World Soccer

[Brooklyn]

Only one month to the start of the season!

Woo Hoo EPL!

Well yeah, but did you forget that WWC starts next week?

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/ ... hoto-video


Several of our players will retire after the tourny. I esp want to see Trinity Rodman. Tough gal but am not sure if she is fully up to this level of soccer. We'll see for sure real soon.

The rosters will be integrated by lifestyle and include a trans athlete:


https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-new ... -rcna93727


Should be fun.

[AOD]

It looks like Pulisic will be moving from Chelsea to AC Milan; given his limited playing time with the Stamford Bridge bunch, this looks like a good move for Christian and therefore a good move for the US National Team. Maddison's move from relegated Leicester to Tottenham looks like it gives Spurs the creative midfielder they've been lacking since Dele Alli stopped caring. Tottenham will reportedly be kicking off their pre-season with a "Pronounce Postecoglou" contest.

And Aaronson to Union Berlin, playing in the Champion's League. More good news for USMNT.

[Brooklyn]

... for Messi, there's one more destination to conquer, and it's a place that might finally be ready for him. And now, at last, Lionel Messi is coming to America. Last week, Messi announced he'd be joining Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.Jun 13, 2023


https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/06 ... rived.html


According to a 2021 study, Lionel Messi is one of the three most famous athletes in the world — which means he is one of the most famous humans on the planet. (Considering he’s won a World Cup and a Golden Ball since then, he’s probably even more famous now.) You can visit the most remote villages on earth, and you’ll find someone wearing a Messi jersey, sometimes made of plastic bags. LeBron James is the only American athlete who even comes close to Messi’s worldwide celebrity, but he has pretty much maximized his stardom: There’s nowhere left for LeBron to go that would make him an even bigger name. But for Messi, there’s one more destination to conquer, and it’s a place that might finally be ready for him. And now, at last, Lionel Messi is coming to America.

Last week, Messi announced he’d be joining Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry2MP6vYMb0



Am surprised this was not discussed here.

I well remember when Pelé came to the old NASL. The crowds were unbelievably large at old Giants Stadium and the enthusiasm shown by the fans easily matched or exceeded anything shown in Europe or around the world. It is believed by many by Messi will have a similar impact on MLS. Let's hope so.

[Brooklyn]

Mexico! CONCACAF Champs



GOLD CUP CHAMPS

Mexico defeats Panama 1-0 to win its 9th Gold Cup Title


Santiago Gimenez enters game later and scores winner. Very good game. Heartbreak for Panama, who suffer their third final defeat.

[Jim Malone]

Nice W after having an earlier goal waved off in first half.

I thought Pele played for the Cosmos on Randall's Island Stadium.

A ratty field I played some organized youth football on.

[FannOLax]

Nice W after having an earlier goal waved off in first half.

I thought Pele played for the Cosmos on Randall's Island Stadium.

A ratty field I played some organized youth football on.

Yes, when Pele first arrived the Cosmos were playing on Randall's Island. Big areas of dirt on the field there were painted green to resemble grass. The Cosmos also used Yankee Stadium. Once Giants Stadium was built, it became the Cosmos' home venue.

[Brooklyn]

Nice W after having an earlier goal waved off in first half.

I thought Pele played for the Cosmos on Randall's Island Stadium.

A ratty field I played some organized youth football on.

Yes, when Pele first arrived the Cosmos were playing on Randall's Island. Big areas of dirt on the field there were painted green to resemble grass. The Cosmos also used Yankee Stadium. Once Giants Stadium was built, it became the Cosmos' home venue.

Decrepit Downing Stadium. Home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the Continental League. Also the site of the annual AAU track & field tournament every summer. They used to draw yuge crowds for T & F in the old days - it was SRO when Pelé played.*


https://nisa.sportzstudio.com/teamuploa ... rousel.jpg





When the stadium was demolished it was replaced by a Icahn Stadium that has only 5,000 seats.




How Pelé impacted the game of soccer in the USA:

https://www.nycosmos.com/news/2015/06/1 ... pels-debut



It is hoped that Messi will have a similar impact on MLS and American soccer.








* 10 million watched his debut on CBS.

[FannOLax]

* 10 million watched his debut on CBS.

Yes, my childhood memories include watching that game on TV, against the Dallas Tornado at Randall's Island (Pele's Cosmos vs the Dallas Tornado is the picture above). A few months later I flew alone for the first time, to visit my parents who were in London; on that flight, I was seated next to a chap who played for the Tornado in that Pele Cosmos debut game.

[Brooklyn]

* 10 million watched his debut on CBS.

Yes, my childhood memories include watching that game on TV, against the Dallas Tornado at Randall's Island (Pele's Cosmos vs the Dallas Tornado is the picture above). A few months later I flew alone for the first time, to visit my parents who were in London; on that flight, I was seated next to a chap who played for the Tornado in that Pele Cosmos debut game.

That's awesome.

What a great time it was for us sports fan in NYC back then. Having Pelé in the lineup was one of the greatest highlights of that era. I was glued to my TV when he played. A pal of mine back then was an official for the Cosmopolitan League (the old German-American soccer league) and we had long chats about it back then. Did you see some of those semi-pro teams in NYC those days? I only saw a small handful of games but did know some players (a couple of classmates had relatives on the famous Ukrainian team - former league champs). Those guys sure as heck could play the game. I remember Bogićević when he retired from the NASL playing in that league. He praised the league for the quality of its play.

Here's more on Pelé

https://heraldcourier.com/sports/soccer ... ca5.html#4

[FannOLax]

* 10 million watched his debut on CBS.

Yes, my childhood memories include watching that game on TV, against the Dallas Tornado at Randall's Island (Pele's Cosmos vs the Dallas Tornado is the picture above). A few months later I flew alone for the first time, to visit my parents who were in London; on that flight, I was seated next to a chap who played for the Tornado in that Pele Cosmos debut game.

That's awesome.

What a great time it was for us sports fan in NYC back then. Having Pelé in the lineup was one of the greatest highlights of that era. I was glued to my TV when he played. A pal of mine back then was an official for the Cosmopolitan League (the old German-American soccer league) and we had long chats about it back then. Did you see some of those semi-pro teams in NYC those days? I only saw a small handful of games but did know some players (a couple of classmates had relatives on the famous Ukrainian team - former league champs). Those guys sure as heck could play the game. I remember Bogićević when he retired from the NASL playing in that league. He praised the league for the quality of its play.

Here's more on Pelé

https://heraldcourier.com/sports/soccer ... ca5.html#4

I grew up in Ohio, and never saw any NYC semi-pro games. Back in the day, I played a lot of soccer, including some that I think was semi-pro, also some in Mexico and some in Chile. The previously mentioned flight to London led to me attending my first professional footy match, a Boxing Day match between Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City.
I remember Vladislav "Bogie" Bogicevic, Cosmos' midfield general who looked like he never shaved within 28 hours before games. Played with the likes of Chinaglia and Beckenbauer, after Pele retired.

[Brooklyn]

I remember Vladislav "Bogie" Bogicevic, Cosmos' midfield general who looked like he never shaved within 28 hours before games. Played with the likes of Chinaglia and Beckenbauer, after Pele retired.

Bogie sure was quite a character back in the day. I like the way he was described here:


" my hero growing up ... after one match, Bogey was leaving the stadium in a white limo with his arms around a hot blonde, with a beer, and smoking a cigarette. My hero, I want to be like that."



https://m.facebook.com/naslisfifty/phot ... 553874379/



A long while ago, I heard or read that he had some initial difficulty making it into the USA. This because Yugoslavia had a very brutal conscription law and that once they grab you, they keep you in combat boots for 20 years or something like that. Somehow he made his way here to escape all that tyranny. Good for us and for him.


So glad he's made it into his 70s considering how often he hit those cigarettes (and beer establishments) in the past. He's a true soccer gem.

[Brooklyn]

USA wins opener!


https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/16 ... gr%5Etweet



https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F1nAIliaEAE ... me=900x900



https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/liv ... -rcna95399


Funny thing how our Yanks had plenty of clear opportunities to score significantly more goals but blew each chance!

[FannOLax]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... footballer

Trevor Francis, the first million-pound British transfer, dead at age 69. The first pro footy match I attended, Trevor Francis scored two goals for Birmingham City. RIP Trevor.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... nniversary

[Matnum PI]

USA wins opener!

I'm predicting a new starting lineup with more veterans going forward, certainly by the elimination round games...

[Brooklyn]

USA wins opener!

I'm predicting a new starting lineup with more veterans going forward, certainly by the elimination round games...

Great depth on the bench will prevent burnout and keep everyone fresh. But let's hope that the shooting will sharpen up. All those opportunities to strike must NEVER go to waste. Coach Vlatko Andonovski was a defender during his career and it appears his game emphasizes ball control and D ~ all good, of course. But we need better striking if we are to win that Cup for a third consecutive time as goal differential remains a factor.

[Brooklyn]

USA 1
Netherlands 1


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/s ... 465465007/



I was p1ssed off at that POS referee. Seems like our girls walked into a mugging as the Dutch girls kept pulling hair and knocking our players down to the ground with the blessing of that worthless ref. Then when our girls touched any Dutch player the ref would blow the whistle. But in truth, once again our players took weak shots that could barely hit the side of a barn. That's why it ended in a tie.

I would also have liked to have seen more USA right wing attacks. They narrowed their attack zone by not going wide and by keeping to the left side - this makes their attack too predictable which allowed Dutch D to drop back and not adjust. Good defense displayed throughout.

Not a very satisfactory match but hopefully they can build from this.

[Brooklyn]

https://www.cnn.com/sport/live-news/usw ... index.html


The United States has crashed out of the Women's World Cup after losing a dramatic penalty shootout against Sweden.
The Americans created most of the chances during the match – but were foiled at key moments by Swedish goalkeeper Zećira Mušović, who made crucial stops against Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan.


So many missed opportunities. USA took more SOGs and appeared to to have more TOP. But again, poor striking skills: USA kicked the ball all too often. However in soccer, you don't kick the ball - you STRIKE the ball. This especially in PKs.

Sweden won 5-4 on PKs.



Note: only four goals in four games for our girls. Jeepers.

[Kismet]

https://www.cnn.com/sport/live-news/usw ... index.html


The United States has crashed out of the Women's World Cup after losing a dramatic penalty shootout against Sweden.
The Americans created most of the chances during the match – but were foiled at key moments by Swedish goalkeeper Zećira Mušović, who made crucial stops against Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan.


So many missed opportunities. USA took more SOGs and appeared to to have more TOP. But again, poor striking skills: USA kicked the ball all too often. However in soccer, you don't kick the ball - you STRIKE the ball. This especially in PKs.

Sweden won 5-4 on PKs.



Note: only four goals in four games for our girls. Jeepers.

Best thing is we don't hopefully have to listen to all any more of their self-serving BS every day. They lost and the sooner they get over it the better.

[njbill]

Note: only four goals in four games for our girls. Jeepers.

And three of them were against Vietnam. Ugh.

[DMac]

https://www.cnn.com/sport/live-news/usw ... index.html


The United States has crashed out of the Women's World Cup after losing a dramatic penalty shootout against Sweden.
The Americans created most of the chances during the match – but were foiled at key moments by Swedish goalkeeper Zećira Mušović, who made crucial stops against Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan.


So many missed opportunities. USA took more SOGs and appeared to to have more TOP. But again, poor striking skills: USA kicked the ball all too often. However in soccer, you don't kick the ball - you STRIKE the ball. This especially in PKs.

Sweden won 5-4 on PKs.



Note: only four goals in four games for our girls. Jeepers.

Best thing is we don't hopefully have to listen to all any more of their self-serving BS every day. They lost and the sooner they get over it the better.

+ 100,000.
Jason's two-cents worth....well, maybe dime's worth.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/ja ... r-AA1eL86v