U.S. U-20 coach Varas proud as Frankfurt holds Aaronson out of World Cup

Varas said Frankfurt decided the 19-year-old was too important to be released

U.S. U-20 head coach Mikey Varas said he was disappointed but also proud of Paxten Aaronson after Eintracht Frankfurt refused to release the attacker for the U-20 World Cup.

Aaronson has become a key bench option for Frankfurt after joining in January, having appeared in four straight Bundesliga matches.

The 19-year-old’s development has seen his club side deem him too valuable to release for the U-20 World Cup, which does not take place within the FIFA calendar and therefore doesn’t require teams to let players go.

Aaronson was one of several players held back by their clubs, including Chicago fire midfielder Brian Gutiérrez and goalkeeper Chris Brady, as well as LA Galaxy defender Jalen Neal.

Losing Aaronson, the top scorer and player of the tournament in last summer’s CONCACAF U-20 Championship, is a major blow for the U.S. but Varas opted to look at the positives after the ex-Philadelphia Union player was omitted from his 21-man roster.

“In terms of Frankfurt, we had ongoing discussions not just with Frankfurt, but with every club across MLS and internationally,” Varas said on a conference call. “We tried to find the best solutions to cooperate. Unfortunately for us and for Paxten, it wasn’t able to be but at the same time, we’re really proud that Paxten has become such an important part of Frankfurt’s team that they don’t feel that they can release him.”

Even though Varas is clearly aiming to go as far as possible in the World Cup, he emphasized that as a youth national team head coach, player development had to be his top priority.

“We’re disappointed that some players weren’t released but at the same time, our number one priority here is individual player development,” Varas said. “So we’re also proud of the fact that these players have become so important during the cycle that they’re no longer viewed as releasable for this type of tournament.”

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European-based Aaronsons double as Paxten lands with Eintracht Frankfurt

The 19-year-old will follow in his older brother’s footsteps by moving to Europe

There is a new Aaronson in Europe, as Paxten joined his older brother Brenden on Thursday by completing a transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Aaronson, 19, joins the German side after spending two seasons with the Philadelphia Union. Just like Brenden, Paxten left the Union for a European team in a multi-million dollar move, with MLSsoccer.com reporting the deal is worth $4 million plus add-ons.

“Paxten has accomplished so much in a short amount of time. He has worked incredibly hard, and he has taken advantage of every opportunity with the first team, Union II and the U-20 National Team,” said Union sporting director Ernst Tanner.

“There has been interest in him for a long time, and we feel this is the right move for the club and the player, putting him in a good situation to continue developing in one the best leagues in the world. It is another great example of our development philosophy, and we are very proud of Paxten and wish him all the best at Frankfurt.”

Aaronson started only two games for the Union in 2022, as his path to more playing time was blocked by some of the club’s outstanding attackers like Dániel Gazdag, Mikael Uhre and Julián Carranza.

But Aaronson made a big impression over the summer with the U.S. at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, where he finished as both the tournament’s top scorer and best player.

Aaronson will join Eintracht in January, but it seems as though he is being eyed more for the 2022-23 campaign, with the club currently in fourth place in the Bundesliga and having reached the Champions League last 16.

“He’s a very young player, a highly talented and really gifted player who will give us a huge amount of variety in attack in the future,” said Timmo Hardung, head of first team football at Eintracht.

“We’ve got a very clear plan for how we want to gradually and carefully build him up. And part of that is he’s coming to us in January to start getting used to everything here so that ideally he’s ready to hit the ground running in the new season.”

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Kevin Trapp was refreshingly honest about rejecting Manchester United

Some transparency in the transfer window for a change!

This time of year there are a torrent of transfer rumors flying around, some more believable than others.

Teams, agents, players and media all have different and sometimes competing interests, so it’s hard to parse through all the noise.

For example, it seems clear that Manchester United is looking to bring in another goalkeeper to back up, and potentially compete with, current starter David de Gea. But which goalkeepers the club is targeting, and which have actually been subject to an offer, can be shrouded mystery.

That’s why it’s easy to appreciate the statement made by Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp on Thursday.

The 32-year-old removed all doubt in a statement released by the club: Yes, Manchester United made an offer for me. Yes, I thought about it. And yes, I turned it down.

Trapp elaborated even more in a post on his Instagram account.

The Germany international wrote: “Dear fans, There have been a lot of reports of interest from Manchester United in the past few days. It is true that there is a written offer. Manchester United is a world-class club and the fact that I can deal with and think about such an offer, I hope everyone understands.

“Yesterday, however, I informed the person in charge of both clubs that I had chosen Eintracht. I have experienced unforgettable things here with Frankfurt and we made history together. The start to the season has been bumpy, but I have absolute faith in us. Yours, Kevin.”

For everyone’s sake, here’s hoping at least a few more players follow Trapp’s lead before the transfer window in Europe closes on Wednesday.

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Bayern, Kimmich use smokescreen to score first goal of Bundesliga season

Advice for Frankfurt fans: Bayern doesn’t need any help

Bayern Munich scored the first goal of the Bundesliga season, arguably with an assist from Eintracht Frankfurt fans.

Barely five minutes into their opening match, Joshua Kimmich sized up a 30-yard free kick. Frankfurt fans, in their excitement, had let off plenty of smoke, but this proved to be a mistake. Kimmich couldn’t help but notice the white cloud fogging the penalty area, and decided to just have a go and hope no one noticed.

It worked perfectly. Kimmich sent his shot around the wall, and Kevin Trapp—whether due to the smoke, or because he was anticipating a service towards Bayern’s runners on the other side of the box—reacted too late to get anywhere close to a save.

It was a nightmare start for Frankfurt, and the game devolved from there. Bayern rampaged through the rest of the first half, walking into the locker room up 5-0 against the defending Europa League champions, who finished solidly mid-table last season.

Watch Kimmich’s strike through the fog

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Three reasons to watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga opener

Can any team hope to slow Bayern down this season? We’ll start to find out on Friday

The 2022-23 Bundesliga season gets underway on Friday when defending champion Bayern Munich pays a visit to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayern has been unstoppable in the league for a decade, and will be looking to win an incredible 11th straight Bundesliga title this season.

Eintracht, meanwhile, enters the season with plenty of optimism after winning the Europa League last season and reaching the Champions League this term as a result.

WATCH: The Bundesliga is live on ESPN+!  Get ESPN+

Can any team hope to slow Bayern down this season? We’ll start to find out on Friday. Here are three reasons why it’s worth tuning in, followed by more information about the game.

1. Mario Götze is back!

It’s hard to believe that Mario Götze only just turned 30 earlier this summer. The scorer of the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final has been around forever, going from wonderkid at Borussia Dortmund to big-money Bayern Munich signing, then back to Dortmund and, most recently, Dutch outfit PSV.

Götze is now back in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, joining the club along with a host of other new faces as it gears up for Champions League competition this season.

2. How will Bayern’s new faces fit in?

Yes, Robert Lewandowski has departed, but Bayern is arguably still stronger now than it was at the end of last season.

The main reason is the club’s two headline signings in the summer: Sadio Mané and Matthijs de Ligt, with Mané set to help fill the scoring void Lewandowski left behind.

Bayern also added a pair of up-and-comers from Ajax in Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch, as well as French wonderkid Mathys Tel. Suffice it to say, Julian Nagelsmann will still have a world of talent at his disposal in the post-Lewandowski era.

3. Does anybody stand a chance at dethroning Bayern?

The past decade has been glorious for Bayern, but there is genuine concern about the Bundesliga’s transformation into a monopoly.

The last non-Bayern champion of the league was Jurgen Klopp-led Borussia Dortmund in 2011-12. That is an eternity for one of the top leagues in the world.

The title won’t be decided in week one, of course, but Eintracht taking points from Bayern could provide an early-season boost to potential title challengers. Could the Bavarians, shorn of Lewandowski, be dethroned in 2022-23? It still seems unlikely, but the likes of Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and others will certainly be watching the opener closely.

When is Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayern Munich?

The match will kick off on Friday, August 5 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

How can I watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayern Munich?

The Bundesliga kickoff match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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Mario Götze to MLS? Inter Miami hopes so

Never mind those MLS penalties, Miami’s after a big name

Inter Miami, despite being hamstrung by MLS penalties, is according to multiple outlets pursuing a move for World Cup winner Mario Götze.

Götze, 30, has had a return to form since a 2020 move to PSV, scoring 18 goals and assisting on 18 more in all competitions over the last two seasons. Kicker first reported Miami’s interest, though in the context of Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt and Portuguese power Benfica being the more likely suitors.

Still, MLSsoccer.com says that Miami’s interest is serious, with club scouts watching the former Germany international regularly in the Eredivisie, and Kicker notes that Miami’s offer may be the most lucrative of the bunch.

Götze’s deal with PSV reportedly includes a €4 million release clause. While Miami does have an open Designated Player slot, it is not clear that they would be able to make a move with this price tag. After being found to have violated multiple MLS rules—including playing with four Designated Players at once—the club part-owned by David Beckham must operate in 2022 and 2023 with a $2.2 million reduction in allocation money compared to what other MLS clubs receive.

Currently, Miami has two DPs, but neither is a shining example of how to operate in MLS. Rodolfo Pizarro holds one spot despite being on loan with Monterrey, while ex-Argentina and Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuaín has been pushed out of the lineup by young striker Leo Campana over the past couple of months.

Phil Neville’s side has toggled between several formations this year, but with Götze’s outstanding play coming largely as the No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 at PSV, it stands to reason that Miami would go that route full-time if they manage to convince him to choose MLS over Champions League soccer this year with Frankfurt or (if they qualify) Benfica.

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Eintracht Frankfurt es campeón de Europa League y así festejó su hinchada

Una invasión de hinchas alemanes en la final en Sevilla, tomaron por sorpresa la ciudad con tifo, bengalas, pirotecnia y hasta un mensaje a la UEFA.

El Eintracht Frankfurt s coronó campeón de la Europa League ante el Rangers de Escocia en serie de penales y su hinchada festejó de manera descomunal.

Tanto en el Sánchez Pizjuán de Sevilla donde se disputó el encuentro, como en las calles de Frankfurt en Alemania, el Eintracht logró hacer vibrar a una ciudad con el título de Europa League y como es costumbre de su afición festejaron en grande.

Una invasión de hinchas alemanes en la final en Sevilla, tomaron por sorpresa la ciudad con tifo, bengalas, pirotecnia y hasta un mensaje a la UEFA.

Así festejó el Eintracht Frankfurt su título de Europa League

‘We will host two fanbases that drink a lot’ – Police on alert as 150,000 fans invade Seville for Europa League final

150,000 fans and plenty of cold beer? Spanish police think it might be a recipe for trouble.

Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt fans have swarmed Seville ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League final, and Spanish police are expecting them to do plenty of drinking.

At a Tuesday briefing of leaders from Spain’s national police service, General Commissioner for Citizen Security Juan Carlos Castro Estevez said that 100,000 Rangers fans and 50,000 for Eintracht Frankfurt posed a massive challenge in terms of event security.

“We will host two fanbases that drink a lot. These citizens, who are used to drinking warm beer in their countries, when they find our fresh and cold beers, will drink even more,” said Castro, adding that between the alcohol, the sheer volume of fans who will not have tickets—the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán only seats 42,714—and construction in the area, it could be “a recipe that could lead to serious problems.”

Spanish police may still be a bit bewildered at how many Eintracht Frankfurt fans ended up in the Camp Nou in the quarterfinal. The German club was allotted 5,000 tickets for its second leg against Barcelona, only for a much higher number of fans in white and black to fill the stands.

Eintracht Frankfurt players celebrate winning the Europa League, second leg, quarterfinal soccer match against Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium, in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, April 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

UEFA has allotted both clubs 10,000 tickets to the match, and police have said they plan to keep the two sets of fans over five kilometers apart before the game, but Castro admitted there is still uncertainty. “We can’t know for sure how many will arrive by car, buses and boats. Eintracht only had 5,000 tickets to their quarterfinal at Barcelona and 30,000 showed up somehow at Camp Nou.”

As a result, security plans call for roughly 5,000 members of Spanish security forces, drawing from national and local branches, to set up in Seville. They’ve also kept tabs on how fans are arriving in Spain, detailing the prospect of fans traveling to Spanish vacation spots like Malaga, Mallorca or the Canary Islands before descending on Seville for the match.

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Barcelona se blinda para evitar otra ‘invasión’ como la de Frankfurt

La del Eintracht Frankfurt es una de las mejores aficiones de la Bundesliga y vaya que lo supieron demostrar en su serie ante Barcelona.

Más de 30,000 hinchas de Eintracht Frankfurt acompañaron al equipo a Barcelona a conseguir el resultado que necesitaban para meterse a las semifinales de la Europa League.

La invasión alemana a Barcelona humilló a un equipo acostumbrado a registrar los mejores promedios de asistencia en Europa y el amplio favorito para llevarse el torneo. No pudieron los rebasó la pasión del Frankfurt.

© SIPA USA

Oficialmente se le vendieron 5,000 entradas a los seguidores del Eintracht conforme a los lineamientos de la UEFA, pero lo cierto es que en la grada había hinchas de blanco por todo el estadio al grado que una buena parte del partido, el grupo de ultras del Barcelona abandonó su puesto en protesta por los socios que revendieron sus entradas.

Barcelona se blinda contra invasiones

La humillación en el campo y en la grada fue sin precedentes para el Barcelona que nunca había visto a una hinchada visitante copar de esa manera tan contundente su propio estadio, como si fueran visitantes.

Fue Joan Laporta, presidente del club Barcelona, quien anunció medidas extraordinarias para contrarrestar las ‘anomalías’ presentadas con algunos socios cuyas entradas terminaron en manos de los hinchas alemanes.

© SIPA USA

Para las competencias internacionales, la entrada será nominativa y no cualquiera podrá acceder a los boletos, por lo que de esta manera evitarían otra llegada masiva de hinchas que adquieren boletos.

Lo cierto es que la del Eintracht Frankfurt es una de las mejores aficiones de la Bundesliga y vaya que lo supieron demostrar en su serie ante Barcelona.

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Frankfurt deja a fuera a Barcelona humillando en la cancha y la grada

El máximo favorito para llevarse la Europa League quedó fuera de la competencia y el Barcelona ahora tendrá que luchar por puestos europeos

El Eintracht Frankfurt rompió todas las quinielas esta noche en Barcelona y con mucha categoría los derrotó por marcador de 2-3 y avanzó a las semifinales de la Europa League.

El cuadro alemán se plantó en el Camp Nou no solo con la actitud de llevarse el partido tras el 1-1 en la ida en Alemania, lo hizo acompañado de al menos 25 mil hinchas que hicieron al viaje a la ciudad condal e inundaron el escenario con sus cantos y aliento.

© SIPA USA

Una caravana espectacular acompañó al Eintracht Frankfurt en su llegada a Barcelona y tal parece que el impulso le sirvió al equipo que se hizo dueño del estadio visitante y con categoría ya ganaba el partido 0-2 al descanso.

En la segunda mitad el Frankfurt se dio el lujo de humillar más al Barcelona de Xavi que sin duda atravesó su peor tropiezo desde su llegada al banquillo. con un tercer gol, aunque casi por concluir el partido vino la reacción blaugrana que hizo más decorosa la derrota con goles de Busquets y Depay en tiempo agregado.

El máximo favorito para llevarse la Europa League quedó fuera de la competencia y el Barcelona ahora tendrá que luchar por un puesto en las competencias europeas del siguiente año desde el torneo local.

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