September 9, 2025 • 27 mins
Italy survived a nine-goal thriller thanks to Sandro Tonali’s stoppage-time winner, while Tunisia officially punched their ticket to the 2026 World Cup. We cover all the drama across global qualifying — Sweden’s stumble, Ghana’s grind, and surprise results from Europe, Africa, and Concacaf. Plus, the latest on Pochettino’s USMNT frustrations, MLS suspensions, NWSL’s record-breaking trade, and Nottingham Forest’s coaching shake-up.
Morning Espresso brings you the stories from around the world of soccer in one shot.
Morning Espresso brings you the stories from around the world of soccer in one shot.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Welcome in for another edition of the Morning Espresso on
the SDH Network, brought to you by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta's
premier undergraduate learning experience and soccer powerhouse. Let's get into
World Cup qualifying. To start this edition of the Espresso,
Sandro Tanali is the hero a stoppage time winner for Italy.
(00:33):
They won one of the most chaotic matches you will
ever hear of, a nine goal thriller. Italy wins five
to four and it keeps them alive in trying to
qualify for the World Cup. That three nil lost to
Norway back in June and ended up costing Spilettia's job.
It ended up putting the qualification campaign in trouble. Italy's
(00:53):
missed the last two World Cups looked like it was
going to be more of the same in this one.
Israeli took the lead twice in the match, Italy kept
coming back. Mois Akin, he scored on either side of halftime,
leveled the score on both occasions. Matteo Politano finally gave
Italy the lead in the fifty ninth minute off of
(01:15):
a back heeld flick assist from Mateo Ritegi Jacomo ross Badori.
He scored a fourth, so it's looking comfortable for Italy
at four to two. Israel scored twice in two minutes
to level it at four to four, door Peretz scoring
his second of the match. Then Tonali curled one in
(01:36):
pretty speculative from outside the eighteen first minute of stoppage time.
It somehow found its way through the crowd and into
the back of the net. Just a crazy five four win.
Big mistakes from Italy. I mean, it's a big topic.
You give it four goals, two own goals, some glaring
mistakes from Jihan, Luigi don Ruma, Gennarogotuso. The manager said,
(01:59):
we're crazy. We conceded some absurd goals, but we will
hold on to this win. Our opponents surprised us a bit.
They were marking man demand today. Our legs weren't at
their best, but that's normal. It's always like this. In
the second match, though, we need to improve. So Italy
is still alive for even automatic qualification or for a
playoff spot. They'll play Norway in Italy down the line
(02:20):
and if they win and they can flip the gold differential.
In the process of all of the other games. Italy
can still qualify automatically. Sweden their hopes of qualifying were
dented on Monday. They suffered a two nilo loss away
to Kosovo, who had Linden Ameralu sent off in the
second half. He got a second yellow card. Sweden conceded
(02:41):
a ninetieth minute equalizer in a two to two away
draw to Slovenia on Friday. They were trailing. In the
twenty sixth minute, goalkeeper Robin Olsen blocked Elvis rec Pacack
his shot off or his shot, only for the rebound
to fly off of the midfielder into the net. So
he makes the say he goes back off the attacker
in the end of the net. Vedat Mariki. He scored
(03:03):
to make it two nail for it Kosovo. Three minutes
before the break, Sweden brought on Alexander Esak, couldn't find
a way back into the game. Kosovo's in second in
Group B on three points, three behind Switzerland. They have
won two of two. They beat Slovenia three nil. The
Swedes are on one point ahead of Slovenia on goal difference.
(03:24):
Denmark's Michael Domsguard he showed off all of his dribbling
tricks as Denmark beat Grease three nil on the road
on Monday. Doamsguard scored the opening goal. Denmark is the
top team in Group C of World Cup qualifying in Europe,
ahead of Scotland on goal difference. Speaking of Scotland, they
(03:45):
secured a two nil win over Belarus on Monday. Jay
Adams on target Zachar Volkov scored an own goal. Match
was played behind closed doors in Hungary, pretty boring first half.
Two minutes before the interval, Billy Gilmore hit the post
before Scott mcdominey headed back across the goal for Adams
to slide in the opener. Let's go to Africa. Tunisia,
(04:09):
they have qualified for the World Cup now. Mohammad Ali
bin Ramdani struck in stoppage time that gave Tunisia the
one nil win over Equatorial Guinea that books their spot
at the World Cup. Twenty two points through eight matches.
They cannot be caught now. Ghana Alexander Chicu scrambled the
ball into the net at the back post from a
(04:31):
Jordan Au corner that gives Ghana a one nil win
in their Group I qualifier at home to Mali. Looking
good for Ghana at that point. They've had a kind
of struggling window here, but that win puts them at
the top of the table. With nineteen points. They are
three ahead of second placed Madagascar, four more than Comoros.
(04:54):
The Black Stars traveled to the Central African Republic and
host Comoros in their final two qualifiers next month. Madagascar
is still alive three to one home win over Chad Chad,
who has not won yet. They drew with Ghana in
the match last week. They were leading halftime against Madagascar,
but Madagascar comes all the way back. Caddy Warren, Ryan
(05:16):
Ravuloson and Hakeem Abdallah scored the goals to give them
the win. Algeria, they were held to a scoreless draw
by Guiney. They have a four point lead in Group
G over Uganda and Mozambique, who both won two nil
On Monday. Mozambique beat Botswana thanks to goals from Vuitti
and Faisilvanga and Uganda's Alan O'kello scored with a penalty
(05:39):
and Jude Simugabi. He scored in the win over Somalia.
So Algeria does still have that lead, but four points
two games to play in October Libya Wa Desai and
Azu El Mariami. They were on target in the first
half of their two nil win over Eswatinian. Libya third
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in the group right now one behind Cameroon, two behind
group leaders Cape Verde. They play each other this week
concer CAF Group A. Amsterdam born Dorosso class his late
goal gave Surinam the group lead when it beat El
Salvador to one at the pac Dstadio Kuskatlan in El Salvador.
(06:24):
Surinam coach Stanley Menzo used thirteen players who were born
in the Netherlands, which is home to about three hundred
and fifty thousand individuals of Surinamese descent. Group favorite Panama
had to settle for a one to one draw at
home with Guatemala thanks to a goal by Minnesota United's
Carlos Harvey. Group standings Surinam leads with four, El Salvador
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with three, Panama with two, Guatemala with one games today
England and Serbia. England are top of Group K on
twelve points, five points ahead of second place Serbia, although
England have a game in hand on Serbia. France and Iceland,
both teams took three points after their first group game.
Iceland are traveling to France on the back of two
(07:06):
victories from three in which they've scored eight and conceded one,
but they failed to win any of their past fifteen
meetings with France. Hungary will host Portugal. Hungary have never
beaten Portugal in fourteen previous occasions, with the latter winning
ten times, while there have been also four draws. Portugal
solid right now. They've won their last four matches in
(07:28):
all competitions. Let's go to South America. Bolivia hosts Brazil
at altitude in El Alto tonight. They must win to
have a chance to get into the INN Confederational playoff.
A draw will not be enough for Bolivia to stay alive.
The stadium in Al Alto is at one of the
highest altitudes in the world, over four thousand meters. Since
two thousand and one, Brazilian national teams have won only
(07:52):
one match above twenty five hundred meters, let alone four
thousand twenty twenty two, though that one match that they
won that was Brazil beating Bolivia in La Pause four
nil in qualifiers for the twenty twenty two World Cup. Venezuela.
They host Colombia at the same time. A win clinches
(08:13):
Venezuela spot in the playoff. If Venezuela doesn't win, it
has to root for a Brazilian win. Bolivia has only
qualified for the World Cup once, nineteen ninety four. It
was led by Marco Etcheveri. Venezuela has never qualified interesting
for in this battle for the interconnfederational playoff. With two
teams that are chasing some glory. Here Gobone they will
(08:37):
overtake Ivory Coast at the top of their World Cup
qualification group. If they can beat the Elephants at home
in Franceville tonight, that would leave goabone in the driving seat.
With two matches left. They're trying to get to their
first ever World Cup cay Verde. They're also trying to
get to their first ever World Cup. If they can
take care of business against Cameroon today, they'll take a
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big step forwards towards that they would be the second
smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup. Iceland
is a little bit smaller four hundred and seven thousand
inhabitants versus Cape Veraday's five hundred and twenty five thousand
final round of the conca CAFF Qualifiers continues today. Honduras
will host Nicaragua in Group CE play at the Estadio
(09:20):
Nacional Jose de la Pase Herrera in Tegusigalpa, Honduras. Honduras
is trying to get their first win. They had a
scoreless draw in Haiti edric Aminhivar seven saves in that
one to get the point away for Honduras. Nicaragua. They're
also looking for their first win. A big one to
one draw for them against Costa Rica Byron Bonia struck
(09:42):
from the penalty spot. They came back to get that
point in that one. Costa Rica will play Haiti. It's
the sixteenth time that these matches these teams have played
one another. Costa Rica have eight wins their six straws,
only one loss for Costa Rica. Haiti's only win, a
to one win, came in the twenty nineteen CONCACAFF Gold Cup.
Costa Rica's won all four previous meetings in World Cup Qualifiers.
(10:06):
Group B also continues in CONKA CAF Kirosau hosts Bermuda.
This is the first time these two have met in
World Cup qualifying Kirosol enters the second match of the
final round looking for their first win. Goalless straw against
Trinidad and Tobago. Eloy Room, formerly the Columbus Crew, standout
performance from him. He had six saves in the draw.
(10:27):
Kirisau unbeaten in six World Cup qualifiers right now, their
second longest streak in history. Bermuda trying to bounce back
after losing four nil at home to Jamaica. Jamaica. They
are hosting Trinidad and Tobago tonight as well the Reggae
Boys coming off of that big four nil win. Damian Lowe,
Rinaldo Cephas, Casey Palmer and shamar Nicholson scored the goals
(10:51):
for the Reggae Boys. Trinidad trying to find some offense
after that scoreless draw with Kirosou fifth time these teams
will play in World Cup qualifying. Jamaica beaten three wins
and one draw. US men's national team friendly against Japan
today and Marizio po Chattino is getting a little frustrated
with the commentary around the team. He was asked about
(11:12):
Chris richards omission from the starting lineup against South Korea
and he used the opportunity to lash out a little bit, said,
people sometimes create debate and talk with no sense. This
national team in this country is qualified already for the
World Cup, So the important thing is to apply common sense.
If people want to talk about Bolton, they can talk
about Bolton. But we feel the responsibility to provide the
(11:36):
whole group of players that we think can be important
for this country in the World Cup. Chris Richards was
asked from a reporter, said our bore resort, poor results
right now for the team. Is that putting the national
team at risk of losing the fan base? And then
ask if the players care, which is I mean kind
(11:56):
of bold? Richard said, of course we care. We play
for y'all. I mean we're American, We play for Americans,
we represent Americans. We definitely care about the fan base.
We go out there and give one hundred percent. I
hope we're not at risk of losing the fan base.
I think it'd be devastating. We want to give y'all
something to be proud of, something to cheer for, and
hopefully by World Cup time, y'all can cheer us on
for however many games it takes to get to the final. Yeah,
(12:19):
I mean, we've talked about this plenty. You guys know
how I feel about the performative aspect of covering the
US men's national team that many many in the business
or in the social media world do. It is very performative.
There's a lot of things said and emotion shown and
(12:42):
anger shown, and very tight videos of yelling shown to
get a reaction. It's not really about the conversation of
what's happening for this team. They lost to a better
team in South Korea. I think South Korea is a
more complete team. I think Japan is potentially or complete team.
The talent is what the talent is. Mercio Pochattino doesn't
(13:04):
go out and go into the transfer market and go
add players to the national team. They are what they are.
I'd like for them to be better. I hope he
can settle on a group that is the best. There's
still the headlines out there about does Pochattino know his
best eleven? It's meaningless right now. It will change his
best eleven today if he knows it right now. If
he says I have a game, I have a knockout
(13:25):
game today and this is my best eleven today, that
might not be the best eleven in October, because injuries happen,
because form gets found or lost. There's so many different
things that come from it. So players have to play
with more urgency, no doubt. Players have to show that
they must be in the lineup, they must be in
the squad. That's on the players. That's not on Pochatino.
(13:48):
That's on the players. The constant blaming of Pochettino is
it's only gonna continue because that's just the nature of it.
Is it bowl at times? Yeah, it is at times,
it definitely is. But this is a pool of players
that right now is not better than South Korea. I
(14:11):
don't think they're better than Japan. I think they're around
the twentieth best in the world. Okay, you've got to
find a way to have them playing at a level
above their level to compete and get to where you
want to get to in the World Cup. That's the
challenge from Rutzo po Chatino, and that challenge is going
(14:33):
to be next summer. These games don't mean anything in
terms of the results, but yes, they are creating lots
of content for people, and they're creating lots of narratives
for people. It is frustrating. Don't get me wrong. I
don't think they were as bad against South Korea as
people will let on, but Son hing Men was better
and was dragging the back line out of position consistently.
(14:56):
You have to find what will work for this group
group of players will give you that, and what I
fear is to get there, you're gonna have to do
maybe some of the things that Jurgen Klinsmann did in
twenty fourteen, where the idea about being proactive and he
said a lot of things. It's not how the team played,
and they weren't all that great. They got to the
(15:18):
round of sixteen, which is where they should get, and
they got knocked out. They got completely overrun by Belgium.
Tim Howard stood on his head, made a whole bunch
of saves, but they were very defensive in that tournament.
I hope that's not where this team has to go,
but it might be to get results, to find a
way to get results, to hold on and scrap out
some results in the World Cup. It's not really Mrizio
(15:40):
po Chatino's mo. I don't know if he's going to
take it there. It's gonna be an interesting thing to
watch for between now and next summer. If you can
get away from the yelling and stomping of feet, we'll see,
We'll see what happens. Uh Shan Zawadski he is going
to miss the match against Japan injured right knee in
training and Adam crafton to the Athletic is reporting that
(16:03):
a friendly between Portugal and the US is in the
process of being finalized for March. Details still being ironed out.
They aim to play it in March. They aim to
play Belgium in March as well, would be played in
an NFL stadium on America's East Coast. MLS they announced
that Luis Suarez has received an additional three game suspension
(16:24):
from MLS on top of his League's Cup suspension, which
is six games for spitting on a Seattle Sounder security
officer following the Sounders win in the league's Cup final.
Suarez apologized he will miss league games against Charlotte FC
on September thirtieth, the Sounders on September sixteenth, and DC
United on September twentieth. MLS also revoked the credential privileges
(16:47):
for Steven Linhart, a member of the Sounder staff, for
the rest of twenty twenty five for his role in
the postgame melee, which has not really been clarified, and
it also find the Sounders for misappropriation of credentials. I'm
not sure about that one. NWSL North Carolina Courage have
agreed to trade US women's national team midfielder Jaden Shaw
(17:07):
to Gotham FC for one point twenty five million dollars.
That would be an intra league record, multiple sources of
confirmed at ESPN. It's more than double the previous record
that was set in August when Kansas City paid six
hundred thousand to Utah for Ali Center. It'd also be
one of the most expensive global transfers to date. The
fee would be paid over multiple installments and would be
(17:28):
entirely in the intra league transfer funds like allocation money
if you're used to the situation in MLS BFC. Their
late season decline has led to a coach, Albertin Montoya's
resignation that will go into effect at the end of
the season. The team announced on Monday they've dropped four
straight games. They're winless in their past eight entering into
Saturday's match on the road against Orlando. Nottingham Forest chaos.
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Nuno Espirito Santo has left his position as head coach.
Onspostacoglu is the leading candidate. According to SKYPS, he has
agreed to a deal to become the new Nottingham Forest manager.
Contract would last through the summer of twenty twenty seven.
Announcement could come later today. The Athletic reported yesterday that
Nuno was set to leave before the club confirmed his
departure quote following recent circumstances unquote. Nuno's exit comes after
(18:19):
the coach said his relationship with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelis
Marnachus had changed and the two were quote not so
close unquote anymore. On August twenty second. Marnacus then said, however,
that Nuna was the right person for the job. A
week later, maybe not so much. The Athletic reported later
on August twenty second that there was a potentially irreparable
(18:43):
rift between Nuno and Edu, who was the newly appointed
global head of football at the start of July following
his exit from Arsenal last November. So when Nuno took
over at Nottingham Forest, they were seventeenth in the table.
Two full seasons in charge, became the only Premier league
side in history to double their points. Tallly from a
(19:03):
previous season, beat Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United, Manchester City beat
Brighton seven nil, took Nottingham Forest to Wimbley and had
the first European campaign booked in thirty plus years. I'm
not necessarily a huge fan of Nuna Spirito Santo's football,
but this is kind of crazy and we'll see if
Nottingham Forest now in hiring somebody who is going to
(19:24):
play a completely different brand of football. Is it gonna work?
I don't know, because Nuno and Aunge see the game
in almost diametrically opposite ways. I don't know how that works.
In the short term, we're gonna find out. Manchester City
in the Premier League, they have reached a settlement in
(19:45):
their legal dispute just one of them over the Premier
League's Associated Party Transaction rules. They confirmed that both parties
should agree to terminate the proceedings and City as part
of the settlement except quote that the current apt RU
are valid and binding. I mean that's good. They're rules,
so that's good that they're saying yes, we will follow them.
(20:06):
The settlement relates to a legal challenge launched by Manchester
City in January concerning amendments to the APT rules. City
argued the amendments were unlawful and void. The rules were
first introduced in twenty twenty one, amended twice in March
and November of twenty twenty four. The rules were introduced
to safeguard the financial stability, integrity and competitive balance of
(20:28):
the division. There's no seeking of competitive balance in the division.
Let's slow that one down their Premier League. They seek
to ensure clubs are not reliant on or do not
gain an unfair advantage from quote enhanced commercial revenues received
from entities linked to the club's ownership. City have been
involved in a number of legal disputes with the Premier League.
(20:51):
Both parties claimed victory in October of last year when
an independent tribunal ruled that three aspects of the APT
rules were unlawful. In februs quary sponsorship rules in place
in the Premier League for nearly three years were deemed
to be void and unenforceable, in a blow to the league,
in significant win for City. Now this is all separate
from the one hundred and fifteen charges brought against Manchester
(21:14):
City by the Premier League in relation to alleged financial wrongdoing.
That judgment is still set to be announced. City denial wrongdoing.
A three month hearing took place between September and December
of twenty twenty four, and we have not heard anything
else on it since. I don't know if this is
a precursor to washing everything away or not. It's all
(21:37):
different things. The idea that there's a seeking of competitive
balance by the Premier League is crazy because it's not
where the lines get drawn. When teams are allowed, like
Chelsea to sell their women's team to themselves to help
their financial position, that's absurd and that's ridiculous. And if
(21:59):
that is allowed, but having a airline sponsor, for example,
that has family ownership ties to the club's ownership, that's
not allowed. But you can sell your women's team to
yourself to make fake money. Yeah, there's a lot of
loopholes and silliness and craziness and it needs to get
ironed out. I don't think it's going to the one
(22:22):
hundred and fifteen charges is different. That's a whole nother thing.
That's where you're talking about. I think some reports that
were not accurate in things that there's going to be
some wrongdoing in there, how much I don't know. We'll
find out. Barcelona they're set to give La Liga confirmation
on where they'll be hosting their first home game of
the season Sunday night. They'll let everybody know hopefully later today,
(22:47):
hopefully we'll find out. Further delays look to be on
the horizon for the return to the Camp New that
was originally going to be where this game would be held.
They don't have their certificate of completion of work for
two of the stands. Without that, they cannot apply for
the opening license from the Barcelona City Council, which means
they can't open. Kadenaser is saying the chances the of
Barcelona returning to Camp No before the October international break
(23:11):
are slim to none. That brings them to you. Within
a month of a year's delay of the stadium reopening,
Barcelona have three Laaliga games. Remember they started on the road,
so three Laaliga games at home before the international break,
one Champions League match at home. The Champions League match
is definitely going to be played at the Olympic Stadium,
it has to be at this point. The three La
(23:31):
Liga games they're going to try to go game by game.
La Liga has approved playing at the six thousand capacity
Estadi Johann Krouf at their training facilities for the Valencia match.
They can't play at the Olympic Stadium because Post Malone
is there. On Friday night. After that game against Valencia,
the plan is for Barcelona to host It'tafe Royal Sociadad
(23:55):
and the European match against PSG at the Estadi Olympic.
This could be a really costly setback for Barcelona. They
can generate as much as four to eight million euro
per match date the camp New depending on the game
and how many people they can get in, but that
figure is going to be greatly reduced because of the
reduced capacity, the fees of hosting games at the Estadio Olympic,
(24:18):
and the extra income available at the Camp New. So
this is going to affect them financially in a big way.
News from around the world. As we wrap up this
edition of the Espresso Athletic Bill, bal forward Nico Williams
he has a muscle injury that will keep him out
of their return to the Champions League. He was heard
on Sunday in the first half of Spain's six zero
win over Turkey in World Cup qualifying moderate muscle injury
(24:42):
to his left adductor muscle. That's according to Athletic Clube
after medical tests on Monday. According to the Telegraph, Liverpool
will not submit a fresh cash offer for Mark Gahee
in January. They will intend to sign him on a
free transfer next summer instead. Now remember they met with him,
they did a medical, they agreed to a personal contract
(25:05):
with him. They feel pretty confident that gayhe sees his
long term future at Anfield, so they don't need to
go get him in January. And according to a report
in ht Sport, Finnerbach's new manager will be Dominico Tedesco.
The Yellow Canaries are expected to officially announce the thirty
nine year old Italian manager soon. He became the youngest
(25:25):
manager in Shawk's history. He helped shall Could get to
the final sixteen of the Champions League, became the youngest
manager in Spartak Moscow's history went back to Germany. During
his time at Leipzig, the team finished eleventh, they won
the DFB PoCl. They finished fourth. The next season they
qualified for the Champions League. He also became the youngest
manager in the history of the Belgian national team before
(25:48):
being let go there, so he will be the new
manager at Finnerbache, replacing Jose Mourinho. That'll do it for
this edition of the Espresso. We will have a training
ground dispatch later today. We've got an event discussing Emory
University's soccer history later today at seven o'clock at the
Woodruff Library. We will have more content as well. There's
(26:09):
an exclusive interview up on YouTube and on the podcatchers
wherever you get your SDH podcasts. John Nelson went down
to Statesboro, Georgia to talk to South Georgia Tormenta owner
Darren van Tassel. That is available in video form on
YouTube and in podcast form wherever you get your podcasts.
All kinds of stuff happening at the moment in the
(26:31):
SDH universe. We'll try to cover as much of it
as we can for you. Also tonight, Atlanta Soccer Tonight
ten o'clock on ninety two nine the Game and the
Odyssey app we'll talk about World Cup qualifying, we'll talk
about what's happening in South America. If Ronald hernandezz Venezuela
can get over the line, or if f Ryan Morales's
Bolivia can make the comeback and get into that playoff spot.
(26:52):
And we'll get you caught up on all the other
games from all over the world today, and yeah, we'll
start to look ahead to a weekend where Atlanta United
host Columbus on Saturday at the Benz and Atlanta United
two goes on the road to Carolina Corp. Trying to
chase a playoff spot. We'll talk about all of that
all week long on the SDH Network and on ninety
two nine in the Game with Atlanta Soccer Tonight. Have
(27:12):
a good Tuesday. I'll be back with you on Thursday
morning for more morning Espresso.
Welcome in for another edition of the Morning Espresso on
the SDH Network, brought to you by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta's
premier undergraduate learning experience and soccer powerhouse. Let's get into
World Cup qualifying. To start this edition of the Espresso,
Sandro Tanali is the hero a stoppage time winner for Italy.
(00:33):
They won one of the most chaotic matches you will
ever hear of, a nine goal thriller. Italy wins five
to four and it keeps them alive in trying to
qualify for the World Cup. That three nil lost to
Norway back in June and ended up costing Spilettia's job.
It ended up putting the qualification campaign in trouble. Italy's
(00:53):
missed the last two World Cups looked like it was
going to be more of the same in this one.
Israeli took the lead twice in the match, Italy kept
coming back. Mois Akin, he scored on either side of halftime,
leveled the score on both occasions. Matteo Politano finally gave
Italy the lead in the fifty ninth minute off of
(01:15):
a back heeld flick assist from Mateo Ritegi Jacomo ross Badori.
He scored a fourth, so it's looking comfortable for Italy
at four to two. Israel scored twice in two minutes
to level it at four to four, door Peretz scoring
his second of the match. Then Tonali curled one in
(01:36):
pretty speculative from outside the eighteen first minute of stoppage time.
It somehow found its way through the crowd and into
the back of the net. Just a crazy five four win.
Big mistakes from Italy. I mean, it's a big topic.
You give it four goals, two own goals, some glaring
mistakes from Jihan, Luigi don Ruma, Gennarogotuso. The manager said,
(01:59):
we're crazy. We conceded some absurd goals, but we will
hold on to this win. Our opponents surprised us a bit.
They were marking man demand today. Our legs weren't at
their best, but that's normal. It's always like this. In
the second match, though, we need to improve. So Italy
is still alive for even automatic qualification or for a
playoff spot. They'll play Norway in Italy down the line
(02:20):
and if they win and they can flip the gold differential.
In the process of all of the other games. Italy
can still qualify automatically. Sweden their hopes of qualifying were
dented on Monday. They suffered a two nilo loss away
to Kosovo, who had Linden Ameralu sent off in the
second half. He got a second yellow card. Sweden conceded
(02:41):
a ninetieth minute equalizer in a two to two away
draw to Slovenia on Friday. They were trailing. In the
twenty sixth minute, goalkeeper Robin Olsen blocked Elvis rec Pacack
his shot off or his shot, only for the rebound
to fly off of the midfielder into the net. So
he makes the say he goes back off the attacker
in the end of the net. Vedat Mariki. He scored
(03:03):
to make it two nail for it Kosovo. Three minutes
before the break, Sweden brought on Alexander Esak, couldn't find
a way back into the game. Kosovo's in second in
Group B on three points, three behind Switzerland. They have
won two of two. They beat Slovenia three nil. The
Swedes are on one point ahead of Slovenia on goal difference.
(03:24):
Denmark's Michael Domsguard he showed off all of his dribbling
tricks as Denmark beat Grease three nil on the road
on Monday. Doamsguard scored the opening goal. Denmark is the
top team in Group C of World Cup qualifying in Europe,
ahead of Scotland on goal difference. Speaking of Scotland, they
(03:45):
secured a two nil win over Belarus on Monday. Jay
Adams on target Zachar Volkov scored an own goal. Match
was played behind closed doors in Hungary, pretty boring first half.
Two minutes before the interval, Billy Gilmore hit the post
before Scott mcdominey headed back across the goal for Adams
to slide in the opener. Let's go to Africa. Tunisia,
(04:09):
they have qualified for the World Cup now. Mohammad Ali
bin Ramdani struck in stoppage time that gave Tunisia the
one nil win over Equatorial Guinea that books their spot
at the World Cup. Twenty two points through eight matches.
They cannot be caught now. Ghana Alexander Chicu scrambled the
ball into the net at the back post from a
(04:31):
Jordan Au corner that gives Ghana a one nil win
in their Group I qualifier at home to Mali. Looking
good for Ghana at that point. They've had a kind
of struggling window here, but that win puts them at
the top of the table. With nineteen points. They are
three ahead of second placed Madagascar, four more than Comoros.
(04:54):
The Black Stars traveled to the Central African Republic and
host Comoros in their final two qualifiers next month. Madagascar
is still alive three to one home win over Chad Chad,
who has not won yet. They drew with Ghana in
the match last week. They were leading halftime against Madagascar,
but Madagascar comes all the way back. Caddy Warren, Ryan
(05:16):
Ravuloson and Hakeem Abdallah scored the goals to give them
the win. Algeria, they were held to a scoreless draw
by Guiney. They have a four point lead in Group
G over Uganda and Mozambique, who both won two nil
On Monday. Mozambique beat Botswana thanks to goals from Vuitti
and Faisilvanga and Uganda's Alan O'kello scored with a penalty
(05:39):
and Jude Simugabi. He scored in the win over Somalia.
So Algeria does still have that lead, but four points
two games to play in October Libya Wa Desai and
Azu El Mariami. They were on target in the first
half of their two nil win over Eswatinian. Libya third
(06:01):
in the group right now one behind Cameroon, two behind
group leaders Cape Verde. They play each other this week
concer CAF Group A. Amsterdam born Dorosso class his late
goal gave Surinam the group lead when it beat El
Salvador to one at the pac Dstadio Kuskatlan in El Salvador.
(06:24):
Surinam coach Stanley Menzo used thirteen players who were born
in the Netherlands, which is home to about three hundred
and fifty thousand individuals of Surinamese descent. Group favorite Panama
had to settle for a one to one draw at
home with Guatemala thanks to a goal by Minnesota United's
Carlos Harvey. Group standings Surinam leads with four, El Salvador
(06:45):
with three, Panama with two, Guatemala with one games today
England and Serbia. England are top of Group K on
twelve points, five points ahead of second place Serbia, although
England have a game in hand on Serbia. France and Iceland,
both teams took three points after their first group game.
Iceland are traveling to France on the back of two
(07:06):
victories from three in which they've scored eight and conceded one,
but they failed to win any of their past fifteen
meetings with France. Hungary will host Portugal. Hungary have never
beaten Portugal in fourteen previous occasions, with the latter winning
ten times, while there have been also four draws. Portugal
solid right now. They've won their last four matches in
(07:28):
all competitions. Let's go to South America. Bolivia hosts Brazil
at altitude in El Alto tonight. They must win to
have a chance to get into the INN Confederational playoff.
A draw will not be enough for Bolivia to stay alive.
The stadium in Al Alto is at one of the
highest altitudes in the world, over four thousand meters. Since
two thousand and one, Brazilian national teams have won only
(07:52):
one match above twenty five hundred meters, let alone four
thousand twenty twenty two, though that one match that they
won that was Brazil beating Bolivia in La Pause four
nil in qualifiers for the twenty twenty two World Cup. Venezuela.
They host Colombia at the same time. A win clinches
(08:13):
Venezuela spot in the playoff. If Venezuela doesn't win, it
has to root for a Brazilian win. Bolivia has only
qualified for the World Cup once, nineteen ninety four. It
was led by Marco Etcheveri. Venezuela has never qualified interesting
for in this battle for the interconnfederational playoff. With two
teams that are chasing some glory. Here Gobone they will
(08:37):
overtake Ivory Coast at the top of their World Cup
qualification group. If they can beat the Elephants at home
in Franceville tonight, that would leave goabone in the driving seat.
With two matches left. They're trying to get to their
first ever World Cup cay Verde. They're also trying to
get to their first ever World Cup. If they can
take care of business against Cameroon today, they'll take a
(08:57):
big step forwards towards that they would be the second
smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup. Iceland
is a little bit smaller four hundred and seven thousand
inhabitants versus Cape Veraday's five hundred and twenty five thousand
final round of the conca CAFF Qualifiers continues today. Honduras
will host Nicaragua in Group CE play at the Estadio
(09:20):
Nacional Jose de la Pase Herrera in Tegusigalpa, Honduras. Honduras
is trying to get their first win. They had a
scoreless draw in Haiti edric Aminhivar seven saves in that
one to get the point away for Honduras. Nicaragua. They're
also looking for their first win. A big one to
one draw for them against Costa Rica Byron Bonia struck
(09:42):
from the penalty spot. They came back to get that
point in that one. Costa Rica will play Haiti. It's
the sixteenth time that these matches these teams have played
one another. Costa Rica have eight wins their six straws,
only one loss for Costa Rica. Haiti's only win, a
to one win, came in the twenty nineteen CONCACAFF Gold Cup.
Costa Rica's won all four previous meetings in World Cup Qualifiers.
(10:06):
Group B also continues in CONKA CAF Kirosau hosts Bermuda.
This is the first time these two have met in
World Cup qualifying Kirosol enters the second match of the
final round looking for their first win. Goalless straw against
Trinidad and Tobago. Eloy Room, formerly the Columbus Crew, standout
performance from him. He had six saves in the draw.
(10:27):
Kirisau unbeaten in six World Cup qualifiers right now, their
second longest streak in history. Bermuda trying to bounce back
after losing four nil at home to Jamaica. Jamaica. They
are hosting Trinidad and Tobago tonight as well the Reggae
Boys coming off of that big four nil win. Damian Lowe,
Rinaldo Cephas, Casey Palmer and shamar Nicholson scored the goals
(10:51):
for the Reggae Boys. Trinidad trying to find some offense
after that scoreless draw with Kirosou fifth time these teams
will play in World Cup qualifying. Jamaica beaten three wins
and one draw. US men's national team friendly against Japan
today and Marizio po Chattino is getting a little frustrated
with the commentary around the team. He was asked about
(11:12):
Chris richards omission from the starting lineup against South Korea
and he used the opportunity to lash out a little bit, said,
people sometimes create debate and talk with no sense. This
national team in this country is qualified already for the
World Cup, So the important thing is to apply common sense.
If people want to talk about Bolton, they can talk
about Bolton. But we feel the responsibility to provide the
(11:36):
whole group of players that we think can be important
for this country in the World Cup. Chris Richards was
asked from a reporter, said our bore resort, poor results
right now for the team. Is that putting the national
team at risk of losing the fan base? And then
ask if the players care, which is I mean kind
(11:56):
of bold? Richard said, of course we care. We play
for y'all. I mean we're American, We play for Americans,
we represent Americans. We definitely care about the fan base.
We go out there and give one hundred percent. I
hope we're not at risk of losing the fan base.
I think it'd be devastating. We want to give y'all
something to be proud of, something to cheer for, and
hopefully by World Cup time, y'all can cheer us on
for however many games it takes to get to the final. Yeah,
(12:19):
I mean, we've talked about this plenty. You guys know
how I feel about the performative aspect of covering the
US men's national team that many many in the business
or in the social media world do. It is very performative.
There's a lot of things said and emotion shown and
(12:42):
anger shown, and very tight videos of yelling shown to
get a reaction. It's not really about the conversation of
what's happening for this team. They lost to a better
team in South Korea. I think South Korea is a
more complete team. I think Japan is potentially or complete team.
The talent is what the talent is. Mercio Pochattino doesn't
(13:04):
go out and go into the transfer market and go
add players to the national team. They are what they are.
I'd like for them to be better. I hope he
can settle on a group that is the best. There's
still the headlines out there about does Pochattino know his
best eleven? It's meaningless right now. It will change his
best eleven today if he knows it right now. If
he says I have a game, I have a knockout
(13:25):
game today and this is my best eleven today, that
might not be the best eleven in October, because injuries happen,
because form gets found or lost. There's so many different
things that come from it. So players have to play
with more urgency, no doubt. Players have to show that
they must be in the lineup, they must be in
the squad. That's on the players. That's not on Pochatino.
(13:48):
That's on the players. The constant blaming of Pochettino is
it's only gonna continue because that's just the nature of it.
Is it bowl at times? Yeah, it is at times,
it definitely is. But this is a pool of players
that right now is not better than South Korea. I
(14:11):
don't think they're better than Japan. I think they're around
the twentieth best in the world. Okay, you've got to
find a way to have them playing at a level
above their level to compete and get to where you
want to get to in the World Cup. That's the
challenge from Rutzo po Chatino, and that challenge is going
(14:33):
to be next summer. These games don't mean anything in
terms of the results, but yes, they are creating lots
of content for people, and they're creating lots of narratives
for people. It is frustrating. Don't get me wrong. I
don't think they were as bad against South Korea as
people will let on, but Son hing Men was better
and was dragging the back line out of position consistently.
(14:56):
You have to find what will work for this group
group of players will give you that, and what I
fear is to get there, you're gonna have to do
maybe some of the things that Jurgen Klinsmann did in
twenty fourteen, where the idea about being proactive and he
said a lot of things. It's not how the team played,
and they weren't all that great. They got to the
(15:18):
round of sixteen, which is where they should get, and
they got knocked out. They got completely overrun by Belgium.
Tim Howard stood on his head, made a whole bunch
of saves, but they were very defensive in that tournament.
I hope that's not where this team has to go,
but it might be to get results, to find a
way to get results, to hold on and scrap out
some results in the World Cup. It's not really Mrizio
(15:40):
po Chatino's mo. I don't know if he's going to
take it there. It's gonna be an interesting thing to
watch for between now and next summer. If you can
get away from the yelling and stomping of feet, we'll see,
We'll see what happens. Uh Shan Zawadski he is going
to miss the match against Japan injured right knee in
training and Adam crafton to the Athletic is reporting that
(16:03):
a friendly between Portugal and the US is in the
process of being finalized for March. Details still being ironed out.
They aim to play it in March. They aim to
play Belgium in March as well, would be played in
an NFL stadium on America's East Coast. MLS they announced
that Luis Suarez has received an additional three game suspension
(16:24):
from MLS on top of his League's Cup suspension, which
is six games for spitting on a Seattle Sounder security
officer following the Sounders win in the league's Cup final.
Suarez apologized he will miss league games against Charlotte FC
on September thirtieth, the Sounders on September sixteenth, and DC
United on September twentieth. MLS also revoked the credential privileges
(16:47):
for Steven Linhart, a member of the Sounder staff, for
the rest of twenty twenty five for his role in
the postgame melee, which has not really been clarified, and
it also find the Sounders for misappropriation of credentials. I'm
not sure about that one. NWSL North Carolina Courage have
agreed to trade US women's national team midfielder Jaden Shaw
(17:07):
to Gotham FC for one point twenty five million dollars.
That would be an intra league record, multiple sources of
confirmed at ESPN. It's more than double the previous record
that was set in August when Kansas City paid six
hundred thousand to Utah for Ali Center. It'd also be
one of the most expensive global transfers to date. The
fee would be paid over multiple installments and would be
(17:28):
entirely in the intra league transfer funds like allocation money
if you're used to the situation in MLS BFC. Their
late season decline has led to a coach, Albertin Montoya's
resignation that will go into effect at the end of
the season. The team announced on Monday they've dropped four
straight games. They're winless in their past eight entering into
Saturday's match on the road against Orlando. Nottingham Forest chaos.
(17:53):
Nuno Espirito Santo has left his position as head coach.
Onspostacoglu is the leading candidate. According to SKYPS, he has
agreed to a deal to become the new Nottingham Forest manager.
Contract would last through the summer of twenty twenty seven.
Announcement could come later today. The Athletic reported yesterday that
Nuno was set to leave before the club confirmed his
departure quote following recent circumstances unquote. Nuno's exit comes after
(18:19):
the coach said his relationship with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelis
Marnachus had changed and the two were quote not so
close unquote anymore. On August twenty second. Marnacus then said, however,
that Nuna was the right person for the job. A
week later, maybe not so much. The Athletic reported later
on August twenty second that there was a potentially irreparable
(18:43):
rift between Nuno and Edu, who was the newly appointed
global head of football at the start of July following
his exit from Arsenal last November. So when Nuno took
over at Nottingham Forest, they were seventeenth in the table.
Two full seasons in charge, became the only Premier league
side in history to double their points. Tallly from a
(19:03):
previous season, beat Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United, Manchester City beat
Brighton seven nil, took Nottingham Forest to Wimbley and had
the first European campaign booked in thirty plus years. I'm
not necessarily a huge fan of Nuna Spirito Santo's football,
but this is kind of crazy and we'll see if
Nottingham Forest now in hiring somebody who is going to
(19:24):
play a completely different brand of football. Is it gonna work?
I don't know, because Nuno and Aunge see the game
in almost diametrically opposite ways. I don't know how that works.
In the short term, we're gonna find out. Manchester City
in the Premier League, they have reached a settlement in
(19:45):
their legal dispute just one of them over the Premier
League's Associated Party Transaction rules. They confirmed that both parties
should agree to terminate the proceedings and City as part
of the settlement except quote that the current apt RU
are valid and binding. I mean that's good. They're rules,
so that's good that they're saying yes, we will follow them.
(20:06):
The settlement relates to a legal challenge launched by Manchester
City in January concerning amendments to the APT rules. City
argued the amendments were unlawful and void. The rules were
first introduced in twenty twenty one, amended twice in March
and November of twenty twenty four. The rules were introduced
to safeguard the financial stability, integrity and competitive balance of
(20:28):
the division. There's no seeking of competitive balance in the division.
Let's slow that one down their Premier League. They seek
to ensure clubs are not reliant on or do not
gain an unfair advantage from quote enhanced commercial revenues received
from entities linked to the club's ownership. City have been
involved in a number of legal disputes with the Premier League.
(20:51):
Both parties claimed victory in October of last year when
an independent tribunal ruled that three aspects of the APT
rules were unlawful. In februs quary sponsorship rules in place
in the Premier League for nearly three years were deemed
to be void and unenforceable, in a blow to the league,
in significant win for City. Now this is all separate
from the one hundred and fifteen charges brought against Manchester
(21:14):
City by the Premier League in relation to alleged financial wrongdoing.
That judgment is still set to be announced. City denial wrongdoing.
A three month hearing took place between September and December
of twenty twenty four, and we have not heard anything
else on it since. I don't know if this is
a precursor to washing everything away or not. It's all
(21:37):
different things. The idea that there's a seeking of competitive
balance by the Premier League is crazy because it's not
where the lines get drawn. When teams are allowed, like
Chelsea to sell their women's team to themselves to help
their financial position, that's absurd and that's ridiculous. And if
(21:59):
that is allowed, but having a airline sponsor, for example,
that has family ownership ties to the club's ownership, that's
not allowed. But you can sell your women's team to
yourself to make fake money. Yeah, there's a lot of
loopholes and silliness and craziness and it needs to get
ironed out. I don't think it's going to the one
(22:22):
hundred and fifteen charges is different. That's a whole nother thing.
That's where you're talking about. I think some reports that
were not accurate in things that there's going to be
some wrongdoing in there, how much I don't know. We'll
find out. Barcelona they're set to give La Liga confirmation
on where they'll be hosting their first home game of
the season Sunday night. They'll let everybody know hopefully later today,
(22:47):
hopefully we'll find out. Further delays look to be on
the horizon for the return to the Camp New that
was originally going to be where this game would be held.
They don't have their certificate of completion of work for
two of the stands. Without that, they cannot apply for
the opening license from the Barcelona City Council, which means
they can't open. Kadenaser is saying the chances the of
Barcelona returning to Camp No before the October international break
(23:11):
are slim to none. That brings them to you. Within
a month of a year's delay of the stadium reopening,
Barcelona have three Laaliga games. Remember they started on the road,
so three Laaliga games at home before the international break,
one Champions League match at home. The Champions League match
is definitely going to be played at the Olympic Stadium,
it has to be at this point. The three La
(23:31):
Liga games they're going to try to go game by game.
La Liga has approved playing at the six thousand capacity
Estadi Johann Krouf at their training facilities for the Valencia match.
They can't play at the Olympic Stadium because Post Malone
is there. On Friday night. After that game against Valencia,
the plan is for Barcelona to host It'tafe Royal Sociadad
(23:55):
and the European match against PSG at the Estadi Olympic.
This could be a really costly setback for Barcelona. They
can generate as much as four to eight million euro
per match date the camp New depending on the game
and how many people they can get in, but that
figure is going to be greatly reduced because of the
reduced capacity, the fees of hosting games at the Estadio Olympic,
(24:18):
and the extra income available at the Camp New. So
this is going to affect them financially in a big way.
News from around the world. As we wrap up this
edition of the Espresso Athletic Bill, bal forward Nico Williams
he has a muscle injury that will keep him out
of their return to the Champions League. He was heard
on Sunday in the first half of Spain's six zero
win over Turkey in World Cup qualifying moderate muscle injury
(24:42):
to his left adductor muscle. That's according to Athletic Clube
after medical tests on Monday. According to the Telegraph, Liverpool
will not submit a fresh cash offer for Mark Gahee
in January. They will intend to sign him on a
free transfer next summer instead. Now remember they met with him,
they did a medical, they agreed to a personal contract
(25:05):
with him. They feel pretty confident that gayhe sees his
long term future at Anfield, so they don't need to
go get him in January. And according to a report
in ht Sport, Finnerbach's new manager will be Dominico Tedesco.
The Yellow Canaries are expected to officially announce the thirty
nine year old Italian manager soon. He became the youngest
(25:25):
manager in Shawk's history. He helped shall Could get to
the final sixteen of the Champions League, became the youngest
manager in Spartak Moscow's history went back to Germany. During
his time at Leipzig, the team finished eleventh, they won
the DFB PoCl. They finished fourth. The next season they
qualified for the Champions League. He also became the youngest
manager in the history of the Belgian national team before
(25:48):
being let go there, so he will be the new
manager at Finnerbache, replacing Jose Mourinho. That'll do it for
this edition of the Espresso. We will have a training
ground dispatch later today. We've got an event discussing Emory
University's soccer history later today at seven o'clock at the
Woodruff Library. We will have more content as well. There's
(26:09):
an exclusive interview up on YouTube and on the podcatchers
wherever you get your SDH podcasts. John Nelson went down
to Statesboro, Georgia to talk to South Georgia Tormenta owner
Darren van Tassel. That is available in video form on
YouTube and in podcast form wherever you get your podcasts.
All kinds of stuff happening at the moment in the
(26:31):
SDH universe. We'll try to cover as much of it
as we can for you. Also tonight, Atlanta Soccer Tonight
ten o'clock on ninety two nine the Game and the
Odyssey app we'll talk about World Cup qualifying, we'll talk
about what's happening in South America. If Ronald hernandezz Venezuela
can get over the line, or if f Ryan Morales's
Bolivia can make the comeback and get into that playoff spot.
(26:52):
And we'll get you caught up on all the other
games from all over the world today, and yeah, we'll
start to look ahead to a weekend where Atlanta United
host Columbus on Saturday at the Benz and Atlanta United
two goes on the road to Carolina Corp. Trying to
chase a playoff spot. We'll talk about all of that
all week long on the SDH Network and on ninety
two nine in the Game with Atlanta Soccer Tonight. Have
(27:12):
a good Tuesday. I'll be back with you on Thursday
morning for more morning Espresso.
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