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⚽ Good morning to everybody however particularly …

U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM FANS

The USMNT has a brand new man in cost, and it is a high-profile rent. Mauricio Pochettino is set to take the reins of a workforce coming into an important juncture forward of the 2026 World Cup, which the US is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

If you happen to’re an off-the-cuff soccer fan who solely tunes in for main worldwide occasions and by no means heard the identify “Mauricio Pochettino” earlier than, concern not. Francesco Porzio has what you have to know:

• Pochettino, 52, was born in Argentina and began his enjoying profession there. He went on to play in Europe at Espanyol (Spain), PSG (France) and Bordeaux (France).
• Pochettino began his teaching profession at Espanyol earlier than transferring to the Premier League at Southampton, Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea.
• He led Tottenham to a second-place Premier League end in 2017 and a Champions League ultimate in 2019. He additionally gained Ligue 1 at PSG. Chelsea completed sixth within the Premier League final 12 months, second in targets scored.

Pochettino is a departure from latest USMNT hires in lots of senses. First, he is anticipated to stay in Europe, which is sensible when you think about most of the USMNT’s play professionally abroad. Second, he is the primary rent this millennium who hasn’t performed or coached within the U.S. previous to his assuming the position. And eventually, after an extended listing of excuses for not taking advantage of a gifted group, the USMNT has no extra excuses, Pardeep Cattry writes.

• Cattry: “Pochettino is well-known for a urgent, attack-minded fashion of play that, at its finest, makes his workforce an entertaining watch. Most impressively, although, he’s conversant in the duty of teaching a workforce to punch above their weight … His capability to ship an entertaining and efficient tactical method is an aspirational approach to fight the USMNT’s latest plateau and maybe lay the groundwork for the memorable World Cup efficiency the federation has lengthy focused.”

Talking of soccer over in Europe, the Massive 5 leagues start this weekend, and we’ve got …

👍 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such a great morning for …

MATT MILANO AND THE BUFFALO BILLS

Can we simply flip accidents off? No less than for the preseason? Former All-Professional linebacker Matt Milano tore his biceps — his second main harm in as many seasons — in a serious blow to the Payments and their new-look protection.

• It is unclear whether or not Milano will return this season, and even when he does, it could doubtless be late within the marketing campaign. For now, he is out indefinitely.
• Final season, Milano fractured his leg and suffered a knee harm in Week 5, ending his season.

Milano emerged as a power in 2022 incomes first-team All-Professional and Professional Bowl honors. Utilizing anticipated factors added, the Buffalo protection has been about 2.5 factors per recreation higher with Milano on the sphere over the previous two seasons.

Milano’s return was anticipated to assist offset the departures of a number of veteran defenders, together with Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. Now, Buffalo will flip to children Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams at linebacker … and hope for a speedy restoration from Milano.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL preseason Week 2 prime storylines, video games to look at

It is nonetheless not the true factor, but it surely’s getting nearer. Week 2 of the NFL preseason started final night time with Drake Maye scoring his first “unofficial” NFL landing within the Patriots‘ 14-13 loss to the Eagles.

As for quarterbacks elsewhere, Russell Wilson will make his Steelers debut and begin in opposition to the Payments as he hopes to win the beginning job over Justin Fields. That contest is amongst Bryan DeArdo’s prime 5 video games of the week.

Jeff Kerr, in the meantime, has one factor to look at in each recreation, and there is one other quarterback battle afoot in Las Vegas.

• Kerr: “Arduous to inform who’s the chief within the clubhouse for the Raiders beginning quarterback job. Gardner Minshew went 6 of 12 for 117 yards and a landing (20-yard throw to DJ Turner) and had greater throws, however Aidan O’Connell was cautious in his resolution making in going 7 of 9 for 76 yards. Maybe Antonio Pierce decides based mostly on this recreation.”

🏀 NBA schedule launch: High 10 video games, Christmas Day motion

The NBA launched its total 2024-25 schedule on Thursday. Listed below are the key dates to know:

• Oct. 22: Opening night time (Knicks at Celtics and Timberwolves at Lakers)
• Nov. 12: NBA Cup begins
• Dec. 17: NBA Cup championship
• Feb. 6: Commerce deadline
• Feb. 14-16: All-Star Weekend
• April 13: Common season ends
• April 15-18: Play-In Event
• April 19: Playoffs start

Jack Maloney has 10 must-see video games, and a Bay Space reunion is within the playing cards lower than a month into the season.

• Maloney: “Nov. 12: Mavericks at Warriors — Klay Thompson‘s departure from the Warriors after 13 years with the group was in the end not shocking by the point it occurred. Nonetheless will probably be unusual to see him in a brand new jersey this season. His first journey again to the Bay Space with the Warriors is bound to be an emotional night time.”

An enormous a part of Thursday’s schedule launch, in fact, was the Christmas reveal, and No. 1 in Sam Quinn’s Christmas Day recreation rankings. No. 1 is …

• Quinn: “1. 76ers at Celtics — Come on, what did you anticipate? The defending champions in opposition to the workforce that had the most effective offseason? Two northeastern cities with a literal century of dangerous sports activities blood? Joel Embiid in opposition to the workforce that has knocked him out of the playoffs thrice? … A Christmas bout between maybe the 2 finest groups within the convention is among the finest video games on your complete regular-season schedule.”

🏈 Faculty soccer preseason bowl projections

All proper, fellow school soccer followers. We’ve one final weekend to get via earlier than the season begins. Jerry Palm’s bowl projections are right here to assist us. Here is his full projected 12-team playoff:

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Utah
4. Florida State
5. Texas
6. Oregon
7. Alabama
8. Texas A&M
9. Penn State
10. Miami
11. Kansas State
12. Boise State

You will discover Boise State slides in at 12 as a result of the CFP reserves a one spot for the top-ranked Group of 5 champion. Meaning no extra going undefeated and never having the ability to play for a title. Shehan Jeyarajah has the 5 most harmful Group of 5 groups who may nab that spot … or damage another person’s season.

Even with the expanded playoff, bowl season will nonetheless maintain loads of enjoyable, as Will Backus writes. And I agree.

📺 What we’re watching this weekend

Friday

⚾ Dodgers at Cardinals OR Twins at Rangers, 8:05 p.m. on MLB Community

Saturday

🏈 Bengals at Bears, 1 p.m. on NFL Community
⚾ Yankees at Tigers, 1:10 p.m. on MLB Community
🏀 Lynx at Mystics, 2 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Lions at Chiefs, 4 p.m. on NFL Community
🏀 Liberty at Aces, 4 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Payments at Steelers, 7 p.m. on CBS
⚾ Dodgers at Cardinals OR Guardians at Brewers, 7:15 p.m. on Fox
⚾ Braves at Angels, 9:36 p.m. on MLB Community
🏈 Cowboys at Raiders, 10 p.m. on NFL Community

Sunday

⚾ Crimson Sox at Orioles, 1:35 p.m. on MLB Community
🏀 Storm at Fever, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Sparks at Aces, 6 p.m. on NBA TV
⚾ Yankees at Tigers, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Saints at 49ers, 8 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Packers at Broncos, 8 p.m. on NFL Community