Major Link Soccer: Argentina begs for more Messi

Happy Fourth of July everyone! Enjoy your days off and think about non-soccer thing for at least the next 16 hours!

Seattle

Saturday's Seattle Sounders-Toronto FC match was a pretty mild affair, only perking up after 60 minutes of Taco Bell-inspired mediocrity. The introduction of Nelson Valdez was a game-changer, according to Richard Farley at the fourfourtwo.

There's already a couple of stories up about it, but Nahomi Kawasumi's return to Seattle is worth another link. She absolutely destroyed the Boston Breakers Saturday evening with two goals and so many more dangerous looks.

MLS

After a series of relatively minor pr bungles, Orlando City's SB Nation blog is wondering if the team is losing touch with its fans. Their friendly package went from West Bromwich Albion to Clube Bahia, their season ticket gift from a classy scarf to a useless VR cardboard cutout, and the included Open Cup game from a year ago was cut out entirely (which may help explain an attendance drop from nearly 15,000 for their only home game a year ago to slightly more than 3,000 this year.)

World

Lionel Messi declared after Argentina's loss in the Copa America Centenario final that he would retire from international play. Naturally the idea is distressful to the people of his home country, who rallied in Buenos Aires in an attempt to change his mind.

Tim Cahill is just the latest former MLS-er to find success in China.

Iceland's miracle run through Euro 2016 ended last night when France used and abandoned them like Leif Ericson (sic). But that excellent Icelandic traveling support didn't, as the kids say, GAF.

#ISL fans at the final whistle... #TheFansDaily pic.twitter.com/aYCAnF5GRD

— Copa90 (@Copa90) July 3, 2016

The 37-year old Diego Forlan is perpetually linked to every club on the planet, but now appears to be destined for the Indian Super League.

One former referee talked to FIFA.com about the work that went into being the referee for a World Cup Final.