Welcome to our football recap! The past few days have been packed with international soccer action, offering a brief hiatus before club football resumes. Let`s delve into the highlights.
USMNT Eases Pressure with Japan Victory
Following a tense defeat to South Korea on Saturday, Mauricio Pochettino urgently needed a victory. The friendly against Japan in Columbus, Ohio, served as a crucial opportunity to implement his 3-4-3 system and evaluate emerging talents. The pressure was immense, considering the potential backlash if another highly-ranked opponent had easily defeated the USA.
Fortunately, the USMNT secured the much-needed victory. Goals from Alex Zendejas and Folarin Balogun, scored on either side of halftime, relieved significant pressure on the squad, as noted by Chuck Booth. This marked their first win against a top-ranked FIFA team since the 2022 World Cup match against Iran. However, this success comes with notable caveats: the USA did not face Japan`s primary squad, which had played in Mexico days earlier. Despite facing a weakened Japanese side, goalkeeper Matt Freese was kept busy, making six saves, and the defense experienced several anxious moments.
While it`s premature to celebrate excessively given Japan`s weakened squad, Pochettino`s defensive strategy proved effective when it counted. His tactical adjustments, often as debated as his team`s play, paid off. The switch to a back three formation seemed successful, with Max Arfsten and Alex Freeman emerging as promising wing-back options, supporting Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest. According to Pardeep Cattry, the system simply “clicked.”
- Cattry: Pochettino`s tactical shift was fundamental to the team`s success. Even key players like Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams, alongside Cristian Roldan in midfield, performed optimally. This match, after 11 months, finally saw the coach implement a game plan that aligned with his players` strengths and the game`s demands, replacing a disjointed team with a cohesive unit.
Additionally, Balogun`s first national team goal since mid-2024, following a strong performance against South Korea, is a positive sign. While the hunt for a permanent No. 9 continues, especially as the 24-year-old battles for a club starting spot, Balogun`s recent displays have been more convincing than Josh Sargent`s.
The USMNT faces two more friendlies in October, which will further gauge their global standing. A strong performance against Australia in Colorado is expected if they meet their aspirations. However, a significant challenge awaits against Ecuador, who concluded World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 victory over Argentina, having conceded only five goals in 18 CONMEBOL matches. This will be a rigorous examination for the USMNT`s attacking players.
England, Norway Excel as European Qualifying Heats Up
While Pochettino refines his strategy for the upcoming summer, many other national teams are still striving to qualify for the World Cup. Norway, absent from the tournament since 1998, now appears poised to top what was considered a formidable qualifying group, featuring Italy and Israel. Following earlier victories against these two, Stale Stolbakken`s team had to respond after Italy`s dramatic 5-4 win over Israel, which sustained the Azzurri`s hopes in Group I.
Norway responded emphatically, with Erling Haaland scoring five goals and substitute Thelo Aasgaard adding four, securing an 11-1 victory over Macedonia. This commanding win equaled the largest ever margin in UEFA World Cup qualifiers. This substantial goal difference could prove vital; Norway now leads Italy by six points, having played one more game, and boasts a 16-goal superior difference. Italy will likely need to defeat Norway in November`s San Siro clash, and potentially rely on Israel or Estonia to take points off Norway in Oslo. The World Cup appears within reach for Haaland and his teammates, and as Chuck Booth highlighted, their inclusion would undoubtedly enhance the tournament.
- Booth: The World Cup`s allure is diminished without its top players, emphasizing that no team would relish facing Martin Ødegaard and Haaland in the 2026 tournament. Haaland is now a strong contender for the UEFA qualifying top scorer, with nine goals, three more than Croatia`s Andrej Kramarić. With 45 goals in just 43 starts for Norway, the Manchester City forward is unequivocally driving his nation towards football`s grandest stage.
England also delivered a commanding performance on Tuesday, securing a 5-0 victory against Serbia. After a series of functional but uninspiring matches against weaker opponents, this win showcased the strengths Thomas Tuchel aims to harness. Three of England`s goals originated from exceptional set pieces, expertly delivered by Declan Rice. Their open-play goals were equally impressive, notably Morgan Rogers setting up Noni Madueke for a superb team effort. True to a Tuchel-managed side, their defense was immaculate, conceding only one shot on target and a mere 0.83 xG across five qualifiers – astonishing statistics, even considering matches against teams like Andorra.
Other Tuesday matches saw France and Portugal clinch narrow but crucial victories against Iceland and Hungary, respectively. Conversely, the Republic of Ireland endured arguably their most humiliating defeat, losing 2-1 to Armenia in Yerevan. While a theoretical comeback for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad remains possible, their World Cup qualification hopes realistically dwindled just three days into their campaign.
Renowned color commentator Ray Hudson, who covered Champions League matches for CBS Sports for three years as part of his 23-year career, has announced his retirement.
