MLS Season Preview: Montreal Impact

By Kirsten SchlewitzMar 1, 2014, 3:20 PM EDT

It looked as though the Montreal Impact were set to have an impressive second season in MLS. They won their first four games and lost just once in their opening eight matches. A win in the Canadian Championship meant the Impact were into the CONCACAF Champions League group stages. All in all, it was an auspicious start.

But by the end of the season, Montreal had all but faded away. The fates were cruel and the Impact managed just one win in their last eight matches, losing six of those eight. They still squeaked into the playoffs, but looked toothless against the Houston Dynamo, losing 3-0 in the knockout stages and going down to eight men by the last minute of the match.

Now it’s time for the league’s newest Canadians to prove that they’ve made it past their sophomore slump. Last year, when the losses came, they simply couldn’t shake them off and rise up once more. It wasn’t as though the Impact were lacking in experience: Marco Di Vaio, Alessandro Nesta, Patrice Bernier, Davy Arnaud, Troy Perkins…there really seemed to be no excuse for not pulling themselves out of the doldrums. But with the essential core of players retained (although Nesta has retired and Arnaud is in D.C.) and a new coach on hand to offer new ideas it’s hard to believe this team can’t improve on their performances of last season.

Players In: Santiago González (Designated Player, Sud América), Eric Miller (SuperDraft)

Players Out: Alessandro Nesta (Retired); Davy Arnaud (Trade to DC United for international roster slot); Zarek Valentin (Transfer); Paolo DelPiccolo, Maximiliano Rodríguez, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (all option declined)

LATEST 2014 MLS SEASON PREVIEWS, RIGHT HERE

Key Player: Marco Di Vaio

source: — Can Marco Di Vaio continue his quest to prove that age ain’t nothing but a number?

Of course this has to be the veteran striker. He turned 37 partway through last season, yet still managed to score an impressive 20 goals in the league. But considering the Italian had just five in his shortened 2012 season, and had just two seasons with 20 or more goals prior to 2013, it seems likely that Di Vaio will fade somewhat.

That means others will need to fill the gap, providing an alternative plan that former coach Marco Schällibaum just never seemed to have at his fingertips. The addition of young Santiago González could prove vital, should the forward’s skills translate well into MLS. He helped guide his Uruguay side Sud América to promotion before being snapped up by the Impact, and if he can provide a spark that helps take some of the burden off Di Vaio, the Impact’s attack could very well be a consistent threat this season.

Manager: Frank Klopas moves from the Chicago Fire, who finished sixth in the East last season, to take over as head coach for Montreal. Many fans didn’t seem all that impressed by the hiring, particularly due to the Fire’s missing out on the playoffs last season. But Klopas’s former club were nudged out only due to having fewer goals scored than Montreal, and by the end of last season, Chicago’s play had taken a turn for the better. Patience might be key for Klopas, but will he find it?

Outlook: Montreal haven’t made many changes during the offseason, which seems a bit strange for a side that declined so much in the second half of last season. They appear to be betting that the ideas from Klopas, combined with the strength of a core group of players, can ensure a better finish this season. The play is likely to be more entertaining, at least, but it remains to be seen whether the team has done enough to ensure a higher finish or a deeper run in the playoffs.

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WATCH: World Cup, Day 7 — Spain, Portugal aim for wins

Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

By Nicholas MendolaJun 19, 2018, 6:14 PM EDT

Fortunes up or down? 32 thoughts after first 17 World Cup games

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

By Nicholas MendolaJun 19, 2018, 5:25 PM EDT

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All it took was one round of games for some favorites to be doubted, others to verify their status, and some underdogs to earn dark horse status.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ]

While there are valid reasons to make early judgments, it’s important to note that some perceived setbacks don’t change much while others put a serious crimp in tournament hopes.

Group A

Russia (2 games played) — Fortunes way up — Two resounding wins combined with early tumult in Group B could help Russia consider a quarterfinal spot.

Uruguay — Fortunes level — Jose Gimenez’s 89th minute winner may allow the CONMEBOL side to render its group finale moot by hammering Saudi Arabia.

Egypt (2 games played) — Fortunes way down — Could be out of the tournament should Uruguay get a point against lowly Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia — Fortunes down — Unsure anyone figured the Green Falcons as anything other than an obstacle, but their performance against host Russia was miserable.

Group B

Iran — Fortunes up — Carlos Queiroz would’ve circled the Morocco opener as a must-win. Mission accomplished, however it was done.

Portugal — Fortunes level — Needed a PK, goalie error, and wonder free kick to get a point from Spain. Still, got the point.

Spain — Fortunes down — Still look capable of imposing themselves on the tournament, but too many errors in their first outing.

Morocco — Fortunes down — Probably should’ve had a point against Iran, but would’ve wanted three anyway. Very disappointing and now a mountain ahead.

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – JUNE 15: Karim Ansarifard of Iran is challenged by Noureddine Amrabat of Morocco (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Group C

France — Fortunes level — Clearly the better side against Australia, didn’t inspire title confidence but could’ve easily nabbed a three- or four-goal win.

Denmark — Fortunes up — Despite being the second-best side against Peru, now can expect the knockout rounds by beating the Socceroos.

Australia — Fortunes down — France first was always going to be a struggle, but to fight so valiantly and fall to an own goal will be a mental hurdle ahead of Peru.

Peru — Fortunes down — Terrific energy and performance would’ve led to a win with any finishing luck, but getting a result from Denmark was very important. A loss presents a major challenge.

Group D

Croatia — Fortunes up — Its tactical options for the second match against Argentina are wide open after securing three points against Nigeria.

Argentina — Fortunes down — Forget control of the game and Lionel Messi’s 11 shots on target; Not getting full points against Iceland is a significant setback. A group stage without Messi is possible.

Iceland — Fortunes up — It remains hard to picture Iceland getting out of the group, but the UEFA side has now flummoxed Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in successive tournaments. Can they find a win against Nigeria to set up a wild final day?

Nigeria — Fortunes down — Group D was always going to be tough, but a 2-0 loss to Croatia means the margin of error is almost zero.

Group E

Serbia — Fortunes up — Forget how Serbia won, their fortunes have leapt due to Brazil drawing Switzerland.

Brazil — Fortunes down — Drawing their second-trickiest game could see Neymar and Co. in position to finish second in the group instead of first. The only silver lining is that Germany may also fail to claim its group and make runner-up a good thing for the Round of 16.

Switzerland — Fortunes up — Maybe Swiss supporters were expecting it, but a result against Brazil is a positive step for a team that took Argentina to extra time at the 2014 tournament but underwhelmed at EURO 2016.

Costa Rica — Fortunes down — Now needs to beat Brazil to have much hope of anything going into the final group match vs. Switzerland.

Group F

Sweden — Fortunes level — Beating South Korea was nice and we understand the chemistry argument, but a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic would’ve feasted on the spoils offered in the opener.

Mexico — Fortunes way up — El Tri is a very good tournament team, but if you had them beating Germany 1-0 in the opener you’re a better prognosticator than me.

Germany — Fortunes down — Still favored to come out of the group and deep enough to repeat as champions, being unable to get a result from Mexico will only raise more questions about leaving Leroy Sane home (fair or not).

South Korea — Fortunes down — Would’ve wanted no less than four points from the Sweden and Mexico encounters, and has zero heading into the second against El Tri.

NIZHNIY NOVGOROD, RUSSIA – JUNE 18: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Group G

Belgium — Fortunes up — Delivered expected dominance against Panama and could have a spot in the knockout rounds sewn up by the end of Day Two versus Tunisia.

England — Fortunes up — There will not be Wayne Rooney questions about this tournament’s captain, as Harry Kane scored twice on a day he perhaps wasn’t at his best. Will clinch a berth in the knockout rounds by beating Panama next, you’d have to think.

Tunisia — Fortunes slightly down — Needed to surprise England or Belgium to get out of the group, and still has a second opportunity after losing late to the Three Lions.

Panama — Fortunes slightly down — Not sure anyone was expecting a Cinderella story, but even those will feel it more unlikely after a big loss to Belgium.

Group H

Japan — Fortunes up — Not a bad team at all, but prospects were dim given the talent of the group. After beating Colombia in match one, there’s a house money feel to this one.

Senegal — Fortunes up — Controversy aside, the Lions of Teranga deserved all three points against Poland and are in pole position to win the group.

Poland — Fortunes down — Disappointing is an understatement leading into a match versus Colombia which could leave both on the outskirts with a match to go.

Colombia — Fortunes down — Carlos Sanchez’s third minute red card didn’t ultimately doom them, but the task is tall with equally desperate Poland up next.

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Arsenal seals transfer of German goalkeeper Leno

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By Nicholas MendolaJun 19, 2018, 4:37 PM EDT

Clinical Russia tops Egypt to likely reach knockout rounds

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

By Nicholas MendolaJun 19, 2018, 3:51 PM EDT

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Russia goals: Fathy o.g. (48′), Cheryshev (59′), Dzyuba (62′)
Egypt: Salah (PK, 73′)
Next: Russia-Uruguay, Egypt-Saudi Arabia

Hosts Russia scored a trio of second half goals to all but seal the first spot in the 2018 World Cup’s Round of 16 with a 3-1 win over Egypt on Tuesday in Saint Petersburg.

The loss means Egypt is 0-2, the Pharoahs unable to find momentum despite the return of Mohamed Salah. Egypt needs a wild combination of factors to stay alive for the knockout rounds, and is likely heading home.

Salah won and converted a penalty for Egypt, while Denis Cheryshev, Artem Dzyuba, and an Egyptian own goal accounted for Russia’s goals.

[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ]

Some sloppy play out of the back allowed Golovin a shot from outside the 18 but he hit his effort wide of the frame.

Egypt stayed in the mix though, and a Russian mistake deep in its own end forced Zhirkov to concede a corner with a desperation intervention that stopped Mo Salah from a doorstep opportunity.

Salah then won a yard of space but fired wide in the 42nd minute after Zhirkov stopped him from going to his right peg.

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Russia went ahead through an Egypt own goal from Fathy, who was jostling for position with Artem Dzyuba and turned Roman Zobnin’s mishit inside his net.

#MundialTelemundo ¡Se quiere morir! @AhmedFathi anota en propia puerta y tiene arriba a #RUS sobre #EGY pic.twitter.com/2PFLoqEdcp

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 19, 2018

After Cheryshev made it 2-0, Dzyuba took an Ilya Kutepov long ball out of the air with his chest before turning past Ahmed Hegazy and blasting Russia’s third goal home.

Salah won a penalty in the 73rd minute, one initially ruled a free kick, and the Liverpool man blasted his shot home.

#MundialTelemundo ¿Otra goleada? Artem Dzyuba parece poner sentencia en el duelo entre #RUS ante #EGY y así lo narra 🎙 @CopanAlvarez pic.twitter.com/0yPh7gxdle

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 19, 2018

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