Kristian Martinez

Liverpool Wins Champions League:

Is Soccer Over For The Summer?

The USA beat Japan in the World Cup Final 5-2 (7/5/15)

Liverpool has finally been crowned Champions of Europe. They, along with their fans, are very happy
and pleased with the 2-0 victory against Tottenham in Madrid, giving them their 6th Champions League
title. Mohamed Salah was not injured during the final this time and even got to give Liverpool the 1-0
lead in just the 2nd minute of the game. So, Liverpool’s been crowned after last years’ failed attempt.
What now? Do we have to wait until August for more soccer/football? Of course not!

Here’s what summer 2019 has in store for us.

Copa America 2019 (Brazil) June 14-July 7

Now that Champions League has come to a conclusion, that most fans (including myself) are accepting of,
it’s time for some summer international tournaments. It’s time for Copa America!

Messi loses to Chile in Penalties - Copa America 2016 Final (USA)

Copa America is the South American Football Championship. The top winners are Uruguay with 15 wins.
According to Britannica, Copa America consists of 10 teams, 8 from South America and 2 that are invited
to play. In 2016, it was the competitions 100th anniversary since 1916 and Mexico and the United States
(host) were the ones invited.

Copa America will take place in Brazil with its opening game being on 5/14. Top teams in this
competition are Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. The invited teams are Japan and Qatar. Chile has
won the past two Copa America titles which were both against Argentina. They were also both in
penalties. According to BBC, Messi hasn’t won an international trophy with Argentina at senior level. He
lost the 2014 World Cup final against Germany, he lost both the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas to Chile
and did not win the 2018 World Cup. I remember watching the 2016 Copa America final, amazed at how
Argentina lost pretty much the exact same way they did in 2015.

The competition also took place in the USA. I remember going to Soldier Field to see my first Copa
America game. It was the Semi-final between Chile and Columbia. Chile won obviously, 2-0. Messi also
played here in Chicago against Panama which would have been amazing to see. He got subbed on and the

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city of Chicago went nuts. I’m excited to watch this competition in hopes of seeing Leo Messi lift up the
trophy he has deserved.

The Africa Cup of Nations (Egypt) June 21-July 19

The Africa Cup of Nations is the main international association football/soccer competition in Africa. It
was first held in 1957. There will be some Premier League stars competing in The Africa Cup of Nations
such as Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) and Liverpool’s trio,
Sadio Mane (Senegal), Naby Keïta (Guinea), and Muhammad Salah (Egypt). Mane and Salah are actually
the Premier League’s top scorers. According to World Football, Mane and Salah are both tied at the top
with Arsenal striker, Aubameyang, with 22 goals this season.

Sadio Mane, Muhammad Salah and Riyad Mahrez

I will be very interested in this years Africa Cup of Nations as it takes place in Salah’s home country. I
haven’t given it much attention in the past, but I will be watching the competition this summer. According
to BBC Football, the Africa Cup of Nations will open up new countries to participate from its 16 teams to
now 24.

UEFA Nations League (Portugal) June 5 - June 9

The UEFA Nations League is a new national team competition that replaces friendly games with
competitive matches, allowing teams to play other equally ranked teams. This tournament started in early

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September and ended around late November. However, the competition continues this June with their
final four teams, Switzerland, Netherlands, England and Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo scores free kick against Switzerland in Nations League (Portugal win 3-1)

Portugal has already earned their spot in the final for Nations League as well as the Netherlands. The
finals will be played between them on Sunday 6/9. In the Portugal vs. Switzerland game, Cristiano
Ronaldo scored a very impressive free kick. According to Marca Football, “His last strike from a direct
set piece came on June 15, 2018, against Spain in a 3-3 draw at the World Cup in Russia.” This was the
last time Ronaldo has actually scored a direct free kick. Almost a whole year! This is why many fans
(including myself) can argue Messi is the better player because of his accuracy and precision for these
free kicks. I will be interested in seeing what Ronaldo can do in the Nations League Final and see if he
can pull of another national victory with Portugal.

Concacaf Gold Cup June 15 - July 7

The Concacaf Gold Cup is the main association football/soccer competition of the men’s national
football/soccer teams. This competition determines the continental champions of North America, Central
America, and the Caribbean. It is held every 2 years and the final will be right here in Chicago (Soldier
Field).

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The USMNT win the Gold Cup against Jamaica 2-0 7/26/17

This is one of my favorite international competitions because games happen across North America and I
often go see the games that are played here in Chicago. I’ve seen both the USA and Mexico play. I will be
attending the final this summer and will be watching the competition throughout the summer in hopes of
seeing at least one of the two teams I’m supporting. There are 16 countries participating this summer. The
favorites are Mexico and the defending champions, USA. Hopefully we get to see at least one of them win
the Gold Cup this year.

Looks like the summer is going to be filled with tons of football/soccer. From national teams with players
like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, to national teams with African Premier League stars and
European Champions like Muhammad Salah and Sadio Mane. But what about the rest of the world?

That’s when our women come in.

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 (France) June 7 - July 7

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The FIFA Women’s World Cup in set to take place in France this summer. According to BBC Football,
Scotland will be making their first appearance in the World Cup and will be going head to head with
England. France kicked off the first game against South Korea with a 4-0 win to excite their fans. Many
argue that soccer/football isn’t that popular here in the states. I mean, the US Men’s National Team
(USMNT) has never won a World Cup. But the US Women’s National Team is the most successful with
3 World Cup Wins since the first Women’s World Cup in 1991.

Members of the US Women’s National Team - Alex Morgan (Right)

Watching the US beat Japan 5-2 in 2015 was remarkable to see because of how little attention is given to
soccer here in the US. In my experience, soccer is huge here and it really connects everyone together in a
way you can’t do with Basketball, American Football or Baseball. It really shows how the US can be the
best at Soccer instead of just Basketball, American Football and Baseball. The World Cup will consist of
24 teams this year and the best part is that the whole world can watch!

I’m extremely excited for having back to back World Cups from 2018 and 2019. It’s literally soccer on
top of soccer on top of soccer on top of even more soccer! I absolutely love summer national
competitions. Whether it’s the Gold Cup, Copa America or the World Cup, it always adds some extra fun
to the summer.

Maybe we’ll finally see Messi win his first national championship. Maybe Muhammad Salah will lift his
second trophy of the year on his home turf with Egypt. Or what if Ronaldo manages to bury another free
kick into the back of the net against the Netherlands? Will the Dutchmen be his fate? Can Alex Morgan
help the USWNT win another World Cup title for us and prove to the US that we should give Soccer

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more attention? Summer 2019 leaves us with these questions. It’s just a matter of time that they’ll get
answered.