Lion Links: 10/17/17

Good morning, Mane Landers. Another Tuesday brings me back to you with a smile on my face and a fistful of soccer-related news for you all to enjoy. It’s beginning to get colder up here in the Mid-Atlantic, which means I’ll soon be needing some very creative excuses for not attending class on the days it’s particularly gross outside. I’d be happy for any suggestions you might want to leave in the comments. Seriously. Show me what you’ve got. Now that I’ve outed myself as a horrible student, let’s get into those Links.

Men’s National Team Schedules Friendly in Portugal

The United States Men’s National team will play a friendly match against Portugal on Nov. 14 in Faro, Portugal. Following the Stars & Stripes flaming out in their quest for the 2018 World Cup, the team seems to be looking to test itself against some strong European teams, with another friendly in Europe rumored to be taking place as well. With no replacement manager named yet after Bruce Arena resigned last week, it will be interesting to see who the U.S. Soccer Federation names in his stead ahead of the upcoming international break, and who that person decides to take with him to the Estádio Algarve.

Former Orlando City B Striker Ben Polk Arrested

Ex-OCB forward Ben Polk was arrested early on Saturday morning for aggravated assault causing bodily harm. Apparently, Polk and another passenger were upset when the fare for the cab they were in totaled $57, which resulted in Polk repeatedly punching the cab driver in the face, knocking out one of his teeth. Polk was taken to John E. Polk Correctional Facility and has subsequently been released on bond. This is the third arrest of players related to the Orlando City organization following the arrests of Cyle Larin and Will Johnson earlier this year.

US U-17s Advance to Quarterfinals with Resounding Win

The U-17 United States Men’s National Team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup following a 5-0 evisceration of Paraguay. Timothy Weah was the star of the show, scoring a hat trick, with other goals added by Andrew Carleton and Josh Sargent. The boys over at Stars and Stripes FC have your full match recap here. Congratulations to the young men in Red, White & Blue — they’re set to play they winner of England and Japan on Oct. 21.

Heath and Smith Out for USWNT Training Camp

Forward Tobin Heath and defender Taylor Smith will miss the USWNT’s training camp in Louisiana with ankle and shoulder injuries, respectively. With only three days until the U.S. takes on Korea Republic in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, neither player will be replaced on the roster, leaving Head Coach Jill Ellis with 20 players available to choose from. The U.S. will then play Korea again in Cary, NC on Oct. 22. Well wishes for a speedy recovery to both players.

How MLS Can Help the USMNT

FourFourTwo’s Paul Tenorio has argued that in order for MLS to help the USMNT, it must be willing to become a “selling league,” and should actually embrace it. Tenorio says that no one is buying FC Dallas tickets just to see Kellyn Acosta play, but if he were to be sold to a club in one of the top European leagues, then that gives the league and teams within it incentive to continue to develop more young stars, rather than simply buying them from other leagues. He believes that it will foster youth development in the country, an area that has been much criticized in the wake of the USMNT’s failure to qualify for Russia 2018, and will ultimately help make sure that never happens again.

The Games That Changed Kaká

While originally published in December 2015, this article is worth revisiting as Kaká discusses several games that changed him and helped to form him as a player. With our captain playing his last match for the club this past Sunday, now is as good a time as any to look at some of the matches that made him who he was. From World Cup finals to Champions League heartbreaks, it gives a little insight into the makeup of the legendary player who spent three years with the Lions.

Free Kicks

• A bombshell dropped last night as the Columbus Crew are planning a move to Austin, TX — Orlando City’s former home — in 2019 if downtown stadium demands aren’t met.
• This guy, who brought a live pig into a Palmeiras match.

He also did an interview with ESPN Brasil after the match. While holding the pig. Soccer is fun.

• This video of traveling fans in the German third division throwing handfuls of dead fish at the home support. For some reason.

• Today’s famous birthdays include Eminem, Felicity Jones, Ziggy Marley, and Holly Holm.

That’s all for me. I’m off to the supermarket to try and buy some dead sea creatures to throw at the next sporting event I go to. Or maybe I’ll go and steal some live lobsters to chuck, that would probably liven things up a little bit. Tootles.