There will be one U.S. men’s national team player heading to a European Final this month.
Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis will meet Chelsea in the Europa Conference League Final after outlasting Fiorentina 4-3 on aggregate on Thursday. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder played the full 120 minutes in Thursday’s 2-2 second leg draw from Florence.
Cardoso hit the crossbar once while also bringing a strong work rate to Manuel Pellegrini’s midfield. He was one of six players to go the distance for the La Liga visitors, helping Real Betis reach a European Final for the first time in club history.
The New Jersey native has played a large role in the squad and will now aim to lift his first trophy in Spain.
Real Betis will now face Chelsea in the tournament final on May 28 in Poland.
In France, Korbin Albert and Eva Gaetino featured in PSG’s league win over Nantes.
In Mexico, Alex Zendejas and Club America played out a goal-less draw with Pachuca in the Liga MX playoffs.
Here is a closer look at this week’s Americans Abroad:
Europe
UEFA Conference League
Johnny Cardoso started and played 120 minutes in Real Betis 2-2 second leg draw with Fiorentina on Thursday. Real Betis advanced 4-3 on aggregate and will face Chelsea in the tournament final.
France
Division 1 Feminine
Eva Gaetino, Korbin Albert started and played 90 minutes in PSG’s 1-0 win over Nantes on Wednesday.
Crystal Dunn did not dress for PSG.
Lindsey Heaps came off the bench and played 23 minutes in Lyon’s 2-0 win over Le Havre on Wednesday.
Norway
Cup
Christian Cappis started and played 90 minutes in Viking’s 1-0 win over Moss on Wednesday.
Mexico
Liga MX Playoffs
Alex Zendejas started and played 90 minutes in Club America’s 0-0 draw with Pachuca on Wednesday.
Milievic with two assist in a 3-1 win against Racimg in the Copa SudaAmerica. Doing big things this season.
barca’s implosion late to inter is why i am not a fan of that barca/ajax/cruyff stuff. that and those type teams often get destroyed by organized teams like bayern or real in about the UCL semis or quarters. pretty bridesmaid soccer — holland never finished above runnerup. it boils down to cruyff saying “Results without quality is boring.” i don’t believe at the top levels, UCL, world cup, etc., that you get the results without being creative or fast or otherwise impressive — while being organized and having a strong team defense.
for reasons unclear to me — perhaps it’s aesthetics — holland (no world cups), spain (1 they have not replicated), and england (last won in 66) are the model here, and not france, argentina, and germany who have owned many of the recent tournaments.
“spain (1 they have not replicated), ”
You’re selling Spain short.
In 2008 they won the Euros, in 2010 the World Cup , then in 2012 they won the Euros again and of course they won the Euros in 2024 again.
That is four seriously major trophies in a 16 year span. A lot of nations have not won anything ever.
I bet they could even beat your select team.
The Barca that lost to Inter is hardly in the same class as their great teams; Raphina and the incredible Yamal really impress people but, assuming they keep things together and progress logically, they could be a real big deal in a few years.
“for reasons unclear to me — perhaps it’s aesthetics — holland (no world cups), spain (1 they have not replicated), and england (last won in 66) are the model here,and not france, argentina, and germany who have owned many of the recent tournaments.”
Things are unclear to you because it is way too early to know what Pochettino is going to settle on for the USMNT style. You, of course, love to jump the gun and label things,
Ready, fire, aim.
The USMNT player pool has players who can probably play in a variety of styles. Once Pohetio decides on who his core gropu will be,theones wit the biggest balls, then it should not take him long to figure out a sutiable style for them.
But it is always core players first
Then figure out the tactics.
Some countries have a definite style that is a core part of how their national team identity themselves.
That is not the USMNT.
We have no identity.
So Pochettino is figuring out one for us. We’ve all seen how helpful Bruce’s culturally superior knowledge is.
You are so terrified of “aesthetic soccer” that you forget that those dominant teams you listed, france, argentina and germany are all quite capable of playing aesthetically beautiful possession soccer if that is what they want to do.
They’ve won 4 major titles in 16 years. That’s nothing compared to IV’s favorite team Japan who have won … let me check my notes … Japan has won one regional title in 2011 (nothing the last 14 years). Hmm, I thought an organized mid-block was guaranteed to win championships.
IV
Barca lost to a better, more disciplined and experienced team. That doesn’t mean that there is something inherently wrong with how Barca set up or go about their business. Or that teams who follow their “model” are doomed to years of misery and failure.
Explain how Holland, Spain and England are a model for the USMNT?
And why that’s a negative.
For many years England were stacked w world class talent but could barely get along on the field until Southgate turned them into more of a TEAM that were more together, if less overall talented and less aesthetic. Since then they’ve been serious contenders instead of tabloid fodder.
I’ve already explained how you mis character-terized Spain to fit your narrative.
As for Holland they have underachieved given their talent level but:
1. We would die to have their depth and their coaches.
2. They have been to 3 World Cup finals
3. Have a third place finish in the WC, have won one Euro and been in another Euro final.
Overall, the USMNT, Japan or Morocco would kill to do half that.
Winning the WC or the Euros is really hard. The fact that the Dutch haven’t won more is as much down to hard luck as anything. It says a lot more about them that they are usually a threat to be contenders in all the competitions.