Happy USMNT game day, folks! And, I gotta say, it’s the first USMNT game day in a while about which I am actually not thoroughly ugh. 6-0 wins, man, they’re quite a boost.
Unsurprisingly, lots of links about the United States today, but there are some other things as well, so vamos!
USMNT carries new confidence (and caution) into next World Cup qualifier in Panama | Yahoo! Sports
Okay, yes, 6-0 was exciting and fun, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.
Bruce: “He’s a left back, which is one of the criteria I think you should have for selecting a left back.” Whoa, get outta here with these bananas tactics.
Who is the US national team’s greatest of all time? | MLS
Ah, the ol’ Donovan vs. Dempsey debate that I know no one is at all tired of.
Inside Opta: Arena gets the most out of Pulisic, Bradley for USMNT | Goal.com
“Across the map, Arena picked the U.S. pool's most talented players and put them in familiar positions — a simple idea that became unnecessarily abstract under Klinsmann.” Seriously, the logic, I can’t handle it.
USA vs. Panama, 2018 World Cup Qualifiers: What to watch for | Stars and Stripes FC
Plz no Jermaine Jones. Plz.
Hooray, the U.S. men’s national soccer team is no longer a total embarrassment! | Slate
Hooray! At least for now!
Megan Rapinoe: 'God forbid you be a gay woman and a person of color in the US' | The Guardian
Some interesting insight into Megan Rapinoe’s activism.
Building the ultimate footballer: Ronaldo, Messi, Lahm and more | ESPN FC
List invalid, does not include Miro Klose anywhere. (Ok, just kidding, I know he’s retired. Also list is valid because *heart eyes emoji* for Philipp Lahm.)
In defence of the corner, a much-maligned set piece | The Guardian
I didn’t know the corner needed defending, but here we are.
Kickers coach dies in church, soccer community in mourning | WTVR
Some awful news yesterday about Kofi Nti, a youth coach with the Richmond Kickers. You can donate here to a GoFundMe to assist with burial services and transporting his body back to his family in Ghana.
That’s all from me this morning—to the comments you go!