Association Football 2023/2024 Discussion Thread

[NewYorkExpress]

Arsenal topples Manchester City to win the English Community Shield on penalties.

It's the Gunners's first victory over Manchester City in any competition since the 2019-20 FA Cup Semifinal.

[NewYorkExpress]

We had an upset in the UEFA Champions League, as Faroe Islands Champions KI Klaksvik defeated Norwegian Champions Molde, 2-1 in the first leg of the Third Qualifying Round, in Torshavn.

[NewYorkExpress]

After Clinching the CONCACAF Gold Cup this Summer, Jaime Lozano has been elevated from the interim head coach of the Mexican National Team.

Truthfully for El Tri, why mess with success? However, the 2026 World Cup Cycle, which Lozano will be overseeing, will be very important, especially with Mexico co-hosting. A good showing will be paramount, and getting farther than the United States has to be the minimum requirement.

[NewYorkExpress]

Despite outpossessing RB Leipzig 2-1, Bayern Munich still lost the German Supercup 3-0, as Harry Kane made his debut off of the bench.

He'll have to wait a bit longer to win his first trophy.

[NewYorkExpress]

PSG's decision to freeze out Kylian Mbappe looks like it's going to backfire, as they ended up with a 0-0 draw with Lorient at Parc des Princes to kick off their season.

I have a sneaking suspicion, that this season will be the first season since the 2010-2011 season, that PSG does not qualify for the Champions League.

[NewYorkExpress]

Roberto Mancini has resigned as head coach of Italy.

[NewYorkExpress]

Spain is heading to the Women's World Cup final following their 2-1 win over Sweden at Eden Park.

They'll face the winner of tomorrow morning's semifinal between co-host Australia and England.

[NewYorkExpress]

It'll be England vs Spain in the Women's World Cup final, after England's 3-1 victory over Australia.

[NewYorkExpress]

Manchester City lifts yet another trophy, this time beating Sevilla for the UEFA Super Cup on penalties.

[NewYorkExpress]

Someone at ESPN actually spent time arguing as to why Jesse Marsch is a candidate to manage the USWNT.

Seriously, If Marsch can't even get serious consideration for men's job, why would anyone consider him for the women's job (and why would anyone eligible for the Women's National Team want Marsch?).

[NewYorkExpress]

New Manchester United, same as the old Manchester United. Tottenham wins 2-0.

Meanwhile, halfway after week two, Brighton & Hove Albion is atop the Premier League table, ahead of Manchester City on goal differential.

[NewYorkExpress]

Spain has won the Women's World Cup, after defeating England 1-0.

Apparently the curse on English Football isn't just limited to the Men's team.

[NewYorkExpress]

John Herdman, quite possibly the most successful head coach in recent Canadian memory will be stepping down as head coach of the Canadian Men's National Team to take over at Toronto FC.

That's a great hire for Toronto. Herdman's the only manager to have successfully led both a men's and women's team (Canada) to the World Cup.

[NewYorkExpress]

UEFA Champions League Groups have been drawn.

Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC Copenhagen, Galatasaray

Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Lens

Group C: Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin

Group D: Benfica, Inter Milan, RB Salzburg, Real Sociedad

Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic

Group F: PSG, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle United

Group G: Manchester City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys

Group H: Barcelona, FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Royal Antwerp

[NewYorkExpress]

I would love to know what UEFA did with the balls for Group F of the Champions League to come out the way it did.

That group is stacked.

[NewYorkExpress]

The Europa Conference League Draw was also yesterday.

Group A: LSOC Lille, Slovan Bratislava, Olimpija Ljubljana, Kl Klaksvik

Group B: Gent, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Zorya Luhansk, Breidabik

Group C: Dinamo Zagreb, Viktoria Plzen, Astana, Ballkani

Group D: Club Brugge, Bodo/Glimt, Bestikas, Lugano

Group E: AZ Alkmaar, Aston Villa, Legia Warsawza, Zrinjski

Group F: Ferencvaros, Fiorentina, Genk, Cukaricki

Group G: Eintracht Frankfurt, PAOK, HJK, Helsinki, Aberdeen

Group H: Fenerbahce, Ludogerets, Spartak Trnava, Nordsjaelland

[NewYorkExpress]

Is it normal for eight total goals to be scored in a La Liga game?

Real Sociedad and Granada completely forget to play defense in Real Sociedad's 5-3 victory.

[NewYorkExpress]

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player and goalscorer in the history of the Spanish National Team in Spain's 7-1 victory over Georgia in European Championship Qualifying.

[NewYorkExpress]

USMNT facing Uzbekistan today in St. Louis in Gregg Berhalter's return as manager.

We're up 1-0 at about forty minutes, but quite honestly, we should be doing better than this. Uzbekistan isn't really on our level, at least compared to other possible Asian sides we could be facing like Japan, Iran or South Korea.

We'll play Oman in Saint Paul on Monday to close out the International Window, before having a much more exciting pair of friendlies in October, hosting Germany in East Hartford, and Ghana in Nashville.

[NewYorkExpress]

Following getting demolished by Japan 4-1, and failing to win any of their past five matches, Hansi Flick is out as manager of the German National Team.

I have to think this is Julian Nagelsmann's job if he wants it.