Lion Links: 7/10/24

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers! We now have multiple weeks where the Orlando Pride will sit atop the NWSL table as we enjoy the Summer Olympics and the Summer Cup. Orlando City is on a bit of a roll as well, thanks to a resurging midfield. What I’m getting at is life is pretty good at the moment and we should enjoy it. While you bask in the soccer goodness, you can also check out today’s links.

Hines’ Tactics Beat Kansas City

If you didn’t get a chance to see the Orlando Pride’s victory over the Kansas City Current, stop reading and go watch it. Now that you’re back, you can read about Seb Hines’ adjustments when his squad went down a player following Carrie Lawrence’s sending off in the 42nd minute. This match lived up to the hype as the two undefeated teams clashed in what felt like a playoff match. Once again, the defense was the difference with the Pride now the only remaining undefeated club in the league.

Hayes Praises Banda

The USWNT opens the 2024 Summer Olympics with a match against Zambia. That means the Yanks will have their hands full with Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda to start things off. We’re not the only ones aware of how dangerous a striker Banda is, as USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes called her the “best striker in the world right now.” It seems that Hayes respects Zambia’s ability to transition quickly from defense to offense, which is smart given how quick Banda is. The match will take place on Thursday, July 25 at 3 p.m.

A Tale of Two Coaches

There is plenty of blame to go around for the USMNT’s early exit from the Copa America, but the same can’t be said for the Canadian National Team. Jesse Marsch didn’t get the U.S. job when Berhalter was brought back, and Canada reaped the rewards in the Copa America, though the team’s journey came to an end last night in a 2-0 loss to Argentina in the semifinal match. Despite the loss, Canadian fans are certain to be happier with Marsch than U.S. fans are with Berhalter.

Spain Advances to the Final

Spain kept its championship hopes alive, defeating France 2-1 in the Euros semifinal match. France actually made Spain work for this one after Randal Kolo Muani scored France’s first goal by a French player in open play to put Les Bleus ahead in the eighth minute. Spain didn’t have to wait too long for the equalizer by Lamine Yanal in the 21st minute, nor for the winning goal by Dani Olmo in the 25th minute. Spain will now face either England or the Netherlands which play today.

Free Kicks

• Former Orlando City defender RJ Allen is making a go of it as an assistant coach with New Jersey United of the NPSL. His squad is currently playing in the NPSL playoffs.
• Orlando City’s Dagur Dan Thorhallsson earned an appearance in the MLS Skills of the Matchday highlight reel. You’ll find him at the 21-second mark.

• The Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams is rocking the U.S. colors at her first (of hopefully many) USWNT camps.

• U.S. Soccer has hired Catherine Newman as the new new chief marketing officer. If Gregg Berhalter remains as head coach, I know what Newman’s main marketing campaign will be about.

• If you thought that Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds was just a pretty face for publicity sake, you are very wrong. Reynolds takes an active part in all the players’ development, especially in their off-the-field endeavours.
• D.C. United was so traumatized by Saturday’s loss to Orlando City that the club went out and signed a new midfielder. Okay, that isn’t the reason, but the signing still happened.

• In other transfer news, the Portland Timbers sent Dairon Asprilla to Colombian top-flight side Atlético Nacional.
• The Netherlands hit a snag on the trip to Dortmund for the country’s semifinal match with England thanks to a blockage along the train route the team expected to travel.
• Finally, I leave you with some good news. Indy Eleven defeated Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup. Let the schadenfreude flow.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City match this weekend. Vamos Orlando!