Fletcher injury, CWC round of 16 shapes up, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
It’s a hot one out there DC so make sure to stay cool and hydrated while you read today’s Freedom Kicks!
Kristian Fletcher suffers suspected ACL tear, and D.C. United’s injury woes get worse (WaPo)
Things go from bad to worse for DCU as another attacker, this time the 19 year old Bowie native, goes down with injury.
Palmeiras, Inter Miami through to Club World Cup last 16 (ESPN)
The round of 16 is starting fill out with the Seattle Sounders bowing out, but Messi and co moving on setting up a showdown with one of Messi’s former flames, PSG.
Ryan Reynolds shares emotional farewell message to Wrexham icon Paul Mullin (World Soccer Talk)
For those of you who have been following the meteoric rise of Wrexham FC, one of its star protagonists is moving on.
The Women’s African Cup of Nations kicks off next month, but you won’t be seeing Washington Spirit forward, Gift Monday, playing for the Super Falcons.
Chelsea boss Maresca: Training ‘impossible’ amid record Philadelphia heat (Pro Soccer Wire)
Many of the European teams continue to struggle with the heat and the playing surfaces during the blistering heat wave this summer.
FIFA’s Gianni Infantino says soccer will be ‘No. 1 sport’ in U.S., urges promotion, relegation (NYT)
The head of FIFA wades into the often discussed pro/rel debate…
That’s it for me folks! Stay cool!
Infantino wants pro/rel? That absolutely settles it. From now on, we don’t do it.
I do love all these European guys complaining about playing in the US. Some of those complaints I can get behind- the fields are cheap and temporary and a bad harbinger of things to come if the WC happens as planned. The afternoon kickoff times are awful from both a heat standpoint and American viewership. But what I really love is how oblivious they are to the realities of playing soccer in the US. Right now you’ve got dangerously high heat. Shift the schedule to the “traditional” European calendar and you’ve got dangerous cold, if not totally unplayable conditions between hurricanes and blizzards. While also competing with the juggernauts of NFL and NBA.
Sorta related, I do wonder if all these European club superstars playing during the Summer in the US will kill some of the Higuain “I thought this would be easy” retirement nonsense. They get to experience the heat, maybe even some real American travel distances at times. If it means fewer checked out golden years players faffing about, it might be the one upside to this player killer tournament
I really like Charles Boehm’s take on this earlier today:
“Summer heat is a valid concern and everyone should be doing everything in their power to keep all safe … That said: the sport is played worldwide and Europeans need to adapt to climate realities/diversity like the rest of us”
So on Saturday afternoon the Eastern Conference MLR final literally came down to a penalty goal attempt in the final moments and the feed cut away. MLR came out with an apology that they ran into tech difficulties. New England won as they came behind from 10-0 at half to win 21-20 as Chicago missed the penalty goal attempt. They will go for the first 3-pete in US sports since the 2000-2002 Lakers dynasty. I will note that the Old Glory DC has beaten New England both times they played this year, but just couldn’t get it done in the 2nd half against Chicago in the semi-final. Then later in the day the Houston SaberCats went into Herriman, Utah and silenced the home crowd winning 33-19 in dominating fashion.
New England and Houston play for the MLR championship on Saturday at 2 PM ET in what is essentially a home game for New England in Pawtucket, RI just 40 minutes from Quincy, MA.
https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/usmnt/2025/06/24/ex-usmnt-stars-call-on-pochettino-to-start-turner-over-freese/84331098007/
Should Turner start over Freese at Goalkeeper in the next Gold Cup game?
If he’s not the best in training, no. I also think former players calling out Pochettino makes it less likely to happen, not more.
Dumb arguments from them too – “this guy hasn’t played in ages and needs game time! And we need to win this tournament!” Well, why shouldn’t the guy who’s playing regularly get the start? It sucks for Turner but Pochettino is doing what’s best for the program.
I will say, I often wonder how genuine/deeply held a lot of these takes are. It’s worth remembering that these two are color commentators in the media now, and they are incentivized to make takes other than the vanilla, but often correct ones.
It definitely has something to do with it. You can be respected or you can make a lot of noise and a lot of money.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45340176/every-premier-league-var-error-ranking-winners-losers-referee-stats-2024-25