Youth Soccer

Apparently, a young Finnish striker named Eero Markkanen was released by Real Madrid Castilla because he entered preseason camp 18 kg (40 lbs) heavier than he was last season.

40 lbs in gained weight is nothing so scoff at. That’s like a third or a fourth of a person that this guy tried to walk into camp with. I don’t care if he’s 6’ 5” and his nickname is “The Tank” — he is and it is — that’s ridiculous.

Markkanen responded to being let go on Twitter. 

La Liga started last weekend. It is a brand new 2015-16 season, but as Real Madrid played against Sporting Gijon it showed the same old problems of the preseason, and even the Carlo Ancelotti era: lack of goals.

You could say that the last great Real Madrid offensive show was in April 29, 2014 against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal. Madrid scored four times against Bayern and eliminated them.

It seems with each passing game the USMNT acquires a new potential savior, the athletic, skilled player that will become a superstar and lead the U.S. to glory and cement America as a world power. Right now, fans are bandying about around five potential saviors, and we have uptades on all of them (except for maybe John Brooks, but whatever).

Bobby Wood

Memphis Depay’s confidence has been evident ever since he had his first official press conference for Manchester United. He owned the podium that day. “We have to play for the trophies,” he said, like he had to get so many loafs of bread. And that’s not to say he came off as arrogant, quite the opposite: he alternated often between admitting he needed to work hard and listen to his manager.

When we were 12 years old, we were just satisfied with putting the ball in the back of the net, no matter how it happened. Honestly, we were six years away from playing soccer like bees play tag. In the rare instance that one of us scored something that took any amount of skill, we we’re f***ing pumped.

After a disappointing loan spell at Hamburg SV in the Bundesliga, American 20-year-old Julian Green will give it another go at Bayern Munich in 2015/16.

He will start out in the U23s, where he will attempt to establish himself in the first team, and help the side win promotion to the German 3rd division. 

It is really easy to overhype players in soccer, especially young, talented forwards who like to beat a man. It’s just so tempting to see a couple highlights, a couple good displays and label them the next great thing. But you know what? That’s exactly what we’re about to do, with a little qualifying. 

Jesus “Tecatito” Corona just won the CONCACAF Bright Future Award after helping Mexico win the Gold Cup, and there really is no arguing that he deserved it.

The roster for the MLS homegrown squad has been set, MLS announced.

The squad, coached by Landon Donovan, will take on Club America's U-20 team July 28 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado. 

The roster:

Keepers:

Jesse Gonzalez, FC Dallas

Matt Lampson, Columbus Crew

Defenders:

Justen Glad, Real Salt Lake

Shane O'Neill, Colorado Rapids

Eric Palmer-Brown, Sporting Kansas City

Jalen Robinson, D.C. United

Oscar Sorto, LA Galaxy

Tyler Turner, Orlando City

Midfielders:

Looking at Cristiano Ronaldo, “insecure” is hardly the first word that comes to mind.

Ignoring all of the keyboard-psychologists out there, the man just doesn’t seem to have that much to be self conscious about. Success has been good to him. He is incredibly rich and one of the two best footballers in the world. If he wanted to, he could probably build a sun dial out of caviar and willing swimsuit models.  

There is Sunday League defending, and then there is Micronesian National Team defending. Their past three games against Tahiti, Fiji, and Vanuatu have had higher scores than a basketball game.