Backheel Breakfast: USWNT’s old coach talking smack ahead of World Cup reunion

Ahead of the United States women’s national team’s big World Cup match against Sweden, former U.S. coach and current Sweden boss Pia Sundhage had a lot to say about her former players. Specifically, that Carli Lloyd doesn’t listen, that Abby Wambach is washed up and that Hope Solo is a “piece of work.” The former two were said in nicer words, the latter was a literal quote.

There are two schools of thought here.

1. Sundhage knew what she was doing and it’s going to work. Lloyd is more motivated? Maybe she takes a bunch of shots from range indiscriminately. It’s the biggest negative in her game, and she cut it out against Australia. Maybe she’ll be so motivated to prove Sundhage wrong that she does exactly what she was criticized for. And saying she was going to bench Wambach, but she’d also start her on Friday? Top mind games there.

2. Sundhage just started running her mouth and word vomited. She didn’t consider what she was saying, she gave the USWNT some great bulletin board material, and they’re going to give her laser death stares after each of their eight goals.

It’s not clear which is more likely, but this game is going to be fun.

Arsenal have been charged for allegedly breaching agent regulations. (The FA)

Napoli have replaced Rafa Benitez with Maurizio Sarri. (The Siren’s Song)

Yes, the opponent is Gibraltar, but this Mateo Kovacic goal is still awesome. (/r/soccer)

Liverpool have signed goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. (LFC)

Adel Taarabt has signed for Benfica. (BBC)

Interpol isn’t giving FIFA money to fight match fixing anymore. Because, you know. (Guardian)

Apparently Lionel Messi is benefiting from a new diet. Incredible how good he was while eating takeaway pizzas all the time. (ESPN FC)

Bayer Leverkusen have signed Admir Mehmedi, so expect Josip Drmic to go. (Bundesliga)

Stuart James on the captain of England’s cerebral palsy team. (Guardian)

Colin Udoh on Nigeria’s issues heading into Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. (ESPN FC)

Euclides Montes on how racism threatens to overshadow Copa America. (Vice)

The section in which nothing should be taken seriously. It’s rumor season, so this section will be expanded, and as the summer rolls on, it will probably be bigger than the actual news section.

Manchester United are going to make a giant bid for Harry Kane. (Manchester Evening News)

Manchester City have offered €80m for Paul Pogba. (Football Italia)

Falcao close to Chelsea? Liverpool are in the mix too. (Star)

Micah Richards is close to signing for Aston Villa. (Mail)

Steve McClaren wants to bring Andy Carroll home. (Newcastle Chronicle)

Germany only managed to draw Norway, and their midfield is in trouble.

China snatched a deserved late win against the Netherlands. (NBC)

Thailand got their first ever World Cup win in a thriller against Ivory Coast. (Guardian)

Canada and New Zealand weren’t good, but the crossbar was. (Guardian)

Euro 2016 qualifying (from 12 p.m.) - Lots of games, the best is Croatia-Italy at 2:45 p.m.

Australia vs. Nigeria (5 p.m.) - Possibly the most fun game of the day, men’s or women’s. Speed on speed on speed.

Switzerland vs. Ecuador (7 p.m.) - In which we find out if Ecuador is the worst team in the tournament.

Mexico vs. Bolivia (7:30 p.m.) - A must-win for El Tri B in Copa America.

USA vs. Sweden (8 p.m.) - Hoping for DX crotch chops in Pia’s face, to be honest.

Japan vs. Cameroon (10 p.m.) - Probably a comfortable win for the defending champs, but Cameroon’s 6-0 win over Ecuador and Nigeria’s performance against Sweden will have Japan taking this one very seriously.