Category: USMNT

Mexico legend Marquez blames coaches for USMNT surpassing El Tri

The El Tri legend thinks Mexico’s young talent is being let down by unprepared coaches

Former Mexico star Rafa Márquez has said poor coaching is to blame for the U.S. men’s national team surpassing El Tri on the field in recent years.

The USMNT comfortably defeated Mexico 2-0 in last month’s Concacaf Nations League final, stretching its unbeaten run against El Tri to a program-record seven games (five wins, two draws).

Márquez has said that the issue stems from a lack of quality coaches across the board in Mexico.

“It is a shame that Mexican soccer does not have prepared coaches, that above all we do not have trainers prepared to train this talent that we have in Mexico,” Márquez said at a press conference this week.

“Unfortunately our neighbor, the United States, has surpassed us by a lot.”

Márquez is currently the head coach of Barcelona’s reserve team, and said he felt the need to immediately go to Europe to begin his coaching career after he retired.

“If you want to prepare with the best you have to come where the best are,” the 45-year-old said. “Of course as soon as I finished my career as a footballer I had to come and prepare again as a coach and be with the best. It is a mentality that we have to have more in Mexico to take risks, dare, try.”

After amassing 148 caps with Mexico and playing in five World Cups, Márquez retired in 2018. Márquez was mentioned as a likely successor to Barcelona head coach Xavi, before the club legend made a U-turn this week and opted to stay with the club after previously announcing he would leave at the end of the season.

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PSV show support for Dest after USMNT defender’s knee injury

PSV showed more support for Dest before proceeding to demolish Heerenveen

Sergiño Dest has to be feeling the love at PSV these days.

PSV’s players came out for Thursday’s match with Heerenveen in shirts reading “Sterkte Sergiño” on the front, and with Dest’s number 8 on the back. “Sterkte” is a Dutch expression meaning “strength” or “courage.”

The U.S. men’s national team defender will be out for an extended period after suffering a knee injury in training last week.

While Dest’s absence has created a new worry for the USMNT, PSV has been very supportive. After the injury, manager Peter Bosz made clear that he’d like to see the club make Dest’s loan from Barcelona a permanent transfer. Dest’s loan contract with PSV is said to include a €10 million purchase option.

Meanwhile, PSV followed up its latest message of encouragement for Dest by completely obliterating Heerenveen.

Dest’s USMNT teammate Malik Tillman had two goals and an assist in the game’s first 11 minutes as PSV robbed the match of any mystery. Despite being the away team, the Eredivisie leaders would pour it on, winning 8-0.

The result primed Eindhoven for a big party, as PSV could finish the night by clinching the club’s 25th Eredivisie crown. The victory at the Abe Lenstra Stadium left the Boeren 12 points clear of second-placed Feyenoord, who play Go Ahead Eagles later on Thursday.

Should Feyenoord fail to win that match, PSV will lift the league trophy for the first time since 2017-18.

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USMNT has no proven replacement for Dest, says Lalas

At least one ex-USMNT defender has doubts about the options behind the injured right back

With Sergiño Dest expected to miss this summer’s Copa América with a knee injury, Alexi Lalas says the U.S. men’s national team is facing a “huge” problem.

“I think he is — when he is healthy — an in-pen starter for this national team,” said Lalas of the PSV defender, who suffered an unspecified, long-term knee injury in training this past Saturday. “[Dest] has been vital in terms of up and down that right-hand side, providing an incredible talent and ability with the ball, incredible speed.”

Speaking on his State of the Union podcast, Lalas went on to declare that no other USMNT right back has been pushing Dest for the starting job, creating a pickle for the team going into a massive summer tournament.

“The big problem for Gregg Berhalter and this team is nobody — like the No. 9 position — has yet stepped up and even challenged, even remotely challenged, [Dest],” said Lalas. “At times in the past when we have seen players play in that position, the [Joe] Scallys and stuff, they have not shown that they’re even close to stepping into his shoes right now.”

Scally is the obvious choice to replace Dest, but his form at Borussia Mönchengladbach has been iffy at best this season. Additionally, Scally plays the position much differently, taking fewer risks and offering less going forward than Dest, who functions as an X-factor for the USMNT.

Lalas noted that Berhalter has “possibilities of doing some different things,” which could mean a shift to a back three, or experimenting with players in new positions. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Tim Weah all have right back or right wingback experience, for example, though all three are seen as locked-in starters elsewhere for the USMNT.

Dest at least got some good news on the club front on Wednesday, with PSV boss Peter Bosz stating that he’d like the club to sign the USMNT defender to a permanent deal from Barcelona.

The 23-year-old joined the Eredivisie giants on loan this season, and his frosty relationship with Barça manager Xavi — who will reportedly stick around for the 2024-25 campaign — has boosted the chances of a full transfer this summer.

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PSV boss Bosz wants to sign Dest permanently despite serious injury

The USMNT right back is set to be sidelined until 2025

PSV head coach Peter Bosz said that his side still wants to sign Sergiño Dest on a permanent basis even after a serious knee injury.

Dest suffered the injury in training on Saturday and though the extent hasn’t officially been revealed, multiple reports have indicated that the right back tore his ACL and will be sidelined for the remainder of 2024.

The 23-year-old has had a standout campaign with the Dutch side, which has a reported €10 million purchase option when his loan from Barcelona expires at the end of this season.

Though the fullback will miss a significant part of the 2024-25 campaign, Bosz said at a press conference on Wednesday that he still hopes to have Dest at his disposal.

“I am talking for myself as a coach and as a staff,” Bosz said. “I would very much like to have him there. It clicked in the way we played. It clicked as a person. It clicked with the player group.

“He also just played well actually all season. Then you want to keep him. The same goes for the club, actually. I think they would also like to keep him there.”

Late Weah assist sends Juventus to Coppa Italia final at Lazio’s expense

Weah’s 2023-24 hasn’t been ideal, but the USMNT winger helped Juventus advance to a cup final

Juventus is going through to the Coppa Italia final, and they have Tim Weah to thank for the opportunity.

The U.S. men’s national team winger came off the bench to produce a late assist on Arkadiusz Milik’s 83rd minute goal, which was just enough to get Juve past Lazio 3-2 on aggregate.

A 2-0 first-leg win earlier this month had set Juve up well, but Valentín Castellanos’ brace on Tuesday had levelled the tie at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, Massimiliano Allegri’s substitutions proved critical. Weah’s entry in the 70th minute was key, with the USMNT man fizzing a low cross in for Milik, who finished off a tap-in with what was his first touch.

Lazio would push for a late equalizer, but Juve held strong, clinching a place in May 15’s one-off final. That match will be held at the Stadio Olimpico, with either Fiorentina or Atalanta as Juventus’ opponent. I Viola holds a 1-0 edge after the first leg, with the second leg taking place on Wednesday at the Gewiss Stadium.

The assist may be Weah’s biggest moment of what has been a difficult season with Juventus. After toggling between Weah and Andrea Cambiaso for the starting job at right wingback, Allegri has generally preferred to start the Italian in recent months. Despite appearing in 29 of Juve’s 36 matches this season, Weah has just one goal and two assists.

Watch Weah help Juve to the Coppa Italia final

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PSV announces Dest out for ‘extended period’ with knee injury

The USMNT defender looks set for a long spell on the sideline

PSV has announced that defender Sergiño Dest will be out for an “extended period” with what appears to be a serious knee injury.

The U.S. national team defender suffered the injury in training on Saturday, and the early signs are clearly not good.

“Sergiño Dest suffered what appears to be a serious knee injury during Saturday’s training session,” a club statement said.

“How long the winger will be sidelined is still being investigated. That it will be an extended period is almost certain.”

Though the length of Dest’s absence is not yet known, the language in PSV’s statement immediately makes him a major doubt for the Copa América.

The USMNT kicks off the tournament in just two months when it faces Bolivia on June 23. Dest was almost certain to start at right back for the USMNT at the intercontinental tournament.

More to follow…

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Ex-USMNT defender Gonzalez admits he contemplated suicide during difficult period

The veteran defender opened up on his mental health struggles on a podcast

Former U.S. men’s national team defender Omar Gonzalez has opened up on his mental health battle, admitting that he contemplated suicide at various points during a difficult period.

Gonzalez said he started to struggle in the aftermath of the USMNT’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The U.S. was eliminated from contention in a stunning defeat at Trinidad and Tobago, with Gonzalez scoring an own goal in 2-1 loss.

“It started I think, just the World Cup, when we didn’t qualify and the own goal,” Gonzalez said on the Major League Journeymen podcast.

“Everything up until that point was wins, championships, just going straight up and consistent. It was amazing and then comes this point and we didn’t qualify [for the World Cup] and then I lose a Copa MX. And then I go to MLS Cup again in 2019 and we lose to Seattle, and losing Canadian Championships. … I started thinking, ‘Is it me? Am I the reason? It just keeps following me.’

“But I was dealing with that just fine, and then came a couple of head injuries and it just sort of made everything worse. And I started forgetting people’s names and then came this period of time where the stress was too much and the head injuries were just compounding, and the stress of being away from home, baby on the way, contract year — everything that goes into it.

“I just started thinking of every single way to just end it. Every part of my day was just thinking of a way to just end it. [I was] just fighting through that, still trying to play at a high level, and still giving everything to the sport and putting on a different face was draining. No one knew about it.

Gonzalez was then asked to clarify if he was talking about ending his career or his life, to which he replied: “My life.

“It was very scary. And I was just dealing with it and going into training, still being myself.”

The 35-year-old said that after a Toronto FC match against NYCFC — a game that actually ended with a positive result — the dam broke and he reached out to get help.

“We’re having a s–t year. We’re in last place, just awful, awful environment,” he said. “The locker room was absolute dogs–t, like it was bad. And we give this great performance for once. We’re down 2-0 at half and we come back and we tie the game up, and we fight and everything.

“But then after the game, everything just came to a head. I just started bawling. I talked to the doctor. I was like ‘I need help, this can’t go on.’

“Then from that from that moment on, things got a lot better just finding help.”

Gonzalez left Toronto to join the New England Revolution in 2022, before signing with his hometown club FC Dallas ahead of the current season. The veteran defender has been capped 52 times by the USMNT, playing at the 2014 World Cup and winning the Gold Cup in 2013 and 2017.

Watch Gonzalez discuss mental health stuggles

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De la Torre: Red card led to torrent of abuse from angry gamblers

“Football is entertainment for a lot of people and they just want to talk s–t about it online and have a good time”

Luca de la Torre has said his social media was flooded with angry messages from gamblers after a red card earlier this season.

The Celta Vigo midfielder was sent off midway through the second half against Alavés in September. His side was ahead 1-0 at the time of his red card, but the visitors would equalize in a match that would end 1-1.

De la Torre appeared on a recent episode of the Vamos podcast with Herculez Gomez, and detailed how he was on the receiving end of a torrent of abuse in the aftermath of his red card.

“I was sent off this season against Alavés at home,” the U.S. men’s national team midfielder said.

“And it was a game we were winning 1-0 and then we drew, so I think I messed up a lot of people’s bets on the game. And I got a couple hundred direct messages — things like, ‘kill yourself, I hope your mom dies, I hope you break your leg and you never play again.’

“I just turned off my direct messages and now I don’t see that anymore. But that’s not nice that people would lack the empathy for other people to send that type of stuff.”

In addition to turning off his direct messages, the 25-year-old said he copes with the abuse by trying not to take it to heart.

“Remembering that it’s difficult for people probably to have empathy for footballers if they haven’t played professionally like we have,” De la Torre said. “They don’t really understand what it’s like and how difficult it is. Football is entertainment for a lot of people and they just want to talk s–t about it online and have a good time. Just trying not to take things to heart or not seeing things at all I think is the best way.”

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Lalas: USMNT ‘glued to TV’ as OJ chase unfolded on eve of World Cup

Several USMNT stars didn’t get the sleep they needed ahead of the biggest game of their life

Former U.S. men’s national team star Alexi Lalas recalled one of the wildest moments in recent American history on Thursday, following the news that O.J. Simpson had died of cancer at age 76.

On June 17, 1994, the nation was captivated by a slow-speed car chase on the freeway in Los Angeles, as Simpson sat in the passenger seat of a white Ford Bronco driven by his friend Al Cowlings.

Earlier in the day, Los Angeles police said the ex-NFL star was a fugitive who was sought in the killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.

Eventually, Cowlings and Simpson led police to Simpson’s home, where he surrendered. Simpson was acquitted of the murders after a trial that captivated the nation over 11 months between 1994 and 1995.

The events of June 17 took place the night before the USMNT opened the 1994 World Cup on home soil, facing Switzerland at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.

As news spread of Simpson’s death, Lalas went on X to recall the surreal moment.

“It was the start of our World Cup,” he said. “Biggest game of our lives. Night of June 17th, we all sat in our hotel rooms glued to the OJ Bronco chase happening in LA.”

Lalas also spoke to The Athletic in 2019 about the events of that summer evening on their 25th anniversary.

“Look, everybody remembers where they were, if they were around, and cognizant of what was going on,” Lalas said. “It is that seminal type of moment: Where were you when this was happening? It was the ultimate reality show unfolding in real time in front of you.

“The whole team was doing this. Everybody was watching it. You would move from the television in the lobby of the hotel, to the television where we were eating, to the television in our room. It was this running show that seemed like it would never end. And yet you couldn’t turn away and you were waiting for that conclusion.”

Former USMNT goalkeeper Tony Meola told ESPN in 2014 that he wasn’t as rested as he should have been for one of the biggest games of his life, which would end in a 1-1 draw.

“I was exhausted on the day of the game. I roomed with John Harkes and we had spent the night watching the O.J. Simpson chase. Harkes kept yelling at me to turn the television off but I was totally glued to it,” Meola said.

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Bournemouth midfielder Adams misses Luton Town clash with back spasms

Adams was not in uniform for the Cherries after suffering from back issues

Just when everyone thought Tyler Adams was back, the U.S. men’s national team midfielder has — at least for now — returned to the sidelines.

Adams was not in uniform as Bournemouth took on Luton Town on Saturday, marking the second straight match for the Cherries in which the USMNT star did not play.

Following the match, Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola confirmed Adams had been suffering from back spasms throughout the week.

Bournemouth would go on to lose 2-1 at Kenilworth Road after the Hatters staged a late comeback.

Adams was in uniform but did not appear in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. That match came three days after Adams stood out in a 2-1 win over Everton, playing 90 minutes for the first time in over a year.

Iraola said before the match that an unspecified malady had thrown the status of several players in doubt.

“This week is going to be difficult,” Iraola told reporters at a pre-match press conference. “We have some cases of — I don’t want to say ‘illness’ — but they are not probably feeling 100 percent, but we still have two days.

“Tomorrow they could come fresh and [if so] they are available for the game. It is true we have some players who are let’s say in doubtful conditions to perform if the game was today.”

On Friday, Bournemouth posted a gallery of photos of its team’s final training session before the clash with the Hatters, but Adams did not appear anywhere among the 70 images.

Heading into this week, Adams had been showing promising signs of finding his form instantly after an excruciating injury layoff. The New York native had effectively missed a full year after a hamstring injury required two separate surgeries.

However, he scored a brilliant goal for the USMNT in the Concacaf Nations League final, and had appeared in Bournemouth’s matches on either side of the international break.

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