Hail GFOP!

Rog writes: What level of panic should we be at after our U.S. boys were slapped by South Korea 2-0 in a friendly which felt like a must-win? Thirty-three-year-old Son Heung-min destroyed us, the U.S. player whose stock rose the highest was Weston McKennie, and the fact the stadium was 80% filled with Korean fans reinforced the sense that the ardent fan base who once followed our American team has stopped caring. This game, which could have been so much worse, was proof of the old sports truism, “Everyone’s got a plan, until they have to play a non-CONCACAF nation that knows how to press and punch you in the mouth…” 🥊

There is a school of thought that none of this matters. That the World Cup is everything, and all of this is process. I do not agree. We are two days shy of a calendar year since Mauricio Pochettino took over the U.S. Men. Paul Carr summed up where we are with three crushing stats: The U.S. have now lost five straight games against FIFA top-25 teams by a combined 11-1. The U.S. are winless in seven straight such games, getting outscored 17-3. Excluding Mexico, the last U.S. win vs. a FIFA top-25 team was over Iran at the 2022 World Cup. 🫣

ii. We meet Japan tomorrow night with question marks swirling around every position and Pochettino trying to open-audition for long-term culture, sacrificing short-term chemistry. I adore Poch as a club manager, but watching him as an international coach dig so deep to find replacements only to discover they are of sub-par quality is tough to witness. His post-match claims that, “I think we were better than South Korea,” and, “My message to the fans is that we’re going to arrive at the World Cup in the best condition and we’re going to be difficult to defeat,” do not pass the eye-test. We are in a difficult tailspin cycle where Pochettino, in the words of journalist Simon Evans, “Sounds disillusioned with what he has found in American soccer and American soccer sounds disillusioned with what they have found with Pochettino.” 🇯🇵

There will be a lot to parse through and a lot to react to during the game. Whether it’s from a place of mutual misery or even possible joy, come join us on the #usmnt channel on our Discord to take the game in with others who are ready, willing and screaming for a win. Football is, of course, better with friends. 🫂

I will be going live with Clint Dempsey immediately after the Japan game tomorrow night, taking your questions and reactions on a live taping of The Deuce. Join us on YouTube with your thoughts, your questions, and all the rest. ♠️

iii. I am flying to that fortress city, Columbus, Ohio, as I type. Tonight we will take the stage at a sold-out Kemba Live with Clint and Herculez Gomez for a night of honest talk and storytelling, in the face of this chaotic predicament. I know this: Columbus has always lifted this U.S. team when we have needed it. Two hundred and seventy-six days before the World Cup returns to these shores, it is great to be back in that magical kingdom with its deep footballing roots and, once again, lean on them, and their singularly passionate fans, in our hour of need. 🇺🇸🍻

Great news for all of you who asked, we were able to secure 25 more tickets for tonight. Now's your chance to join us! Check here and then come for a drink with me, Clint and Herc post-show at Parlay Sporting Club + Kitchen. We can’t wait to be with you. 💛

To better days ahead. 

PS – Let’s start Balo and Zendejas. 

Courage,
Rog

The MiB HQ Bulletin Board 📣

European Nations’ Race to World Cup Heats Up 🌍

by Tommy Stewart

England 2-0 Andorra 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇦🇩

Thomas Tuchel said there were “more positives than negatives” in the Three Lions’ routine 2-0 win against Andorra, a nation whose population could almost fit into a not-so-full Villa Park, but he knows the 170 places between the two countries in the FIFA rankings should have translated to more goals for his side. In the positives column though, was the pace, energy and initiative Tuchel demanded in his program notes, with combinations and incisive crossing from former Chelsea teammates Reece James and Noni Madueke on the right-hand side. Madueke’s teasing ball in the first half was enough bait to tempt Andorra’s Christian García to head it past his own goalkeeper, Iker Álvarez, who was a one man blocking machine throughout the match, although there was nothing he could do about that, or Declan Rice’s salmon-leap second-half header, either. But the main man for England was debutant, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, who just leapfrogged a bunch of his colleagues in the midfield pecking order with a performance that not only said, “I’m ready for international football,” but screamed, “PICK ME THOMAS, I AM THE MAN!”

Türkiye 0-6 Spain 🇹🇷 🇪🇸

Konya’s Büyükşehir Arena was a powder keg perfectly conducive to what at first appeared to be an end-to-end and competitive game of football between two sides gunning for nothing but the win, but then six minutes in, Spain started to score. And score. And then score some more, until a rainstorm of goals put out the fireworks and noise that had propelled the home side for the opening period of the game. Pedri’s so good that he’s often compared to both Xavi and Iniesta, and for his two bottom-corner finishes, he could have been prime Messi, but that heavy moniker can remain at the feet of fellow La Masia graduate, Lamine Yamal, who persistently wreaked havoc on a helpless Türkiye defense whenever he got the ball. He smartly assisted Barca teammate Ferran Torres in the second half, but it was Arsenal’s Mikel Merino who ended up stealing the show. Every finish in his hat-trick was of the highest order, and although Mikel Arteta finally signed a striker in Viktor Gyökeres this summer, it’s a timely reminder that his 29-year-old midfielder successfully filled in as a No. 9 for the club last season. 

Armenia 0-5 Portugal 🇦🇲 🇵🇹

Portugal’s manager Roberto Martinez will have expected a comfortable win for his side in this campaign’s first World Cup qualifier, which was also their first match since they won the Nations League, but most pertinently, their first without the late Diogo Jota. João Félix and Cristiano Ronaldo bagged braces and João Cancelo also chipped in, dedicating his goal to his friend in the process. “Diogo Jota is with us,” Martinez said after Ronaldo’s first score poignantly came in the 21st minute, the same number Jota wore for his beloved Portugal. “Being able to score in the 21st minute was special. We continue on our journey. I really believe (in coincidences). Diogo’s spirit is with us, it was a sign, in the 21st minute and we scored.”

Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland

Questions had been asked of Germany manager, Julian Nagelsmann, after his team’s shock 2-0 loss to Slovakia last week, so when Bayern Munich’s seemingly ageless Serge Gnabry scored seven minutes in against FIFA’s 71st best team in the world last night, he could enjoy some brief relief. But soon after, West Brom’s 21-year-old Isaac Price replied with his 10th international goal for Northern Ireland, and until Nadiem Amiri put the home team up again 69 minutes in, Nagelsmann was probably clearing up his calendar ahead of a newly-opened schedule for summer 2026. Florian Wirtz’s place in the side had come into question following some mid form for Liverpool and some lackluster play against Slovakia last week, so he simply decided to show cynics his wizardly ability with a unique sort of free kick that was the footballing equivalent of him texting the “👀” to his clubmate, Dominik Szoboszlai.

📬 Enjoying The Raven? Check out our other Men in Blazers newsletters:

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🇺🇸 USMNT Only: Your weekly update on the most important topics in the U.S. men’s game, all leading up to next year’s World Cup.

🔍 The Correspondent: Rory Smith’s thoughts on the world of soccer, culture, food, and how they all connect – every Thursday.

Onana Heads to Turkish Side Trabzonspor on Potential Loan Move 🔁

This is one of those breakups we could all see coming a mile off, one that needed to happen, and one that will hopefully benefit both parties as they move on with their lives. André Onana has become prime meme fodder rather than the allegedly world-class goalkeeper Manchester United signed for $63.6 million from Inter Milan in 2023, but that makes him no different to most quality players who have come to Old Trafford in the last 12 years thinking they might be the one to buck the trend in the club’s long slump. It’s become like Agent Dale Cooper entering the Black Lodge to rescue Laura Palmer in “Twin Peaks,” only to become stuck in a nightmarish loop of darkness that chews up and spits out players who once had dreams of greatness. At 29, Onana could still have his best years ahead of him as a goalkeeper, and he’ll use this potential loan move to Trabzonspor to put himself in the shopping window for Europe’s elite clubs next summer, while United fans can now sleep easier without the threat of one of the Cameroonian’s very specific fumbles into his own net.

Some Absolute Weekend Worldies, Presented by New Balance 🚀 🥅

There were a lot of great goals this weekend, but these three get top marks:

Mid-Week Matches Worth Faking a Meeting for 📺

Hungary vs. Portugal (Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, Fubo/Tubi) 🇭🇺 🇵🇹

Portugal, like Diogo Jota’s club Liverpool, were champions before his passing, because he beautifully balanced and embellished both teams. If their 5-0 win over Armenia is a marker, then like Liverpool, rather than let the tragedy sink them, they seem to be playing in honor of Jota’s memory, galvanized by something greater. This talented cohort of players that includes Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, and of course, somehow still Cristiano Ronaldo would be the envy of most managers, but Hungary are enjoying their own fruitful generation. Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez join RB Leipzig’s center-back Willi Orban, and after a 2-2 away draw against Ireland, they’ll be hopeful of snatching a result at home.   

Serbia vs. England (Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, FS1) 🇷🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

After twice meandering rather than marching over Andorra, Thomas Tuchel can at least boast a 100% win rate at the top of group K in World Cup qualification, but stats can provide whatever narrative you want them to. His trial-and-error selections have yet to forge a real identity for a Three Lions team spilling with world-class talent, but now against a strong Serbia side in Belgrade’s Gladiatorial Rajko Mitic Stadium comes his first true test. Serbia are second in the group and have attacking players like Juventus’ Dušan Vlahović and former Fulham man, Aleksandar Mitrović, who can hurt them. 

USMNT vs. Japan (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT) 🇺🇸 🇯🇵

The USMNT have only faced Japan three times in their history, winning once and losing twice, with the most recent defeat coming in a 2022 friendly when the Samurai Blue won 2-0. While Poch’s scattergun selection policy means the U.S. continue to be a bit… mishmash, Japan, in their seventh year under Hajime Moriyasu, are streamlined and currently in midst of a golden era of sorts. They were the first nation to qualify for next year’s World Cup and boast Premier League stalwarts Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo, Real Sociedad wizard, Takefusa Kubo, and a healthy roster of Bundesliga talent. Japan have qualified for seven consecutive World Cups now, and although they’re interestingly two spots below Poch’s boys at 17th in the current FIFA rankings, this will be one of the U.S. Men’s sternest tests ahead of next summer’s showcase. 

More: From Shinji Kagawa to Hiroki Itō - Why Japan and the Bundesliga are a perfect match

Some Non-Football to Start the Week Off 📖

• What's the Point of a High School Reunion? To inspire such masterpieces as “Romy and Michele's High School Reunion,” of course!

• Recession indicator? Sewing Is Cool Again.

• How Music Criticism Lost Its Edge. There should be statues of critics and they should start with Siskel and Ebert.

• Heaven on Earth: A Camp Where You Can Read All Day (No Kids Allowed)

• In Austria, Government Health Care Can Look a Bit Like a Spa. But what about the precious insurance companies???? 

• Equally if not more entertaining than any cricket match I've seen: The endless magic of cricket scorecards.

It’s MiB Trivia Time 🤔

This week’s question: Who was the USMNT manager the last and only time they beat Japan in their history?

Email us with your answer for a chance to win a much-coveted MiB patch!

Last week’s winner: Congratulations to last week’s winner, Kyle Caissie, who was the first to correctly identify that before Alexander Isak, Antony was the biggest summer deadline day signing in Premier League history when he moved from Ajax to Manchester United for $111 million in 2022. Your patch is in the post, Kyle 🚚

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