September 5, 2025 • 29 mins
Tottenham Hotspur has entered a new era. After 24 years at the helm, Daniel Levy has been removed as chairman, with the Lewis family signaling sweeping change at the club. What does this mean for Spurs’ future, and will history be kind to Levy’s legacy?
In South America, Lionel Messi delivered an emotional farewell in his final home World Cup qualifier, scoring twice as Argentina rolled past Venezuela in Buenos Aires. Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay secured their spots, while Venezuela and Bolivia fight for the playoff lifeline.
We’ll also take you around the world as qualifying drama unfolds in Europe, Africa, and Concacaf — from Germany’s shocking loss in Slovakia to Kei Kamara scoring at 41 for Sierra Leone. Plus, record-breaking transfers in the women’s game, Alyssa Thompson’s move to Chelsea, and the fallout from Luis Suárez’s Leagues Cup controversy.
It’s your daily shot of soccer headlines, stories, and context on the SDH Network.
In South America, Lionel Messi delivered an emotional farewell in his final home World Cup qualifier, scoring twice as Argentina rolled past Venezuela in Buenos Aires. Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay secured their spots, while Venezuela and Bolivia fight for the playoff lifeline.
We’ll also take you around the world as qualifying drama unfolds in Europe, Africa, and Concacaf — from Germany’s shocking loss in Slovakia to Kei Kamara scoring at 41 for Sierra Leone. Plus, record-breaking transfers in the women’s game, Alyssa Thompson’s move to Chelsea, and the fallout from Luis Suárez’s Leagues Cup controversy.
It’s your daily shot of soccer headlines, stories, and context on the SDH Network.
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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 SDCH Network, brought to you by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta's
premier undergraduate learning experience and soccer powerhouse. I'm Jason long.
Short's Friday. World Cup qualifying is rolling on right now.
There are games being played in Africa. There will be
games being played in Europe later on. Conker calf as well.
(00:37):
Chaos will rain. There's college games this weekend. We have
a national team here in Atlanta on Saturday. Okay, let's
try to get caught up on everything that you need
to know in the soccer world for September fifth number one.
Daniel Levy is out at Tottenham Hotspur. He has been
removed as chairman of the club. It brings to an
(00:59):
end his twenty four year tenure at the club. A
club's statement said Levy had stepped down, but the decision
was taken by the club's majority shareholders, the Lewis family,
which marks a seismic change in how Tottenham Hotspurs run.
Levy was told on Thursday that he would be leaving
his position, with Peter Cherrington, the Lewis family's appointee, stepping
(01:21):
into the new role of non executive chairman. A source
close to the Lewis family heralded a new era at Tottenham,
pointed to a desire to improve on pitch performance. Generations
of the Lewis family support this special football club and
they want what the fans want, more wins, more often.
This is what a source close to the Lewis family
(01:42):
told The Athletic. This is why you have seen recent changes,
new leadership and a fresh approach in vin I Thomas
and Peter Cherrington. They believe they are backing the right
team to deliver on this. This is a new era,
So Levy's departure, it's the last of a series of
a whole bunch of moves that not all of them
(02:03):
have really been talked about. A whole lot started the
summer that Lewis family instigated a review into the club's performance.
It was conducted by the US firm GiB River. The
interviewed staff about how the team could improve. Coincided with
Charrington's appointment to the club board in March. In April,
Tottenham Hotsburg confirmed the arrival of vin I Vin Kate
(02:26):
Sham as the new CEO. The departure of long serving
executive director Donna Maria Cullen was announced in June. She
left the club earlier this week. Of course, she had
the managerial change as well, with Ante post Tocoglu sacked
in June by Levy two weeks after winning the Europa League.
Thomas Frank replaced him. Chief football officer Scott Munn departed
(02:48):
alongside post Tocoglu, so Levy joined Tottenham's board in December
of two thousand. They've been completely transformed during his time
with the club and he's become a divisive figure amongst
the fans, which I will say, be careful what you
wish for because it might not be better than it's been.
(03:11):
And he should get credit. He talked about this with
the Overlap in a great interview which I definitely will
go back and watch again. He said, when I'm not here,
I'm sure I'll get to credit. Time should be kind
to his legacy. It should have been kinder to his
(03:31):
respect while in the position. This always seems to happen,
and it's extremely frustrating when you see somebody get constantly
abused in the media and by the fan base here
and then when they're gone, it's like, oh, yeah, they
actually did a pretty good job. Daniel Levy did a
very good job for Tottenham Hotspur. There's no way around it.
(03:53):
The biggest project, and the thing that he will be
remembered for the most is the design and creation of
their stadium, officially opened in April twenty nineteen. A month later,
Spurs got to the final of the Champions League, where
they lost to Liverpool. They've been consistently in the top
half of the table. They've been consistently competing for European spots.
(04:16):
Despite all this, he's come under heavy criticism from the
fan base. Last season, multiple protests were held outside games
about the way he has run the club. That's just performative.
Supporters have been frustrated by the wage bill, which isn't
always on Levy. It is lower than their biggest rivals.
(04:36):
Be careful again, what you wish for you might have
ownership either potentially sell, which is a possibility here Levy's departure.
It brings questions to this because when Spurs released their
accounts in the for the twenty twenty two to twenty
twenty three season, this was in April of twenty four,
Levy revealed that he had spoken to Perspective investors about
(04:57):
selling mistake in the club. Now, the question does this
mean more that they're moving on from Levy? I don't know.
Some people say that they're not. Some people say that
this kind of move means that they are. I'm not sure.
And again, you have to be careful when you're having
(05:18):
fan protests about these situations. You might not get better.
On the other side of you want Daniel Levy out, Okay,
is the new person gonna be better? Well, we're all
going to find out together. You want more investment, Well,
that might need to have new ownership to do that.
Is that going to actually be better. There's a lot
of clubs who would tell you no, we'll see. It's
(05:39):
gonna be an interesting time. But Daniel Levy one of
the I don't think this is a shocking statement. I
think he's one of the all time great soccer executives
and he should be remembered as such. We'll see if
he is, and that probably will take a little bit
of time. Let's go to World Cup qualifying. We're going
to start in South America. Lionel Messis square twice in
(06:01):
what will almost certainly be his final home World Cup
qualifier in his career. Argentina beat Venezuela at three to nil.
He's going to turn thirty nine during the next World Cup.
He's going to be part of it. There were statements
made and he was emotional after the game about knowing
it his time is coming to an end. On the field,
(06:23):
it's getting closer and closer. There's no way he's not
going to go to the World Cup at this point.
He's playing way too well and I think he's enjoying
playing way too much. Over eighty thousand fans at the
Monumental it is a It was a big celebration for Messi.
Thiago Almada assisted on a goal, which was a very
cool moment for those of us who had the chance
(06:45):
to see Thiago up close here and during his time
here in Atlanta. Messi's not going to play in the
qualifying finale against Ecuador on the road. Lino Scalone said
he made an enormous effort and deserves a rest and
to be with his family. He ended up very tired
and exhausted. He should have come off, but he didn't
because of the emotional nature of the match. So last
(07:06):
night Uruguay, Colombia and Potaguay. They completed the field of
six automatic qualifiers out of South America. The spot in
the drama now comes down to the playoff spot Venezuela.
They head into Tuesday's matches in the position to go
to the playoffs. They will host Colombia. Bolivia will host Brazil.
(07:26):
If the Vinadento win, they guarantee the playoff spot. If
Bolivia wins and Venezuela either draws or loses, Bolivia will
jump Venezuela and they'll go into the inter Confederational playoffs.
Bolivia has to win to have an opportunity. They can't
get there with a draw. They have to win to
(07:47):
get there. We will see if they do. And Potaguay
it's a party right now. It's Santiago Pania. The president
of the country declared a public holiday to mark the
national team's return to the World Cup for the first
time in sixteen years. So at this stage, right now,
as we speak at about ten thirty am on Friday morning,
your World Cup roster right now looks like this. Sixteen
(08:10):
teams have qualified, the US, Canada and Mexico as co host.
In Asia, Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, South Korea and Australia.
They are all in the Asian other qualifiers that will
come down to the October window. We'll talk about that
next month. South America, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Pottaguay, Uruguay.
(08:33):
They are all going. Oceania. Oceania. New Zealand has qualified.
Europe just really getting rolling across the board. Here's some
updates on things from Europe that we have seen. Slovakia
two nil win over Germany. Julian Nagelsman slammed his team's performance.
He said with emotion, our opponent was simply miles ahead
of us from the first to the last minute. That's
(08:55):
a fact, and then shockingly they come out on top.
If you take our history in the past ten or
so years, it's not like we're brimming with confidence and
can play at eighty percent. Third straight loss for Germany,
first against Slovakia, first in and away match in World
Cup qualifying. Turkey won on the road three to two
at the Republic of Georgia. The Dutch and Poland drew
(09:18):
one one Spain. They opened their World Cup qualifying campaign
comfortable three nil win on the road in Bulgaria. Goals
from Michel oh Yarth the baal Mark Kukrea and Michel
Merino all came in the first half. Easy win for Spain.
Wales they got the win and it wasn't an easy
one in Kazakhstan one nil. Ashley Williams said, for games
(09:42):
like this, all that matters is that you get to
three points, get on the plane and get home. Keifer
Moore got the goal. They topped the group. Wales on
ten points. They're two points ahead of North Macedonia, who
have a game in hand. It's Belgium that's the team
to watch though. They cruised six nil to a win
over Liechtenstein. Winger Malik Fofana had his first international goal.
(10:06):
That win for Belgium puts them three points behind Wales
with two games in hand. Heavyweights continue their journeys this
weekend England and and Dora. That is a noon kickoff
on Saturday. Thomas Tukele looking to go four out of
four as they are comfortably at the top of Group
(10:26):
K and Dora. They have lost each of their previous
seven meetings against England by an aggregate score of twenty
six to nil. They've only won one of their last
ten matches in all competitions, and that was against San Marino.
John Stones is going to miss the World Cup qualifiers
in this window against Andorra and against Serbia with a
(10:47):
muscle injury. He left the national team training camp on Friday.
Today two forty five, Italy hosts Estonia. Italy has not
qualified for the last two World Cups. They're trying to
catch Norway nine points clear, but Italy has two games
in hand. Across all competitions, Estonia have won just one
of their past six. Gennaro Gatuso his first game for
(11:12):
the national team as manager, that is today. Pressure is
legit for him. You gotta win, he said. With the
national team, you have to think about winning, whether clean
or dirty. This is Jennera Gatuso speaking. You're not surprised.
That's the mentality needed to succeed. This has always been
the case for Italy. A sense of belonging, solidarity, never
(11:33):
giving up. Quality is not enough. That's what I hope
to instill in my players. Norway they're looking for that
extra little edge as well. They're chasing their first World
Cup spot since nineteen ninety eight. Coach Stally Solbachen he
is leaving nothing to chance as he tries to get
them there. He is pushing the Norwegian Football Federation to
bring in faster ball boys and girls for the final
(11:56):
qualifying matches. Yes, we're getting down to the real details here.
Solbakin says that faster ball boys and girls could help
make the difference as he tries to get his team
over the line. He told Norwegian broadcaster NRK it does
affect the rhythm. If we want tempo in the gaming,
we cannot find the ball boy, the ballgirl or the
ball itself, then of course the tempo drops. He was
(12:17):
saying this after Thursday's one nil friendly win over Finland.
The tempo slowed whenever the ball went out of play.
He asked the federation to ensure that there are improvements
for upcoming home games. He said, there must be training.
I am serious. It is a problem because we cannot
waste half a minute here and there. Details, details, details,
all right, Let's go to Africa and get caught up
(12:38):
on what's happening with their World Cup qualifying Egypt. They
have a chance to punch their ticket from Group A.
They host Ethiopia on Friday. They traveled a second place
Berkina Fasso on Tuesday. Victories in both games. They're going
to the World Cup. Nobody can book their spot in
this round from Group B, but there are two huge games.
(13:01):
Today it's Senegal second place against Sudan second place. They're
both on twelve points, and then Tuesday it's Dr Congo,
who's in first on thirteen points. They play Senegal, who
is in second, maybe will be in third at that point.
So Group B is gonna be fascinating. Group C South Africa.
They have the chance to book their place if they
win in Lesotho on Friday and at home to Nigeria
(13:24):
on Tuesday, but they will need other results to go
their way, involving Benin and Rwanda. Cape Verde they are
top of Group D, one point ahead of Cameroon after
Thursday's games. Monday they play one another in Cape Verde Libya,
who play Swatini. They could still get into the top
(13:45):
two if the If Cape Verde and Cameroon draw Group
B Morocco, they're almost there. They qualify if they get
more points than second place Tanzania. This week Gabon they
won four nilo in the Seashells. On Wednesday, we talked
about Denny Boyanga's twenty five hour trip to get there
and he scored twice in that one. No team can
(14:05):
make it in in this round from Group F huge
game on Tuesday, Gabon hosts Cote du Vois, who are
two points behind. With a game in hand. They play
Berundi today. Algeria they can't qualify from Group G this week.
They have a six point lead over Mozambique after beating
Botswana yesterday. Mozambique, who go to Uganda on Friday, they
(14:26):
need to pick up no more than two points from
their two fixtures for this week. They play Algeria as well,
or that would get Algeria in if they don't get
more than two points, as long as Algeria gets it done.
On Monday, Group Age Tunisia, they hold the top spot
over Namibia by seven points. This is after a three
NIERL win over Liberia yesterday. Namibia host Malawi on Friday.
(14:52):
They must win to stay in realistic realistic contention here.
They are not winning as we currently speak. Malawi to nil.
Tanisia and Malawi play in that final group game, but
it might not matter as things currently stand. Group I
was thrown up in the air on Thursday. First top
(15:14):
of the table Ghana sixteen points they suffered a shock
one to one draw in Chad, who had lost every
matchup to this point, then Madagascar. They moved up to
second by beating the Central African Republic Comoros on twelve points.
They had the chance to go within a point of Ghana,
but they lost three nil in Mali, who are now
(15:35):
in twelve on twelve points and moved into third. So
it looked like a horrible day for Ghana with the draw,
but the other results they still have their three point lead.
So on Monday, Ghana host Malli, who are four points back.
Madagascar take on Chad and Comoros are in the Central
African Republic Conca caf Harold Ofsrio a twenty two year
(15:57):
old MLS Next Pro player for the Chicago Fire II.
He was the hero with the late goal in visiting
El Salvador's one nil win over favored Guatemala Panama shock result.
They were held to a scoreless draw by Surinam in
their Group A opener. Forty one year old Kai Kamara.
He scored for Sierra Leone yesterday against Guinea Bissal. That
(16:17):
was another one of the African World Cup qualifiers. Doesn't
look like Sierra Leone is going to get in but
a just incredible moment. As Kai Kamara keeps on doing
the business. Let's go to the women's game and it
has finally been announced. In the last hour. It looks
like Chelsea have confirmed the signing of US international Alissa
(16:41):
Thompson from Angel City. It was reported yesterday that they
had reached an agreement. Transfer fee has been variously reported
to be from one point three million plus add ons
to one point five million plus add ons that could
push the fee to near two million dollars. That's from
ESPN when the day began. The women's world record transfer
(17:02):
fee was the one point five that Orlando paid Tea
Grace for Elizabeth o Vayer. But later in the day yesterday,
Michelle Kang's London City Lionesses they agreed to a new
world record one point eight eight million dollar fee to
sign French midfielder Grace Giorro from PSG Alyssa. Thompson's fee
with the add ons could push higher than that, but
(17:25):
you're seeing the transfer business in the women's game now
really start to tick up pretty fast. Also at Chelsea,
Sam Kerr will be back in the squad this evening
for the start of the Women's Super League season. She's
been absent since suffering an ACL injury in January of
twenty twenty four. Very long absence, very bad injury for
(17:46):
Sam Kerr. She'll be back in the squad also on
the Women's Super League front. ESPN will show live WSL
games across the season. According to the Cutback, games were
listed in the ESPN app yesterday. Sources confirmed to the
Cutback that a new agreement had been reached. Not sure
if it's a one year deal or if it's something longer.
(18:07):
Last year was the same thing. It was a late
deal that it was the games being on the ESPN app.
Transfer window business and you just talked about it on
the women's side and how it's ticking up. It's ticking
up everywhere. Football clubs worldwide spent nearly ten billion dollars
on international transfers this summer. According to FIFA, nearly twelve
(18:28):
thousand international transfers, with total spending on fees amounting to
nine point seven billion dollars, an increase of more than
fifty percent in the last year. Premier League accounted for
three billion in transfer fees. German clubs received eight hundred
and ninety three million of that three billion. German clubs
(18:48):
were also second in total spending at nine hundred and
eighty million. Italian club's third at nine hundred and fifty
million dollars spent. In terms of the volume of transfers,
England had five hundred and thirty five players arrive, followed
by Portugal and Brazil. Women's football also broke records more
than eleven hundred transfers, which totaled to more than twelve
(19:11):
million dollars. Inner Miami in the League's Cup Luis Suarez.
He apologized in a statement on Instagram on Thursday for
spitting on a Seattle staff member. He said quote, it
was a moment of great tension and frustration where right
after the match things happened that shouldn't have happened, But
that doesn't justify their reaction. I had, I was wrong
(19:32):
and I sincerely regret it. Inner Miami posted a statement
as well. These actions do not reflect the values of
our sport, and we remain committed to upholding the highest
standards of sportsmanship, both on and off the pitch. We
are working closely with League's Cup and MLS officials to
ensure the situation is addressed appropriately. Fine speech, as John
(19:52):
Cena would say, good statements. I'm sure they were well
thought out and probably edited and updated multiple times. They
don't change anything, and they took a long time for
these statements to be released. I've had these conversations with
folks in the group chat. I've had these conversations with
people in general. I think outside of Maxi, Falcone's headlock
(20:22):
and Luis Suarez is spitting the other aspects of this.
Whether we're talking about Sergio Busquetz, who I think people
trying to say that he punched somebody, or you're not
being accurate and describing the action. It's much more of
a push away. He didn't cock a punch and throw it.
(20:42):
Obed Vargas probably deserves at least some sanctioning here. It
might not be a full red card unless they got
him saying something, but he was egging a good bit
of this on Falcone with the headlock and Suarez, those
are the issues that should go beyond a league's up suspension,
because when you have something happen in a competition, it's
(21:04):
not a global suspension unless it is a serious incident.
In every case, but Falcone and his is a little iffy.
If they just decided to suspend him for multiple games
in League's Cup, I'm not going to be opposed to it.
If you give him more than that, I'm not going
to argue it either. Luis Suarez, if they don't give
him something that is outside of League's Cup, I will
(21:25):
argue it. I think what he did is despicable. I
think spitting on someone is worse than punching them. I
think it's something that has to be severely punished. I
think there is a precedent in Major League Soccer for
an in game incident. Hector Herrera got three games last year.
This is not even an in game incident, which in
(21:45):
my opinion makes it worse. I think three games is
your minimum, and that should be across all competitions. I
think you give him a red card in a postgame
red card in League's Cup and he doesn't play next
year in League's Cup in their first game, fine with that,
but I think what he did deserves a global suspension,
(22:06):
which should apply to Major League Soccer action. That's my opinion.
We'll see if they do that. I believe that they can.
I don't think there's anything that will stop them from
doing that sort of suspension on top of anything else.
We'll see, but yeah, it needs to be more than
a statement in apology and then everything swept under the rug.
(22:27):
It's just it's not acceptable speaking of trying to sweep
things under the rug. Let's go to CONBA ball. Yeah,
this is what they do. Independent Day they were disqualified
from the copasuit Americana after the incidents at their own
stadium in the match against Universa Dad de Chile last month.
More than one hundred people were arrested, most of them
Chilean fans, around twenty injured when the round of sixteen
(22:51):
match played on August twentieth in Avijaneeda in Buenos Aires
ended up getting suspended or just after halftime, so Convobaal
kicked Independente out of the tournament. They ruled that Universa
Dad de Chile would advance. They stay in the tournament.
They'll play Alian Zelima of Peru. Conboball decided to disqualify
(23:13):
Independiente from this edition. That's it, no future editions. They'll
be kicked out of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars fine.
Independent they must pay. They'll play their next seven home
games in combo ball competitions without supporters in the stadium.
Universa Dad de Chile will pay a two hundred and
seventy thousand dollars fine. I don't know where the extra
twenty thousand came from. And they'll also play seven games
(23:35):
behind closed doors in comboball competition. Neither team should be
moving on in this tournament, and it's a I'm trying
to think of the right word, because this is such
a ridiculous incident that and ruling University Dad de Chile
fans started the issues. Now, I I think Conmea Baal
(24:01):
is essentially ruling that Independente did not, in their own
stadium have better crowd control, which is valid, that's fine,
But to basically say because Independente didn't do a good
job of crowd control, and like one of the things
is the flash bang grenade that was thrown by Universa
(24:22):
Dad de Chile fans, I think Independiente gets punished more
for that, which is absurd. Both teams should be kicked out.
Both teams should be kicked out of future competitions in
COMBA ball for another year. Both teams should have to
play a bunch of games behind closed doors, but Universa
Dad de Chile should not advance in this competition. The
(24:43):
incidents at the stadium started and went on through the
warm up, through the first half, through the halftime from
Universadad de Chile fans throwing things, including vandalizing the stadium
and breaking things, and then throwing those broken things at
Independente fans. You shouldn't be rewarded for that. It sets
(25:06):
a horrible precedent in Convobal where visiting fans are rewarded
for starting incidents that get a match suspended. Now, as
I said, when all this broke down and happened, it
is kind of a classic f around and find out
situation because this is what ultimately gets independent they kicked
(25:28):
out of the competition. Some of their bar brava and
gangster sort of fans then bum rushed Universitydad de Chile
fans who had not left yet after they were told to.
They didn't. Then they get jumped and they got beat up.
They did. That doesn't excuse Independente from doing that, but
(25:51):
it shouldn't reward Universitydad de Chile fans for starting the
incidents and vandalizing an opponent stadium. It's mind blowing that
they're allowing or divorce out to Chile to advance when
it's abundantly obvious that their fans started the incidents and
their fans were out of the one hundred people arrested,
(26:14):
almost all Chilean fans. So look, Condoball, please hire some
people who are serious about doing things correctly. Please, because
it's every competition that Condoball has had in the last
three years has had something shocking happen in it, and
(26:35):
we're not even done with this year's Copas suit Americana
and Copa of Debertadoris. So I love South American football
way too much to see the sword of nonsense. Just
be consistent. Let's go to Mexico. The Court of Arbitration
for Sport has rejected an appeal by six second division
clubs in their fight to reinstate promotion and relegation. The
Mexican Federation paused it in twenty twenty for six seasons
(26:58):
during the COVID pandem. They haven't completed those six seasons yet,
so I think the CAAs basically said, well, everybody agreed
to do this for six seasons and it's that's not
done yet, So why are we here we'll see if
it changes. The business side of the second Division in
Mexico has to change. Having promotion relegation just to have
(27:22):
it isn't good for the game. I'm sorry, it's not.
In Mexico, you had far too many times where clubs
would get promoted and then sell the license because they'd
rather take the money than actually have that team promoted.
That was happening consistently. There were three or four different
versions of Haguarees de Chiapas were different names and same
(27:43):
colors and same general badge, but they kept getting relegated
and then kept buying somebody's license to come back up.
That shouldn't happen, and that was happening consistently. So there's
bigger things in play here in Mexico than just having
pro or not having proro. But first off, they all
in an agreement to do it this way and see
(28:05):
out the agreement. I think that's where it basically stands.
The Mexican national team is also exploring the possibility of
staging a high profile friendly against Portugal to mark the
reopening of the Estadio Azteca in March of twenty twenty six.
The US men's national team They'll play South Korea in
a friendly tomorrow. The Canadian national team plays Romania in
a friendly today in europe Friendly's World Cup qualifying. We've
(28:29):
got Belize in town. They're going to play at Landa
United two tomorrow morning ten am. Me and Joe Freihoffer
will have the call for you. Hopefully you can join
us for that atlutd dot Com slash Live before I
get there, I will be in Brookhaven tonight the John P.
Salomon Invitational at Oglethorpe University. Emory will play at five o'clock.
(28:50):
Oglethorpe will play at seven thirty. I'll be on the
call for both of those. Myself and Madison Cruise were
in Macon yesterday. Mercers women three to one winners over
Kennesaw State. That's available on ESPN Plus if you want
to go back and watch. Mercer took control of that
one in the second half. Good performance from the Bears.
I'll be back and make it on Sunday as both
(29:12):
the Bears men and women play in a doubleheader. I'll
be on the call for both of those. All kinds
of other games happen and all over the place. Right now, College,
You've got the local UPSL Premier Division in Georgia getting
started this weekend. You've got World Cup qualifiers in all
parts of the globe. We will be back on Monday
(29:33):
to try to recap a very very busy weekend in
the world's game. On the morning, Espresso brought to you
as always buyer friends at Oglethorpe University
Welcome in for another edition of the Morning Espresso on
the SDCH Network, brought to you by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta's
premier undergraduate learning experience and soccer powerhouse. I'm Jason long.
Short's Friday. World Cup qualifying is rolling on right now.
There are games being played in Africa. There will be
games being played in Europe later on. Conker calf as well.
(00:37):
Chaos will rain. There's college games this weekend. We have
a national team here in Atlanta on Saturday. Okay, let's
try to get caught up on everything that you need
to know in the soccer world for September fifth number one.
Daniel Levy is out at Tottenham Hotspur. He has been
removed as chairman of the club. It brings to an
(00:59):
end his twenty four year tenure at the club. A
club's statement said Levy had stepped down, but the decision
was taken by the club's majority shareholders, the Lewis family,
which marks a seismic change in how Tottenham Hotspurs run.
Levy was told on Thursday that he would be leaving
his position, with Peter Cherrington, the Lewis family's appointee, stepping
(01:21):
into the new role of non executive chairman. A source
close to the Lewis family heralded a new era at Tottenham,
pointed to a desire to improve on pitch performance. Generations
of the Lewis family support this special football club and
they want what the fans want, more wins, more often.
This is what a source close to the Lewis family
(01:42):
told The Athletic. This is why you have seen recent changes,
new leadership and a fresh approach in vin I Thomas
and Peter Cherrington. They believe they are backing the right
team to deliver on this. This is a new era,
So Levy's departure, it's the last of a series of
a whole bunch of moves that not all of them
(02:03):
have really been talked about. A whole lot started the
summer that Lewis family instigated a review into the club's performance.
It was conducted by the US firm GiB River. The
interviewed staff about how the team could improve. Coincided with
Charrington's appointment to the club board in March. In April,
Tottenham Hotsburg confirmed the arrival of vin I Vin Kate
(02:26):
Sham as the new CEO. The departure of long serving
executive director Donna Maria Cullen was announced in June. She
left the club earlier this week. Of course, she had
the managerial change as well, with Ante post Tocoglu sacked
in June by Levy two weeks after winning the Europa League.
Thomas Frank replaced him. Chief football officer Scott Munn departed
(02:48):
alongside post Tocoglu, so Levy joined Tottenham's board in December
of two thousand. They've been completely transformed during his time
with the club and he's become a divisive figure amongst
the fans, which I will say, be careful what you
wish for because it might not be better than it's been.
(03:11):
And he should get credit. He talked about this with
the Overlap in a great interview which I definitely will
go back and watch again. He said, when I'm not here,
I'm sure I'll get to credit. Time should be kind
to his legacy. It should have been kinder to his
(03:31):
respect while in the position. This always seems to happen,
and it's extremely frustrating when you see somebody get constantly
abused in the media and by the fan base here
and then when they're gone, it's like, oh, yeah, they
actually did a pretty good job. Daniel Levy did a
very good job for Tottenham Hotspur. There's no way around it.
(03:53):
The biggest project, and the thing that he will be
remembered for the most is the design and creation of
their stadium, officially opened in April twenty nineteen. A month later,
Spurs got to the final of the Champions League, where
they lost to Liverpool. They've been consistently in the top
half of the table. They've been consistently competing for European spots.
(04:16):
Despite all this, he's come under heavy criticism from the
fan base. Last season, multiple protests were held outside games
about the way he has run the club. That's just performative.
Supporters have been frustrated by the wage bill, which isn't
always on Levy. It is lower than their biggest rivals.
(04:36):
Be careful again, what you wish for you might have
ownership either potentially sell, which is a possibility here Levy's departure.
It brings questions to this because when Spurs released their
accounts in the for the twenty twenty two to twenty
twenty three season, this was in April of twenty four,
Levy revealed that he had spoken to Perspective investors about
(04:57):
selling mistake in the club. Now, the question does this
mean more that they're moving on from Levy? I don't know.
Some people say that they're not. Some people say that
this kind of move means that they are. I'm not sure.
And again, you have to be careful when you're having
(05:18):
fan protests about these situations. You might not get better.
On the other side of you want Daniel Levy out, Okay,
is the new person gonna be better? Well, we're all
going to find out together. You want more investment, Well,
that might need to have new ownership to do that.
Is that going to actually be better. There's a lot
of clubs who would tell you no, we'll see. It's
(05:39):
gonna be an interesting time. But Daniel Levy one of
the I don't think this is a shocking statement. I
think he's one of the all time great soccer executives
and he should be remembered as such. We'll see if
he is, and that probably will take a little bit
of time. Let's go to World Cup qualifying. We're going
to start in South America. Lionel Messis square twice in
(06:01):
what will almost certainly be his final home World Cup
qualifier in his career. Argentina beat Venezuela at three to nil.
He's going to turn thirty nine during the next World Cup.
He's going to be part of it. There were statements
made and he was emotional after the game about knowing
it his time is coming to an end. On the field,
(06:23):
it's getting closer and closer. There's no way he's not
going to go to the World Cup at this point.
He's playing way too well and I think he's enjoying
playing way too much. Over eighty thousand fans at the
Monumental it is a It was a big celebration for Messi.
Thiago Almada assisted on a goal, which was a very
cool moment for those of us who had the chance
(06:45):
to see Thiago up close here and during his time
here in Atlanta. Messi's not going to play in the
qualifying finale against Ecuador on the road. Lino Scalone said
he made an enormous effort and deserves a rest and
to be with his family. He ended up very tired
and exhausted. He should have come off, but he didn't
because of the emotional nature of the match. So last
(07:06):
night Uruguay, Colombia and Potaguay. They completed the field of
six automatic qualifiers out of South America. The spot in
the drama now comes down to the playoff spot Venezuela.
They head into Tuesday's matches in the position to go
to the playoffs. They will host Colombia. Bolivia will host Brazil.
(07:26):
If the Vinadento win, they guarantee the playoff spot. If
Bolivia wins and Venezuela either draws or loses, Bolivia will
jump Venezuela and they'll go into the inter Confederational playoffs.
Bolivia has to win to have an opportunity. They can't
get there with a draw. They have to win to
(07:47):
get there. We will see if they do. And Potaguay
it's a party right now. It's Santiago Pania. The president
of the country declared a public holiday to mark the
national team's return to the World Cup for the first
time in sixteen years. So at this stage, right now,
as we speak at about ten thirty am on Friday morning,
your World Cup roster right now looks like this. Sixteen
(08:10):
teams have qualified, the US, Canada and Mexico as co host.
In Asia, Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, South Korea and Australia.
They are all in the Asian other qualifiers that will
come down to the October window. We'll talk about that
next month. South America, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Pottaguay, Uruguay.
(08:33):
They are all going. Oceania. Oceania. New Zealand has qualified.
Europe just really getting rolling across the board. Here's some
updates on things from Europe that we have seen. Slovakia
two nil win over Germany. Julian Nagelsman slammed his team's performance.
He said with emotion, our opponent was simply miles ahead
of us from the first to the last minute. That's
(08:55):
a fact, and then shockingly they come out on top.
If you take our history in the past ten or
so years, it's not like we're brimming with confidence and
can play at eighty percent. Third straight loss for Germany,
first against Slovakia, first in and away match in World
Cup qualifying. Turkey won on the road three to two
at the Republic of Georgia. The Dutch and Poland drew
(09:18):
one one Spain. They opened their World Cup qualifying campaign
comfortable three nil win on the road in Bulgaria. Goals
from Michel oh Yarth the baal Mark Kukrea and Michel
Merino all came in the first half. Easy win for Spain.
Wales they got the win and it wasn't an easy
one in Kazakhstan one nil. Ashley Williams said, for games
(09:42):
like this, all that matters is that you get to
three points, get on the plane and get home. Keifer
Moore got the goal. They topped the group. Wales on
ten points. They're two points ahead of North Macedonia, who
have a game in hand. It's Belgium that's the team
to watch though. They cruised six nil to a win
over Liechtenstein. Winger Malik Fofana had his first international goal.
(10:06):
That win for Belgium puts them three points behind Wales
with two games in hand. Heavyweights continue their journeys this
weekend England and and Dora. That is a noon kickoff
on Saturday. Thomas Tukele looking to go four out of
four as they are comfortably at the top of Group
(10:26):
K and Dora. They have lost each of their previous
seven meetings against England by an aggregate score of twenty
six to nil. They've only won one of their last
ten matches in all competitions, and that was against San Marino.
John Stones is going to miss the World Cup qualifiers
in this window against Andorra and against Serbia with a
(10:47):
muscle injury. He left the national team training camp on Friday.
Today two forty five, Italy hosts Estonia. Italy has not
qualified for the last two World Cups. They're trying to
catch Norway nine points clear, but Italy has two games
in hand. Across all competitions, Estonia have won just one
of their past six. Gennaro Gatuso his first game for
(11:12):
the national team as manager, that is today. Pressure is
legit for him. You gotta win, he said. With the
national team, you have to think about winning, whether clean
or dirty. This is Jennera Gatuso speaking. You're not surprised.
That's the mentality needed to succeed. This has always been
the case for Italy. A sense of belonging, solidarity, never
(11:33):
giving up. Quality is not enough. That's what I hope
to instill in my players. Norway they're looking for that
extra little edge as well. They're chasing their first World
Cup spot since nineteen ninety eight. Coach Stally Solbachen he
is leaving nothing to chance as he tries to get
them there. He is pushing the Norwegian Football Federation to
bring in faster ball boys and girls for the final
(11:56):
qualifying matches. Yes, we're getting down to the real details here.
Solbakin says that faster ball boys and girls could help
make the difference as he tries to get his team
over the line. He told Norwegian broadcaster NRK it does
affect the rhythm. If we want tempo in the gaming,
we cannot find the ball boy, the ballgirl or the
ball itself, then of course the tempo drops. He was
(12:17):
saying this after Thursday's one nil friendly win over Finland.
The tempo slowed whenever the ball went out of play.
He asked the federation to ensure that there are improvements
for upcoming home games. He said, there must be training.
I am serious. It is a problem because we cannot
waste half a minute here and there. Details, details, details,
all right, Let's go to Africa and get caught up
(12:38):
on what's happening with their World Cup qualifying Egypt. They
have a chance to punch their ticket from Group A.
They host Ethiopia on Friday. They traveled a second place
Berkina Fasso on Tuesday. Victories in both games. They're going
to the World Cup. Nobody can book their spot in
this round from Group B, but there are two huge games.
(13:01):
Today it's Senegal second place against Sudan second place. They're
both on twelve points, and then Tuesday it's Dr Congo,
who's in first on thirteen points. They play Senegal, who
is in second, maybe will be in third at that point.
So Group B is gonna be fascinating. Group C South Africa.
They have the chance to book their place if they
win in Lesotho on Friday and at home to Nigeria
(13:24):
on Tuesday, but they will need other results to go
their way, involving Benin and Rwanda. Cape Verde they are
top of Group D, one point ahead of Cameroon after
Thursday's games. Monday they play one another in Cape Verde Libya,
who play Swatini. They could still get into the top
(13:45):
two if the If Cape Verde and Cameroon draw Group
B Morocco, they're almost there. They qualify if they get
more points than second place Tanzania. This week Gabon they
won four nilo in the Seashells. On Wednesday, we talked
about Denny Boyanga's twenty five hour trip to get there
and he scored twice in that one. No team can
(14:05):
make it in in this round from Group F huge
game on Tuesday, Gabon hosts Cote du Vois, who are
two points behind. With a game in hand. They play
Berundi today. Algeria they can't qualify from Group G this week.
They have a six point lead over Mozambique after beating
Botswana yesterday. Mozambique, who go to Uganda on Friday, they
(14:26):
need to pick up no more than two points from
their two fixtures for this week. They play Algeria as well,
or that would get Algeria in if they don't get
more than two points, as long as Algeria gets it done.
On Monday, Group Age Tunisia, they hold the top spot
over Namibia by seven points. This is after a three
NIERL win over Liberia yesterday. Namibia host Malawi on Friday.
(14:52):
They must win to stay in realistic realistic contention here.
They are not winning as we currently speak. Malawi to nil.
Tanisia and Malawi play in that final group game, but
it might not matter as things currently stand. Group I
was thrown up in the air on Thursday. First top
(15:14):
of the table Ghana sixteen points they suffered a shock
one to one draw in Chad, who had lost every
matchup to this point, then Madagascar. They moved up to
second by beating the Central African Republic Comoros on twelve points.
They had the chance to go within a point of Ghana,
but they lost three nil in Mali, who are now
(15:35):
in twelve on twelve points and moved into third. So
it looked like a horrible day for Ghana with the draw,
but the other results they still have their three point lead.
So on Monday, Ghana host Malli, who are four points back.
Madagascar take on Chad and Comoros are in the Central
African Republic Conca caf Harold Ofsrio a twenty two year
(15:57):
old MLS Next Pro player for the Chicago Fire II.
He was the hero with the late goal in visiting
El Salvador's one nil win over favored Guatemala Panama shock result.
They were held to a scoreless draw by Surinam in
their Group A opener. Forty one year old Kai Kamara.
He scored for Sierra Leone yesterday against Guinea Bissal. That
(16:17):
was another one of the African World Cup qualifiers. Doesn't
look like Sierra Leone is going to get in but
a just incredible moment. As Kai Kamara keeps on doing
the business. Let's go to the women's game and it
has finally been announced. In the last hour. It looks
like Chelsea have confirmed the signing of US international Alissa
(16:41):
Thompson from Angel City. It was reported yesterday that they
had reached an agreement. Transfer fee has been variously reported
to be from one point three million plus add ons
to one point five million plus add ons that could
push the fee to near two million dollars. That's from
ESPN when the day began. The women's world record transfer
(17:02):
fee was the one point five that Orlando paid Tea
Grace for Elizabeth o Vayer. But later in the day yesterday,
Michelle Kang's London City Lionesses they agreed to a new
world record one point eight eight million dollar fee to
sign French midfielder Grace Giorro from PSG Alyssa. Thompson's fee
with the add ons could push higher than that, but
(17:25):
you're seeing the transfer business in the women's game now
really start to tick up pretty fast. Also at Chelsea,
Sam Kerr will be back in the squad this evening
for the start of the Women's Super League season. She's
been absent since suffering an ACL injury in January of
twenty twenty four. Very long absence, very bad injury for
(17:46):
Sam Kerr. She'll be back in the squad also on
the Women's Super League front. ESPN will show live WSL
games across the season. According to the Cutback, games were
listed in the ESPN app yesterday. Sources confirmed to the
Cutback that a new agreement had been reached. Not sure
if it's a one year deal or if it's something longer.
(18:07):
Last year was the same thing. It was a late
deal that it was the games being on the ESPN app.
Transfer window business and you just talked about it on
the women's side and how it's ticking up. It's ticking
up everywhere. Football clubs worldwide spent nearly ten billion dollars
on international transfers this summer. According to FIFA, nearly twelve
(18:28):
thousand international transfers, with total spending on fees amounting to
nine point seven billion dollars, an increase of more than
fifty percent in the last year. Premier League accounted for
three billion in transfer fees. German clubs received eight hundred
and ninety three million of that three billion. German clubs
(18:48):
were also second in total spending at nine hundred and
eighty million. Italian club's third at nine hundred and fifty
million dollars spent. In terms of the volume of transfers,
England had five hundred and thirty five players arrive, followed
by Portugal and Brazil. Women's football also broke records more
than eleven hundred transfers, which totaled to more than twelve
(19:11):
million dollars. Inner Miami in the League's Cup Luis Suarez.
He apologized in a statement on Instagram on Thursday for
spitting on a Seattle staff member. He said quote, it
was a moment of great tension and frustration where right
after the match things happened that shouldn't have happened, But
that doesn't justify their reaction. I had, I was wrong
(19:32):
and I sincerely regret it. Inner Miami posted a statement
as well. These actions do not reflect the values of
our sport, and we remain committed to upholding the highest
standards of sportsmanship, both on and off the pitch. We
are working closely with League's Cup and MLS officials to
ensure the situation is addressed appropriately. Fine speech, as John
(19:52):
Cena would say, good statements. I'm sure they were well
thought out and probably edited and updated multiple times. They
don't change anything, and they took a long time for
these statements to be released. I've had these conversations with
folks in the group chat. I've had these conversations with
people in general. I think outside of Maxi, Falcone's headlock
(20:22):
and Luis Suarez is spitting the other aspects of this.
Whether we're talking about Sergio Busquetz, who I think people
trying to say that he punched somebody, or you're not
being accurate and describing the action. It's much more of
a push away. He didn't cock a punch and throw it.
(20:42):
Obed Vargas probably deserves at least some sanctioning here. It
might not be a full red card unless they got
him saying something, but he was egging a good bit
of this on Falcone with the headlock and Suarez, those
are the issues that should go beyond a league's up suspension,
because when you have something happen in a competition, it's
(21:04):
not a global suspension unless it is a serious incident.
In every case, but Falcone and his is a little iffy.
If they just decided to suspend him for multiple games
in League's Cup, I'm not going to be opposed to it.
If you give him more than that, I'm not going
to argue it either. Luis Suarez, if they don't give
him something that is outside of League's Cup, I will
(21:25):
argue it. I think what he did is despicable. I
think spitting on someone is worse than punching them. I
think it's something that has to be severely punished. I
think there is a precedent in Major League Soccer for
an in game incident. Hector Herrera got three games last year.
This is not even an in game incident, which in
(21:45):
my opinion makes it worse. I think three games is
your minimum, and that should be across all competitions. I
think you give him a red card in a postgame
red card in League's Cup and he doesn't play next
year in League's Cup in their first game, fine with that,
but I think what he did deserves a global suspension,
(22:06):
which should apply to Major League Soccer action. That's my opinion.
We'll see if they do that. I believe that they can.
I don't think there's anything that will stop them from
doing that sort of suspension on top of anything else.
We'll see, but yeah, it needs to be more than
a statement in apology and then everything swept under the rug.
(22:27):
It's just it's not acceptable speaking of trying to sweep
things under the rug. Let's go to CONBA ball. Yeah,
this is what they do. Independent Day they were disqualified
from the copasuit Americana after the incidents at their own
stadium in the match against Universa Dad de Chile last month.
More than one hundred people were arrested, most of them
Chilean fans, around twenty injured when the round of sixteen
(22:51):
match played on August twentieth in Avijaneeda in Buenos Aires
ended up getting suspended or just after halftime, so Convobaal
kicked Independente out of the tournament. They ruled that Universa
Dad de Chile would advance. They stay in the tournament.
They'll play Alian Zelima of Peru. Conboball decided to disqualify
(23:13):
Independiente from this edition. That's it, no future editions. They'll
be kicked out of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars fine.
Independent they must pay. They'll play their next seven home
games in combo ball competitions without supporters in the stadium.
Universa Dad de Chile will pay a two hundred and
seventy thousand dollars fine. I don't know where the extra
twenty thousand came from. And they'll also play seven games
(23:35):
behind closed doors in comboball competition. Neither team should be
moving on in this tournament, and it's a I'm trying
to think of the right word, because this is such
a ridiculous incident that and ruling University Dad de Chile
fans started the issues. Now, I I think Conmea Baal
(24:01):
is essentially ruling that Independente did not, in their own
stadium have better crowd control, which is valid, that's fine,
But to basically say because Independente didn't do a good
job of crowd control, and like one of the things
is the flash bang grenade that was thrown by Universa
(24:22):
Dad de Chile fans, I think Independiente gets punished more
for that, which is absurd. Both teams should be kicked out.
Both teams should be kicked out of future competitions in
COMBA ball for another year. Both teams should have to
play a bunch of games behind closed doors, but Universa
Dad de Chile should not advance in this competition. The
(24:43):
incidents at the stadium started and went on through the
warm up, through the first half, through the halftime from
Universadad de Chile fans throwing things, including vandalizing the stadium
and breaking things, and then throwing those broken things at
Independente fans. You shouldn't be rewarded for that. It sets
(25:06):
a horrible precedent in Convobal where visiting fans are rewarded
for starting incidents that get a match suspended. Now, as
I said, when all this broke down and happened, it
is kind of a classic f around and find out
situation because this is what ultimately gets independent they kicked
(25:28):
out of the competition. Some of their bar brava and
gangster sort of fans then bum rushed Universitydad de Chile
fans who had not left yet after they were told to.
They didn't. Then they get jumped and they got beat up.
They did. That doesn't excuse Independente from doing that, but
(25:51):
it shouldn't reward Universitydad de Chile fans for starting the
incidents and vandalizing an opponent stadium. It's mind blowing that
they're allowing or divorce out to Chile to advance when
it's abundantly obvious that their fans started the incidents and
their fans were out of the one hundred people arrested,
(26:14):
almost all Chilean fans. So look, Condoball, please hire some
people who are serious about doing things correctly. Please, because
it's every competition that Condoball has had in the last
three years has had something shocking happen in it, and
(26:35):
we're not even done with this year's Copas suit Americana
and Copa of Debertadoris. So I love South American football
way too much to see the sword of nonsense. Just
be consistent. Let's go to Mexico. The Court of Arbitration
for Sport has rejected an appeal by six second division
clubs in their fight to reinstate promotion and relegation. The
Mexican Federation paused it in twenty twenty for six seasons
(26:58):
during the COVID pandem. They haven't completed those six seasons yet,
so I think the CAAs basically said, well, everybody agreed
to do this for six seasons and it's that's not
done yet, So why are we here we'll see if
it changes. The business side of the second Division in
Mexico has to change. Having promotion relegation just to have
(27:22):
it isn't good for the game. I'm sorry, it's not.
In Mexico, you had far too many times where clubs
would get promoted and then sell the license because they'd
rather take the money than actually have that team promoted.
That was happening consistently. There were three or four different
versions of Haguarees de Chiapas were different names and same
(27:43):
colors and same general badge, but they kept getting relegated
and then kept buying somebody's license to come back up.
That shouldn't happen, and that was happening consistently. So there's
bigger things in play here in Mexico than just having
pro or not having proro. But first off, they all
in an agreement to do it this way and see
(28:05):
out the agreement. I think that's where it basically stands.
The Mexican national team is also exploring the possibility of
staging a high profile friendly against Portugal to mark the
reopening of the Estadio Azteca in March of twenty twenty six.
The US men's national team They'll play South Korea in
a friendly tomorrow. The Canadian national team plays Romania in
a friendly today in europe Friendly's World Cup qualifying. We've
(28:29):
got Belize in town. They're going to play at Landa
United two tomorrow morning ten am. Me and Joe Freihoffer
will have the call for you. Hopefully you can join
us for that atlutd dot Com slash Live before I
get there, I will be in Brookhaven tonight the John P.
Salomon Invitational at Oglethorpe University. Emory will play at five o'clock.
(28:50):
Oglethorpe will play at seven thirty. I'll be on the
call for both of those. Myself and Madison Cruise were
in Macon yesterday. Mercers women three to one winners over
Kennesaw State. That's available on ESPN Plus if you want
to go back and watch. Mercer took control of that
one in the second half. Good performance from the Bears.
I'll be back and make it on Sunday as both
(29:12):
the Bears men and women play in a doubleheader. I'll
be on the call for both of those. All kinds
of other games happen and all over the place. Right now, College,
You've got the local UPSL Premier Division in Georgia getting
started this weekend. You've got World Cup qualifiers in all
parts of the globe. We will be back on Monday
(29:33):
to try to recap a very very busy weekend in
the world's game. On the morning, Espresso brought to you
as always buyer friends at Oglethorpe University
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