’re here to stay, and the more opportunities they have to showcase their talent by going up against the best in the world, the greater their chances of growing the game domestically and stepping into even greater potential.

Now, CONCACAF must compete with the world

Regional tournaments will only expand from here as the level of competition in women’s soccer spreads more evenly around the world — and if CONCACAF wishes to remain on par with the likes of Europe with its precedential Euros in 2022, or Africa, which organized one of the best African Women’s Cup of Nations tournaments to date the same year, it will need to continue raising the bar or risk getting eclipsed and quickly left in the shadows.

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That means giving each match the respect it deserves: minimizing (if not eliminating) weeknight matches to ensure higher attendance numbers, investing in sophisticated marketing for proper promotion of matches and other events surrounding them and perhaps most importantly, prioritizing players’ safety (and thus preserving the quality of competition) during unprecedented weather conditions.

Especially because others likely — and rightly — took notes from this tournament.

That Brazil, a CONMEBOL team, reached the finals of a CONCACAF tournament, begs the question of whether the South American soccer governing body might one day return the favor and host a few CONCACAF teams at the Copa America Feminina, similar to what CONCACAF has done in the Gold Cup. Brazil head coach Arthur Elias wouldn’t rule it out, given the strides he believes the confederation has made to advance women’s soccer in the region.

Brazil dominated the group stage and cruised to the final. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez, USA TODAY Sports)

“I didn’t participate in Copa América, but Copa Libertadores,” said Elias, who was the manager of the women’s team at Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, a legacy club in Brazil. Before the top job at Seleçãeo, Elias had won five league titles with Corinthians, plus two Copa Libertadores.

“I have always said that it is important for us to have Copa Libertadores in different venues, and that goes for Copa América, so they can bring more people, more fans to the stadiums,” Elias continued Sunday night following Brazil’s loss in the final. “This exchange is very positive for us to have more references. The U.S. has a great tradition for women’s soccer with great stadiums, pitches, great organization that contributed to us participating in this Gold Cup, and CONMEBOL is (also) in the right way to promote women’s soccer.”

USMNT midweek viewing guide: Champions League quarterfinals or bust

PSV trio have a do-or-die game in Dortmund; Pulisic and Musah look to advance past Slavia Prague in Europa League.

By Justin Moran @kickswish Mar 11, 2024, 11:57am PDT

PSV v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League

Midweek USMNT action is here. Let’s get into it!

Tuesday

Saarbrücken vs Monchengladbach, 3:30p on ESPN+ (free trial): Jordan Pefok, Joe Scally, and Gladbach will be heavy favorites as they visit third-tier Saarbrücken in this DFB Pokal quarterfinal.
Tigres vs Orlando City, 10:30p on FS1, TUDN USA, FuboTV, Sling: Duncan McGuire and Orlando face a major test on the road against Tigres in Monterrey in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup tie. The score is 0-0 on aggregate.

Also in action:

Columbus Crew vs Houston Dynamo, 6p on FS2, FuboTV, Sling: Aidan Morris, Patrick Schulte, and the Crew are trailing Houston 0-1 after the first leg in Concacaf Champions Cup.
Pachuca vs Philadelphia Union, 8:15p on FS1, FuboTV, Sling: Jack McGlynn, Quinn Sullivan, and the Union are tied 0-0 with Pachuca after the first leg in Concacaf Champions Cup.

Wednesday

Borussia Dortmund vs PSV, 4p on Paramount+, TUDN USA, Univision USA, FuboTV (free trial), ViX: Sergiño Dest, Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and PSV are tied 1-1 with Dortmund in the Champions League round of 16.
Inter Miami vs Nashville SC, 8:15p on FS2, FuboTV, Sling, ViX: Drake Callender, Julian Gressel, Noah Allen, and Inter Miami are tied 2-2 with Walker Zimmerman, Shaq Moore, and Nashville SC in Concacaf Champions Cup.

Also in action:

Bournemouth vs Luton, 3:30p: Tyler Adams was a surprise inclusion on Bournemouth’s bench this weekend, but didn’t play. The 13th-place Cherries host Luton, who are 18th in the Premier League.
El Paso Locomotive vs Monterey Bay FC, 9p on ESPN+: US U20 defender Brandan Craig played 90 minutes for El Paso in their 0-1 loss to Hartford Athletic on Saturday to begin the USL Championship season. Craig is on loan from the Philadelphia Union.
América vs Chivas, 10:30p on FS2, FuboTV, Sling: Alejandro Zendejas and América have a 3-0 lead over Cade Cowell and Chivas in Concacaf Champions Cup.

Thursday

Slavia Prague vs AC Milan, 1:45p on Paramount+, ViX: Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and Milan hold a 4-2 lead over Slavia Prague in the Europa League round of 16.
Monterrey vs FC Cincinnati, 8:15p on FS2, FuboTV, Sling, ViX: Brandon Vázquez and Rayados host Miles Robinson, Lucho Acosta, Matt Miazga, Roman Celentano, new arrival DeAndre Yedlin, and FC CIncinnati in Concacaf Champions Cup. Monterrey lead 1-0 from the first leg.

Also in action:

Alajuelense vs New England Revolution, 6p on FS2, FuboTV, Sling: Esmir Bajraktarevic, DeJuan Jones, Noel Buck, and the Revs carry a 4-0 lead into the second leg as they travel to Costa Rica in Concacaf Champions Cup.

Friday

Köln vs RB Leipzig, 3:30p on ESPN+: 19-year-old German-American forward Damion Downs scored his first Bundesliga goal for Köln last weekend. 16th-place Köln (in the relegation zone) host Leipzig, who are 5th in the Bundesliga.
Palermo vs Venezia, 3:30p: It’s an American showdown in Serie B! Kristoffer Lund and 5th-place Palermo meet Tanner Tessmann, Gianluca Busio, and 3rd-place Venezia.

Also in action:

SC Paderborn vs Braunschweig, 1:30p: Johan Gómez and 17th-place Braunschweig host 6th-place Paderborn in the 2. Bundesliga.
Rapid Wien vs LASK Linz, 2:30p: George Bello and 3rd-place LASK host 6th-place Rapid Vienna in Austria’s top tier.
Telstar vs ADO Den Haag, 3p: Justin Che and 3rd-place Den Haag visit 17th-place Telstar (Sebastian Soto’s old club, remember?) in the Eerste Divisie.

USWNT’s Sophia Smith, Alyssa Naeher vanquished World Cup demons en route to Gold Cup final

Jeff Rueter Mar 8, 2024 the Athletic

If Sophia Smith sounded especially reflective after the U.S. women’s national team’s penalty shootout win against Canada in the W Gold Cup semifinal on Wednesday, it was with good reason. Her interim coach Twila Kilgore shared that the striker teared up at the end of the game, which saw her score a goal in extra time and bury a penalty kick in the shootout.“It was an emotional goal,” Smith said. “I haven’t scored in a while and have just been kind of on an emotional rollercoaster since the World Cup, so that was a big relief and it just felt really good.”

Seven months prior and an ocean away, the USWNT was on the other end of penalty kick fortunes, exiting the 2023 World Cup in the round of 16 against Sweden. The United States had advanced from Group E by the narrowest of margins, with Smith’s struggles in front of goal a major talking point.

The knockout round provided little respite, with Smith sending her shootout attempt sailing over the crossbar.

“To miss a PK in the World Cup takes a toll on you mentally and then I feel like since then I’ve just been trying to work my way back,” Smith said. “So I think that goal was just a relief of a lot of emotions. “

Smith’s goal in extra time looked like it would be the winner (Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)

In the same shootout, Alyssa Naeher had tried her best to keep her team in contention for a third consecutive title. The goalkeeper managed one big save, a diving stop to her right to give the United States a chance to take control. So, too, did she dive to her right on the final kick of the sequence, tapping the ball off the bar before goal-line technology ruled it a conversion to seal the United States’ fate.On Wednesday, Naeher was again between the posts to face an opponent’s spot-kick shooters. Again, she was particularly tough to beat to her right, as Canada learned the hard way. As she had last summer, she converted a chance of her own, to boot.

Why did the USWNT-Canada match continue? Explaining the rules around postponing games

The culmination of the sequence was a far cry from Smith’s painful tears that fell last year. For a goalkeeper who’s often emotionless, Naeher’s wry celebratory smile was equally powerful.So often, a team’s tournament performance is remembered for the performances of their striker and goalkeeper. In this Gold Cup, the U.S. women’s national team program is no exception.

(Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports)

The inaugural W Gold Cup, a regional competition between women’s teams from federations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, is notably less ballyhooed than a World Cup, or the impending Olympics this summer, but a continental tournament is still a high-stakes situation — especially in the business end, when foes range from spirited upstart Colombia, regional rival Canada, or world powers Brazil – the United States’ opponent in Sunday’s final. Quite a few USWNT players have had Gold Cups to remember. Among them is Jaedyn Shaw, another young attacker with precocious spatial reading, tenacity around goal and a keen sense of when to pass and when to shoot. On Wednesday, the 19-year-old scored for the fourth time in as many games.But one player who wouldn’t be satisfied with their showings through the quarterfinal was Smith. For the better part of a year, something seemed off when you watched her play. She was effective, no doubt, but the infectious verve that she carried in every section of her bubble braid wasn’t there. She appeared to be a striker playing against her thoughts, rather than one playing free of them. Smith entered the Gold Cup as the projected starter up top, but a failure to score in the group stage saw Morgan start as the striker in the quarterfinal and semifinal despite only being on the squad as an injury replacement for Mia Fishel.

USWNT fought ridiculous conditions, history in win on PKs vs. Canada

When Smith finally did take the field against Canada, the game being played did not resemble soccer in any conventional sense. “It’s just hard to even call it a game of soccer tonight, especially the first half,” Morgan said afterward. “Your instincts are to dribble, and then you can’t dribble, you’ll lose the ball.”With Smith on the field, another of CONCACAF’s young star strikers, Jordyn Huitema, broke her own post-World Cup malaise with a goal to draw Canada level eight minutes from full time. She fell on her back with a smile wide enough to light the San Diegan night. It was the exact kind of relief that Smith – and the United States – needed.Smith finally got her chance off of a Rose Lavelle header from 25 yards out in the ninth minute of extra time, with the ball looped over Canada defender Vanessa Gilles and into Smith’s stride. From there, it looked like the Smith we’d expected to see in Australia and New Zealand. She created a step of separation from her nearest defender, had her head up to assess what the goalkeeper was offering her, and placed a cool finish in the side of the net. Usually one to run to the corner flag for her celebrations, the striker instead fell to her knees.

(Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports)

As the fourth official raised her board, it appeared that the task was complete: just one more minute atop the previous 120 to go. Just then, however, Canada went back to the aerial route, and Naeher started to step into the spotlight. The U.S. goalkeeper met Gilles in a battle for an aerial ball, catching Gilles in the head in an attempt to punch the ball away. VAR determined it was enough contact to warrant a last-second penalty kick, which tournament top scorer Adrianna Leon converted. Once again, the United States would have its tournament fate decided from the spot. Of the three U.S. players to miss spot kicks against Sweden last summer, only Smith remained on the team for the Gold Cup. Against Canada, she stepped up first, and coolly placed her shot to the bottom-left corner past a diving Kailen Sheridan.

(Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports)

Now, it was Naeher’s turn to live up to the moment.The hero just ten minutes prior, Leon’s shootout attempt veered just left of Naeher’s base position, giving the USWNT goalkeeper a (relatively) easy save at torso level. Huitema placed a penalty in the exact same spot as Leon’s, another easy save for the United States goalkeeper. Not content with stymying Canada, Naeher then took to the spot herself, powering a shot to her right to give the U.S. a 3-1 advantage.tAt 4-2, Canada captain Jessie Fleming needed a conversion to save Canada’s hopes. Rather than rippling the net, however, she fired another shot just to Naeher’s right, giving her a third save in four attempts and spelling an end to Canada’s hopes of winning the inaugural W Gold Cup.Naeher is one of the program’s most stoic members. She seldom smiles for the pre-game team photo, barely mustering even a nod when interacting with opponents in the handshake line before kickoff. At 35 and having come off a poor season with the Chicago Red Stars, she’s been rotated in and out of the lineup at this tournament with Casey Murphy, eight years her junior.

Against Colombia and (especially) Canada, however, she reminded everyone why she has a firm grip on the No. 1 shirt heading into this summer’s Olympics. In the biggest international moments, she seldom lets her team down. “Honestly when Alyssa saved that first one I was just like, okay, she is in the zone,” Morgan said after the game. “We got this. Then she stepped up. She scored her penalty and then did not celebrate and then got back on the line and then continued to save that penalty and the next one. It’s…I have never witnessed something so remarkable as I did tonight with Alyssa. “I don’t even know why you guys are talking to me. You probably just want to talk to Alyssa.”

(Carmen Mandato/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

In a game that was more a series of stand-alone moments than actual soccer, it was a rare match fitting of the skills-challenge nature of penalties. Even in miserable conditions, the night ended in undeniable drama that saw the U.S. book its place in the Gold Cup final. But this isn’t a tournament played in bygone years when a USWNT first-place finish was the expectation. Brazil easily dispatched a Mexico team that had shocked the United States in the group stage and boasts as deep a pool of dangerous attackers as any nation in the world. This United States team, meanwhile, is still under interim management, with their upcoming boss unable to watch the late-night games live from her current residence in London. This is a team playing for each other. Through a statement win over Colombia and fending off a determined Canada side — not once, but twice, and from the same shootout scenario that sunk them last summer — they’ve exorcized many of their demons .They might win it all on Sunday. They also might lose to a deserving opponent. One thing is for certain, though: this is a team that’s no longer sleepwalking in their post-elimination nightmare.(Top photos: Carmen Mandato/USSF/Getty Images for USSF; Ben Nichols/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

FINAL STATS

HAYWARD, Calif. (Saturday, March 9, 2024) – Indy Eleven fell, 2-1, to USL Championship Western Conference opponent Oakland Roots SC to open the season on the road. It was the lone matchup of the 2024 season for the clubs.

It was Oakland that got on the board first in the match as Jeciel Cedeno found the back of the net in just the third minute of action for the early lead.

The remainder of the first half saw offensive dominance by Indy Eleven with a 13-2 edge in shots, including 4-1 in shots on target, and the equalizer form Indy’s preseason goal leader Jack Blake in the 43rd minute, by way of a cross in from Younes Boudadi.

Oakland scored early again in the second frame as Bryan Tamacas found himself alone inside the 18 with an opportunity in front of goal in what would be the match winner.

The Boys in Blue registered 20 shots in the match, equaling their single-match high in 2023. Blake had a match-high six, while Augi Williams added four.

With the loss, the Boys in Blue fall to 3-3-1 in USL Championship season openers, with all matches coming on the road.

Indy continues its road swing next Saturday at Memphis 901 FC at 4 p.m. ET before returning home March 23 for its home opener against Sacramento Republic FC.

USL Championship Regular Season
Oakland Roots SC 2:1 Indy Eleven
Saturday, March 9, 2024 – 10 p.m. ET 
Pioneer Stadium – Hayward, Calif.

2024 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 0-1-0 (-1)
Oakland Roots SC: 1-0-0 (+1)

Scoring Summary
OAK – Jeciel Cedeno 3’
IND – Jack Blake (Younes Boudadi) 43’
OAK – Bryan Tamacas (Irakoze Donasiyano) 51’

Discipline Summary
IND – Jack Blake (caution) 24’
IND – Sebastian Guenzatti (caution) 24′
IND – Karsen Henderlong (caution) 25’
IND – Callum Chapman-Page (caution) 41’
IND – Elliot Collier (caution) 70’
OAK – Baboucarr Njie (caution) 89’
IND – Cam Lindley (caution) 90+8’
OAK – Irakoze Donasiyano (caution) 90+8’

Indy Eleven line-up (4-3-3): Yannik Oettl, Aedan Stanley, Adrian Diz Pe, Callum Chapman-Page, Younes Boudadi (Josh O’Brien 75’), Jack Blake, Tyler Gibson (Captain) (Roberto Molina 86’), Cam Lindley, Sebastian Guenzatti, Augi Williams, Karsen Henderlong (Elliot Collier 66’)

Indy Subs: Hunter Sulte, Ethan O’Brien, Diego Sanchez

Oakland line-up: Paul Blanchette, Niall Logue, Gagi Margvelashvili, Camden Riley, Irakoze Donasiyano, Neveal Hackshaw (Napo Matsoso 71’), Baboucarr Njie (Justin Rasmussen 90+1’), Bryan Tamacas, Johnny Rodriguez, Miche-Naider Chery (Daniel Gomez 45’), Jeciel Cedeno

Oakland Subs: Ilya Alekseev, Javier Bedolla-Vera, Thomas Camier, Etsgar Cruz, Trayvone Reid, Timothy Syrel

8 Key Storylines from the opening weekend of the USL Championship season

By NICHOLAS MURRAY – nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/11/24, 10:30AM EDT https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1303622

HARTFORD ATHLETIC DELIVERS ON THE ROAD TO START ITS NEW ERA; AMANN LOOKS AT HOME IN SACRAMENTO, NEW MEXICO DELIGHTS BUZZING CROWD

Hartford Athletic’s players celebrate Romario Williams’ first-half penalty kick in their victory against El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park. | Photo courtesy Ivan Pierre Aguirre / El Paso Locomotive FC

The opening weekend of the 2024 USL Championship season delivered some expected results, some surprises, and a fair amount of late drama capped off by Orange County SC’s Colin Shutler becoming only the third goalkeeper to score in the league’s history.

Here are eight key storylines we took away from the action, and some other thoughts on what transpired.

1. HARTFORD DELIVERS ON DEBUT

As much optimism as Hartford Athletic had that this season would be different with Head Coach Brendan Burke at the helm and an almost-entirely new squad at his disposal, you could never quite be certain how it might come together until the season kicked off.

At first glance, Hartford is ready, and looks very similar to what we were expecting.

Romario Williams was impressive as the central striker, Michee Ngalina, Marcus Epps and Deshane Beckford provided the attacking support, and the visitors were able to ride out an early penalty kick by Williams to earn a 1-0 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park.

Hartford imposed itself early in the game as Williams drew the penalty he converted against Jamaica teammate Jahmali Waite, and the speed the side possesses arguably should have led to a second inside the opening 15 minutes when Ngalina’s half-volleyed finish went over the crossbar.

At the other end of the field, as much as El Paso pushed, Hartford’s defense led by veterans Joe Farrell and Thomas Vancaeyezeele held firm. While Locomotive had chances, they were often placed under defensive pressure, resulting in only two of the 10 second-half shots the hosts produced landing on target.

As debuts go, Hartford likely couldn’t be happier.

2. SACRAMENTO’S AMANN LIVES UP TO BILLING

In a squad as strong on paper as Sacramento Republic FC’s appears, there was a little bit of pressure on newcomer and 2023 USL League One Player of the Year Trevor Amann to quickly prove he belonged.

And while Republic FC’s home opener was spoiled in stoppage time by Orange County SC goalkeeper Colin Shutler scoring a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer to earn the visitors a 2-2 draw at a sold-out Heart Health Park, Amann’s performance was the biggest takeaway of the night’s proceedings. Scoring both goals for the hosts in contrasting manners, the 25-year-old showed off why Sacramento had made him a key target to sign last offseason.

“He’s a goalscorer. He’s a striker,” said Sacramento Head Coach Mark Briggs. “I think you saw his desire with the first goal to sprint into the box, to get on the end of the cross. And then his second goal – what can you say? It’s just a top goal. And he’s going to score lots and lots of those goals this year, but to do it on his debut, we’re just really pleased for him and really pleased that we’ve got him on our team.”

Amann’s fit in the Republic FC lineup was evident, as was his nose for goal. His five shots were a game-high – which matched his total of completed passes – and gave Sacramento a central point to build its attacks around. With Russell Cicerone set to be available after his one-game suspension next weekend against Miami FC, how the two team up could be a treat to watch.

3. NEW MEXICO’S NEW ERA BEGINS ON FRONT FOOT

There’s been a history of positive home openers for New Mexico United, and in front of a buzzing crowd of 11,347 fans at Isotopes Park on Saturday afternoon the new-look hosts delivered against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC with a rousing first-half performance that paved the way to a 1-0 win.

With Marco Micaletto serving as a deep-lying playmaker, there was a confidence to the passing and movement for United that allowed them to dictate play to the reigning Championship Players’ Shield title holders. New Mexico Head Coach Eric Quill said in the first half he felt like the Hounds were chasing shadows, and after some near-misses – including a brilliantly-denied close-range chance for Harry Swartz, the pressure United was able to build paid off in a nicely take goal by Greg Hurst just before halftime.

The second half produced similar for United in terms of possession, but not in terms of chances, and that’s where Quill sees the potential for improvement in the coming weeks. Defensively, New Mexico held firm at the end, but as we saw elsewhere this weekend, that’s not always guaranteed.

“We’re so good with the ball when we want to be,” said Quill. “We’ve got to make sure that we commit to it, because the philosophy of the game for us is that we want to dominate the ball. We want to move the opponent around. We want to wear them out. But we need to be killers in front of goal and not let teams hang around. Because we’ve seen in this league a lot where if you let them hang around long enough, you get punished in the end, and they may grab a goal.”

4. VANOEKEL SHINES IN LEGION FC VICTORY

There’s a reason why Birmingham Legion FC’s shutouts are sponsored by Hero Donuts – on the next day of training, goalkeeper Matt VanOekel treats his teammates.

After claiming victory against defending Championship title-holder Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night, those might taste a little bit sweeter than normal, but VanOekel is likely the player who deserves the most credit. The veteran’s eight-save performance helped Birmingham to a 1-0 victory on the road, keeping a good performance by the hosts at bay at Phoenix Rising Stadium.

“It was a very important match for us as the first one of the season, away at the defending champions, and we wanted to see progression in our shape and style and we felt that was the case this evening,” said VanOekel. “Everyone put in a ton of hard work, and we can be proud on the evening.”

VanOekel is one of Legion’s originals and is now tied for third in league history overall with 43 shutouts alongside Brandon Miller. With key saves to deny Edgardo Rito in the first half and Remi Cabral late on between Diba Nwegbo’s deflected shot putting the visitors ahead, he looked ready for a Birmingham side aiming for more consistency defensively this campaign.

5. NEW-LOOK SAN ANTONIO IMPRESSES, FALLS SHORT

San Antonio FC was clear about its change in philosophy this offseason and in its season-opener was true to its word. Against Loudoun United FC on Saturday night at Toyota Field, it attempted (623) and completed (519) more passes in a single game, and Mitchell Taintor (99), Kendall Burks (95), and Carter Manley (91) attempted more passes in a single game by a San Antonio player since the USL Championship partnered with Opta in 2017.

What that manifested into was a showcase for Jorge Hernández as the reigning Golden Playmaker showed off his chemistry with the club’s new arrivals in Lucas Silva and Juan Agudelo, providing each assists on their goals in their SAFC debuts.

“Since I’ve been here in preseason, he’s impressed me,” said Agudelo of Hernández. “I’ve played with very good 10s. Jorge’s left foot is actually a dream to play with actually as a 9 and as soon as I scored, I said, “First of many, bro,” because I know he’s going to put it in. I’m very hopeful he stays healthy because when he’s on the field, I’m going to get chances, or whoever’s up there is going to get chances.”

And yet, in a throwback to a season ago, San Antonio wasn’t able to seal the deal. Despite playing for an hour with a man-advantage after Christiano Francois’ red card for Loudoun and holding the lead for most of the second half, SAFC didn’t press home its advantage. That kept United in the game, and when Florian Valot got a second-chance opportunity off a late clearance 25 yards from goal, his powerful low shot caromed in off a defender and earned the visitors a 2-2 draw.

San Antonio dropped 10 points from winning positions a season ago, having been almost watertight in their title-winning 2022 campaign. On a night of dramatic changes on the field this was a throwback that spoiled the night.

6. MIAMI SHOWS CHANGE IN MENTALITY

Early on, there was the danger that Miami FC could get overwhelmed by visiting Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – the visitors went close on multiple occasions, including Jairo Henriquez hitting the post inside the opening 10 minutes – and even after Miami took the lead in the 16th minute through a fine second-effort finish by Andrew Booth the visitors remained on top.

Miami saw out a 2-0 victory after Manuel Botta added a late penalty kick, however, and felt like a side for which the offseason of change led by new Head Coach Antonio Nocerino had created the desired environment. Miami had to defend stoutly throughout – only 15.4 percent of the play was in Colorado Springs’ defensive third, compared to 40.9 percent in Miami’s – but it battled through.

Will Miami need to improve to keep securing results? Probably – the majority of its big chances came after the Switchbacks through caution to the wind in the last 20 minutes in search of an equalizer – but the enthusiasm and togetherness the side showed can go a long way.

“I am very happy for the players because tonight was an incredible performance,” said Nocerino. “I like the mentality, the physicality, the personality, because for me, it’s important. This, today, playing against a good team, with the good players, the good quality, so I’m very happy for my players. My players tonight played very well. I am happy for the players, because players, this is your moment. If my players are happy, I’m happy.”

7. MEMPHIS BREAKS OPENING DAY JINX

Memphis 901 FC hasn’t had the best history in its opening games of the season – you need only look back to last year’s home defeat to Loudoun United FC for evidence of that – so when Las Vegas Lights FC scored on its first shot on Saturday afternoon at AutoZone Park there could have been a sinking feeling of déjà vu sinking in.

But 901 FC responded in ideal fashion. A 10-minute spell of attacking pressure resulted in a close-range equalizer from Samuel Careaga, and then moments before halftime 19-year-old U.S. youth international Nighte Pickering delivered a piledriver of a finish from 25 yards that dipped under the crossbar and set the side on the way to its first opening-day victory in club history.

“I think we were mostly in control of the game,” said 901 FC Head Coach Stephen Glass. “We ended up falling behind with one break up the field. The more important thing was the response from the group of lads to come back and get in front before halftime. It’s a difficult thing to do and be able to hang on. First game is never easy. I don’t think the club has won one at home so it’s nice to get that monkey off our back and push on.”

Memphis was comfortably good value for its win. Aside from Valentin Nöel’s opening goal for Las Vegas the hosts allowed only one other shot inside the penalty area. With another home opportunity up next against Indy Eleven, there’s something to build on here.

8. OAKLAND’S MIDFIELD ADJUSTMENT TURNS TIDE

Oakland Roots SC scored the fastest goal of any side in the Championship on Saturday night as Jeciel Cedeño struck in just the third minute against Indy Eleven, but then the hosts were pinned back for much of the first half by Indy Eleven’s midfield trio of Cam Lindley, Tyler Gibson and Jack Blake.

The visitors at Pioneer Stadium might have considered themselves unlucky to not have been rewarded with more than Blake’s goal late in the first half to level on a sharp move and finish, but having got to the break level, Oakland took advantage of the chance to reset and introduced Daniel Gomez in favor of forward Miche-Naider Chéry, and it paid major dividends.

“We talked at halftime, we made some tactical changes, and obviously a sub at half,” said Roots Head Coach Noah Delgado. “We got another player [Gomez] into the midfield and more of a possession base forward with Jesse [Cedeno] as a 9. So, [Gomez] coming in there and finding some gaps and giving good pressure, because I had four in the midfield, that tactical change I think worked out.”

Did it ever.

After quickly regaining the lead early in the second half on an enterprising piece of play by El Salvador international Bryan Tamacas, Oakland’s overload of the center of the park helped stifle Indy’s attacking threat. The visitors only recorded four shots in the second half, none of which tested Roots goalkeeper Paul Blanchette, to see out an impressive opening victory.

And now some other thoughts on what we saw this weekend…

– As if there was any doubt as to how Aaron Molloy is going to get the chance to cook for the Charleston Battery this season, his role as the central pivot all over the field in his debut against North Carolina FC on Saturday drove that home.

– Shoutout to North Carolina FC’s Rafael Mentzingen, who might be known better for his attacking play but did sterling work defensively against the Battery to help NCFC earn a point in its return to the Championship.

– Las Vegas Lights FC had a clear identity in their playing style, and it should get more refined as they get more time together. The commitment to being in possession should pay off, and Valentin Nöel looked a shrewd pickup with his play in midfield.

– Opening day setbacks are never fun, but there was a lot to like about the way Phoenix Rising FC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Indy Eleven set up and played. Stick with the process and it should turn into results soon enough.

– Orange County SC’s two goals and three best chances against Sacramento came off corner kicks. There’s talent here, but it’s going to need to be more incisive in open play.

– Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Head Coach Bob Lilley wasn’t happy with his team’s application in the first half against New Mexico United. “With any technical team, if you can’t disrupt them, they’re going to run you,” he said. “When we got players around the ball, they were able to escape with the dribble, and there should be cover.”

Welcome to The Rondo, our weekly look around the USL Championship and beyond. I’m Nicholas Murray.This Rondo sounds like: Now I’m Here by Queen

1. One Big Thing – A hard-earned path to glory

When Trevor Amann’s college soccer career came to an end at Midwestern State University in 2021, a career in the professional game was not front of mind.Fast forward two-and-a-half years to this past Saturday night, and the 6-foot-1 forward was lapping up the applause from a sellout 11,569 crowd at Heart Health Park after scoring twice on his Sacramento Republic FC debut in the USL Championship.So, what happened?Well, let’s start with Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC and Head Coach Éamon Zayed.Building a squad in Windsor, Colo. for the club’s inaugural League One season in 2022, the Irish coach – and former prolific goalscorer in the professional ranks himself – found out about a kid from the Denver suburbs he should look up.“When I first was contacted about it, it was kind of surprising,” said Amann this preseason. “I didn’t expect it. I was kind of shocked, but at the same time I’m very, very grateful and thankful to Éamon and that whole organization for giving me that opportunity.”Amann’s growth accelerated rapidly.EARLY PROGRESS: Zayed was a regular for the Hailstorm in their inaugural season, and with better luck could have scored more than the five goals he bagged in 25 games. His 8.93 percent shot conversion rate indicated a little bit of bad luck in his 1,497 minutes of action.

BREAKOUT CAMPAIGN: His fortunes changed dramatically for the better in the 2023 season. With shot conversion rate at 22.4 percent and a larger workload alongside playmaking ace Arthur Rogers, Amann set a League One record with 23 regular season goals and the first postseason hat trick in Hailstorm history.

HIGHER LEVEL: That brought Sacramento into the picture. Head Coach Mark Briggs and his staff tracked Amann from early in the 2023 season, liked what they saw, and signed him as a free agent this offseason. Amann’s brace against Orange County SC was just the second two-goal debut for a Republic FC player in club history after Thomas Enevoldsen in 2019.The qualities Amann had shown at Hailstorm were once again on display in Sacramento. His first goal was the result of a smart piece of connecting play in midfield and purposeful run to the top of the penalty area, where Cristian Parano’s cross was met by a powerful header. His second was a beautiful piece of individual creation, creating enough shape away from his defender to roof a shot in at the near post.HE SAID IT: “He’s a goalscorer. He’s a striker. I think you saw his desire with the first goal to sprint into the box, to get on the end of the cross. And then his second goal – what can you say? It’s just a top goal. And he’s going to score lots and lots of those goals this year, but to do it on his debut, we’re just really pleased for him and really pleased that we’ve got him on our team.” – Briggs after Saturday night’s game.Amann was already being tipped to be a contender for the Championship’s Golden Boot in preseason by Backheeled.com and USLTactics.com’s John Morrissey (a noted friend of The Rondo). Given the service he’ll receive – let alone the potential he’ll have to combine with Russell Cicerone, who was absent on Saturday due to a one-game suspension – there’s no question that could be in sight.But Amann’s story is also one that shows how important USL League One and its clubs, like the Hailstorm, are in offering opportunity to players who might otherwise not get their shot at the professional ranks.Last month, Conner Antley completed a remarkable rise from USL League Two with South Georgia Tormenta FC – with which he moved into the professional ranks in League One in 2019 – to make his MLS debut for D.C. United after a transfer from the Tampa Bay Rowdies.This offseason, we’ve seen more players make the jump from League One to the Championship than ever before. On Saturday, players like Miami FC’s Allen Gavilanes – formerly of Greenville Triumph SC – were integral in their club’s opening night victories. It all goes to show how the USL’s pathway is growing, not only bringing clubs to fans that they can get behind in their own communities but offering players the chance to achieve their professional aspirations.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I laid in bed last night just wanting so badly to just send these fans away happy. We knew it was going to be a big crowd. We want them to come back, and we want them to enjoy the product on the field. We hope they did. They were electric all day long.”New Mexico United Head Coach Eric Quill after his side’s 1-0 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Isotopes Park. The home opener crowd of 11,347 was the second-highest in the USL Championship’s opening weekend.

2. San Antonio’s got a brand new bag

This offseason, San Antonio FC Head Coach Alen Marcina said his side was going to be making a major change in its stylistic approach.On Saturday night, his side was true to his word.KNOCK IT AROUND: San Antonio’s 619 passes and 514 successful passes were the most the club had recorded in a USL Championship season since the league partnered with Opta prior to the 2017 season.

BUILD FROM THE BACK: Center backs Mitchell Taintor (99) and Kendall Burks (95) recorded the two highest individual passing totals for the club over the same span.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: In the club’s 2022 USL Championship title-winning season, the most passes the side made in a single game was 373 – incidentally, also against Loudoun United FC – and the fewest was 183. It’s a new direction for the side that had been the most direct in the Championship in recent years. There will be bumps in the road – SAFC was held to a 2-2 draw by Loudoun United FC on Saturday, with United’s opening goal coming directly off a turnover of possession in the hosts’ defensive third – but while a point at home wasn’t the desired result, the way the team performed had far more positives than negatives.PLAYMAKERS UNLOCKED: In becoming more possession-heavy, San Antonio is likely to offer more opportunities for its talented midfield and forward group to pull opponents apart with their skill. Last year’s Golden Playmaker Jorge Hernández (pictured) notched assists on both goals against Loudoun as his close control and vision set up premium opportunities for Lucas Silva and Juan Agudelo.

AGUDELO AT THE POINT: We had wondered how Agudelo, a former United States international that joined SAFC this offseason, would fit into the side’s former aggressive style. Well, turns out he’s the ideal fit for the new philosophy Marcina and new SAFC Sporting Director Marco Ferruzzi are aiming for. He had one goal, three shots and two chances created while leading the line.

HE SAID IT: “I’ve played with very good 10s. Jorge’s left foot is actually a dream to play with as a 9 and soon as I scored, I said, “First of many, bro,” because I know he’s going to put it in. I’m very hopeful he stays healthy because when he’s on the field, I’m going to get chances, or whoever’s up there is going to get chances.” – Agudelo on HernándezSan Antonio will get a great test of its new philosophy this Saturday night when it visits the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET | CBS Sports Golazo Network). With the Rowdies’ commitment to pressing high defensively – as evidenced in preseason against Club de Foot Montreal – the contrast should make for a fascinating battle between two sides expected to be in title contention this season.Make no mistake, however, this new model of San Antonio is here to stay.

3. MEME OF THE WEEK

Orange County SC’s Colin Shutler became only the third goalkeeper to score in a USL Championship game as he bagged the equalizer in the fifth minute of stoppage time against Sacramento Republic FC.

Former San Antonio FC star Jose Gallegos delivered a game-winning performance for current club Sonderjyske on Saturday, bagging a tremendous opening goal in a 4-1 win against AC Horsens. Sonderjyske is closing in on promotion to Denmark’s top flight with 11 games to go in the season.

More young talent can be found in the USL Championship than ever before as more clubs invest in their academies and bring aboard players aiming for a path to Europe. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy took a deeper look at the trend.

Orange County SC has built a loyal fanbase in the region, and this offseason offered fans the chance to buy into the club. Forbes’ James Nalton has more on how OCSC has ingrained itself in America’s second-largest media market.

Rhode Island FC President Brett Luy joined NESN’s Sophia Jurksztowicz on Monday night to preview the club’s inaugural season, with Saturday’s home opener at Beirne Stadium already sold out.

Fans of USL League One club Spokane Velocity FC packed into Brick West Brewing on Saturday afternoon to watch the first game in club history. This weekend’s inaugural home opener is set to be a sellout at ONE Spokane Stadium.

#KitSZN around the USL Championship is underway and has once again delivered some of the most distinctive designs in North American soccer. CBS Sports’ Chuck Booth and Pardeep Cattry have their ranking of the best, and you can check out all the released fits so far here.

USL Super League President Amanda Vandervort has been appointed as a Pro Council representative on U.S. Soccer’s Board of Directors. The Super League launches this August.

This year more clubs in the USL Championship and League One will air on local television networks than ever before in the leagues’ history. Beyond the 90’s Kartik Krishnaiyer looked at the trend and why it can fuel the USL’s growth.

Oakland Roots and Soul SC Co-Founder and CEO Edreece Arghandiwal was a guest on The FootballCo Business Podcast this week, discussing the Roots and Soul’s journey as purpose-driven clubs.

Memphis 901 FC broke its opening day jinx with a 2-1 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC at AutoZone Park, the first victory for the side in its season-opener at the sixth time of asking.

Miami FC delivered one of the notable results of Week 1, taking a 2-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC as its new-look squad found a way to deliver.EL Paso Locomotive FC fans welcomed their club back to Southwest University Park on Saturday night, and while they didn’t see Locomotive earn a victory, the El Paso Times’ Bret Bloomquist found the passion for the club remains high among the fanbase.

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3/6/24 USWNT vs Canada tonite 10 pm, Champ League/CCL today, Indy 11 starts Sat, Full TV Schedule

March 6, 2024March 6, 2024 gatorbest

US Women Dominate Colombia 3-0 setting up showdown with Canada in Semis Wed 10 pm ESPN+, Paramount plus.

The US Women pounded Colombia 3-0 with a very direct approach which had them absolutely dominating the first half especially where they scored all 3 of their goals. The US started with Alex Morgan up top with Shaw and Rodman on the edges. The result was shot after shot – including a PK by Horan after Morgan drew the foul. The US was rough and tumble and looked mad after the surprising upset to Mexico. Now the US must get by Canada to face the winner between Mexico and Brazil (tonight 7 pm) on Sunday night in San Diego. The U.S. will play two friendlies against South Korea on June 1 and 4, the team announced Tuesday, kicking off the official Emma Hayes head coaching era.

Here’s the full Gold Cup roster:

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

DEFENDERS: Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NY/NJ Gotham FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns)

MIDFIELDERS: Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

FORWARDS: Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

Indy 11 Open Season on Sat night 10 pm on ESPN plus

Indy opens the 2024 slate on a two-match road swing beginning at non-conference foe Oakland Roots SC on March 9 before returning home to host 2023 Western Conference Champion Sacramento Republic FC at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on March 23. Single-game tickets are available now for all matches via Ticketmaster. Season Ticket Packages can also be purchased, as well as tickets for groups and hospitality areas. For more information on these options click here. The Defending USL WLeague Champion Indy 11 Women announced their summer schedule this week with 5 matches at Grand Park.

Reffing with Coms (man its easier to ref with ear pieces) with T Ray and Christian Kelly at Grand Park Sat.

GAMES ON TV

Tues, Mar 5

3 pm CBS Real Sociedad vs PSG UCL

3 pm Para+ Bayern Munich vs Lazio UCL

6 pm Fox Sport 2 Philly Union vs Pachuca CCL

8 pm FS2 Orlando City vs Tigres UNAL CCL

Weds, Mar 6

12:45 pm CBSSN Sporting CP vs Atalanta

3 pm CBS Man City vs Kabenhavn UCL

3pm Para+ Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig UCL

8 pm FS2 Houston vs Columbus Crew CCL

10 pm FS2 Guadalajara vs America (curly) CCL

Thur, Mar 7

12:45 pm Para Sparta Prah vs Liverpool

12:45 pm CBSSN Roma vs Brighton

3 pm CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Slavia Praha

3 pm Para+ Freiburg vs West Ham United

3 pm Para+ Benefica vs Rangers (Carter Vickers)

7 pm FS2? Cincy vs Monterrey

9 pm FS2, TUDN Nashville vs Inter Miami (Messi)

Sat, MAr 8

7:30 am USA Man United vs Everton

9:30 am ESPN+ Borrusia Mgladbach (Scally, ) vs Koln

10 am Peacock_ Wolverhampton vs Fulham (Robinson, Ream)

10 am Peacock Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Luton Town

12 noon para+ Bologna vs Inter Milan

12:30 pm ESPN+ Werder Bremen vs Dortmund

12:30 pm NBC Arsenal vs Brentford

4 pm ESPN+ New Mexico vs Pittsburgh (Eric Dick) USL

7 pm Para+, ESPN+ North Carolina vs Charleson Battery USL

7:30 pm Apple TV MLS Philly Union vs Seattle Sounders

10 pm ESPN+ Oakland Roots vs Indy 11 USL Opener

10 pm Para+, CBS Galazo Sacramento vs Orange County USL

10:30 pm Apple TV LAFC vs Sporting KC

Sun, Mar 10

9 am USA Aston Villa vs Tottenham

10 am CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Empoli

11:45 am USA Liverpool vs Man City

1 pm Para+ Juventus (Weahm McKinney) vs Aalanta

1:30 pm ESPN+ Real Madrid vs Celta De Vigo

2:30 pm ESPN+ Bayer Levekusen vs Wolfsburg

4 pm Apple TV Cincy vs DC United

6 pm Apple TV Inter Miami vs Montreal

8:15 pm ESPN+, Para+ CONCACAF GOLD CUP Final

Mon, Mar 11

4 pm USA Chelsea vs New Castle United

Tues, Mar 12

3 pm CBS Arsenal vs Porto UCL

3 pm Para+ Barelona vs Napoli UCL

6 pm Fox Sport 2 Columbus Crew vs Houston CCL

8 pm FS1 Pachuca vs Phlly CCL

10:30 pm FS1 Tigres vs Orlando City CCL

Weds, Mar 13

3 pm CBS Atletico Madrid vs Inter Milan UCL

3 pm Para+ Dortmund vs PSV UCL

8 pm FS2 Inter Miami vs Nashville CCL

(American’s in Parenthesis)

USWNT player ratings: Morgan, Naeher star in savvy win over Colombia

US Women

2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup – USA 3-0 Colombia: Early goals see the Americans through to the semi-finals

2024 W Gold Cup: Scouting Canada

USA vs Canada, 2024 W Gold Cup: What to watch for

After nightmarish World Cup, Morgan isn’t done yet

New US women’s coach Hayes to debut against South Korea
US women’s soccer team to host Korea Republic June 4 at Allianz Field

Champions League

Kane hopes Lazio win the ‘turning point’ in Bayern’s season
England captain Harry Kane to the rescue as Bayern Munich march into Champions League quarter-finals

Kane scores twice as Bayern digs out of UCL hole

Concacaf Champions Cup

How to watch the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2024 round of 16, plus betting odds for each game
CONCACAF Champions Cup Bracket: Matchups, schedule for round of 16

US Men

CONMEBOL Copa America 2024: Group Stage schedule and where to buy tickets

GK

Alyssa Naeher on her 100 Caps Interview

Reffing

Dave Howard, yours truly, Reyna Eckel, and Todd Merickel @ the Indoor Event Center @ Grand on Sunday (in college unis)

VAR and referees are driving us all mad – McInnes
Celtic and Kilmarnock have bids to overturn weekend red cards rejected

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

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Alex Morgan #7 of United States brings down a pass in front of Jorelyn Carabali #19 of Columbia during a 3-0 United States win in the quarterfinals 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup at BMO Stadium on March 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

How USWNT’s direct approach exposed Colombia, and what it means going forward

Meg Linehan and Jeff Rueter Mar 5, 2024 The Athletic

After allowing Mexico to dictate the terms of its final group stage match of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, the United States issued a stark reminder of their potential in their 3-0 quarterfinal win over Colombia on Sunday night. The key, as usual, is controlling the tempo.

The USWNT opted for a much more direct approach on Sunday, which played a role in all three goals and helped the team endure the physicality and chippiness that disrupted any attempts at building a rhythm.“Overall it was a very professional performance from the team,” forward Alex Morgan said after the quarterfinal win. “Getting those goals just took the air out of Colombia, especially in the second half.”The tactical approach from interim head coach Twila Kilgore and the USWNT against Colombia proved that even during this time of transition, playing direct — or, as Kilgore said multiple times in her postgame press conference, “on the front foot” — is not just a powerful weapon in the USWNT’s arsenal, but maybe still their best one even as personnel changes.In fact, that changing of the guard may make it absolutely vital to making that approach work.

First, it’s worth considering why going direct worked so well against Colombia.“(It) nullifies a lot of what they do,” Kilgore said on Sunday night. “Some of those direct balls weren’t meant just to play direct, but to allow us to get into an area of the field where we could potentially settle the ball and play and move the ball higher up the pitch.”Take, for example, a sequence that took place eight minutes after Lindsey Horan’s opening goal from the penalty spot. Colombia had been relentless with its press through the opening 20 minutes in all phases — even as the United States set up a seemingly mundane restart at the edge of its defensive half.

Over the past couple of years, the USWNT has been steadfast in its commitment to possession-based soccer. At last summer’s World Cup, seemingly mindless recirculation (branded by Kim McCauley as the ‘Prayer Circle Formation’) made it easy for opponents to pick their moments to converge with peace of mind that the United States would look for an ideal passing lane rather than any lane on offer. With that in mind, the obvious recipient of Naomi Girma’s free kick would be midfielders Korbin Albert (3a in the graphic above) or Sam Coffey (5). As Girma (4) surveys her options, Albert is fastened to the center circle and taking note of the trio of converging defenders — four, if you count the most advanced defender who’s roaming between Albert and Tierna Davidson (1). Closer to the touchline, Coffey is between the ball and a lurking Linda Caicedo, eager to pick off a ball to the Portland midfielder to start a breakneck counter to pull a goal back. Half of the Colombian defense is in close proximity to Girma, and an aerial ball can eliminate all five players while getting the ball in a more dangerous area. She does exactly that.

At worst, this ball doubles as a low-risk clearance to force Colombia to recollect in a far less dangerous area than the shorter alternative. However, the pass instead helps justify Morgan’s selection as that night’s starting striker over Sophia Smith.At 34, Morgan is one of the pool’s most veteran players, a goal-scoring icon who fought into the starting lineup by putting her body on the line for aerial duels and aggressive ball recoveries.On this play, she needed every bit of that guile against Colombia defender Jorelyn Carabali, who leapt into Morgan to try and make contact on Girma’s service. Morgan stood her ground, allowing her greater control as she tried to either find a teammate or draw a foul. It might be thankless, but it’s honest work.

Morgan ultimately has optimal positioning to win the ball, and she has a few options for directing this header. The most obvious would be to knock it straight in front of her to either Horan or Jaedyn Shaw, both of whom are lurking just outside the eighteen-yard box, but defended by Colombia midfielder Lorena Bedoya.Morgan’s positioning also allows her to pick up an alternative that Colombia has not: an onrushing Jenna Nighswonger, unmarked and in a prime position to take a first-time shot.

Four seconds after Girma hit the long ball, the United States has doubled its lead. Another element of this goal was an intentional tactical decision from the USWNT technical staff: Nighswonger’s positioning on set pieces.“We asked her to get higher up the field, and actually, the goal she scored is indicative of that,” Kilgore said, noting that Nighswonger also stayed high up the field when the team was in possession.Of course, a team can’t win games on set pieces alone. The USWNT technical staff flagged Colombia’s tendency to press back passes, catering to their ability to attack in transition thanks to Caicedo’s exceptional ability on the break. Having now conceded twice, every Colombian challenge carries a little extra juice. Every decision skews a little more aggressively in hopes of pulling back a goal before halftime.

In first half stoppage time, Nighswonger collects a loose ball. Immediately, she’s converged from her left and straight-on by a pair of opponents. Coffey picks up the defending and points towards Davidson (out of picture) — a call to recirculate possession.Sending the ball backward plays right into Colombia’s hands – these backpasses actually help them progress the ball if they get their pressing right.Davidson is forced to narrowly prod the ball toward Coffey between two defenders. The ball again changes hands in Colombia’s favor, but is now much further from Alyssa Naeher’s goal. Rather than trying to get Caicedo the ball in open terrain, she’s come far deeper into Colombia’s defensive half to try building up more gradually.

At this point, most of the players on the field still anticipate that Caicedo will win the ball back. For the visitors to have a chance of coming back in this game, they need her to. However, Emily Fox is quicker to it, able to round Caicedo and turn a simple pass into a turnover.

Colombia has now over-committed to the attack, and five of their defenders are on the back foot scrambling to get back into their base shape. Fox isn’t giving them that time, opting to take the space available in front of her and setting the tempo for a short-field break toward goal.

Left with little help, defender Daniela Arias is forced into a decision: help Carabali with containing Morgan’s run, or to stick with Trinity Rodman.

That two-minded moment is all that Rodman needs to create ample separation, especially as left back Manuela Vanegas is behind the play. Fox plays a great ball into Rodman’s path, and Morgan begins another scrap with Carabali as she ventures toward the heart of the box.

Almost completely unmarked, Rodman bends a low cross beyond a sliding Arias and just in front of the six-yard box. It’s easy to say that Jaedyn Shaw “wanted” this more, but this goes back to catering to the players’s strengths. Shaw is a great reader of space, nimble with her movement and good at holding off defenders amidst contact.Thanks to Fox’s aggressive defending and a direct mentality, Morgan’s off-ball work and the speed and first-touch technical abilities of Rodman and Shaw, the USWNT has slammed the door on a potential Colombian comeback before the whistle blows for halftime.“She’s just a special player that sees the game,” Morgan said of Shaw, her teammate with the San Diego Wave. “It feels like, with Jae, the game slows down. With her touch, she can anticipate pressure. She can turn in the pocket. She has a wicked shot. There’s really not much lacking in Jae’s game, and you’re seeing that at the international level.”

Playing directly almost seems like too easy of a fix after how plodding the U.S. looked at times over the last few years. Surely, there must be more to remedy than just keeping the ball moving toward goal?Simply: yes. The push for a more direct approach on Sunday was a bit of sharp gameplanning by the technical staff. It was also a needed adjustment in response to one of the biggest issues that’s limited the USWNT’s upside dating back to last summer.In order to play a possession-oriented style that embraces controlling the ball in the defensive half, a team needs a few things. One of them is a stay-at-home facilitator at the base of midfield who can link the defense to the rest of the team. With Coffey, Andi Sullivan and Horan (at times), that profile of player is present.What’s lacking, however, is an even more fundamental bedrock. Playing out of the back requires a goalkeeper and their center backs to operate with one shared brain, knowing where each other will be at all times to ensure that an eagerly pressing opponent can’t throw off their best intentions with one prod of the ball or one closed passing lane.Naeher had an exceptional game against Colombia, possibly her best performance for the national team since the Tokyo Olympics. However, she spent the group stage alternating starts with Casey Murphy; either that’s an open competition moving forward, or the team is seeing a need to ease Naeher’s workload for an inevitable succession plan as Naeher turns 36 this year.Girma has quickly cemented herself a place among the world’s best center backs, an incredible boost for the program as she’ll only turn 24 in June. However, she does not have an equally established partner at the heart of defense. Going into the World Cup last summer, it seemed certain that Alana Cook would be ready to step in for the injured Becky Sauerbrunn. Once the tournament began, however, Cook was bypassed by a recently recovered Julie Ertz for what proved to be the latter player’s final professional games.

Those selection decisions were made in part out of necessity after Sauerbrunn’s injury, but the long-term cost was a failure to establish a new defensive hierarchy.One of the few admissions from Kilgore after the loss to Mexico in the group stage was that she felt the center backs had lacked “a bit of bravery” in their willingness to play forward, despite the expectations from the technical staff that it’s a fundamental responsibility of the position.

“The message to the team is, even if we’re getting jumped, we will have the opportunities to play forward and we missed some of those moments tonight,” Kilgore said after the loss. “But these things happen, and this is a process. The message to the group is when faced with those challenges, we’re gonna keep playing and we need to continue to try and find those passes.”That progressive play is a hallmark of Davidson’s game. After a strong showing against Colombia, she could easily be that no-doubt partner for Girma now that she’s fully recovered from her pre-World Cup ACL injury. If not, the spot alongside Girma will be one of the biggest open competitions in the lineup between now and this summer’s Olympics. While the direct approach on Sunday was in part informed by the opponent’s style of play, it may need to be more common given that uncertainty at the back. Thankfully, a player pool as deep as the USWNT’s can allow a coach to modify their strategy with some level of confidence. Given the fact that we’re well past the so-called “U.S. vs. the World” era of women’s international soccer, anything short of tactical flexibility will continue to keep this team from underperforming as they did throughout the 2023 World Cup cycle.

“The ultimate goal is to take what the opponent gives us,” Kilgore said. “We’re not limited to just one way of doing things, and I think that’s one of the keys that we identified against Mexico. Of course, we want to build and we can continue to try and do things, but if they give us an opportunity to play in behind and aren’t prepared to deal with that, we’re going to take that and wait for them to adjust. We’re capable of doing both, and that’s a big key.” (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

WNT beats Colombia 3-0 in grueling match to advance to Gold Cup semifinal

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Alex Morgan #7 of the United States plays the ball under pressure during the first half against Colombia during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup quarterfinal match at BMO Stadium on March 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Jeff Rueter, Meg Linehan, and Steph Yang THe Athletichttps://theathletic.com/5314106/2024/03/03/uswnt-colombia-gold-cup/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=10480832 Mar 3, 2024

The U.S. women’s national team survived a grueling test against Colombia in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup on Sunday, winning 3-0 with goals from Lindsey Horan, Jenna Nighswonger and Jaedyn Shaw.While both teams tried to make their mark early, the USWNT was able to weather both Colombia’s attacks, which often relied solely on Linda Caicedo, and a bevy of yellow cards from physical challenges. The result was also further evidence that Naomi Girma and Shaw are must-have USWNT starters.

Early penalty sets the tone

In the 11th minute, Colombia center back Jorelyn Carabali shoulder-checked Alex Morgan, resulting in a penalty kick for the U.S. and a yellow card for Carabali. The foul was only the beginning of the spiciness. If nothing else, it was a reminder that Morgan has had her body on the line for this team for a long while.In the box, Morgan claimed the ball, and for a long two minutes, withstood most of the attempts from Colombia to delay the penalty kick before Trinity Rodman and Sam Coffey eventually headed over as well.The USWNT favored the usual handoff for this one. As Horan got the ball from Morgan, there was one last-ditch attempt from Colombia for a little PK distraction (which did not result in a card). Horan cleanly converted the penalty to give the USWNT the 1-0 lead, a big moment from the team’s captain to set the tone on Sunday night in Los Angeles. It also provided to be a bit of a buffer from what would ensue over the next phase of the match.

Mind games

The U.S. responded after the penalty chaos with its own specific brand of mind games with intense counter-pressing high on the field and forcing turnovers around the box, perhaps trying to take advantage of the moment tactically and emotionally.Morgan earned a yellow card in the 18th minute for some posturing in Colombia’s box, and Rodman followed suit in the 20th minute as she had some choice words after being vigorously defended. Horan could be seen trying to impose herself between the feuding players; with four cumulative yellow cards out already and a referee who was prone to missing or simply refusing to notice calls, it was incumbent on her to keep everyone levelheaded. Horan herself got a yellow in the 67th minute for raising her leg in the path of a player who had just pushed her down.Honestly, it was the kind of tension that midfielder Emily Sonnett could have flipped into Colombia getting the yellows. If the ability to troll other teams were the only consideration, Sonnett would be an unquestioned starter.Jenna Nighswonger’s goal in the 22nd minute calmed things down, but it remained a highly contentious and physical game. It was a strong test of the team’s ability to keep executing against an opponent that could not only provoke them but had the technical ability to instantly punish any slip in focus. The astute, firmly upright response from Shaw on the third goal in particular was a fantastic example of the kind of ruthless mentality that can help carry this team forward.U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher noted the mental aspect when asked what she thought had stood out for the team: “I think just the intensity that we started from minute one, all the way through the 90th minute,” she said.

Nighswonger goal, press and reward

Since the Tokyo Olympics, many have been waiting for the next wave of young players to have chances to establish themselves in the USWNT picture. That process may not have happened soon enough to help the team’s chances in last summer’s World Cup, but Sunday’s lineup gave plenty of these rising talents a test in a tournament knockout match.Throughout the first half, Shaw was dangerous with her front-line defending and had a very well-taken shot narrowly fly over the crossbar in the opening 20 minutes. On the right wing, Rodman recognized the stakes of the game and made her presence known to Colombia. However, it was a veteran’s flick-on pass by Morgan that provided another top prospect, Nighswonger, with her second senior international goal.Last year was a banner year for Nighswonger, winning NWSL rookie of the year as part of Gotham’s run to the NWSL title. She’s already provided a couple of highlights to her follow-up, including her first international goal via a penalty against the Dominican Republic in the group stage. Sunday gave her a chance to score during the run of play, as she crashed the box perfectly to glide onto Morgan’s headed ball and place a shot off the far post and into the net.The USWNT’s youth and determination helped keep Colombia from regaining a foothold as it relied on its chippy defending. Rather than unsettling the U.S., the constant attempts at mind games seemed to light the more productive kind of spark in the team’s younger players. That proved particularly vital in stifling Colombia’s build-up out of the back, forcing sloppy touches out of opponents and rushed passes that lead to promising turnovers.It was the kind of drive that so often seemed missing in this team over the last two years of Vlatko Andonovski’s tenure.

Shaw shines again

Heading into this summer’s Olympics, one of the biggest early decisions future U.S. coach Emma Hayes will have to make is which players from a promising group of attackers will make the trip to Paris. Some seem locked in, while others will depend on form and health: a seemingly revitalized Morgan and a returning Mallory Swanson. The Gotham duo of Lynn Williams and Midge Purce will have plenty to say in their cases for inclusion, too.Don’t forget to count San Diego Wave’s Shaw among the contenders. In truth, she may be closer to joining the “sure thing” crowd than some estimate.The winner of U.S. Soccer’s young female player of the year award in 2022, Shaw has been nothing short of electric with San Diego. Having only just turned 19 in November, she was ever-present in all phases as the starting left winger on Sunday. Her pressing was instrumental to unsettling the Colombian defense, while her movement in sync with Morgan and Rodman was rewarded with a well-placed finish at the end of the first half.

Of particular help for her Olympic case is her versatility, capable of lining up on either wing as well as in a central attacking midfield role. That latter feature could come in handy depending on Catarina Macario and Rose Lavelle’s health as the summer approaches, particularly after a lackluster shift by Korbin Albert on Sunday. Each fan will have their own hierarchy of preference, but the totality of Shaw’s game would make her a major snub if she missed the Olympic squad.

Naeher’s momentum swing

In her 100th U.S. appearance, Naeher made two massive saves that helped preserve the team’s clean sheet against Colombia, but more importantly, helped settle down the rest of her team and provided an emotional momentum swing. While the first (above) was already an impressive reminder of Naeher’s abilities, the second on Ilana Izquierda’s shot required a diving save to cover the far corner of the goal.

We’ve seen both Naeher and Casey Murphy so far in this tournament for the USWNT, but on Sunday night, Naeher reminded everyone of her shot-stopping capabilities. She had other aggressive moments, willing to play outside of the box to shut down single runners from Colombia as well. As the team moves into the semifinals against Canada on Wednesday, it might be hard to go back to any planned rotation in the goalkeeper position to keep Naeher’s momentum rolling through the rest of the Gold Cup.(Photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF))

USWNT expecting ‘physical’ Canada semifinal – Alex Morgan

ESPN

Mar 5, 2024, 05:24 AM ET

The United States women’s national team are preparing for a “physical” matchup when it faces Canada in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup semifinals on Wednesday, forward Alex Morgan has told ESPN.The USWNT bounced back from a shock defeat to Mexico and earned a 3-0 victory in a fiery contest with Colombia in the quarterfinals on Sunday, setting up the semifinal clash against Canada.”You guys saw that, right? It was very chippy. We expected it,” Morgan told ESPN’s Fútbol Americas on Monday.”I would say that Colombia is a very aggressive, very physical team. They’re always trying to slow the play down, foul, and we were ready to play. We stepped up to the challenge. Obviously after that defeat to Mexico, we were just ready for the battle, so I think you guys saw a pretty good professional win from this team.”She added: “It’s going to be a physical match [against Canada]…They had a tough test against Costa Rica, having played them in the group stage and pretty much dominating, and then Costa Rica coming to play and them having a tougher time trying to finish some chances. So for us, it’s just getting our bodies ready for this next game.”

Morgan was a last-minute call-up to the USWNT squad for the tournament after Mia Fishel suffered a torn ACL in training last month.She scored in each of the side’s opening two group games, bringing her to 123 international goals in 219 games, placing her fifth on the U.S. women’s all-time scorers list.”I had just gotten to Coachella tournament for our preseason tournament with San Diego. I literally had been there for an hour, so I had a carry-on suitcase assuming I was going to be gone for three days,” Morgan said.”I got the call and said, ‘Okay, now time to go to LA.’ I was there within two-and-a-half hours and then played the next night. So it was a little bit of a whirlwind, but at the same time, I understood that it was a long lead up to the Gold Cup. A lot of training sessions, anything could happen.”I wanted to stay ready in case of injury or anything, and that’s what I did. I worked hard, dug in with San Diego, did extra with Casey [Stoney], our coach at San Diego, and wanted to just use this preseason as an opportunity for myself to grow as a player and as a teammate, and was fortunate enough to get the call.”

Kane, Mbappe see Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain through to Champions League quarter-finals

By Luke Bosher and Peter Rutzler Mar 5, 2024 The Athletic

Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are through to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Bayern beat Serie A side Lazio 3-0 in Munich to qualify 3-1 on aggregate, having previously lost the first leg of their last-16 tie 1-0 in Italy three weeks ago.Harry Kane opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a flicked header that Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel could only fumble into the net. Lazio captain Ciro Immobile had missed a huge chance for the away side only a few minutes before Kane’s goal.Thomas Muller then put Bayern ahead on aggregate with a clever header, following a fierce volley into the area from defender Matthijs de Ligt. Kane then converted from close range in the 66th minute after Provedel could only parry Leroy Sane’s low shot.Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel revealed he may have suffered a broken toe after giving his pre-match speech ahead of the game. “In my last speech before the match, I kicked the door,” Tuchel told CBS Sports. “It was the wrong technique and I think I broke it.”

Harry Kane now has 33 goals in 33 matches for Bayern Munich this season (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

PSG, meanwhile, were 2-1 winners against Real Sociedad in San Sebastian, meaning they won their tie 4-1 on aggregate following last month’s 2-0 win in Paris. After being played in down the left by Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe whipped a shot into the far corner to open the scoring in the 15th minute of the match, his shot causing a minor delay to the game after it damaged the net, which came loose from the pole attachment and had to be repaired by the ground staff.Mbappe, captain in the absence of Marquinhos, scored his and PSG’s second of the night after being played through by Lee Kang-in, finishing at the near post past Real Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro. Mikel Merino then grabbed a late consolation goal for La Real, who were much improved in the second half.

PSG impressive on the road

Analysis by PSG correspondent Peter Rutzler

This was PSG’s most impressive away performance of the season. Luis Enrique’s side had not won on the road in the Champions League this season and even domestically, they have often had to rely on some heroics from Gianluigi Donnarumma to give them an edge.But at a point in the season where they normally fall flat — they have been eliminated in the round of 16 in five of the past seven seasons — PSG instead stepped up gear. There would be no unforeseen disasters.A tactical surprise from Luis Enrique, placing Dembele in a central role as part of a midfield diamond, changed the dynamic of this tie and ensured there would be no way back for Real Sociedad. PSG controlled the game, while Mbappe channelled the noise about his future and recent matchday minutes into a top-level performance, with two excellent goals.

Luis Enrique said pre-match that he wanted to ensure his team left “nothing to chance” in Spain and his young side, the youngest PSG have ever fielded in the Champions League, ensured that did not happen. A professional night’s work that bodes well for the rest of the campaign.

When is the Champions League quarter-final draw?

The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals takes place on Friday, March 15 at 11am GMT (6am ET).

When do the quarter-final and semi-final games take place?

Quarter-final first legs: April 9-10
Quarter-final second legs: April 16-17
Semi-final first legs: April 30-May 1
Semi-final second legs: May 7-8

What is the state of play in the other last-16 ties?

On Wednesday, Real Madrid host RB Leipzig holding a 1-0 lead over their German opposition. Manchester City also host FC Copenhagen and are 3-1 up already.

Next Tuesday, Porto travel to Arsenal with a 1-0 advantage after their first-leg win in Portugal, while Barcelona welcome Napoli to the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium with that tie level at 1-1.

And next Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund then host PSV with those two sides also having played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg, while Inter Milan travel to Atletico Madrid with a 1-0 advantage.

(Top photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)

USMNT midweek viewing guide: Things are heating up

Pulisic and Musah in Europa League; PSV trio; Trusty vs Arsenal; lots of Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16. By Justin Moran @kickswish Mar 4, 2024, 7:58am PST Stars & Stripes

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Midweek USMNT action is here. Let’s get into it!

Wednesday

Middlesbrough vs Norwich, 2:45p: Josh Sargent and 7th-place Norwich visit Middlesbrough, who are 14th in the Championship.
New England Revolution vs Alajuelense, 6p on ViX: DeJuan Jones, Noel Buck, Esmir Bajraktarevic, and the Revs host Costa Rican club Alajuelense in Concacaf Champions Cup.
Chivas vs América, 10p on FS2, FuboTV, Sling: A rare Liga MX showdown with USMNT players on both sides, as Cade Cowell and Chivas host Alejandro Zendejas and América in Concacaf Champions Cup. With 10 games played in the Liga MX season, América are 4th and Chivas 9th.

Also in action:

Cardiff vs Huddersfield, 2:45p: Ethan Horvath and Cardiff (11th) host Huddersfield (21st) in the Championship.
Houston Dynamo vs Columbus Crew, 8p on FS2, FuboTV, Sling, ViX: Aidan Morris, Patrick Schulte (Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16)

Thursday

AC Milan vs Slavia Prague, 3p on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, TUDN USA, FuboTV (free trial), ViX: Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and Milan host Slavia Prague in the Europa League round of 16.
FC Cincinnati vs Monterrey, 7p: Brandon Vázquez and Rayados travel to Cincinnati to play in Concacaf Champions Cup, where Vázquez scored 43 goals over the past four seasons. His homecoming will pit him against Miles Robinson, Lucho Acosta, Matt Miazga, and Roman Celentano.
Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, 9p on TUDN USA, FuboTV: Walker Zimmerman, Shaq Moore, Tyler Boyd, and Nashville will look to contain Lionel Messi and American sidekicks Drake Callender, Julian Gressel, Noah Allen, and DeAndre Yedlin as Inter Miami come into town for Concacaf Champions Cup.

Friday

Go Ahead Eagles vs PSV, 2p on ESPN+ (free trial): Sergiño Dest, Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and first-place PSV visit Go Ahead Eagles, who are 6th in the Eredivisie.

Also in action:

Braunschweig vs Hansa Rostock, 12:30p: It’s a 2. Bundesliga relegation battle as Johan Gómez and Braunschweig (16th of 18) host Hansa Rostock (17th).
Roda JC vs ADO Den Haag, 2p: Justin Che and 3rd-place Den Haag are looking for promotion to the Eredivisie, and they face challenger Roda JC, who are second, one point ahead of them.
VfB Stuttgart vs Union Berlin, 2:30p on ESPN+: Brenden Aaronson and 14th-place Union visit Stuttgart, who are third in the Bundesliga (4 points behind Bayern for second).
Mechelen vs Westerlo, 2:45p: Bryan Reynolds, Griffin Yow, and 11th-place Westerlo visit Mechelen, who are 8th in Belgium’s top tier.

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US Women Lose to Mexico for 1^st time Ever on US Soil 2-0, play Colombia Sun 8:15 pm ESPN+

The US Women lost 2-0 to Mexico in the final group stage game in Los Angeles – in a lost that honestly should have been worse. Mexico hit the post twice and American Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made some great saves to keep this game from being a 3 or 4 goal loss. The US also hit the post 2 times but not once did they truly test the Mexican keeper despite having 60-40 in possession time. The backline was EXPOSED as Sauebrunn and Dahlkemper proved THEY CAN NOT BE PAIRED on the Backline EVER Again. This backline without Girma to cover simply had zero speed and not enough energy to stay with the young exciting Mexican front line. Is this the passing of the torch from the US to Mexico – who has a young, exciting group and lets be real thoroughly outcoached a US team that made adjustments that did not work at all. There is a reason our Asst coach who is in charge is an assistant. This was a clueless lineup that was VERY Poorly organized. Assuming Girma is back in the next game – the US should still advance to the Semi-Finals where they will now probably have to face undefeated Canada to get to the final.

I was surprised to see Alex Morgan get the call down 1-0 at the half as she came in for Lynn Williams at center forward and proved again – she is too slow, and has lost too many steps to make a difference. I could see her in the last few minutes of a game but her days of 30+ minutes are done. The US Missed Shaw as center forward – the US played an inverted approach and simply NEVER adjusted. They were too tight and did not at all – spread things out to the wings the way they needed. Mexico came out in a 4-3-3 and Mexico simply outcoached the US on the night. M Pelayo-Bernal from the University of Florida scored the door closer for Mexico in extra time.

Stats

Shots 8 USA 12 Mexico

Corners 1 USA 9 Mexico

Possession 63% Mexico 37%

Here’s the full Gold Cup roster:

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

Give US Soccer credit – we are spending huge money – to get the best coach in the world to come coach this team – but the bottom line is the world has caught up and possibly passed the US in the sport of soccer. Before it was Europe and now Mexico and Canada have beaten us in North America –not only are we not the Queens of the World – we are going to have dig to come back and be Queen’s of CONCACAF. Hopefully our million dollar coach napping at Chelsea will call our asst coach and put things straight for our next match-up this weekend in the knockout stage.

No. 1 Canada vs. No. 8 Costa Rica Sat March 2 at 7pm ESPN+, Para+
No. 2 Brazil vs. No. 7 Argentina Sat March 2 at 10:15pm ESPN+, Para+
No. 3 Mexico vs. No. 6 Paraguay on March 3 at 5pm ESPN+, Para+
No. 4 USWNT vs. No. 5 Colombia on March 3 at 8:15pm ESPN+, Para+

Indy 11 to Play Louisville on CBS TV, New GK added from Portland

Indy 11 released their new jersey’s this week along with the CBS announcement of USL games that will feature The Boy’s in Blue battle with Louisville on Apr 6 at 4 pm. It will be the first time Indy 11 has played on national TV. Indy 11 added a new GK on loan from the Portland Timbers this week Hunter Sulte. Meanwhile former Indy 11 GK Jordan Farr is battling for a starting spot in Tampa for the Rowdies, while former Carmel Dad’s Club/Carmel High & Butler GK Eric Dick has landed with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds this season.

Complete Preseason Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | D, 0-0
Saturday, Feb. 10 vs Chicago Fire FC II | W, 2-0
Tuesday, Feb. 13 vs. Indiana Wesleyan University | W, 5-0
Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. Columbus Crew 2 | W, 7-1
Saturday, Feb. 24 at Lexington SC | Closed to the public
Thursday, Feb. 29 vs. Detroit City FC | Closed to the public
Friday, March 1 vs. Forward Madison FC | Closed to the public

MLS week 1 got off to a good start – too bad only 1 game was on TV – funny to see the USL is signing deals with CBS and ESPN that will put close to 40 games on TV this summer while MLS struggles to show 1 game a week on network TV – despite having the biggest star in the game Messi. I think MLS is downright stupid for not at least negotiating to have more TV partners along with Apple but MLS has rarely made the right decisions in my mind so what’s new. Anyway good to see more soccer on TV with USL and NWSL making new deals with ESPN, CBS and more. MLS is doing well in the Concacaf Champions Cup with all of their teams advancing to the Final 16. Those games on Fox Sports 2 – with 5 games this week – see schedule below.

It was awesome being back on the fields Reffing for the Girls Showcase last weekend at Grand Park. Back out this weekend for the Boys Showcase. Reminder CDC Ref Training is this Sat March 2nd. Reffing Classes at Carmel Dad’s Club

Mike Arrington, Sue Chin and me reffing Girls Showcase at Grand last Sunday

Mike A, Shane and Ray Phillips on a snowy field Friday

GAMES ON TV

Sat, Mar 2

9:30 am ESPN+ Union Berlin (Aaronson) vs Dortmund

10 am USA Everton vs West Ham

10 am Peacock_ Fulham (Robinson) vs Brighton

10 am Peacock Tottenham vs Crystal Palace (Richards)

12:30 pm ESPN+ Wolfsburg vs Stuttgart

12:30 pm USA Luton Town vs Aston Villa

3 pm ESPN+ Valencia vs Real Madrid

4:30 pm FOX Inter Miami vs Orlando

7 pm ESPN+ Canada vs Costa Rica WCC

8:30 pm Apple Free FC Dallas vs Montreal

8:30 pm Apple Free Sporting KC vs Philly Union

9:30 pm Apple Free Colorado vs Nashville SC

10 pm ESPN+ Brazil vs Argentina WCC

Sun, Mar 3

9 am USA Burnley vs Bournemouth

10:30 am Peacock Man United vs Man City

2:45 pm Para+ Napoli vs Juventus (Mckinney)

3 pm ESPN+ Athletic Club vs Barcelona

5 pm CBSSN, ESPN+ Mexico vs. Paraguay

8:15pm ESPN+, Para+ USWNT vs. Colombia

Mon, Mar 4

3 pm USA Sheffield United (Trusty) vs Arsenal

Tues, Mar 5

3 pm CBS Real Sociedad vs PSG UCL

3 pm Para+ Bayern Munich vs Lazio UCL

6 pm Fox Sport 2 Philly Union vs Pachuca CCL

8 pm FS2 Orlando City vs Tigres UNAL CCL

Weds, Mar 6

12:45 pm CBSSN Sporting CP vs Atalanta

3 pm CBS Man City vs Kabenhavn UCL

3pm Para+ Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig UCL

7 pm Para+, ESPN+ Mexico vs Brazil Gold Cup Semis Ladies

8 pm FS2 Houston vs Columbus Crew CCL

10 pm Para+, ESPN+ USWNT vs Canada Gold Cup Semi

10 pm FS2 Guadalajara vs America (curly) CCL

Thur, Mar 7

12:45 pm Para Sparta Prah vs Liverpool

12:45 pm CBSSN Roma vs Brighton

3 pm CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Slavia Praha

3 pm Para+ Freiburg vs West Ham United

3 pm Para+ Benefica vs Rangers (Carter Vickers)

7 pm FS2? Cincy vs Monterrey

9 pm FS2, TUDN Nashville vs Inter Miami (Messi)

(American’s in Parenthesis)

USWNT player ratings: Morgan, Naeher star in savvy win over Colombia

US Women

USWNT’s shock loss to Mexico is more alarming evidence of a program in decline Yahoo Bushnell

Former players and soccer media share their reactions to the USWNT loss to Mexico Sports·USA TODAY Sports
The mighty have fallen: USWNT is in a spiral

SWNT set to play Colombia in Concacaf Gold Cup Quarterfinals Emma HrubyFeb 29, 2024

Alex Morgan says ‘Whole world raising its level’ after Mexico loss

Three takeaways on the USWNT surviving the W Gold Cup group stage

Smith opens up on USWNT World Cup struggles, feeling ‘isolated’ on field

US Men

CONMEBOL Copa America 2024: Group Stage schedule and where to buy tickets

Historic weekend as Yanks score or assist in Europe’s top 7 leagues
Meet the man who brought the World Cup to the U.S.

Word on the Streets is this is what the US Men will wear at Copa America this summer.

EPL

Premier League Picks: PST’s predictions for Week 27 of 2023-24 season
Manchester City v Manchester United: Pick of the stats

‘Ultimate statement of what Klopp’s achieved over eight years at Liverpool’

Jurgen Klopp’s kids secure one of his greatest achievements – and true Liverpool legacy Sports·The Telegraph

Jurgen Klopp hits out at referee after Ryan Gravenberch injury Sports·The Independent
Inside the power battles at the heart of the new Manchester United
How Arsenal are ‘raising the bar’ in Premier League title race
Tottenham in Champions League driving seat – barring any dodgy lasagne
Inside story of how Shilen Patel’s £60m takeover has brought hope back to West Brom

The Crystal Palace Defender/6 plays this Sat

MLS

Commentary: MLS can’t afford to fumble its Messi moment and must make bold changes now Sports·LA Times
As Messi-mania resumes, MLS foes maneuver to capitalize on his star power
Messi brought a superteam to Miami, and with him a problem
MLS is squandering golden Messi opportunities
MLS quickly realizing: You can’t stop Lionel Messi, you can only hope to contain him

Inside Inter Miami: Observations on Messi, Busquets, Callender after 1-1 tie with Galaxy Sports·Miami Herald
Messi and Miami face Florida MLS derby test

MLS Western Conference preview & predictions: LAFC & Seattle once again top choices

MLS Eastern Conference preview & predictions: Atlanta, Columbus top but woe is Canada

WORLD

How will Paul Pogba’s legacy be affected by four-year doping ban?
Paul Pogba doping ban: The end for Juventus and France star and what should have been?
Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Atletico Madrid (4-0 on aggregate): Athletic to face Mallorca in Copa del Rey final

Three Americans are playing and starring for PSV – all 3 played in their last Champions League game! Pepi, Malik, Dest

Indy 11

Indy Eleven, Louisville City FC Rivalry to Air on CBS -LIPAFC

Indy Eleven Announces Acquisition of Portland Timbers’ Hunter Sulte on Loan GK

Indy Eleven Reveals 2024 Under Armour Home and Away Kits

Boys in Blue Remain Unbeaten in Preseason Action with 7-1 Win

Indy 11 Women Schedule Announced

Indy Eleven Announces 2024 Promotional Schedule – Tickets on Sale NOW!

Blue card in danger of being scrapped after backlash

American Pulisic got 2 guys red carded out in AC Milan’s game today.

Reffing

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

Earn Your College Degree at ½ the Cost and Time of Traditional Schools www.achievetestprep.com/shane

American Midfielder Tyler Adams welcomed his first child a couple of weeks back. He’s finally back on the practice fields – after a long recovery.

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USWNT beats Colombia 3-0 in grueling match to advance to Gold Cup semifinal

By Jeff Rueter, Meg Linehan, and Steph Yang THe Athletichttps://theathletic.com/5314106/2024/03/03/uswnt-colombia-gold-cup/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=10480832 Mar 3, 2024

Early penalty sets the tone

Mind games

Nighswonger goal, press and reward

Shaw shines again

Naeher’s momentum swing

(Photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF))

USWNT set to play Colombia in Concacaf Gold Cup Quarterfinals

Emma Hruby February 29, 2024

(Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

The Concacaf W Gold Cup quarterfinals are set.Canada beat Costa Rica 3-0 on Wednesday to take the No. 1 seed, while Paraguay beat El Salvador on a late comeback 3-2. El Salvador went up 2-1 in the 83rd minute, but Jessica Martínez had two late goals – including one in stoppage time – to secure a hat trick and give Paraguay the win. The win pushed them past Costa Rica for second place in Group C. Due to the win, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico wound up tied on all of the tie-breaking criteria for the eighth spot. Thus, a “drawing of the lots” took place, with Costa Rica securing the final spot in the knockout rounds. That means they will once again play Canada in the quarterfinals. The USWNT enters the knockout rounds as the fourth seed, holding a tiebreaker over Colombia after the teams tied on points and goal differential. The USWNT scored nine goals in the group stages as opposed to Colombia’s eight to win the tiebreaker. They’ll now play Colombia in the quarterfinals.

The full schedule:

No. 1 Canada vs. No. 8 Costa Rica on March 2 at 7pm
No. 2 Brazil vs. No. 7 Argentina on March 2 at 10:15pm
No. 3 Mexico vs. No. 6 Paraguay on March 3 at 5pm
No. 4 USWNT vs. No. 5 Colombia on March 3 at 8:15pm

USWNT’s loss to Mexico was a jarring reminder that the team’s mystique is gone

By Meg Linehan The Athletic

For those who weren’t following along during the 2011 World Cup qualifying cycle — in which the U.S. lost to Mexico in the CONCACAF semifinals before Alex Morgan finally sent the U.S. through in a playoff series against Italy — matches against Mexico might have felt like a rivalry in name only.The U.S. women’s national team had not lost to Mexico since that moment in 2010, and hadn’t lost to any CONCACAF opponent at home since 2000.Monday night threw that narrative out the window.The USWNT was outplayed in a 2-0 loss in front of a boisterous crowd in Carson, Ca., and while it didn’t match the low of that 0-0 draw against Portugal in the World Cup group stage last summer, the team’s final group stage match of this Gold Cup was (hopefully) a helpful reminder that the team hasn’t found their new, cohesive identity just yet.The thing that should worry fans the most is how Monday’s performance was a reflection of the listless USWNT we’ve seen before.But how much should we read into the 270 minutes played this year? How much does a loss change what needs to happen ahead of the Olympics? And why is cohesion still such a massive problem?

Mexico provided a necessary test — and a reminder

Mexico deserves full credit and nothing but praise for executing on Monday night in all the places that matter. But by the same token, the USWNT failed in many of those areas.

That failure can be helpful if used correctly (see: losses to France in friendlies at the start of 2015 and 2019, both of which were followed by World Cup titles). However, that’s been the takeaway for this U.S. team for a while now. At some point, the players and coaching staff either step up or they don’t.

What did the U.S. hierarchy want to get out of these games? If there was ever a time to let the team’s young players problem-solve in a difficult situation, it was on Monday night, down 1-0 to Mexico after the first half and with plenty of unproven talent on the field. Let them be tested. Let them fail, even! Instead, 34-year-old, 217-capped Morgan came on after the break. That doesn’t tell interim head coach Twila Kilgore or the incoming Emma Hayes anything about this team right now.

USWNT Morgan came on against Mexico (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The USWNT mystique is gone, and the rising level of the rest of the world is only part of the story. The players used to wield their collective reputation and mentality as both sword and shield — it told them something about themselves, and something about every other team they faced. Without it, they have lost a weapon and something more symbolic.Leaning into an old-fashioned underdog mentality might be the play, as ridiculous as it may sound considering the U.S. is still ranked No. 2 in the world by world governing body FIFA. There has been plenty written on the USWNT’s lack of joy since those very strange Tokyo Olympics, but less focus on a possible flip side: harnessing the anger for good as it sits in joy’s place.With a generational shift underway, younger players who are hungry for recognition and results should take any emotional advantage they can find. First though, they have to get onto the field.

Why is cohesion still such a massive problem?

It’s worth remembering that this Gold Cup is the USWNT’s first camp of the year, and that it’s still preseason for the large chunk of this roster that plays domestically in the NWSL. That’s not necessarily an excuse for the cohesion issues that plagued the USWNT on Monday, but it is at least helpful context, along with the massive rotation in personnel that’s happened through the group stage. Center back Naomi Girma feels like the key to solving this problem, immediately and in the long term. Though it’s understandable to want to manage her load, Girma has already ascended to the tier of player that you need on the field at all times. She’s been through a World Cup now too — and was the USWNT’s best player in New Zealand and Australia by a very comfortable margin.

USWNT Girma facing Argentina (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

“Something tonight that was missing was just a bit of bravery from the center backs and willingness to play forward,” Kilgore said postgame. “Regardless of how many numbers we have in front of the backline, the expectation is that we look to play forward passes, that we keep the ball moving, and of course that sometimes requires a balance and it comes back, but we do want to play forward.”

If the team’s identity is built upon playing out of the back, it feels like having your best defender — a 23-year-old who the team will build around for the next decade — on the field for the toughest group-stage match would have been a more effective use of Girma than pairing her with Tierna Davidson against Argentina.USWNT defender Kelley O’Hara said on Monday that the team had sometimes been “stuck” within certain formations and tactics over the past couple of years, and the performance against Mexico had the same feel as some of the team’s more frustrating recent performances. On a night like Monday, it feels like the USWNT is clinging to the very identity they need to shed, and some beautiful principles of play that are great in theory and sometimes need to go out the window when a game calls for it.It’s impossible to know from the outside if the coaching situation is playing a role here — everything coming from the team (publicly, at least) is that communication from Hayes and Kilgore has been excellent and everyone understands the plan until Hayes arrives from Chelsea in May.Hayes not being present until then isn’t ideal on a number of fronts, but it’s simply a fact the USWNT must deal with. The federation made this agreement, and now the team is dealing with the ramifications of playing under an interim head coach stationed a continent away a few months before a major tournament. It’s not ideal and it’s not something that can be changed.

How much can we read into starting XIs and playing time?

The answer for me is still: “Not much at all.” But so you can see the three games side-by-side, here are the line-ups…

Rotation was promised by Kilgore, and she delivered. With the media after Monday’s game, she bristled a bit at a question about whether that rotation had backfired.“The whole group is prepared to play,” she answered. “The whole group was prepared to play tonight. We could have gone with several options, and this was the group that we chose. I’m very confident that the group is capable of executing.”Kilgore said that it was important for all players to have opportunities in this tournament, but also important for the team to execute. “It’s not just about partnerships, it’s about systems, roles and responsibilities,” she said.

From my vantage point outside the privileged bubble of the USWNT technical staff, the Gold Cup still feels like the right place for experimentation, evaluation and rotation. But if you’re going to do it, you have to actually commit.(Top photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Meg Linehan is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers the U.S. women’s national team, the National Women’s Soccer League and more. She also hosts the weekly podcast “Full Time with Meg Linehan.” Follow Meg on Twitter @itsmeglinehan

USWNT 0 Mexico 2: U.S. stumbles as Ovalle leads Mexico’s attack

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Jaqueline Ovalle #11 of Mexico scores a goal against Alyssa Naeher #1 of United States in the first half during Group A - 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup match at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 26, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

By Steph Yang and Meg LinehanFeb 27, 2024

Mexico held the United States to a 2-0 loss with a confident performance in its third group game of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, winning Group A. The goals were the first that the USWNT had conceded to Mexico since 2010, also during a regional tournament. For the U.S., it was a game riddled with errors from a sub-optimal lineup that couldn’t figure out how to break Mexico’s pressure.

“We just didn’t play nearly our best,” forward Alex Morgan said after the match on Paramount+. “We found some pockets here and there, but not nearly enough. Didn’t execute on the chances we had. I don’t think we tested the goalkeeper, I think we got broken down way too easily.”

Mexico’s quick start and USWNT’s errors

Mexico converted its relentless pressure on the U.S. into the first goal of the match, taking advantage of yet another defensive error in the 38th minute with a fast transition that ultimately bamboozled veterans Becky Sauerbrunn and Alyssa Naeher. Sauerbrunn succumbed to the pressure of having Lizbeth Ovalle on her shoulder in a two-on-two situation and botched her attempted clearance. Naeher was too late to commit to going after Ovalle in the box and was chipped.It was a beautiful goal and a well-deserved reward for a Mexico side that had been forcing cumulative errors out of the U.S. all half long, particularly from a slow defensive unit between Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, and Sam Coffey. Even Crystal Dunn had issues with Mexico’s speed, to be expected at 31-years-old against the 24-year-old Ovalle. Only defender Emily Fox pushed the tempo out of the back, bursting into the midfield when she could and generating one of the team’s better chance at goal in the first half with a shot low and away at range that forced a corner kick.

Of those three players, Coffey in particular has the most to lose as a younger midfielder in a team that is still looking for a more cohesive identity. Sauerbrunn and Dahlkemper have both had excellent years with the U.S., and the center back unit has already begun transitioning definitively to the Naomi Girma era. But Coffey is still in the hunt for more minutes, let alone a starting position, and she looked slightly overwhelmed for most of the first half. Although, to be fair, her decision-making was no worse than many of the other errors all over the field.

“We play forward, we break lines. Now we’re running through their backline, don’t execute the final pass,” interim head coach Twila Kilgore said after the match. “They recover, we get the ball back, we don’t execute the final pass again, then they get a goal kick. It’s two to three moments, back-to-back, that are fixable. We just go right back to basics. … You just can’t afford to have those moments back-to-back in a game.”

Adjustments at halftime

Kilgore made two substitutions at halftime: Morgan on for Sophia Smith and Emily Sonnett on for Lynn Williams. With the team in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Sonnett was clearly there to bolster Coffey’s presence and to try to stop Mexico from disrupting the midfield. It did seem to stop some of the bleeding but then there was the matter of converting more midfield possession into more entries into the final third.

Despite halftime changes, USWNT couldn’t find the back of the net. (Photo by Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)

That didn’t happen even when Kilgore made further substitutions, bringing on Midge Purce for Fox and Korbin Albert for Coffey in the 71st minute, then Jaedyn Shaw for Rose Lavelle in the 78th.Trinity Rodman did her best, and we saw more of the interesting evolution of Morgan from focal target of the attack into a provider for those around her. But it was ultimately for naught as Mexico sealed the team’s fate in stoppage time off a great long-range goal by Mayra Pelayo.

Pressure on Emma Hayes already

This is not yet Emma Hayes’ team, but it’d be foolish to assume she has no input on what Kilgore is doing. The longer this team takes to work out what issues it can before Hayes takes over the team in May, the less time Hayes has to get them into Olympic shape.Against weaker opponents, the USWNT looked quick, aggressive and somewhat creative. Against a tactically and technically proficient Mexico that had a good tournament thus far, they looked uncertain and slow, a repeat of many of the issues that plagued them in the World Cup.The decision to play a more veteran lineup against this Mexico team is certainly not wrong in a general sense, but playing such a slow central defensive unit and a goalkeeper who hasn’t looked at her peak for a while now against the toughest opponent in the group befuddles comprehension. Perhaps it was a matter of limited minutes even though it’s still NWSL preseason, but any one of Girma, Tierna Davidson, or Jenna Nighswonger needed to be inserted into this lineup to have a hope of not just containing Mexico, but being able to distribute out of the back and enable the team to quickly break one if not two lines of pressure right away.

Including so many younger or newer players in this roster is an encouraging sign — Shaw, Olivia Moultrie, Albert, et. al. But why not start trusting those players to carry more of the team in a situation that seems perfect in prepping them for a major tournament? These aren’t games of no consequence, but they’re not as weighty as an Olympics. By the third group game, the U.S. had already qualified to advance. Give the younger players a real test over 45, 60, or 90 minutes instead of falling back on the familiar and comfortable.

Mexico dictated the match

Mexico’s opener against Argentina wasn’t the most instructive match, but Mexico has grown into this group stage. Yes, execution errors were happening everywhere for the U.S., but Mexico could have actually won this match 4-0 if not for the crossbar and then a pair of strong saves from Alyssa Naeher late in the second half, though Pelayo’s incredible golazo in stoppage time put the perfect exclamation point on Monday night.Their wildly disappointing 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, when Mexico hosted and flamed out in the group stage, feels like ancient history now. Head coach Pedro López Ramos had the right game plan, and his side executed perfectly. They were able to defend their lead, they were able to discomfort the USWNT via a high press, they won corners, and they had excellent long-range looks. It was more than just Mexico playing to its potential, it was simply a great performance — and one that could provide some helpful motivation for further investment into the program.

“There are always things to improve,” López Ramos said after the match, via an interpreter. “I would like to be in the final of a World Cup, for example. I enjoyed every single moment when we were attacking and when we were defending. I believe that the players went out without restrictions. They went out to enjoy the pitch, and you have seen the results. And I hope this is not isolated. I hope we can repeat this result.”

What’s next?

The U.S. qualified for the knockout rounds with its win against Argentina on Friday. Losing to Mexico means the USWNT finished second in Group A and will have to wait until Wednesday to see who they face in the quarterfinal at BMO Stadium.The final places for the quarterfinals will be decided Tuesday when Colombia faces Puerto Rico and Brazil faces Panama and then on Wednesday when Canada goes against Costa Rica and Paraguay takes on El Salvador. The top two teams from each group advance, plus the next highest third place teams. Canada and Brazil have qualified already, but Tuesday and Wednesday will determine their, and everyone else’s, places going into the next round as the tournament re-seeds.The USWNT now has almost a full week until they play again. “It’s important that we execute and learn from these moments moving forward, but I think with six days of training — which is more than we usually get — we’re very capable of getting a whole group ready, so we could call on anybody and know that they’d be prepared,” Kilgore said. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

USWNT boss after rare Mexico defeat: No ‘easy games’ anymore

Cesar Hernandez

Feb 27, 2024, 03:35 AM ETShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions

Interim United States women’s national team coach Twila Kilgore stated that her side faces “no easy games anymore” after a stunning 2-0 loss to rival Mexico in a Concacaf W Gold Cup group stage clash Monday.”It just shows how far the game is coming and there’s no easy games anymore,” Kilgore said after the USWNT’s first defeat to Mexico since 2010. “If we don’t take care of business and we don’t execute, this is to be expected. We’ll step up and take ownership of that.”

It was just the second time Mexico has beaten the USWNT, and it comes after the Americans’ disappointing run at last summer’s Women’s World Cup that resulted in a round-of-16 exit. Since Kilgore took over as interim coach after the World Cup, the USWNT was undefeated through eight games until the defeat to Mexico.Heading into the match, the U.S. had a lopsided lead in the Concacaf rivalry, with a 40-1-1 record. Monday’s result meant Mexico topped Group A with seven points, while the USWNT finished second with six points. Argentina finished third with four points, and the Dominican Republic was last with no points.”I think they had a good game plan, I think we had a good game plan. Simply, they just executed theirs better than ours,” Kilgore said. “Part of that does have to do with intensity but generally can be measured by things like tempo with the ball, but also defensive things like winning first tackles and winning second balls.”Both Mexico goals — scored by Lizbeth Ovalle and Mayra Pelayo — came from restart moments, an area Kilgore said her side must improve.”First goal came from a goal kick and [we] probably should have taken care of the first ball, should have taken care of the second ball, had an opportunity to end play and then didn’t, and then in the second goal it came from a throw-in,” Kilgore said.Mexico coach Pedro Lopez remains undefeated in all competitions since 2023. He said Monday’s result was the best he has accomplished since taking charge in September 2022.”I suppose yes because of the opponent,” Lopez said. “I loved the [8-0] Dominican Republic game, I liked it a lot, but of course doing it against the United States is special.”Describing his team as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” before the tournament, Lopez said he still wants more. “Clearly that wolf was seen today,” he said. “But I insist that for us it would be of no use if in the next game we lose the [W Gold Cup] quarterfinals and we go down in history as the team that only beat the United States one day.” Both Mexico and the USWNT have qualified for the quarterfinal stage of the inaugural W Gold Cup but will need to wait on final results from Group B on Tuesday and Group C on Wednesday to find out their next opponents. After Wednesday, the top two teams from each group and two best third place teams will qualify for the knockout stages. Following the quarterfinals in Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, the semifinals and final will be at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium on March 6 and 10. After the tournament and later this spring, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes will take charge of the USWNT.

USMNT weekend viewing guide: Marching on

Johnny’s making his mark in La Liga

Saturday

Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund – 9:30a on ESPN+

Brenden Aaronson parlayed his goal two weeks ago into his first start in six weeks last weekend as Union Berlin drew with Heidenheim 2-2. Berlin will take on a Dortmund side that fell to Hoffenheim last weekend and are now just one point ahead of RB Leipzig for the final Champions League qualifying position.

Mainz v Borussia Mönchengladbach – 9:30a on ESPN+

Jordan Pefok scored last weekend in Borussia Mönchengladbach’s 5-2 drubbing of Bochum. The goal was Pefok’s fifth on the season, his third since returning from injury in January. Joe Scally also started last weekend’s match and went the full 90 minutes at left back. This Saturday, ‘Gladbach face relegation-threatened Mainz who are ten points from safety.

Heidenheim v Eintracht Frankfurt – 9:30a on ESPN+

Lennard Maloney started for Heidenheim last weekend in his team’s 2-2 draw with Union Berlin, while Timothy Chandler picked up his first minute of the Bundesliga season which was enough to pick up the assist as Frankfurt snatched a late draw with Wolfsburg.

Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion – 10a on Peacock

Antonee Robinson started yet again but Tim Ream was an unused substitute last weekend in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Manchester United. They face 7th place Brighton this weekend, the team is coming off a midweek loss to Wolverhampton in the FA Cup and a 1-1 draw with Everton last weekend.

Nottingham Forest v Liverpool – 10a on Peacock

Matt Turner was in goal on Wednesday in FA Cup action but Forest fell to Manchester United 1-0 when they gave up a late goal off a set piece. Turner will likely be back to the bench this weekend as Selz seems to be the preferred keeper at this time for league matches though he did give up four goals last weekend to Aston Villa. Gio Reyna was a late sub in the match and has seen just 39 minutes of action in five matches since joining Forest. Forest have the unenviable task of going up against a Liverpool side looking to maintain their one point advantage for the league title.

Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace – 10a on Peacock

Chris Richards picked up his first goal for Crystal Palace as the team defeated Burnley 3-0 to move into 13th place. Palace now face Tottenham who are currently in fifth place, five points back of Aston Villa for Champions League qualification though with a game in hand.

Wolfsburg v Stuttgart – 12:30p on ESPN+

Kevin Paredes has five straight starts for Wolfsburg, the last three coming in the midfield. However, Wolfsburg have settled for draws in six of their last seven, a streak broken only by their 1-0 loss to Union Berlin three weeks ago. This weekend Wolfsburg face a Stuttgart side that are in third place and six points ahead of fourth place Borussia Dortmund though they are coming off a draw with relegation threatened Koln.

Inter Miami v Orlando City SC – 4:30p on Fox

Inter Miami needed a late goal from Lionel Messi to salvage a 1-1 draw with ten man LA Galaxy last weekend while Orlando City settled for a scoreless draw with Montreal. Duncan McGuire did start the match for OCSC, returning to the starting lineup after his debacle of a transfer which Blackburn managed to botch in epic fashion.

MLS Free on Apple TV matches:

FC Dallas take on Montreal at 8:30p
Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union kick off at 8:30p
The Colorado Rapids look to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to Portland when they take on Nashville SC at 9:30p

Sunday

PSV Eindhoven v Feyenoord – 8:30a on ESPN+

PSV embarrassed PEC Zwolle last weekend 7-1 as Sergino Dest picked up an assist on the opening goal and Malik Tillman assisted Ricardo Pepi on the last goal. Things should be a fair bit tougher for PSV this weekend as they take on second place Feynoord. PSV won their first matchup this season 2-1.

Atletico Madrid v Real Betis – 10:15a on ESPN+

Johnny Cardoso has made himself right at home as he had another man of the match level performance last weekend, including scoring his first goal for Real Betis, in a 3-2 win over Athletic Club. Betis are now in 6th place, though a full ten points back of this weekend’s opponent, 4th place Atletico Madrid.

Hoffenheim v Werder Bremen – 11:30a on ESPN+

John Brooks started again last weekend for Hoffenheim as they defeated Borussia Dortmund 3-2. Brooks picked up a late yellow in the match, the third straight match he’s played where he has received a yellow in the 89th minute or later. Hoffenheim are currently in 7th place, tied on points at 30 with this weekends opponent Werder Bremen.

Napoli v Juventus – 2:45p on Paramount+

Weston McKennie notched two more assists last weekend in Juventus’ 3-2 win over Frosinone but had to leave the match late and is expected to miss several weeks due to a separated shoulder, a recurrence of an injury that has previously sidelined McKennie for short stints. Tim Weah came on as a sub and played the final 28 minutes of the match. This weekend Juventus take on a Napoli side that are in ninth place but just eight points out of Champions League qualification.

Premier League title race: Liverpool, Man City or Arsenal?

ESPN

Feb 29, 2024, 12:12 PM ETShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions29

It’s almost March and we’re heading into the business end of the 2023-24 European club season, with all major trophies (bar England‘s Carabao Cup) still in the balance. When it comes to the Premier League, we actually have a three-team title race, with Liverpool (last winners in 2019-20), Manchester City (winners in five of the past six seasons) and Arsenal (last winners in 2003-04) separated by just two points with 12 games to play.

All three teams are still active in Europe, too — Man City and Arsenal in the Champions League, Liverpool in the Europa League — and with injuries and fatigue kicking in as they compete on multiple fronts, this is as dramatic a race as we’ve had in years. So, with some huge games on the horizon in March and April, plus pros/cons for all three teams, we’re breaking down where the race goes from here.

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Liverpool | First place | 60 points (26 games)

What’s working

Liverpool’s greatest strength right now, the sense of purpose and unity that has been forged by the announcement of Jurgen Klopp’s summer exit as manager, could have been their biggest weakness. And it could yet turn out to be that.

Klopp has been a transformative figure at Anfield since arriving as manager in October of 2015. Nobody — player or manager — comes close to matching Klopp at Liverpool in the Premier League era, and the shock news of his plans to quit at the end of the season could have damaged morale at the club and led to a decline in results. But since Klopp’s decision became public at the end of January, Liverpool have won seven of their eight games (all competitions) and have won the first of a possible four trophies by lifting the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool are now on a “Klopp countdown” until his last day, and it has energised the players and fans to give that extra 1 percent — it could be the difference between a glorious departure and a disappointing one.

It is rare for a manager to be as popular on and off the pitch as Klopp is at Liverpool, and the performance of the three teenagers — Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns and James McConnell — during the Carabao Cup final win against Chelsea highlighted the trust between players and manager and the bond within the squad.

The pressure to give Klopp a winning send-off might yet become too intense, but it looks to have strengthened Liverpool at this point and helped them through a biting injury crisis that sees them without 11 first-team players. The Reds have a deep squad full of quality, but it has been tested to the limit in recent weeks and Klopp has had to rely on the likes of Clark, Danns and McConnell, as well as Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah, to get them over the line in games.

With most of the big names due to return within the next two to three weeks, Liverpool will hope they have weathered the storm in order to be able to now surge to the title. What happens in the crunch clash against Manchester City at Anfield on March 10 will have a huge impact on the title race, but with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Núñez likely to be fit for that game, Liverpool appear to be getting stronger at just the right time.

Ogden: Man City only fear Liverpool in the Premier League title race

Mark Ogden believes Man City won’t be fearful of Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Concerns on the horizon

Liverpool are on course to play 63 games in all competitions if they reach the finals of the FA Cup and Europa League having already won the Carabao Cup, just as they did when winning both domestic cups and reaching the Champions League final in 2021-22. During that season, Liverpool were relatively unscathed by injuries and almost achieved a quadruple, but Klopp’s squad has been much harder hit this time around.

The big question is whether they can cope with the potential fixture backlog.

To put it in context, Liverpool’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at home to Southampton on Wednesday was their 41st game this season. It has taken six months to reach that figure, but they will have to cram the remaining 22 games into the final three months, playing at least two fixtures a week until the FA Cup final on May 25. Virtually all of Klopp’s players also have international commitments between now and the end of the season, so it will be a test of endurance for them to retain fitness all the way until the end of the campaign.

Liverpool’s Remaining Fixtures

OPPONENT	VENUE	DATE
Nott’m Forest	A	March 2
Man City	H	March 10
Everton	A	March 17
Brighton	H	March 31
Sheffield Utd	A	April 4
Man United	A	April 7
Crystal Palace	H	April 14
Fulham	A	April 20
West Ham	A	April 27
Tottenham	H	May 4
Aston Villa	A	May 11
Wolves	H	May 19

At some point, Klopp might decide to prioritise competitions and make wholesale changes to keep players fresh for the Premier League. But the Liverpool manager is already deep into his reserves due to the injury crisis, so don’t expect him to field anything like a senior team in the Europa League round-of-16 first leg away to Sparta Prague next week.

If Klopp wants to bow out with the Premier League title, he might have to sacrifice the European competition and end hopes of a quadruple, but he is a manager who also places great value on momentum. It is a balancing act that he has to get right.

Saving his players from fatigue will be a big challenge in the weeks ahead.

Toughest games remaining

The home game against Manchester City on March 10 is the toughest fixture on Liverpool’s schedule between now and the end of the season, and its outcome will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the title race. City don’t have a good record at Anfield, so if Liverpool can maintain their home form against Pep Guardiola’s side, they will come out of that clash as title favourites.

Will Klopp’s upcoming departure lift Liverpool to the Premier League title?

Mark Ogden explains why he is backing Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

But while that game is the obvious fork in the road, they face two particularly tough trips to Manchester United and Aston Villa that could derail their title hopes.

United have been rolled over in recent seasons at Anfield, but Liverpool have a mixed record at Old Trafford and their traditional rivals will need to beat Klopp’s side in April to keep alive their hopes of Champions League qualification. A trip to Aston Villa on May 11 in the penultimate game of the season will also have Champions League implications with Unai Emery’s side so far maintaining their push for a top-four finish.

Intangibles

The Klopp effect is Liverpool’s X factor. If the team is still in the hunt for the title during the run-in, the emotion of Anfield will be so intense that it could push the team either way. Everyone at the club is desperate for Klopp to leave as a winner, but will that desire be a positive or a negative? — Mark Ogden

Manchester City | Second place | 59 points (26 games)

What’s working

Put simply, Manchester City are winning games, and players who weren’t available during the first half of the campaign are back to full fitness. Pep Guardiola’s team hasn’t lost since the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Dec. 6, winning 15 of their past 17 games in all competitions, and in the Premier League, it’s eight wins from nine games and 25 points from an available 27 since Christmas.

Guardiola has had to deal with injuries to Kevin De Bruyne (out for five months), Erling Haaland (out for two months) and John Stones (out for close to three months), but all three are fit again heading into the run-in, and traditionally, this is where City excel. Guardiola’s message to his players during the opening months of a season is always to stay in touch with the leaders, and they’ve done it again.

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Over the past six seasons, they’ve shown they are more than capable of putting together long winning runs at the business end of the campaign, all of which makes it very hard for other challengers to stay in the race. Since the 2017-18 season and excluding the delayed 2019-20 COVID season, City have lost just six league games in the months of March, April and May. They dropped five points over the final three months of last season — a 1-1 draw with Brighton and a 1-0 defeat at Brentford — with both results coming after they had already been confirmed as champions.

The worry for Liverpool and Arsenal is that, as they’ve done so often before, City will just plough through their remaining games without dropping many more points. After long spells on the sidelines, De Bruyne, Haaland and Stones should be fresh, and there’s a strong argument that City will become the first English team to win the top-flight championship four times in a row.

Could Manchester City clinch the Premier League in March?

Rob Dawson looks ahead to Man City’s fixtures in March and debates whether they will win the Premier League.

Concerns on the horizon

There have been concerns that City have looked vulnerable defensively at times, but the stats suggest they’re performing at a similar level to last season. After 26 games, they’ve conceded 26 goals and kept eight clean sheets, compared to 25 goals in 26 games at the same stage last season. Liverpool and Arsenal have better defensive records, but City have shown their ability to grind out results, with narrow 1-0 wins over Brentford and Bournemouth in their past two games.

Their main area of weakness is when an opposing team is able to take advantage of City’s high defensive line. Newcastle did it with two almost identical goals at St James’ Park in January, and Chelsea had a number of similar chances in the 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium in February. It’s a high-risk but also high-reward approach, and Guardiola certainly isn’t going to change the way he plays after winning the title in five of the past six years.

Really, Guardiola’s biggest worry between now and the end of the season is having to do without Rodri. The Spanish midfielder has missed three league games this season, and City have lost all three (to Wolves, Arsenal and Aston Villa), which tells you exactly how important he has become.

Man City’s Remaining Fixtures

OPPONENT	VENUE	DATE
Man United	H	March 3
Liverpool	A	March 10
Brighton	A	March 17
Arsenal	H	March 31
Aston Villa	H	April 3
Crystal Palace	A	April 6
Luton Town	H	April 13
Tottenham	A	April 20
Nott’m Forest	A	April 27
Wolves	H	May 4
Fulham	A	May 11
West Ham	H	May 19

There’s competition for places all over the squad except for Rodri’s position at the base of the midfield, where any absence is compounded by the fact that there isn’t anyone else who can do the same job. Kalvin Phillips joined West Ham on loan in the summer — though Guardiola didn’t trust him anyway — while summer signings Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are different kinds of midfielders, who are more comfortable playing higher up the pitch.

Deploying Stones (who also missed the defeats to Wolves and Arsenal) as a holding midfielder is one option, but there’s an argument that he’s too valuable in the hybrid centre-back/central midfielder role. Manuel Akanji tried it in the draw with Chelsea but was nowhere near as effective. Losing Rodri for any length of time would be a huge blow.

Toughest games remaining

You can make a case that March will make or break City’s title challenge. It begins with Manchester United’s visit to the Etihad on Sunday before away games at Liverpool (March 10) and Brighton (March 17) and then a home game against Arsenal (March 31). United are having a poor season, but anything can happen in a derby and Erik ten Hag’s team have already caused one surprise this season, earning a credible 0-0 draw at Anfield in December.

City don’t have a great record at Anfield, Brighton can beat anyone under Roberto De Zerbi and Arsenal beat City in October, so it’s going to be a tough month. Beyond that, there isn’t much to worry Guardiola — aside from a trip to Tottenham in April — in the final six weeks of the season.

If City come through March unscathed, there will be very few willing to bet against them. Guardiola doesn’t want to talk about an unprecedented double-treble, but by that point, his players will already be able to smell it.

Intangibles

It has seemed as though Haaland is experiencing a dip after last season, and his scoring rate is down — 17 goals in 1,741 Premier League minutes at 0.88 goals/90 this season, compared to 36 goals in 2,769 minutes, for 1.17 goals/90, in 2022-23. That said, he’s invaluable in tight games with few chances and his thirst for goals also means that City can afford to leak the odd goal because he’s capable of scoring three himself.

Haaland is so hard to stop because he can do everything — run in behind or use his size and strength to play as a hold-up man. He can pin defenders and has an almost unnatural ability to find the right space in the penalty area, as shown by his remarkable five-goal game against Luton Town in the FA Cup. Having such a prolific player can relieve a lot of the pressure in a tight title race. — Rob Dawson

Arsenal | Third place | 58 points (26 games)

What’s working

Arsenal could not have started 2024 any better when it comes to the title race.

The Gunners have won six consecutive Premier League matches at the beginning of a calendar year for the first time in their history by a combined aggregate score of 25-3. They put six goals past West Ham, five past Burnley and bounced back from a disappointing Champions League round-of-16 first leg defeat to Porto by hitting Newcastle for four. They have the best defensive record in the division and the best goal difference, after a run fuelled in part by using past disappointments to motivate them so effectively.

Do Arsenal have the mentality to maintain a title challenge?

James Olley and Rob Dawson analyse Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes.

Sources have told ESPN that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been the driving force behind a series of prematch hype videos designed to create a more intimidating atmosphere at Emirates Stadium. Arteta and members of his backroom staff shared the montages on social media, the latest of which previewed the visit of Newcastle, with whom they have developed a surprisingly intense rivalry in the past couple of seasons.

Last year’s 0-0 draw came amid accusations of excessive time-wasting as Arsenal lost 1-0 on Tyneside in November to a controversial Anthony Gordon goal that prompted Arsenal to complain to referees’ body PGMOL, triggering heated words between the two clubs. Arteta believes that repeatedly finding the intensity to fight these individual battles will add up to a first Premier League title since 2004.

The form of key players is also encouraging. Both Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard had quiet spells earlier in the campaign but are now influencing matches on a regular basis again. At the back, Gabriel and William Saliba have formed arguably the best centre-back pairing in the Premier League this season. Declan Rice was acquired at great expense from West Ham last summer — in a deal that could be worth £105 million — but he is proving value for money by bringing composure and class to Arsenal’s engine room.

Concerns on the horizon

The biggest question Arsenal have to answer is whether they can hold their nerve this time around. The Gunners held an eight-point lead at the beginning of April, only to win three of their final nine matches as Manchester City overtook them. Perhaps the role of hunters rather than hunted — they are third — will suit better, but title run-ins are about executing game plans consistently under maximum pressure and they fell short a year ago.

Arsenal’s Remaining Fixtures

OPPONENT	VENUE	DATE
Sheffield United	A	March 4
Brentford	H	March 9
Chelsea	H	March 16
Man City	A	March 31
Luton Town	H	April 3
Brighton	A	April 6
Aston Villa	H	April 13
Wolves	A	April 20
Tottenham	A	April 27
Bournemouth	H	May 4
Man United	A	May 11
Everton	H	May 19

Saliba’s injury destabilized them defensively while Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli collectively lost form at a critical time, seemingly fatigued after putting so much into the first three-quarters of the campaign. Arteta has repeatedly spoken about the need to have a fully fit squad to help share the load and things are looking positive in that regard, with Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira nearing returns from long-term injuries; there’s also optimism that summer signing Jurriën Timber, injured during preseason, could return this season.

Questions over their mentality grew after a Champions League defeat in Porto — the Gunners failed to have a shot on target for the first time in more than two years — and there remains a suspicion that despite scoring heavily of late, they might eventually pay the price for lacking a clinical goal scorer in the mould of Haaland or Salah. Only two players have reached double figures in goals for Arsenal this season — Saka on 16, Leandro Trossard on 10 — compared to three for City (Haaland, Phil Foden, Julián Álvarez) and five for Liverpool (Salah, Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez, Cody Gakpo, Luis Díaz).

Gabriel Jesus‘ return from a lingering knee problem would be a significant boost, although some doubts persist whether, despite his obvious class, he can be the efficient finisher Arsenal need to the extent they don’t end up pursuing an expensive new signing in the summer.

Toughest games remaining

The game that obviously stands out is Manchester City away on March 31. Arsenal were overwhelmed by City in that fixture last season when the title was in their hands, as De Bruyne and Haaland put on a masterclass to beat the Gunners 4-1. Beyond that, the title could be won or lost on the road given they have fewer away games than City — six compared to City’s seven — but there are some tricky trips ahead.

After Sheffield United on Monday, they go to City, Brighton and Wolves before rounding off April with the north London derby. That was also a fixture that cost them dearly two years ago, when an insipid 3-0 defeat effectively cost them qualification for the Champions League. Spurs look like being in a scrap for a top-four finish this season themselves, and so the magnitude of that game for both sides is impossible to overstate.

Oh, and Arsenal’s final trip of the season? Manchester United. Erik ten Hag’s side is wildly unpredictable these days, but the Gunners have won only once in the Premier League at Old Trafford since 2006.

Intangibles

Arsenal will need to keep their key players fit and firing to win the title. Saliba’s injury cost them dearly last season, and their squad looks least able to cope with key absentees, especially when considering Liverpool are top despite losing Salah to the Africa Cup of Nations and Haaland has missed around two months of the season already, yet both are currently ahead of the Gunners.

There is an argument that the “over-celebrating” Arsenal have been accused of in recent weeks has been misinterpreted: Arteta and his players are trying to revel in key moments to engender the self-belief and team spirit that can take them to the title. We’re about to find out if they have enough. — James Olley

Projections

When thinking retrospectively, it’s easy to see City as an inevitable behemoth that eliminates all doubt and uncertainty with perfect spring stretch runs. But they needed to score three goals in the final 15 minutes of the season, after suffering five blemishes in their last 16 matches, to outlast Liverpool in 2021-22. As late as April 5 last year, FiveThirtyEight’s since-discontinued Soccer Power Index gave Arsenal the slightest of edges (51% to 49%) over City in the title race, and after a particularly rickety winter, it took one of those perfect runs (they dropped two points in 15 matches) to get the job done.

After recording 100 points in 2017-18 and 98 in 2018-19, they’ve since averaged a great-but-imperfect 87.3 points, and they’re currently on pace for 86.2 in 2023-24.

So, are City the favorites again heading into March? Absolutely, but it’s basically a coin toss.

Opta’s power ratings give the Sky Blues a 51% chance over Liverpool (34%) and Arsenal (15%), while earlier this week, Twenty First Group gave them a plurality advantage: 42% to Liverpool’s 34% and Arsenal’s 24%. Granted, these systems don’t take current injury lists into account and therefore don’t know that nearly half of Liverpool’s first team is currently battling a short- or long-term injury and that four Arsenal regulars (or at least semi-regulars) are out.

Injuries slowed City down considerably during a rocky fall run that saw them win just four times in 12 league matches, but they’re as healthy as ever heading into March. That likely bumps the odds up a bit, but either way, there’s a lot of work to be done, and perhaps most interestingly, for the first time in Pep Guardiola’s title run, there are two contenders to fend off.

City plays both of those contenders in March, too — at Liverpool on March 10, vs. Arsenal on March 31 — so there’s a solid chance that, one way or another, the odds look very different a month from now. Either City have once again moved comfortably into the driver’s seat, or they’ve left themselves with far more work than normal in April and May. — Bill Connelly

USWNT loses second-ever match to Mexico, 2-0

(OMAR VEGA/GETTY IMAGES) Mexico stunned the USWNT on Monday, in a 2-0 result that’s sending shockwaves through the soccer world. Here’s how it happened:Lizbeth Ovalle scored the opening goal in the 38th minute, ending a run of 33 straight shutouts for the USWNT in Concacaf competitions. Mayra Pelayo added the clincher in the 92nd minute, with an incredible long distance strike (see above). Here’s what it means: This is just the second time the USWNT has lost to Mexico, with the first coming in 2010. It’s also the USWNT’s first loss on home soil against Concacaf competition since 2000. Here’s what they’re saying: Alex Morgan: “Not only Concacaf, but the whole world is continuing to raise its level… Concacaf is not what it was 14 years ago when we had our last lost to Mexico.”USWNT interim coach Twila Kilgore: “There are no easy games anymore. And if we don’t take care of business and we don’t execute, this is to be expected.” Mexico coach Pedro López Ramos: “They went out and they were bold, they were brave with the dream of playing a good game against the United States.” Up next: The USWNT will advance to the quarterfinals after finishing in second place in Group A.

Does Mexico win over USWNT mark a new chapter of the rivalry?

Cesar Hernandez ESPN

Feb 27, 2024, 09:01 AM ETShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions3

CARSON, Calif. — It took nearly 14 years and 16 consecutive defeats, but on Monday night, for the first time since 2010, the Mexico women’s national team defeated the U.S.Thanks to spectacular goals from Lizbeth Ovalle and Mayra Pelayo, El Tri Femenil topped their group in the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup with a stunning 2-0 win over their border rivals. Despite the rain at Dignity Health Sports Park and the U.S.’s psychological edge — they held a daunting 40-1-1 record in the series entering Monday night’s match — Mexico not only found a way to clinch the historic victory, but were also completely deserving of the result. Hungry, fearless and bold — Mexico coach Pedro Lopez described his roster as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” before the tournament — the players were flawless as they shut down opposing attacks, pressed high and created danger going forward. Backed by a Southern California crowd of 11,612 that at times made the match feel like a home game for Mexico, it became very clear with every probing forward pass, every confident shot from distance and every crunching tackle that El Tri Femenil were determined to make a statement.”I think this time it’s a little bit different,” hinted Mexico’s María Sánchez before the W Gold Cup about the rivalry with the U.S. “We know that the history between both teams hasn’t been as competitive before, but I think the growth of women’s soccer in Mexico can hopefully take us closer.””The group is at a higher level than we’ve been in the past.”For U.S. interim coach Twila Kilgore, the result was clearly a warning sign. “It just shows how far the game is coming and there’s no easy games anymore,” Kilgore said. “If we don’t take care of business and we don’t execute, this is to be expected.”With the result in hand, is this the start of a new chapter in the Concacaf rivalry that has long been one-sided? Has the development of Liga MX Femenil been a significant factor? Or will this simply be a flash in the pan, like that win in 2010?

Learning to take the neighbors seriously

In order to better understand the trajectory of the rivalry and how it could change, we must first look back at the last chapter that included the only other loss for the USWNT against Mexico. It’s late 2010 and the U.S. are preparing for World Cup qualifiers south of the border in Cancun. According to one account, it was more of a preparation for a trip to the beach. “We assumed we would walk through that qualification and we allowed ourselves to lose focus. We were down in Mexico snorkeling and swimming with dolphins,” said Heather O’Reilly, a former USWNT player who won a World Cup title and three Olympic gold medals. “We didn’t expect Mexico to come out as hard as they did. A very harsh lesson.” In a semifinal match that would yield an invite to the 2011 Women’s World Cup, it took just three minutes for Mexico to take a 1-0 lead through Maribel Dominguez. Although the USWNT would equalize via Carli Lloyd in the 25th minute, Mexican striker Veronica Perez scored the eventual game-winner just 60 seconds later.” To be completely honest, in the moment, I didn’t realize how big of a goal that was and has been for Mexico,” said Perez, who before Monday was one of just two El Tri Femenil players to score in a win over the U.S. “Even afterwards it took me a while to grasp the importance of that goal.”The U.S. would later qualify for the World Cup through a playoff, but the lesson was undoubtedly learned for the group of players that would then pummel Mexico through 16 consecutive wins.”We have to know the target is always on our back. Everyone loves an underdog story and everyone loves to knock the top team off the pedestal,” said Amy Rodriguez, a former USWNT player who took part in the 2010 loss. “You just cannot count anyone out, and being the U.S. team and having that huge target on your back, no matter who the opponent is, you can never go step into any game lightly. Mexico for sure is one of those teams that you don’t want to take lightly.” Learning to respect your opponent is one thing, but what happens when they start to close the gap when it comes to talent and depth?

Liga MX Femenil helping sway momentum of the rivalry

Lopez should be given credit for instilling a new mentality for Mexico’s players. “If the things we are planning happen, we can beat anyone,” said the coach before the tournament. But if there’s one major factor that has truly elevated the national team in recent years, it’s Liga MX Femenil.Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only)“In 2010, Mexico didn’t have a pro or competitive league for women,” said Perez, who took part in Liga MX Femenil from 2019 to 2023. “[The league] has given a pathway and so many opportunities for Mexicans to develop as players. To have that stability, structure and organization to be able to train all year.”Since its inception in 2017, the league has shifted from signing only Mexican-born players to accepting dual-nationals and, most recently, to allowing foreigners who have continued to raise the profile of the nascent competition. Coupled with a growing number of talented NCAA players who are looking for prominent roles that the NWSL may not be able to provide, plus some eye-catching attendance numbers, the league is flourishing at an exciting pace. Although Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil-heavy roster in the 2022 Concacaf W Championship failed to earn qualification for last year’s World Cup, what’s often lost about the tournament was how difficult El Tri Femenil made it for the U.S. during the group stage. While it’s tough to say that a 16th consecutive loss was a step in the right direction, they were able to hold the Americans to a narrow and hard-fought 1-0 victory that needed an 89th-minute game winner. Previously losing their last seven games with at least a three-goal margin, 2022 was a step in the right direction for Mexico and an omen of better things to come. By 2024, and with 10 players in their XI representing Liga MX Femenil, Mexico were able to get the job done against the U.S. on Monday. Ovalle, arguably the best player on the field, demonstrated the same control of the ball and power behind her shots that has made her a fan favorite at Tigres. Reinforcing Mexico’s spine as their captain, Rebeca Bernal looked just as confident and imposing as she typically does in Monterrey. Pelayo found the back of the net from distance in the same manner that she has already done so twice this month with Club Tijuana.”The women’s game is becoming tighter where the U.S. team isn’t as dominant as they were before, so I just see an exciting kind of exponential growth among the women’s game and especially within the [Liga MX Femenil] teams in Mexico,” said Rodriguez.Add in a handful of NWSL players in the gameday roster, and you suddenly have a team that won’t fear the USWNT.”Now we have our own league in Mexico, we have more Mexican players in the NWSL,” said Sanchez, a current member of the Houston Dash who once played with Tigres. “There’s that growth that is obviously happening that’s helping us all around with the Mexican national team.”The U.S. will continue to be the heavy favorite in this series, and there’s no indication that it has now been upended, but as seen in a growing women’s game that is changing across Concacaf and the globe, teams are beginning to catch up.”It’s been competitive and it will remain competitive,” said Rodriguez about the U.S.’s rivalry with Mexico. “When you see the investment and the development of the women’s soccer game around the world progressing, it’s no exception that Mexico is going to obviously be a talented team.”If 2010 taught the Americans that Mexico should be taken more seriously, 2024 is a recognition that their regional dominance can no longer be taken for granted.

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Proud Member of the American Outlaws https://www.facebook.com/IndyAOUnite, Brick Yard Battalion – http://brickyardbattalion.com, Sam’s Army-http://sams-army.com

2/19 Champs League Tue/Wed 3 pm CBS, USWNT Gold Cup Play Tues night 10:15 pm, MLS season starts this week, Indy 11 win again, CFC GK

February 20, 2024February 22, 2024 gatorbest champions-league, indy-11, indy-soccer, pulisic, soccer, soccer-refs, us-women, usmnt, uswnt

A young group of US Ladies is set to take the field Tuesday night at the US Women usher in the youngsters for the Women’s Gold Cup defense on ESPN + and Paramount+ at 10:15 pm. The US should have no issues in the first game until facing Argentina in the 2nd game of the group stage this Friday 10:15 pm. With the games all taking place in LA – it will be late night games for the US on all 3 set of Group stage matchups. (Games included in the TV Game schedule below). I am looking forward to seeing Mia Mishel and Jaedyn Shaw up top along with Trinity Rodman in the all under 23 forward line-up with Alex Morgan not called up – who can put the ball in the net? The midfield figures to be the same with Horan and Lavelle holding down the fort I presume – but Albert from PSG will be fun to watch. I suspect the backline will feature stalwarts Girma, Emily Fox and Davidson – who slides in beside Girma will be the question? I assume someone other than Naeher will get the net duties – probably Casey Murphy. I see the US winning this first warmup game 3-0.

Here’s the full Gold Cup roster:

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

Indy 11 Beat Columbus Crew II

Jack Blake scored three first-half goals to help lead Indy Eleven to a 7-1 victory over Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday afternoon at Grand Park. Blake now has a team-leading six goals through four matches of the 2024 preseason. The midfielder scored three in 30 matches last season. The Boys in Blue also picked up goals in the first 45 from Sebastian Guenzatti and Douglas Martinez. Cam Lindley dealt out a pair of assists, giving him three this preseason, while Augi Williams chipped in one. The second half saw Martinez score his second of the match off Lindley’s second assist, while Augi Williams connected from the penalty spot to increase the lead and close out the scoring for the day. Preseason action continues Saturday at Lexington SC. The match is closed to the public.

Complete Preseason Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | D, 0-0
Saturday, Feb. 10 vs Chicago Fire FC II | W, 2-0
Tuesday, Feb. 13 vs. Indiana Wesleyan University | W, 5-0
Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. Columbus Crew 2 | W, 7-1
Saturday, Feb. 24 at Lexington SC | Closed to the public
Thursday, Feb. 29 vs. Detroit City FC | Closed to the public
Friday, March 1 vs. Forward Madison FC | Closed to the public

Games on TV –

Concacaf Champions Cup for MLS, the best teams in Mexico and the top teams from Central American, and is back – full schedule. Europa League Round of 32 on Thursday gives us American’s Pulisic & Musah and AC Milan traveling to French club Rennes at 3 pm up 3-0 on CBSSN & TUDN, & Unimas. While also at 3 pm American Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis travel to Zagreb on Paramount+. Pregame show starts at 2 pm. (see full Europa League schedule below) Pulisic finally got back on the board this weekend with a goal and assist for AC Milan – albeit in a shocking loss 4-2 loss on the road.

Tues, Feb 20: Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven (Dest, Pepi, Tillman) vs Borussia Dortmund (return legs: Wednesday, March 13).
Wed, Feb 21: Napoli vs Barcelona CBS 3 pm, Porto vs Arsenal TUDN Para+ (return legs: Tuesday, March 12).

Huge Congrats to our Carmel FC Goalkeepers who traveled to Memphis this past weekend to represent Indiana @ the ODP Tourney. CFC GKU!!

working of pictures of our other 2 GKs who participated – PS – GK Training Thur 5 pm & 5:45 pm Badger Field House

GAMES ON TV

Tues, Feb 20

2:45 pm CBS Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid

3 pm para+, TUDN, Unimas Dortmund vs PSV Eindhoven (Dest, Pepi, Tillman)

7:30 pm ESPN+, PAra+ Argentina vs Mexico Women’s Gold Cup

8 pm FS2 St Louis City vs Houston Dynamo Cup

10 pm FS2 Deportivo Saprissa vs Philly Union

10:15 pm ESPN+. Para+ USWNT vs Domican Republic Women GC

Weds, Feb 21

2:30 pm USA Liverpool vs Luton Town

3 pm CBS Napoli vs Barcelona

3 pm Para+ TUDN Porto vs Arsenal

8 pm Fox Sport 2, TUDN Independiente vs New England CONCACAF

10 :pm FS2 Cavalry vs Orlando City SC CONCACAF

Thursday, Feb 22 , Europa League Round of 32

12:45 pm CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Rennes

3pm CBSSN Roma vs Feyenoord

7 pm FS2 Moca vs Nashville CONCACAF

8:30 pm ESPN+, Para+ Canada women vs El Salvador WGold Cup

9 pm FS2 Cavelier vs Cincy CONCACAF

Fri, Feb 23

7:30 pm ESPN+ Dom Republic vs Mexico WGold Cup

10:15 pm ESPN+, Para+ Argentina vs USWNT WGold Cup

Sat, Feb 24

10 am USA Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest (Reyna & Turner)

10 am PEacock Man United vs Fulham (Ream, Jedi)

12:30 pm NBC Man City vs AFC Bournmouth

1230 pm ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig
3 pm PEacock Arsenal vs Newcastle United

4:30 pm Fox LAFC vs Seattle Sounders MLS

7:30 pm MLS Openers on Apple TV

Sun, Feb 25

6:30 am Para+ Juventus (Mckinney) vs Frosinone

8:30 am USA Wolverhampton vs Sheffield United (Trusty)

10 am ESPN+ Chelsea vs Liverpool (League Cup)

2:30 pm Apple TV Cincy vs Toronto FC

2:45 pm Para+ AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Atalanta

3 pm ESPN+ Real Madrid vs Sevilla

5 pm ESPN+, Para+ Paraguay vs Canada WGold Cup

8:30 pm Apple TV LA Galaxy vs Inter Miami

Mon, Feb 26

10:15 pm ESPN+, Para+ Mexico vs USWNT

Full Gold Cup TV Schedule on ESPN+ & Paramount Plus

Concacaf Nations League Finals, March 21 – 24

2024 Copa America, June 20 – July 10

2024 Summer Olympics – Men & Women, July 24 – August 10

USA Women

USA vs. Dominican Republic, 2024 W Gold Cup: What to watch for S&S

2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup: Scouting the Dominican Republic S&S

2024 W Gold Cup: Group A Preview S&S By Donald Wine II

2024 W Gold Cup: Group B Preview By Brendan Joseph

2024 W Gold Cup: Group C Preview By Brendan Joseph

Full Gold Cup TV Schedule on ESPN+ & Paramount Plus

US Men

Christian Pulisic tracker: Goal, assist for AC Milan’s USMNT star vs Monza — Updates, video highlights
Christian Pulisic, Johnny Cardoso, and the PSV trio — A USMNT in Europe progress report

MLS

MLS Season Preview

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview – Can an MLS Team Win It? ESPN

Champions League Stories

Why is the Champions League so hard to retain?

Napoli fire coach 2 days before Barcelona UCL tie

Bayern woes mount with 1st-leg loss at Lazio

Man City dominant yet again in the Champions League: Can anyone stop them?

Mbappé on target as PSG beat Real Sociedad

UEFA reveals London-inspired Champions League ball Chris Wright

Indy 11

Indy 11 Women Schedule Announced

Indy Eleven Announces 2024 Promotional Schedule – Tickets on Sale NOW!

Boys in Blue Announce Signing of Hoosier Karsen Henderlong

Indy Eleven Announces Addition of Defender Josh O’Brien

Boys in Blue Open Preseason Action with 0-0 Draw at Pittsburgh

Indy Eleven Front Office Members Honored as Part of USL Championship Starting XI

Reffing

MLS set to start season with replacement officials

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

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USMNT midweek viewing guide: Champions are back in business

Our PSV trio of Dest, Pepi, and Tillman face Dortmund in Champions League knockouts, while Pulisic and Musah make their way in Europa League.

By Justin Moran @kickswish Feb 19, 2024, 9:00am PST

Midweek USMNT action is here. Let’s get into it!

Monday

Everton vs Crystal Palace, 3p on USA, Universo, Fubo, Sling, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo: Chris Richards and Palace visit Everton in Premier League action.

Also in action:

NAC Breda vs Cambuur, 2p: Agustín Anello and Cambuur visit Breda in the Eerste Divisie.

Tuesday

PSV vs Borussia Dortmund, 3p on Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMás, Fubo (free trial), and ViX: For anyone who has been frustrated with Dortmund recently and wanted to root against them, here’s your chance. PSV Americano, featuring Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi, and Malik Tillman face Dortmund in the Champions League round of 16.
Deportivo Saprissa vs Philadelphia Union, 10p on FS2, TUDN, Fubo, Sling: Jack McGlynn, Quinn Sullivan, and the Union visit Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissa in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Also in action:

Cardiff City vs Blackburn Rovers, 2:45p: Ethan Horvath and Cardiff face ~~Duncan McGuire~~ just kidding, Blackburn weren’t able to finalize his loan from Orlando City.
St. Louis City vs Houston Dynamo, 8p on FS2, Fubo, Sling: Aziel Jackson and St. Louis meet the Dynamo in Concacaf Champions Cup play. Houston are without a serious USMNT prospect, but do feature Panamanian international Adalberto Carrasquilla.
Necaxa vs Chivas, 10p: Cade Cowell and Chivas visit Necaxa in Liga MX.

Wednesday

Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake, 8p on MLS Season Pass: Drake Callender, Julian Gressel, Noah Allen, DeAndre Yedlin, and Miami host Diego Luna, Fidel Barajas, and RSL to kick off the 2024 MLS season.
Independiente de La Chorerra vs New England Revolution, 8p on TUDN, Fubo: DeJuan Jones, Noel Buck, Esmir Bajraktarevic, and the Revs travel to La Chorrera, Panama to face CAI in Concacaf Champions Cup.

Also in action:

Cavalry FC vs Orlando City, 10p on FS2, TUDN, Fubo, Sling: Ah, there’s Duncan McGuire. He and Orlando City journey north to meet Canadian side Cavalry in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
América vs Mazátlan, 10p on TUDN, UniMás, Fubo: Alejandro Zendejas and Club América host Mazátlan in Liga MX.

Thursday

Rennes vs AC Milan, 12:45p on Paramount+, TUDN, CBS Sports Network, Fubo, ViX: Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and Milan make the return trip to Rennes, having won 3-0 at home in the first leg. If they advance on aggregate, they move into the Europa League round of 16.
Dinamo Zagreb vs Real Betis, 12:45p on Paramount+, ViX: Johnny Cardoso and Betis have their work cut out for them, having lost 0-1 to Zagreb in the first leg at home. They’ll need to mount a comeback if they hope to advance past the Europa Conference League round of 32.

Also in action:

Moca FC vs Nashville SC, 7p on FS2, Fubo, Sling: Walker Zimmerman, Shaq Moore, new arrival Tyler Boyd, and Nashville SC travel to the Dominican Republic to open their Concacaf Champions Cup campaign.
Cavalier SC vs FC Cincinnati, 9p on FS2, Fubo, Sling: Brandon Vázquez has left FC Cincy for the Rayados of Monterrey, but Cincinnati still has USMNT-relevant players like Miles Robinson, Lucho Acosta, Matt Miazga, and Roman Celentano. They travel to Jamaica to open Concacaf Champions Cup play.

Friday

Utrecht vs Heracles, 2p: Taylor Booth and Utrecht host Luca de la Torre’s old club, Heracles Almelo, in Eredivisie action.
Coventry vs Preston, 2:45p: Haji Wright and Coventry face Duane Holmes and Preston North End in the Championship.
Juárez vs Monterrey, 10p on FS2, FOX Deportes, Fubo, Sling: Brandon Vázquez and Monterrey face the Bravos of Juárez in Liga MX.

Also in action:

Holstein Kiel vs St. Pauli, 12:30p on ESPN+: Manager Fabian Hürzeler and St. Pauli are tied with Holstein Kiel atop the 2. Bundesliga table. Born in Houston, Hürzeler has led St. Pauli to just 1 loss in 21 league matches this season. Former FC Dallas homegrown defender Nico Carrera is on the books at Holstein Kiel, but has only played for their reserves this season (in the fourth-tier Regionalliga).
Charleroi vs Genk, 2:45p on ESPN+ (free trial): Mark McKenzie and Genk visit Charleroi in Belgium’s top tier.

USA vs. Dominican Republic, 2024 W Gold Cup: What to watch for

Time to get it started. By Donald Wine II @blazindw Feb 19, 2024, 6:00am PST

The United States Women’s National Team take the field tomorrow against the Dominican Republic as they embark on a new journey with the start of the 2024 W Gold Cup. The inaugural tournament is the first chance in 2024 the USWNT have to play, and it’s the first opportunity to win a trophy.

2024 is a year of transition for the USWNT, as Emma Hayes will take over as head coach towards the end of May and Twila Kilgore continues to manage the team on an interim basis. There seems to be a movement of youth entering to establish a new younger core of the team. At the same time, they balance this transition with 2024 being a year of importance, with the W Gold Cup and Olympics serving as opportunities to claim a championship. The USWNT want to begin by claiming this inaugural edition of the W Gold Cup.

Their first opponent are Las Quisqueyanas, the upstarts from the Dominican Republic who have shocked everyone by getting to the group stage of a major tournament for the first time. They won’t back down and they will once again be looking for the monumental upset, so the USWNT cannot take them lightly as we embark on the maiden voyage of the W Gold Cup.

Recent Form

USA

W (2-1) – China – Friendly

W (3-0) – China – Friendly

W (3-0) – Colombia – Friendly

D (0-0) – Colombia – Friendly

W (2-0) – South Africa – Friendly

Roster

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

DEFENDERS (8): Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC), Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NY/NJ Gotham FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns)*

MIDFIELDERS (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

FORWARDS (6): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

*Becky Sauerbrunn replaced Alana Cook, who was withdrawn due to injury, on the roster

What To Watch For

Time for the new era? With some of the younger players getting their first shot at a major title, could we see a shift in USWNT’s approach by playing them? Players like Mia Fishel, Jaedyn Shaw, Korbin Albert, and Jenna Nighswonger could factor into this match to show that the future is now. We await the lineup to see where Kilgore decides to go.

The midfield needs to be dynamic and crisp. The USWNT always struggle when their midfield isn’t dynamic and sharp with the ball. They have to be the ones to maintain possession and keep the ball moving forward, while also relieving pressure from the back line by keeping the ball in front of them on defense. Finally, crisp passes are the key. When we’re sloppy with the ball, it makes for a long day.

Don’t gift any hope to the opposition. The Dominican Republic is looking for the upset. The USWNT need to get out quickly and never let Las Quisqueyanas get any belief that they can pull off the shocker.

Prediction

The USWNT win 4-0, but it’s not fully convincing.

2024 W Gold Cup: Group A Preview

We begin our W Gold Cup previews with Group A.

By Donald Wine II @blazindw Feb 18, 2024, 7:00am PST STARS AND STRIPES

The 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup starts this coming week, and 12 teams will fight for the chance to make history as the first champions of this tournament. 8 Concacaf teams are joined by 4 teams from CONMEBOL – Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay – in 3 groups, where the top 2 will advance as well as 2 of the 3rd place teams.

Group A figures to be an intriguing one, with the best team in Concacaf, the United States, taking on a couple of teams in Mexico and Argentina that desire to break into that next level of teams in the world and the Dominican Republic, who are looking to continue to provide the upset. It will be the group that likely commands the most attention, but the action on the field will surely bring some fireworks and tense moments for fans of each of the teams. We’re looking forward to these 4 teams challenging each other for Group A supremacy

Schedule

Tuesday, February 20th

USA vs. Guyana/Dominican Republic

Mexico vs. Argentina

Friday, February 23rd

USA vs. Argentina

Guyana/Dominican Republic vs. Mexico

Monday, February 26th

USA vs. Mexico

Argentina vs. Guyana/Dominican Republic

United States

The USWNT enter 2024 looking to re-establish themselves as the best team in the world. They are first focused on setting the pace in this competition and find the focus and drive that made them invincible for so long. They’ve brought in some younger players who are hungry to produce goals and defend, and it feels like the beginning of some change in the program. However, having younger players on the team means it’s the first time for many of them in big time competition like this tournament. That’s where the World Cup veterans need to lead the way and help the team take care of business.

FIFA Ranking: 2

Odds of Winning Group: Clear favorites

One to Watch: Mia Fishel is ready to announce herself officially on the international stage. Look for her to make a big impact up front.

Argentina

La Albiceleste enter this tournament looking to make a statement that they can move into the conversation as one of the best teams in the Americas. They have finished 3rd in the two most recent Copa América Femenina tournaments, and this is an opportunity for them to take the next step. However, Argentina have to overcome some history in this group: they are are 0W-5L-0D against the United States and 1W-8L-1D against Mexico all-time. To win this group, they will need to beat at least one of those teams.

FIFA Ranking: 31

Odds of Winning: Needs Help

One to Watch: Mariana Larroquette has 22 goals in 79 caps for Argentina, and she will look to provide some more goals for the team up front.

Mexico

Mexico enters the W Gold Cup with something to prove. They failed to qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup as well as the 2024 Summer Olympics, so they’ve been working hard from within to improve their squad. They’ve brought in some younger budding stars, some of whom won the gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games. Now, they want to bring it in a tough Group A and re-establish Mexico as one of the teams to beat in this region.

FIFA Ranking: 35

Odds of Winning: Needs help

One to Watch: Diana Ordóñez has become a star in the making in her short time on La Tri, and she could be poised for a breakout at this tournament.

Dominican Republic

Las Quisqueyanas upset Guyana in the Gold Cup Prelims to advance to the group stage. They’re complete underdogs in this group, but they will not be scared of any team they take on. This is the first major tournament that the Dominican Republic has qualified for in their history, and they want to continue to make history with this group.

FIFA Ranking: 107

Odds of Winning: Slim To None

One to Watch: Kathrynn González scored the lone goal in the Dominican Republic’s win over Guyana, and she’s going to be a player to watch as they enter the group stage.

USWNT’s Lindsey Horan apologizes for ‘poorly expressed’ comments

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 02: Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States signs autographs at DRV PNK Stadium on December 02, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

By Meg Linehan The Athletic Feb 15, 2024 https://theathletic.com/5279598/2024/02/15/uswnt-lindsey-horan-apology/

U.S. women’s national team captain Lindsey Horan opened her time in front of reporters by addressing the reaction to her comments on American fans’ knowledge of soccer, made in an interview with The Athletic published earlier this month.“First and foremost, I would like to apologize to our fans,” Horan said while speaking during a virtual availability ahead of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. “Some of my comments were poorly expressed, and there was a massive lesson learned for me.”In her interview with The Athletic, Horan shared frustrations with how viewers of matches took commentary at face value before joking that her mother did it while watching USWNT matches. On Thursday, she took time to clarify and express her appreciation for the fans.

“When I think about our fans, I love them so much. The team loves them so much, and I can’t begin to explain how much they mean to us. Every time we step out and train, every time we step out and play in games, you know we play for you guys,” Horan said. “You’re our inspiration, our motivation, and seeing you wear our jerseys and seeing you screaming our names, and chanting USA, that’s what we play for and I never wanted to take any of that away.“Continuing on that, the soccer culture in America is changing and growing so much in such a positive way. For me to experience that firsthand, playing for this U.S. women’s national team but also in the NWSL and for the Portland Thorns, is something just so amazing. It is my absolute honor, and I will always say that, to be able to put on this crest every single day. To be in this environment, to go out and play in front of our fans and represent this national team, that is something — again, it is my greatest honor. … The last thing I ever wanted to do was to offend anyone in that manner. So again, I deeply, deeply apologize.”When asked to elucidate what she wanted to express with her original comments, Horan replied that she did not think that “what I meant really matters right now.” She said that she’s just “a football brain” who loves watching as much soccer as possible.“I love talking about it, and the way people talk about Man City, Arsenal, the old Barcelona,” she said. “That’s what I want people to say about us. I want people to talk about how incredible we are on the ball, the possession, the style of play, the technical ability, the tactical changes mid-game, these types of things.”Horan said she apologized because of how she felt and that she wanted “to express how much the fans mean to me personally.”On the matter of the tournament ahead of them — the inaugural W Gold Cup — Horan joked that the goal is “the trophy.”More seriously, she said that the team’s main goal is to win, but it’s also a perfect preparation for the Olympics due to the tournament format and timing. “What we do here can really train us and mentally prepare us for what we might have to deal with in France,” she said. “We take each game at a time and we get better throughout the tournament, and we keep increasing now what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to play.”

Horan stressed multiple times that she believes every player on the roster needs to be utilized throughout the Gold Cup to help get some players tournament minutes and more time on the field — and that the USWNT must take advantage of this time on the field together ahead of the Olympics.“It’s not just the new young ones, it’s all of us,” she said. “We’re all progressing together and we remain a team. Everyone needs to get on the same page leading into the Olympics, but first off, the first game here at the Gold Cup.”(Photo: Brennan Asplen, Getty Images)

Concacaf W Gold Cup preview: USWNT’s chances, format and more

Cesar Hernandez ESPN

Feb 19, 2024, 11:02 AM ET

An invaluable chance for redemption is within reach for North America’s two major powerhouses in women’s national team soccer. After the United States and Canada failed to live up to expectations in last year’s World Cup, the latest script for both sides can now be rewritten during the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup, a 12-team international women’s tournament that is set to kick off for the first time on Tuesday.

Featuring eight Concacaf representatives and four guests from Conmebol (South America), a chance to make a claim as the best in the Americas will be on the line for not only high-profile squads like the U.S. and Canada, but also a handful of dark horses that are on the rise. The teams are split into three groups of four, with the top two from each group and the two best third-placed teams then moving onto the knockout round that concludes with a final at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium on March 10.

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

Looking ahead to the tournament’s debut, there’s plenty of intrigue about how it will all play out and on the possible impact it can have for the women’s game, but before discussing what it means to those involved, let’s first dive into how and why the W Gold Cup came about.

The creation of the W Gold Cup

In an effort to increase the number of women’s national team games within the region, Concacaf, FIFA’s governing body for North American soccer, revealed a new four-year calendar in 2020 that would lead up to a revamped World Cup qualification tournament (eventually named the “Concacaf W Championship”) in 2022, as well as a brand new “Women’s Concacaf Nations League” in 2024.

“The new calendar prioritized more official match dates for all women’s senior national teams in Concacaf, and ensuring an elite competition to showcase the highest level of women’s international football,” according to a press release that included the qualification routes for both tournaments. “Through this new calendar, Concacaf will more than double the number of official senior women’s national team matches compared with the current cycle of competitions.”

Additional details were added in 2021. Along with qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, 2022’s Concacaf W Championship would also provide a path into the 2024 Olympics. The two invitees into the Olympics were then also granted entry into 2024’s Women’s Concacaf Nations League Final tournament, which was rebranded as the Concacaf W Gold Cup.

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While the U.S. (winners of the 2022 Concacaf W Championship) and Canada (Concacaf W Championship finalists, Olympic play-in winners) claimed those two invitations, the rest of the Concacaf region would go on to take part in a preliminary “Road to the Concacaf W Gold Cup” competition. Resembling a Nations League structure that has recently been used to provide more meaningful games for men’s national teams, but with different branding, women’s national teams were now given a chance to do the same.

Building up to this month’s W Gold Cup — which, like the men’s Gold Cup, is to be played every four years according to the tournament’s 55-page regulations — a long-awaited push for more official games in women’s soccer was underway.

“The W Gold Cup Final [tournament] will not only crown the champion of what is now Concacaf’s flagship women’s international competition, but it will also cap off a 4-year cycle where teams from the region will have competed in a minimum of 195 official matches, which represents 118% increase in comparison to the previous four-year cycle,” stated a press release in 2021.

“Together, the 2021 Concacaf W Qualifiers, 2022 Concacaf W Championship, 2023 Road to Concacaf W Gold Cup, and 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup will accelerate the growth of Women’s Football and provide a consistent structure of matches and competitions for our Member Associations.”

More matches are undoubtedly better for countless mid-to-lower tier teams in Concacaf that don’t have the same opportunities or resources as those regional powerhouses above them. Providing a pathway to a tournament like the W Gold Cup, and the additional platform through it, is also crucial. Looking at those powerhouses though, this isn’t to say that the U.S. and Canada can’t benefit from the W Gold Cup either. Aside from eagerly wanting to bounce back from disappointment on the global stage with a continental title, there is significance beyond another championship for the traditional giants of Concacaf.

Olympic prep and showcasing a new generation

“This Gold Cup is amazing preparation for us for the Olympics,” said U.S. defender Emily Fox during a recent press conference. “It’s the longest time we’re going to have together as a team [before the Olympics], an entire month. So I think for us, our focus is on the Gold Cup and on the tournament and how we can learn from it and prep for the Olympics.”

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While both the U.S. and Canada have explicitly noted that winning the W Gold Cup is the goal, there’s also the added benefit of having an extended period of time to train and take part in official matches just months before Paris 2024. It’s worth noting that of the 12 teams that will take part in women’s soccer at the Olympics, four (the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Colombia) will be in the W Gold Cup.

“It’s such a cool opportunity to have a major tournament like this that kind of exemplifies the Olympics and gets us prepared for that,” said U.S. captain and midfielder Lindsey Horan. “What we do here can really train us and mentally prepare us for what we might have to deal with in France, but first and foremost, this is a major tournament itself and we want to win.”

For Canada head coach Bev Priestman, it could also help ease some roster-related headaches. “I don’t know about you, but trying to get this to a 23 [player] roster was very hard and then to try and get it to 18 [players for the Olympics] — I think some of the principles that we’ve used in terms of trying to think about this Gold Cup is about players who could play in multiple positions, fitness.

“All these sorts of things around Olympic rosters is going to come into play,” said Priestman, who recently extended her coaching contract to 2027 last month. “We won’t be where we want to be in July by this Gold Cup, but what I hope we can do is continue the positive momentum in terms of what we’ve seen on the pitch. I think absolutely, we’re here to try and win this thing, but we also have July in mind.”

Through that process, there’s also a noteworthy changing of the guard for both teams that will be tested in the W Gold Cup.

For the U.S., 11 members of the roster are 25 or younger. In a transitional period under interim coach Twila Kilgore (prior to Chelsea Women boss Emma Hayes taking the reigns in the summer), and without the likes of goalscoring veteran Alex Morgan or a retired legend Megan Rapinoe in the squad, prominent roles are up for grabs.

“It’s just a great opportunity to get in with the team and show myself,” said Jenna Nighswonger, the 23-year-old defender that won an NWSL title and Rookie of the Year award in 2023 with NJ/NY Gotham. “I think we’re going after gold obviously in this tournament and every game is looking to help us for the Olympics.”

“The younger girls coming in are so, so talented. They have such a bright future and they bring creativity and flair on the field,” said U.S. defender Abby Dahlkemper after a recent training session. “They’re fearless and passionate, they fit in and they gel in really well with the group. It’s an exciting time for this team, just kind of seeing the progress of younger players coming in.”

Canada are also looking forward to the impact of younger names. Without the iconic Christine Sinclair who retired from international play in late 2023, and through a roster (like the U.S.) that has 11 players that are 25 are younger, more will be expected from youthful call-ups that now have a chance to thrive at the W Gold Cup.

“I’m excited to see people step up and I don’t mean one individual, I mean a group of people now,” said Priestman. “Whenever you have a veteran group around, not by design just by nature, people kind of take that back seat a little bit more, but what I started to see at the back end of last year is people grabbing the reins a little bit.”

Underdogs from Latin America and the Caribbean

Of course, this tournament is much more than just the U.S. and Canada. Circling back to additional games provided in Concacaf and the ongoing development of women’s soccer across the globe, long gone are the days when elite squads could coast through competitions.

“Within my experience of being on the national team, the growth of Caribbean teams and Latin American teams have been huge…in general, I think as a whole, everyone [in women’s soccer] is getting better and better, which we love to see,” said Fox. “We saw that in the Euros, in Concacaf for [World Cup] qualifying for us, and then also in the World Cup last year. So I think for us, going into the Gold Cup, we know each game is going to be a challenge and a lot of teams have really amazing individual talent.”

That talent is best highlighted by Colombia’s young phenom Linda Caicedo, who was runner-up for 2023’s The Best FIFA Women’s Player award. In the same manner that she was a breakout star at the World Cup as Colombia reached the quarterfinals, other up-and-coming names from Latin America and the Caribbean can make a name for themselves in an official tournament like the W Gold Cup.

“These aren’t friendlies anymore,” stated Horan. “It’s tournament play and each team gives a different kind of game in tournament play. You’re going out to win games, you’re going out to get points…these teams are going to make it difficult for us.”

With recent World Cup experience under their belts and promising runs through the Road to Concacaf W Gold Cup, Costa Rica and Panama could pose a threat in this tournament. Elsewhere, marquee invites from Conmebol like Brazil, Argentina and Colombia won’t be walkovers after finishing in the top three of 2022’s Copa America Femenina. As for Colombia, no team in the W Gold Cup went further than them in the latest World Cup.

“The tournament is giving us totally different styles of play, which is brilliant, in terms of confederations and styles within South America, Concacaf,” said Canada’s Priestman. “It’s a great test for us.”

Of the rising teams, Mexico also look the most capable of possibly upsetting the order. Boosted by the hiring of new head coach Pedro Lopez, the women’s national team charged through 2023 without a single loss in all competitions. One week before the start of the W Gold Cup, and seeking redemption for his team that failed to qualify for the World Cup before he was hired, Mexico’s manager provided one of the more noteworthy pre-tournament quotes that conveys the confidence of a squad that has benefitted and grown through additional matches in their international calendar.

“Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” said Lopez when asked about the state of his roster. “In other words, people are seeing the sheep on the outside, but inside there is a wolf that wants to come out and wants to vindicate itself in front of the entire world.”

Will all go to plan for the U.S. and Canada as they search for a title and prepare for the Olympics? Will an underdog step out from the shadows and make a statement in the inaugural women’s tournament?

We’ll begin to find out when it all kicks off on Feb. 20.

MLS Season Preview: The Messi Effect

With a full offseason to prepare, Inter Miami and all of MLS are ready to reap the benefits of having the world’s biggest soccer star

BY ALEX SILVERMAN2.19.2024

COURTESY OF INTER MIAMI CF

One evening in late January, just days after starting their 25,000-mile preseason tour — the most extensive ever for an MLS team — in El Salvador, Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates boarded a boat at the Port of Miami clad in matching pink hoodies. Fortunately for the soon-to-be-weary travelers, they wouldn’t be setting sail that day.

The team joined hundreds of VIPs inside a domed theater aboard Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s new 1,198-foot cruise liner, to christen the ship and celebrate the club’s most lucrative corporate partnership to date. The players took the stage and removed their hoodies to reveal the club’s new black away kit for the 2024 season, featuring the cruise line brand’s recognizable crown-and-anchor logo.

The affair concluded with Messi, dubbed “The Icon of Icon” as part of a personal endorsement deal with the cruise line brand, placing a soccer ball atop a pedestal, at which point a bottle of champagne was sent whizzing down a zip line to ceremonially shatter on the bow of the ship.

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Much like the international tour that also saw Inter Miami play exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan from Jan. 19 to Feb. 15, the celebration of an eight-figure-a-year sponsorship agreement — the largest ever for an MLS club — would have been unthinkable prior to Messi’s arrival last summer.

Also previously unthinkable: the more than $200 million in revenue that Inter Miami Chief Business Officer Xavier Asensi expects the club to pull in during the 2024 season, Messi’s first full campaign in MLS. That would be a more than 60% increase from last season and four times what the club earned in 2022. Last year, LAFC topped MLS clubs in revenue at approximately $140 million, with Inter Miami second at $125 million. This year, thanks to Messi, Miami figures to take the top spot.

“People understand that we are living part of history, that we are contemporaries of something that will go into the history books of sports,” Asensi said. “People understand and want to be a part of it.”

After years of courting arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, Inter Miami signed Messi to a two-and-a-half-year contract last summer worth $50-60 million annually in salary, equity in the club and signing bonuses. The deal also includes an option for an additional year in 2026. On top of his compensation from the club, Messi will receive a share of revenue from international subscriptions to the MLS Season Pass streaming service as part of a separate agreement with Apple.

Inter-esting Development

Xavier Asensi’s revenue projections for the club in 2024 will likely place Inter Miami tops among all MLS clubs.

$200M: Expected club revenue in 2024
$125M: Approximate club revenue in 2023
$50M: Club revenue in 2022

Asensi expects Inter Miami’s sponsorship revenue to be just under $60 million this season, roughly double the amount the club generated last season. That’s compared to a mean year-over-year increase of 15% for all clubs, according to the league. The average sponsorship revenue for an MLS team is approximately $17 million, according to industry sources, and revenue in the high $50 million range would put Inter Miami above some teams in the older traditional North American sports leagues.

In addition to Royal Caribbean, the club last season signed a jersey sleeve deal with Fracht Group, a Swiss logistics and freight forwarding firm. This offseason, it has forged renewals at higher rates with several partners and added new sponsors such as battery brand Duracell and Argentinian winery Trapiche. Several additional announcements are expected this week.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Inter Miami’s success in attracting major global partners following the Messi signing could serve as motivation for other clubs to take big swings of their own.

“We can now look at the success of the commercial business in Miami and show many of our other clubs that if you could think about your business differently, you could attract the attention of partners in ways that are not just about local and can be more about global,” Garber said.

Inter Miami has also roughly doubled prices for season tickets from 2023 and added 1,000 seats at DRV PNK Stadium, its temporary home in Fort Lauderdale, bringing capacity to 21,550. Asensi said the club aims to continue increasing capacity until the team moves to its new $350 million stadium in the forthcoming $1 billion Miami Freedom Park development (likely during the 2025 season). About 75-80% of seats will be sold to season-ticket holders, with the rest earmarked for single-game sales.

Inter Miami Chief Business Officer Xavier Asensi predicts the club will bring in $200 million in revenue in 2024.COURTESY OF INTER MIAMI CF

While the club declined to share specifics on revenue expectations from the team’s preseason tour, Asensi said the appearance fees the club received from international promoters were significantly higher than what FC Barcelona received for its own exhibition matches when he worked at the Spanish club from 2010-2021.

“There will always be a before Messi and an after Messi,” said club co-owner Jorge Mas. “Commercially there has been a significant impact on the club’s revenue base and it is only Year 1.”

Inter Miami has naturally been the primary beneficiary of its investment in Messi joining MLS, but other clubs have also scored from the Messi Effect. Prior to hosting Inter Miami last Oct. 4, the Chicago Fire were averaging just 14,880 fans at Soldier Field and hadn’t sold any suites annually for the 2023 season. The Oct. 4 match against Miami drew a crowd of 62,124 and set an MLS record for the highest-grossing single match ever with roughly $10 million in ticket revenue. The Fire also leveraged that match to keep fans coming back to Soldier Field.

When it became clear prior to the match that Messi wouldn’t play because of a leg injury, the Fire offered fans a $250 credit toward a season-ticket membership for the 2024 season. Fire President Dave Baldwin said that of the 3,400 new season-ticket holders the team added for this season, 700 utilized the credit from the Inter Miami match. The team also offered a free suite for the Inter Miami match to anyone who signed up for a 2024 annual suite. That promotion delivered 15-20 of the 43 annual suites that the Fire have sold for 2024.

Using teams like the Fire as case studies, MLS’s newly established club performance group is now advising teams on how to make the most of their opportunities to host Inter Miami.

“Our focus is on retention,” said MLS Chief Club Performance Officer Chris McGowan. “If you have a lot of new people coming into the system, you want to make them lifetime, lifelong fans, and that’s what our opportunity is [with Messi]. So, we’re spending a ton of time evaluating great retention ideas for making new fans and new customers feel like they want to stick with it and become long-term season-ticket holders.”

Commissioner Don Garber (right) is watching the number of players following Messi to the U.S.GETTY IMAGES

Sporting KC, one of only three Western Conference teams scheduled to host Inter Miami this season, has moved the April 13 match from its 18,467-seat home field at Children’s Mercy Park to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 76,416-seat Arrowhead Stadium to maximize ticket revenue. Heading into 2024, season-ticket sales leaguewide are up 15% compared to this time last year.

Eastern Conference teams have also used their guaranteed home game against Inter Miami as a selling point for potential sponsors. Scott McIntyre, CEO of Virginia-based consulting firm Guidehouse, said D.C. United’s early-season visit by Messi to Audi Field was one of the top benefits of signing on as the club’s front-of-kit sponsor this year.

“It’s our brand on the front of the jersey, and [there will be] so many eyeballs becoming familiar with Guidehouse as a name during a game that features one of the sport’s leading global figures,” McIntyre said. “I’m also looking at it from the standpoint of somebody who’s going to be in the stands watching that game with my kids and my wife, so I’m excited as a fan and a sponsor.”

At the league level, the biggest early impact of the Messi Effect can be seen in adoption of MLS Season Pass. Apple and MLS have kept information about the subscriber count for the streaming service close to the vest, but two sources with knowledge of the data said the number of subscribers at the end of the 2023 season had eclipsed 2 million. That figure, which includes users who joined later in the season at pro-rated prices, is more than twice as many subscribers as the service had at the All-Star break, just prior to Messi’s Inter Miami debut on July 21. That match came in the revamped Leagues Cup between MLS and Liga MX clubs that gave an immediate boost of awareness to a key part of MLS’s growth strategy, and that awareness only accelerated as Messi led Miami to the title, the club’s first trophy in its four years of existence.

A special talent requires a special schedule, and when the new season starts this week, Messi and Miami will be out front. The club’s opener, a home match against Real Salt Lake, will be the only game to take place on Wednesday. The league’s 27 other teams will start their seasons three days later.

Messi missed Miami’s game at Chicago last year, which set a single-game revenue record at roughly $10 million.GETTY IMAGES

Heading into the first full year with Messi in the league, Garber said MLS is focused on how it might adapt its overarching commercial strategies to maximize the global superstar’s long-term impact.

“Ticket sales, sponsorship sales, subscription sales — the revenue will continue to follow Messi being in our league, but to me, it’s way more important to look at it strategically,” Garber said. Though he said it was too early to discuss specific plans, he pointed to player acquisition, corporate sponsorship and consumer products as areas that could see significant change in the Messi era.

More than anything else, Garber believes Messi’s decision to join MLS will organically influence more top talent from around the world to consider plying their trade in MLS. It’s already started to happen; last December Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez signed with Inter Miami to team up with Messi.

“Major League Soccer, due to Messi’s desire to come to our league and choose Major League Soccer and Inter Miami, we’re part of the global conversation,” Garber said. “As you read interviews with players around the world, the biggest names in the sport, MLS is constantly part of the message. That dynamic is something that I think will be part of the next generation of MLS growth for years to come.”

World Cup 2026: How do I get a ticket? Are tickets for sale? How much do tickets cost?

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 4: FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy during FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule announcement on February 4, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

By Joey D’Urso Feb 18, 2024 The Athletic https://theathletic.com/5280346/2024/02/18/world-cup-2026-ticket-price-sale-date/

The next World Cup will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico and will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.It will be the first tournament to include 48 teams, expanded from the previous number of 32, meaning there will be more games than ever — 104 in total.The tournament is a long way off, so details on tickets are thin on the ground, but this is what we know so far.

Where are the matches?

The World Cup will take place across 16 cities in three countries, more than any tournament before.Three of these locations are in Mexico: Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City.Two others are on either coast of Canada: Vancouver and Toronto.The remaining 11 are in the USA: Miami, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Kansas City, Dallas and New York City.That U.S. list gives the nearest big city to each stadium. Some venues are located in lesser-known settlements nearby, such as East Rutherford in New Jersey for New York and Santa Clara for San Francisco.

Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico (Sergio Navarrete/Getty Images)

How does the tournament work?

Since 1998, World Cups have had 32 teams, enabling a neat symmetry, but this one is bigger and 48 teams means a somewhat more complex format is necessary.The tournament used to have eight groups of four teams in which each country played each other once. The top two in each group then progress to four knockout stages — a round of 16, then quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.The USA, Canada and Mexico all qualify automatically. The remaining 45 slots will be filled through qualifying competitions, which take place separately on each continent.n 2026, there will still be four teams in a group and the top two will still progress to the next stage, but there will be 12 groups rather than eight.And the eight best third-placed teams — of 12 — in the groups will also progress, a similar format to the European Championships (which has 24 teams).Thirty-two teams will progress to the knockout stage, meaning an extra knockout round, before the tournament continues from the round of 16 as it has in previous tournaments.

Where are the biggest games?

The U.S., Canada and Mexico will play their three group games in their home country.

Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, will host the tournament’s opening game. The U.S. will host 78 matches overall, while Canada and Mexico will host 13 each.

All of the quarter-finals and both the semi-finals will be in the U.S., along with the final. The quarter-finals will be in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas City, while the semi-finals will be in Dallas and Atlanta.

The 23rd World Cup final will take place at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on the outskirts of New York City, on July 19, 2026.

These stadiums are split into three regions, west, central and east, in an attempt to minimise travel for fans. Nevertheless, the distances within regions are vast, with Kansas City and Mexico City (1,385 miles apart) in the same region, as well as Toronto and Miami (1,239 miles apart).

(Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images)

Are tickets on sale?

No. With more than two years to go until the tournament kicks off, there is little public information about tickets. A page on the FIFA website simply allows people to register their details to receive information about tickets when it is available. The Athletic contacted the tournament organisers for comment.

How will the ticketing process work?

We don’t know for sure, but looking at previous World Cups as well as similar events like the European Championships, it is possible to make some educated guesses. Tickets for major tournaments are essentially split into three categories. First, there are tickets allocated to member associations — the two countries playing against each other in a given match. These are generally given to supporters on the basis of loyalty, for example by points built up from following the country in qualifiers.How easy these will be to get hold of varies greatly depending on the country — they will be in high demand for the host countries, but easier to come across for nations far away with less of a travelling following.The second category is those tickets given over to sponsors and other members of what FIFA likes to call the “football family”.This does not just mean VIPs in glitzy hospitality boxes. For last year’s Champions League final in Istanbul, only about 40,000 went to fans of Manchester City and Inter Milan. The remaining 35,000 went to sponsors and all sorts of other people with links to UEFA. A small number of these may make their way into the hands of ordinary fans through tickets and giveaways.As the tournament progresses and the games get more glamorous, the demand from sponsors and other “neutral” supporters will get higher.The third is the rest. These are the tickets the public can buy without being a member of any country’s loyalty scheme or part of the football family.

How will these general sale tickets get allocated?

We don’t know for sure but can take a look at how Germany, the host of this summer’s European Championship, is allocating tickets.There have been two stages of ballots in which people can select to buy several tickets in four different categories. Cheaper tickets are generally in higher demand, so it is likely to be easier to get a ticket by entering the ballot in a more expensive category.UEFA has not released details of further ticket sales. Still, there will likely be a limited amount of tickets on general sale between now and the tournament beginning in June, likely for the matches featuring less glamorous teams at bigger stadiums.Demand for tickets in Germany has been extremely high for several reasons.

(Rob Pinney/Getty Images)

First, attending live football matches is a huge part of German culture, so demand from locals is high.Second, the tournament is the only European Championship or World Cup in Western Europe taking place between 2016 and 2028, except Euro 2020, which took place across the continent but saw travel heavily restricted by Covid.This means huge numbers of football fans across Europe want tickets for Germany.It remains to be seen how strong demand will be for World Cup 2026, particularly in cities like Kansas City and Houston, which are not normally associated with football — but things in the U.S. are changing quickly in that respect.

How much do World Cup tickets cost?

We don’t know yet, but we can look at precedent.It is often hard to give a definitive answer to this question because tournament organisers often sell some tickets at low prices, which are in reality very difficult to get hold of, with most fans paying far more.An analysis by German sports consultancy Keller Sports in 2022 found that an average ticket at the Qatar World Cup was £286, rising to £684 for the final. This was a 46 per cent increase on the tournament in Russia in 2018.xcluding restricted view tickets and a special category only available to Qatari nationals, group stage tickets ranged in price from 40 Riyals ($11) to 800 Riyals ($213).This steadily increased in price as the tournament progressed, with final tickets costing between 750 Riyals ($200) and 5850 Riyals ($1,560).There may also be tickets available on secondary resale sites where prices are likely to be far higher.These sorts of platforms are often risky to use in Europe, with football organisations not cooperating with them because of deeply engrained cultural norms against very high ticket prices.But in the U.S., this taboo is not in place and it was perfectly possible to buy a Super Bowl ticket through a credible reseller — if you have $10,000 to spare.It remains to be seen which approach the World Cup will take.

How much do tickets cost compared to the Super Bowl and other major events?

The cheapest face-value tickets for this year’s Super Bowl sold directly by the NFL were about $2,000, far higher than for any major football match.Tickets changed hands for about five times this on the secondary market.Tickets for the final are likely to reach similar eye-watering prices, but if you are not too picky about which game you go to, you will likely be able to get tickets for early World Cup games at far more affordable prices.

Is it possible to attend every game at the World Cup?

Football YouTuber Theo Ogden, known as Thogden, attended every game of the Qatar World Cup in 2022, the first person in history to do this at a tournament.This was possible because of Qatar’s tiny geographical size, although he did have to miss half of several of the games to fit them all in.But there’s absolutely no chance of anyone repeating the same feat in 2026.Over a manic 17 days from June 11 and June 27, the entire group stage will be completed — all 72 games of it. The last four of those days will have six games on each of them, spanning the entire continent of North America.With vast distances between stadiums, fans will have to plan their games carefully.

Real Madrid signed Kepa Arrizabalaga to be their No 1 – now he’s lost his place

LEIPZIG, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 13: Kepa Arrizabalaga of Real Madrid warms up during the UEFA Champions League round of 16, first-leg football match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid CF at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, on February 13, 2024. (Photo by Federico Titone/Anadolu via Getty Images)

By Guillermo Rai Feb 16, 2024 THe Athletic

Who is Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper?A month ago, we asked that very question in an article on the club’s choice between Andriy Lunin and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Now, the answer seems clear. Lunin is leading the way. This represents quite a turnaround from the situation in the summer, when Arrizabalaga was brought in on loan from Chelsea — right after Madrid’s long-time goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was ruled out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury — to be Carlo Ancelotti’s number one for the remainder of the campaign.On the day of his presentation as a Madrid player on August 15, Arrizabalaga was glowing, super-happy and having turned down an offer from serial German champions Bayern Munich to take up the opportunity in his native Spain.When he was asked whether his goal was to convince Madrid to decide to keep him beyond his loan spell, he replied: “I hope so. Today is the first day, we’ll see, but hopefully with my performance I can make that happen.”Six months on, that possibility is looking remote.

When Courtois was ruled out on August 10, two days before Madrid’s first La Liga match of the season, some voices at the club believed it was Lunin’s time because it would be complicated to bring in another top-level goalkeeper.But Madrid moved quickly — very quickly — to get Arrizabalaga on board. Lunin started the first two league games, but the Chelsea loanee took over as soon as he’d had a chance to settle in.

“Kepa’s level is very high,” Ancelotti said at the time. “Lunin lacks a bit of experience. They won’t rotate much.”Starting with his Madrid debut on August 25, Arrizabalaga played 13 games in a row: 10 in La Liga and three in the Champions League, conceding 10 goals and keeping six clean sheets. He made some good saves, including an important stop in the October 28 Clasico in Barcelona, where Madrid came from behind to win 2-1.Other performances had perhaps not fully convinced, such as October’s away games against Sevilla in La Liga and Napoli in the Champions League, but the coaching staff were happy with him. Kepa and his family were happy too, and his wife even posted a photo in which she seemed to say goodbye to London for good, five years after his move to Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao.But then Arrizabalaga was injured in the warm-up before the home Champions League match against Sporting Braga on November 8. Coaching staff sources — who, like all those cited here preferred to speak anonymously to protect their position — describe it as the “turning point” that saw the balance changed between the two goalkeepers.

Lunin and Arrizabalaga train earlier this season (Helios de la Rubia/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

Lunin came into the team and saved a crucial penalty that night when what became a 3-0 Madrid win was still goalless. Despite barely having warmed up, he seized his moment and reignited the debate over who should be the club’s starter.

Then Arrizabalaga ended up being out for longer than the two-match absence that was initially expected. He eventually missed four games either side of the November international break, as Ancelotti continued to insist publicly that he was first-choice. “If he is ready, Kepa will play,” he said on November 27. But when the Basque was back fit a few days later, he found himself on the bench not the pitch.

Just before Christmas, Ancelotti said, “I don’t have the idea of rotating goalkeepers. Both are doing well. Lunin has progressed a lot and has shown a lot of confidence and Kepa has maintained his level… in the second part of the season, I will choose one of the two.”Since suffering that injury before the Braga match three months ago, however, Arrizabalaga has played just five times — once in the Champions League, twice in La Liga, once in the Copa del Rey (against fourth-tier Arandina) and most recently in the Supercopa de Espana.That last appearance, in the January 10 semi-final against neighours Atletico, might perhaps be seen as another turning point.Madrid were 5-3 winners after extra time but Arrizabalaga faced some criticism for his role in the goals conceded, and Lunin was preferred for the final against Barcelona four days later, where Madrid triumphed 4-1.In the next league match the following weekend, Ancelotti turned back to Arrizabalaga, but again he looked far from his best as Almeria raced into a 2-0 half-time lead in the Bernabeu, with a third goal ruled out by the VAR, before Madrid eventually came back to win 3-2, thanks to a few more controversial refereeing decisions.Lunin, who turned 25 this week, has been selected to start the five matches since.

Ancelotti has not wanted to publicly clarify who his preferred goalkeeper is, but Arrizabalaga was a spectator from the dugout again as his Ukraine international team-mate performed to his very best in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory away to RB Leipzig in the first leg of a Champions League last 16 tie.

“Kepa’s injury opened up the possibility of Lunin challenging for his place, and he has won the game. Lunin has convinced with his play,” say coaching staff sources, who see the process as something natural and simple.

Sources in the dressing room say the 29-year-old loanee is close with Lunin, describing him as “an exemplary team-mate, as if he were the one who was playing every game”. When Arrizabalaga found himself in a similar situation at Chelsea, in the 2022-23 season, Edouard Mendy was the starter ahead of him and similar things were said of his disposition.Arrizabalaga’s Chelsea contract expires at the end of next season. This summer might be the best chance for the London club to seek a sale, but as previously reported by The Athletic, Madrid signing him then is highly unlikely given Chelsea would ask for around €20million (£17.1m; $21.5m) — a figure the La Liga side would not pay for a backup goalkeeper.Lunin now looks established as Ancelotti’s pick, although Arrizabalaga could well return to the starting XI and further impress before the season is out if an opportunity arises.In the meantime, he has continued training, convinced that he is ready to play and be a starter, although those close to him are no longer sure that he will remain in Madrid.

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2/12/24 Champ League Returns Tues/Wed on CBS 3 pm, Europa Thurs on Para+, Indy 11 win at home, Why the Superbowl doesn’t compare to UCL Final, Ivory Coast & Qatar Win Cups

February 13, 2024February 15, 2024 gatorbest arsenal, barcelona, carmel-reffing, carmel-soccer, champions-league, europa-league, football, indy-11, premier-league, soccer-game-schedule, superbowl-vs-champions-league

Champions League Tues/Wed Knockout Stage Begins on CBS

There is a real David and Goliath feel to Wednesday’s 3 pm battle on CBS featuring Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain — the Basque team based around youngsters developed in their Zubieta academy against the Parisians, a side full of expensive individuals signed by the club’s Qatari owners — and David has a real chance of winning, too. Of course Copenhagen surprised Man United to make this round of 16 can they do similar things to Man City Tuesday on CBS at 3 pm? It all starts with Champions League today at 2 pm.

Tues, Feb 13: FC Copenhagen vs Manchester City 3 pm CBS, RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid 3 pm TUDN Para+ (return legs: Wednesday, March 6).
Wed, Feb14: Lazio vs Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Sociedad CBSSN 3 pm (return legs: Tuesday, March 5).
Tues, Feb 20: Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven vs Borussia Dortmund (return legs: Wednesday, March 13).
Wed, Feb 21: Porto vs Arsenal, Napoli vs Barcelona (return legs: Tuesday, March 12).

Champions League Stories

Why is the Champions League so hard to retain?
UEFA Champions League: Schedule, scores, how to watch live, dates, odds, predictions

UEFA reveals London-inspired Champions League ball Chris Wright

Man City, beware: FC Copenhagen keep upsetting Europe’s elite. Just ask Man Utd 1 ars Sivertsen

Bellingham out 3 weeks with high ankle sprain ESPN

Pep ‘99.99%’ sure City won’t win treble again Rob Dawson
FC Copenhagen v Manchester City: Pep Guardiola wants Erling Haaland to relax
RB Leipzig v Real Madrid: Jude Bellingham to miss last-16 tie with sprained ankle
Injury crisis ‘can motivate us’, says Madrid boss Ancelotti

Indy 11 Beat Chicago Fire II

Indy Eleven continued preseason action with a 2-0 victory over Chicago Fire FC II at the Grand Park Events Center on Saturday evening.The teams traded chances in a physical first half, but it was Indy that struck first in the 28th minute. Augi Williams found himself on the end of a cross from Cam Lindley, took a touch around the Chicago Fire keeper and put the Boys in Blue up, 1-0. Lindley was the team’s assist leader and ranked seventh in the USL Championship in 2023, registering eight helpers.It didn’t take Indy long to double the score as Sebastian Guenzatti connected with Jack Blake for the insurance tally. Yannik Oettl and Cayden Crawford split time in goal for the Boys in Blue, helping the squad post its second shutout in as many games.

Complete Preseason Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | D, 0-0
Saturday, Feb. 10 vs Chicago Fire FC II | W, 2-0
Tuesday, Feb. 13 vs. Indiana Wesleyan University | Closed to the public
Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. Columbus Crew2 | 3 p.m. | Open to the public
Saturday, Feb. 24 at Lexington SC
Thursday, Feb. 29 vs. Detroit City FC | Closed to the public
Friday, March 1 vs. Forward Madison FC | Closed to the public

Also the USL Super League for Women has received Division 1 Sanctioning from US Soccer – and will begin play in August head to head with NWSL. The Indy 11 Women will join the league when Indy 11 Park is completed.

Games on TV –

Concacaf Champions Cup for MLS, the best teams in Mexico and the top teams from Central American, and is back – full schedule. Europa League Round of 32 on Thursday gives us American’s Pulisic & Musah and AC Milan hosting French club Rennes at 3 pm on CBSSN & TUDN, & Unimas. While also at 3 pm American Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis host Zagreb on Paramount+. Pregame show starts at 2 pm. (see full Europa League schedule below)

Champions League is back Tues/Wed – this the official ball.

GAMES ON TV

Mon, Feb 12

2:45 pm Para+ Juventus (Mckinney) vs Udinese

3 pm USA Crystal Palace (Richards) vs Chelsea

Tues, Feb 13

2:45 pm Para+,TUDN RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid

3 pm CBS Para+ Kabenhavn vs Manchester City

WEds, Feb 14

3 pm CBS PSG vs Real Sociedad

3 pm Para+ TUDN Lazio vs Bayern Munich

8 pm Fox Sport 2 Tigres UNAL vs Vancouver CONCACAF

10:15 pm TUDN America vs Real Estelli

Thursday, February 15, Europa League Round of 32

3 pm CBSSN AC Milan (Pulisic, Musah) vs Rennes

HOME	AWAY	TIME/TV	VENUE
Feyenoord	Roma	12:45 pmParamount+	Stadion Feijenoord
Young Boys	Sporting CP	12:45 pmParamount+	Stade de Suisse Wankdorf
Galatasaray	Sparta Praha	12:45 pmParamount+	Rams Global Stadium
Shakhtar Donetsk	Olympique Marseille	12:45 pmParamount+	Volksparkstadion
AC Milan	Rennes	3:00 pmParamount+	Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Lens	Freiburg	3:00 pmParamount+	Bollaert-Delelis
Sporting Braga	Qarabag	3:00 pmParamount+	Estadio Municipal de Braga
Benfica	Toulouse	3:00 pmParamount+	Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica

2024 W Gold Cup, Feb. 20 – March 10

Concacaf Nations League Finals, March 21 – 24

2024 Copa America, June 20 – July 10

2024 Summer Olympics – Men & Women, July 24 – August 10

Champions League last-16: Predictions, best ties, players to watch and what’s changed

By The Athletic UK Staff and more the Athletic

The Champions League is back on Tuesday with 16 teams still in contention for a place in the final at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 1.

The clubs to have made it into the knockout phase include the holders Manchester City and 14-time European Cup/Champions League winners Real Madrid, along with less familiar contenders such as Real Sociedad and FC Copenhagen.

Here, a group of The Athletic writers analyse the eight two-leg ties that will be played out over the next month, pick out the key players and storylines to follow and make their predictions on who will be in the quarter-final draw on March 15.

Which is the most intriguing of the eight ties?

Carl Anka: Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid should be a fun match-up between two clubs who think Johan Cruyff was important but believe there are also other ways to play football. Styles makes fights, goes the boxing adage. It’ll be interesting to watch two brilliant teams who use wing-backs go head-to-head.

Dermot Corrigan: There is a real David and Goliath feel to Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain — the Basque team based around youngsters developed in their Zubieta academy against the Parisians, a side full of expensive individuals signed by the club’s Qatari owners — and David has a real chance of winning again, too.

Mark Carey: PSV Eindhoven vs Borussia Dortmund looks like a great tie, with both sides built upon principles of intensity and verticality. Peter Bosz’s side are flying in the Eredivisie with their high-octane style in and out of possession, while Dortmund are no strangers to punishing teams in transitional moments. Expect this one to be an entertaining slugging match.

Will things get any better at Barcelona for the exiting Xavi? (David Ramos/Getty Images)

Stuart James: Inter-Atletico is the box-office tie. PSV-Dortmund has the potential to be a wild ride. Porto vs Arsenal will have the celebration police out in force if Mikel Arteta and his players dare to do anything other than walk straight down the tunnel after getting through. But La Real-PSG is the one that intrigues: can a team of largely homegrown players give one of European football’s superpowers a bloody nose?

Sarah Shephard: Napoli vs Barcelona, simply because I’m not entirely sure what to expect from either side. Xavi’s announcement that he will step down as Barcelona coach at the end of the season revealed a man with little left to give, which could have a myriad of effects on his players, while Napoli are far from the team that invigorated Europe last season while winning the Serie A title. This one’s intriguing, but perhaps for all the worst reasons.

Round of 16 fixtures

Tuesday, February 13: FC Copenhagen vs Manchester City, RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid (return legs: Wednesday, March 6).
Wednesday, February 14: Lazio vs Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Sociedad (return legs: Tuesday, March 5).
Tuesday, February 20: Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven vs Borussia Dortmund (return legs: Wednesday, March 13).
Wednesday, February 21: Porto vs Arsenal, Napoli vs Barcelona (return legs: Tuesday, March 12).

Which player are you most looking forward to watching?

Anka: Martin Zubimendi has been talked up as a potential successor to Barcelona and Spain stalwart Sergio Busquets and as a possible replacement for Thomas Partey at Arsenal. In the here and now, the defensive midfielder is one part of a delightful Real Sociedad side taking on Paris Saint-Germain. The 25-year-old will be key to any success they have in that tie.

Corrigan: As Kylian Mbappe’s future remains such an open question, most La Liga watchers will take any chance to see the French forward playing in a big, competitive game. A match-winning performance against Real Sociedad will increase the expectation at Real Madrid that club president Florentino Perez should do everything possible to finally sign him. Multi-million euro decisions should not be made on two 40/html/container.html

Carey: Strikers are always exciting, but it will be interesting to see if RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda can punish Real Madrid. The 23-year-old Belgian has bagged 14 goals in the Bundesliga (behind only Serhou Guirassy of Stuttgart and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane) and has been in great individual form since the turn of the year, despite some poor results from Marco Rose’s side.

Openda has been in fine form for a struggling Leipzig team (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

James: I’ve seen a pass. You must have seen it too. Hakan Calhanoglu, reborn as a deep-lying playmaker these days, pinging a sublime 60-yard diagonal, complete with fade, to take two Juventus defenders out of the game during Inter’s 1-0 win the Sunday before last. Calhanoglu is a joy. Oh, and Xavi Simons, on loan at Leipzig from PSG, is a lot of fun to watch, too.

Shephard: Japanese winger Takefusa Kubo seems to have found his feet at Real Sociedad after joining them from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022. His form this season has seen him linked with a move — although he has recently signed a long-term contract. This competition is a key opportunity for him to shine on a huge stage.

Which manager has the most to lose?

Anka: My answer to this will be Luis Enrique, at every single round of the tournament. Any season in which PSG don’t win is considered a failure, but misbehave in this one and you may find yourself being linked to the Chelsea job in the summer.

Corrigan: Xavi has claimed that his decision to leave this summer will take some pressure off his Barca team and give them the best chance of success over the remainder of the season. That theory could well be tested against Napoli, and I wonder if a defeat there could mean the former Camp Nou playmaker leaves the job even quicker than he has laid out.

Carey: Thomas Tuchel has had his fair share of criticism in Germany already this season, with Bayern Munich stuttering badly behind a Bundesliga-leading Bayer Leverkusen. A meeting with Lazio is among the easiest of these last-16 ties, so if they don’t win either of the legs convincingly, the heat will truly be on for the manager.

James: The simple answer is Pep Guardiola, given the trophy belongs to City at the moment and they have the easiest last-16 tie. But in the real world, City are already through to the quarter-finals. Defeat for Tuchel would surely be extremely damaging, given that the annual formality of another Bundesliga title for Bayern is, well, anything but a formality this season.

Shephard: Dortmund’s Edin Terzic faces the unenviable task of taking on a man who once sat in his chair (for half a season, at least) and is now thriving elsewhere. Given the way things ended for Bosz in Dortmund, he will be keen to prove a point, and this season has already seen Terzic under pressure thanks to a run of poor form pre-Christmas and an early exit from the DFB-Pokal (Germany’s FA Cup).

Whose fortunes have changed most since the draw in December?

Anka: Xavi sounded weary and burnt out when he announced he’d be leaving Barcelona at the end of the season. Injuries have decimated his playing options and his top striker Robert Lewandowski is 35 years old and entering a physical and goalscoring decline. This isn’t the free-wheeling Napoli of last season (they really should have found a way to beat AC Milan in the quarter-finals) but Barca are far from the favourites for this tournament right now.

Corrigan: Leipzig’s group performances — they won four games and competed admirably against City in the other two — suggested they could be tricky opponents for Madrid. But three straight Bundesliga defeats last month on returning from the winter break led to Spanish media headlines of “Leipzig in ruins”.

Carey: It’s hardly the case that City’s fortunes have “changed”, considering they are the competition’s champions and took maximum points from the group stage. It is more a case that the start of a new year often sees Guardiola’s side find another gear — and after coasting for the first half of the season, they are in serious mode now. The recent returns of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland from injuries have restored them to title-favourite status in the Premier League. In Europe, you just have to feel sorry for FC Copenhagen.

City are motoring at full speed with Haaland and De Bruyne back (Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)

James: Not ignoring the fact that Barcelona were in a mess even before the draw was made, it’s been quite a story since. By my GCSE Grade C-Maths calculations, Their next 12 matches after they were paired with Napoli on December 18 produced 55 goals: five of them scored by Villarreal on their league visit, four by Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana final in Saudi Arabia and another four by hosts Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. On top of that, Xavi has announced he’s stepping down as coach. That apart, it’s been quiet.

Shephard: When the draw was made, Arsenal topped the Premier League table, a point clear of Liverpool and five ahead of City. Now they sit third, two points behind leaders Liverpool and level with City (who have a game in hand). Nobody believed Arsenal had the title sewn up before Christmas, but they seemed much more in control of the situation than they do today.

Who should the neutrals be supporting?

Anka: If you’re the sort of person who likes discovering bands before they start selling our arenas, pay attention to Real Sociedad. They have a squad of talented players on the verge of being snapped up by bigger clubs. Now’s the time to learn about Zubimendi, Kubo and more.

Corrigan: Most of these teams are so well known at this point that we’ve made up our minds whether we like them or not. Atletico could perhaps buck this trend; coach Diego Simeone keeps trying to evolve their style to play more joined-up attacking football, knowing his current squad has a lot more quality in attack than defence. But will many non-Atletico fans really be rooting for them?

Carey: It was the 2018-19 season when Ajax caught the hearts and minds of the neutral fans when they charged to the semi-finals of this tournament before somehow getting knocked out by Tottenham. This season, it’s another Dutch side who could be the dark horses, with PSV not to be underestimated thanks to their exciting attacking unit.

James: “Many would have liked to see us dead. But we are very much alive.” That was Luis Enrique talking in the wake of PSG scrambling through their group (of death) in second place, behind Dortmund and after seeing off Milan and Newcastle. Nothing personal, mate, but plenty of football fans probably feel the same about your Real Sociedad tie. What a story it would be if the Basques, playing their first Champions League campaign since 2013-14 and second in 20 years, made it to the last eight. Get on the San Sebastian bandwagon.

Shephard: Not many people outside of the blue half of Manchester really want to see another City clean-sweep of the major trophies, do they? In which case, you’d have to say FC Copenhagen should be the neutrals’ choice. They were beaten 5-0 by City in Manchester in the group stage of last season’s competition so an upset feels pretty unlikely, but it wouldn’t be an upset if that weren’t the case, right?

Who do you expect the quarter-finalists to be?

Anka: Let’s follow the law of parsimony here: the simplest explanation is most likely the right one. Arsenal, Barcelona, Dortmund, PSG, Inter, Bayern, City and Madrid. The most monied tournament in club football will likely favour the richest teams in it.

Corrigan: Inter-Atletico and Napoli-Barcelona look more evenly balanced, and Atletico seem a lot better positioned than Barca to come through a tight tie at this point.

Carey: It would be great to see some surprises, but the safest bet would be the obvious ones. Arsenal, PSG, Inter, Bayern, City and Madrid look pretty nailed-on, but the games that could throw some doubt would be Napoli vs Barcelona and PSV vs Dortmund.

James: A lot of the usual suspects: City, Madrid, PSG, Bayern, PSV, Atletico, Arsenal, Napoli. Arguably, the two surprises in there are PSV and Atletico. In the case of PSV, they’re unbeaten in the Eredivisie and Sergino Dest could nutmeg a mer… no, I’m not going to say it. Anyway, there’s a lot to like about Bosz’s football ideology. As for Atletico’s progress, Inter are a terrific side but I sense a rejuvenated Alvaro Morata and some classic Simeone s***housery causing them problems.

Shephard: Arsenal, Barcelona, PSG, Atletico, PSV, Bayern, City, Madrid. Sorry, Dortmund fans, but let’s at least try to keep things interesting. (Top photos: Getty Images)

Indy 11 Beat Chicago Fire II

Indy Eleven continued preseason action with a 2-0 victory over Chicago Fire FC II at the Grand Park Events Center on Saturday evening. The teams traded chances in a physical first half, but it was Indy that struck first in the 28th minute. Augi Williams found himself on the end of a cross from Cam Lindley, took a touch around the Chicago Fire keeper and put the Boys in Blue up, 1-0. Lindley was the team’s assist leader and ranked seventh in the USL Championship in 2023, registering eight helpers.It didn’t take Indy long to double the score as Sebastian Guenzatti connected with Jack Blake for the insurance tally. Yannik Oettl and Cayden Crawford split time in goal for the Boys in Blue, helping the squad post its second shutout in as many games.

Complete Preseason Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | D, 0-0
Saturday, Feb. 10 vs Chicago Fire FC II | W, 2-0
Tuesday, Feb. 13 vs. Indiana Wesleyan University | Closed to the public
Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. Columbus Crew2 | 3 p.m. | Open to the public
Saturday, Feb. 24 at Lexington SC
Thursday, Feb. 29 vs. Detroit City FC | Closed to the public
Friday, March 1 vs. Forward Madison FC | Closed to the public

USMNT midweek viewing guide: Picking up steam

Americans look to continue their momentum all across the globe in this week’s matches.

By Justin Moran @kickswish Feb 12, 2024, 8:56am PST

FC Internazionale v Juventus - Serie A TIM

Midweek USMNT action is here. Let’s get into it!

Tuesday

Chivas vs Forge FC, 10p on FS2, TUDN, Fubo, Sling: Cade Cowell’s 2 goals and 1 assist powered Chivas past Forge in the away leg of Concacaf Champions Cup. Cowell and Chivas hold a 3-1 aggregate lead going into the home leg, as the Canadian club makes the trip to Guadalajara.

Also in action:

Gil Vicente vs Vizela, 10:30a: Alex Méndez and Vizela visit Gil Vicente in Liga Portugal.
Norwich City vs Watford, 2:45p: Josh Sargent and the Canaries host Watford in the Championship.
West Brom vs Cardiff, 3p: Daryl Dike suffered an injury with West Brom at the weekend; Ethan Horvath joined Cardiff just recently from Nottingham Forest.
Gimnasia LP vs Hurácan, 5:15p on Paramount+, Fubo, Fanatiz, AFA Play: Alan Soñora and Hurácan are on the road in Copa de la Liga Profesional play.

Wednesday

Plymouth Argyle vs Coventry, 2:45p: Haji Wright and Coventry visit Plymouth in the Championship.
América vs Real Estelí, 10:15p on FS2, Fubo, Sling, ViX: Alejandro Zendejas and América host Nicaraguan club Real Estelí, having lost the away leg, 1-2. Las Águilas will need to make a comeback at home to advance in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Also in action:

Preston vs Middlesbrough, 2:45p: Matthew Hoppe and Boro visit Preston (Duane Holmes is injured) in the Championship.
Stoke City vs QPR, 2:45p: Reggie Cannon and QPR visit Geoff Cameron’s old club in the Championship.
Tigres vs Vancouver Whitecaps, 8p on FS2, Fubo, Sling: Brian White and the ‘Caps visit Tigres in Concacaf Champions Cup. The Whitecaps drew 1-1 at home in the first leg.

Thursday

AC Milan vs Rennes, 3p on Paramount+, TUDN, CBS Sports Network, UniMás, Fubo (free trial), ViX: Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and Milan begin their Europa League campaign at home against French opposition in the round of 32.
Real Betis vs Dinamo Zagreb, 3p on Paramount+, ViX: Johnny Cardoso and Betis host Croatian powerhouse Zagreb in the Europa Conference League round of 32.

Also in action:

Inter Miami vs Newell’s Old Boys, 7:30p on MLS Season Pass: Drake Callender, Julian Gressel, Noah Allen, DeAndre Yedlin, and Inter Miami continue their preseason world tour, this time hosting Messi’s childhood club Newell’s in a Miami friendly.
Monterrey vs Comunicaciones, 10:15p on FS2, Fubo, Sling: Brandon Vázquez and Rayados dominated Comunicaciones 4-1 in the first leg of this Concacaf Champions Cup tie. The scoreline could be even more dramatic with Monterrey at home for the second leg.

Friday

PSV vs Heracles, 2p on ESPN+ (free trial): Sergiño Dest, Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and PSV host Heracles in the Eredivisie.

Also in action:

Hannover vs Greuther Fürth, 12:30p on ESPN+: US U23 defender Maxi Dietz, Julian Green, and Fürth visit Hannover in the 2. Bundesliga.
Westerlo vs Standard Liège, 2:45p: Bryan Reynolds, Griffin Yow, and Westerlo face off with Marlon Fossey and Standard in Belgium’s top division.
Mazatlán vs Chivas, 10p: Cade Cowell and Chivas visit Mazatlán in Liga MX.

Comparing the Super Bowl to the men’s World Cup final and Champions League final

By Felipe Cardenas Feb 8, 2024

Last Sunday, after a made-for-TV event revealed the 2026 World Cup match schedule, FIFA president Gianni Infantino took a subtle shot at the NFL’s Super Bowl. The next men’s World Cup will be played in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, featuring an expanded field of 48 teams and 104 total games. “This will be 104 Super Bowls being played in North America,” Infantino said on Instagram. It was no coincidence that Infantino’s claim came at the start of Super Bowl week in Las Vegas. It was also a reminder that the worlds of soccer and American football both have an eye on each other as they each try to grow their operations. While the World Cup enjoys far greater popularity worldwide, the Super Bowl has cornered the U.S. market — an area of particular focus for global soccer powers over the last several decades. Which may be why some of soccer’s most influential officials are irked by the notion that the Super Bowl could be perceived as a bigger event than the World Cup. Three years ago, CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani was asked by a local television reporter in Atlanta why the city, which has hosted the Summer Olympics, would be interested in “an international event.” Montagliani recalled an anecdote about an unnamed NFL owner who told him that 100 million people around the world watch the Super Bowl. “I said, when we have the draw for the World Cup, which is ping-pong balls in a glass bowl, and some legend of the game pulls out a ball and says ‘USA versus Poland in Group A,’ that’s two to three times (the viewership of) a Super Bowl,” Montagliani said. “That’s just to pull balls out of a glass bowl, so that’s not even for the games of the World Cup… I’m not sure how else to answer that question, I think it answers itself.”uper Bowl viewership smashes that of the World Cup final within the U.S. However, if you broaden it to the global numbers for both, it flips far in the other direction. The World Cup final is an unbeatable global behemoth and that’s the problem when comparing the men’s World Cup final with the Super Bowl. You simply cannot get past the numbers.Take last year’s Super Bowl versus the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. The 2023 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles set a domestic viewership record with 115.1 million viewers across Fox, Fox Deportes and other digital streams. Another 56 million people outside the U.S. watched the game. Those numbers are impressive, but they’re just a spec in comparison to the “global reach” of 1.5 billion FIFA reported to have for Lionel Messi and Argentina’s defeat of defending champions France in the 2022 World Cup final. Whether that’s a massive exaggeration by FIFA or an accurate viewership figure is debatable, and something The Athletic covered in greater depth here.

A record 18,000 media credentials were issued for the World Cup in Qatar, according to FIFA. This weekend’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas will host over 6,000 credentialed members of the press. It’s the 57th edition of the Super Bowl, and because it’s in Vegas for the first time, it feels like one of the bigger NFL title games in recent memory.It features the league’s two best teams, a potential G.O.A.T. candidate in Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, against San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, an unlikely hero who was the last player taken in the 2022 draft (a position dubbed “Mr. Irrelevant”). It’ll be a storybook ending in Sin City, no matter who wins the game. And yet, most of the world’s population won’t be watching. That’s why comparing the Super Bowl, a yearly title game between club teams, with the World Cup final, which is played every four years by national teams, misses the mark. The World Cup is a month-long tournament that since 1998, has featured 32 countries from around the world. The 2026 World Cup in North America will be the biggest World Cup ever in the most commercialized country on the planet. Despite Infantino’s dig and Montagliani’s ping-pong ball anecdote, FIFA can take some cues from the NFL, which has mastered the art of merging sports and entertainment. Think about why so many Americans and NFL fans around the world watch the Super Bowl. It’s a spectacle celebrated by parties and calls for it to be made an official national holiday. If the game itself falls flat, the millions watching from home (in the U.S. at least) can still debate whether the commercials were funny or innovative and watch the broadcast for the halftime show. A normal Super Bowl halftime break can run up to 30 minutes — twice as long as any other NFL halftime break — in order to allow organizers to set up and tear down an elaborate concert stage for superstar performers on the field. It’s hard to imagine FIFA extending halftime of a World Cup final for the same reason, but the tournament’s opening and closing ceremonies seem like a compromise. A Super Bowl halftime is also prime ad space, which is why advertising agencies and corporate sponsors will once again put all their eggs in one basket this Sunday, spending $7 million dollars for a 30-second chance to become part of American pop culture. Messi will star in a Super Bowl commercial for the first time this year, cementing his place in the American consciousness.Clearly FIFA hears the noise regarding the Super Bowl-World Cup comparison. The World Cup is a monster on its own, but the Super Bowl has a cool factor that any sporting event would envy. It’s the blue collar mentality of Rocky mixed with the multi-billion-dollar NFL machine. The countless celebrities that attend a Super Bowl, the national anthem before kickoff. It’s simply unique. It’s Apple pie and heavy metal. It’s American exceptionalism. The Super Bowl is Americana at its finest. World soccer’s chief decision makers would love nothing more than to emulate that appeal.Instead of the World Cup final, a fairer comparison would be to set the Super Bowl against the UEFA Champions League final. It’s by far the biggest game of the club soccer calendar. Both the Super Bowl and the Champions League final occur annually and both pit professional organizations against each other, rather than national teams. But yet again, the comparison ends with the viewership numbers. In 2023, UEFA estimated that a global audience of 450 million people would watch at least a portion of the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan. That’s still more than the Super Bowl’s viewership record. In this case, however, numbers don’t always tell the whole story. A feeling of grandeur is what has traditionally defined the Super Bowl. The build-up to Super Bowl Sunday is a week-long content circus. Nearly 24,000 fans attended this week’s media day event earlier this week at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the site of Sunday’s Super Bowl. Players from both teams walked onto the stadium’s artificial turf like prize fighters before a heavyweight fight, only to take a seat at a podium and answer questions, with pop star Taylor Swift a particular point of emphasis.

“The (Champions League) final should be bigger,” said Paris Saint Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi in 2022. “I can’t understand how the Super Bowl can feel bigger than the Champions League final. The Super Bowl, and the U.S. generally, have this mindset, creativity and entertainment. That’s what I have suggested, to have an opening ceremony to the Champions League, to have one match on the opening night where the winners take on a big team — maybe it is not a good idea, but at least let’s challenge the status quo. Each match needs to be an event and entertainment.”In 2015, Pepsi saw an opportunity to change the tone of the UEFA Champions League final by sponsoring the final’s Kickoff Show entertainment. Since then, international artists like Dua Lipa, Black Eyed Peas, and Camila Cabello have all featured at the start of the global broadcast. But does anyone remember those performances? Comparing the Super Bowl with soccer’s two biggest matches has become an endless debate. What should take precedence, though, are the many ways that FIFA, UEFA and the NFL are moving closer to one another. The three organizations are also gradually moving in on each other’s territories. The NFL continues to expand its brand globally, with the possibility of playing a Super Bowl in London becoming closer to reality. “It is not impossible, and it is something that has been discussed before,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in 2023. Meanwhile, European soccer’s governing body has discussed holding its showpiece event in the United States.So, while the numbers tell a good portion of the story when it comes to differences in popularity and appeal, the Super Bowl, World Cup and Champions League final all have elements envied and emulated by each other.

(Top image: Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images; Kohjiro Kinno/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images; Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES; Sportfoto/Getty Images; Design: Eamonn Dalton)

The Concacaf Champions Cup is back!

Maybe you didn’t know it had gone anywhere or maybe you’re asking “What’s the Concacaf Champions Cup?” The governing body in North America, Central America and the Caribbean opted for a name change ahead of a revamped tournament.FotMob – 3 days ago

By Jon Arnold

It’s the same name the continental club championship carried for many years, evoking memories of the glory days of club soccer in the Concacaf region, well before MLS existed or Liga MX clubs had started to exert their power.

What’s different besides the name?

This tournament is going to be big. Like, really big. There are 27 teams competing to be the club champion of the region and things will run from today until June 2.

After teams from outside North America played the Central American Cup and Caribbean Cup, and North American teams qualified through league play or cup competitions, the field is full of squads looking to nab Concacaf’s fourth and final place at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup – plus secure bragging rights and start the new format off right.

Isn’t Lionel Messi in this?

Yes, Inter Miami qualified to the tournament by virtue of winning the Leagues Cup, but that also grants Miami a first-round bye.

So, will Messi play in Suriname?

Sadly, no. Well, not unless Caribbean champion Robinhood (yes, you read that right) gets to the final and so does Inter Miami. While Tata Martino’s men qualifying for the CCC sent thoughts of Messi globetrotting dancing through the heads of international soccer lovers, the most likely first game for the Herons is a Leagues Cup final rematch against Nashville SC. Win that, and it could be a trip to northern Mexico to meet Monterrey – or a U.S. Open Cup semifinal rematch against FC Cincinnati.

Of course, anything could happen. Moca, of the Dominican Republic, could spring a surprise on Nashville in the opening round, which might see Messi turn up to the DR. Stranger things –

Ivory Coast are AFCON champions: From sacking manager to lifting trophy, this is their story

TOPSHOT - Ivory Coast's forward #15 Max-Alain Gradel (R) and Ivory Coast's forward #24 Simon Adingra (L) kiss the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on the podium after Ivory Coast won the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 final football match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria at Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan on February 11, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

By Jay Harris Feb 12, 2024 The Athletic

Children were dancing on the pitch, kissing the turf and throwing confetti in the air while a security guard chased after them.Three hours after Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 2-1 to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the third time, hundreds of people were still inside the Alassane Ouattara Stadium. Volunteers wanted to go home, but supporters wanted to cling to this magical moment for as long as possible.They gatecrashed the mixed zone, where players speak to reporters, and grabbed selfies with Max Gradel or asked him to sign their shirts. Sebastien Haller and Odilon Kossounou flashed their medals for the cameras. Oumar Diakite, Christian Kouame and Jean-Philippe Krasso walked through with a speaker blasting music. The group of children running around the centre circle briefly disappeared to follow the team bus but came charging back minutes later.At the same venue three weeks ago, Ivory Coast fans were crying in the stands following a humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea. It was the biggest defeat they have ever suffered at home and they were dangerously close to being eliminated from the competition. With a little bit of luck and help from Morocco, the Ivory Coast survived. Now they are champions for the first time since 2015.“It’s more than a fairytale,” said Emerse Fae, who is still officially only the interim head coach. “It’s difficult for me to realise what I’m going through. When I think about all the hard times we went through, it’s great and we are lucky. We have enjoyed miracles.”Diakite had a different view of their incredible achievement.“We were like ghosts in this tournament, but it’s not possible to die twice.”

During the journey to Ebimpe, which is where the final was held, there was a van tilted sideways and stuck in a ditch with five people trying to push it out. Cars were gridlocked on the main motorway leading to the ground, forcing drivers to seek alternative routes, and the tricky terrain had claimed a victim. These tight back roads, which weaved through market stalls, were uneven, rocky and littered with large wooden logs. Kids ran around screaming and two goats appeared in the street while men smoking shisha pipes watched on nearby, unmoved.The chaotic scenes neatly mirrored Ivory Coast’s path to the final. They beat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in their opening game but lost their next two matches. Jean-Louis Gasset was sacked as head coach before they qualified for the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed sides. Fae took charge but the Ivorian Football Federation attempted, and failed, to lure Herve Renard from France’s women’s team for the rest of the competition. Renard led the Ivory Coast to glory in the 2015 AFCON final when they beat Ghana on penalties.

Emerse Fae, middle, interim head coach and AFCON champion (Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images)

Fae had never taken charge of a senior side before and his first game was against the defending champions Senegal. When Habib Diallo converted Sadio Mane’s cross in the fourth minute, it appeared Fae was out of his depth. However, the former Reading and Nantes midfielder, who celebrated his 40th birthday on the day he replaced Gasset, tweaked his tactics and inspired a memorable victory.What happened in the quarter-final against Mali defied belief. They played the majority of the game with 10 men after Kossounou was sent off and went 1-0 down. Simon Adingra equalised before Diakite scored the winner in the 122nd minute. The 20-year-old picked up a second yellow card for over-celebrating and was suspended for the semi-final. In that game, they dominated DR Congo but only secured a 1-0 victory.

Ivory Coast smothered Nigeria during the first 30 minutes of the final only to concede first when William Troost-Ekong headed the ball past Yahia Fofana. This side does not wake up until they are faced with some kind of adversity and love the thrill of a dramatic comeback.Franck Kessie equalised and Haller, 18 months after undergoing surgery and multiple rounds of chemotherapy to remove a testicular tumour, poked Adingra’s cross past Stanley Nwabali to put Ivory Coast ahead. Apart from Kelechi Iheanacho’s shot, which was blocked, Nigeria never looked capable of pulling off the kind of freak comeback Ivory Coast have trademarked.Nigeria’s head coach Jose Peseiro said his team were “nervous”.“Our team had a fantastic tournament, but today we didn’t show our level,” Peseiro said. “It is the truth. It was not the same collective performance as we did up until now. You lose many balls, it’s not a tactical problem. I don’t know why, but I didn’t feel my players were comfortable today.Orange and green flares were popping up in different sections of the crowd as full time approached while 57,000 people started chanting Victor Osimhen’s name — Nigeria’s forward was being taunted for failing to make an impact. Osimhen played an important role for Nigeria as they reached the final, but one goal in seven appearances is a disappointing return for the men’s African Footballer of the Year.

Sebastien Haller scored Ivory Coast’s winner (Sia Kambou/AFP via Getty Images)

Everybody, apart from a small pocket of Nigeria fans, danced to Coup du Marteau by Tam Sir — Ivory Coast’s unofficial anthem — when the game finished.

Haller squeezed his wife and three young children. Seko Fofana consoled his former Udinese team-mate Troost-Ekong. Diakite ran around the pitch while a group of photographers tried to keep up with him. The former Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba and ex-Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony joined the celebrations too. Gradel lifted the trophy with the country’s 82-year-old president Alassane Ouattara, who was jumped on by all of the players.“I cannot tell you my joy,” Fae said. “I’m so happy. I’m overwhelmed. I was dreaming of winning AFCON as a player but I could not do it. Now I’ve had the opportunity to do it as a coach.“The entire competition was extraordinary. There was a lot of suspense and spectacle. Ivory Coast should be proud of its AFCON.”It is a fitting end to a thrilling tournament that the host nation, who flirted with disaster, won. The party in Abidjan is just getting started.(Top photo: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

What Asian Cup and AFCON tell us about the 2026 World Cup
By Michael Cox Feb 12, 2024

On paper, the identity of the finalists for the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup points to very different competitions.In the Asian Cup, Qatar’s 3-1 victory over Jordan was a meeting of two underdogs, even if Qatar were the hosts and defending champions. To put things in perspective, those two nations have a combined population of 14million; around 10 per cent of the population of Japan and one per cent of the population of China.

On the other hand, Nigeria versus Ivory Coast was a meeting between two countries that have produced as many great footballers as any other African nation this century.

But look beyond the finalists and the competitions had a similar theme: a lack of truly dominant superpowers. That pattern was certainly more pronounced in the Asian Cup, where South Korea lost to Jordan, and Japan were eliminated by Iran. But the Africa Cup of Nations was highly unusual, in that it provided eight different quarter-finalists from the eight who reached that stage two years ago.

Jordan celebrate beating South Korea (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
That can be considered in positive and negative ways.

Unpredictability is good. That’s the beauty of a knockout tournament: shocks are more likely to happen. And, on a wider note, it points to a recurring pattern from recent international tournaments, which was particularly pronounced at last year’s Women’s World Cup: what could broadly be considered international football’s middling nations have reduced the gap to the relatively strong nations, in part because they now have scouting tools to prepare for their upcoming challenge.

Huge thrashings barely happen at tournaments these days. The highest victory at the Asian Cup was merely 4-0, on two occasions. It was also 4-0 (twice) in the Africa Cup of Nations. The expansion of both tournaments to 24 teams brings an unsatisfactory structure, but there have been few issues in terms of minnows being out of their depth. Similarly, the European Championship could expand to 32 teams and would not noticeably drop in quality — Sweden, Norway and the Republic of Ireland haven’t even qualified for the play-offs, and would hardly be no-hopers.

But the flip side is about the ability of these continent’s top sides to challenge at the World Cup.

The bigger sides from the Asian Football Confederation have, if anything, regressed over the last 15 years. At World Cup 2006, for example, Australia travelled to Germany with a very strong XI and were unlucky to be defeated by eventual champions Italy in the round of 16. It felt as if Australia had made a significant leap forward, but what appeared the start of a period of competing with the world’s top nations was merely one golden generation. They impressively battled through to the last 16 in 2022, where they were again narrowly defeated by the eventual champions, Argentina. But it was an against-the-odds underdog success.

Australia’s Asian Cup squad didn’t feature any Premier League players, aside from goalkeeper Joe Gauci, recently signed as a backup by Aston Villa. That would have seemed unlikely in the days of Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Tim Cahill.

Australia’s players after exiting the Asian Cup (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Japan and South Korea, meanwhile, both looked seriously good at World Cup 2010 — again, both were eliminated at the last-16 stage, but they appeared the emerging forces, enjoying the World Cup 2002 legacy. But again, that seems to have faded away. Their generation of players is no better; an eight-year-old who fell in love with football in 2002 would be a veteran of 30 now.

Japan made a decent run to the round of 16 of the World Cup again in 2022, defeating Germany and Spain in the group stage. But, surprisingly, they haven’t won the Asian Cup since 2011 and were deservedly beaten by Iran this time around. South Korea continue to produce a handful of players good enough for elite European competition, but nothing more. The appointment of Jurgen Klinsmann was ill-advised, and they played poorly throughout the competition, relying on four goals in second-half stoppage time to reach the semis.

go-deeper
GO DEEPER

Too many smiles – and South Korea’s other issues with Klinsmann’s awful Asian Cup

In truth, the standard of play in the knockout stage of the Asian Cup has been poor, characterised by a lack of faith in technical quality, a lot of overly cautious play and a sluggish tempo. Things were better over in the Ivory Coast, although the hosts fluked their way through to the final after a group stage so dreadful that they parted company with their manager Jean-Louis Gasset. That doesn’t reflect well on everyone else.

All this means, with the next World Cup only two years away, it’s the same old nations likely to triumph. The bookmakers’ favourites are the three traditional giants from South America (Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay) and the usual western European nations (France, England, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Italy and Belgium). Then come the United States and Mexico, their chances boosted due to hosting the tournament. African and Asian sides are way down the list — as, for that matter, are a couple of South American sides who were on the rise a decade ago, but have since declined, such as Chile and Colombia.

And while Morocco made history by becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals in 2022, at the end of a positive tournament overall for African nations, it’s worth remembering that the majority of their side were born in Europe, and effectively deemed not good enough to represent stronger nations. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, and credit to Walid Regragui for turning them into a resilient team. But if others are looking for inspiration, it’s not the most easily replicable model for most.

It’s also worth considering each continent’s allocation for World Cup 2026, the first tournament to feature 48 nations. Africa are guaranteed nine places, and Asia eight — these may rise to 10 and nine because of inter-continental play-offs. There are various factors to take into account in terms of how many places each confederation should be entitled to: overall quality, breadth of quality, number of entrants, and perhaps total population.

Uzbekistan celebrate during the Asian Cup (Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)
On the evidence of the last couple of weeks, Africa probably deserves more than nine places, and Asia fewer than eight. The competition’s serious minnows will likely come from the Asian confederation. If the qualifiers were the same eight that reached the quarter-finals this month, it would be the relatively established quartet of Japan, South Korea, Australia and Iran, plus the two finalists Qatar and Jordan, and rank outsiders Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

To see nations such as the latter two in a World Cup tournament would feel surreal. But then look at their results against the finalists: Uzbekistan were only eliminated by Qatar on penalties, and Tajikistan only lost 1-0 to Jordan courtesy of an unfortunate own goal.

So here’s a World Cup prediction, two years out. The real outsiders, those who wouldn’t have been at the tournament if it hadn’t expanded to 48 sides, will fare much better than expected — perhaps not progressing from the groups, but not embarrassing themselves.

But the sides who should now be true continental giants from Asia and Africa — and probably North America too — won’t rival the European and South American powers any more than they did in, say, 2010. In many ways, football has become more global over the last 15 years, but not in terms of who might actually win the World Cup. (Top photo: Getty Images)

Qatar retain Asian Cup title with final victory over Jordan

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - FEBRUARY 10: Akram Afif of Qatar (obscured) celebrates with team mates after scoring his team's second goal from the penalty spot during the AFC Asian Cup final match between Jordan and Qatar at Lusail Stadium on February 10, 2024 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

By Ali Rampling and Colin MillarFeb 10, 2024

Akram Afif’s hat-trick of penalties ensured Qatar have retained their Asian Cup title with victory over Jordan in the final.Qatar won the trophy for the first time in their history in 2019 and retained their title thanks to a trio of spot kicks against Jordan, who were appearing in their first ever final.Qatar — who were hosting the final in Lusail — took the lead after 22 minutes, with Al Sadd striker Afif winning and then converting a penalty after he was brought down by Abdallah Nasib.Jordan levelled after 67 minute through a powerful Yazan Al-Naimat finish after the striker found time and space inside the area.

However, six minutes later Qatar restored their lead as Afif once again netted from the penalty spot following a VAR review.

Afif completed his hat-trick in the fourth minute of added time to seal the victory.

Qatar become the first nation to win consecutive Asian Cups since Japan in 2000 and 2004.

Jordan had embarked on an unlikely route to the final after finishing third in Group E, qualifying for the knockout stages as one of four best third-place sides. They scored twice in second-half stoppage time to secure a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Iraq in the last-16, before edging past Tajikistan in the quarter-finals.