Hello! Between the Women's World Cup quarterfinals, the ongoing reaction to the U.S. women's national team's early exit and the European club season approaching rapidly, it's as busy a time as any in the world of soccer. I'm Pardeep Cattry with the latest from around the globe as things are set to ramp up.
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📺 Footy fix
All times U.S./Eastern
Wednesday, Aug. 9
🇪🇺 Champions League: Slovan Bratislava vs. Maccabi Haifa, 2:30 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🏴 Carabao Cup: Burton Albion vs. Leicester City, 3 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
🇺🇸 NWSL Challenge Cup: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Orlando Pride, 7:30 p.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network
🌎 Libertadores: Boca Juniors vs. Nacional, 8 p.m. ➡️ beIN Sports
Thursday, Aug. 10
🇪🇺 Conference League: Fenerbahce vs. Maribor, 2 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🏆 Women's World Cup: Spain vs. the Netherlands, 9 p.m. ➡️ Fox
🌎 Sudamericana: Sao Paulo vs. San Lorenzo, 6 p.m. ➡️ beIN Sports en Español
Friday, Aug. 11
🏆 Women's World Cup: Japan vs. Sweden, 3:30 a.m. ➡️ Fox
⚽ The Forward Line
World Cup teams to beat
The Women's World Cup returns to action with a batch of quarterfinal matchups that seem destined to continue the tournament's legacy as the most competitive one yet. Three non-European teams -- Australia, Colombia, and Japan -- are in the last eight, up from just one in 2019 when the USWNT duked it out with Europe's best for the top prize.
Spain and the Netherlands kick off this round of play on Thursday, and while both are riding strong form, the Dutch will be without midfielder Danielle van de Donk through a yellow card suspension. A few hours later, Sweden will look to follow up their big victory over the USWNT with another major result against Japan. It will not be an easy task; Japan have barely put a foot wrong at this World Cup and top Sandra Herrera's post-round of 16 power rankings:
- Herrera: "The undeniable team to beat this World Cup. [Japan] have faced multiple teams with different styles and showed they can adapt and beat anyone. Hinata Miyazawa looks unstoppable and is a certified bucket with five goals through four games."
The quarters wrap up on Saturday when Australia face a France team on the rise, a match that Sam Kerr is expected to take part in. The Matildas star missed the group stage with a calf injury but played 10 minutes in the team's round of 16 win over Denmark, and should be a major boost for Australia.
England and Colombia finish off the round and arrive at the matchup with contrasting narratives. Colombia are in the quarterfinals for the first time and became the only team to snap Jamaica's shutout streak to do so, while England were unimpressive in their round of 16 encounter against Nigeria, which they won on penalties. The Lionesses will also be without Lauren James, who picked up a red card against Nigeria.
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🔗 Midfield Link Play
The USWNT's roster needs a youth movement
While the post-mortem continues on the USWNT's earliest World Cup exit ever, U.S. Soccer does not have a lot of time to decide which direction the team should go in. The Olympics in Paris are less than a year out, which may allow the USWNT to quickly transition in younger players and say goodbye to some of their veterans.
In a set of way-too-early roster predictions, Herrera noted that the attack will be a top area of focus ahead of the Olympics. The team will likely lean on the young players who traveled to the World Cup like Sophia Smith as well as Catarina Macario, who spent much of the last year recovering from an ACL tear. The youth movement might also set up for 18-year-old forward Jaedyn Shaw to enter the USWNT fold:
- Herrera: "During the World Cup, the forward lines were active but the finishing evaporated as the tournament went on. If the Olympics are viewed as an opportunity to rebuild, it's time for Shaw to step into senior-level camps and build with the squad. Smith's ability to play as a nine, and even Macario's ability to take on the role and play higher means [Alex] Morgan's time at this level might start winding down."
Now for some more headlines from the busy world of soccer.
🔗 A ranking of which teams USWNT fans should root for at the World Cup ahead of the quarterfinals.
🔗 Jonathan Johnson on France's dominant win over Morocco where he asks -- is it finally Les Bleues' year?
🔗 Morning Footy previewed the quarterfinal matchups at the World Cup.
🔗 Attacking Third chatted about the need for the USWNT to build a new identity.
🔗 Herrera stopped by Attacking Third to discuss how England can replace the suspended James.
🔗 New Chelsea signing Christopher Nkunku will miss a large chunk of the season with a knee injury.
🔗 James Benge on what goalkeeper David Raya brings to Arsenal.
🔗 Johnson also has the latest at Paris Saint-Germain after Neymar's father refused to confirm that his son wants out.
🔗 Morning Footy interviewed the USMNT's Sergino Dest on his career and the human side of being a footballer.
🔗 The Morning Footy team discussed Matt Turner's move to Nottingham Forest.
🔗 Morning Footy look at Da'vian Kimbrough, the 13-year-old who signed for Sacramento Republic.
🔗 Felipe Cardenas teased that Leagues Cup expansion could be in the cards on Morning Footy.
🔗 Morning Footy also had the latest on Klaksvik, the team from the Faroe Islands making a historic run in Champions League qualifiers.
💰 The Back Line
💵 Best bets
All times U.S./Eastern. SportsLine has you covered with all the info you need.
- Women's World Cup: Spain vs. the Netherlands, Thursday, 9 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: More than 2.5 goals scored (+120) -- The oddsmakers give Spain the edge to win this quarterfinal matchup in 90 minutes, but the most competitive Women's World Cup ever is destined to provide another hotly contested matchup. Just because the game is competitive does not mean both teams will not have looks at goal -- both teams boast talented attackers like Alexia Putellas and Jill Roord, who will no doubt want to get on the scoresheet in the hopes of reaching the semis. - Women's World Cup: Japan vs. Sweden, Friday, 3:30 a.m.
💰 THE PICK: Both teams to score (+105) -- Sweden may not have impressed from an attacking standpoint in their round of 16 win over the United States, but they do have goals in them and hope to showcase that against Japan. The Nadeshiko's offense, meanwhile, has been the key to their success so far Down Under -- they have 14 goals and Hinata Miyazawa leads the golden boot race with five.
