I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
My biggest brush with fame is taking a picture with Tony Sanneh, who is a friend of my family. But it takes some US soccer knowledge to know who this is.
If you are thinking of becoming a fan, tomorrow's PSG-Bayern Munich is the game to push you over the edge. Today's Arsenal-Atletico Madrid game was very tactical as expected. I enjoyed it but it was not for everyone.
I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
Was that near St Etienne? Platini played there for a while, close to central France, but that was in the early 80s, a bit older than a quarter century ago.
A sports celebrity we often run into was Jacques Laffite, who was a very charismatic and popular F1 driver and was a regular at our favorite restaurant in Paris.
I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
Was that near St Etienne? Platini played there for a while, close to central France, but that was in the early 80s, a bit older than a quarter century ago.
A sports celebrity we often run into was Jacques Laffite, who was a very charismatic and popular F1 driver and was a regular at our favorite restaurant in Paris.
This was long after he retired. Restaurant La Fontaine, 16 rue de la Fontaine, 03300 Creuzier-le-vieux. He ordered one of their salads (lettuce picked fresh from their garden, 30 meters away). It was his third visit; the whole restaurant was abuzz. I have no idea what Platini was doing there, but if it was anything close to my situation, it involved somebody of the fairer sex.
Dang, I'm always trying to take the focus away from soccer. Is there any hope for me? My daughter is trying to help... scored three goals over the weekend for concordtom's old club, Bay Oaks. Gonna try and take sluggo's advice. Problem is, I recognize what a great sport it is and how huge my knowledge gap is to be able to appreciate it... but I'm like an old dog trying to learn new tricks.
I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
Was that near St Etienne? Platini played there for a while, close to central France, but that was in the early 80s, a bit older than a quarter century ago.
A sports celebrity we often run into was Jacques Laffite, who was a very charismatic and popular F1 driver and was a regular at our favorite restaurant in Paris.
This was long after he retired. Restaurant La Fontaine, 16 rue de la Fontaine, 03300 Creuzier-le-vieux. He ordered one of their salads (lettuce picked fresh from their garden, 30 meters away). It was his third visit; the whole restaurant was abuzz. I have no idea what Platini was doing there, but if it was anything close to my situation, it involved somebody of the fairer sex.
Dang, I'm always trying to take the focus away from soccer. Is there any hope for me? My daughter is trying to help... scored three goals over the weekend for concordtom's old club, Bay Oaks. Gonna try and take sluggo's advice. Problem is, I recognize what a great sport it is and how huge my knowledge gap is to be able to appreciate it... but I'm like an old dog trying to learn new tricks.
You don't have to appreciate it right away. Like any other sport, pick a team or players that you prefer for any reason, it could be the color of their jersey. Follow them for a month or two. If you don't enjoy them, try someone else. You can also be guided by what streaming channels you have.
I started by following the team with the best American. Right now the best American is Weston McKennie and he plays for Juventus. They are on Paramount Plus. Barcelona is the most elegant team, PSG is the most athletic team, Bayern is the most structured team, Arsenal is the most fun team in the biggest league, Crystal Place is named for a building, which makes them unique, and they have a starting American, Chris Richards. There are choices.
Good that your daughter is doing so well. I helped my daughter get to a certain point that was higher than I ever expected. Then I noticed the other parents all had these deep athletic pedigrees that were reflected in the way their daughters played. Then my daughter found she could be a champion at something that did not involve running.
Thanks, I will hopefully give that a try, which would take me into the World Cup a step ahead of where I usually am every four years. (My daughter plays on a lower-level competitive team, but they seem fairly skilled... moderately impressive!)
I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
Was that near St Etienne? Platini played there for a while, close to central France, but that was in the early 80s, a bit older than a quarter century ago.
A sports celebrity we often run into was Jacques Laffite, who was a very charismatic and popular F1 driver and was a regular at our favorite restaurant in Paris.
This was long after he retired. Restaurant La Fontaine, 16 rue de la Fontaine, 03300 Creuzier-le-vieux. He ordered one of their salads (lettuce picked fresh from their garden, 30 meters away). It was his third visit; the whole restaurant was abuzz. I have no idea what Platini was doing there, but if it was anything close to my situation, it involved somebody of the fairer sex.
Dang, I'm always trying to take the focus away from soccer. Is there any hope for me? My daughter is trying to help... scored three goals over the weekend for concordtom's old club, Bay Oaks. Gonna try and take sluggo's advice. Problem is, I recognize what a great sport it is and how huge my knowledge gap is to be able to appreciate it... but I'm like an old dog trying to learn new tricks.
It seems you had a very good introduction to French culture if you knew the chef of such a restaurant.
Sometimes if you're not raised with a sport it will always be foreign, I feel the same way about baseball even though I was dragged to several games at many venues, though I did appreciate the drama on the last World Series. I fell in love with college football on my first game though, SDSU @ Memorial in 1982.
Good game today in Munich, Bayern made it interesting by PSG showed more.
I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
Was that near St Etienne? Platini played there for a while, close to central France, but that was in the early 80s, a bit older than a quarter century ago.
A sports celebrity we often run into was Jacques Laffite, who was a very charismatic and popular F1 driver and was a regular at our favorite restaurant in Paris.
This was long after he retired. Restaurant La Fontaine, 16 rue de la Fontaine, 03300 Creuzier-le-vieux. He ordered one of their salads (lettuce picked fresh from their garden, 30 meters away). It was his third visit; the whole restaurant was abuzz. I have no idea what Platini was doing there, but if it was anything close to my situation, it involved somebody of the fairer sex.
Dang, I'm always trying to take the focus away from soccer. Is there any hope for me? My daughter is trying to help... scored three goals over the weekend for concordtom's old club, Bay Oaks. Gonna try and take sluggo's advice. Problem is, I recognize what a great sport it is and how huge my knowledge gap is to be able to appreciate it... but I'm like an old dog trying to learn new tricks.
It seems you had a very good introduction to French culture if you knew the chef of such a restaurant.
Sometimes if you're not raised with a sport it will always be foreign, I feel the same way about baseball even though I was dragged to several games at many venues, though I did appreciate the drama on the last World Series. I fell in love with college football on my first game though, SDSU @ Memorial in 1982.
Good game today in Munich, Bayern made it interesting by PSG showed more.
A little bit of a letdown after the first game that was a classic. PSG scoring at 3 minutes did not help. Moving Zaire-Emery to right back in place of Hakimi neutralized Diaz, and Bayern did not have a Plan B. I think the score did not reflect the one-sidedness.
I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
Was that near St Etienne? Platini played there for a while, close to central France, but that was in the early 80s, a bit older than a quarter century ago.
A sports celebrity we often run into was Jacques Laffite, who was a very charismatic and popular F1 driver and was a regular at our favorite restaurant in Paris.
This was long after he retired. Restaurant La Fontaine, 16 rue de la Fontaine, 03300 Creuzier-le-vieux. He ordered one of their salads (lettuce picked fresh from their garden, 30 meters away). It was his third visit; the whole restaurant was abuzz. I have no idea what Platini was doing there, but if it was anything close to my situation, it involved somebody of the fairer sex.
Dang, I'm always trying to take the focus away from soccer. Is there any hope for me? My daughter is trying to help... scored three goals over the weekend for concordtom's old club, Bay Oaks. Gonna try and take sluggo's advice. Problem is, I recognize what a great sport it is and how huge my knowledge gap is to be able to appreciate it... but I'm like an old dog trying to learn new tricks.
It seems you had a very good introduction to French culture if you knew the chef of such a restaurant.
Sometimes if you're not raised with a sport it will always be foreign, I feel the same way about baseball even though I was dragged to several games at many venues, though I did appreciate the drama on the last World Series. I fell in love with college football on my first game though, SDSU @ Memorial in 1982.
Good game today in Munich, Bayern made it interesting by PSG showed more.
A little bit of a letdown after the first game that was a classic. PSG scoring at 3 minutes did not help. Moving Zaire-Emery to right back in place of Hakimi neutralized Diaz, and Bayern did not have a Plan B. I think the score did not reflect the one-sidedness.
I watched the replay, it seems like the ref didn't blow the whistle on two obvious handballs on PSG in the first half. The second handball was in the penalty box. What gives? Even Harry Kane who isn't one to complain, made his displeasure known to the ref at the end of the first half.
I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
Was that near St Etienne? Platini played there for a while, close to central France, but that was in the early 80s, a bit older than a quarter century ago.
A sports celebrity we often run into was Jacques Laffite, who was a very charismatic and popular F1 driver and was a regular at our favorite restaurant in Paris.
This was long after he retired. Restaurant La Fontaine, 16 rue de la Fontaine, 03300 Creuzier-le-vieux. He ordered one of their salads (lettuce picked fresh from their garden, 30 meters away). It was his third visit; the whole restaurant was abuzz. I have no idea what Platini was doing there, but if it was anything close to my situation, it involved somebody of the fairer sex.
Dang, I'm always trying to take the focus away from soccer. Is there any hope for me? My daughter is trying to help... scored three goals over the weekend for concordtom's old club, Bay Oaks. Gonna try and take sluggo's advice. Problem is, I recognize what a great sport it is and how huge my knowledge gap is to be able to appreciate it... but I'm like an old dog trying to learn new tricks.
It seems you had a very good introduction to French culture if you knew the chef of such a restaurant.
Sometimes if you're not raised with a sport it will always be foreign, I feel the same way about baseball even though I was dragged to several games at many venues, though I did appreciate the drama on the last World Series. I fell in love with college football on my first game though, SDSU @ Memorial in 1982.
Good game today in Munich, Bayern made it interesting by PSG showed more.
A little bit of a letdown after the first game that was a classic. PSG scoring at 3 minutes did not help. Moving Zaire-Emery to right back in place of Hakimi neutralized Diaz, and Bayern did not have a Plan B. I think the score did not reflect the one-sidedness.
I watched the replay, it seems like the ref didn't blow the whistle on two obvious handballs on PSG in the first half. The second handball was in the penalty box. What gives? Even Harry Kane who isn't one to complain, made his displeasure known to the ref at the end of the first half.
I looked online. I was sort of watching and sort of working so I did not focus on the replays.
The important one was one in the box. It was correctly not a handball because it was kicked by his teammate. I did not know this part of the "handling" law because it happens so seldomly. I am a certified U12 AYSO ref; I need to up my game.
You retired right? Got that 85" TV ready for the WC?
I'm a retired stay-at-home dad. My screen isn't that big but I can just sit closer. My kids will watch it with me a lot. I'm moderately excited to watch and hopefully take my next step forward as a soccer fan!
I had season tix at PSG in my early teens, the stadium was not very far from our home. Game tickets were around $5-$10, vs about $70 today.
The French national team played most of its international games at the same venue in Paris, my time there coincided with a very talented generation of players headed by Platini.
Semi-brush with fame: I was at a restaurant in central France about a quarter of a century ago and Michel Platini was dining there. We knew the owner so he seated us fairly close to his table so we could gawk. Unfortunately, I had never heard of him before. One more strike against me, never having been much of a soccer fan,
Been following this thread, though, so I'm making a half-hearted effort!
Was that near St Etienne? Platini played there for a while, close to central France, but that was in the early 80s, a bit older than a quarter century ago.
A sports celebrity we often run into was Jacques Laffite, who was a very charismatic and popular F1 driver and was a regular at our favorite restaurant in Paris.
This was long after he retired. Restaurant La Fontaine, 16 rue de la Fontaine, 03300 Creuzier-le-vieux. He ordered one of their salads (lettuce picked fresh from their garden, 30 meters away). It was his third visit; the whole restaurant was abuzz. I have no idea what Platini was doing there, but if it was anything close to my situation, it involved somebody of the fairer sex.
Dang, I'm always trying to take the focus away from soccer. Is there any hope for me? My daughter is trying to help... scored three goals over the weekend for concordtom's old club, Bay Oaks. Gonna try and take sluggo's advice. Problem is, I recognize what a great sport it is and how huge my knowledge gap is to be able to appreciate it... but I'm like an old dog trying to learn new tricks.
It seems you had a very good introduction to French culture if you knew the chef of such a restaurant.
Sometimes if you're not raised with a sport it will always be foreign, I feel the same way about baseball even though I was dragged to several games at many venues, though I did appreciate the drama on the last World Series. I fell in love with college football on my first game though, SDSU @ Memorial in 1982.
Good game today in Munich, Bayern made it interesting by PSG showed more.
A little bit of a letdown after the first game that was a classic. PSG scoring at 3 minutes did not help. Moving Zaire-Emery to right back in place of Hakimi neutralized Diaz, and Bayern did not have a Plan B. I think the score did not reflect the one-sidedness.
I watched the replay, it seems like the ref didn't blow the whistle on two obvious handballs on PSG in the first half. The second handball was in the penalty box. What gives? Even Harry Kane who isn't one to complain, made his displeasure known to the ref at the end of the first half.
I looked online. I was sort of watching and sort of working so I did not focus on the replays.
The important one was one in the box. It was correctly not a handball because it was kicked by his teammate. I did not know this part of the "handling" law because it happens so seldomly. I am a certified U12 AYSO ref; I need to up my game.
I only watched the last 15 minutes, so glad to hear some additional commentary, and watch the replay of this possible handball in the box
I also was an AYSO referee, and I probably was center ref or assistant ref on about 80 games. I coached 19 different seasons, obviously multiple seasons per year, for all five of my girls. I estimate coaching in 350-400 youth soccer games. Watched many more.
The rule states that one must deliberately handle the ball. It looks to me like the PSG player is flinching. That is an instinctive reaction.
I think too many whistles are blown simply because people have arms growing out the side of their body.
The rationale is often that a defender was trying to make themselves bigger, therefore it was a deliberate action. However, we use our arms to help us move our bodies - it cannot be avoided.
When you are reffing your games, keep in mind that 12-year-old's instincts are happening way faster than their forethought. And the question I always ask myself in the mental instant replay of a Center Ref is:
"Was it hand to ball, or ball to hand?"
In many cases, it is ball to hand.
I'm okay with the no call. Imagine the farce (lack of justice) if we blow the whistle, remove the ball from play by PSG, set it on the Mark, and say, "everyone out of the way, we're going to now present Bayern with a free shot at the goal." Like, Bayern didn't even have possession!
I love these calls where a Mexican team kicks the balls into a defender when entering the box on the side, hoping to get a similar instinctive reaction and a willing CR. Or when a player slips and puts their arms down to instinctively brace their fall (something we learned as toddlers) and a ball is kicked at them. Refs often blow the whistle. Intentional/Deliberate my ass!
You retired right? Got that 85" TV ready for the WC?
I'm a retired stay-at-home dad. My screen isn't that big but I can just sit closer. My kids will watch it with me a lot. I'm moderately excited to watch and hopefully take my next step forward as a soccer fan!
As you are watching, observe the lack of organization tactically by some of the athletic but less experienced teams. They will make ridiculous gaffes and blow games. The traditional powers will honor possession, execute tactical fouls, and otherwise strategically wind their way to victory.
I think this is probably less pronounced as the decades more along but maybe now with the expansion of teams entered into the tournament there will be some funny results.
It takes a ton of viewing. You'll get 3-4 matches per day. Plan your days around it, including especially the commentary shows pre and post game.
I will not be able to, but I would have loved to devote the month to nothing but viewing matches with my friends
Plan your days properly and don't burn out. It would be really easy to happen.
My biggest brush with fame is taking a picture with Tony Sanneh, who is a friend of my family. But it takes some US soccer knowledge to know who this is.
Reminds me I'm due for a rewatch of USA-Portugal 2002. He was fantastic all tournament but I remember that game as a high point.
You retired right? Got that 85" TV ready for the WC?
I'm a retired stay-at-home dad. My screen isn't that big but I can just sit closer. My kids will watch it with me a lot. I'm moderately excited to watch and hopefully take my next step forward as a soccer fan!
Being retired and watching with my kids is an absolute dream. My daughter will watch the Women's World Cup with me, but the games are less interesting (don't tell her I said that). I can't complain because I am going to the USA game in Seattle with my son. Who is not a soccer fan, but knows it is the place to be.
During the 2002 WC when my daughter was like two she went in front of the TV screen and started waving her arms and yelling "ah ah ah ah." I said what are you doing. She said "daddy watching the World Cup." It is one of my most prized memories.
I became a huge soccer fan watching the 1986 World Cup in Spanish on Univision. I played for six years earlier and knew I liked watching. But there was nothing like the drama of the tournament. Nothing has changed in 40 years.
You retired right? Got that 85" TV ready for the WC?
I'm a retired stay-at-home dad. My screen isn't that big but I can just sit closer. My kids will watch it with me a lot. I'm moderately excited to watch and hopefully take my next step forward as a soccer fan!
As you are watching, observe the lack of organization tactically by some of the athletic but less experienced teams. They will make ridiculous gaffes and blow games. The traditional powers will honor possession, execute tactical fouls, and otherwise strategically wind their way to victory.
I think this is probably less pronounced as the decades more along but maybe now with the expansion of teams entered into the tournament there will be some funny results.
It takes a ton of viewing. You'll get 3-4 matches per day. Plan your days around it, including especially the commentary shows pre and post game.
I will not be able to, but I would have loved to devote the month to nothing but viewing matches with my friends
Plan your days properly and don't burn out. It would be really easy to happen.
I'm not gonna burn out because I'm not going to watch all that many games or plan my day around it. Hopefully ten or so WC games will improve my knowledge of and fondness for soccer.
There was a time when I used to watch a lot of sports on TV but now, in most years, I am down to Cal Football and Basketball.
I do find the Spanish broadcasts to be exciting. And I don't speak Spanish.
I will root for Arsenal because I have been an Arsenal fan on-and-off for decades. But I love immigration, it saved my family from being killed long ago, and is responsible for the great the food that I will eat tomorrow. I also like how it has impacted French soccer, turning it into a breakneck speed affair unlike anything I have ever seen.
Part of my Arsenal fandom is based on reading "Fever Pitch" by the great Nick Hornby of "High Fidelity" fame. It is a great read. There is a quote in it that goes something like "I could not tell if my life was **** or if Arsenal was **** or if there was a difference." My fandom is much lighter.
To be honest, as a Tottenham Hotspur fan, I can't root for Arsenal, otherwise referred to as the Gooners.
I am aware they are rivals. My closest soccer friend is a Tottenham fan. We talk about other things lately.
Is it because Tottenham is on the verge of being relegated to a lower division and kicked out of the Premier League? lol.
Yes, and my team is about to win the title. It is a little too much for both of us. Tottenham has won the last two games so relegation is less likely, but last time I saw him things were looking grim.
I guess I'm going to have to root for Arsenal now in the final. Sorry, Cal88.
But I bet you still root fir England, right?
U.S.A. I'm more familiar with the players on the English team so I'll root for them if they're playing other European teams like France, Spain, or Germany.
I will admit something: I have been watching ... MLS. Mostly highlights of games on youtube, but even an occasional live game as I have Apple TV for other reasons. Why, you ask, since you have never watched MLS before since the league started in 1996? It is not because I want to watch second rate South Americans or has been European stars that have been the focus of the league since its start. It is because it is the new pathway to the national team.
Previously, USMNT players were developed by going to Europe as soon as possible (16 if a European grandparent, 18 if not). Or they were developed completely in the European system because they had an American father, often a service member, and a European mother. Now the best players are making their first stop in MLS. And these are some amazing players, ones that I think will start and get the US to the quarterfinals in 2030 rather than the typical round of 16. Below are my three favorite teams to watch and players to follow. All the players I will mention are teenagers. There are actually more good teenagers and some relevant 2030 players who are in their early 20s playing in MLS. Everything has changed except the quality of the league, which is still bad.
1. Philadelphia Union. They of course feature Cavan Sullivan, who has been internationally known since he was 13 or 14 and signed with Man City last year (with where he would play before he was 18 TBD). Sullivan is 16 now. He did not grow as tall as is ideal, he looks about 5'7'', and he did not develop as much speed as he might have. But he has touch and vision and understanding unlike any American player ever with the possible exception of Gio Reyna, but without Reyna's baggage. I think the best comparison of what he might become is Rayan Cherki. He scored his first MLS goal yesterday. They also have Malik Jakupovic, who is also 16 and does not play much. He has the most talent of any American #9 I have ever seen but young strikers get physically battered. Bosnia is coming for him, but I hope he stick with us.
2. New York Red Bull. They have two great young players who grew up in NYC. Which is sort of funny to me because one reason I gave for moving back to CA from NYC was how bad the youth soccer players were that I saw when walking through Riverside Park, and I did not want that for my kids who were born in NYC. Julian Hall is 18 and plays striker. He is not big, fast or good on the dribble. He just scores, over and over. In this way he reminds me of Javier Hernandez (Chicharito), the great Mexican star. We will see if he can do it at the international level. Poland wants him. Yesterday he scored a hat trick. Adri Mehmeti is 17 and is a great connector in the style of Sergio Busquets. I hope he can become more like Pedri where he actually scores and gets assists.
3. Real Salt Lake. What a ridiculous team name. But they have the most national team ready player, Zavier Gozo, who is 19. I think it was just a year ago that he was fast but could not do much. He seemed like another failure in development. Then I guess he sold his soul or something. He is now a menace. He shoots great with both feet and his crosses are outstanding. And he has lots of flair in the dribble. He should be on the 2026 WC team, and there is a Twitter storm brewing on this front. I have heard next year he is going to the Premier League. He scored two goals yesterday.
