Happy Tuesday, everyone! We’re already getting into another busy week of soccer, with U.S. Open Cup games tonight, so let’s get kicking.
MLS Eight enter the arena: USOC2024 Round of 32 preview (U.S. Soccer)
The U.S. Open Round of 32 begins today, and Loudoun United FC are among the competitors. They play Orange County SC in California at 10 p.m. ET.
Team of the Matchday: Inter Miami & San Jose make Matchday 12 splash (MLS)
Three players from Inter Miami and two from San Jose make the Starting XI, but D.C. United’s on the bench at least.
The mid-week game feels like a distant memory, but remind yourself of Brittany Ratcliffe’s off-the-post banger, up for Goal of the Week:
Aaron Herrera, a ‘modern defender,’ sees a resurgence with D.C. United (Washington Post)
Steven Goff talked to Herrera and his teammates about how he stays positive, his growing international game, and his fit in Troy Lesesne’s system at D.C.U.
Living up to ‘El Loco’ nickname, Bielsa calls up amateur to Uruguay national team (Pro Soccer Wire)
Apparently the call-up came as a surprise to the player. I also did not know that national teams scouted amateurs!
Lionel Messi breaks goal contribution record; Jack McGlynn scores another golazo: Takeaways (The Athletic)
This week’s look at the state of MLS includes some discussion of Messi, of course, but also asks who are the best shot-stopping GKs in the league. D.C.’s Alex Bono is ranked 11th, while Hugo Lloris is dead last.
Now, your fun post for the day: a slideshow of some Loudoun fans in (and out of) costume for May the 4th.
BONUS: what on earth is happening here?
Have a good day!
Jurgen Klinsmann called up Jordan Morris to the USMNT while he was still at Stanford.
Yeah, the US (in the past) has frequently called up players who weren’t pro yet. We’re mostly past that stage now. It’s incredibly rare in Europe and the top South American teams because players are usually pro (in some form) very early. The only exception I can recall for a major nation is Hansi Muller who initially played for the German National Team as an amateur.
Small country, nice beaches, nowhere to hide…..get called up….
I guess coming to the attention of your national team via collegiate performance makes more sense to me than an amateur league, but that could be just my American perspective!
A disturbing trend I’d like to note is: the past two Spirit matches got no coverage from the Washington Post. In the recent past, Thomas Floyd or Ella Brockway would cover them. But the last two matches–zip! What’s with that? Annie, you’ve got a lot of weight on your shoulders! You’re the most consistent local journalist on the Spirit.
Haha, thanks, I guess! Maybe I’ll ask Ella about it next time we talk for Hey Spirits
To my knowledge Old Glory never gets coverage from any media outlet in the area except Monumental Network when they show games.
DCU should be playing in the Open Cup this week.
I can’t say I miss it. DC United barely has the depth to compete in the league this year. They’d have to call up academy kids to field an Open Cup team. What would be the point?
Open Cup games always have their own energy and are fun to watch.
Personally, I’d much rather see DC play in the Open Cup than the Leagues Cup. At least we have Loudoun to kind of fill the void
Catching up on the latest season of Welcome to Wrexham, and they had Steven Fletcher on the team, who had come over from Dundee United, and I think was a teammate of Ian Harkes. Yay for the DC connection!