Soccer Monday: Uruguay triumphs at U-20 World Cup, Verona stays up and Miami waits for Messi
Everything you need to know about all the action from this past weekend
It was a weekend highlighted by the end of the European club season with the awarding of the Champions League trophy.
Manchester City defeated Inter Milan (you can read my thoughts about the game here) 1-0 in Istanbul on Saturday to complete an historic treble after Pep Guardiola’s side won the Premier League and FA Cup.
Here’s a look at this past weekend’s other major talking points:
3. Uruguay wins the U-20 World Cup
Uruguay defeated Italy 1-0 on Sunday to win their first Under-20 World Cup. The Celeste’s victory at the Estadio Unico Diego Armando Maradona in the Argentine city of La Plata came as a result of Luciano Rodriguez’s goal on a close-range header four minutes from time.
Uruguay’s success was largely due to its defense after conceding just three goals during the entire tournament. Italy, on the other hand, had scored 13 goals going into the final but could only manage two shots on goal in the final.
Earlier in the day, surprise-side Israel took third place by beating South Korea 3-1 in the same stadium.
2. Spezia relegated after losing playoff match
For the first time in 18 years, a playoff was needed to determine whether Spezia or Verona would be relegated to Italy’s Serie B.
Spezia went down in defeat to Verona 3-1 on Sunday at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia and will join Sampdoria and Cremonese in the Italy’s second division next season. Frosinone, Genoa and Cagliari have been promoted to Serie A.
Both Spezia and Verona had finished the season tied with 31 points.
1. Messi League Soccer: Miami awaits the GOAT
Inter Miami remain last in the Eastern Conference after losing again — 3-1 away to the New England Revolution on Saturday night — in the first match since Lionel Messi announced he was joining the team.
The outcome marked Inter Miami’s sixth straight defeat and gave them a 5-0-12 record. Unfortunately for Inter Miami, Messi is under contract with Paris Saint-Germain until June 30. He won’t likely make his debut until August.
Check out my interview on the TTMCast podcast about what the pending Messi deal means for Inter Miami, MLS and American soccer as a whole.
In other news: It promises to be a very busy week for national teams as the UEFA Nations League finals take place starting Wednesday when hosts Netherlands take on Croatia on Wednesday in the semifinals. Spain and Italy will do battle the following day. The final will be played this coming Sunday at Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam. … Over on this side of the Atlantic, the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals will feature the U.S. taking on rivals Mexico, while Canada will face Panama. Both games will be played Thursday at Allegiant Stadium. The final will also be played there on Sunday. … Finally, there are only 38 more days until the start of the Women’s World Cup that will be held in Australia and New Zealand.