Major Link Soccer: Iceland rules, England drools

Seattle

During a season like this, the best thing Sounders fans can do is learn to laugh at themselves. The Nutmeg News helps.

Meanwhile, Richard Farley looks at the week that was for the Sounders as frustration boiled over with another loss.

SaH's Ryan Cowper previews the Sounders' July 5th friendly against West Ham United on the Hammers' website.

USA

Jurgen Klinsmann, love him or hate him... Okay, I hate him.

When it comes to developing elite talent, US Soccer has stumbled along for a long time: is it Superman Complex or Saviour Syndrome?

Miami FC was quietly founded just last year by an impressive group of veterans of Italian soccer, with Alessandro Nesta as head coach. Over the last 6 weeks, the club has spent $1.8 million in transfer fees, including the largest fee ever paid in the NASL. David Beckham's ownership group might be looking over their shoulder right about now.

Organizing officials are crediting the groundwork laid by the 1994 World Cup and MLS' launch for the successfully held Copa America and hope to use that momentum to host more Copas and World Cups in the US. Hell, with viewership numbers like these, why not?

It's official: digital streaming services are now as common as DVRs in American households, reflecting a growing shift in how/where people consume media and sports.

World

Roy Hodgson has resigned as England's manager following another embarrassing major tournament performance, this time Brexiting in humiliating fashion at the hands of Iceland.

Lost in the shuffle of the whole "country with a population of 300,000" storyline is that Iceland actually has some pretty good players, and shouldn't be underestimated the rest of the tournament.

Particularly relevant for Sounders fans eager for the opening of the summer transfer window, Front Office Report looks into the "lossiness" of players in world soccer and why a player's value is not static when moved from team to team. (the first section felt very applicable to Nelson Valdez's situation in Seattle).

Even in defeat, Lionel Messi has somehow endeared himself to our hearts even more in the humanity of his gutted reaction.

For all the success that Joachim Loew has brought as head coach of Germany (21-2-5 in major tournaments), the former assistant to Klinnsman must be envious of his old boss' relatively cool hotseat given the way German pundits talk. An ironic reminder that sports are all about expectations.

For as long as I can remember, South America's best team has been either Brazil or Argentina. Say hello to Chile.

Trying to argue who "deserved" to win a soccer game is as pointless of a conversation as it gets; Expected Goals adds a much-needed degree of objectivity.

Most fans are clamoring for instant replay in soccer but worry about how it would affect the speed of play. Meet FIFA's experiments with Video Assistant Referees (VARs).