Five Things From the Week: June 2-8
Portugal won the Nations League for a second time, Spurs parted ways with Ange Postecoglou and the U.S. men’s national team lost again. Five Things From the Week covers all that and more.
1. Portugal’s Nations League triumph was significant
The Portuguese men’s national team has not reached the semifinals of a major tournament since winning Euro 2016. Its squad boasts Champions League winners, Premier League winners and a Serie A winner. Teams with multiple key Portuguese players have won trebles in two different countries in the past three seasons. Manchester United’s best player is part of the squad too. To call the team’s recent performance underwhelming is an understatement.
That’s why edging neighbor Spain in a penalty shootout to win the Nations League on Sunday mattered so much. Portugal probably has more talent, but there’s no question who the favorite was. Spain was attempting to win a trophy for a third consecutive summer. By stopping that from happening, Portugal became the first country to win the Nations League twice. That means something when international trophies are so hard to come by for European countries. It also means something in terms of building toward next summer’s World Cup. It’s impossible to tell exactly what it means, but it absolutely matters.
2. Tottenham made a rational decision, even if it might be the wrong one
Deciding whether a manager keeps their job based on the result of a single game is objectively illogical and dumb. Nothing actually changes based on 90 minutes. The problems that led to the manager being on the hot seat don't magically disappear. Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United was still Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United after they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final. All United did by waiting to fire him was cost themselves time and money. Spurs faced the same kind of dilemma with Ange Postecoglou.
Strictly from a results standpoint, winning the Europa League against a weakened field does not make up for 22 defeats and a -1 goal difference in the Premier League. Things got worse in Postecoglou's second season, not better. It is the manager’s job to navigate injuries. He failed spectacularly in that regard. Fans will gladly trade all of it for a trophy and Champions League qualification, but it doesn't change the outlook for next season. Unless Postecoglou identified precisely what he was going to do differently, firing him now likely just sped up the timeline on something that was going to happen in a few months anyway.
3. The Seattle Sounders are fighting for all MLS players, all on their own
The Seattle Sounders had the “purest” form of Club World Cup qualification of the three Major League Soccer teams participating. They became continental champions while Inter Miami and LAFC were essentially shoehorned in. Those two clubs, by the way, brought in $332 million in revenue in 2023-24. Seattle brought in $83 million. Lionel Messi probably doesn't care that the MLS collective bargaining agreement is restricting the amount of money players can make from the Club World Cup. Other players do.
Since wearing “Club World Ca$h Grab” shirts, Sounders players have been berated by their owner and received no public support from the other two MLS participants. The expanded Club World Cup is a blatant cash grab. Money is how FIFA is attempting to get teams and players to care about it. Asking players to participate in it while capping their earning potential – knowing full well how much more everyone is making – is ridiculous. This problem is only going to get bigger as the sport continues to grow in the U.S., and the Sounders appear to be the only ones interested in finding a solution.
4. The Saudi Pro League is still searching for credibility
There is a long list of reasons why it would make sense for Bruno Fernandes to leave for Saudi Arabia, and not all of them are dollar signs. The team he captains isn't playing in a European competition next season, and there's no guarantee that changes soon. He's already won trophies. Manchester United could really use the money too. Knowing all of that, Fernandes chose to stay. Playing at the highest level means that much to him.
Fernandes and Mo Salah both seemed destined for Saudi Arabia at one point but stayed in the Premier League instead. Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly set to turn it down too. The Saudi Pro League has attracted some quality players and just added another big-name manager in Simone Inzaghi, but it is not any closer to threatening the top European leagues. Fernandes and Salah’s rejections are proof of that. Some players are going to take the money. Most of the great ones care more about competing with the very best for as long as possible. It's refreshing to see.
5. Jack McGlynn is the only USMNT player capitalizing on his opportunity
The U.S. men's national team’s starting lineup for Saturday's loss to Türkiye included the three midfielders who are typically next in line after the starting trio of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah. Luca de la Torre was not impactful. Johnny Cardoso’s awful giveaway led to Türkiye’s equalizer. Malik Tillman wasted an uncontested header from 5 yards out. These are the players who were supposed to assume more responsibility with so many key figures missing.
The newcomers didn't fare much better either, with the exception of Jack McGlynn, who scored in the first minute. McGlynn has a specialized skill (a remarkable left foot) and three goal involvements (2 goals, 1 assist) in five games for his country. The longer the team continues to underwhelm, the harder it is to deny his production. It will be even more difficult to keep him off the World Cup roster if he moves to Europe this winter and plays well. This is all projection and speculation, of course, but the 22-year-old is one of very few bright spots at the moment.