Lion Links: 6/8/20

Hello, Mane Landers. I hope you all had a good weekend and are looking forward to another great week. How did you spend your weekend? I spent mine catching up on school projects, but I did have some time to meet with friends for dinner last night. Now, let’s move on to the links.

Marta’s Missing Achievement

The Orlando Pride’s Marta has won many accolades throughout her stellar career. But people wonder how the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year has yet to win a World Cup with Brazil. SB Nation gives you the breakdown on what factors have left Marta empty handed on the biggest stage.

NWSL Commissioner Meets with League Moms

The National Women’s Soccer League reached out to moms around the league to get their input on playing games in Utah for the Challenge Cup. One of the players Commissioner Lisa Baird had a conference call with was North Carolina Courage forward Jessica McDonald. The league will allow players to bring caretakers to Utah and McDonald shared her thoughts on the process.

“They answered, or if they didn’t have the answer to some of the questions, they were able to get back to us immediately. So that was kind of cool,” McDonald said. “They handled it really well and they’ve been just very helpful overall with this entire process.”

The NWSL Challenge Cup begins June 27. The nine clubs will participate in preliminary round games, with the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The final will be held July 26.

Where Will Cyle Larin Go Next?

Former Orlando City player Cyle Larin’s journey in Europe has been a roller coaster to say the least. He left the Lions after the 2018 season to go play for Besiktas in Turkey. After 16 appearances and five goals, Larin was loaned to Belgian club S.V. Zulte Waregem to get more playing time. Larin experienced a renaissance in form there, scoring nine goals and adding 11 assists. Larin’s season is over and it appears he won’t return to his parent club Besiktas.

There were rumors SV Zulte Waregem would keep him, but that is not an option due to the club’s financial restraints from the coronavirus pandemic. Leeds United looked into acquiring Larin but it appears his most likely destination will be CSKA Moscow.

American Showdown Recap

Josh Sargent and Werder Bremen really struggled yesterday in a 1-0 defeat to Wolfsburg. Sargent played 76 minutes in the match with only one shot on target and a 66% passer rating. John Brooks made his ninth consecutive start and played a solid 90 minutes to help Wolfsburg keep a clean sheet. Wolfsburg is now sixth in the Bundesliga standings and is close to clinching a Europa League spot. Meanwhile, Werder Bremen has lost two in a row and now sits in the relegation zone in 17th place. Weston McKennie did not travel yesterday for Schalke 04 in a 1-1 draw with Union Berlin, extending its winless streak to 12 games.

Free Kicks

• Borussia Dortmund’s Emre Can warns teammate Jadon Sancho that “he needs to grow up.” Sancho recently broke social distancing protocol and was fined.
• La Liga wants fans back ASAP.

La Liga president Tebas on fans coming back to stadiums “I’d like fans back as soon as possible. Even if that means in some cities before others.”

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) June 7, 2020

• Manchester City‘s Raheem Sterling continues to speak out against racism.

“The only disease right now is the racism that we are fighting.”

Raheem Sterling says protestors who took to the streets after George Floyd killing are trying to find a solution to injustice

WATCH MONDAY 22:45 @BBCTwo#Newsnight | @sterling7 | @maitlis pic.twitter.com/CHPljRga4S

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) June 7, 2020

• Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said he is proud of his players’ Black Lives Matter tribute after they took a knee in training last Monday.
• Eintracht Frankfurt’s Makoto Hasebe broke a record in the Bundesliga. Hasebe now has the most appearances by an Asian player in the league, with 309 games played.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Take care of yourselves and enjoy your Monday.