World Cup wrap-up, and what's next for Verde All Day
Now that the World Cup is over, our attention turns fully back to Austin FC. Here's what's on the docket over the next two weeks heading into Leagues Cup.
This graphic from Futi sums up Sunday's World Cup final nicely — especially the "deserved win" feature.
Dominant in shots and chances throughout the match, Spain got an extra-time goal from sub Ferran Torres and withstood the brand of late flurry Argentina traded on throughout the knockout rounds, winning 1-0 in Sunday's final and closing out a fantastic tournament.
It was grueling, as finals can be, and Argentina showed a new level of thuggery in this match (particularly Leandro Paredes, who deserved a second yellow for multiple fouls in the match's final phases, and got a red after the match for attempting to fight victorious Spanish players). It was perhaps fitting, though, that after the joyous 10-goal third-place match, we got this counterweight in the final.
(Though I still contend the final would have been more fun with France in it.)
My sister-in-law asked me about an hour after the match what I'm going to do with myself now that the World Cup's over. The answer's simple: Austin FC plays again on Wednesday! Today, Austin media gets its first chance to check in with interim head coach Davy Arnaud about preparations for the second half of the season — which we got a glimpse of with Saturday's open practice.
Then, Wednesday night at Q2 Stadium, with new Brad Stuver bobbleheads procured by some, fans will take in Verde taking on Seattle Sounders FC, who already started their second-half journey with a shocking 5-1 home loss to Portland last Thursday. Of course, Verde will be without the recently-traded Dani Pereira, and how Arnaud manages the midfield will be foremost in my narrative building as I watch the match unfold.
Then, Copa Tejas returns, with Verde going down I-10 to face the Dynamo. By virtue of a 2-0 win over Team Orange in April, Verde leads the Copa Tejas standings, and a win away would effectively make the race between Austin and Dallas — which has happened before, but is not entirely on-brand for the sometimes-chaotic tournament.
And then, a week later, Austin will travel to Commerce City, Colo., taking on the Rapids in a crucial six-pointer, with both teams looking to claw out of the West basement in the next few weeks and legitimately back into the playoff race.
Also on the horizon: Leagues Cup, which will certainly in danger of being an afterthought after the North American-hosted World Cup, also represents a chance for Verde to get a fresh start in a cup competition following their Open Cup disaster earlier this year.
For those of us who care about Austin FC's fortunes, we're collectively back.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Austin FC is now 1-6-1 in its last eight matches, despite encouraging performances in Leagues Cup matches. Is Davy Arnaud relying too much on certain players ... and not enough on Jayden Nelson?
Austin FC emerged from Leagues Cup play facing its FC Dallas rivals, and got a magical moment from Ervin Torres. But it wasn't enough to stave off another loss, adding to an onoging bad stretch of league play.
With Austin FC's Leagues Cup journey on pause, we look at the next four regular-season matches, starting tonight with a Copa Tejas match Verde hosts against FC Dallas.
Austin FC gets back into league play on Sunday night hosting FC Dallas at home. That gives us an excuse to check in with one of our favorites, Big D Soccer's Drew Epperley.
This graphic from Futi sums up Sunday's World Cup final nicely — especially the "deserved win" feature.
Dominant in shots and chances throughout the match, Spain got an extra-time goal from sub Ferran Torres and withstood the brand of late flurry Argentina traded on throughout the knockout rounds, winning 1-0 in Sunday's final and closing out a fantastic tournament.
It was grueling, as finals can be, and Argentina showed a new level of thuggery in this match (particularly Leandro Paredes, who deserved a second yellow for multiple fouls in the match's final phases, and got a red after the match for attempting to fight victorious Spanish players). It was perhaps fitting, though, that after the joyous 10-goal third-place match, we got this counterweight in the final.
(Though I still contend the final would have been more fun with France in it.)
Now, Austin FC is back
My sister-in-law asked me about an hour after the match what I'm going to do with myself now that the World Cup's over. The answer's simple: Austin FC plays again on Wednesday! Today, Austin media gets its first chance to check in with interim head coach Davy Arnaud about preparations for the second half of the season — which we got a glimpse of with Saturday's open practice.
Then, Wednesday night at Q2 Stadium, with new Brad Stuver bobbleheads procured by some, fans will take in Verde taking on Seattle Sounders FC, who already started their second-half journey with a shocking 5-1 home loss to Portland last Thursday. Of course, Verde will be without the recently-traded Dani Pereira, and how Arnaud manages the midfield will be foremost in my narrative building as I watch the match unfold.
Then, Copa Tejas returns, with Verde going down I-10 to face the Dynamo. By virtue of a 2-0 win over Team Orange in April, Verde leads the Copa Tejas standings, and a win away would effectively make the race between Austin and Dallas — which has happened before, but is not entirely on-brand for the sometimes-chaotic tournament.
And then, a week later, Austin will travel to Commerce City, Colo., taking on the Rapids in a crucial six-pointer, with both teams looking to claw out of the West basement in the next few weeks and legitimately back into the playoff race.
Also on the horizon: Leagues Cup, which will certainly in danger of being an afterthought after the North American-hosted World Cup, also represents a chance for Verde to get a fresh start in a cup competition following their Open Cup disaster earlier this year.
For those of us who care about Austin FC's fortunes, we're collectively back.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
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