I love international soccer. I could wax lyrical for pages and pages, but I think modern philosopher Armando Christian Pérez said it best when he sang, “I been to countries and cities I can’t pronounce and to places on the globe I ain’t know existed.” Mr. Worldwide — or Pitbull, as he’s most commonly known — profoundly expressed his love for people all around the globe in his classic anthem, International Love, and while I’m focused on a different aspect of what the wider world has to offer, I’d like to think he and I are kindred spirits.
As you’re likely well aware, six Loons have been with their respective national teams during this international soccer window, representing MNUFC in three different confederations. Alejandro Bran and Costa Rica still have a game to play, but with a current cumulative record of 6-2-1, your Loons have been a part of some seriously exciting moments in international soccer.
If we’re going to start anywhere, it’s got to be with the captain himself. Michael Boxall’s New Zealand side had a monumental window, securing the only automatic World Cup qualifying spot for the Oceania confederation. Their 7-0 win over Fiji in the semifinal set them up for a slightly closer 3-0 win in the final match against New Caledonia, as the Kiwis secured their third-ever appearance at a World Cup. Boxy’s opening goal in the 61st minute of the final officially went down as the match-winner, meaning our captain just sent his nation to the World Cup with his head. Congratulations, Boxy! What a moment.
With the qualifiers covered, let’s turn back stateside for what was an exciting Concacaf Nations League finale, to say the least. We had three Loons in the semis, where Carlos Harvey started and went the distance in both Panama’s upset of the USMNT and the final against Mexico. His performance at the RCB position for MNUFC seems to have influenced Panama’s tactics, as the national team found success with him in the very same role, going toe-to-toe with Concacaf’s traditional powerhouses. A silver medal for his country was well-deserved, and his efforts are to be applauded.
On the other side of the bracket, Dayne St. Clair continued to star in net for Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad, playing the entirety of the tournament. Tani Oluwaseyi made a late cameo against Mexico while his side was chasing the game but earned himself a start in the third-place match against the US. Tani’s 27th-minute strike gave the Maple Leafs the lead and went down as the first international goal of his career. It was a true striker’s finish, waiting in a dangerous area and cleaning up when the opportunity arose in front of the goal mouth. Here’s to more minutes and memories to come for our Canadian internationals!
Before I move on to the last two Loons, a word on the USMNT. This “golden generation” has never really earned such a title, aside from a few Concacaf trophies, which I won’t turn my nose up at. But ahead of a World Cup on home soil, it strikes me as odd that only one MLS-based player (Tim Ream) started the elimination match against Mexico. The only two players to get a goal contribution this window? Diego Luna and Patrick Agyemang, both of whom play in MLS. Hm.
I’m not saying MLS is the best league in the world, but I refuse to believe that the talented players we’re producing shouldn’t have greater representation in the USMNT’s best lineup. It’s fine and dandy if you’re getting minutes in one of Europe’s leagues — or even the UEFA Champions League — but if you aren’t bringing an extra fire or passion when you wear the Red, White, and Blue, I don’t think international soccer is for you.
The above opinion is my own and probably doesn't reflect whatever MNUFC’s official statement would be on the matter. Common side effects of reading my opinions are annoyance, disagreement, aggravation, and sudden, intense nausea. Do not read my opinions unless recommended by another fan, family member, or licensed physician. If you know someone that checks all of those boxes, I’d just ask them what their opinion is instead. Thank you for reading this digression.
Alright, back to the Loons-centric facts you came for. Costa Rica set themselves up quite well to earn a spot in this summer’s Gold Cup, taking a 7-0 aggregate lead over Belize in the first leg of their qualifying matchup. Loons loanee Alejandro Bran made a substitute appearance in the landslide win and stands to get some more minutes in today’s second leg as Los Ticos look to see out another 90 minutes.
Lastly, but most certainly not least, we’re crossing the pond to check on Finland’s UEFA World Cup Qualifying campaign. A 1-0 win over Malta saw Robin Lod come on as a sub, while he got the start in yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Lithuania. That leaves the Finns with four points from their first two qualifying matches and at the top of Group G, at least for the moment.
All in all, it was a successful international window for your Loons, both here in Minnesota and abroad. A 2-2 draw against the defending MLS Cup champions isn’t a bad result, especially considering the absence of five regular starters. The depth pieces did their jobs, the international boys got some sharpness on national team duty, and the gang will be back together before the week is over. If I were RSL, I’d start watching some extra tape ahead of this weekend’s match; the Black and Blue are more than ready for you.
Photo courtesy of the New Zealand National Football Team
