Breakfast Links - October 20, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Happy Friday! It’s time for another weekend of soccer. Here are your Breakfast Links!
Houston
The Houston Dynamo have made it all the way to Decision Day with things going their way. Even though Houston has claimed a playoff spot, tomorrow’s match against Portland is of the outer most importance for a chance at claiming home field advantage for the first round. The Dynamo can climb as high as 2nd place in the table, and drop down as low as the 6th seed, depending on tomorrow’s results. Let’s go Dynamo!
Two Houston Dash players were named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month for September/October. Goalkeeper Jane Campbell and defender Caprice Dydasco received the honor after a great month of play in nearly getting the Dash into the playoffs. This is Campbell’s third time being named to the Best XI of the Month and Dydasco’s sixth.
Make sure you check out the latest episodes of the Bayou City Soccer Podcast, available everywhere you get your podcasts as well as our YouTube Channel!
Major League Soccer
On Decision Day, the final matchday of the 2023 MLS regular season. Up for grabs are 5 spots in the playoffs. And 4 teams are looking for a top 4 finish. Saturday night will be fun for sure!
History will be on the line when the New York Red Bulls enter GEODIS Park Saturday evening to take on Nashville SC in their Decision Day clash. The Red Bulls have made the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for 13 consecutive years, the longest active streak in North American men's professional sports and tied with Seattle Sounders FC for the longest streak in MLS history.
Around the World
United States men's national team captain Tyler Adams will be out of action until next year after he undergoes a second surgery on his hamstring, his manager at club Bournemouth confirmed on Friday. The midfielder underwent surgery on his hamstring after an injury in March while playing for Leeds United, then had a six-month layoff before joining Bournemouth for a Sept. 27 match against Stoke City in the Carabao Cup. He hasn't played since.
Mikel Arteta has described Jack Wilshere as a "big asset" who could one day manage Arsenal, amid interest in the 31-year-old from Colorado Rapids. ESPN reported last week that Wilshere has interviewed for the MLS job, which has been occupied on an interim basis by Chris Little following Robin Fraser's sacking in September.
Erik ten Hag said he is in the dark about Sir Jim Ratcliffe's possible investment into Manchester United. Ratcliffe and his INEOS-backed consortium are proposing to buy a 25% stake in a deal which would include influence over football decisions.
Carlo Ancelotti said he wouldn't be Real Madrid manager today if it weren't for Sergio Ramos, as he prepares to face the Sevilla defender in LaLiga on Saturday. Ramos was a key player during the Italian's first spell as Madrid coach between 2013 and 2015, scoring one of the most famous goals in the club's history with the 93rd minute equaliser in their 2014 Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid.
UEFA said on Thursday the result of the European Championship qualifying game between Belgium and Sweden, which was abandoned this week after two Swedish fans were killed before kickoff, will stand. The game was called off at half-time with the score 1-1. Both the Belgian and Swedish federations had asked to keep it as the final result.
