Lion Links: 1/6/20

Merry Monday morning, Mane Landers! It was quite a weekend in the FA Cup as you’ll see below as just one part of the links I’ve rounded up from the soccer world. Hopefully they’re just what you’re needing this Monday morning as we all return to work. I know I look forward to reading them on the days I don’t write them. Let’s get to it.

Pareja Devastated McCarty

Early in Dax McCarty’s career he played on an Oscar Pareja-coached club, and Pareja took him to task following a 3-0 loss by FC Dallas’ second team to the Dallas Texans. McCarty was the sixth pick of the MLS SuperDraft, having spent time with the United States Under-17 Residency Program and two years at North Carolina. None of that mattered to Pareja, as, according to him, McCarty hadn’t proven anything yet. McCarty took it to heart, and went on to be the great American player we know today.

Klinsmann Brings Hertha Berlin to Florida

It’s been some since Jurgen Klinsmann has been in Florida, but he’s back with his Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin as the team prepares for the Florida Cup later this month. If anyone understands the importance of presence in the United States, it is the former United States Men’s National Team coach. Hertha Berlin has a friendly match against Eintracht Frankfurt at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg on Thursday, and the Sunshine State is a great stop on Hertha Berlin’s Tear Down Walls campaign celebrating the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Zlatan Down!

In case Zlatan Ibrahimovic hadn’t gotten around to telling you personally, his boyhood club was Malmö. You’re almost certainly aware that a statue of Zlatan was erected in the town to celebrate the greatest (in his estimation) player of all time. However, Zlatan then decided to invest in Malmö’s rival Hammarby. And in true Zlatan fashion, he immediately stated he’d make Hammarby one of the best in the league. Needless to say, this didn’t sit well with the residents of Malmö, so they vandalized the statue throughout the past few months. This wasn’t enough for someone though and they cut the monument off at the feet and knocked it over. There isn’t any word from Zlatan as of yet.

FA Cup Results

Many readers know I’m also a Liverpool supporter. I will confess I was slightly worried when the Reds put out a predominately youth-laden squad against Everton’s first team. I suppose I should have known better. Curtis Jones’ beautiful strike stunned everyone to put Liverpool through against their Merseyside rivals.

Elsewhere, Chelsea defeated Nottingham Forest, Tottenham drew Middlesbrough, and Crystal Palace fell 1-0 to Wayne Rooney’s Derby County.

Free Kicks

• We already knew the USMNT is no longer going to Qatar due to the current unrest It does bear noting that maybe the team shouldn’t have been planning on training there in the first place.
• D.C. United is trying to sign Peruvian winger Edison Flores from Mexican club Monarcas Morelia. If the club is to finish the deal, it would involve a hefty transfer fee and salary for the 25-year-old winger.
• The FIFA 20 video game’s Team of the Year for the FIFA Ultimate Team will be revealed later today for those interested.

Thank you for stopping by today. Keep coming back for all things soccer, locally with Orlando City and beyond.