Lion Links: 8/29/15

Good news, it’s Saturday. Better news, it’s Orlando City game day. Greater news, it’s Orlando City game day at the Citrus Bowl! It’s time to get excited.

The Lions host the Chicago Fire tonight and after the last two games — a 4-0 loss at Seattle and a 5-0 beating at Toronto FC last weekend — Orlando City fans will be looking for nothing short of 16 goals and Adrian Heath himself punching out a referee in the face.

The season’s still far from over, but the Lions realllllllllly need a win this evening.

Here’s what you may have missed on Friday while you were freaking out about Tropical Storm Erika…..

Michael Bradley Is Turning His Back On America

Okay, not really. Some might say he just knows what is more important at the moment. Bradley confirmed on Friday that he’ll be skipping the USMNT’s upcoming friendly against Peru on Sept. 4 to be with his club team, Toronto FC, for a big road match-up in Seattle. Bradley could, however, join the USMNT for the Brazil friendly four days later.

Hmmm, a team captain skipping an international friendly to help his team in a big game? Weird, huh? (Yeah, I’m back on that again.)

U.S. U-23 Squad Named For Upcoming Olympic Qualifying Camp

The United States under-23 squad will gather next week in England for their final training camp before embarking on the 2016 Olympic qualifying process. Eight MLS players were named to the 24-man group — none from Orlando City, however. The team will play friendlies against England on Sept. 3 at Deepdale Stadium in Preston, and Qatar on Sept. 8 at Gigg Lane in Bury.

Galaxy Working To Rid Themselves Of Offensive Chant

It appears an offensive chant has made its way to the LA Galaxy supporters’ section. It’s a chant that has been seen in stadiums around Mexico and South America, and it’s one that is particularly offensive to Galaxy left back Robbie Rogers. Rogers and the team have taken an educational approach to get fans aware of what it means, and get it out of their stadium. [Editor’s note: there’s an Orlando City chant that uses the offensive word, relative to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and, while it is acceptable to smack talk the Rowdies, it is absolutely not OK to use offensive words to do so.]

The USMNT Stars In A Crazy New Film

So, um, the USMNT are the stars of a new disaster film called ‘Eden,’ which hits theaters next month. Okay, it’s not the real USMNT, but actors playing the role of the squad, which get involved in a terrible plane crash that leaves them stranded on a deserted island. Yeah, I know, this sounds a lot like the plot to ‘Lost.’ Anyway, things get insane, and I’m pretty sure Jurgen Klinsmann makes a cameo to trash American players playing in MLS.

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That’s all for your Saturday morning Lion Links. Get to the game tonight and stay tuned to The Mane Land’s full coverage.