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Report: Mauricio Pochettino set to finally sign with USMNT as first post-Berhalter matches approach
Reports dropped on Aug. 14 that U.S. Soccer was nearing a deal for former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to become the new USMNT coach. But since then, no official announcement has come.
In fact, Pochettino's former club was reportedly holding up the official transaction due to negotiations over terminating his contract.
However, insider Fabrizio Romano indicated on X Tuesday that the two sides could finally put pen to paper as early as this week.
Mauricio Pochettino, prepared to sign this week as new USMNT head coach.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 3, 2024
After verbal agreement weeks ago, all legal topics are being resolved and the contracts are almost ready.
If all goes to plan, formal steps could follow this week for Poch. pic.twitter.com/XZlqYVeVeh
Despite the public speculation and obvious behind-the-scenes maneuvering to try and get the Pochettino deal across the line, some USMNT players are completely in the dark as the first international break without former head coach Gregg Berhalter is set to begin.
Tim Ream, on what USMNT players have been told about the coaching situation: "We were updated a few weeks ago, that the search was moving in a positive direction. At this point, that's where everybody is at. ... We have not been told anything is final, up to this point."
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) September 3, 2024
Berhalter was fired in July after an abysmal Copa America performance that saw the team eliminated in the group stage for the first time since 2007.
USMNT fans hope Pochettino's tenure will bring new levels of success ahead of the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted on North American soil for the first time since 1994.
In the meantime, the team is set to be led by interim coach Mikey Varas as it enters a two-match period of friendlies against Canada (Sept. 7) and New Zealand (Sept. 10).
More must-reads:
- ‘Medical Today’: Crystal Palace ‘Agree Deal’ for ‘USMNT Star’
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- The 'USMNT all-time goal scorers' quiz
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Journalist: Liverpool ‘waiting’ on three transfers to happen before submitting ‘fresh bid’ for 25y/o
Thomas Frank tips Tottenham star for a successful career at N17
Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky predicted to have a great future in the game amid LOSC Lille links Over the past few weeks, Tottenham Hotspur have experienced more departures than arrivals, with club captain Son Heung-min moving to MLS club Los Angeles FC, while several young guns and academy talents have secured loan moves for the 2025/26 campaign. Among the Spurs players linked with an exit is Antonin Kinsky. LOSC Lille have been keeping tabs on the Czech Republic goalkeeper as they look to replace their recently lost No.1 Lucas Chevalier to Paris Saint-Germain. This prompted the Ligue 1 club to earmark the Tottenham man as a potential replacement. Antonin Kinsky was initially signed from Slavia Prague during the 2025 January transfer window as cover for the injured Guglielmo Vicario. He impressed on his debut against Liverpool with a clean sheet in the 1-0 win in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. After that game, though, his inexperience started appearing in his game, but former boss Ange Postecoglou had no option but to stick with him goal until Vicario returned from injury in February. Thomas Frank backs Antonin Kinsky to have a great career The 22-year-old finished his first season in north London with 10 appearances to his name and is set to start the 2025/26 campaign as a back-up to Vicario. Ahead of the UEFA Super Cup clash against Paris Saint-Germain, Thomas Frank moved to shut down speculation surrounding Kinsky’s future at the club. The Dane has stated that he is “very pleased” with Kinsky and predicts to have a “great future” in the game. “He’s [Kinsky] a very good goalkeeper, very pleased with him,” Frank told Football London. “We are privileged to have three good goalkeepers in Vicario, Antonin and Brandon. There was good competition last year. Clearly, we need good keepers in the squad. Antonin, in my opinion, has a great future ahead of him and he is clearly a Tottenham player this season.” Kinsky going nowhere this summer Frank’s words on Kinsky are clear and strong. He expects the 22-year-old to have a bright future in the game, preferably with the Lilywhites, whilst shutting down rumours of a move to Lille this summer. This shows the faith he has in the Czech Republic glovesman and wants him to challenge Vicario for the No.1 spot in the upcoming season. As Vicario’s tenure at Spurs has been topsy-turvy, there will be chances for Kinsky to perform in cup competitions and show Frank that he is ready to become the club’s No.1. A healthy competition between Vicario and Kinsky would only bode well for Tottenham- both now and in the future.
Troubling news emerges on Bears QB Caleb Williams’ workout with HC Ben Johnson
It might have been a good thing the Chicago Bears didn’t play Caleb Williams on Sunday. The Bears might need to hide their second-year quarterback as he irons out his wrinkles in the pre-snap process and with accuracy issues. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft struggled with timing and accuracy during the Bears’ joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Friday. Caleb Williams was inaccurate in the red zone against no defenders On Sunday, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson chose not to play second-year quarterback Caleb Williams against the Dolphins in their first preseason game. Instead, Johnson led a workout with Williams and wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore before the game. Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears ran a total of 87 plays during the workout. All of the plays were routes in the air with no defenders on the field for the scripted practice. Despite going against no defenders bringing pressure or guarding his receivers, Williams struggled to hit his targets in the red zone. "Williams would stand next to Johnson, who would give him the play," Biggs wrote. "Then, the quarterback simulated a huddle with the player (only one ran a route on each snap) and gave the play call. They’d break the huddle, go to the line of scrimmage, Williams would simulate pre-snap actions and then the play would be run… "Before ending the session with eight deep balls, there was a 25-play set of snaps in the red zone. One thing Williams struggled to connect on was out routes to Moore and Odunze near the goal line. Those throws were not close and Williams consistently led the receivers too much." A closed-door problem for the Chicago Bears The throws weren’t close during routes on air… in the red zone? Williams wasn’t ready to take the field for the preseason game. For all of the flak he’s been getting from practice reports, the quarterback would have been relentlessly mocked for having these issues shown during an NFL Network broadcast. Biggs’ report is troubling, with a month to go before the season. Williams has much to improve upon, and the Bears are very much trying to do so without cameras present for a reason.
Brewers' dominance is a reality check for Cubs' World Series ambitions
The Chicago Cubs held the top spot in the NL Central for nearly five months. Having sent a prized haul to the Houston Astros for one year of Kyle Tucker, Chicago became a win-now team with the imperative task of reaching the World Series. It seemed the Cubs were well on their way to achieving their lofty aspirations; however, on July 28, they walked into a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers, both tied for first place. In a battle for the lead, the Brewers prevailed, taking two of three. Since then, the Cubs’ competitiveness has evaporated. After cruising to their 12th consecutive win on Wednesday, the Brewers hold an eight-game lead over their once-fierce division rival. The top spot in the NL Central now appears out of Chicago’s reach. Nonetheless, with a 3.5-game lead in the wild-card race, the Cubs still have a viable route to the postseason. But the overarching question isn’t about whether the Cubs can make it to the postseason, but whether they can topple the Brewers when they get there. Regardless of their 1-2 series loss to the Brewers, the Cubs have been on a downward spiral. Since the trade deadline (and just after their bout with the Brewers), the Cubs have lost six of their last 10 games. Both Tucker and fellow All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong have been slumping heavily at the plate, weighing on the Cubs’ potent offense. And making their future even more gloomy is that they did not pick up a starter at the trade deadline, instead opting to rely on Javier Assad upon his return from the IL (four earned runs in four innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, his season debut). The Brewers, on the other hand, recently came off a 10-game win streak and have now embarked on a 12-game (and counting) win streak. Their pitching staff owns the third-best ERA in the game at 3.59, and this comes with only a marginal contribution from rookie fireballer Jacob Misiorowski, who owns a 2.70 ERA in seven starts (33.1 innings). Misiorowski made his debut on June 12 and fell on the IL (left tibia contusion) after boosting Milwaukee over the Cubs on July 28. The Brewers offense, while not astounding, has compiled the second-highest cumulative batting average and on-base percentage in MLB (.259, 332). Their power numbers are far from impressive, but it’s worth mentioning that they scored 103 runs over their 12-game win streak. This includes tagging Paul Skenes for four earned runs in four innings for the second time this year. Right now, the Brewers are looking invincible. If they can maintain this momentum into the postseason, or at least perform similarly, the World Series is theirs to lose. If the Cubs have one thing on their side, it’s history. The Brewers have won the division three times in the past four years without claiming a single postseason series victory. Milwaukee made it to the postseason in five of the last six years, but never advanced past its opening round. The last time the Brewers won a postseason series was in 2018, sweeping the Colorado Rockies in the NLDS. The Brewers' awful postseason luck aside, should the two teams face off in October, the Cubs will need to play much better than they are now if they are going to win.
Giants force Jets' Justin Fields into familiar problem at joint practice
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields was a little more accurate on Wednesday than he was in his "alarming" performance during joint practice with the New York Giants on Tuesday. Still, the fifth-year quarterback had a familiar issue pop up. Per Dan Duggan and Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic, Fields took several sacks against a Giants defense that brought the house on a shaky Jets offensive line. Via The Athletic: "On the other field, the Giants defensive front carried over its domination from Tuesday, giving Jets quarterback Justin Fields and his offensive line plenty of problems. Camp stats are subjective, especially when it comes to sacks, but the Giants appeared to get to Fields for four sacks. "Similar to Tuesday, there were moments when it was hard to tell exactly who was causing problems as the Giants sent multiple bodies in the backfield. Fields, who went 7-of-11 on the day, had a few overthrows on plays that likely were sacks." Fields did have a couple of long runs on a Giants defense that struggled against the rush in 2024. While Fields has a unique ability to add to the running game, the Jets need the 2021 first-round pick to push the ball down the field in the passing game. Fields has always had a problem with being indecisive in the pocket, leading to his taking too many sacks since entering the league. He led the league with 55 sacks in 2022 and has taken 151 in his four-year career. The Ohio State product took 16 sacks during his six starts with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. In camp, Fields doesn't have to worry about taking body blows from sacks that lead to injuries. That will happen in the regular season if he plays how he practiced on Wednesday.
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