LINEUP NOTES

USMNT vs. Colombia
U.S. Soccer Summer Showdown, presented by Marriott Bonvoy
June 8, 2024
Commanders Field; Landover, Md.
Pre-Game Coverage: 4:30 p.m. ET on TNT, Telemundo, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock
Kickoff: 5:37 p.m. ET on TNT, Telemundo, truTV, Universo, Max, Peacock, FDP Radio
Social Media: @USMNT on X and Instagram; U.S. Soccer on Facebook, The U.S. Soccer App

1

Today’s USMNT Starting XI vs. Colombia: 1-Matt Turner; 3-Chris Richards, 5-Antonee Robinson, 7-Gio Reyna, 8-Weston McKennie, 10-Christian Pulisic (Capt.), 13-Tim Ream, 15-Johnny Cardoso, 20-Folarin Balogun, 21-Tim Weah, 22-Joe Scally

Substitutes: 18-Ethan Horvath, 25-Sean Johnson, 2-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 4-Tyler Adams, 6-Yunus Musah, 9-Ricardo Pepi, 11-Brenden Aaronson, 12-Miles Robinson, 14-Luca de la Torre, 16-Shaq Moore, 17-Malik Tillman, 19-Haji Wright, 23-Kristoffer Lund, 24-Mark McKenzie, 26-Timmy Tillman

1 4

GAME NOTES | FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COLOMBIA
• USMNT Starting XI Cap Numbers (including this match): Christian Pulisic (67), Tim Ream (57), Weston McKennie (52), Antonee Robinson (42), Matt Turner (40), Tim Weah (38), Gio Reyna (27), Chris Richards (17), Johnny Cardoso (12), Folarin Balogun (11), Joe Scally (10)

• Today’s Starting XI has an average age of 25 years, 237 days, making it the ninth oldest lineup deployed under Gregg Berhalter and third oldest since 2021.
• The lineup also averages 32.9 caps, making it the seventh most experienced Starting XI during Berhalter’s tenure, and second most experienced since 2019. Only the lineup that began March’s CNL Final against Mexico had a higher average cap number in that time (36.5).

1 5
• Gregg Berhalter makes three changes from the lineup that started the Concacaf Nations League Final against Mexico on March 24, inserting defender Joe Scally, midfielder Johnny Cardoso and forward Folarin Balogun.
• Christian Pulisic captains the team for the 22nd time tonight. The USA is 16-2-3 when Pulisic wears the armband. He also earns his squad-leading 67th cap, tying him with 1994 FIFA World Cup alum Mike
Sorber for 37th on the USMNT’s all-time caps list.
• Five starters will make their first appearances against South American opposition: Folarin Balogun, Johnny Cardoso, Gio Reyna, Chris Richards and Matt Turner.
• Making his 40th career appearance tonight, goalkeeper Matt Turner has earned starts in 25 of the last 27 USMNT matches for which he has been available in a run that dates back to Sept. 23, 2022 vs. Japan
in Düsseldorf, Germany.

1 6
• Midfielder Johnny Cardoso earns his third career start tonight and first since the 4-0 win against Ghana on Oct. 17, 2023 in Nashville.

READ MORE.... 

Glorious redemption for Offaly at Croke Park and the cherry placed on top of a terrific week for hurling in the Faithful County.

( )

Goals at the beginning of both halves from Brian Duignan, who top-scored with 1-04, and substitute Oisin Kelly, fired Offaly to a first ever Joe McDonagh Cup title - securing their return to the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 2018.

A week after the county's much-celebrated All-Ireland U-20 win, it was another dramatic breakthrough success, though the sides were tied for the 11th time in an epic encounter at the 70-minute mark.

Three points in-a-row from Killian Sampson, Charlie Mitchell and Jack Clancy ultimately won it for Johnny Kelly's side who went one better than last year's agonising final defeat to Carlow.

( )

Aside from securing their place in the Leinster championship for 2025, a more immediate reward for Offaly is an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final clash with Cork in Tullamore next Saturday.

All is not lost this season for Laois who will have the opportunity to make progress in the All-Ireland series too when they take on Wexford in Portlaoise.

Laois, winners of the McDonagh Cup in 2019, gave it everything they had and twice bounced back from slow starts to each half and goal concessions by drawing level, but they couldn't repeat their group stage win over their neighbours.

( )

Offaly boss Kelly made 11 changes from the experimental side that beat Down in the final round robin game, naming four of the U-20s that competed in last weekend's landmark win over Tipperary.

Duignan was one of the four Offaly players retained from the line-up against Down and his second minute goal came as a giant boost to the favourites.

Dan Bourke won possession after a Laois puck-out was turned over and when he played in Duignan the Durrow man had only the net on his mind.

( )

Duignan added a sixth-minute point and at that stage Offaly led by 1-03 to 0-01, a blistering start that brought back memories of Charlie Mitchell's early goal in last year's decider against Carlow.

Offaly, of course, failed to win that one 12 months ago and their big early lead was reeled in this time too, as Laois belatedly found their range.

( )

Five Laois points in-a-row between the seventh and 14th minutes tied it up at 0-06 to 1-03.

Purcell got one of those points and it was quickly becoming evident that the Laois midfield of Purcell and Corby was on top in their sector.

READ MORE.... 

I have long been transfixed by pilates — the smooth transitions between movements, the lithe yet strong muscles and how everything looked like a dance — which is what the best pilates equipment should ultimately help you obtain. In fact, when I first saw the infomercial for the Mari Windsor Pilates DVD when I was 10 years old, I begged my mom to buy it for me the same way most kids ask for a puppy.

( )

Over 20 years later, Pilates continues to be the foundation of my personal training practice where I coach clients to stabilize their core through a range of full-body movements using a combination of low weights and high repetitions for an accessible full-body workout at home. There’s so much to love about Pilates, but getting started at home on your own can feel daunting (and no, you won’t need a pricey reformer to get a great workout). Here’s everything you need to know to begin one of the most rewarding workouts you can feel good about.

( )

What is Pilates?

“Pilates is a core workout utilizing your full body to not only lengthen but improve core strength and posture, says Denise Chakoian, certified personal trainer and founder of CORE Cycle.Fitness.Lagree. So while a Pilates workout might be heavy in planks and sit-up variations, it simultaneously recruits other muscle groups to offer an efficient workout that requires less of a time commitment. This makes Pilates ideal for those working out at home in both small spaces and even smaller windows of time (we’re looking at you, busy parents and students).

( )

According to AJ Mason, a certified trainer at Studio SWEAT onDemand, Pilates is generally divided into three groups: “Mat Pilates, which are primarily bodyweight exercises done on a yoga mat; wall Pilates, which is great for beginners and those with knee or back issues; and reformer workouts, which are done on gliding, spring-guided machines.”

( )

What is the difference between mat pilates and reformer pilates?

While a trip to the reformer Pilates studio does indeed make for an ideal pre-Sunday brunch activity, using weight resistance for a more challenging workout, the cost can add up quickly. That’s what makes at-home mat Pilates workouts, which primarily uses bodyweight, ideal for squeezing in between Zoom meetings, study sessions and an endless list of errands.

( )

Convenience aside, it delivers next-level health benefits. “The first would be posture,” says Chakoian. “As we get older, our bodies tend to develop postural issues in the spine. Strengthening the core [which includes the lower back, hips and glutes] helps the spine and its posture as we grow older.” She adds that as we age, our balance tends to degrade as well. “Pilates focuses on balance through movements that challenge the core stabilizers,” she says. Think: one-legged movements to challenge your proprioceptors (that mind-muscle connection) or moves performed on uneven surfaces to activate those stabilizer muscles, like planks or squat pulses on a BOSU ball. Strengthening your core — along with those oft-overlooked stabilizer muscles — can all contribute to injury-prevention in everyday life.

( )

The best part about Pilates? It’s a natural mood booster. “All that hard work you do during the workout does a great job of circulating oxygen and blood flow, which releases those yummy dopamine and endorphin chemicals that boost your energy and your mood,” says Mason.

( )

Tips for beginning Pilates at home

No matter which Pilates variation you choose, the expert advice remains the same: “The most important thing is to breathe with every exercise. The breath is the most important part that differentiates Pilates from any other exercise,” says Joan Breibart, inventor of the Tye4x Pilates Wearable Reformer and owner of PhysicalMind Institute. Additionally, while music has been proven to assist with exercise responses, that’s not quite the case with Pilates whether you’re practicing at home or in a studio, according to Breibart. “Try to ignore the music if they are playing any. Music doesn’t help your concentration,” she says. For instructor-led workouts, keep clothing color top of mind too. Breibart recommends wearing light-colored clothing to boost your visibility against the often-dark mat.

( )

Best pilates equipment

To look and feel your best, here’s the expert-approved gear you need to get started on your Pilates journey.

READ MORE 

If you're in the second camp today, you might be interested to know that there are times when you genuinely should skip your workout. No, not because you can't be bothered, these are legitimate reasons a personal trainer might want you to stay away from the gym…

When to avoid exercise

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was hit by a man Friday evening on Kultorvet [public square] in Copenhagen. The man was subsequently arrested,” the prime minister’s office said.

( )

It added that Frederiksen “is shocked by the incident” and there was no further comment. It is unclear if the prime minister was hurt in the assault.

Danish Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke called for national unity after the attack, saying everyone has a responsibility to look after each other regardless of “political disagreements, election campaigns.”

( )

“Something like this must not happen in our beautiful, safe and free country,” he said on X. “This is ugly and unacceptable. Let’s show that Denmark is much better.”

European politicians expressed shock in the aftermath of the attack.

Deeply shocked by the outrageous attack on my colleague and friend, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen,” Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa said in a post on X.

( )

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attack, calling it a “despicable act, which goes against everything we believe in and fight for in Europe.” She went on to wish the prime minister strength and courage, saying she has plenty of both.

Denmark is due to vote in the European Union elections on Sunday.

( )

Frederiksen, the leader of Denmark’s center-left Socialist Democratic party, has served as prime minister since 2019.

Her attack comes weeks after Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and wounded in what was the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader for more than 20 years. Political analysts and lawmakers said at the time that exposed an increasingly febrile and polarized political climate both in Slovakia and across Europe.

READ MORE