Opinion

And so the MLS vs Liga MX debate sparks up again. Just about everything concerning soccer in the USA is being questioned since the USMNT got eliminated from the 2018 World Cup. The critiques involve everything from the USMNT team to more administrative issues like who should manage the national side after last week’s catastrophe and why. As would be expected, also the MLS is now being targeted for criticism.

We're all bummed the USMNT didn’t make it to the World Cup. Many Americans are still recovering from the emotional blow suffered last week. There are those who just want to forget about everything soccer until 2022. Others are looking for new national teams to root for next summer. 

Here’s a thought. American fans should support Mexico. Am I serious? Yes! Here’s why:

Fox took a massive hit to its projected 2018 revenue when the United States did the unthinkable and forgot to qualify for the World Cup. But it’s too hard to feel too sorry for the network, which has not proven to be a good caretaker of soccer as one of the primary broadcasters of the sport in the U.S.

Jose Mourinho's job is to win soccer games.

Actually, I'm going to walk that back. Jose Mourinho's job is to not lose soccer games, and he is extraordinarily good at it. What he is not extraordinarily good at is caring about literally anything else. For example, the feelings of anyone who may be watching one of his teams play a soccer game.

As such, readers will be shocked, SHOCKED, to learn that Manchester United travelled to Liverpool, parked the bus for 90 minutes and came away with a point. Importantly, they did not win. More importantly, they did not lose.

And so the grand inquisition begins. Bruce Arena has stepped down as manager of the USMNT, and federation president Sunil Gulati has revealed that a short-term manager will be appointed in the “next 7-10 days” without making clear his own position with the 2018 election looming. 

Lionel Messi might not go to the World Cup. Argentina need to win in Ecuador, a country they have only won in once in the last 56 years, to guarantee at least a spot in a playoff to go to Russia.

This is disheartening for most soccer fans, because Lionel Messi is the best player in the world and a joy to watch. His resume speaks for itself: five Ballon d'Ors, 2014 World Cup Golden Ball, La Liga all-time top goalscorer, Argentina all-time top goalscorer, 30 trophies won with Barcelona. 

The USMNT has a mean streak now. They're still the team that lost to Costa Rica and drew Honduras last month, and that still needs at least a draw against Trinidad & Tobago to be completely sure of not being knocked out of World Cup qualifying, but when they want to be dickish, this team can be gloriously dickish.