Major Link Soccer: Canada takes a bow

Seattle

Some handsome devil wrote about the National Team contributors from the Seattle Reign, Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe. You should keep an eye on the Reign's Medium page, because who knows when he might write about them again.

The U-23s have been setting an example for their peers, giving a 4-0 beating to Calgary Foothills FC.

Meet Raymond Noll, local boy and newest keeper for the Manhattan College Jaspers.

MLS

The sweeping heat waves haven't spared the Kansas City area, but what's a team to do when there's 45 minutes until the next break? Have staff butt-dial the sprinkler system of course. MLS is always trying to mimic the NFL, for better or worse.

Aron Johannsson wants to come to MLS in his prime.

On the other hand, Andrea Pirlo is not in his prime. But he is supposedly signing with NYCFC this week.

World Cup

The host Canadians bowed out of the tournament with a 2-1 loss to England, setting up the semifinal round (England will play Japan on Wednesday.) There was a bit of controversy in the stands as a family tried to start something with the Canadian supporters group The Voyagers (this story involves someone getting punched in the nuts.)

Could an embarrassingly early exit have been avoided with a better Canadian development system?

Rapinoe joined Abby Wambach in applauding the Supreme Court ruling granting same-sex marriage to people in every state in the United States.

Officials in Canada are hoping that the success of the Games prove that the appetite for soccer in the country is strong, perhaps enough to warrant another MLS side (Edmonton?) or a few NWSL franchises.

FIFA

A man was found dead at London's Olympic Stadium, grounds currently under construction to re-suit the building for Rugby and West Ham United.

Another terrible soccer death occurred over the weekend, as the uncle of Paraguay's Derlis Gonzalez had a heart attack watching his nephew score to send his nation on in the Copa America.

Sepp Blatter says he is really for sure stepping down later this year, no backsies or fingers crossed. Supposedly there was pressure from sponsors, in Major Link Soccer's "DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH" Statement of the Week. (tm)