There’s been a lot of talk — A LOT — about how the USMNT is going to play three World Cup qualifiers in frigid temperatures this international break. Almost every post the @USMNT Twitter account has made this week has highlighted the fact it gets kinda cold in the northern parts of the U.S. in the winter.
Built for the elements. ❄️ pic.twitter.com/vvVJyO3QBY
It is, we're learning, a question that can be framed in countless ways — "Will it be an advantage? But will it really be an advantage? How will you prepare? How will you mentally prepare? Will you put hot chicken broth in your water bottle so it doesn't freeze?" — but really only ever has one definitive plan of action: Deal with it.
United States women's national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher on Monday said she is fully recovered from the right knee injury she suffered during the Tokyo Olympics and returns with a newfound appreciation for the sometimes cruel sport.
The veteran player collided with a teammate while trying to intercept a crossing pass early in a 1-0 semifinal loss to Canada, and the resulting injury led to a lengthy rehab.
MANCHESTER, England - Tobin Heath struck the equalizer deep into stoppage time as Arsenal snatched a 1-1 draw away to Manchester City in the Women's Super League, while Manchester United went second thanks to a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier on Sunday.
The draw leaves Arsenal top of the table on 26 points, two ahead Manchester United with a game in hand. Chelsea, who were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion, are third on 22 points, with one game in hand over Arsenal and two over United.
The Yunus Musah goal vs Atlético Madrid on Saturday was the 19-year-old’s first LaLiga goal of the season and the second of his career. Musah was given the start against the Spanish giants and silenced the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano when he opened the scoring in the 25th minute.
Yunus Musah gives Valencia the lead over Atletico!
That's his first LaLiga goal since November 2020. pic.twitter.com/Dyi2LhSPFB
Ricardo Pepi got his second start for Augsburg on Saturday as the struggling Bundesliga side tried to keep up with the superior Bayer Leverkusen.
The young American is no stranger to a struggling team as FC Dallas lost 15 of its 34 games last season, but Pepi also hasn’t had to deal with a relegation battle. Saturday wasn’t an ideal second start for the club as Leverkusen thoroughly thumped the underdogs 5-1 and Pepi was taken off in the 57th minute.
Here’s the Pepi report as I tracked every move and involvement the striker had.
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter released the latest national-team roster that has, as always, caused controversy. Before we get into the roster, let’s see who Berhalter thinks has what it takes to qualify the USMNT for Qatar.
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Is it too late for Gregg Berhalter to rethink his USMNT roster? Mere minutes after the U.S. roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers was made public — a squad that didn’t include Josh Sargent — the Norwich City forward scored an absurd goal in the Premier League. The Josh Sargent goal vs Watford may just be a Puskás Award-worthy goal for the sheer audacity of it, not to mention the acrobatics and improvisation required to turn the ball into the back of the net.
The number of USMNT winter transfers to Europe continues to grow by the day. With Major League Soccer not beginning until Feb. 26, some of the brighter stars are skipping out on next season with their respective MLS clubs and looking for minutes in Europe.
Inter Miami began preseason training for the 2022 campaign this week, and Brek Shea was back with the club after signing a new deal on Wednesday. At 31, Shea is a versatile winger/wingback/left back with international experience and a couple of trophies on his shelf. He’s an artist on and off the pitch. He’s also a Texan who isn’t afraid of snakes.