Morning everyone,

Another weekend packed with footy. We’re here to get you updated. Please enjoy!

• 🇺🇸 USMNT Continue to Roll

• 🌎️ More World Cup Updates

• ⚽️ Goal of the Week

• 😂 Tweets of the Week

USMNT Continue to Roll

The USMNT advanced to the Round of 32 with their 2-0 win over Australia. And with Paraguay’s win over Turkey, we’ve won the group. It’s the first time in our World Cup history that we’ve won two games by two or more goals. We’re off to a roaring start. Here’s how it went down.

Christian Pulisic was ruled out with his calf injury hours before the game. Surprisingly, Pochettino went with Ricardo Pepi as his replacement, opting for a 3-5-2 with two strikers instead of a traditional winger. Credit to the skipper, it worked. Pochettino is now tied with Bruce Arena and Robert Millar for the most World Cup wins as a USMNT manager.

Folarin Balogun continued his stellar play. He and Antonee Robinson linked up down left flank before he crossed it in off the defenders foot for the first goal in the 11th minute. Balogun probably should have had a goal or two on the day but was still excellent and won the Man of the Match for the second straight game.

Then Alex Freeman (whose Dad has scored a touchdown in the same stadium) headed home a deflected Sergino Dest shot. The goal was first ruled offsides but after VAR review, it was overturned. Watch this video of the entire team celebrating with him. You can tell these guys genuinely love each other and will fight for one another. They’re capturing the hearts of Americans and it’s beautiful to see. After the game, Pochettino said of Freeman, “he has the potential to be one of the best players in his position in the world.” Three weeks ago I wrote that Freeman would have a DeAndre Yedlin 2014 type breakout at this tournament. It’s happening and I’m loving every minute of it.

I simply can’t say enough good things about our midfield trio. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Malik Tillman have been sensational. Sergino Dest was also fantastic, consistently threatening the defense down the right side with his technical ability and movement off the ball. He had 21 touches in the attacking third in the first half, tied for most on the team with McKennie and Tillman. He also had the most advanced average touch position on the team.

Australia manager Tony Popovic said, “You’ve got to give them credit. There’s a reason they are so good. There quality is clear. There was no surprises.” That’s the second straight game where the opposing coach has praised us.

As of now, Bosnia & Herzegovina is our most likely opponent in the Round of 32. Before that, we’ll play Turkey on Thursday in a game that doesn’t matter for either team. It’s a perfect opportunity to rest our starters and get everyone on the team some minutes.

It’s the best time in history to be a US soccer fan. I hope you’re all enjoying this as much as I am.

More World Cup Action

We’re 11 days into the tournament. Whew. Let’s unpack.

• Canada beat Qatar 6-0 (full highlights). It’s their first World Cup win ever and prior to this game they had 3 goals in their entire World Cup history. It’s also the most goals ever scored in a World Cup game by a Concacaf team. Midfielder Ismael Kone suffered a broken leg after a brutal tackle that resulted in the red card. Qatar played with 9 men for most of the second half and Canada poured it on them. A very well deserved win for the Canadians.

• Mexico beat South Korea 1-0 to win group A and book their ticket in the knockout round. Mexico’s Round of 32 game will be in Mexico City. I can’t even imagine how electric the atmosphere will be at the Estadio Azteca.

• The Netherlands eviscerated Sweden 5-1. They extended their World Cup winning streak to 14, the longest in history. Their last loss was the 2010 World Cup final against Spain. Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo each had a brace. The Dutch are real contenders.

• Curaçao tied Ecuador 0-0. Their 37 year old goalkeeper, Eloy Room, who plays in the USL for Miami FC, made 15 saves, the second most in World Cup history behind Tim Howards famous game against Belgium in 2014. What a heroic performance to secure the country’s first ever World Cup point. Ecuador had 3.06 expected goals to Curaçao’s .48, controlled 75% of possession, and had 18 more shots, but as we know, sometimes ball don’t go in.

• After getting grouped in the last two World Cups, Germany have clinched their spot in the Round of 32. They came from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 off the back of supersub Deniz Undav, who scored a brace. He now has 3 goals and two assists coming off the bench this tournament.

• Japan destroyed Tunisia 4-0. Check out this assist below, it’s one of the best you’ll see all tournament. This was the 1,000th game in World Cup history and Japan became the first ever Asian nation to score 4 goals in a World Cup match. After two games, two coaches, and 9 goals conceded, Tunisia are eliminated.

• Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0. Lamine Yamal scored his first World Cup goal and the Spaniards got back on track. They’re undefeated now in their last 32 matches.

• Cape Verde tied Uruguay 2-2 for the second shocking draw against one of the worlds best teams (full highlights). What a story this team is. With a win against Saudi Arabia, they’ll book their spot in the knockout round.

• Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1 for their first ever World Cup win. Mo Salah had a goal and an assist. The Pharoahs look good and have a big matchup against Iran on Friday.

Goal of the Week

From DEEEEEP 🤯 

Tweets of the Week

Let’s just give Freddy a green card at this point.

There will be a baby boom 9 months from now because of this tournament.

LMAO

So many World Cup tourists are trying to bring home ranch dressing that TSA had to put out a PSA 😆 

Quick Hits

• Why so many World Cup goals are being scored late (Link)

• Inter Miami agree to deal with Casemiro (Link)

Give us some feedback below. We’ll be back in your

Max & Mason