World Soccer XXXI: Golden Generation?

[Jimjamesak]

Cavan Sullivan comes on in the 85th minute for Philadelphia and becomes the youngest player in MLS history and in US major sports history at 14 years, 293 days old.

[Jimjamesak]

Some post-tourney drama.

France has made an official complaint to FIFA regarding a racist chant caught on video during Argentina’s celebration.

Yeah, this is getting worse. An Argentine government official called on Messi to publicly apologize (even though he wasn’t involved) and the Argentine President fired her. Argentina has gone “we’ve done nothing wrong! You’re all too sensitive!” on the bit.

[Russell Jaslow]

Yeah, this is getting worse. An Argentine government official called on Messi to publicly apologize (even though he wasn’t involved) and the Argentine President fired her. Argentina has gone “we’ve done nothing wrong! You’re all too sensitive!” on the bit.

Well, this is a country which harbored actual WWII Nazis...

[Jimjamesak]

Well, this is a country which harbored actual WWII Nazis...

If it wasn't for Messi they'd be the most hated team in the world.

[Spartanforlife4]

Yeah, this is getting worse. An Argentine government official called on Messi to publicly apologize (even though he wasn’t involved) and the Argentine President fired her. Argentina has gone “we’ve done nothing wrong! You’re all too sensitive!” on the bit.

And UEFA just appointed an inspector for potential penalties against Spain for the Gibraltar incident.

[Spartanforlife4]

US up 2-0 after three minutes against Jamaica in the U20 championships.

[Jimjamesak]

US up 2-0 after three minutes against Jamaica in the U20 championships.

Finished 9-0.

[Spartanforlife4]

Finished 9-0.

It was like Jamaica had never played in the rain before. The first two goals were because the US stole passes that stopped midway due to the waterlogged turf, and they never really figured out that you have to kick it harder in the rain.

[Jimjamesak]

Not going to clog up the Olympics thread:

Apparently Canada's use of drone spying goes waaaaaaaaaay deeper than this Olympics.

After TSN published an initial version of this story, Canada Soccer chief executive Kevin Blue wrote in a statement that head coach Bev Priestman had been removed from her position for the balance of the Olympic tournament. Blue wrote that the federation had obtained new information regarding previous drone use against opponents that predates the 2024 Olympics. The Canadian Olympic Committee said that Priestman had been removed from the Olympic team.

...

Staff and contractors connected to the men’s national team have also filmed the closed training sessions of competitors, one of the sources told TSN, adding that Canada used a drone to record a U.S. training session before a Nov. 15, 2019, game in Florida. The U.S. won that game 4-1.

Two years later, Honduras stopped a training session in Toronto during World Cup qualifiers after someone spotted a drone overhead.

“I’d imagine there’s probably a lot of people in Canada that fly drones, I’m sure,” then-Canada coach John Herdman said at the time. “And when a big team like Honduras turn up I’m sure people are probably interested in what they’re doing when they come into our country. So I know for sure we won’t be heading into people’s countries too early because with drones these days, people can obviously capture footage. You’ve got to be really careful. So yeah, you got to be careful in CONCACAF. It’s a tricky place.”

Some staff and contractors were told the filming was part of their jobs and that they could lose their positions with the federation if they did not go along with the demands, one of the sources said in a series of interviews with TSN on Wednesday and Thursday.

“In a couple of scenarios, people have been pushed and have been told, ‘You have to give 110 percent and this is part of the job so if you don’t feel comfortable with doing this, you do not have a place on the team’,” the source said. “It’s not something that’s talked about and it’s not something there are a lot of text messages about because of how sensitive this is. Some of the people who have had to do the filming or review the filming have said to a few staff members how uncomfortable it was for them.”

Both sources asked for anonymity because they said they were afraid the federation would retaliate against them. It’s unclear whether any players were aware of the strategy to record practices.

One of the sources said the spying included a Team Canada coach filming two of Japan’s closed-door training sessions during the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Canada tied Japan 1-1 in its first game during those Olympics.

“It was a little bit tricky during that time, given the fact that we were under a lot more restrictions, but there were ways to kind of sneak out of the hotel without people knowing,” the source told TSN. “In Tokyo, a lot of the facilities were a little bit more open so in some cases, you could see from behind bushes or behind fences or behind trees. It wasn't that complicated, because they didn't have the big mesh walls. So as long as you were close enough to the facility, you're able to see if you're in a hidden location.”

The source said they weren’t aware if spying occurred in other games during those Olympics.

Two years after the Tokyo Olympics, a Canada Soccer contractor who was scheduled to travel to Australia for the 2023 World Cup was told their responsibilities would include trying to record training sessions of opposing teams. When the contractor said they wouldn’t agree to do that, their trip was canceled and a Canada Soccer staff member flew there in their place to do the recording, the source said.

[Russell Jaslow]

Not going to clog up the Olympics thread:

Apparently Canada's use of drone spying goes waaaaaaaaaay deeper than this Olympics.

What did they do, hire Belicheat as a consultant?

[Jimjamesak]

What did they do, hire Belicheat as a consultant?

There’s evidence of drone use during Copa America as well.

I feel like this is going to get worse for Canada.

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Coach admitted to the spying in emails

per Rick westhead:

“After a Canada Soccer analyst emailed Priestman four months ago to say they refused to spy on opposing teams’ closed training, Priestman emailed a human resources consultant on March 20, 2024, to ask for advice.
Priestman email: “Seeking your advice and input here regarding this formal email on spying. It’s something the analyst has always done and I know there is a whole operation on the men’s side with regards to it… it can be the difference between winning and losing and all top 10 teams do it.”

[Slap Shot]

I watched the 4-part Beckham doc on Netflix. A few thoughts:

1. Victoria is indeed posh. In one interview she said that both she and David grew up in working class homes. He interrupted her to remind her that she was driving to school every day in a Rolls. That said by all accounts she sounds like a good person, mother, wife
2. I didn't realize that when he got the absolutely b.s. kicking RC in the WC how much he was savaged in Britain. Absolutely brutal.
3. You often see athletes of his stature (not to mention ridiculously good looks) be a very polarizing players, but his teammates absolutely loved him and would go to war for him
4. Noting the previous two he took a lot of **** in stride, never whined or complained, and always put in the work
5. European football managers make John Tortorella seem like a nice guy
6. I didn't realize what a complete shit-show MLS was when Beckham went there. I don't know how much it's improved, but it is sad that most (all?) of the best homegrown talent continues to play in Europe and that guys like Beckham, Messi and Zlatan refuse to play there until the money and their declining abilities make it their best choice

[Jimjamesak]

Not over yet. Spain have to be pretty good favorites for both Olympic tournaments.

Yeah I think we can pencil in Spain as the favorites for 2026.

[SonofSouthie]

This years version of UEFA's Super Cup has Real Madrid(Champions League winner)/Atalanta(Europa League winner) squaring off in Warsaw. I've seen a few of Atalanta's matches over the past couple of years and they've got a nice squad. Starts at 3 on CBS Sports Network and Paramount +.