Only those in the know understand how special it is to have a Summer of Soccer/Football

Between all the texts and phone calls and in person chats about the Euros and the Copa (and the local teams we administer, coach and play on), it’s been a veritable cornucopia of soccer/football the past couple of weeks.

Day after day there are games to watch, games to plan for, practices to coach, decisions to be made, and a non-stop barrage of soccer everywhere I look. It truly is a Summer of Soccer.

And it’s beautiful. Like ultimately gorgeous in an utterly Utopian sense. I wouldn’t have it any other way – well, except for Toronto FC actually getting back to winning (maybe against Atlanta on Saturday night?).

Who wasn’t on the edge of their seat on Monday as Croatia was literally seconds away from advancing to the Euro 2024 knockout rounds and eliminating Italia when Mattia Zaccagni saved the day with a last second winner and caused a thunderous roar to be heard throughout the cosmos?

That game was not good for my blood pressure and the “YEAHHHHH!!!” I yelled was more a relief and release of pressure than happiness or joy.

Or how about on Wednesday, when all Ukraine needed was a single goal against Belgium to advance from their group, and saw the ball nearly – oh, so nearly – cross the line.

A few more inches and it would have been ecstasy for the Ukrainians. Instead, it was relief for the Belgians.

What about the unheralded Georgians? The European Georgians, not the down low, dirty south US Georgians.

They were in a must-win situation against Portugal and the ageless Cristiano Ronaldo. Rather than wilt under the pressure, the underdog won 2-0 to advance from the group stage.

Also, big props to Czechia, who were down to 10 men against Turkiye from early in the first half and fought valiantly – including scoring once – and almost, almost getting a result. Unfortunately, Turkiye scored in stoppage time to win 2-1. There would be more applause for the Turks if the refs hadn’t done Czechia dirty with two very early, very questionable yellow cards.

Closer to home, Canada got its first win in Copa America history 1-0 over Peru on Tuesday night with Jonathan David scoring the lone goal, while Venezuela and Argentina have already clinched quarter-final spots in the tournament by each starting 2-0.

Then Panama stunned the host Americans 2-1 after the US went down a man mid-way through the first half. The rough and tumble Panamanians drew the much more talented US into a dogfight rather than playing football. The strategy worked with many repping the Stars and Stripes losing their cool, including Tim Weah who was red carded after purposefully smacking a Panama player in the head.

Now the US will (very likely) need all three points against a high-flying Uruguay side who has 7 goals for and 0 against over two matches – including a 5-0 thrashing of Bolivia on Thursday night.

The bad part for the US is that Uruguay will need at least a draw to clinch first place, while Panama takes on the lowly Bolivians at the same time. The US and Panama both have 3 points with the US ahead on goal differential, the first tie breaker, which means to qualify the US needs only match or better the Panama result.

Colombia secured another win in fine fashion, 3-0 over Costa Rica, on Friday as they clinched a quarterfinal berth.

Up next is a match against Brazil on July 2 with first place on the line. Colombia only needs a draw while Brazil needs to win to finish top of the group. The Samba Boys woke up against Paraguay (following a lacklustre 0-0 draw against Costa Rica) and danced their way to a 4-1 win on Friday night.

In terms of how my Muskoka United U12G team fared (as well as other local results), keep reading (or be that guy/gal and scroll down).

That brings us to this weekend, particularly for my purposes, today (Saturday, June 29) where the line-up of football is brilliant.

The Euro quarter-finals kick-off at noon Saturday with Italia taking on a very good Switzerland. Following that match, the host Germans face Denmark (not pushovers by any means) at 3 p.m.

In Copa America action Saturday night, we have Les Rouges from Canada against Chile in a winner qualifies for the quarter-finals match, though our boys repping the red maple leaf are currently in second place and could also advance with a draw depending on the result between Peru and Argentina (both matches are being played at the same time – 8 p.m. ET).

Also on Saturday night, Toronto FC will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak and six game winless run at Atlanta (kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.).

On Sunday, the Euro quarter-final action continues as the Three Little Cubs from England take on mighty Slovenia at noon followed by the team that looks the best so far, Spain, against Georgia at 3 p.m. Though unlikely, it would be the stuff of legends to see both Slovenia and Georgia advance. Even just one of them making it through would have a wide-ranging ripple effect.

That night, Mexico and Ecuador are in a winner-advances match-up at the same time already qualified Venezuela plays already eliminated Jamaica. Both matches start at 8 p.m.

For full schedule and results from Euro 2024, visit: https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/

For full Copa America schedule and results, visit: https://copaamerica.com/en/

If you’re not glued to your seat watching – or at least obsessively checking scores and results – you’re not in tune with the type of sporting passion the world of soccer/football invokes in its ardent supporters – many of whom volunteer for and participate in grassroots programming here at home.

So, if you are having a hard time explaining what it all means to someone on the outside, just remember that now famous Kendrick Lamar hip hop line (and track title): They Not Like Us.

Muskoka United FC Updates

The U12 Girls showed their mettle this past week, winning 2-1 against Orillia in a festival last Saturday in Collingwood, before losing 2-1 to the hosts despite dominating possession and attempts at goal.

In the win, Lily Boyes and Paulina Juszczak scored with Juliet Occhiuzzi assisting on both goals. In the loss, Occhiuzzi had the lone goal.

Then on Wednesday, in a league match-up against that same Collingwood team, the U12 Girls were unlucky to only tie 2-2 despite utter domination of the match – again. In the draw, the MUFC girls had about 80% of the possession, over 10 shots at goal, scored twice, hit the cross bar twice, and hit a post. Juszczak scored once and assisted on Avery Holik’s goal.

In both the Festival and League match, The Collingwood team got lucky with their only two real chances finding their way behind the keeper.

In U10 Girls action, the girls picked up a pair of wins at the Collingwood Festival. Mackenna Gibbons scored three, Marlowe Kerr added two more, while Jane Holik and Leia Evans each scored as MUFC won 6-3 over Orillia and 1-0 in weather shortened game against Wasaga Beach. The U10 Girls also received strong defensive play from Georgia Wark, Emma Lapp, Teagan Holik and Anna Innis to help secure both wins.

The U10 Girls followed up a great festival performance with another win, 3-2 away to North Bay, on Thursday to move to 6-2 in all competitions this season. Anna Innis was strong in goal, while Gibbons (2) and Kerr (1) had the goals for MUFC.

The U11 Boys had mixed results last Saturday in Collingwood, they lost 5-1 to the hosts (though the game was closer than the scoreline suggests) with Atticus Kuehnen scoring for MUFC. Then they came up with a big team effort in a 4-1 win over Bradford with Kyler Peake (2), Henry Lapp, and Hunter Bradley scoring for MUFC.

The U11 Girls Red team had a great effort but fell 2-0 to Collingwood on June 24, while their counterparts the U11 Girls Blue team suffered a tough 7-0 loss to Barrie on the same night.

The U17 Boys defeated Collingwood 5-0 in HDSL Cup semi-final action on Tuesday night. The Cup final will be held in August. Zach Caplan scored twice, with Noah Graham, Andrés Alfaro, and Ty Thompson scoring the others.

U16 Boys won 4-0 over South Simcoe United on Thursday night with Al Wilson, Oscar Juszczak, Lucas Hills, and Radesh Patel scoring for Muskoka. This team has really come along well with many different goal scorers this year.

Huntsville Women’s League

Week 6 of the Huntsville Women’s Soccer League saw a pair of tight, tough matches play out on the Conroy Park pitch.

The Sportlab playing with a bare minimum of players overcome the challenge and take a 3-2 victory over On The Docks Pub. The match was tied late, with Sportlab getting a late winner to secure the victory.

In the other match on Monday night, Muskoka Tea Company edged by Muskoka Marshmallo Company 2-1.

Player of the Match awards went to Hilary Wisenden, Kaitlyn Israelstam, Chelsea Babb and Fiona Scarrow.

The weekly draw for the ever popular ‘Annies Lasagna’ courtesy of That Little Place By The Lights was won by Kate Kerr.

Pollington Field Coming Soon

The efforts to have McCulley North named after the late, great Graham Pollington are beariong fruit.

There was overwhelming community support for renaming the field during a survey period, the positioning of the sign naming the field Pollington Field has been picked, and the other details are being determined as the days go by.

Only a final approval by council in the next month or so is left. We’ll have details about the official unveiling once the date is chosen.

That’s it for this week. Stay tuned next week for more thoughts on Euro 2024, Copa America, Toronto FC, Muskoka updates, and more. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to subscribe below.

Ciao for Now!