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Published on Sep, 04 2024
Happy Wednesday! We are already midway through the first of almost two full weeks without European club soccer. It is not all rest, though, with the USMNT in action and European champions Spain back with the UEFA Nations League. I am Jonathan Johnson bringing you the latest from the soccer world this midweek.
All times U.S./Eastern
Wednesday, September 4
🇺🇸 USL League One: Spokane Velocity vs. Union Omaha, 9 p.m.
Thursday, September 5
🇪🇺 UEFA Nations League: Portugal vs. Croatia, 2:45 p.m. ➡️ ViX
🇪🇺 UEFA Nations League: Serbia vs. Spain, 2:45 p.m. ➡️ FS2
🌎 World Cup qualifiers: Argentina vs. Chile, 8 p.m. ➡️ Universo
⚽ The Forward Line 🇺🇸 USMNT (still) awaiting the Pochettino era
The United States men's national team gets back into action on Saturday with a friendly against Canada, with this the first outing for the Stars and Stripes since a painful Copa America on home soil this summer. The outcome was head coach Gregg Berhalter losing his job with Mauricio Pochettino coming in to replace him. However, continuing the feeling of limbo that has surrounded this U.S. team since Berhalter's first exit following the 2022 World Cup, it will not be the Argentine overseeing this international break, with Mikey Varas leading the side instead.
"I think after the Copa ended there was a mutual feeling in the dressing room of disappointment and we knew that we had to put it to rest, that we had to go away and reflect," said AS Monaco's Folarin Balogun recently. "We have come back for this camp and we have had the time to reflect and speak together and we have two friendly games coming up. As always, when we have the opportunity to wear this jersey, it is about putting on a show. We are not treating it as friendlies and we want to make a statement and remind people what we are about."
Although the coaching uncertainty is not ideal, American soccer has gotten used to that flux over the past few years given the protracted nature of their most recent appointments. The Canada and New Zealand friendlies are not the be all and end all, but they will be valuable to Pochettino in assessing his new squad during this latest watching brief. Veteran USMNT defender Tim Ream admitted that the players are basically in the same situation as the fans in that they are simply waiting for confirmation over the new boss befor getting to work ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
"I have gone through a few coaching changes in my career," said Ream who recently joined Major League Soccer outfit Charlotte FC after nine years with Fulham in England. "I think that I have had 10 or 11 different managers over just the course of my club career. I think it is one of those things where we all naturally kind of lift the intensity and lift the focus and you put a little bit more into it, but at the same time, you do have to play your own game and do what has gotten you to that point while also adjusting and adapting to a new voice. That is not any different at any level that you play at so there is a fine line and a balance of pushing and being more focused and more intense but also playing your game and the style, the way you play that has gotten you to that point. Just understanding how far to push it and where that fine line and that balance is."
Weston McKennie has been left out to continue his reintegration with Juventus while Tyler Adams is injured, but Varas is a familiar enough face for the squad to get on with it until Pochettino arrives. Expected to become the San Diego FC head coach ahead of their inaugural 2025 season, Varas has been in the U.S. system for long enough for this to be a continuation at least of what the players are familiar with before the anticipated changes that should come with Pochettino.
The UEFA Nations League sees all of the UEFA Euro 2024 participants back in action for the first time since the tournament in Germany this summer. As champions, all eyes will be on Spain as they take on Serbia in their opening League A Group 4 game, but also the likes of Portugal who underachieved and France who went close before being edged out by La Roja. The UNL action will make way for FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification focus in time, but will account for international European soccer until the start of 2025.
Spain vs. Serbia
It has been nearly two months since Spain were crowned UEFA Euro 2024 champions and Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade will see La Roja return to action for the first time since then on Thursday. The Spanish are also defending Nations League titleholders from 2023 and League A Group 4 has drawn them alongside Switzerland and Denmark as well as this Serbian side. Luis de la Fuente's side might be a little rusty, having not been together since they beat England 2-1 in the Euro final in Berlin back in July, but their record under him is impressive with 17 wins from 21 games. Third in the FIFA World Rankings after outscoring everyone at the Euros and winning all seven games which was a first for a European nation at a major international tournament, this is a game which has rarely taken place with their last meeting a friendly back in 2012.
Portugal vs. Croatia
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are also back in action on Thursday when they take on Luka Modric's Croatia in Lisbon at Estadio da Luz. Both sides struggled at Euro 2024 in Germany with the Portuguese ambling into the latter phase before falling in the quarterfinals while Vatreni were edged out late on in the group stage. Roberto Martinez is trying to inject some youth into the Portuguese ranks after Pepe's retirement and the Portuguese did win this back in 2019. Up against Scotland and Poland in League A Group 1, the Selecao will be targeting top spot or at least a top two finish to advance with opening opponents Croatia the beaten 2023 finalists.
France vs. Italy
Kylian Mbappe and France are also back in action this week with Italy visiting Parc des Princes in League A Group 2 which also houses Belgium and Israel. Les Bleus went close in Germany but were underwhelming so it was no surprise to see Spain edge them out on route to the title. Didier Deschamps remains head coach and Real Madrid's Mbappe stays on as captain despite a disappointing individual and collective showing considering the talent available. The Azzurri will be a good start for the French as they work towards what is expected to be Deschamps' final international tournament as head coach in 2026.
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