Philadelphia Union
Union academy squads wrap up competitions for 2017. The U17 and U19 teams will compete in the US Development Academy’s 2017 Winter Showcase over the next few weeks down south in the Florida sunshine.
U17 Winter Showcase schedule:
- 12/1: Sockers FC, 9:00 AM
- 12/2: Seattle Sounders, 11:00 AM
- 12/4: Sporting KC, 11:15 AM
U19 Winter Showcase Schedule:
- 11/30: Philadelphia Union 4 – 1 Real Salt Lake
- 12/1: Sporting KC, 1:00 PM
- 12/3: Kendall SC, 1:15 PM
ICYMI: Jay Sugarman makes it clear the team will be spending more this off-season. Sugarman also reasserted the Union’s long-term plans to stay in Chester and Philadelphia saying “The team isn’t going anywhere.”
Local
Bethlehem Steel FC begins their 2nd annual Toy & Soccer drive today. They teamed up with New Bethany Ministries to collect Christmas donations for children throughout the Lehigh Valley.
USA
USMNT U17’s lost to England in their opening game of 2017 Nike International Friendlies tournament. Check out a preview of their next match against Netherlands.
You should watch this video poking fun at a proposed ‘side tournament’ for USMNT.
FourFourTwo released a list of 50 Best American Women’s Players. Comment with your favorite.
MLS
Photo courtesy of MLSsoccer.com
Seattle Sounders FC will face Toronto FC for the second consecutive year in the MLS Cup final (Sunday, December 9th). Seattle defeated Houston Dynamo with ease, 3-0 last night.
A handful of MLS teams have released their 2018 preseason schedules. The schedules from other teams will be released in the near future.
San Jose Earthquakes have re-signed 27-year old Panama international defensive midfielder Anibal Godoy.
Vancouver Whitecaps made their first signing of the MLS off-season yesterday, picking up Venezuela international striker Anthony Blondell using TAM. TAM! Blondell led the Venezuela Primera with 23 goals and a league title this past season with Monagas.
Kakà explains why his potentially groundbreaking transfer from AC Milan to Manchester City never happened back in 2009.
Around the globe
World Cup draw is today!!
Catch a team-by-team breakdown for the 2018 FIFA World Cup here.
Russia has big plans to impress as the host country for the 2018 World Cup.
Not all roses and sunshine for Russia ahead of 2018 World Cup however. Check out a story involving Russian ambassadors and doping samples
Despite the 2018 World Cup draw happening soon, have fun creating your own scenarios over here.
A full comprehensive guide to all of the stadiums playing host to World Cup games throughout Russia is here.
Chelsea skipper Antonio Conte has been charged with “misconduct” by the English FA after a spat with fourth official Lee Mason Wednesday.
The English have been officially warned not get “really, really drunk” at 2018 World Cup in Russia. Hilarious story.
I’ll say it again, my money is on Seattle winning this thing. And not in a penalty shoot out this time. I smell a Clint Dempsey hat trick level of shock and awe.
I see your Dempsey hat trick and raise you a Jozy sprained ankle overtime sub scoring the gamer winner in the 117th.
You’re on.
That video about the proposed side tournament is great. So here’s a crazy idea. I know on it’s face value this tournament is kind of ridiculous. But, and hear me out, what if they used it to take a more humorous side to it. Play up the “we’re not good enough” angle. It’d be good promotion for the game in general, especially in the US. They could hold it every world cup too. Maybe eventually the players themselves take it seriously, and it gains “some” (marginal) respect.
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The last part is a long shot, I know. Though I still think that going at it in a funny way makes it go over better. Just a thought.
I appreciate the angle.
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In my opinion if this were to happen,, it should but a nail in the coffin of the United States of America hosting the World Cup.
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Because you, yourself see it as such a joke, or that the world and FIFA will see it as such? Just curious.
I think any noble football nation, from fans to players, will see it as a joke.
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I cannot speak for federations governed by green and opportunities to spin.
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To think the likes of Holland and Chile and Italy would take part in the “Americanizing of the World Game” , I’d be bummed.
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You know what, it sucked watching that draw, a sour lemon in my mouth and thats exactly the way it should be for the remainder of the next 4 years.
While it pains me to not have the US there, I’m still gonna watch all of the matches that I can and would struggle to get excited about some knock-off tournament that means nothing.
I mean, as a player, would you even want to take part? Even forgetting the exploitative, money-making elements of such a tournament. No. Simply no. Dignity requires taking the summer of 2018 off for anyone not in the cup.
The NIT? (Not Invited Tournament) eh?
As a player, if the whole idea was to go in and have fun and screw around. Maybe poke some fun at yourselves. Yes, I think I could handle that. Especially after weeks now of dealing with the disappointment of not going to the world cup.
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As far as disappointment and its value vs. the world cup, of there’s no doubt that the WC would take precedence still. I’d also watch whatever games the US plays in the Farce Cup. I wouldn’t weigh to much into those matches. I’d just like to see individual performances.
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It was just a thought, and I ran with it.
So the World Cup kicks off with a game between the two lowest ranked teams in the tournament, Russia – Saudi Arabia. In my book, Uruguay got the most favorable group stage draw, although they’ll likely face Spain or Portugal in the round of 16.
At first glance, no real “group of death”? Curious.
That’s what happens when you populate the groups by seeding rather than geography. The three groups that strike me as the toughest overall are France (Peru, Denmark, Australia), Brazil (Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia), and Germany (Mexico, Sweden, Korea).
I agree with Andy.
I think that group of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia is the closest thing to a Group of Death. Serbia won their qualifying group while the Swiss did not lose a match in qualifying and only lost the group to Portugal on goal differential. No gimmes in that group.
Doesn’t appear to be a real Group of Death – you could maybe say Group F – Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea… but that is the closest you come I think.
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Read a comment on another site that made a lot of sense… something to the effect of: There doesn’t seem to be a GoD this year because there is no USA. The US usually is the 3rd team in whatever group that makes that group the “wild card” and tough to predict/advance.
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Looking at the draw… I tend to agree with that for this World Cup.
This is very interesting.
And we think North America has travel time issues.
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I hope Aeroflot has improved dramatically since 1985.