Soccer Monday: USMNT blasts T&T, Euro Under-21 quarterfinals and why Italy banned No. 88
A focus on the big stories from across the globe
Happy Fourth of July!
I hope you are waking up to this newsletter on the beach or near a pool. I also hope you are taking a few days off this week to enjoy family and friends.
Here are three things that stuck out most from this past weekend:
3. USMNT advances to Gold Cup knockout stage
The USMNT supplied some early Independence Day fireworks on Sunday night when Jesus Ferreira tallied three goals against Trinidad and Tobago to become the first U.S. men’s player in national team history to score back-to-back hat tricks in international competition.
The three goals helped the U.S. rout Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte to win Group A at the Gold Cup on goal difference after finishing tied on points with Jamaica.
Ferreira scored in the 14th and 38th minutes, then slotted home a penalty kick in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Cade Cowell scored in the 66th, four minutes after entering the match, and Gianluca Busio in the 79th. Brandon Vazquez scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Twelve of Ferreira’s 14 international goals have been against Caribbean nations, including four against Grenada in June 2022 and three versus Saint Kitts and Nevis last Wednesday.
The U.S. advanced to the quarterfinals, where it will play on July 9 in Cincinnati against either Canada, Guatemala or Guadeloupe.
2. And then there were four at the Euro U-21s
The European Under-21 Championship rolled on this past weekend with the quarterfinals.
Spain and Israel both reached for the semifinals after winning hard-fought games on Saturday. Neither were unable to complete the job in 90 minutes on Saturday with Spain needing extra-time to defeat Switzerland 2-1, while Israel dispatched Georgia 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw.
They were joined on Sunday by England, who edged Portugal 1-0, while Ukraine shocked France, one of the pre-tournament favorites, 3-1.
The semifinals will both be played Wednesday and will feature Israel taking on England while Spain face Ukraine. The final is scheduled for this coming Saturday at the Batumi Arena in the Georgian city of Batumi.
1. Why Italy banned No. 88
Soccer players in Italy will be banned from wearing No. 88 on their shirts starting this coming season as part of an initiative to fight antisemitism.
The No. 88 — a numerical code for “Heil Hitler” — came into greater focus this past March. A fan wearing a Lazio shirt with the name “Hitlerson” and the No. 88 on it was banned for life from attending games of the Roman club.
The move — a coordinated effort between the Italian government and the country’s soccer federation — includes the addition of a code of ethics in accordance with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The initiative also calls for matches to be suspended in the event of antisemitic chants or acts — similar to the way cases of racism are supposed to be handled.
While the decision came this past Tuesday, there could be some real repercussions to teams come this season. How it will ultimately be handled by referees and league officials, however, remains to be seen.
Italian FA President Gabriele Gravina backed the move and said the game’s “credibility, which gets hurt and damaged by discriminatory behavior, has a direct reflection on Italian society.”
In other news: To help alleviate what has become a bad financial situation, FIFA will give cash-strapped Canada Soccer a $5 million interest-free loan, according to The Athletic. It has yet to be approved. … In a battle between the top two teams in the Supporters’ Shield standings, FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta assisted both of Dominique Badji’s goals in a 2-2 draw against the New England Revolution. Cincinnati remains unbeaten in 11 games at TQL Stadium this season, going 10-0-1. … Ex-Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has announced his retirement at age 36. Fabregas also excelled at international level with Spain, in which he went on to win 110 caps and was a key member of the team that won the 2010 World Cup and back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012.