THE SOCCER REPORT

International leagues take break for friendlies; U.S. women advance

International leagues take break for friendlies; U.S. women advance
Mallory Pugh, 20, and the U.S. Women's National Team have qualified for next summer's FIFA Women's World Cup. Team USA will be looking to defend their crown and pick up their fourth World title. Nike

USWNT punch ticket to 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, England manhandles Spain and Germany’s woes continue against France

The second international break post-2018 FIFA World Cup left plenty to talk about, from the World Champion France to the regionals like the rebuilding United States. On the Women’s side of things, a few more spots for next year’s Women’s World Cup were clinched. In club soccer, Major League Soccer had a few matches with playoff implications.

International Friendlies

Outside of the UEFA Nations League, European sides tested themselves in friendlies to stay active during the international break. The big nations on this side of the world played in friendlies in preparation for their continental tournaments next season.

The United States men’s national team is one of several who are still on a coaching search. The USA opted for a young roster to gain experience against 2018 World Cup participants in Colombia and Peru. Mexico is also in the same boat and tested themselves against Costa Rica and current South American champion Chile. Argentina and Brazil took their brands on the road to Saudi Arabia where they added another chapter to their rivalry. Uruguay went on tour in Asia where they were defeated by both of their hosts in South Korea and Japan.

Notable results:

Italy 1-1 Ukraine

Iraq 0-4 Argentina

Wales 1-4 Spain

USA 2-4 Colombia

Mexico 3-2 Costa Rica

South Korea 2-1 Uruguay

Saudi Arabia 0-2 Brazil

Peru 3-0 Chile

Scotland 1-3 Portugal

Japan 4-3 Uruguay

Argentina 0-1 Brazil

Belgium 1-1 Netherlands

Colombia 3-1 Costa Rica

USA 1-1 Peru

Mexico 0-1 Chile

UEFA Nations League

The Nations League has added another level of competition to European international soccer, making more of mere friendlies and putting higher stakes on these matches. The format may be a bit complicated to grasp at first but it is essentially what the name entails, a league, with financial incentives for the teams that perform best. Countries are paired off in groups with promotion and relegation, with the champion to be crowned next summer. The tournament also influences the qualifying process for Euro 2020.

France handed Germany a 2-1 loss, their sixth in 10 matches, while England handed Spain their first home loss in 15 years.

Notable results:

Poland 2-3 Portugal

Belgium 2-1 Switzerland

Croatia 0-0 England

Netherlands 3-0 Germany

Ireland 0-0 Denmark

Russia 2-0 Turkey

Poland 0-1 Italy

Iceland 1-2 Switzerland

Spain 2-3 England

France 2-1 Germany

Ireland 0-1 Wales

Ukraine 1-0 Czech Republic

Concacaf Nations League Qualifying

Following in the footsteps of Europe, Concacaf (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) has instituted their own Nations League. The qualifying rounds continued during this FIFA date with the top 10 sides also booking their place in next year Concacaf Men’s Championship, known as the Concacaf Gold Cup.

Top 10: 1. Curaçao (6), 2. Haiti (6), 3. Canada(6), 4. Cuba(6), 5. Saint Kitts and Nevis (6), 6. Jamaica (6), 7. Dominican Republic (6), 8. Nicaragua (6), 9. Martinique (6), 10. El Salvador (6)

Notable results:

U.S. Virgin Islands 0-5 Curaçao

Dominican Republic 3-0 Cayman Islands

Puerto Rico 0-1 Martinique

El Salvador 3-0 Barbados

Bonaire 0-6 Jamaica

Nicaragua 6-0 Anguilla

Canada 5-0 Dominica

Saint Lucia 1-2 Haiti

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2018 Concacaf Women's Championship

The U.S. Women’s National Team assured secured a spot in their eight FIFA Women’s World Cup on Sunday with a 6-0 win over Jamaica, also advancing to the Concacaf Women’s Championship Final. Canada booked their spot to France 2019 as well with a 7-0 win over Panama. The two giants of the region will face off for the Concacaf title on Wednesday night in what will also serve as a preparation for next summer’s tournament. Jamaica and Panama will face off in the third place match with a spot to the Women’s World Cup on the line. Mexico and Costa Rica were left disappointed after being denied qualification in their final game of the group stage.

Group A: USA (9), Panama (6), Mexico (3), Trinidad and Tobago (0)

Group B: Canada (9), Jamaica (6), Costa Rica (3), Cuba (0)

Semifinals: Canada def. Panama, 7-0; USA def. Jamaica 6-0 [Highlights].

Third-place match: Panama vs. Jamaica

Championship match: USA vs. Canada

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Major League Soccer

Eight teams were in action across four matches this weekend as the MLS playoff race continues to take shape. The weekend slate started on Friday night in La La land as LAFC defeated the Houston Dynamo 4-2 to jump Kansas City for second in the Western Conference (the top two seeds get a bye through the wild card round). Mauro Manotas scored the opening goal for the Dynamo before a two-hour weather delay (lighting) would prolong the second half. LAFC would regroup with the break and score four unanswered goals over the course of the match. Andrew Wenger scored a consolation goal late to dwindle the difference down to two.

The only other match this weekend with playoff implications involved the rejuvenated D.C. United against the West’s No. 1 seed FC Dallas. FCD could not increase the gap between them and the rest of the West while D.C. won their third straight to officially jump into the playoff picture. Transformed into a contender by the summer arrival of former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, D.C. jumped Montreal in the standings and controls their destiny with one extra game in hand. In other action, Colorado won 2-0 at Minnesota and New England defeated Orlando City at home - both matches of teams already eliminated from the playoff race.

East top six: 1. Atlanta United (66), 2. NY Red Bulls (65), 3. NYC FC (53), 4. Philadelphia (50), 5. Columbus (48), 6. D.C. United (44).

West top six: 1. FC Dallas (57), 2. LAFC (56), 3. Sporting KC (53), 4. Portland (51), 5. Seattle (50), 6. Real Salt Lake (46).

Scoring leader: 30 - Josef Martinez (Atlanta United)

Assists leader: 17 - Borek Dockal (Philadelphia Union)

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Upcoming Matches (All Times CT):

For a primer on all the league action before the FIFA International break, check out last week’s soccer recap.

Wednesday, October 17

6:30 p.m. - [MLS] D.C. United vs. Toronto FC (ESPN+)

6:30 p.m. - [MLS] Orlando City SC vs. Seattle Sounders FC (ESPN+)

7 p.m. - [Concacaf Women's Championship] Final - USA vs. Canada (FS2)

9 p.m. - [MLS] Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Sporting KC (ESPN+)

Thursday, October 18

8 p.m. - [MLS] Real Salt Lake vs. New England Revolution (ESPN+)

Friday, October 19

1:30 p.m. - [Bundesliga] Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Dusseldorf (FS2)

2 p.m. - [La Liga] Celta Vigo vs. Alaves (beIN Sports en Espanol)

9 p.m. - [Liga MX] Atlas vs. Veracruz (Univision Deportes)

Saturday, October 20

6 a.m. - [La Liga] Real Madrid vs. Levante (beIN Sports)

6:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Chelsea vs. Manchester United (NBC Sports)

8:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Wolfsburg vs. Bayern Munich (FS1/Univision Deportes)

8:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Stuttgart vs. Dortmund (FOX Deportes)

9 a.m. - [Premier League] West Ham vs. Tottenham (NBC Sports)

9:15 a.m. - [La Liga] Valencia vs. Leganes (beIN Sports en Espanol)

11 a.m. - [Serie A] Juventus vs. Genoa (ESPN+)

11:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Huddersfield vs. Liverpool F.C. (NBC Sports)

11:30 a.m. - [La Liga] Villarreal vs. Atletico Madrid (beIN Sports en Espanol)

11:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Schalke 04 vs. Werder Bremen (FS2)

1:45 p.m. - [La Liga] FC Barcelona vs. Sevilla (beIN Sports en Espanol)

5 p.m. - [Liga MX] Queretaro vs. Cruz Azul (ESPN Deportes/Univision Deportes)

7 p.m. - [Liga MX] Pachuca vs. Santos Laguna (ESPN Deportes)

7 p.m. - [Liga MX] Club America vs. Tijuana (Univision/Facebook)

9 p.m. - [Liga MX] Necaxa vs. Leon (Univision)

Sunday, October 21

8:30 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Hertha Berlin vs. Freiburg (FS2)

9:15 a.m. - [La Liga] Eibar vs. Athletic Bilbao (beIN Sports en Espanol)

10 a.m. - [Premier League] Everton vs. Crystal Palace (NBC Sports)

11 a.m. - [Bundesliga] Moenchengladbach vs. Mainz (FS2)

11:30 a.m. - [La Liga] Huesca vs. Espanyol (beIN Sports en Espanol)

12 p.m. - [Liga MX] Lobos BUAP vs. Chivas (Univision)

1:30 p.m. - [Serie A] Inter Milan vs. A.C. Milan (ESPN+)

1:45 p.m. - [La Liga] Real Betis vs. Valladolid (beIN Sports en Espanol)

2 p.m. - [MLS] Atlanta United vs. Chicago Fire (ESPN)

2 p.m. - [MLS] All other Eastern Conference matches (ESPN+)

4 p.m. - [MLS] Minnesota United vs. LA Galaxy (ESPN)

4 p.m. - [MLS] Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders FC (KUBE57)

4 p.m. - [MLS] All other Western Conference matches (ESPN+)

5 p.m. - [Liga MX] UNAM vs. Tigres (Univision Deportes)

7 p.m. - [Liga MX] Morelia vs. Puebla (Univision Deportes)

9 p.m. - [Liga MX] Monterrey vs. Toluca (FOX Deportes)

Monday, October 22

1:30 p.m. - [Serie A] Sampdoria vs. Sassuolo (ESPN+)

2 p.m. - [Premier League] Arsenal vs. Leicester City (NBC Sports)

2 p.m. - [La Liga] Real Sociedad vs. Girona (beIN Sports)

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The Texans are the class of the division. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

The Houston Texans received a lot of praise for their moves in free agency across various outlets. And for good reason, most people believe the team got significantly better with the additions of Danielle Hunter, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Denico Autry among others.

But there's another factor to consider this offseason. How much have the other teams in the AFC South improved?

When looking at the PFF grades in free agency, the Colts received a B-minus. Most of the Colts moves this offseason involved spending a lot of money re-signing their own players. Which is great in theory, but it's hard to improve the overall quality of your roster when you're bringing back players that were already there to begin with. A lot will be riding on player development for the Colts to see a big jump this season. A healthy quarterback wouldn't hurt either.

The Jaguars have made some big additions financially this offseason by signing receiver Gabe Davis and defensive tackle Arik Armstead. They also lost the top receiver on the market, Calvin Ridley, to the Titans. Gabe Davis wasn't able to establish himself as a reliable No. 2 receiver with Josh Allen throwing him the ball in Buffalo. So it's hard to believe he'll take the next step in Jacksonville. Their best move of the offseason might have been retaining edge rusher Josh Allen by using the franchise tag on him. So what did PFF think of Jacksonville's offseason? They received a B-minus, just like the Colts.

The Titans have a lot of turnover heading into the 2024 season, and not just on the roster. They have a new head coach in Brian Callahan, who's looking to revamp Tennessee's offense. Early in free agency, they agreed to terms with former Cowboys running back Tony Pollard, signing him to a 3-year deal at $8 million per season. Which is more money than the Ravens are paying for Derrick Henry, who left the Titans in free agency. Calvin Ridley was the most notable addition to the squad, he received a 4-year, $92 million deal. And while this could be viewed as an overpay, at least he gives the Titans' offense some upside. Their receiving corps looks a lot more dangerous with Ridley added to DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks.

They also spent big at the center position, adding Lloyd Cushenberry on a 4-year, $50 million contract.

Because the Titans spent a lot of money on some highly coveted players, PFF gave them a B.

Now that brings us to the Texans. The Texans re-signed some of their own players like Dalton Schultz and Noah Brown. But they also made some big splashes with Hunter, Autry, Al-Shaair, and Joe Mixon. But the Texans spent their money in a more conservative way by not handing out many contracts over two years in length.

The Texans managed to add the best pass rusher in free agency with Hunter, but it's only a two-year deal. The overall talent level is going up on this roster, and GM Nick Caserio isn't having to sign players to long contracts that could come back and haunt him.

That's why we're seeing post-free agency power rankings coming out with Houston in the Top 10. And that's also why PFF gave the Texans an A for their moves in free agency.

Be sure to check out the video above as Craig from Sports Talk Extra takes an in-depth look at PFF's grades for the AFC South, and much more!

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