Lion Links: 6/19/18

Good morning, Mane Landers. With Orlando City given the weekend off, it was a weekend of total success for Orlando soccer as the Orlando Pride were able to knock off Sky Blue FC by a score of 3-2. Hopefully OCSC can get in on that kind of success in its rematch with Montreal Impact come this Saturday.

But before that, a U.S. Open Cup clash against D.C. United beckons Wednesday, which I’ll actually be attending since the game is being played just outside D.C. A fellow writer sporting a large beard will also be in attendance with me, so that should be fun. Now on to the links.

Possible Replacements for Jason Kreis

Now that Jason Kreis has been given the ax, most every Orlando fan is wondering who will replace him. To that end MLSsoccer.com has compiled a list of five possible replacements for the deposed manager. I won’t spoil the entire list, but I will tell you that one of the names is that of James O’Connor who helped the USL version of the Lions win the title as player-coach back in 2013. He is currently leading Louisville City and is without a doubt an intriguing possibility.

Saturday Press Conference Announced

Keeping on the topic of the change at manager, Orlando City has announced a press conference on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET, one hour before the game against Montreal. Orlando City CEO Alex Leitão will address the “head coaching transition” in some capacity, but details beyond that are unknown. Personally, I wouldn’t expect a new coach to be announced so soon, instead expect the conference to focus on a few more specifics of the Kreis firing, and possibly the sort of direction the club wants to go with its next hire.

Why USMNT Players Are Rooting For Mexico

If you’ve been watching the World Cup, perhaps you’ve seen the Wells Fargo commercial that’s been making the rounds. In it, Landon Donovan unzips a hoodie he’s wearing to reveal a shirt declaring his love for Mexico. Suffice it to say, reaction to the ad has been mixed.

But now, Donovan and Omar Gonzalez have spoken a little about why exactly they root for Mexico. For Gonzalez it’s simple, he is Mexican, and while he chose to play for the USMNT, he grew up watching Mexico and cheering for them alongside his family. Donovan, meanwhile, spent the last few months playing at Club León of Liga MX and therefore spent a lot of time among the Mexican people. Make of it what you will.

Midair Scare for Saudi Arabia

Absolutely harrowing scenes in Russia as the Saudi Arabian team plane caught on fire in midair while ferrying the team to the site of its next match in Rostov. Luckily the plane was able to land safely and nobody was injured, but good lord that must have been scary. There are plenty of pictures and videos floating around of the incident, and boy is that plane on fire. Hopefully that’s the last of those sort of events for the remainder of the tournament.

Free Kicks

• There has been a massive three-team trade in the NWSL that will see Christen Press return stateside. While none of the moves involved the Pride, it’s a bit of a convoluted trade, so read up on it to get an understanding.
• An ex-Orlando City player is on his way to the World Cup:

Yoshimar Yotún and his wife have welcomed a baby boy:

• FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Mexico after anti-gay chants were allegedly made during the team’s win against Germany.

That’s all I’ve got for today. Keep your eyes right here on TML for updates on the coaching situation, news on the U.S. Open Cup match, and all your Orlando soccer news. Ciao.