Happy Thursday, everyone. Hope you all took the time to enjoy Juneteenth and also commemorate the purpose of the day. I was able to get a last minute ticket to the National African American Museum of History and Culture, which I have toured a ton of times and is my favorite museum. It was great to get in there and take it all in again.
I also went to the DC United match, so we start there…
DC United 0-1 Atlanta United (MLS)
Thiago Almada’s strike was the difference in the DCU loss. It was a helluva shot…happened right in front of me and it had an amazing bend to it. DCU hasn’t won since they went down to Atlanta back in early May.
Albania joy in thriller as Croatia’s golden era on brink (BBC)
Albania managed a very late equalizer to draw Croatia 2-2. Croatia’s chances of getting out of the group are in serious trouble now.
Fans aren’t thrilled with Fox’s ‘don’t show Euro 2024 games’ strategy (Pro Soccer Wire)
The Euros have been excellent thus far. What hasn’t been excellent is Fox’s coverage, particularly failing to show 5 matches entirely. For those matches that are exclusively on Fubo TV, you can get a 7-day free trial (the final exclusive match is this weekend), or if you’re a T-Mobile customer, ViX is showing every game and you can get a year’s subscription absolutely free!
Ranking the best Copa América jerseys (SBN)
Copa América begins tonight, so ahead of the opening match between Argentina and Canada, run through my rankings of each team’s jerseys in the tournament. Which ones do you like?
Also, as the tournament starts, get to know the teams. Over at Stars & Stripes FC, we’ve done previews for each group:
There’s also a list of some of the potential breakout stars at the tournament. It’s gonna be a fun one!
Tyler Adams & Weston McKennie speak on Copa América prep (SSFC)
On the USA Soccercast, I was fortunate to sit down with Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie to discuss the team’s preparations for Copa América. They also have a new Truly ad out, and it’s hilarious:
Stay tuned…one more may be coming! 😉
Kylian Mbappé was back at training yesterday after breaking his nose in France’s opening match, and someone already found him an option for a mask for the rest of the tournament!
This came out on Tuesday, but how dumb were the Thorns for doing this? For the frivolous appeal, the league doubled the fine and suspension and the team cannot appeal any red cards through the end of NEXT SEASON’S PLAYOFFS! The NWSLPA were able to get Smith’s doubled suspension overturned, but the Thorns are really going to regret that down the line.
Enjoy the day of soccer!
Thorn’s punishment is harsh and hilarious. It really sends the message “don’t waste our time or you’ll regret it.”
Appreciate the shout out re: Vix!
I was able to actually watch all the Euro soccer yesterday, it was a blast. Albania vs Croatia especially was extremely compelling.
The DC United vs Atlanta match was, for most of it, not very first division-y. Klich managed to muster the team for a few minutes in the second half, Almada had the one excellent techniqal moment on the shot. As for the rest of the game, I felt like a few players showed some quality, and I hope they get promoted to the US first division soon.
Per Goff, DC has signed another player: Dominique Badji. Not the flashiest signing, but at least it gives some amount of depth behind Benteke. Even though I feel like outside backs would probably be better to focus on currently…
Any “body” is welcome. In the previous era, it would have been another goalkeeper….
Goff broke some news that United has reached a deal with Dominique Badji. Badji is an MLS veteran, but has been playing in Turkiye. He doesn’t score a ton, but more than anybody on the roster not named Benteke currently. He had a green card, but I don’t know if that’s still active since he went to Turkiye. Ola Kamara, for instance, had a green card, but had to renounce it to go play in China, and then took up an international slot when he came to DC.
I don’t mind this move, although it could get unpleasant depending on the details. 1) We need bodies. 2) Badji gives us a slightly different look in attack. 3) His goal scoring history is not prolific but at least fairly consistent.
It could get more unpleasant if it’s more than just the rest of this year and an option for next. If 2025 is really going to be the year that we make a push, then I want to make sure that a 31 year old MLS journeyman is earning his way (and to be fair, he did play for the Supporter Shield winning Cincinnati team last year). If his green card is still in effect, then that’s excellent. I don’t want to free up an international slot from Pirani getting a green card to just give that away to Dominique Badji. We need to be signing another two U-22 players, and I’d like at least one international slot to be available for that. And finally, this could take some playing time away from Jacob Murrell or Kristian Fletcher, but hopefully it’s forcing them to raise their game and make it so Lesesne can’t ignore them and is giving them minutes not just because there’s no one else on the roster.
Something I’ve been wondering — didnt MLS change the rules a couple years ago that any player could only go from international to domestic before the season starts? Goff seems to indicate that Pirani is no longer an international player now, but I feel like I remember that change happening, unless MLS did away with that rule
I have the same memory that you do. But I’m happy to roll with what Goff is saying here (and honestly, I think that’s better than that rule change, anyway).
Unlike the NWSL, MLS doesn’t have rules…(Miami)
Just me watching the Cincinnati highlights every week, lamenting that this club’s relationship with Lucho got so screwed up.
Yamil Asad had an assist on the game-winning goal, but I’m not that broken up about him not being here anymore.
Mostly due to Lucho, though. Let’s be honest.
I think there’s a pretty even split of blame to go around.
When I think of Lucho, I think about how he abandoned his teammates during the season. He simply stopped putting effort. His lack of professionalism was surprising. No matter how upset he was, that was uncalled for. Especially given that he wasn’t even the best player or bigger name on that team at that time. Hi ego is enormous. Look at how Arriola handled his last year here, he may have had a different vision than Losada, but he kept it quiet and never stopped putting an effort. That is how a professional handles adversity. Lucho very good talent but his ego is large enough that at times it doesn’t want to stay within the confines of his body. He may have matured a good bit but I still consider him his own worst enemy.
^^^^THIS
Oh, and Donald, the museum is a jaw dropping, awe inspiring experience. I imagine it was hopping yesterday, worth it, reader, if you haven’t been, a million times over.
I have a B.A. in history and an M.A. in Museum Studies.
That is the best history museum I’ve ever been in.
It is insane how much knowledge is imparted in an hour’s walk through that space, especially the gaps years of education doesn’t cover or downright obfuscates. Great service of a building.
Over 18 minutes of the Argentina Vs Canada game, I must say, I’m impressed by Canada’s discipline and shape. Marsch has not directed them to play like his Leeds side did. Will be interesting to see how this goes
DC United seems to be suffering from the Losado syndrome. With minimal rotation (perhaps but not entirely due to injuries), the players are already worn out this year.
Ku is not the same player as before his injury. The Stoud-Herrera scintillating combo is now more pedestrian. The three-back system is clearly not working well, but the coach sticks to it anyway. The high press leads to spurts of good play followed by tired legs that become mistake prone. The coach seems to not like changing the lineup despite the underperformance of the team.
The signing of a forward from Turkey’s second division is uninspiring (but I hope he proves me wrong). The team needs a whole lot more going forward to be competitive in the league.
The only positive I see is that the young players are getting experience.
We are adrift in a sea of confusion and despair