11 Points from a Pointless Break
The international break can sometimes feel pointless but what important notes can we take from the current one? Let’s look to the Starting Eleven
My goal for this piece, The Starting Eleven, is for it to have it become a piece that takes 11 points from the world of soccer, both domestic and abroad! For the sake of the game, let’s stick with the conventional 4–4–2 formation:
GK — On Friday 21 year old Ethan Horvath made his starting appearance for the US Men’s National Team. Even though Horvath looked sharp, he was not called into action frequently, tallying three saves in 90 minutes. While Horvath may not get the start again it is exciting to see Klinsmann bring in a new generation of goalies that we can look forward to after the golden generation of keepers (Howard, Guzan, and I’ll even throw in Rimando) ends their time for the USMNT.
RB — Deandre Yedlin got to start again for the US Men’s National Team against Cuba. It seems after solid play in the Copa America and even better play for his new club Newcastle, Yedlin has started to cement his play as a starter in the USMNT starting lineup.
CB — Our lovable Icelandic team was back at it again, stealing our hearts and playing some thrilling games that is, on Thursday. Down 1–2 in the 90th minute Alfred Finnbogason scored a header off a corner kick. Then in the SIXTH minute of injury time, center back Ragnar Sigurdsson poked in a loose ball to steal three points. Hopefully this team can keep getting 3 points and we will be able to see them again in Russia!
CB — It’s rumored that Chelsea is mounting a significant bid for Italian center back Leonardo Bonnucci. Multiple English sources have reported that Conte is willing to give Juventus up to £50 million and even throw in a creative midfielder to reunite with his beloved center back. As we saw this summer when Conte has the player personnel he really wants. Hopefully adding familiar players can fix some of the problems he’s faced at Chelsea so far.
LB — In the 20th minute in England’s match against Malta, English left back Ryan Bertrand made a streaking run down the sideline only to pull up and quickly be substituted off afterwards. Bertrand has a hamstring injury that unfortunately will keep him out of the rest of the international break and most likely to miss some games for his club Southampton as well.
RM — Although leader Gareth Bale had a goal in the 10th minute, Wales tied underdog Georgia 1–1, giving up a last minute goal to succeed 2 points. However, since this summer though Gareth Bale has definitely carried more of the load for Wales than he previously did. Of his 25 international goals he has scored 6 of them since the start of the European Championship this summer. Wales is another team, like Iceland, that many people fell in love with and are hoping to see in Russia. With talent like Bale and “Welsh Xavi” we should expect to see them there.
CM — Dmitri Payet, another player who has been heavily contributing to his country since this summer, continued his success by scoring for France in their match against Bulgaria. In his last nine starts for France he has scored five times and had two assists as well. His numbers for West Ham are quite similar, making you wonder why the Hammers are fighting to stay in the Premier League.
CM — When watching the USA play Cuba in a friendly on Friday, in what I seriously thought was the most accurate recreation of a high school soccer game, I kept thinking one thing: What is going on with Michael Bradley? Field conditions aside, his play looked off, which has been the case in the recent months. Although I am hoping he can start to find his groove again at RFK on Tuesday, I also hope Klinnsman gives 20 year-old Lynden Gooch a chance for some serious playing time as well.
RM — The Colorado Rapids, while not the prettiest soccer team, are one of the more successful. On Saturday night while most people were watching College Football thinking no soccer was being played, the Rapids secretly pulled off a 3–2 win over the Houston Dynamo in Houston. Starting right midfielder, Shkelzan Gashi, was big contributor to the victory. Gashi scored a goal and almost added another fantastic goal to his MLS Goal of the Year campaign. According to whoscored.com, he’s ninth among MLS players in key passes per game, and he’s seventh in the league in crosses per game (a statistic important to an outside midfielder). While Colorado’s defense has been one of the key’s to their success this year, the increased production of players like Gashi and Marlon Hairston has lifted the Rapids into second place in the Western Conference and a serious MLS Cup contender.
ST — If you are Carlo Ancelotti you have to have been pleased with how the international break has been going so far. Star strikers Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller both scored goals for their country this weekend, Lewandowski bagging a hat-trick and Thomas Muller scoring a brace. Ancelotti must be pleased with his players’ good form and should hope they can keep it going after the break.
ST — The NWSL championship was today and boy was it an exciting one. The Washington Spirit and the Western New York Flash were tied after 90 minutes. After Crystal Dunn scored the quickest goal in NWSL extra time history, Williams saved the best for last and scored the game tying goal in the 124th minute. In penalties the Flash edged out the Spirit 3–2 and took home the championship. Building off a MVP and Golden Boot season, Williams has had a breakout year and should hopefully start to contribute more to the US Women’s National Team soon.
Happy International Break everyone! See you in Wales with Bob