Escape to Victory?
Hello there! England and Southgate (& Bellingham) did it, and now it's Berhalter's turn to do it with Team USA. Plus, all the highlights from this weekend's games in Copa America and the Euros. Enjoy!
Mexico crashed out of Copa America last night, meaning they miss out on getting hammered by facing world champions Argentina in the quarter-finals. With Jamaica finishing rock bottom of Group B, after three defeats, the CONCACAF presence in the tournament is thinning out quickly.
Canada, of course, have done the region proud, securing a quarter-final match-up with Venezuela which offers the very real chance of Jesse Marsch leading his team into the last four just weeks after taking over as head coach.
[Links to the weekend’s highlights further down]
There will be one other CONCACAF team in the last eight and we will find out tonight if it is going to be the USA or Panama.
Reading online you could be forgiven thinking that the USA v Uruguay game is actually being organized entirely to decide whether Gregg Berhalter should be sacked or not and the debacle of the defeat to Panama has certainly energized his critics. We’ll see if it has the same effect on his players. They will definitely need all their energy against the high-pressing, non-stop attacking of Uruguay, even if Marcelo Bielsa is suspended for the game.
Panama play the group’s whipping boys Bolivia and here are the scenarios according to CBS Sports:
Group C scenarios for USA
With a United States victory: They will qualify for the knockout stages as long as Panama draw or lose. If Panama win, the United States can still qualify for the knockouts but they will need to have a better goal difference than Panama. As it stands, the U.S. have a two-goal advantage.
With a United States tie: The United States will only advance with a Panama draw or loss.
With a United States loss: The United States will only advance with a Panama loss and if they have a better goal difference than Panama. If the U.S. lose 4-0, and Panama lose 1-0, Panama advance.
As Henry Bushnell at Yahoo Sports puts it: The superficial view, then, is that the U.S. is sitting somewhat pretty. The problem is, well, everything else.
EURO 2024 Round-up
Where to watch: all TV broadcasters around the globe from UEFA
Do you remember when anything soccer in American movies or tv meant completing the protagonist’s redemption arc via the medium of the obligatory last minute slow motion bicycle kick?
Trust me, England are winning this thing if they put Sylvester Stallone in goal.
But, they probably won’t and will get dumped out of the tournament by Switzerland who beat holders Italy 2-0 in their Last 16 match-up. [Highlights]
Another game that turned on its head in a couple of minutes saw Germany defeat Denmark 2-0 after Joachim Andersen open the scoring for the Danes early in the second half only for VAR to disallow it for offside. The restart saw the Germans immediately attack down the left and the same Danish player was adjudged to have his hand in an unnatural position as the ball flicked it in the area. 1-0 Denmark to 1-0 Germany in a flash. [Highlights]
Georgia gave Spain a little bit of a scare going 1-0 up midway through the first half, but Spain easily cemented their place as one of the new tournament hot favorites scoring four in an easy 4-1 win. [Highlights]
Today sees misfiring favorites France take on the consistently misfiring Belgium while Portugal takes on Slovenia.
COPA America Round-up
Orlando City FC’s regular pitch markings versus the current Copa America markings to make it the same size as the pitches NFL stadiums:
Group D (Friday, June 28th):
Columbia breezed past Cost Rica 3-0 to make it two wins from two, leading the group on six points. [Highlights]
And Brazil saw a return to form beating ten-man Paraguay 4-1 with Vinicius Jr. bagging a brace. [Highlights]
Group A (Saturday, June 29th):
Messi-less Argentina made light work of Peru 2-0 to claim top spot in the group with a 100% record. [Highlights]
And Canada sealed second spot and secured a place in the quarter finals with a 0-0 draw against Chile. [Highlights]
Group B (Sunday, June 30th):
Mexico were eliminated after a goalless draw with Ecuador, who finished runner’s up in the group. [Highlights]
While Venezuela made it three wins out of three and topped the group beating bottom placed Jamaica 3-0. [Highlights]
In Other Soccer News
PREMIER LEAGUE: Amazing that Sir Jim Ratcliffe appears to be more obnoxious than the Glazers ever were - then again, they’ve never said anything. Even more amazing is him thinking Man United are a top six club.
Do check out the £185m ‘spent’ to meet the June 30th PSR deadline.
Stat(s) of the Day
Jude Bellingham's equaliser was England's latest ever goal in normal time at the UEFA European Championship (94:34), and was England’s first shot on target in the match.
Harry Kane’s winner was the quickest extra-time goal in Euro history.
Gareth Southgate has won more knockout games with England (7) than all previous England managers combined (6),
The Daily Soccer Quote of the Day
"I think the game's got a lot more positional, with teams trying to score a perfect goal. I think it's Pep's fault! He brought that in. He's mastered it, but everyone else struggles.” - Wayne Rooney
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