All posts by h716a5.icu

Ex-player fears that current cricketers will be reluctant to speak out about colleagues

George Dobell01-Oct-2020Azeem Rafiq says that anonymity needs to be granted to witnesses in the investigation into allegations of racism within Yorkshire cricket.Rafiq, who triggered the review after claiming that “institutional racism” at the club had left him on the brink of suicide, believes potential witnesses may be prevented from sharing their experiences by a fear of damaging their on-going hopes for inclusion within the game.He has received numerous responses to his allegations. While some former team-mates have phoned to apologise for their behaviour, others have phoned to apologise for not doing more to stop inappropriate behaviour when they witnessed it. In all cases, Rafiq has requested they share their comments with the investigation panel. But it seems not all are prepared to do so.”There’s been an interesting response,” Rafiq told ESPNcricinfo. “Some people have been in touch to apologise and others to offer their support. A few have said ‘I’ve experienced the same things, but I don’t want to complain as it will jeopardise my future with the club’.”One guy – the one who said ‘there’s too many of you lot’ when I was in the team with Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan – unfollowed me on Twitter. Another, who was outright racist, called the morning after that piece was published and apologised. He said he had no filter.”I respect that. Obviously it shouldn’t have happened, but I can respect the fact he had the humility and bravery to pick up the phone and acknowledge his faults.”A current player was similar. He was in tears. He hadn’t done anything himself, but he’d seen things go on and had done nothing to stop them. I said ‘That’s fine, mate, but if you really want to make it better, you’ve got to tell the investigation team’. I don’t know if he will or not.ALSO READ: Gillespie condemns Yorkshire league chairman for Rafiq comments”Several people have been in touch and said ‘we’ve experienced the same things’,” he said. “But when I’ve asked if they will come forward, they’ve said ‘I can’t. My shop will suffer; my son will never be picked again for the youth team’ or something like that.”So I hope people who give evidence to the investigation team can do so in secret so there are no repercussions for them. That’s the only way we’ll get to the bottom of these things.”Hanif Malik will no longer appear as part of that panel.Malik, an independent director at Yorkshire and former non-executive director at Sport England, had been the subject of complaints from Rafiq, who claimed he had previously outlined his concerns to him but that no action had been taken.It’s understood that Malik has also suffered a family bereavement. It is not clear which of these factors, or both, contributed to him no longer appearing on the sub-committee. The precise terms of reference of the investigation are yet to be published.”I’d actually reported my concerns to quite a few people,” Rafiq said. “The PCA have been great, but I reported these things to Matthew Wood [the PCA rep], the chief executive [Mark Arthur] and director of cricket [Martyn Moxon] at Yorkshire a couple of years ago. I reported it to Hanif Malik and the National Asian Cricket Council. I reported these things through every channel that was available to me. Not much progress was made until I spoke to the media.”

Leeds United could lose another valuable member of their first team this summer, with manager Daniel Farke facing a potential Elland Road exodus after their Championship play-off final defeat to Southampton.

Leeds players who could leave after failed promotion bid

The Whites' 1-0 defeat at Wembley means Leeds will be competing in England's second tier yet again next term, despite looking like certainties to climb back up to the Premier League at one point last season.

Leeds United chasing move for "unbelievable" £5k-p/w defender this summer

Talks are in the early stages for a potential deal.

ByBen Browning Jun 1, 2024

Leeds are left to rue a real missed opportunity as they fell just short in a tight three-horse promotion race. Farke's side were neck-and-neck with Ipswich Town and Leicester City in one of the most exciting Championship promotion races in years, but unfortunately for supporters, one team was destined to miss out.

"As you can imagine, it couldn't be worse. We are suffering a lot in this moment," said Farke on Leeds' play-off final defeat.

"When you come so close after 90 points and a great play-off semi-final, it hurts a lot. It's too early to come in with upbeat messages. You have to allow the players to be down but when you look at the bigger picture, there's no need to dwell on this.

Leeds 0-0 Sunderland

Leeds 0-1 Blackburn

Middlesbrough 3-4 Leeds

QPR 4-0 Leeds

Leeds 1-2 Southampton

"It's more important to take it as extra motivation. The supporters deserve a day to celebrate and we feel that pain today. We're disappointed we could not send our fans back with something to cheer about and we're not in the promised land.

"It'll be difficult to come back stronger because we had 90 points this season."

Staying in the Championship will have grave consequences in the summer, as Leeds are now forced to potentially sell star players. It is now very unclear whether they can agree to sign mainstay defender Joe Rodon on a permanent deal, while Crysencio Summerville is thought to be attracting interest from elite Premier League clubs.

Ilia Gruev, who played a key role under Farke last season, may also be on the move.

Gruev ready to quit Leeds as Borussia Dortmund eye move

TEAMtalk has an update on this, and they claim Gruev is ready to leave Leeds this summer after they couldn't secure top-flight promotion.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who played 32 Championship matches, commands a £15 million price tag for any interested side – and it is believed that Borussia Dortmund are firmly in the mix to do a deal.

“The other player I really like in the Leeds team that no one really talks about and that’s the Bulgaria lad, Ilia Gruev," said former EFL star Adrian Clarke.

“He is class, he really is a smooth operator in the heart of the engine room. Gets about the pitch, recovers possession kind of effortlessly but he does with the ball.

“He just moves it early and quickly but with real quality and rarely gives the ball away."

Mikel Arteta has done an excellent job in transforming Arsenal since his appointment at the Emirates back in 2019.

Upon his arrival back at the club where he spent five years of his playing career, he was tasked with taking the Gunners back towards the top end of the Premier League after numerous years without Champions League football either.

In what has been his first senior management job, the Spaniard has excelled and instilled a free-flowing possession-based system in North London, with the midfield able to get on the ball and dictate the play.

The arrivals of talents such as Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard have taken the Gunners to the next level, allowing the club to finally compete for another title.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

Aston Villa (A)

Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

Tottenham Hotspur (A)

Manchester City (A)

However, despite the duo’s respective successes at the Emirates, the club have been crying out for one more midfield talent to complete Arteta’s midfield trio.

The supporters may finally receive their wish, with the club raging closer to securing the signature of one player who has been on their radar for a number of transfer windows.

Arsenal leading the race for £60m talent

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal are leading the race to sign Everton’s Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana, despite interest from LaLiga side Barcelona.

The 22-year-old, who joined the Toffees for £33m back in the summer of 2022, has excelled at Goodison Park, making 72 appearances during his two years on Merseyside – attracting interest from some of Europe’s elite.

The report claims that Sean Dyche’s side need to raise funds this summer, with Onana potentially one to leave the club to prevent a further PSR breach next season following their total of eight points deducted in 2023/24.

It’s previously been reported that Everton are set to demand £60m for his signature this summer, with Onana having the ability to transform Arteta’s midfield once more and complete his trio in the middle of the pitch.

Why Onana would complete Arteta’s Arsenal midfield

In a campaign where Dyche’s side managed to claim Premier League status once more, Onana played a key role in midfield for the Toffees featuring in 30 matches over the course of the league campaign.

The Belgian produced some excellent stats for the Toffees, numerous of which would hugely benefit Arteta’s side ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

The 22-year-old achieved a pass accuracy of 84% in the Premier League last season, producing an average of 4.6 progressive passes per 90 – showcasing his desire to play forward and create opportunities where possible.

Whilst he’s excelled on the ball, he’s been phenomenal defensively, with analyst Ben Mattinson dubbing the midfielder as a “monster”.

Games

30

Minutes played

2091

Pass accuracy

84%

Progressive passes per 90

4.6

Tackles per 90

3.1

Aerials won per 90

2.2

Onana has averaged 3.1 tackles per 90, winning 2.2 per game, demonstrating his excellent ball-winning abilities at the base of midfield before playing the ball forward in transition.

His excellent stats would play perfectly into the hands of Rice and Odegaard who thrive with the ball at their feet, with the duo contributing with a combined 18 assists in the league last season.

The potential arrival of the Belgian would allow for the aforementioned duo to take their game to the next level, whilst also providing Arteta’s side with added security to bolster their already impressive defensive unit. Rice has been a revelation since joining but has looked at his best when given an opportunity to move further forward, contributing with seven league goals.

As a result, this is a move that could well truly complete Arteta's midfield trio. Odegaard from the right, Rice from the left and Onana at the base certainly sounds like a tasty recipe.

The Toffees star may prove to be an expensive addition for the Gunners, but his excellent stats with and without the ball would allow for the club to finally edge even closer to ending their 20-year drought without a Premier League title.

What Arsenal’s starting XI could look like after £300m spending spree

Arsenal could have a massive summer ahead of them if they are to finally overtake Manchester City.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 16, 2024

A former Borussia Dortmund player says it is "sh*t" that his old coach Jurgen Klopp has accepted Red Bull's job offer.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Klopp leaves Liverpool in 2024Ex-Dortmund boss joins Red BullFormer player slams manager's decisionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Liverpool boss Klopp was announced as Red Bull's new Global Head of Soccer earlier this week, prompting a backlash from fans who weren't happy about the decision. Now, Kevin Grosskreutz – who made 176 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Dortmund under Klopp – has admitted he is "in shock" over the German's move.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT KEVIN GROSSKREUTZ SAID

He said on his Viertelstunde Fußball podcast: "I woke up, I had 30 messages on my phone and I thought: What happened? I thought I was dreaming, then I hoped it was fake news. Two hours later it was official. It was pretty shocking and sad. Somehow it hasn't really sunk in yet.

"I don't think anyone was expecting it. It's very, very strange and I can't really comprehend it yet. It's like shock! Nevertheless, he's a friend of mine and I owe him a lot. And I will always be grateful to him. As a football fan, I think it sucks, to put it bluntly! But as a friend, you have to accept decisions being made. When we meet, I'll still tell him personally that I think it's sh*t that he does something like that!”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Red Bull brand is not at all popular in Germany, partly due to the commercial setup they have implemented at RB Leipzig and how many see it as antithetical to the nation's football values. So for Klopp to join the company just weeks after he returned to his beloved Dortmund for a testimonial match will be a slap in the face for many football supporters.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Reports suggest Klopp has signed a long-term contract with Red Bull and will start his new post in January 2025. He is set to support the coaches of RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, and other teams in the Red Bull network.

Head coach also explains why Gaikwad wasn’t picked sooner and why Tahir played only three games all season

Deivarayan Muthu01-Nov-2020Chennai Super Kings have had their worst season, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in the 11 years they’ve been part of the IPL. When the Super Kings stumbled with the bat and fumbled in the field in the first half of the season, the usually unflappable Stephen Fleming was visibly frustrated. After the Super Kings gave up five wickets inside the powerplay and eventually lost to Mumbai Indians in Sharjah he said that the ageing side had “run out of juice”.Fleming has overseen the rebuilding of the Melbourne Stars in the BBL and the building of Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL, but would the impending transition at Super Kings be his toughest challenge as a T20 coach?”It’s a great challenge,” Fleming said at the post-match press conference after the Super Kings finished their season with three successive wins. ” It’s great fun and there’s responsibility around it, but when you get the likes of Ruturaj [Gaikwad] come through and some of the players getting the mix of youth and old…”Fleming looked back at the past to plan for the future, hoping to establish a strong core like how the team management had done in 2008. MS Dhoni, who was the most expensive buy at that inaugural auction, has also confirmed that he’s “definitely not” retiring before the next IPL.”We go back to the same team which Mr. Srinivasan and CSK picked and how right they got it,” Fleming said. “We’re looking to do the same if we can get a decade of consistent cricket from a side, you’re doing something right. So, we’re tapping into that and yeah there’s big responsibility. Teams now and squads are a lot smarter and they really want what they want, so talent is at a premium. But, it’s one of the challenges… good and exciting challenges of being involved with an IPL side.”The 23-year old Gaikwad, who peeled off three fifies in a row, is a “big candidate” for the Super Kings going forward. When asked if the team management could’ve found room for him at the top in the first half of the season, Fleming reckoned that they had actually rushed him into action too early after he had recovered from Covid-19.After an extended quarantine period, Gaikwad returned to training on September 21. On the very next day, he made his IPL debut against Rajasthan Royals and bagged a duck at No.5. Three days later, against the Delhi Capitals, he managed 5 at No. 4 before being dropped from the XI.Ruturaj Gaikwad reached his third successive half-century•BCCI”No, we couldn’t play him earlier, in fact we played him too early,” Fleming said. “Covid really knocked him around, we knew how good he was from the time we’ve had in the last two years; the pre-season [camp] in Chennai was outstanding. One of the disappointments was obviously he got sick and the fact that it hung around for so long, people underestimated what it does to a player physically and mentally.”We tried to get him into the game really early on, looking back probably it was too soon, so it wasn’t effective. We might have pushed him in too quickly and he wasn’t quite ready physically and he got outweighed a little bit – some doubts were cast and just got to work with him in net practice and limited practice matches, but we always had in mind he was going to be a key player.”On Sunday, it was Imran Tahir and Lungi Ngidi who had set up the Super Kings’ nine-wicket win by restricting Kings XI Punjab to 153 for 6. Tahir, who was the top wicket-taker last season, got only three games in IPL 2020 for one wicket. Fleming explained that since the batting line-up was brittle, in the absence of Suresh Raina, they needed overseas cover on that front and had to rely on the Indian bowlers to do the job.”We had Josh Hazlewood also in limited games, but what we were in trouble is that we were without our Indian batters, we had to fill those gaps with international players,” Fleming said. Whilst you’d like to play all your internationals, you having to fill a gap at the top of the order [means] it puts a squeeze somewhere else.”So, we had to rely on Indian seamers and only one sort of overseas bowler at a time. It wasn’t like we didn’t want to play them. When you have one of the best T20 bowlers in the world sitting on the sidelines, it hurts me just as much as some of the experts saying why is he not playing. But, they have to think deeper than that as to what’s going on with the balance of the side and that’s one of the great challenges of selecting each side when you’ve got so much talent on the bench.”Fleming was also pleased with how the Super Kings bounced back, after a terrible start, to offer hope for the future.”We hung tough as a group,” he said. “Obviously in the bubble we spent a lot of time together and when things aren’t going well in the IPL, it can get a bit toxic. But the players – every one of them – were incredibly committed to what we were trying to do. Some were getting opportunities and some weren’t which again is the nature of the IPL. [That] we were finishing on an up is a testament to the players more than anything that they were still committed to respecting the jersey and franchise and finished the tournament well so that we can look back and say ‘what if’ rather than ‘what next’. We’ve got too many fans as well relying on us to do well and we have an obligation to do that. The players were in a good enough space and tough to repay that.”

He has sustained a strain in his groin after five months of extensive rehabilitation of his back

Umar Farooq05-Nov-2020It took just 38.5 overs across three innings for Hasan Ali to break down once again after five months of extensive rehabilitation of his back. His attempt to restart his career was marred by yet another blow when he sustained a strain in his groin while playing for Central Punjab against Northern Punjab in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. As a result, Ali has been ruled out of the third round of the tournament.Ali is working with a physiotherapist in Karachi and has been advised at least a week’s rest before any further decision is made on his fitness. He is being continuously monitored and underwent an MRI scan to get more clarity about the severity of the injury. He has also reduced any further toil on his body and is doing only light training for now.Ali made himself available for competitive cricket after spending several months at the High Performance Centre in Lahore. He started the first-class season in the first round against Sindh at the National Stadium in Karachi, where he bowled a combined 32.3 overs while conceding 106 runs for three wickets. But during the second-round game against Northern Punjab, he lasted only 6.2 overs on the first day, and walked back in pain to not return again as his side lost the match by nine wickets.Ali’s career took a big blow last year after he suffered a back injury during the opening round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in Lahore, following which he underwent a seven-week rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy. He was declared fit for the final round of the tournament, only to suffer a fresh injury – a rib fracture in November 2019 – that ruled him out for a further six weeks.ALSO READ: The promise and the pain of Hasan AliAli has also continued to miss international cricket – he last represented Pakistan against India in the 2019 World Cup – but was declared fit to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this year. He had an unimpressive outing with eight wickets in nine games with an economy rate of 8.59 for the Peshawar Zalmi before the tournament was put on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic.Soon after the PSL stint, Ali had recurring back pain, and scans confirmed the problem in the back had flared up again, with symptoms similar to that of a lumbar herniated disk. Ali consulted an Australian doctor and avoided surgery on his back while continuing to work and train with a physiotherapist. He also lost his central contract last month, but will have his medical expenses covered by the PCB until recovering fully. Ali will also get additional financial assistance from the board’s welfare fund, a safety net reserved only for retired players in dire need.Despite the injury, Ali is likely to stay in Karachi and will be joining the Zalmi squad for the PSL playoffs starting November 14.

Decision Day 2024 more than lived up to the hype as the MLS regular season closed on a dramatic note

Christian Benteke's face said it all.

Here was a man who sealed Major League Soccer's Golden Boot, but was covering his eyes to hide the pain he felt from missing the MLS postseason on the final day of the regular season, as D.C. United lost 3-0 to Charlotte FC Saturday night. It was raw. It was emotional. It is what MLS more of.

MLS has grown dramatically, especially over the past decade and a half, and it can certainly make a case that it is a more efficiently run league than some of its European counterparts. But one area in which it struggles to match the old continent's leagues is the week-to-week drama that appears on a consistent basis in the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and La Liga.

Decision Day is certainly a step in the right direction.

Now the challenge for the league is to find more ways to bottle that energy and excitement and spread it more throughout the season, especially during the times where the season can feel a bit more routine.

Moving forward, there were plenty of storylines to follow on Decision Day.

Here are the top four.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowImagnTroy Lesesne deserves criticism after failed tactical plan

D.C. United had one job: Draw or win and they're in. And they were at home.

Despite a favorable setup, United failed miserably, losing 3-0 to Charlotte and extended a playoff drought that started following the 2019 season in which Wayne Rooney brought them to the postseason.

Manager Troy Lesesne, who had a decent first season in D.C., deserves criticism for getting the tactics wrong in this match. United dominated possession with a 58.3 percent advantage, but it had no answers for Charlotte FC's counter attack and conceded three goals. In attack, the home side wasn't much better as it over relied on Benteke to create magic. Charlotte, which didn't have as much at stake, had an xG of 2-1.

Considering everything that was at stake for D.C., focusing on a more defensive gameplan might have worked towards its favor. Unfortunately, the team's fans will spend the entire offseason wondering what if.

AdvertisementLate night thriller from both Los Angeles teams

What a night for MLS.

For about 30 seconds it appeared as LAFC would steal back the Western Conference from its Carson rivals in the LA Galaxy. LAFC sealed a 3-1 win over Wooden Spoon holders and the Galaxy were trailing 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo. Then insanity ensued.

LA would draw a penalty, which was soundly converted by Newcomer of the Year favorite Gabriel Pec. The Galaxy were on top of the Western Conference summit – for about another four minutes. As broadcast cameras panned in on a devastated LAFC fanbase in Los Angeles, a defensive lapse by the Galaxy would ultimately bring joy to BMO Stadium. Ex-Galaxy man Daniel Steres would score 11 minutes into extra time to seal a 2-1 win for Houston and the West for LAFC.

It was top-level action that would remind Premier League fans of Manchester City's title steal over Sir. Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012.

USA Today ImagesMontreal, Atlanta United peaking at the right time

Both CF Montreal and Atlanta United had in-season turmoil. First-year Montreal manager Laurent Courtois found himself on the hot seat after a mid-season cold spell and USMNT legend Carlos Bocanegra lost his job as United's VP and technical director.

Then throw in the fact that Atlanta lost its three best players to transfers in Caleb Wiley, Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis while Josef Martinez publicly criticized Courtois – tronger clubs have collapsed under these circumstances.

However, pressure forms diamonds right?

While neither team is expected to hoist the MLS Cup this year, there will be plenty of intrigue when they meet in Stade Saputo midweek. And at the very least, the remarkable 18-year career of Dax McCarty will extend for at least one more game.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Philly's long postseason run comes to an end

The Philadelphia Union are a well-run organization that has a strong coach in Jim Curtin and one of the best scouting and development programs in all of North America. That makes the fact that they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017 following a 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati standout even more. This seems like a changing of the guard for a team that just lost the MLS Cup final in 2022 on penalties.

Longtime midfielder Alejandro Bedoya is very likely out of the door and he'll probably be joined by other veterans who no longer fit the team's plan. And the Union have arguably the best homegrown cast in the league, with Jack McGlynn, Quinn and Cavan Sullivan poised for big jumps in the years to come.

Yet, it did feel as if something was a amiss in Philly. And if certain quotes circulating around social media are indicative of a larger issue, it could point to a need of investment in the squad.

After losing out in the Championship playoffs semi-finals last season, West Bromwich Albion are looking to improve their squad during the summer transfer window by providing Carlos Corberan with a new attacking talent.

Baggies targeting summer signings

The latest news out of The Hawthorns has suggested that West Brom are eager to bring in a number of new signings this summer. Moussa Diarra is the most recent name linked with a move to the West Midlands with the Baggies reportedly keen on adding the free-agent defender to their ranks this summer.

West Brom hit gold signing gem who's worth more than both Mowatt & Kipre

West Bromwich Albion will be more hopeful that this gem will line up for the Baggies next season.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 23, 2024

With reinforcements at the back clearly a priority for the Baggies, the club are now set to confirm the signing of IF Brommapojkarna defender Torbjorn Heggem. The 25-year-old is set for a medical with West Brom ahead of a permanent move to the Hawthorns.

Whilst defensive recruits are clearly high on West Brom's shopping list, the club are still eager to bring in fresh faces in attack with the club set to battle their rivals for a Championship proven free agent.

West Brom move for Wednesday want-away

As first reported by Birmingham World, West Bromwich Albion are expected to challenge Birmingham City to sign Josh Windass on a free transfer. The 30-year-old's current deal with Sheffield Wednesday is set to expire on the 30th June and with talks over a new deal stalling Windass now looks set to depart Hillsborough at the end of this month.

Whilst the two Midlands outfits are among the numerous Championship sides expressing an interest in the attacker, the report from Birmingham World states that the Baggies have now made contact with the player’s representatives to gauge his level of interest in a move to the Hawthorns.

Windass has endured something of a mixed spell with the Owls but ended last season as one of Danny Rohl's most important players. The attacker scored in all three of Wednesday's final league games as the South Yorkshire outfit defied the odds to stave off relegation.

The 30-year-old may be best remembered by the Baggies' faithful from Wednesday's victory against West Brom back in April in which Windass notched the winning goal as his side ran away 3-0 winners on the day.

Rohl has been outspoken on Windass' performances this season with the Owls' boss taking the time to praise the attacker's development, telling the press:

"For Josh the last weeks were not easy, a big injury and (fitness problems) again and again."

"But I said to him he also has to take responsibility. If you want to be a good player and a strong leader on the pitch you have to show up. It makes no sense just to talk. He fought for every inch, he showed his quality."

With Coberan's side massively struggling for depth in attack, a player like Windass would be perfect for the Baggies. Able to play anywhere across the forward line including as a central striker, the 30-year-old would be a massive asset for West Brom next season.

Several USMNT players will regret missed opportunities to impress their new coach in a humbling loss to Mexico

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Lining up against Mexico in front of a raucous crowd in Estadio Akron, the U.S. men's national team was missing several key stars, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah. Their absences were felt in a 2-0 defeat, marking Mauricio Pochettino's first loss as U.S. manager.

"It wasn't a great performance," Pochettino said following the match. "It's perfect for us to learn [from]…We started the game well, but after we conceded the goal after 22 minutes the impact was massive for us."

The U.S. struggled in all three phases of the match, with the midfield appearing absent for 90 minutes. With several leading Americans out of the fold, this was an opportunity for players with uncertain roles to make their cases for more playing time.

That was especially true for like Brenden Aaronson, who is shining on the club level but hasn't had a signature moment for the U.S. yet. Based on Tuesday's outing, he will join a few players who failed to take advantage of their chances against Mexico.

"Overall, I think Mexico was a little bit better than us and they fully deserve the victory," Pochettino explained. "But for us, this is a process that we started 10 days ago and today was a great opportunity for our players to [be in] a very difficult place to play and I think we can only improve and learn from this experience."

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Estadio Akron.

AFPWINNER: Raul Jimenez

Everyone in this region has known for some time that Mexico striker Raul Jimenez is a monster. It feels like, for a while there, though, people forgot.

This was your reminder, then, that Jimenez is still that guy.

His free-kick goal in the first half might just be the prettiest he's scored for and it sent shockwaves through the Estadio Akron. To have the audacity to even shoot from that distance is impressive. To bury it? That's world-class.

The forward's contribution to the second goal wasn't quality, but rather effort, as he ran Tim Ream down to set up Cesar Huerta's goal. Even at 33, he still brought that energy, and the USMNT never matched it. Even with the rise of Santi Gimenez, it's worth paying a bit more attention to Raul, who will have something to say on the road to the 2026 World Cup.

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Mark McKenzie

That's some bad luck, isn't it?

Just days after being named U.S. Soccer's Man of the Match against Panama, Mark McKenzie was back in the XI to face Mexico. He was riding high off the best performance of his USMNT career. This game in Guadalajara was his chance to really show Pochettino what he could do.

Then, moments before kickoff, the bad news filtered through: McKenzie was out, with U.S. Soccer saying he experienced tightness in his left groin prior to the start of the match

That's a bad break for a player who had waited patiently for his chance. He played zero minutes at the Copa America, admitting in an interview with GOAL that he was a "fringe player." He's not content with life on the fringes, though.

Unfortunately, a pregame knock robbed him of a big chance on the road, and he was replaced by Miles Robinson. There will be more for him, no doubt, but this could have been a big one.

Getty Images SportWINNER: Mexico

After a poor performance against a rotated Valencia side in a 2-2 draw over the weekend, Mexico could not afford another setback against its fierce rival. Fortunately for manager Javier Aguirre,delivered in an impressive performance against the Americans.

The home side outmuscled the U.S., especially in midfield. Gianluca Busio, Aiden Morris and Yunus Musah were rendered ineffective by Mexico's press. Despite the U.S. leading possession 53 to 47 percent, Mexico was more incisive with its attack when it got the ball. Yes, it took two moments of magic from Jimenez, but Mexico's dominance was evidence by shot attempts where it had 16 to the U.S.'s five.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

USMNTLOSER: Brenden Aaronson

It's not even necessarily that Brenden Aaronson couldn't cope with the physicality. Rather, it's that he wasn't really willing to play through it.

Time and time again, Aaronson went down due to some rough play and, time and time again, the referee told him to play on. The USMNT midfielder seemed more frustrated each time as he couldn't get a foul call no matter how hard he was hit.

That's what these games are like, though. Those are the type of calls that don't go your way when playing in a hostile atmosphere. Aaronson certainly knows that, having been through a World Cup qualifying cycle but, even with that knowledge, Mexico was able to rattle him.

As a result, he had a rough night, to put it lightly. He had multiple giveaways in bad spots, as did plenty of his teammates. Aaronson stood out, though, simply because his issues usually ended with him on the ground protesting to the referee.

Aaronson is getting stronger every year, and Leeds is sharpening in the Championship every week. This just wasn't a night for him in any way, shape or form.

After a season of ups and downs in which they came so close to finishing in the Champions League places, Tottenham Hotspur have a big summer of transfers ahead.

Ange Postecoglou got off to a flyer in North London, but injuries and a downturn in form saw his side slip down to fifth by the end of the campaign, with star signing James Maddison missing out on a place in the Euros due to his lacklustre performances.

Luckily for him and the manager, the latest player heavily touted for a move to N17 could be the perfect midfielder to help the Englishman rediscover his form and power the Lilywhites back up the table next year.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Tottenham are interested in Juventus' star midfielder Weston McKennie, and have already held talks with the Serie A side over his potential move.

Earlier this month, Football Insider claimed that the Lilywhites had 'jumped ahead' of Aston Villa and made themselves favourites to secure the American's signature, and this latest story has revealed that the Villans have ceased their interest in the player over wage demands.

In more good news for the Lilywhites, it looks like they won't have to pay a great deal for the 25-year-old, as the report claims that further talks have taken place over a £15m fee due to his contract expiring next summer.

It might not be the most exciting name and conjures up images of Leeds United's relegation in the minds of Premier League fans, but McKennie has been immense for Juventus over the last year and could be the perfect player to play next to Maddison.

Why McKennie would be a great teammate for Maddison

Now, I know McKennie's last showing in England was, to put it diplomatically, dreadful, but it was a tough stage for him to show his worth.

Brought in by compatriot Jesse Marsch for half a season to try and help the Peacocks fend off relegation in the 2022/23 season, the American looked woefully out of place in England's top flight, even being called a worse signing than Jean-Kevin Augustin by presenter and Leeds fan Joe Wainman.

However, last season, the USMNT star proved that his poor spell in West Yorkshire was just that, a spell.

Back in Turin, the "dangerous" ace, as Marsch dubbed him, made 38 appearances, 33 of which were starts, provided ten assists, and helped the Old Lady win the Italian Cup – oh, and he also won the CONCACAF Nations League with the US in March.

He's clearly left quite an impression on people in Italy as well, as former Juventus great Mark Iuliano described him as a player with "a good sense of position" who "never gives up" and, arguably just as important, a player who "puts a lot of heart into it."

Appearances

38

Goals

0

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.26

Domestic Trophies

1

International Trophies

1

These are the things that would make him the perfect midfielder to play in the left-eight alongside Maddison. His ability to get all over the pitch put out fires, and start attacks would allow the former Foxes star to focus on what he is best at playmaking.

The 27-year-old was on fire in the opening stages of the season, scoring three goals and providing five assists in his first ten full league games, but following his return from injury, he only managed one goal and four assists in 17 games.

It could be a little reductive to blame it on fatigue, but if he has an incredibly mobile player next to him willing to do more of the running, it can only help him in the long term, and according to WhoScored, one of McKennie's key strengths is his defensive contribution from midfield.

Ultimately, this may not be a move that gets fans out of their seats, but given his performances last season and the incredibly low price, it would make sense for Levy and Co to go ahead and get it done.

Spurs eye ideal Bissouma rival in £68m Denmark star who's "a real threat"

The “defensively intelligent” ace could help get more out of the Malian or replace him entirely.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 22, 2024