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GOAL writers discuss the USMNT's Nations League disappointment, and where the program goes next after a miserable week

So, there goes the USMNT's footballing hopes for the forseeable future. That's it. Program done. World Cup lost. Move on to 2030, or even 2034, because 2026, on home soil, is a lost cause.

Of course, that's all hyperbole.

The USMNT had a very bad week. But there will be some good ones, too. International football exists on a knife edge. There are seldom gray areas to be found. Still, it's hard to spin back-to-back losses to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League with much optimism.

Indeed, USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino comes out of this whole thing with more questions than answers. He still doesn't really know what his best XI is, or which configuration of footballers should start on day one of the 2026 World Cup – he has more than 400 days to figure that out, but the clock is ticking.

And with this summer's Gold Cup likely yielding a depleted squad because of the simultaneous Club World Cup, he is facing a long wait before he is able to put his best side on the pitch.

So what can be learned here? Did anyone impress? Has anyone played their way out of the squad? Did Gio Reyna, Diego Luna and others help – or hurt – their cases? A word, too, for Mexico and Canada. El Tri are back at the top after winning Nations League for the first time. A good Mexico is probably good for world football. Canada boss Jesse Marsch will be disappointed that his side lost in the semifinals, but can take joy from a second straight win over the U.S.

There's a lot to analyze, and GOAL US writers break it all down in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

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  Just how bad were the losses to Panama and Canada for the USMNT?

  Tom Hindle: Well, it wasn't great. Pochettino made all of the right noises about wanting to win this thing, and, uhhh, didn't. So in that sense, objectively, he failed to do what he wanted to do. The manner of the defeats isn't as bad as everyone made it out to be. For the billionth time, the USMNT did not lack effort. It is not a case of "not wanting it enough." They were just tactically outdone, twice, which is objectively a little bit funny. Then again, if you're Pochettino, you'd probably rather learn about all of the bad stuff now than halfway through a World Cup campaign.

  Jacob Schneider: Bad isn't the right way to describe it. It was a pretty pathetic performance. The stars didn't shine, and it felt… slow. The tempo wasn't there, and there was a severe lack of urgency on the ball. It was odd to watch. It was as if the players didn't know each other, lacked chemistry and were waiting for someone else to do something. They were playing self-consciously.

  Ryan Tolmich: Are you a glass half-full or half-empty person? The half-full agrees with Pochettino, who rightly points out that it’s a good thing this happened now and not next summer. It’s a humbling, yes, but a well-timed one. Now then work begins, and it’s clear that there’s much to be addressed. As for the half-empty, the sky is falling! The roster hasn’t turned over nor has it really improved since Qatar. This team isn’t dramatically different from the one that winter and, in many ways, that’s a concern. They’re supposed to be better but they aren’t – at least not yet. Again, there’s a lot of work to be done.

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• Should the USMNT be worried ahead of the 2026 World Cup?

  TH: Most coaches tend to know what their starting XI will be for day one of a major tournament at least a year out. How many guaranteed starters are there for the USMNT right now? Probably Christian Pulisic, Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Antonee Robinson? Chuck in the fact that it's unclear where Pulisic, Adams and McKennie will all play, and only the full backs are set. That's not great.

  JS: Not yet. Pochettino is still in an evaluation phase – although that excuse is out the door after this competition. Come the Gold Cup in June and July, the player pool should be determined. An XI with minor rotation needs to be implemented and that group is that.

  RT: No one will want to hear it, but Pochettino is right: this was timed well. It’ll fire up the group and likely humble them a bit. The injured stars will return, players can make their summer moves and everyone can, eventually, move on. Check back in again after the Gold Cup, though. If that goes south, then we can discuss.

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  What positives can Pochettino take from these games?

  TH: All of the right noises are being made about Diego Luna. And sure? Zoom out, and he was impressive for about 45 minutes against Canada. But therein lies the problem. Are we really getting excited about a backup attacking midfielder, with no clear position, who doesn't sniff this XI at full strength? We shouldn't be. It's like getting gassed after your backup point guard gives you 20 good minutes off the bench. That's a pretty weak outlook.

  JS: On the contrary, Luna was sensational – his creativity will be so, so important for the U.S. against teams where they need some to experiment. Otherwise, Joe Scally's defensive prowess was really impressive – the U.S. have a really talented defender on their roster. Just not sure he fits the mold of Pochettino's style.

  RT: Welcome to the USMNT, Diego Luna! The RSL star is here and here to stay. Pochettino loves his attitude and energy, and there’s plenty to love there going forward. Outside of that, not much. It was a rough week, one that reinforces that spots can and should be up for grabs over the next year.

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  What can Marsch and Canada take from the win over the U.S.?

  TH: That they're pretty good without being elite. The Mexico game was a real chance for them to establish themselves as the best side in CONCACAF. Instead, they conceded inside the first minute, and never really grabbed a foothold thereafter. Marsch will be delighted with the win over the USMNT. But this feels like a missed opportunity to bring home a trophy. Still, with Jonathan David on fire and good performances from the likes of Alistair Johnston and Ismael Kone, there's plenty to be excited about. More to come.

  JS: Marsch cares an awful lot about the program, and their striker situation is set for the foreseeable future. Tani Oluwaseyi and David both really impressed across the two games.

  RT: It just reaffirms what they’ve been saying for some time now: on their best day, they can compete with anyone. Canada have legitimate match-winners in their squad, which often makes the difference. They also have depth and, more importantly, personality. They’re a good team and, while they may not be great in time for 2026, they’re not a team anyone will look forward to playing.

West Ham United have approached Chelsea over signing one of Enzo Maresca’s men in the January transfer window, with technical director Tim Steidten looking to bolster the Hammers squad in a bid to rescue their Premier League campaign.

Julen Lopetegui on the brink at West Ham

Manager Julen Lopetegui has guided the east Londoners to just 4 wins from a possible 12 in the top flight so far, and West Ham have been heavily criticised for their performances under the Spaniard’s tutelage.

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Julen Lopetegui is one game away from the sack.

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Expectations are high at the London Stadium following David Moyes’ memorable four-season stay.

West Ham ended their long wait for a piece of major silverware during Moyes’ tenure, qualifying for successive campaigns in Europe alongside their Conference League triumph, and the club spent north of £120 million on new signings for Lopetegui in an attempt to keep that momentum going.

#16

03/12/2024

Leicester City (A)

Premier League

3-1 loss

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30/11/2024

Arsenal (H)

Premier League

5-2 loss

#14

26/11/2024

Newcastle United (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#13

09/11/2024

Everton (H)

Premier League

0-0 draw

#12

02/11/2024

Nottingham Forest (A)

Premier League

3-0 loss

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27/10/2024

Man United (H)

Premier League

2-1 win

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Tottenham (A)

Premier League

4-1 loss

However, it hasn’t really gone to plan, with Lopetegui branded “all over the place” and “unable to coach a coherent team” by members of the media like talkSPORT’s Tom Rennie.

After their lacklustre start to the campaign and heavy back-to-back defeats courtesy of Arsenal and Leicester City, it is believed Lopetegui has been handed one last chance against Wolves to save his job (via The Telegraph).

If David Sullivan does opt to hand the 58-year-old his P45, rumoured managerial candidates for the West Ham job include Graham Potter, Sergio Conceicao, Kasper Hjulmand, Roger Schmidt, Thomas Frank and Massimiliano Allegri.

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic has already rejected an offer from West Ham according to reports out of Germany, so they cannot turn to their former backroom coach.

West Ham approach Chelsea over signing Tosin in January

Amid their potential search for a new manager, Steidten is also busy plotting ways to strengthen the squad next month.

West Ham have shipped goal after goal this season and currently have one of the worst defensive records in the division, leading to their interest in signing £120,000-per-week Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo on loan.

The free-agent summer signing is currently behind Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill in Maresca’s pecking order, starting just three league games all season, with the Irons now looking to offer him a route out of Stamford Bridge.

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, West Ham have already approached Chelsea over signing Tosin ahead of January, and they wish to strike a temporary deal for the “fast” centre-back, who’s been lauded for his physicality in the past by Pep Guardiola.

Chelsea’s stance on this is unclear for now, but the 27-year-old’s proven top-flight experience and quality could be a real asset for West Ham.

Federico Chiesa’s father says “regrets are just the alibis for losers”, with exit talk at Liverpool being played down.

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Moved to Anfield in 2024Seen limited game timeDetermined to prove worthFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Italy international Chiesa moved to Anfield in a cut-price transfer during the summer of 2024. Injury problems at Juventus led to the Serie A giants cashing in on the Euro 2020 winner. Liverpool hoped to rekindle a lost spark in the talented forward.

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Chiesa has, however, made just 11 appearances this season and figured in only three Premier League fixtures – with those substitute outings totalling 25 minutes. Inevitably, questions are being asked of the 27-year-old’s future.

WHAT ENRICO CHIESA SAID

Chiesa's father, ex-Parma and Sampdoria striker Enrico, has told when asked if his son could be on the move again in 2025: “Federico is very happy at Liverpool, he is at a top club that is leading the Premier League and now we hope he can win the title! He is there to have his say, he has a great opportunity.”

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Chiesa senior went on to say: “I told him over the summer what I’ve been saying since he was a kid, because the truth is, until the age of 15, he didn’t really play that often. When he’d ask what he should do, I told him to keep training, don’t give up, make sure you are ready when the moment comes.”

He added when asked if Chiesa has questioned his decision to head for England: “Regrets are just the alibis for losers. No, there are no regrets.”

Sunderland fans will be very much aware that the congested winter months will be crucial to how their promotion prospects play out, with so much Championship football taking place across the rest of November and then December to come.

Up to this point, Regis Le Bris’ men have shown they are worthy promotion contenders – hence their current position right at the top of the second tier table – but no wins in their last three in the challenging league will already be making some Black Cats fans worried that they will inevitably slip off the summit.

Still, it’s been a fantastic start for the Wearside outfit, with some smart business in the summer helping them so far in being the early pace-setters.

The best summer business at Sunderland

Transfer activity in and out of the Stadium of Light over the off-season had the potential to derail the Black Cats, with the crushing blow of Jack Clarke leaving for Ipswich Town obviously hitting Sunderland hard.

The Mackems never outright replaced Clarke, but the Frenchman should be given credit for getting more out of Romaine Mundle down the left, who has filled the void of Clarke well with four goals fired home from 16 second-tier appearances.

He does almost feel like a new signing, considering he only joined at the start of 2024, but the likes of Wilson Isidor and Chris Mepham – who were purchases made by the former Lorient boss – have also settled in fantastically well.

Isidor has one more league goal next to his name than Mundle as Sunderland’s main leading man up top, whilst Mepham has been a defensive rock since also joining on loan from AFC Bournemouth, winning 5.4 duels per contest when playing for his new side in league action.

Sunderland haven’t always come away from a busy transfer window feeling pleased with their flurry of incomings, however, with their Premier League days full of notable expensive duds.

One sticks out, in particular…

Sunderland's £10m nightmare

Now very much deep into the twilight years of his playing days at 36 years of age, Jeremain Lens will not recollect his time on Wearside with much fondness.

Costing £8m to get through the door in 2015 to link up with one of his former bosses Dick Advocaat, this would end up being a rather poor-fitting match, rather than a glorious reunion for both the winger and the Dutch manager.

Before making his move to England a reality, Lens was fresh off a fruitful spell playing in Ukraine with Dynamo Kyiv, with 16 goals and 19 assists across 78 contests.

In stark contrast, the right winger only lasted 24 games at the Stadium of Light before exiting for pastures new at Beskitas in 2018, draining Sunderland of a whole lot of money in the process.

Lens only registered a meagre four goals and two assists during his short but cursed stay at the then top-flight outfit, with his overall wage costs coming in at around £2m, when you take into account his only full season at the club.

His £40k-per-week wage also meant he raked in over two times more than what Jobe Bellingham earns right now for Sunderland, with the promising midfielder only on a reasonable £12.5k-per-week salary, despite bettering Lens’ goal output by five.

In total, on top of his now extortionate £8m price tag, the damage done to Sunderland’s back account off the back of the Dutchman underperforming was around the £10m mark.

This isn’t the only case where Sunderland dented their bank account rashly when in the big time, with lessons hopefully learnt now, as Le Bris and Co go about their business more shrewdly in their mission to leap back up to the Premier League.

What Sunderland are doing to stop Jobe Bellingham leaving the club in 2025

He has been a key man in the early stages of the season, and they want to keep him.

By
Ben Browning

Nov 12, 2024

يعترف مدرب أتلتيكو مدريد، دييجو سيميوني، أن فريقه قدم شوط أول سيئًا أمام برشلونة، لكن ليس لدرجة الاعتذار، وتحدث عقب المباراة بين الفريقين.

وتعرض أتلتيكو مدريد للهزيمة على ملعبه أمام برشلونة بهدف دون رد، في إياب نصف نهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا.

وتأهل برشلونة ليلاقي ريال مدريد في كلاسيكو، بنهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا (لمطالعة الموعد من هنا).

وكان خيمينز لاعب أتلتيكو مدريد أشار لسوء أداء الفريق في الشوط الأول واعتذر عن الأمر، ورد سيميوني على ذلك.

وقال سيميوني في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لم نلعب الشوط الأول جيدًا، ولكن ليس لدرجة الاعتذار، في كرة القدم، تمرّ بمواقف يكون فيها الخصم متفوقًا، وقد حدث ذلك في الشوط الأول”.

وأضاف: “في الشوط الثاني، قمنا بتصحيح العديد من الأمور، ونافسنا بشكل جيد، كان بإمكاننا الوصول للتعادل، وهم كان بإمكانهم تحسين النتيجة، ونافسوا بطريقة جيدة جدًا ضد خصم كبير، وقد يحدث في بعض الأحيان أن يكونوا متفوقين عليك”.

وأشار: “الفريق حتى اليوم تنافس بشكل جيد جدًا، في دوري الأبطال تنافس بشكل جيد، وفي الكأس أيضًا، ونحن نقدم موسمًا جيدًا في الدوري، وسنستمر مباراة بمباراة، نحاول أن نستمر في التحسن للاقتراب أكثر من الفرق التي تفوقنا، وقبول وضعنا الحالي”.

وأكد: “الفريق يتنافس بشكل جيد جدًا، أكرر أننا كنا جيدين في دوري الأبطال، في الكأس، خسرنا 4-5 ضد فريق يلعب بشكل جيد واستحق التأهل، وفي الدوري نحن نتنافس بشكل جيد وسنستمر على نفس الوتيرة”.

وشدد: “ليس لدي أي تفكير آخر سوى الاستمرار بنفس العمل، مع التركيز على متابعة الدوري بأفضل طريقة، ومن يوم الجمعة سنركز على مواجهة إشبيلية”.

وسُئل سيميوني كم من الوقت يلزم للتنافس مع برشلونة وريال مدريد، ورد: “النادي في مرحلة نمو حقيقي، لقد جلبنا لاعبين ممتازين يقدمون أداءً رائعًا، قمنا بمشاركة رائعة في دوري الأبطال، ورائعة في الكأس، وفي الدوري نتنافس بشكل جيد وأنا لا أتراجع بأي شكل من الأشكال”.

وعن حديثه مع لاعبيه بين شوطي المباراة، أوضح: “قلت لهم إننا لم نلعب في الشوط الأول جيدًا وأنهم قد سامحونا وتركونا على قيد الحياة، وهذا منحنا التفاؤل والإمكانية لمواجهة الشوط الثاني بشجاعة أكبر”.

وأكمل: “دخلنا الشوط الثاني وكنا أقرب، الخصم يلعب بشكل جيد، ومنذ وقت طويل وأنا أقول إنني أحب طريقة لعب برشلونة، ونافسنا بشكل جيد في المباريات الأربع التي لعبناها ضدهم”.

وعن خسارة أتلتيكو مدريد لـ 4 مباريات من آخر 6 لعبها الفريق، علّق: “هذه كرة القدم، هناك لحظات جيدة وأخرى ليست كذلك، هناك أوقات ستتحكم فيها في المباراة، وأوقات أخرى سيسيطر فيها الخصم”.

وأشار: “وعلى مدار الموسم يجب أن تعرف كيف تدير الأوقات التي ستكون لديك، الجيدة، العادية، والسيئة، ونتمنى أن نتمكن من إنهاء كل مباراة بأفضل طريقة ممكنة”.

وإذا كان الفريق يستحق أكثر من ذلك، أتم: “لا يوجد لوم أو شكاوى، من باب المنافسة والرغبة في العطاء، جميع اللاعبين يبذلون كل ما في وسعهم من أجل الفريق، أطمح للاستمرار على نفس الوتيرة في الدوري”.

Silverwood says seam duo are “fit and ready to go” ahead of Adelaide’s pink-ball fixture

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Dec-2021

Stuart Broad and James Anderson are in line for selection in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, with England head coach Chris Silverwood declaring that the pair are “fit and ready to go”.The omission of the vastly experienced seam-bowling duo from the series opener at the Gabba raised eyebrows even before Australia romped to a nine-wicket victory inside four days, and selection was a predictable focus of the post-match wash-up.And while he did not confirm any selections for the day-night Test starting on Thursday, Silverwood backed Broad’s assertion earlier in the day that they would be well prepared, having started training with the pink ball in the Brisbane nets as soon as their omission from the first Test was apparent.Related

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“Jimmy will be fit and ready to go for the second Test, as will Stuart,” Silverwood said on Sunday ahead of the team’s planned departure from Brisbane on Monday. “They are available. Certainly, from an experience point of view, with the bowlers we’ve got heaps of experience so I’m happy with that.”The guys have already been training with the pink ball behind the scenes. And what we have got is a very skilful set of bowlers. We have talent and we still have two of the best up our sleeve as well.”The decision to leave Anderson out of the first Test emerged on the eve of the match, with the ECB saying it was not injury related but aimed at managing him ahead of the day-night fixture in Adelaide. Broad’s omission was more of a surprise on match-day morning when England opted for spinner Jack Leach instead, a call which came in for more criticism after Leach’s return of 1 for 102 in 13 overs.Broad, who hasn’t played since tearing his calf in August, wrote in his Mail On Sunday column that he believed he would only have been chosen in a five-man seam attack at the Gabba. While disappointed, he believed it would be inappropriate to “kick up a stink” over his non-selection, having publicly questioned his omission for the first Test against West Indies in Southampton in July 2020.”Stuart has been great, to be honest,” Silverwood said. “Obviously he was disappointed not to be playing but he understood that this is a long series.”Everybody will put their hand up to do the hard work out there and he is ready to do that now. We had good conversations with Stuart before any decisions were made and he was 100 per cent on board.”I’ve not told anyone they are playing yet. We will have some sore bodies from this Test and we’ll make decisions from there.”Australia also have some decisions to make at the selection table with Josh Hazlewood flying to Sydney nursing a side strain, although Cricket Australia have said he hasn’t been ruled out of the Adelaide Test yet. David Warner is also being monitored for a rib injury after being struck by a Ben Stokes short ball in Brisbane.Silverwood said his team were looking ahead, rather than dwelling on their disappointing showing in the first Test, which was characterised by twin batting collapses and some sloppy fielding.”We had a good chat in the dressing-room after,” he said. “There are obvious areas we need to improve on, such as holding our catches and building big partnerships.”Obviously they were hurting, but there is belief they can win this series. We have been in this position before. We have gone 1-0 down and then bounced back. We have the players here that can match the Australians. The confidence is there that we can compete with Australia, and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”

Arsenal Sporting Director Edu Gaspar has decided to leave the north London side for two key reasons, it has been claimed in a fresh report.

Arsenal to part ways with Invincible winner

News broke on Monday morning that the Gunners would be parting ways with Edu in the near future, compounding the tough start to the season that the north London side have endured.

Injuries and suspensions have seen Arsenal’s early Premier League title hopes dented, with Mikel Arteta’s side already seven points behind early pace setters Liverpool and five behind Champions Manchester City.

PSG now make record £80m offer to sign "world class" Arsenal star in 2025

His exit would be a massive blow to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

ByBen Browning Nov 4, 2024

The Gunners are three games without a win, something that they have not experienced since the end of 2023, and their latest loss, 1-0 away to Newcastle United, came with serious question marks over the makeup of the Arsenal squad, with Martin Odegaard’s absence through injury having seemingly robbed the Emirates Stadium outfit of any creativity whatsoever.

They face Inter Milan in the Champions League before a massive clash with Chelsea in the coming seven days, with maximum points and strong performances needed in both to restore confidence in their chances of lifting meaningful silverware this season, though they have a lighter fixture list ahead than their rivals with games against sides in the bottom half of the Premier League still to come.

Now, the impending departure of Edu will muddy the waters at the Emirates Stadium yet further, with the Brazilian having been a key part of Arsenal’s recent success and he and Arteta working largely in lockstep to turn the fortunes of the club around.

Edu Gaspar’s best signings at Arsenal

Player

Fee

Declan Rice

£105m

Kai Havertz

£65m

Martin Odegaard

£30m

Leandro Trossard

£25m

Gabriel

£26m

And as per a fresh report, there are two key reasons behind Edu’s decision to move on from north London.

Why Edu is set to leave Arsenal

As per a report from The Independent, there are several factors behind Edu’s departure, but one of the major ones came in Arsenal’s club structure. They report that the Sporting Director “had harboured ambitions to become CEO at Arsenal”, a position previously occupied by Vinai Venkatesham but since dispensed with as Richard Garlick took greater control at the Emirates Stadium.

That ambition is one that Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is willing to match though, with Edu hotly tipped to take up a role in charge of his roster of clubs that includes Greek side Olympiacos and Portuguese outfit Rio Ave as well as the Garibaldi.

It was also revealed that the Marinakis offer was also a lucrative one, with the same report outlining that the offer was set to “more than treble Edu’s wages”, providing a financial incentive for the former Arsenal invincible midfielder as well as a career progression motive.

Arsenal are now set for a major reshuffle as they look to find another Sporting Director, while their plans for any January transfers could also have been thrown into doubt by the development.

The pace bowler now has 15 wickets in two Sheffield Shield matches this season

Andrew McGlashan08-Nov-2021Last week, Victoria coach Chris Rogers said he wouldn’t swap Scott Boland “for just about anyone”. After a match-winning display against New South Wales at the MCG, the caveat is perhaps not needed.In the early-season discussions about who could join the big three in Australia’s Test squad for the Ashes, there have been the usual suspects: Michael Neser, Sean Abbott and Jhye Richardson. Mark Steketee, who was part of the squad for the postponed South Africa tour, also pushed his name up there with a seven-wicket haul against South Australia.There wasn’t really much talk around Boland although he has been a hugely consistent performer for Victoria. In two matches this summer, however, that has changed. At the very least he now deserves a place in the expanded party that will form an Australia A side ahead of the first Test. The closest he has so far been to a Test cap was when he was added to a squad against West Indies in 2014-15.Related

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Following his five-wicket haul on the final day he was reluctant to talk himself up too much. “It would be very nice to be recognised like that…all I can do is control what I’m doing,” he said. “You’d have to ask [national selector] George [Bailey], but think I’d be there or thereabouts but it’s not up to me.”Boland’s eight wickets at the MCG followed seven at the Drummoyne Oval to give him 15 at 10.80 this season. Since the start of last summer he has 45 at 19.60. Boland is 32, and had earned the last of his 17 limited-overs caps in 2016 which is perhaps a reason why his name hasn’t been as prominent in the debate until now. But as Rogers put it, “he’s the finished article”.One of the hallmarks of his recent performances has been his ability to take wickets on flat surfaces or with an older ball. Last season he toiled magnificently on flat Adelaide wickets, and in the early stages this summer was a constant threat on a Drummoyne Oval surface that had less life for the quicks the longer the game went on.In this latest match at the MCG, although there was always more on offer for the quicks in what was an excellent pitch, his delivery with a 62-over old ball to remove Jack Edwards and break a lengthy stand was another example.