USMNT v. Canada Is Upon Us 🇺🇸🇨🇦🥓

Hail GFOP!

I type with fingers elated that our USMNT have Avenger Assembled. We are living in remarkable days. Mauricio Pochettino’s excruciatingly long-awaited announcement is imminent. The United States Men’s team are poised to play a pugnacious Canada, led by Jesse Marsch hellbent for revenge, and Everton are guaranteed NOT to crap the bed this weekend?  Sign me up for what might just be the Best Week Ever. We will break all of this down, as well as touch upon the news of Alex Morgan’s retirement as we charge into this unique and hallowed time.

I am flying to Chicago as I write. Returning to my spiritual home, like a Steelhead Salmon swimming upstream in Lake Michigan. My goal is to eat all the Pequod’s pizza, experience Northwestern’s new home, and then say I was there: To watch Caleb Williams’s coronation at Soldier Field this Sunday, on this inevitable march to Bears Super Bowl glory. Nothing can go wrong now, right?

b. This has been a magical week at MiB Towers as we gird our loins for the CONCACAF version of Obi-Wan Kenobi v. Anakin Skywalker that is the United States against Canada. Canadian manager Jesse Marsch joined us to break down his emotions he expects to feel as he leads his adopted country into battle against his birth nation. My friend-in-pod Herc Gomez joined me to analyze the match up, and gave his thoughts on the coming of Pochettino, summing it up thusly: “Jesse Marsch wants to humiliate the USA.”  

And THIS: 🇺🇸🚨 At the final whistle on Saturday, I will be joined by Tyler Adams for a Do It Live, where we will break down the game, and tap into Tyler’s Poch thoughts. Come and join us and have your say in this Unplugged acoustic version of The Captain, presented by our friends at Allstate. Subscribe to our YouTube page and turn those notifications on so you do not miss it! 🇺🇸🚨

PS. If you want to feel joy: San Marino, the world’s worst football team, ranked 210 by FIFA, defeated Liechtenstein 1-0 in what was San Marino's first-ever victory in a competitive match, and first win since beating the same team in a friendly back in 2004, ending a 140 game winless streak.  A country half the size of Manchester and a population of just 33,000, known best for its signature dessert, Torta Tre Monti ("Cake of the Three Mountains”) tasted something even sweeter. Footballing Triumph. Enjoy this John Green tweet celebrating the moment 🇸🇲

And: Ref Cult hero MIKE DEAN joins me this week. Let me know your questions for him at [email protected] 🟥🟨

2. USMNT v. Canada (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, TBS/Max/Peacock)  🇺🇸🇨🇦🥓

What a curious experience this game in Kansas City will be. A clash which was intended, when scheduled, to be a Berhlater vs. Marsch grudge match. The CONCACAF version of Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef. Yet, with Berhalter now fired, and Poch Watch overshadowing everything, the game itself, under the U.S. interim manager, Mikey Varas, and with so many big players missing because of injury, feels oddly like background noise. Like a Chiefs game when Taylor Swift is in the building.

ii. Here is who will not be on the field for the United States: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah, and now poor Gio Reyna has limped out of the squad with a strained left groin. How I ache for Gio who played just 280 league minutes for Dortmund in the first half of last season and then a mere 235 on loan for Nottingham Forest. This season has brought a scant 10 minutes in Dortmund's first two Bundesliga games this season. Aged just 21, Gio’s promise-filled career has been undermined by injury and the darkness of World Cup 2022. The prospect of him running free in a U.S. shirt was one of the major moments I was most looking forward to this weekend. May he heal quickly and rise again. 

iii. The U.S. interim coach, Mikey Varas, is just 39 years old. He was an assistant coach under Berhalter and is poised to become the first ever head coach of new MLS franchise San Diego FC. Everyone I have spoken to suggests our boys will play like a Gregg Tribute band.  

iv. I am most looking forward to watching how Brenden Aaronson, who has turned the Leeds’ fans frowns upside down with some real tenacious performances, and Matt Turner, now of Crystal Palace, and so hungry for playing time, savor their opportunity to shine again. 

v. A lot of fascinating texture to this US squad including a chance to watch our Next Great Big Next Big Thing, Aidan Morris, the 22-year-old Floridian who has just leaped from Columbus Crew to Middlesbrough in the English Championship where he has been electric. Also magic to see Celtic defender Auston Trusty gain a belated chance to increase his paltry cap count after his Premier League campaign last year. Thirteen call-ups are 23 or younger — the average roster age is 24 ½ and that includes 87-year-old Tim Ream. The baby of the squad is goalkeeper Diego Kochen, 18, who plays for FC Barcelona’s second team. Let’s savor these breakthrough moments.  

More: Is Borussia Dortmund the best place for Gio Reyna's career? Sigh. 

3. Alex Morgan is retiring. Her last game is this weekend 🇺🇸👑😢

The first time I met Alex Morgan was in 2011. Two weeks before the World Cup, I hosted a live show with the USWNT at Nike Town in New York City.  The whole squad was there. Women’s football was a world away from where it is now. A few months earlier, I had done a live show with Inter Milan in the same venue, and the place was a madhouse-mob scene. In stark contrast, interest in the USWNT was so modest, the organizers had taken the precautionary step of bussing in a couple of kids teams to fill the front rows.  

I went to meet the US players before the event began. They were sitting around chatting. A couple were doing some kind of handstand competition against a back wall. Alex was 21 and not yet a starter. But the moment I walked into their green room, she walked confidently towards me, looked me right in the eye and introduced herself. “I’m Alex Morgan,” she said. “I know exactly who you are,” I replied. A month later, she had scored a goal in the World Cup final and the whole planet did. 

From that tournament on, Alex Morgan transcended the sport, establishing herself as a peerless icon of the global game. The face of American Soccer Glory over the past decade, she utilized her left foot to smite all comers, on the road to two World Cup wins and an Olympic gold, crossing over to become a popular culture bright light, while simultaneously expressing herself as a partner, a mother, and a thriving entrepreneur.

There can be no doubt: This is not the way she imagined going out. With the United States winning an Olympic Gold for which she was not selected.  But sports are often bereft of romance. You cannot always choose the perfect ending. Even though we cannot wait to see what she does next, she will be forever etched in our memory, scoring the winner against England in 2019, throwing her head back in her moment of glory, and sipping all the Tea, while telling Piers Morgan to do one. 

More: Alex Morgan's legacy is so much more than USWNT goals and championships. It's allyship.

4. This is important: FIFPRO report warns that players are being pushed “beyond their limits” by “excessive workload.”

A new study discovered over half of the 1,500 players monitored last season faced high workload demands, with nearly a third in squads for more than 55 games in a season. Argentina’s Julian Alvarez made a total of 75 appearances for club and country last season in a workload that spanned Copa America and Olympics. Phil Foden, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez were not far behind. Sports science has yet to uncover what the wear and tear with no recovery does for these young bodies. This is football killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Read more here.

5. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. Why has Ryan Gravenberch excelled in the 6 role for Slot’s Liverpool?

ii. Leicester City dodged a points deduction for Financial misdemeanors because of a loophole caused by their relegation. Everton fans could never.

iii. Miguel Delaney on the culture war amidst the fans at Manchester United.

iv. Really lovely interview with Spanish Euro-winning manager, Luis De La Fuente, who went from footballing unknown to continental champion.

v. This Emma Hayes interview is also terrific to read.

vi. JJ Watt is immense.

PrizePicks: Best PP since Parker Posey

Charlie Kipp Writes: International Break. Every Premier League fan’s two least favorite words outside of “City Away.” While we will not have our favorite league in our loving arms this weekend - I have great news: the NFL is back. Bring me your not-so-tired, your not-so-poor, and your no-huddle offenses. Week one is here and with it, a bounty of PrizePicks offerings for you to choose from. We are 2-0 in this column this season, and for the first time ever, I am guaranteeing a winner. Why the brazen confidence, you ask? Because our friends at PrizePicks are offering a special promotion: Bears QB Caleb Williams MORE than 0.5 Passing Yards.

No, the above is not a typo. To paraphrase Dua Lipa “One yard is all it takes.” Much like us, PrizePicks wants you to start your season out right so they are offering the closest thing they can to a free winner. Pass up on this pick at your own peril. As has often been the case, Rog is turning to his Chicago Bears to deliver him from the evil that is Everton - and, for the first time in a long time, the Bears look poised to do just that. So take my advice: don’t think, just take the free win. Get on the PrizePicks and grab Caleb Williams MORE than 0.5 Passing Yards.

If you haven’t joined PrizePicks, CLICK HERE and play $5 and get $50 instantly when you use code MiB.

6. Wrexham DO NOT WREXHAM IT UP 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

With Chester still languishing in the National League, this weekend’s match against Shrewsbury marks Wrexham’s biggest local derby this season (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Paramount +). Just 31 miles (and an international border) separate the two sides who last met in a FA Cup third round tie back in January, where Wrexham won 1-0. The Red Dragons enter the tie 2nd in the league table, having swept away Peterborough 2-0 last Saturday. Opponents Shrewsbury have had a less-than-ideal start to their 10th successive League One season, having registered one win and three losses in their opening four games. 

7. England v. Republic of Ireland! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇮🇪

Both sides will make their debut under new managers when England meet the Republic of Ireland in the sides’ first competitive matchup since 1991 (Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, FS1). The “traitorous” duo Jack Grealish and Declan Rice, Ireland deserters both, are in former Ireland (and Everton) player Lee Carsley’s first England squad. Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins, and Phil Foden are all out with nondescript injuries. Meanwhile, new Ireland boss, and our old friend, ex-Iceland dentist, Heimir Hallgrímsson has both captain Seamus Coleman and Brighton striker Evan Ferguson back in his first squad after the latter missed the last international window with an ankle injury. 

8. Magical Global Games to Keep an Eye on 🌍

A couple of tasty matchups across Europe this international break/Everton respite. Plenty of Premier League stars are in action in Nation’s League qualifiers as France take on Italy later today (2.45 p.m. ET, Fubo), and the Netherlands host Germany on Tuesday (2.45 p.m. ET, Fubo). In South America a rematch of the Copa America final will take place in Colombia, as the hosts will take on Argentina in Barranquilla (Tuesday, 4.30 p.m. ET, Fanatiz).

9. Massive NWSL Weekend

The Orlando Pride’s historic winning streak grew to 19 straight games last weekend (that’s EVERY GAME this season). They top the NWSL table going into their game with the Chicago Red Stars (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET, Paramount +). After Alex Morgan’s shock retirement announcement, all eyes will be on her last game Sunday, as the San Diego Wave host the North Carolina Courage at the Snapdragon (8 p.m. ET, Paramount +). 

Huddersfield Town Care Package: From MiB With Love

The incredible GFOPs at Huddersfield Town have provided us with this beautiful care package — including one of their new kits — and we want to give it to one of you. Our way of saying thank you for making so many footballing memories together. To enter, simply answer the poll below.

10. Not Football, and All the Better for It

i. Love Interrupted. If The Atavist has a million fans I am one of them. If The Atavist has one fan it is me. If The Atavist has no fans I have succumbed to Everton related death. 

ii. How Alt-Comedy Darling John Early Learned to Embrace Sincerity. John Early is too talented but I forgive him. 

iii. 5 Reasons to Start Watching ‘Slow Horses’. Only 5????? Could think of at least 10 Gary Oldman related reasons off the top of my head! P.S. He is PROPER Manchester United in real life.

iv. America Must Free Itself from the Tyranny of the Penny. Any fifth grader with an Almanac could tell you this. 

v. This gives me hope that one day my decidedly indoor-ass could be an Outside contributor: Why Does Yellowstone National Park Turn Us All into Maniacs? 

vi. 23 Things Jason Schwartzman Can’t Live Without. I read this column a lot and I think this one may rank #1 for most delightful. 

vii. Odd Birds. Long live Lillian Aileen Shane.  

viii. It's hard to see someone else living your dream: This Victorian Home in Melbourne is a Love Letter to Tile and Stained Glass.

ix. 100 tiny tricks to sort out your life. No. 82: Stop supporting Everton. 

x. Pride in Britain’s history is falling. Most people’s sense of history now goes back to Oasis splitting up but no further.

xi. THIS SONG IS INCREDIBLE: Burial At Sea by Tucker Zimmerman and Big Thief. Holy Crap. What a combination of old and new. Like watching Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson, but in song. 

xii. I am reading this book and LOVE it: How to Win the Premier League by Ian Graham. Rory and I both reveled in this book on the pod this week. Written by the brilliant gent who was Liverpool’s head of data, it tells the inside story of how the club looked for marginal advantages in recruitment and squad build. Simply put: This book will change the way you think about the game.

That is it for today.  I am going to leave you with this quote from James Baldwin that brought me such joy this week. It would have been my Dad’s birthday today. I have realized a lot since his death, just how much thought he put into his relationships – with my Mum, his kids, grandkids, and friends. This Baldwin quote from a book, Nothing Personal.  I offer it to you with love and thanks: 

“The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love — whether we call it friendship or family or romance — is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other's light. Gentle work. Steadfast work. Life-saving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our view, but there is still a clear-eyed loving person to beam it back. In our best moments, we are that person for another.” 

Happy Birthday Dad.

Big Love to all of You.

Let’s not take a second of watching football together for granted,

Go! Go! USA!

Courage.

ROG