Overlooked and Underloved: Seattle Sounders vs. Chivas USA

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Okay, this isn’t entirely fair seeing as there are basically no other games. But, but, but, we have thoughts about why you should drop everything else you’re doing this weekend and watch the Sounders host Chivas. Would you like to hear them?

  • The triumphant return of Steve Zakuani to the starting lineup at CenturyLink Field. (Probably.)
  • Along those lines, the Seattle crowd. More of them, all the time.
  • It’s possible this is the week embattled Dan Kennedy loses it. (And who could blame him?)
  • What else are you going to watch? The US? The EPL? Lame.
  • EURO 2024 qualification live! EURO qualifiers schedule, updates, standings

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    EURO 2024 qualifying is here, and you’re in the right spot for groups, fixtures, and results.

    Italy outlasted England in penalty kicks to win EURO 2020 and is bidding to become the first repeat winner since Spain in 2008 and 2012.

    [ MORE: Breaking down Premier League title race ]

    England is still seeking its first European Championship and will be favored to emerge from Group C with aforementioned Italy as well as Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Malta.

    Netherlands and France are also in a spicy group that has dark horse Republic of Ireland and former champions Greece, as well as Gibraltar.

    [ MORE: Live scores, updates, standings from EURO 2024 qualifying ]

    A number of nations have guaranteed themselves no worse than a playoff spot due to their performances in the UEFA Nations League: Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Georgia, Croatia, Turkey, Serbia, Kazakhstan.



    EURO 2024 qualifying schedule

    Thursday, March 23

    Kazakhstan 1-2 Slovenia
    Slovakia 0-0 Luxembourg
    Italy 1-2 England – Video, player ratings as Kane breaks Rooney record
    Denmark 3-1 Finland
    Portugal 4-0 Liechtenstein
    San Marino 0-2 Northern Ireland
    North Macedonia 2-1 Malta
    Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 Iceland

    Friday, March 24

    Bulgaria 0-1 Montenegro
    Gibraltar 0-3 Greece
    Moldova 1-1 Faroe Islands
    Serbia 2-0 Lithuania
    Austria 4-1 Azerbaijan
    Sweden 0-3 Belgium
    Czech Republic 3-1 Poland
    France 4-0 Netherlands

    Saturday, March 25

    Scotland 3-0 Cyprus
    Israel 1-1 Kosovo
    Armenia 1-2 Turkey
    Belarus 0-5 Switzerland
    Spain 3-0 Norway
    Croatia 1-0 Wales
    Andorra 0-2 Romania

    Sunday, March 26

    Kazakhstan vs Denmark — 9am ET
    England vs Ukraine — Noon ET
    Liechtenstein vs Iceland — Noon ET
    Slovenia vs San Marino — Noon ET
    Slovakia vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — 2:45pm ET
    Northern Ireland vs Finland — 2:45pm ET
    Luxembourg vs Portugal — 2:45pm ET
    Malta vs Italy — 2:45pm ET

    Monday, March 27

    Montenegro vs Serbia — 2:45pm ET
    Netherlands vs Gibraltar — 2:45pm ET
    Poland vs Albania — 2:45pm ET
    Austria vs Estonia — 2:45pm ET
    Sweden vs Azerbaijan — 2:45pm ET
    Moldova vs Czech Republic — 2:45pm ET
    Hungary vs Bulgaria — 2:45pm ET
    Republic of Ireland vs France — 2:45pm ET

    Tuesday, March 28

    Georgia vs Norway — Noon ET
    Wales vs Latvia — 2:45pm ET
    Romania vs Belarus — 2:45pm ET
    Switzerland vs Israel — 2:45pm ET
    Kosovo vs Andorra — 2:45pm ET
    Turkey vs Croatia — 2:45pm ET
    Scotland vs Spain — 2:45pm ET


    EURO 2024 qualifying standings

    Group A

    Spain
    Scotland
    Norway
    Georgia
    Cyprus

    Group B

    Netherlands
    France
    Republic of Ireland
    Greece
    Gibraltar

    Group C

    Italy
    England
    Ukraine
    North Macedonia
    Malta

    Group D

    Croatia
    Wales
    Armenia
    Turkey
    Latvia

    Group E

    Poland
    Czech Republic
    Albania
    Faroe Islands
    Moldova

    Group F

    Belgium
    Austria
    Sweden
    Azerbaijan
    Estonia

    Group G

    Hungary
    Serbia
    Montenegro
    Bulgaria
    Lithuania

    Group H

    Denmark
    Finland
    Slovenia
    Kazakhstan
    Northern Ireland
    San Marino

    Group I

    Switzerland
    Israel
    Romania
    Kosovo
    Belarus
    Andorra

    Group J

    Portugal
    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Iceland
    Luxembourg
    Slovakia
    Liechtenstein

    USMNT kicks off 2026 World Cup cycle with 7-1 win in Grenada

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    The USMNT scored early and often, as they cruised to a 7-1 victory over Grenada in CONCACAF Nations League action in St. George’s on Friday.

    [ MORE: Player ratings out of 10 for USMNT ]

    The victory puts the USMNT (7 points) atop Group D with one game left to play, against El Salvador (5 points – 2nd place) on Monday.

    The Yanks got on the board in the 4th minute, and it was a sensational cross from Christian Pulisic which found Ricardo Pepi atop the six-yard box. Pepi used the considerable pace on Pulisic’s cross to head the ball down and out of goalkeeper Jason Belfon’s reach.

    [ MORE: Folarin Balogun to USMNT? “It’s something that will come to me” ]

    Brenden Aaronson made it 2-0 in the 21st minute, as the Leeds attacker received the ball atop the 18-yard box, turned into open space and cut inside before firing a right-footed finish hard and low to the near post.

    Weston McKennie made it 3-0 just after the half-hour mark, as he smashed an off-balance, left-footed volley home after his initial header on Pulisic’s free kick was blocked. Two minutes after Myles Hippolyte fired a laser past Matt Turner (a minute after McKennie’s first goal), the recently acquired Leeds midfielder struck again to make it 4-1, applying the final touch after Auston Trusty headed the ball down after another free kick from Pulisic.

    [ MORE: Three key questions for USMNT in March ]

    The USMNT jumped on Grenada just as quickly when the second half began, with Pulisic putting his name on the scoresheet in the 49th minute. Luca de la Torre found Pulisic cutting in from the left wing, and the ball somehow found its way past Belfon for 5-1.

    Four minutes later, De la Torre played a slightly trickier through ball to spring Pepi in behind the Grenadine defense, and Pepi made no mistake with his one-on-one chance against Belfon. Pepi, who is currently on loan to Groningen from Augsburg, waited for the goalkeeper to go down one way and coolly slotted the ball the other way.

    Alejandro Zendejas, who recently elected to represent the USMNT internationally, became cap-tied to the USMNT when he came off the bench in the 64th minute. Eight minutes later, the 25-year-old winger got his first senior international goal.


    Start of a new World Cup cycle = a clean slate

    For all intents and purposes, the USMNT kicked off the 2026 World Cup cycle on Friday, with the first team reconvening for the first time since the 2022 tournament in Qatar. A new World Cup cycle means brand new opportunities for new players, and a fresh start for those who didn’t get the starts or appearances that they thought they should have.

    The net will be cast far and wide as the rest of 2023 sees the USMNT (likely) head to the finals of the Nations League and then the Gold Cup, with a handful of players seemingly coming from out of nowhere to claim consistent call-ups ahead of Copa America 2024 (on U.S. soil once again). There will be even more opportunities than usual for fringe players to make a case, with the Yanks automatically qualifying for the 2026 tournament as hosts.


    What’s next?

    The USMNT will host El Salvador in a winner-take-all Group D finale on Monday (7:30 pm ET), at Exploria Stadium in Orlando. The group winner will qualify for the finals (four teams) of the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League (June 15-18) as well as the 2023 Gold Cup (June 24-July 16); the group runners-up will also qualify for this summer’s Gold Cup.

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    How to watch Grenada vs USMNT live, stream link and start time

    Kick off: 8pm ET, Friday (March 24)
    Stadium: Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George’s
    TV in English: TNT
    TV/streaming en Español: Universo/Peacock

    [ LIVE: CONCACAF Nations League scores – Grenada vs USMNT ]


    USMNT squad

    Goalkeepers (3): Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Zack Steffen (Middlesbrough), Matt Turner (Arsenal)

    Defenders (8): Sergino Dest (AC Milan), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Tim Ream (Fulham), Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City)

    Midfielders (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Leeds United), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Alan Sonora (Juarez), Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar)

    Forwards (6): Taylor Booth (Utrecht), Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America)

    EDIT: Tim Weah (Lille) was originally called up, but exited due to a head injury.

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    USMNT upcoming schedule – Nations League, friendlies, Gold Cup

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    After reaching the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, the USMNT have a big 2023 coming up as they aim to build off a successful showing on the world’s biggest stage.

    [ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA

    For the next few months CONCACAF Nations League takes center stage, while the program is very much in transition as Anthony Hudson takes temporary charge and both the general manager (Brian McBride) and sporting director (Earnie Stewart) left in recent months.

    [ MORE: USMNT roster for Nations League features Gio Reyna, no Tyler Adams ]

    As for now, here is the USMNT’s upcoming schedule for 2023, with plenty more games to be added based on their potential qualification for the 2023 Gold Cup on home soil.


    How to watch USMNT

    TV channels in English: HBO Max, TNT
    TV channels en Español:
    Universo, Telemundo Deportes
    Streaming en Español: Peacock


    USMNT upcoming schedule

    * Friendly | ** CONCACAF Nations League | *** 2022 World Cup

    2023

    vs. Serbia* — Jan. 25, 10 pm ET — Loss 2-1 | Recap & highlights
    vs. Colombia* — Jan. 28, 7:30 pm ET — Draw 0-0 | Recap & highlights
    at Grenada** — March 24, 8 pm ET — Won 7-1 | Recap & highlights + Player ratings
    vs El Salvador** — March 27, 7:30pm ET — Orlando, Florida
    vs Mexico* — April 19, 10:22pm ET — Glendale, Arizona – More details

    2023 Gold Cup from June 16 to July 19 (USMNT yet to qualify)


    USMNT games in 2022

    vs. Morocco* — June 1 — Win 3-0
    vs. Uruguay* — June 5 — Draw 0-0
    vs. Grenada** — June 10 — Win 5-0
    at El Salvador** — June 14 — Draw 1-1
    vs Japan* — Sept. 23 (in Dusseldorf, Germany) — Loss 2-0
    vs Saudi Arabia* — Sept. 27 (in Murcia, Spain) — Draw 0-0


    USMNT at 2022 World Cup

    Group B
    vs. Wales*** — Nov. 21, 2 pm ET — Draw 1-1
    vs. England*** — Nov. 25, 2 pm ET — Draw 0-0
    vs. Iran*** — Nov. 29, 2 pm ET — Win 1-0

    Last 16
    vs. Netherlands*** — Dec. 3, 10 am ET — Loss 3-1


    USMNT 2022 World Cup qualifying scores, recaps, analysis

    at El Salvador — Sept. 2Draw 0-0
    vs. Canada — Sept. 5 — Draw 1-1
    at Honduras — Sept. 8 — Win 4-1

    vs. Jamaica — Oct. 7 — Win 1-0
    at Panama — Oct. 10 — Loss 0-1
    vs. Costa Rica — Oct. 13 — Win 2-1

    vs. Mexico — Nov. 12 — Win 2-0
    at Jamaica — Nov. 16 — Draw 1-1

    vs. El Salvador — Jan. 27 — Win 1-0
    at Canada — Jan. 30 — Loss 0-2
    vs. Honduras — Feb. 2 — Win 3-0

    at Mexico — March 24 — Draw 0-0 
    vs. Panama — March 27 — Win 5-1
    at Costa Rica — March 30 — Loss 0-2 


    Final CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings

    Canada — 28 points – (QUALIFIED) GD +16 – automatic qualification
    Mexico — 28 points (QUALIFIED) GD +9 – automatic qualification
    USMNT — 25 points – (QUALIFIED) GD +11 – automatic qualification


    Costa Rica — 25 points (PLAYOFF) GD +5


    Panama — 21 points (ELIMINATED)
    Jamaica — 14 points (ELIMINATED)
    El Salvador — 10 points (ELIMINATED)
    Honduras — 4 points (ELIMINATED)

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    Player ratings: USMNT thumps Grenada in Nations League

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    The USMNT kicked off the 2026 World Cup cycle as the Yanks reconvened (the first team, at least) for the first time since the 2022 tournament in Qatar, in a 7-1 victory Grenada on Friday.

    [ MORE: Folarin Balogun to USMNT? “It’s something that will come to me” ]

    Who stood out (for better and for worse) as the USMNT thumped Grenada?


    USMNT player ratings vs Grenada

    GK – Matt Turner: 6 – Faced just three shots on target (0.36 xG), made two saves and watched helplessly as a screamer from outside the box hit the back of the net.

    RB – Bryan Reynolds: 6.5 – The USMNT focused the vast majority of its attacking play down the left side of the field, making Reynolds the target of a handful of cross-field switches as he played the full 90 minutes.

    CB – Mark McKenzie: 7 – Teamed up with his former center back partner from his Philadelphia Union days, McKenzie was tasked with being far and away the senior figure and leader of the defense on Friday (his 10 caps were four more than the rest of the back-four combined).

    CB – Auston Trusty: 7 – A solid performance in his USMNT debut for the 24-year-old Arsenal defender (on loan to Birmingham City, where he has appeared in 37 games in the Championship thus far). With nearly 70 percent of possession on the night, there aren’t many better opportunities to get your feet wet at the senior international level.

    LB – Joe Scally: 7.5 – Do not get overly excited about a 20-year-old’s performance against Grenada. I repeat, do not get overly excited about a 20-year-old’s performance against Grenada. That said, does the USMNT have… two left backs?


    DM – Luca de la Torre: 7 – It would be unwise to assign too much value to a game that finished 7-1 against the no. 173-ranked nation in the world, but one thing is for certain and has been proven on a number of occasions: LdlT is a smooth operator as a ball-playing defensive midfielder, and he showed himself quite capable further up the field, in and around the opposing penalty area, on Friday as well.

    CM – Weston McKennie: 8 – Two goals (both off of free kicks) for the newly acquired Leeds midfielder, which would be an incredibly welcome development for a side that hasn’t made enough of its set pieces in recent times.

    CM – Gio Reyna: 6.5 – This was the solid, if unspectacular, return that Reyna needed after weeks of off-field controversy surround himself, his family and former (but perhaps future) head coach Gregg Berhalter. There were plenty of fireworks elsewhere in the team on Friday, and Reyna managed to come through the game unscathed.


    RW – Brenden Aaronson: 7 – It’s been a tough first season in the Premier League for Aaronson, so his first-half goal will hopefully provide a much-needed boost in confidence (his first goal, for club or country, in any competition, since Aug. 21, his third game for Leeds).

    CF – Ricardo Pepi: 8 – Aside from scoring the opening goal, Pepi was active and involved in much of what the USMNT tried to do going forward in the first half. Given how deep Grenada sat defensively to begin the game, the Yanks could have taken the easy way out — staying wide and crossing the ball repeatedly — every time down the field, but there appeared to be a concerted effort to combine through the middle of the field, which meant Pepi had to be sharp and quick with his movement to create space for Reyna, Aaronson and Christian Pulisic. Speaking of building confidence, how about the finish for his second goal…

    LW – Christian Pulisic: 8 – Ho hum. Just a one-goal, two-assist performance from Pulisic. As previously discussed, the USMNT found infinite joy down the left side of attack and Pulisic was at the center of most of it (for 64 minutes, at least).

    Follow @AndyEdMLS